《Wow! The item-dropping rate is really high!》 Chapter 1: 001 Main Quest - Survive "Isn''t it just because I stayed up all night working on a project? What is this godforsaken place?" Bai E stood erect within the neatly organized formation, surrounded by a silent crowd dressed in identical black uniforms. They appeared like statues or wax figures, devoid of the vitality life should possess. [You silently observe your surroundings, realizing this is an entirely new, unknown world...] Text akin to a voiceover mechanically appeared in his mind, each word read out loud with an electronic, synthesized voice. Bai E''s sluggish hearing picked up the distant rumble of "roaring" thunder, as magnificent blue and purple lightning rolled within the storm clouds on the horizon. The ancient howling carried by the wilderness breeze, the air tinged with a grinding sensation, whipped against his fresh face, carrying with it the strange scent of insect secretions... Insects? What insects? As his brain started to function, deeply buried memories were stirred and activated, and inherent knowledge surged forth, burying the memories of working overnight on that project¡ª Behind humans indulging in desires shimmered crimson eyes; oily steel sparkled with a dark sheen; the mucus-filled nests where the queen insect greedily consumed nutrients... Acid rain lashed against the metal exteriors of vehicle convoys; a slender elf with pointed ears sliced through the falling rain with a single cut; green-skinned orcs brandished clubs and charged forward with waaaaaaagh at close quarters. High-dimensional demons, intelligence machine crises, endless insect swarms... Elves, orcs, mutants... This world was teeming with countless enemies. But why did it all sound so familiar? Bai E''s gaze unconsciously swept over everything before him. Grey steel fences enclosed the vast square he was in, with the exit of a tunnel extending from underground not far behind him¡ªtheir "birthplace," the underground breeding room. On the metal plaque, a row of engraved letters shone one by one in the darkness. "Am I... an artificial human 95B27?" [You''re beginning to accept the identity of coming to this world, and a brand-new world is opening up to you...] In front of the silent artificial human formation, a young officer with a silver slash shining on his shoulder looked indifferently at the legion before him, his voice echoing through the amplification device around his mouth across the entire parade square. "Welcome to this cruel world, new recruits!" "You are born for war, and death is your only destiny." "Sacrifice!" "The foundation of the Empire is built upon sacrifice, a proverb passed down from ancient times." "The blood of martyrs is the kindling of the Empire. When loyal warriors learn to love the whip, only in death does duty end." "My dearest warriors, please remember..." "Your life is the currency of the Empire; it never belongs to you. How to make the most of it is your inherent responsibility!" "Loyalty!" "Loyal to the Lord of the City! Loyal to the Empire! Loyal to mankind!" "Your enemies are those notorious insects; you are the nightmare of those high-dimensional demon Believers; you are the eternal nemesis of those forbidden mechanical life forms!" "With your blood, with your lives, guard the future of humanity forever; this is your sole mission!" "Familiarize yourselves with your own abilities as soon as possible and get ready!" "In three days... you will face your first battle of glory!" "Now, under the leadership of your squad officers, you will register your special skills to determine the specific duties you''ll need to undertake in future battles!" Special vocabulary pulled Bai E back from his confusion. "Special skills?" Is it also something familiar? Bai E''s footsteps unconsciously followed those of the person ahead, walking lifelessly in a certain direction. Countless strange memories tangled with his original memories to death, turning his brain into mush, operating with difficulty and obstruction. This never-resting spirit tried hard to analyze his current situation¡ª "I am Bai E... I am staying up late playing a raid..." "I am an artificial human, my life is the currency of the Empire, I must dedicate everything to the Empire!" "No... I am just accidentally stranded here, I am Bai E, I am Bai E!" "I am a warrior of the Empire, and I will be joining my first battle in three days." "I may not be able to go back, and I also need to face the war in three days." "Survive! I need to live longer to contribute more to the Empire!" "Survive! First and foremost, I need to survive to figure out what this place really is!" [Activate Main Mission¡ªSurvive!] [Survive: Your instinct to live directs your path, the military operation in three days is the first challenge you will face, bravely overcome it! Mission requirements: Successfully survive the military operation in three days 0/1. Mission rewards: 1000 points of universal experience, potential points *3, item reward unknown.] "Survive! No matter who I am, what I need first is... to survive!" ... "What specialty?" The voice interrupted Bai E''s thoughts. Blinking, Bai E suddenly realized that he had unintentionally arrived at a huge dark green tent. A soldier with a rugged face sat behind a shiny alloy table at the tent entrance, looking indifferently at him. "What... specialty?" Still somewhat muddled, Bai E murmured after him. Strange... Why are there some weird inscriptions in front of me? Right above that officer''s head? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [??? (Human) (Ally)¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Certain (Fresh Meat*1800, Combat Experience 1000 points); Likely (Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding level 3, Mastery: Military Weapon Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding level 3); Possible (Specialty: Fortitude Will)] What''s that? It looked far away, two meters distant, yet seemed almost within reach. Bai E reached out to touch it but found that his hand passed through the air and the inscriptions. Not just him, other people had them too¡ª [??? (Human) (Ally)¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Certain (Fresh Meat*2000, Combat Experience 800 points); Possible (Specialty: Dynamic Vision)] [??? (Human) (Ally)¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Certain (Fresh Meat*1800, Combat Experience 750 points); Possible (Specialty: Danger Perception)] Even items had them¡ª [Turret (Neutral)¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" to destroy may drop: Certain (Ammunition*1000, Heavy Weapons Mastery Experience 500 points); Possible (Mastery: Heavy Weapons Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding level 3)] [Fence (Neutral)¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" to destroy may drop: Certain (Steel*500, Construction Technique Experience 500 points); Possible (Technology: Basic Construction Technique)] What... are all these? "Thump, thump, thump!" The metal pen cap impatiently tapped on the alloy table surface, the pitch-black uniform crisp and cold, "95B27! Answer my question!" [Please note, different answers will lead to different paths for your development in the military, please treat this cautiously.] Chapter 2: 002 New Recruit Talent "What is... a specialty?" Bai E asked stiffly. Consequently, the registration officer''s gaze grew even more impatient. The minds of these newly created artificial humans were chaos, making communication quite troublesome. Yet it was rare to see one so chaotic that they still hadn''t found the answer in their implanted memories. "Your body will tell you," a slender figure, standing to the side with arms crossed, suddenly spoke. [??? (???)(Ally) ¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill can drop: Certain (Fresh Meat*1200, Combat Experience 10000 points); High Probability (Trait: Veteran of a Hundred Battles, Proficiency: +1 Combat Specialization Layer, not exceeding layer 8, Proficiency: +1 Light Weapon Specialization Layer, not exceeding layer 10); Possible (Skill: Beauty Under the Moon, Skill: Elf Breathing Skill, Specialty: Self-Restraint, Spiritual Energy (Sharp): 50)] ... Such an exaggerated drop. The unique overhead script instantly made Bai E subconsciously pay more attention to It. The figure, covered in pitch-black cloth that revealed not a hint of their face, said with a clear voice, "You may feel an inexhaustible strength you want to vent, or your body may feel incredibly light. Or perhaps you can focus intensely to see the slight movements of minute things in the air. That''s the natural talent of your body. Depending on your hidden specialty, it will determine your role on the battlefield. In combat, you will excavate and leverage this trait to contribute your strength to the city to the greatest extent." The tone paused, and after a moment''s hesitation, the figure added, "And you needn''t be afraid. It''s not uncommon to have a mistaken feeling ¡ª just speak up boldly." "Feeling?" Bai E murmured softly, trying to feel his own body. Noticing this intent, consciousness triggered an unknown program, and a pale blue semi-transparent screen cascaded down in front of his eyes¡ª [Name]: 95B27 [Race]: Human [Template]: Genetically Modified Prototype [Health]: 75/75 (Base 60 + (Endurance - 10) * 15) [Endurance]: 11 (Current) / 15 (Exercise Limit) [Insight]: 10/15 [Reflex]: 10/15 [Mystique]: 8/¡Þ [Gene Optimization Degree] (Current Tendency: Orc): 0.1/100 [Skills]: Lucky Strike (Not upgradable) [Lucky Strike: Tenfold critical hit, maxed drop rate, one hit 999! Current Charge: 100/100 (Usable)] [Traits]: Memory Dulling (Slightly reduces the risk of contamination by high-dimensional demons), Battlefield Instinct (Adapts to the battlefield environment faster to utilize full capacity) [Specialty]: Quick Recovery (Locked) [Proficiency]: None [Spiritual Energy]: Unmastered [Knowledge]: None [Technology]: None [Mutation Risk]: Extremely Low [Assets]: None ... Is this... a game-like interface? Others rely on feelings, but I can see the interface? Interface? Game? Where exactly is this place? Bai E felt a swelling sensation in his head, his temples throbbing as if something was about to burst forth. He looked at his hands, saw overlapping afterimages, and everything before him was a blur. More discoveries allowed countless memories from the past to slowly awaken, beginning to erode the newly formed worldview of the present. Two entirely different lives collided, fragments of memory weaving in and out of his mind like a spinning lantern¡ª Naked human bodies stood bewildered by rows of cultivation chambers, pale green unknown fluids sliding down the curves of the body... The showerhead in the comfortable apartment sprayed down hot streams, washing away with its foam... The dying cries of beasts turned into the excited roars of the dungeon master when rare loot was dropped. The dark shadow of a steel machine gun twisted into a smoke-stained silvery keyboard in the flickering afterimages. Memories implanted in artificial humans were thin and fragmented, the knowledges of modern society eventually tore through the ignorance of the newborn soul, completely merging both sets of memories and lives. "I am... Bai E!" [You have absorbed all of this body''s experiences and knowledge, a new life has overlaid your journey, continue exploring, bewildered new soldier, for an unknown path awaits you in the distance...] "Dong dong dong~" Seeing Bai E''s gaze clear, the impatient registration officer knocked on the desk, running out of patience. "So, your answer?" Bai E''s gaze passed through the screen, focusing on the registration officer waiting for an answer behind it. The pale blue screen, as if sensing this, dissolved from his sight like paper soaked in water. Register a talent specialty? Artificial humans had memories implanted that directed them towards two drastically different development paths¡ª"close combat," or "shooter." "I feel like..." He stretched out his hand as if to grab the sprites dancing within the light column not far in front of him, "I can almost catch those dust particles in the air." Having sorted his thoughts a bit, Bai E decided to tell a lie. In order to make artificial humans adapt to the battlefield environment more quickly, the memories stuffed into their heads were those brutal scenes from the battlefield¡ª Warriors clad in iron armor, brandishing steel swords, charging bravely, their flesh and blood forming an eternal wall against the enemy''s claws and blades for the cities of mankind. Clearly, close combat artificial humans were just cannon fodder meant to be sacrificed, and only a few chosen ones might survive the cruel war and unearth their potential. But Bai E wasn''t willing to gamble on such slim odds. By comparison, remote shooters were more likely to survive. Although he didn''t know why he had come to this place, making sure to stay as far away from danger as possible was always the right move. He was no longer a player; he no longer had the privilege of restarting at any time. "So you''re inclined towards shooting expertise?" The registrar showed a clear look of surprise upon hearing Bai E''s answer. He took a special look at the badge on Bai E''s chest¡ª95B27. "Line 95 uses orc genes, how could a shooting talent emerge?" But these newborn artificial humans, with their hardly functioning brains, shouldn''t have the concept of lying yet, could this just be one in ten thousand exceptions? Such cases, after all, were not without precedent. Murmuring softly, the registrar nodded and pointed in a direction to his side, "Go over there and wait in line." "Okay." Bai E''s gaze lingered on the figure wrapped in black cloth for one last look. The other''s response seemed to be out of mere interest, and after hearing about his specialty, he completely stopped paying attention to Bai E, turning towards the distant horizon instead... "Are you also specialized in shooting?" The artificial human at the front of the line turned back and asked Bai E excitedly. Bai E sized up the queue ahead and nodded, "Yeah..." There weren''t many in line, and at the end was an indoor space covered in steel. From inside came the occasional sound of air bursting... that was gunfire. Shooting specialties required testing? This guess made Bai E instantly tense up inside. On the other side, where the registrar was, it seemed that the artificial human soldiers with close combat specialization were all queuing up, and the vast army formation was silent. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I heard the better you do in the test later, the more bullets you get allocated when you go to the battlefield." The artificial human in front of him chatted as if they were old friends. Bai E replied with a rise in pitch, "Oh?" "Don''t you know? Our bodies have a lot of potential waiting to be developed. The more training we receive, the faster we can reach our limits. The more bullets we''re allocated, the more chances we have to train, the faster we can develop our potential and contribute more to this city!" The other person spoke excitedly, full of anticipation. Indeed, training was one of the most effective ways to improve one''s abilities! That was the significance of the stats shown on the attribute panel with physical fitness at 11/15, and insight and reflexes at 10/15. The current abilities were 11 and 10 points, while 15 was the maximum that this body could reach through exercise at the current stage. And to break through beyond that... if his memory was correct, it seemed to require a breakthrough in gene optimization. Memories implanted in artificial humans suddenly revealed segments of related knowledge, and of course, this might have been part of his own memories surfacing at the same time, blurring the distinction. Bai E squinted his eyes slightly, that strange feeling reemerging in his heart. Such a familiar setup... "It''s our turn!" "Right." Bai E followed the queue, stepping forward gradually and into the indoor space. A... shooting range. The previous group of testers were leaving in a line from another side, and this batch of testers took their places in front of each target in turn. There were soldiers likely in charge of monitoring the test standing by each target, talking casually with each other while waiting for the new batch of artificial humans to take their places. "The scores of those just now weren''t qualified, were they..." "Could be the expression of latent genes, flush them out and put them with the close combat troops." "It''s more straightforward cannon fodder..." The soldiers'' conversation did not purposefully avoid the ears of the new artificial humans because here... cannon fodder was a term of praise. Bai E clenched his fists lightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire scene. [Target (Neutral)¡ªDestroy with "Lucky Shot" to drop: Guaranteed (Brass Bullets*5000, Light Firearms Mastery Experience 500 Points); Possible (Knowledge: Firearm Maintenance and Care)] ... "Pick up the rifles in front of you and get ready to shoot!" [Triggered side quest¡ªRookie Talent.] [Rookie Talent: In order to conceal your lie, you must demonstrate the corresponding talent to gain the trust of your allies. Quest requirement: Show at least level 1 mastery of the corresponding specialization before the end of the test time 0/1. Quest completion reward: Corresponding specialization level +1, up to a maximum of 3 levels, general experience +100. (Countdown: 59 minutes 59 seconds)] Chapter 3: 003 Lucky Strike Grasping the rifle tightly in his hands, Bai E maintained a calm expression. The information about the object in hand also displayed before his eyes¡ª [Training Rifle¡ªQuality: White (Light Firearms/Long-range Weapons)] [Basic Parameters: Rate of fire 0.75 rounds/S; Magazine capacity: 10 rounds (rubber bullets); Range 200 meters; Basic attack power (type: impact): 2~3; Output energy level 3; Durability 8/10] [Usage Requirement: Physical strength 6 (usable), the character currently has no Light Firearms Specialization, shooting accuracy -10%.] [Traits: Worn by age, shooting accuracy -5%; when using rubber bullets, difficult to penetrate armor when hitting non-vital parts.] This fragile weapon had clearly been touched by countless hands before, so much so that the barrel shimmered with a smoky patina of oil. But for this very reason, when Bai E''s right hand gripped the handle, it felt an exceptional fit with the structure of his palm. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Bai E raised the rifle, leveling it with his eyes. Through the scope with one eye, he locked onto the target 50 meters ahead. Feeling a bit sweaty in the hand, Bai E slightly moved the muscles in his hand. Making sure his left hand was supporting the rifle and his right hand wouldn''t slip. After aiming for about 3 seconds, Bai E suddenly pulled the trigger. "Swoosh!" The rubber bullet shot out. It missed¡­ Watching the bullet veer off about a meter from the target, the soldier in charge of the test didn''t say much. He just continued to watch Bai E indifferently, waiting for his next performance. He knew that the training rifle itself had poor precision. The first shot missing was to be expected. Bai E steadied his mind. He was sure he had aimed at the red dot right in the center of the target, yet the rubber bullet deviated to the upper right. So... Bai E made a slight adjustment to the barrel, aiming at the outer red circle on the lower left side of the target. "Bang!" [Successfully hit the target, Light Firearms Mastery experience +1] [Current Light Firearms Mastery experience 1/100. At 100 points, you can master "Level 1 Light Firearms Specialization".] [Your attack hit successfully, but failed to penetrate the target''s armor.] [Wooden Target (Neutral): Defensive power 4; Durability 10/10.] The hit was along the upper edge of the target''s centerline. The poor accuracy manifested not as a constant direction deviation but as an unstable scatter area. But fortunately, he still managed to hit the target. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gaining 100 points in Light Firearms Mastery within an hour might... be possible. Gripping the rifle, he aimed again. "Bang!" A slight tremble in the wrist, the bullet drifted... Bai E instantly realized the problem. The moment he pulled the trigger his wrist moved. Realizing the issue, Bai E tried his best to keep his hands still while shooting, but will and action are not always in harmony. The accuracy was still problematic. "Bang!" "Bang!" ... After emptying a whole magazine of 10 rubber bullets, the hit rate was a pitiful 30%. [Current Light Firearms Mastery experience 3/100. At 100 points, you can master "Level 1 Light Firearms Specialization".] The supervising soldier beside him showed no emotion, just handed over a magazine filled with rubber bullets expressionlessly. Replacing the magazine, Bai E exhaled softly. It is well known that newly created artificial humans need time to adapt to their physical abilities. But without comparison, there is no harm. The person in the next lane had already hit at least seven or eight times, perhaps because he shot more, but it was still a show of talent. This is the importance of concealed talent; even if those specializations are not yet unlocked, their existence signifies the different strengths of each body. Bai E, pretending to conceal his abilities, was inherently at a disadvantage from the start. ... "Bang!" "Bang!" The sound of training rifles firing blank rounds echoed sporadically throughout the range as a figure in a black cloak silently arrived at the second-floor corridor overlooking the range. This position allowed a comprehensive view of the entire field, taking in the status of each target at a glance. "How''s it going?" The presiding examiner, who had already been standing there, didn''t make a sound, just silently shook their head. The talent of this batch was uneven, but even the best among them wasn''t outstanding. After silently watching for a while longer, the examiner finally sighed. "Looks like we''ll even have to weed out more in the next round." Lacking talent, one was not permitted to use the already scarce resources. And those artificial humans with a shooting talent, albeit an unremarkable performance, would absolutely underperform in close combat as compared with those born with a melee combat talent. In other words... they were more likely to be sacrificed. Only the most exceptional artificial humans could ever hope to walk off the eternal battlefield alive. The Genetic Soldier Project was intended to produce an invincible super-soldier, but apparently, it only ever yielded cannon fodder. He held no prejudices against the life or status of artificial humans; it was just that resources should be kept in the hands of those who were useful, which was the greatest contribution to the city. This was an iron rule coursing through the veins of everyone in Black Stone City. As they spoke, his gaze fixed on a particular target. Even among those artificial humans likely to be dismissed, the performance of that one could be described as¡ª Eye-catching... Following the examiner''s gaze, Yue Ying''s eyes narrowed slightly. Was it that particularly dull-looking artificial human from before? After watching intently for a while, Yue Ying shook their head slightly, disappointed. His hit rate... was pitifully low, not to mention his score in terms of hitting the inner rings. ... Countdown: 8 minutes 27 seconds. Bai E suddenly put down the training rifle, which still had 4 rubber bullets in it. "May I try using your gun?" He asked the monitoring soldier beside him, who had a machine gun with a blade hanging from his body... a real gun. The monitoring soldier blinked in surprise, instinctively looking up at the second floor. He had never heard such a request before. "What does he want to do?" The examiner squinted, hesitated slightly, and then nodded to the soldier looking up for instruction, "Give it to him." After taking the large gun off his body, Bai E heard the voice of the soldier for the first time during the test. "It''s a bit heavy." "Mmm." Watching Bai E cradling the machine gun, even Yue Ying on the second floor felt a tinge of curiosity. "What does he want to do?" The examiner shrugged, "Maybe the training rifle doesn''t suit him?" He enjoyed seeing variables in artificial humans; variables meant surprises. Yue Ying''s eyes, hidden in the shadows, narrowed slightly. "Shooting the target with a real gun? It''ll break..." Bai E had already dismissed all external influences. Who knows how long of practice had distilled his thoughts to a single focus at this moment¡ªdestroy that target. The shooting experience gained from the training rifle was too slow; it had been stagnant at 31 points, and after 8 consecutive hits, there was no further increase in the Light Firearms Specialization experience. The increase in shooting proficiency experience essentially reflected one''s improvement in shooting ability, whether through enhanced understanding or performance; it was all about improvement. No increase in experience meant his shooting skills hadn''t improved at all. Just hitting the target was not enough to gain experience; one needed to hit better circles, even the center. Currently, he clearly didn''t have that ability. 31 points, roughly the maximum Light Firearms Specialization experience he could gain through shooting at a 50-meter target with the training rifle in a short amount of time. He was still far from reaching level 1 Light Firearms Specialization, and with his own level, slow progress was likely out of reach. Not to mention, there were only a few minutes left. Thus... using the "Lucky Shot" to destroy the target and gain 500 points of Light Firearms Specialization experience to unlock the specialty was the only way out. The charging mechanism of Lucky Shot was unclear, and there might only be this one opportunity in the short term. While he might have had more choices, this was undoubtedly the best answer at the moment. This skill was the sole reliance of an outsider like him to survive in this cruel world. Chapter 4: 004 The drop rate is really high... The soldier''s rifle felt heavy in his hands. Attributes floated directly above the barrel¡ª [Warblade Machine Gun¡ªQuality: White (Light Firearm/Heavy Weapon)] [Basic Parameters: Burst mode rate of fire 1.5 rounds/S, fully automatic mode rate of fire 8 rounds/S; Magazine: 100 rounds (machine gun ammo); Range 500 meters; Basic Attack Power (Type: Piercing): 20~25; Output Level 15; Durability 18/20] [Blade Attack Power (Type: Slashing): 18~20; Output Level 10; Amplified Attributes: Strength+5%; Durability 18/20] [Usage Requirements: Burst mode physical requirement 11 (usable), character currently lacks Light Firearms Specialization, firing accuracy -8%; fully automatic mode physical requirement 14 (unusable), character currently lacks Light Firearms Specialization, firing accuracy -30%.] [Traits: Wear average, lacking maintenance, firing accuracy -2%, durability declining¡­] A completely different feel. After adjusting the shooting mode to burst mode through the trigger, Bai E relied on his wrist and shoulder to fix the machine gun at eye level. A real gun also had its advantages¡ªthough heavier, its shooting accuracy was superior. His palm moved lightly over the cold grip, Bai E fully focused. He pulled the trigger. "Bang!" The strong recoil made Bai E''s palm tingle slightly; the bullet fiercely left the chamber, hitting nothing but air¡­ "Bang!" "Bang!" Then two more shots that seemed a bit random were fired; one hit, the other flew off course. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Inflicted minor penetration damage to the target, durability -1.] [Wooden Target (Neutral): Defensive Power 3; Durability 9/10.] The expressionless soldier beside him twitched an eyebrow. (Three bullets gone.) That was his own property, he felt a hint of regret... Bai E didn''t try any more. Enough! Extensive practice made him feel his hand was hot; the next shot! The next shot would definitely hit! Once again, Bai E, peering through the scope with a resolute gaze and a flicker of light in his pupils, fixed on the heart of the target. ["Lucky Shot" activated.] "Huff~" He exhaled a breath of foul air. Bai E suddenly pulled the trigger. The primer ignited the ammunition, unleashing a burst of red flame. The brass bullet spun rapidly, friction from the barrel''s rifling tearing through the scorching air, creating a fiery tornado in its path. "Bang!" "Pfft!" The target hit by the bullet exploded on cue, a mysterious power blasting it apart from the center into fragments. -250 [Successfully destroyed target with new firearm, Light Firearms Mastery Experience +2] [Current Light Firearms Mastery Experience 33/100, upon reaching 100 points "Level 1 Light Firearms Specialization" will be mastered.] [Inflicted substantial explosive damage on the target, durability -9, successfully destroyed the target!] [Loot acquired: Brass Bullets*5000, Light Firearms Mastery Experience 500 points, Knowledge: Firearms Maintenance and Care.] Jackpot! The supervising soldier, contemplating the shattered remnants of the target, was lost in thought. While live ammunition could indeed damage the targets, to burst them like this... wasn''t it a bit exaggerated? His gaze shifted from the broken target back to the odd artificial person, who had closed his eyes as if savoring something. The deluge of brass bullets nearly buried him whole; Bai E, lost in his system storage space, could only see that pile of golden bullet rain falling from the sky. The drop rate was really high... Besides that, prompts on the panel flashed by one after another at the same time. [Current Light Firearms Specialization mastery experience 533/100, "Level 1 Light Firearms Specialization" acquired, with 1 potential point synchronized.] [Light Firearms Specialization (Level 1): Shooting accuracy +3%, critical hit +0.5%.] [Current Light Firearms Specialization mastery experience 433/300, "Level 2 Light Firearms Specialization" acquired, with 1 potential point synchronized.] [Light Firearms Specialization (Level 2): Shooting accuracy +6%, critical hit +1%.] [Current Light Firearms Specialization mastery experience 133/500, "Level 3 Light Firearms Specialization" available at 500 points.] Light Firearms Specialization, Level 2! After acquiring the specialization, the -8% penalty to shooting without specialization vanished, and the firearm''s inherent -3% accuracy penalty turned positive for the first time due to a personal +6% accuracy enhancement. The hand gripping the machine gun never felt the gun grip fit the palm''s lines so well, and the cold steel of the gun barrel took on a touch of familiar warmth. The experience from the specialization gave Bai E an unprecedented sense of unity with the firearm in his hands. The improvement in shooting accuracy was reflected in body control related to shooting, wind direction, humidity, firearm quality, and so on. When all deviations were corrected by experience... The target moved to another target on the left lane, Bai E raised the machine gun, and took aim... "Pfft~" "Pfft~" "Pfft~" The gunshots played a steady rhythm; three bullets were discharged in succession, creating three equidistant holes on the target, aligned vertically and forming a straight line. The middle one hit the bullseye. [Inflicted moderate penetration damage to the target, durability -2.](Stacked) [Successfully hit the center of the target, Light Firearms Specialization mastery experience +1] [Current Light Firearms Specialization mastery experience 134/500...] The humanoid, whose target was perforated with three holes by bullets from the next lane, looked bewildered. What happened? "That''s enough." The chief examiner appeared beside Bai E at some point, his broad palm pressing down on the gun barrel, gently pushing it down. "You''re quite good." Yue Ying, standing on the second floor, extended her sleek and slender right hand from beneath the black cloak to rest on the railing. A hint of surprise flickered in the cool eyes hidden within the shadows. "Such rapid progress..." Any single shot among the three would not alone prove much, but together they signified that the results of these three shots were controlled. He could control where the shots landed! Although it was unknown why this humanoid performed poorly with training rifles but his level soared when using real guns, it didn''t matter. Human warriors only need to fight. "That will do..." The chief examiner patted Bai E''s shoulder, his expression pleased. [Side mission¡ªNew Recruit''s Talent, complete!] [Mission reward: Light Firearms Specialization level +1, General Experience +100, awards dispatched.] ["Level 3 Light Firearms Specialization" acquired, with 1 potential point synchronized.] [Light Firearms Specialization (Level 3): Shooting accuracy +9%, critical hit +1.5%.] [Current Light Firearms Specialization mastery experience 134/1000, "Level 4 Light Firearms Specialization" available at 1000 points. (Note: Extra attributes unlockable at Specialization Level 4.)] Hearing the panel''s prompts, Bai E restrained himself and slowly let out a breath. The first step had finally been taken securely. It was just a pity that there wasn''t more opportunity for experimentation. If "Lucky Shot" could produce those items, could normal destruction also yield loot, even at a discount? Calling over his deputy, the chief examiner, whose face looked aged but resolute, instructed pointing at Bai E, "Assign him to an appropriate special squad." "Special squad?" Almost as soon as the chief examiner''s words fell, a questioning voice came from the direction of the range entrance. Chapter 5: Questioning from Teammate 005 A strapping military officer with three silver stars on his shoulder strode over, the steel of his boots making a constant "clack clack" sound on the ground. The imposing figure of the middle-aged officer, thick with muscles and a dense beard, walked straight towards them, bearing down like a mountain, full of oppressive presence. His tone was anything but courteous. "Old man, do you have any idea what you''re talking about?" As he approached, the officer glanced at Bai E by the side before locking his gaze firmly on the elderly chief examiner. With his eyes lowered, the chief examiner seemed indifferent to the other''s intimidation, merely saying softly, "Hamilton, this isn''t your armored battalion, it''s not your place to intervene in my decisions." The middle-aged officer chuckled coldly, "New artificial humans joining the special forces squad right off the bat, old man... aren''t you being a bit too eager?" [You acutely realize you might have unwittingly stepped into some faction struggle, you decide...] Upon hearing the prompt on the panel, Bai E chose... to remain silent. With too little information, any action might prove wrong. "The most outstanding soldiers should undertake the most rigorous duties, that''s the original intent of the artificial human soldier program." Turning his head away from him, the chief examiner simply said to his deputy, "Go, find him a suitable squad." "Yes, sir!" Hamilton huffed coldly, folded his arms, and said nothing more. He was there to meet a partner from the Elf Race, it just so happened that he stumbled upon this scene and couldn''t resist mocking it a bit. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fight between the factions that either rejected or supported artificial humans was escalating by the day, and it was only a matter of time before a winner emerged. These heretics who supported artificial humans would all be sent to the battlefield sooner or later! ... The deputy''s efficiency was high, and it didn''t take long before he had someone in mind, "Come with me, I''ll take you to meet your future teammates." Bai E nodded stiffly, "Mhm." Following the deputy through the camp, Bai E saw his future teammates in a spacious tent made of steel frames and fabric. A man seated at a corner on an ammo box, his tightly worn uniform emphasizing his bulging muscles, was polishing a firearm with an oily black cloth. A petite woman shrouded in a dark uniform, only her calm and indifferent eyes visible outside the black mask. And there was a man not wearing the special fabric combat suit but a plain white tank top, looking like a middle-aged uncle out for a stroll. The only one standing by the entrance of the tent was a figure in gray-black, dressed in a combat suit made of unknown sturdy fabric, protecting his body; his exposed face showed several deep scratches. They had all been notified in advance and were waiting there. "This is ''Tiger,'' the captain of this combat squad, an artificial human like you, and now he''ll be your captain," the deputy announced. "This is 95B27, his test scores were very good. Commander Laurent specifically instructed that we find him a special forces squad," he added shortly, patting Tiger''s shoulder. "Get to know each other, from now on, you''re teammates." After saying this, he lifted the tent flap and left, leaving Bai E to endure the scrutinizing looks of four people. Tiger, ever cheerful, didn''t let the atmosphere turn awkward. He extended his hand, sweeping it past his teammates to introduce Bai E. "This is Song Ying, responsible for our team''s fire support; this is 98A24, who handles breaching and charging, he''s named himself ''Da Shan'' (Big Mountain); and that one is 98B25, in charge of maneuvering and support, you can call her ''You''." Tiger made the introductions one by one, then looked at Bai E with some anticipation. "Besides ''Ying,'' the others here are like you, all artificial humans. Numbers are too cumbersome; we usually come up with a simple name for ourselves. What would you like to call yourself?" [A new life, a new name, you get this chance only once, you tell them you want to be called...] The prompt from the panel rang out unexpectedly at that moment, and Bai E''s gaze flickered slightly before he replied softly. "Bai E, you can call me Bai E." [Welcome, honorable soldier ''Bai E,'' you''ve formally joined the world of Galaxy Online. Moving forward, please enjoy the freedom to explore as you wish!] Galaxy Online? The game I had reserved? I finally found why everything in this world felt so eerily familiar! Bai E''s gaze sharpened as the calm returned, seizing that thread which ran through everything. Bai E''s new teammates didn''t leave him much space to think quietly. "Your test scores were pretty good?" In the corner polishing his gun, Song Ying suddenly looked up, his gaze indifferent as he quietly asked, "Only those with a sharpshooting specialty need to be tested, right?" Bai E replied with equal calm, "It should be okay." Even truly gifted artificial soldiers would hardly manage to secure a Level 3 specialization in light firearms on their first test. With a genuine specialization at his disposal, he spoke with a bit more confidence. Song Ying, holding his gun, stood up, "Let''s see what you''ve got." The tent fell silent, with You and Da Shan silently watching, and Tiger holding his chest, apparently happy to see it unfold. Seeing Bai E looking around, Song Ying spoke sternly, "Don''t mind it; anyone joining the squad has to be accepted. We need to ensure that in future hazardous operations, we can trust you with our backs." [In the face of the top-down order, anyone would instinctively resist. Faced with your teammates'' doubts, you decide...] "..." Bai E nodded slightly, "How do you want to do this?" "Simple. A shooting test." The shooting range had it all, from fixed targets at 50 meters to 100 meters, 200 meters, and even moving targets that changed frequency. It wasn''t the same as real combat but it was a way to glimpse the basics. "Alright." "Follow me." ... Peace had reclaimed the interior of the tent. Watching the two leave the tent, the remaining three teammates exchanged glances, their eager anticipation hard to suppress. "Shall we go check it out?" "They''ve been gone a while, no telling how they''re doing." Tiger casually tapped his fighting knife with the smoking pipe in his hand. "If you''re that curious, then let''s go have a look," he decided. Da Shan and You exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with interest. "Let''s go." Chapter 6: 006 Firearms Maintenance "It''s your turn." Song Ying handed over the machine gun to Bai E indifferently, his tone not betraying the slightest fluctuation. Knowing that Bai E was a newly created artificial human, he didn''t deliberately make things difficult for him and merely used a fixed target to verify his strength. He demonstrated for Bai E first, hitting a 200-meter fixed target: eight bullets hit the bullseye, two hit the nine ring¡ªthat was his capability. Two hundred meters was the limit of the shooting range, not his own. Exceeding the range limit didn''t mean that he couldn''t attack, just that neither accuracy nor attack power could be guaranteed anymore. Bai E calmly took the machine gun, his gaze shifting away from Song Ying''s head. [Song Ying (Human) (Teammate) ¡ª Using "Lucky Shot" to kill can drop: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*2400, Battle Experience 1500 points); High Probability (Mastery: Light Firearms Specialization Level +1, not exceeding level 4); Possible (Skill: Firepower Suppression, Expertise: Far-sighted Eyes)] The Light Firearms Specialization level +1 in the loot, which couldn''t exceed level 4, made him wonder if that was his actual level. Of course, he didn''t plan to kill his teammate, and even if he wanted to, he was powerless to do so. The "Lucky Shot" charge on the panel had turned into 0/100 (Unusable) after he blew up the target. After all this time, he hadn''t seen even 1 point of charge recover; he wondered what the conditions for charging were... His thoughts returned to the machine gun in his hands, its item attributes virtually identical to the machine gun he had obtained before, with only a slight difference in the traits¡ª [Trait: Severely Worn, Primitive Maintenance, Shooting Accuracy -10%, Attack Power Reduced -5%, Durability Rapidly Declining...] [...Durability 10/20.] Clearly, the frequency of combat for Song Ying and that of the examiner soldier were incomparable. More frequent combat led to worse weapon conditions. A thought flickered, and the "Knowledge: Firearms Maintenance" that had dropped when he blew up the target came to mind. [You possess "Knowledge: Firearms Maintenance." Would you like to pay 100 general experience points to improve understanding?] [Yes!] The 100 general experience points given by the side quest for being a new recruit could be used right here. Since he learned that this world was that of Galaxy Online, everything he read on the official website about it surged to the forefront of his mind. In this world, there were three types of experience¡ªgeneral experience, battle experience, and special experience. Special experience was the collective term for experiences like Light Firearms Specialization experience, Close Combat Mastery experience, Heavy Firearms Mastery experience, and so on, which could only be used to upgrade a single specialization level and was normally acquired through "training." Battle experience, as the name suggests, could be obtained by killing enemies in "combat," similar to "experience" in traditional games, and could be used to upgrade all kinds of specialization abilities, even including other combat-related skills. It was essentially a universal type of special experience, its only disadvantage compared to special experience being that it could not be created out of nothing. Special experience could progress from nothing to mastering level 1 of a specialization, whereas battle experience could not. It could only continue upgrading the level of an existing specialization of at least level 1. As for the final type, general experience, it was the highest grade of experience that could enhance any combat or non-combat related abilities. It was usually achieved through "quests," but just like battle experience, it also could not create something out of nothing when it came to upgrading combat-related abilities. However, when it came to enhancing "knowledge," "technology," and similar non-combat related abilities, it could be used from level 0 onsite, provided the requisite knowledge was possessed. Right now seemed to be the opportunity to make use of "Knowledge: Firearms Maintenance." [You have learned "Firearms Maintenance Level 1," and have also received 1 tech point.] [Firearms Maintenance (Level 1): Maintenance of light firearms, restore 3 points of durability to the target, with a cooldown time of 24 hours.] Removing the bullets from the chamber and securing the safety, Bai E began to inspect the barrel and chamber closely... "What are you doing?" Song Ying was puzzled¡ªit was the first time Bai E had seen an expression of surprise on his face. It was like... his wife had been stripped bare for all to see. Bai E found it amusing. "Your gun¡­ it''s very badly worn." Bai E said softly, squinting at the dark interior of the barrel as he tapped it with his fair fingernail. "..." Song Ying tensed visibly, "What''s wrong?" "When you use it to shoot, haven''t you felt anything odd?" Bai E paused, his tone slightly halting as he knocked against the steel barrel, "If you don''t maintain it properly... it will break." "I..." "You had noise when you were shooting just now." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You..." "I''m fixing it for you." Bai E stepped forward and replied first. "..." Song Ying was instantly dumbfounded, his face showing a complex mix of emotions. Doubt, anticipation, confusion, surprise... It was as if a palette of colors had been overturned. "Where''s the screwdriver?" "I... I''ll go get it for you." "Gun oil." "Right here." "Cleaning cloth." "Here." ... Bai E disassembled the gun by himself, meticulously maintaining it piece by piece. In the real world, you can''t accomplish everything just by reading a list; after gaining the necessary knowledge, Bai E only understood how to do it. The actual operation still needed hands-on action. [You have performed maintenance on the target, restoring 3 points of durability.] [You have completed a maintenance, "Firearm Maintenance Experience" +3.] [Current Firearm Maintenance Experience 3/300, at 300 points you can master "Level 2 Firearm Maintenance".] [...Durability 13/20.] [Trait: It has just received a thorough nourishment, despite being long-neglected, it still has some inaccuracy, shooting precision -8%. It is yearning for its next... (Cooldown time: 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds)] "Hoo~" Bai E blew on the gleaming gun body he had just wiped down and picked it up, ready to aim. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Three bullets in burst fire mode came out one after another, easily hitting... the dead center of the target. [You have inflicted minor penetration damage on the target, durability -1.] [Successfully hit the target center, "Light Firearms Specialization" experience +3] (Stacked) [Current "Light Firearms Specialization" experience 137/1000...] (Not bad luck...) Bai E set down the machine gun and saw the silhouettes of the other three teammates approaching. "How is it?" Shan approached first, asking Song Ying. Song Ying took back his own machine gun from Bai E, caressing it as if touching a lover... He could feel his precious weapon revitalized. "It''s great!" Having slung his precious weapon back on his body, Song Ying grasped Bai E''s hands enthusiastically, "Please, you must join our squad." ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] The teammates all stared at the side of Song Ying''s face, full of disbelief¡ª He''s defected just like that? "..." Bai E was momentarily taken aback, then revealed a gentle smile, "Thank you." ... Did I fully integrate into the world of "Galaxy Online" just like that? Bai E''s gaze passed through the glass, looking at the sky outside the shooting range. Whether my entrance into the world of "Galaxy Online" is an isolated case or a widespread phenomenon remains uncertain. If this is a game, then why do I have no memory of the process of entering the game, nor can I leave at will? Yet if it''s the real world, the guiding voice, quest system, and panel skills... these things seem too magical to be true. I wonder... have any other players with reservations come in? Outside the window, a thunder dragon passed through the gloomy clouds, illuminating a small portion of the land... Chapter 7: 007 Player "The servers are up, the servers are up!" Kuang Xin hugged his newly acquired helmet, seemingly unable to let it go. The long-awaited "Galaxy Online" finally launched on schedule, much to the delight of this hardcore gaming enthusiast. A future sci-fi world that''s not only game-exclusive but also entirely realistic¡ªlet''s see just how real you are? He lay down in the gaming pod, donned the helmet, and entered the game¡ª "Should I create my character first?" "Hmm... pretty standard." "Let me create a wife first!" [Detected gender as male, usage of female characters prohibited.] "?" Discriminate, eh? Why can''t men use female characters? Shivering with indignation. Kuang Xin blinked his eyes. In fact, he didn''t see the familiar character customization panel, but some rather strange options¡ª [Physical Build Preference: ?] [Facial Appearance Preference: ?] [Ability Preference: ?] [Race Preference: ?] Physique from frail to robust was a slidable scale. After a moment''s hesitation, Kuang Xin opted for a balanced choice, as the people of Yan Kingdom always preferred a middle ground. The appearance from handsome to ugly was also a two-dimensional choice. Without a doubt, max out on handsomeness. Ability preference... seemed to be a four-dimensional choice. Physical strength, insight, reflexes, mystique. It was like a quadrilateral that could be freely stretched outwards from any corner, but there was a limit. And once any point was stretched to the limit, the other three could no longer change. After randomly fiddling for a bit, Kuang Xin, familiar with online gaming routines, understood its meaning¡ªthese must be the character''s personal attributes in the game. Now he was setting up the base attributes. All four attributes had a minimum threshold, and there were some undistributed points that you could freely add to any attribute, but the total number of undistributed points was limited. Considering the scant information released on the official website, early game priority was clearly physical strength > insight = reflexes > mystique. So... just slightly increase insight and reflexes, and put the rest into physical strength! Then, racial preference? Beast-ear girls, elf girls? Heh heh heh... There were also Bug Race, demons? What kind of bizarre options are these? Compared to those, humans and mutants seemed to be the most normal choices available. If that''s the case... I want a beast-ear girl! [Race Preference: Beastkin.] I just love that wild energy! Character creation complete! [Random character generation in progress...] Enter the game! Darkness enveloped Kuang Xin''s vision, as the helmet''s probes released gentle electrical currents. As a deeper darkness encroached upon Kuang Xin''s consciousness, a somewhat heavy physical sensation awakened within his mind. He felt the wind... peculiar smells... vibrations of the earth... surges of thunder. Two narrow slits emitting a dim grey light suddenly appeared before his eyes and fluttered twice. Kuang Xin struggled to open his slightly heavy eyelids. This was a human settlement. Beneath his feet lay black soil, and wooden fences not far away enclosed simple huts. The figures, like shadows, stooped and walked slowly against the grey backdrop. Some people cast curious glances at Kuang Xin, who was slowly rising from the ground. Kuang Xin also examined his own body. Simple black ragged clothing covered his body, his feet were clad in shoes made of wood planks, and his hands and feet were full of black mud. He touched his ears... no beast ears. Was he still human? Then he grabbed a handful of his crotch... such a soft touch. The sour and cool feeling on his skin continuously pricked at his nerves. "So realistic?" Kuang Xin couldn''t help but exclaim in amazement. [As you curiously observe your surroundings, you realize this is a whole new unknown world...] The sudden voice from the system startled Kuang Xin, who had been immersed in the reality of the game, and then he deeply realized that this was the gaming world. "Where''s the panel?" With his intentional call out, a light blue semi-transparent screen unfolded before him like spilt mercury¡ª [Name]: Unknown [Race]: Human [Template]: Player [Health Points]: 60/60 (Base 50 + (Physical Strength ¨C 10) * 10) [Physical Strength]: 11 (Current) / 15 (Trainable Limit) [Insight]: 9 / 15 [Reflexes]: 9 / 15 [Mystique]: 6 / ¡Þ [Genetic Optimization Degree] (Current Preference: Beastkin): 0/100 [Skills]: None [Traits]: Peerless Beauty (Charisma +10, more likely to attract others'' attention.) [Expertise]: Brawny Physique (Unlocked) [Mastery]: None [Spiritual Energy]: Unmastered [Technology]: None [Mutation Risk]: Extremely Low [Assets]: 100 Blackwater Coins (Starter Funds) ... Having a trait is pretty good. According to the official website, traits are innate attributes, and each player''s birth character comes with randomness¡ªanything could happen... or nothing at all, which is highly probable. I deserve it, maxing out on looks has its perks. Charisma +10, won''t I become a hot commodity in the eyes of those NPCs? It seems because of my charisma, someone quickly approached me. "Wanderer? Where do you hail from?" "Wanderer? Is that the background identity of this body?" Kuang Xin contemplated quietly. [You have tentatively accepted the identity of this world, and a brand-new world is opening up to you...] Kuang Xin nodded at the prompt, affirming his thoughts, completely unaware that the gaunt-faced man in front of him, missing a front tooth, was looking at his face with a somewhat mesmerized smile. "Over there¡­" Kuang Xin casually pointed in a direction as an answer to the question, and then he eagerly asked, "Do you have any work for me to help with around here?" Usually, the first person you meet should be the guide for newbie quests, right? Newbie quests! Newbie quests! "Work to help with?" The man shook his head sadly, "Apart from food, we common folks don''t need much. Winter''s almost here, and the few wild vegetables we planted are nowhere near enough for my family of three. Sigh... I don''t know how many more will starve to death after this winter." [Side Quest Triggered ¡ª Food for the Winter.] [Food for the Winter: Mr. Hans and his family are troubled by the coming winter. Collect enough food for them! Quest Requirement: Submit "Fresh" Meat Chunks *0/50. Quest Reward: 100 General Experience Points, Item Reward Unknown.] A quest! What''s there to hesitate about! As for what Mr. Hans said? Emmm¡­ what did he say again? "I accept!" Kuang Xin was extremely excited, everything felt familiar, "Where to? How many do I need to kill?" Seeing the exceptionally handsome wanderer accept his request so eagerly, Hans felt puzzled and with a cautious heart pointed to a place that was relatively less dangerous. "Over there lies the Black Forest, it''s home to some beasts with mild mutations, you may be able to rely on your skills to hunt a few..." Skills? I refuse! The wisdom of humanity is to use tools; aren''t we supposed to save the starter funds for something else? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, the official website also had some newbie tips, suggesting that in the early stages before you can withstand a nuclear bomb with your bare body, firearms are definitely more useful than fists. Kuang Xin wore a passionate smile that was out of place in this dreary environment. "Mr. Hans, do you or anyone nearby have any merchants? I want to purchase some stuff to arm myself." Hans squinted his eyes, a greedy look fleeting across his face. "I have some right here¡­" ... [Poor-Quality Flintlock¡ªQuality: Grey (Light Firearm)] [Basic Parameters: Fire Rate 1 round/S; Mag Capacity: 7 rounds (pistol ammunition); Range 50 meters; Base Attack Power (Type: Piercing): 8~10; Power Output Level 10; Durability 7/10] [Usage Requirements: Physicality 8 (Can Use), Character currently has no Light Firearms Specialization, Shooting Accuracy -10%.] [Trait: Crude and Shoddy, Shooting Accuracy -10%; poorly made, with a chance of exploding during use.] ... [Poor-Quality Bullets¡ªQuality: Grey]*5 [Basic Parameters: Pistol ammunition, Attack Power Modifier -2] [Usage Requirements: Compatible with pistol types.] [Trait: Manually produced in a primitive way, inconsistent specifications, with projectiles highly likely to deviate, Shooting Accuracy -10%.] ... Newbie equipment... as expected, it''s trash. 100 bucks for this junk, seems like the in-game prices might be pretty high? But the transaction was simple, money for goods, no trade panel, the real-world method is commendable. But none of that matters, my legendary gaming life starts here! "Are you prepared to set out now?" Watching the spirited Kuang Xin, Hans felt a twinge of a long-dormant conscience. "I don''t even know your name yet?" Maybe I can build a tomb for him if he dies? Kuang Xin was slightly startled. [A new life, a new name, you have one chance, what do you tell them your name is...] The system''s prompt gave Kuang Xin a full sense of immersion. No wonder they didn''t let me pick a name when entering the game, it was waiting for this moment? "My name is Kuang Xin." Kuang Xin smiled brightly, "You can call me Kuang Xin. This name is destined to spread to every corner of this world!" [Hello, respected wanderer ''Kuang Xin'', you have officially joined the world of Galaxy Online. Now, please explore freely as you wish!] Hans nodded. "Alright, Kuang Xin." (Alright, fool.) Chapter 8: 008 Takeoff! Hans arrived at the Black Forest he mentioned, and during his exploration, Kuang Xin spotted a little creature covered in black fur, roughly the size of a domestic Golden Retriever. Not knowing what species it was, but guessing the NPCs probably wouldn''t care much as long as it was meat. So he quietly drew closer while raising his handgun, loaded with all 5 bullets, ready to fire at any moment. I''m aiming! Aiming! Aiming! Huh? Where''s my scope? Oh~ right, I don''t have one... No crosshairs, no assisted aiming system, it''s all manual aiming. Quite the naughty setting. But I like it. It was Kuang Xin''s first time interacting with the combat system, and he was excited. Coming to this realistic game world, any exploration was interesting. Creak~ Creak~ The sound of dry leaves and broken branches crackled underfoot. When he got to within about 10 meters, the little creature seemed to notice something and began to move its body warily. Not wanting to disturb it and turn his stationary target into a moving one, Kuang Xin stopped in his tracks and held his breath. The Black Forest was silent, and he felt as though he could sense the breathing and pulsing of nature itself. The ground under his feet was soft and muddy, and the moisture in the air could be felt on his exposed skin. Everything was so real and wonderful. Taking a deep breath of the slightly moist air, Kuang Xin held the pistol with both hands, aiming at the target in a pose he had seen on TV as best as he could. "Bang!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Four consecutive shots rang out, the thrill of shooting unmatched. Low-quality bullets fired through the crude gun barrel with a twist, in the dim light, two splatters of blood could be faintly seen. -8 -9 [Successful hit on target, Light Firearms Mastery experience +1] [Currently at Light Firearms Mastery experience 1/100, reach 100 points to master "Level 1 Light Firearms Specialization".] [Dealt 8 damage to the target!] [...+1] [Currently at Light Firearms Mastery experience 2/100...] [Dealt 9 damage to the target!] The combat information flowed across the panel like water. But Kuang Xin had no time to pay attention to it, his target information became clearer after successfully hitting it. [Badger (Wild): Health 33/50; Defensive Power 8; Movement 63%.] The wild animal''s first instinct upon being frightened and injured was to flee, its mobility clearly compromised after unexpected damage to its legs. Kuang Xin didn''t care, the wild forest was calling him, and the branches whipping across his face left bloody marks. A little pain couldn''t stop his pursuit, Experiencing such a realistic hunt for the first time, he felt like ancient instincts were awakening in his veins. He chased, it fled, it couldn''t fly away. With the last bullet remaining, Kuang Xin didn''t want to use it. A single bullet only inflicted eight or nine points of damage, and the opponent still had 33 points of health remaining, which meant he needed to get close for the kill. The small creature took advantage of its petite size to flee through the complex forest, but it couldn''t ultimately escape the hunter''s pursuit. Stepping on one of its meaty legs, Kuang Xin used hands and feet, smashing wildly. He mindlessly threw stones, sticks, and whatever else he could find. Until the kill notification appeared on the panel. [Using melee attack hit the target, Close Combat Mastery experience +2, Brute Physique (Unlocked) unlocking progress 4%.] [Currently at Close Combat Mastery experience 7/100, reach 100 points to master "Level 1 Close Combat Specialization".] [Dealt 3 damage to the target, health depleted to 0.] [Target''s breathing ceased, basic vital signs lost.] "Huff~ Huff~" Kuang Xin breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the ground. In the real world, that amount of physical activity would certainly have left him gasping, but although his body didn''t feel fatigued now, his spirit felt like it had reached its limit. However, he didn''t sit for two seconds before the damp coolness from the ground soaked through the thin fabric of his pants, and the chill that crept up his spine made him jump up again instantly. "Not tired." Kuang Xin shook his arms, as if they didn''t belong to him, and spoke with surprise. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Squatting down again, he rummaged through the carcass of the beast, and Kuang Xin got the precise information. [Badger''s Corpse: 15.23 kilograms, collectable items include Fresh Meat Chunks*6~10, Fur*0~1 (determined by the level of "Knowledge: Dissection"). Trait: The body is decaying, please process it quickly.] [You have completely killed the target and gained 5 experience points in combat.] "The most I can get is 10 chunks? So I need to kill at least five or six more?" Not much! But I need to deal with this one quickly; otherwise, the corpse will be eaten by bacteria and insects, and that''s the real trouble. Dissection? No clue! But I''ve seen people butcher rabbits in reality; the difference shouldn''t be too significant. First step... skinning! Finding the wound pierced by the bullet, Kuang Xin dug his hand in. The greasy fat and blood instantly covered his fingers, slippery and unusual. [You are attempting to perform a dissection; dissecting...] The linking between the fur and muscle was exceptionally tough; Kuang Xin exerted all his strength but still couldn''t tear even a small opening. [Dissection failed.] "I refuse to believe this!" Reaching out to the side, he felt a sharp stone amidst the dead branches and decaying leaves and decided to use brute force to create a miracle. First expand the wound, then tear it open completely. Smash smash smash smash! Tug! Pull! Yank! Rip! "Huff~ Huff~" Kuang Xin panted, his breath turning into a mist that slowly dispersed into the air. Predators attracted by the smell of bodily fluids silently moved in the darkness, skillfully avoiding noisy dead branches¡­ "Dissection is even more exhausting than killing!" He barely picked out a few muddy blood-soaked chunks of meat from the bloody mess. [You have completed one dissection and received Fresh Meat Chunks*4, Dissection Experience +4.] [Current Dissection Experience 4/100, at 100 points, you will master "Level 1 Dissection."] Job well done! "I truly am a genius!" Kuang Xin wiped the sweat off his face with hands smeared in mud and blood fat, feeling a sense of relief as he weighed the chunks of meat in his embrace. Feeling a strong sense of accomplishment. [Fresh Meat Chunk: Can be eaten after simple processing, each piece can restore 5 points of "Action Energy Reserve." Trait: Currently not preserved, continuing to decay rapidly; the fresh scent of blood may attract unknown desires, please handle with caution (Current risk: Extremely low).] Still decaying? Damn it! First, I''ll submit these chunks! I knew this damned task wouldn''t be easy. As for the risk? It''s said to be extremely low, so I''ll just ignore it! [Carrying weight 4 kilograms, Maximum Movement Speed Reduced 2%.] Smiling with a face full of satisfaction, Kuang Xin handed the bloodied and sloppy chunks of meat to Hans, despite his filthy appearance. The mud all over his body, along with those careless bloodstains, made the dried black blood on his smiling face look even more chilling. Hans stepped back half a step, his eyes filled with wary surprise as he stared at the "madman" before him. Even for a "wanderer," this guy seemed a bit too careless. But... he was reliable. Looking at the muddled flesh in his hand, Hans pursed his lips, feeling a slight prick of conscience. Hesitating, he pulled out a small knife from behind and handed it to Kuang Xin. "It seems you used a very primitive method to get this raw meat. Take this knife; it might make things easier for you in the future." With the aid of a tool, this fool could work more efficiently for him. His conscience settled instantly as he thought about how considerate he was being for others. [Because of your outstanding performance, you have received an early item reward for the task "Winter Provisions."] [Rusty Small Knife ¡ª Quality: Grey (Light Weapon)] [Basic Parameters: Blade Attack Power (Type: Slashing): 3~5; Output Level 5; Durability 9/10] [Usage Requirement: None.] [Trait: Lacking polish, Attack Power -1; lacking oil, blade rusting, if it hits a wound, it might carry some additional special effects...] I got equipment! Holding the small knife in his hand, Kuang Xin''s face lit up with ecstasy. The decision to return and hand over the task items first was absolutely the right one. Woohoo! Take off! Chapter 9: 009 Big handicap! Get on it! Armed with new equipment, Kuang Xin turned around and headed straight back into the pitch-black forest. It must be nighttime in the game world, with a cold moon hanging in the heavy clouds above. She tried her best, but could only see through the faint misty light. This meant visibility for Kuang Xin was very low. Of course, it wasn''t the best time for hunting, but it didn''t matter! Difficulties apply to everyone, only effort is visible to oneself. I''m going to work hard in secret tonight, and take down those stinking fools. Once again delving into the woods, Kuang Xin treaded lightly. In the silent forest, the only sound was the gentle "creak" beneath her feet. Kuang Xin summoned all her focus, her eyes widening as she carefully observed everything in the forest. The silhouettes of branches cast shadows on the grey curtain above, as a light breeze whistled by, and the devil''s minions readied themselves in the darkness. No moving shadow could escape his watchful eye. He, Kuang Xin, the top-level hunter in Galaxy Online! Tonight, was going to be an exhilarating hunt! "Squeak squeak~" The ignorant little beast searched for food in its nighttime domain, sniffing the ground inch by inch with its soft, pale nose, trying to find plant roots buried deep beneath the soil. It was completely unaware that the top-level hunter was already stealthily approaching from behind. 20 meters! 15 meters! 10 meters! 8 meters! With previous experience, Kuang Xin moved even more professionally and lightly this time. Holding the pistol... she hesitated for a moment, but eventually decided not to fire her last bullet, instead tucking the gun into her waistband. The first shot was satisfying, firing 4 out of the 5 bullets. But who knew acquiring resources in this game would be so difficult? The first quest was so challenging, and the chance to buy bullets with Black Water Coins seemed far off, not to mention Hans never brought it up. With only one bullet left, Kuang Xin decided to save it, resolving not to shoot again until facing real danger. 7 meters! 6 meters! 5 meters! Seemingly sensing the approaching hunter behind it, the little beast turned its head vigilantly, catching a glimpse of Kuang Xin''s shadow in the corner of its eye before bursting out with wild energy and darting away. "Don''t run!" Kuang Xin gritted her teeth and yelled, lunging forward fiercely. She brushed aside the branches in her way, ignoring the cobwebs and debris that swept across her face. However, the forest was ultimately not the humans'' home court, and the uninjured little creature moved like a fish in water, weaving freely. With a physical strength of 11, Kuang Xin could only follow clangingly behind, watching helplessly as the beast got farther and farther away. In his urgency, Kuang Xin wasn''t paying attention to his footing and got tripped by an old vine from a large tree, tumbling over in a mess. "Fuck! It''s so hard to chase!" Lying on the ground, Kuang Xin gasped for breath and gave up, pulling out the makeshift gun from his waist and looking at it with complex eyes. "Only one left." Without bullets to shoot first, it''s really hard to catch those wild little creatures in a place like this. Bullets... bullets... Where can I get more bullets... Uh~ It feels a bit cold. Lying on the ground, Kuang Xin huddled up as the chill from the ground seeped up his spine and spread through his body. So, he sat up with a kick like a carp flipping over, mumbling in his mind¡ª This game is indeed realistically made; even the sense of pores tightening and hair standing on end has been replicated. Hmm~ It feels like someone is watching me. As if possessed, he turned his head, and saw dim, unstable red flashes flickering in and out of visibility beneath the grey curtain... "..." In the dim light, the red flashes slowly moved out of the shadows and into Kuang Xin''s line of sight. Needle-like fur reflected a dark, glossy gleam, and the crimson eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty intent to kill. A pack of wolves? High-level monsters! But they can''t be defeated. One bullet certainly can''t kill all the monsters in front of me. Run! In a panic, Kuang Xin scrambled to his feet and ran. The death penalty in Galaxy Online is quite severe; players can be critically injured, can be left with a sliver of health, but cannot actually die. Death here means starting over, with no save points, nor any chance for revival. You could only switch characters and start from the beginning. And switching characters has a cooldown, once every three days. This meant that even if you have the chance to start over, within those three days, you can only die once, die one more time... I''m going to die without Galaxy Online to play! Even though he had just started playing, the rich rewards and realistic interaction system in the game had already fascinated Kuang Xin immensely. Of course, it was said that once one advanced to a higher level, there might be ways to escape death, but that was clearly not something to consider at the moment. Seeing their prey expose its back, the brutal hunters stopped probing and charged ferociously. "Bang!" "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" The sound of gunfire also suddenly erupted from somewhere further away to the side. The trembling of the earth seemed even more violent than on their own side. Kuang Xin, hell-bent on escaping, had no time to pay attention to anything else and even hoped the others could draw away a few of the monsters for him. "Ho~ Ho~" The low growl from the throats of the hunters as they ran was like a soul-snatching death knell. The prey was close at hand, emitting the fragrance of food; the taste of fresh flesh and blood drove them into an insane frenzy. Kuang Xin bit his teeth and sprinted desperately, occasionally feeling as if those creatures with barbed tongues had already licked his buttocks. "Why the hell are they all chasing ME!" Luckily, the previous pursuit hadn''t gone too deep into the woods, and the trees ahead were getting sparser. Hope was in sight, and Kuang Xin mustered all the strength he could. [You have surpassed your physical limits through strenuous exercise. Physical Stamina +0.1.] Kuang Xin leapt out of the forest, gasping for air, feeling like he had never pushed himself to such a limit since the 1000-meter test in middle school. Standing in place with his hands on his knees, Kuang Xin was determined to give in to his exhaustion. No more running! Dammit, he wouldn''t run anymore today no matter who came for him! It was just a remake! Who was he afraid of! In the shadow of the bushes, those crimson eyes seemed to fear the world beyond the forest. Those places had terrifying erect-walking creatures; for a mere two pieces of meat... it seemed not to be worth the risk. Staring intently at the seeming decoy that was Kuang Xin, the wolves receded quietly like the tide, without a sound. "Ha~ Ha~" He had survived! What a relief! "Hahahaha!" Someone suddenly laughed aloud on the empty land. Kuang Xin looked up and saw several figures just as wretched as himself standing on the clearing outside the forest. "..." The feeling of escaping death didn''t seem so beautiful all of a sudden. "Jerks!" "Guys, are you also here for a quest?" Encountering jerks in a foreign land wasn''t good news that made one happy. But since all of them were new to this unfamiliar game, maybe they could exchange some information they had on hand. "Yes... they told me to go in and pick some mushrooms, but I can''t see anything in the dead of night!" "Hey! My task is even more absurd. They asked me to dig for some roots, but I dug and dug and found nothing." "What rewards did you guys get?" The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. "Ahaha~" "Nothing much, just a little bit of experience." While they were talking, another figure approached from the direction of the gathering. The newcomer approached with a puzzled look, asking respectfully, "Excuse me, sir, is this the Black Forest?" "Yeah, are you here for a quest?" one of the panting players responded casually. "Yes... are you also players?" The newcomer seemed delighted, as it was difficult to distinguish real people from NPCs in a game where no names floated above heads. "Of course." The newcomer looked around, "Then I wonder what you guys are doing here..." One of the players catching his breath with his hands on his knees waved his hand dismissively and said casually. "Oh~ we''re just resting here... We just finished fighting a BOSS, we''ve got no bullets and no strength left. There''s a BOSS inside, badly injured." Badly injured? The newcomer''s eyes lit up, "I see... I''ll go have a look then." "Hey hey! That''s the BOSS we left in bad shape!" The newcomer didn''t reply, as if he hadn''t heard, and plunged into the forest without looking back. "..." The other players who had been chased out by the wolf pack snickered covertly, tacitly remaining silent, waiting to see the joke play out. But just a moment later... "Aaaaahhhh! Help me!" "Hahahahaha!" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 10: What does The few players who had calmed down gathered together to discuss the real challenge that lay before them. "Those monsters are blocking our quests, what are we going to do?" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We unite!" "Attack from both sides!" The players looked at each other, falling silent. Stuffing both sides into their mouths would be more apt. "Did anyone just now catch a glimpse of those monsters'' attributes?" A female player perked up, raising her hand, "I hit one with a shot, saw a bit." "What about it, what about it?" The female player looked at her own panel''s combat history and recited from it. [Green Wolf (Wild):Health Points 56/60; Defensive Power 10; Agility 97%; Trait: Tough Fur...] [Tough Fur: Prior to receiving injury that exceeds its defensive power by a factor of two, it can significantly reduce the damage from piercing and slashing attacks.] "I don''t know more than that." Another male player showed off his left arm, which had a chunk torn out, "As for their offensive attributes... I got scratched by one, so I do know some additional info." [Green Wolf (Wild):Attack Strength (Type: Slashing) 5~7; Trait: Bacterial Claws...] [Bacterial Claws: A beast''s habit of carrying lethal bacteria and viruses on their claws to other creatures, the wounds inflicted by these claws "cannot heal naturally."] "You''d be dead after a few scratches from them..." "You''d need to hit them with a dozen or so shots from this crappy pistol to kill one..." The players sighed in frustration. At the end of the day, all fear always comes from inadequate firepower. "It''s just that the pistols we have are too weak. If I had a machine gun, I''d turn into Rambo right away!" "Where would you get a machine gun during the newbie phase? It''s more realistic to get more bullets and steal a little at a time." "So, about the bullets?" "How about we distribute our bullets, work on quests together, and focus fire on those wolf cubs when we encounter them!" "Good idea, how many bullets do you have?" "21..." "You?" "8..." "What about you guys?" "15." "1." "44." "???" All eyes turned towards the female player, their gazes filled with disbelief, "How do you have so many?" The female player innocently countered, "What''s the issue? Weren''t the bullets 2 blackwater coins each? Didn''t we start with 50?" "Weren''t they 3 blackwater coins each?" "Weren''t they 4 blackwater coins each?" "Weren''t they 5 blackwater coins each?" Kuang Xin was stunned on the spot, "Weren''t they 10 blackwater coins each?" "..." Feeling like the biggest grievance under everyone''s scrutinizing eyes, Kuang Xin felt as though he were a beacon of resentment. The game didn''t have uniform pricing? Recalling Hans''s face, Kuang Xin had never found the missing-toothed smile so vile. You old wall lamp! Wait till I get back and scatter your ashes! Someone else spotted a loophole and pointed to the girl''s gun, asking, "What about your gun?" The girl naturally replied, "It came free with the bullets..." "..." His heart ached; Kuang Xin felt as though a knife was ruthlessly gouging his heart. "Shall we redistribute the bullets, then?" The player left with 8 bullets suggested eagerly with a hopeful expression. The female player narrowed her eyes warily, clutching her bag and slowly stepping back, "I have something else to do..." The player with 21 bullets simply stood up and made a dash for it, "I''ve got things to do, too. See you later." "My mom''s calling me to drink milk, logging off for now." "Sure." The negotiation fell apart. In this game, where training could acquire various abilities, bullets were a resource that could be directly converted into one''s combat prowess. Who would share their own abilities with others? Frustrated, Kuang Xin could only return to the settlement with his pistol that had only one bullet left, intending to make Hans repent with that single bullet. After thinking about the quest he still had with him, and considering he was new and unclear about the NPCs'' strength and the game world''s rules, he suppressed this dangerous thought. Calm once again, Kuang Xin decided to outwit Hans, engage in a battle of wits and bravery. "I need bullets, or I can''t catch those cunning little things." Hans spread his hands, "Those are very precious materials... there must be a give and take, if you bring me enough meat, maybe I can find a way to get you some more bullets." Kuang Xin stared into his eyes. "But I need bullets now to complete... to bring you more meat." "No, no, no!" Hans waved his finger with an odd intonation, "If you don''t bring me meat, I cannot give you bullets." "If you don''t give me bullets, I can''t bring you meat!" "..." Hans remained silent, looking at Kuang Xin as if he were looking at an idiot. Damn it! Kuang Xin was furious, drawing his pistol with the last bullet. "Old man, don''t push it too far! You know how expensive you sold those bullets to me!" Hearing Kuang Xin finally bring up the fact he had been cheated, Hans, who had been nervously guilty, finally felt relieved. "Ah haha, cash on delivery, a transaction you agreed to, what''s this about being fair or unfair?" "..." Damn it! This NPC makes a good point. Composing himself, Kuang Xin raised his makeshift gun, "I won''t fuss over the past, just compensate me with some bullets, and I''ll pretend this never happened." Hans looked at Kuang Xin with a smile, and after a while, spit out two words, "Dream on." "..." Why can he be so shameless?! Kuang Xin was going crazy inside, but he had no good solution for these NPCs. I''ll find a chance to get back at you later, but not now. "Then you should compensate me with something." "Compensation?" Hans still had a smile, "You need bullets?" "Yes!" "Here!" Hans nodded towards a certain direction, "Or you could try your luck over there." Once bitten, twice shy, Kuang Xin kept his wits about him and asked cautiously. "What place is that?" "The military base... they often deal with some discarded materials, maybe you can find some of the things you want there... even better ones." [Map Information Obtained (Unidentified): Military Base.] [Intelligence Information Obtained (Unidentified): It''s possible to acquire certain discarded materials near the military base, some of which may be useful to you...] Kuang Xin was slightly pleased inside. It looked like this was his opportunity! Based on his many years of gaming experience, games tended to be about fairness. They had bought bullets for two Blackwater coins; he had bought information for a hundred Blackwater coins. Perfectly reasonable. This was a case of ''spending a fortune to buy a horse''s bones.'' Wisdom! Keeping his face expressionless, Kuang Xin nodded coldly. "I''ve noted that!" Watching Kuang Xin''s retreating figure, Hans lamented in his heart¡ª The naive out-of-towner who had gifted him meat was gone... sigh~ If only the Lord of the City could see this, he''d hope to see him shot! Steel door! Turning around and lowering the hand cannon he had carried on his back, Hans looked at his hands and muttered to himself, "Strange, why do I feel like my strength increased a little just now?" Chapter 11: 011 Side Quest - Patrol After proving his "natural talent" in shooting to his teammates, the time quietly approached evening. "This will be your bunk from now on..." Bai E glanced over. It was right next to You''s, how could this military camp still have mixed-gender living quarters? It was truly embarrassing. While pondering, a black jacket was tossed over to him. "Here, put this on." "What is this?" he asked subconsciously, even as the item''s properties floated up before his eyes. [Protective Combat Vest I-Type ¡ª Quality: White] [Basic Parameters: defensive power 8; Durability 30/30] [Wearing Requirements: None.] [Features: Made from special fabric, it offers excellent resistance to piercing and slashing type injuries, completely absorbing damage from piercing and slashing attacks up to 8 points in energy; it also can absorb weak kinetic energy, reducing some blunt type damage. Downside is... there''s a peculiar smell.] The combat vest was similar to a waistcoat, protecting only the chest area, with the head and limbs outside its protective scope. The size was adjustable, and Bai E could easily wear it on his own. "A basic combat vest, it offers some protection. Once you''re dressed, Song Ying and You will take you on patrol. This is the first defense line of the human city, and every night, many malicious eyes gaze upon this place, so we must be vigilant." [Triggered side mission ¡ª Patrol.] [Patrol: Complete your first patrol, and your abilities will receive some enhancement. Mission Requirements: Patrol 0/1. Mission Reward: Insight +0.1.] Song Ying chimed in with an explanation on the side, "Patrolling is also a form of training for our observational capabilities, which is a necessary and prioritized skill for us as shooters in the team. You''ve just come out of the cultivation tank, and many potentials are yet to be developed." Training. Training in various senses. This was the absolute main theme of Galaxy World OL. Bai E nodded expressionlessly, "Okay, I understand." The three made their way through tent after tent. [Tent (Neutral) ¡ª Destroy with "Lucky Strike" to drop: Guaranteed (Fabric*2000, Iron*500)] Can also burst... The night at the military camp was a bit lively, as the newly born artificial humans gradually woke up after being tempered by time and formed their own individual characters and thoughts. The elderly were warmly introducing them to more of the world''s landscapes. Grey steel fences encircled new squares between lighthouses, with beams of light from the lighthouses sweeping across every corner of the square, and the dust floating in the air danced like sprites in the paths illuminated by light. This was the military camp... Being a stranger in a strange land, even if there was some basic information about the Galaxy World artificially implanted in his mind and background descriptions from the official website, it still seemed difficult to survive independently in this world. And what does a deserter afraid of battle imply? It means genetic modification was unsuccessful, meaning one is defective. The consequence of being caught goes without saying. Compared to being a deserter, finding a way to survive the initial battle in three days seemed more realistic. Even if it sounded very dangerous. Bai E thought about evading, but clearly, the harm from avoiding was greater than facing the war. "Speaking of which, I don''t even know who the opponent will be after three days?" Looking at Bai E''s inquisitive eyes, You, walking alongside, coldly answered, "Every once in a while, our city defense force needs to regularly sweep the bug nests surrounding the city. Those greedy bugs are always coveting our biomass that can be converted into nutrient material. Stopping their advance is our greatest mission." The girl was petite, her voice not loud, but sufficiently clear, every word distinct. "I heard the commander say our squad is a special squad, so..." "There is no difference¡­ it just means we have to take care of the overall situation, and plug up any troublesome gaps immediately." ``` So you''re saying... it''s more dangerous? More elite warriors, facing harsher challenges. It seems that''s just the way of this world. But... I don''t want to die. After this period of respite, Bai E had completely recalled all his knowledge about "Galaxy Online" ¡ª The official website''s introduction to "Galaxy Online" was all based on the grand era''s background blueprint. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It represented the extreme emotions of sentient beings in the form of high-dimensional demons. Wherever they passed, even the stars would be devoured by the planet devourers ¡ª the Swarm. The cold mechanical races floated in space, ready to awaken at any time and blast high-energy rays across a face. The brainless green-skinned orc warriors longed for wild combat, while the discontented elves lived a life of ascetic self-discipline... Players could freely express their passions in this turbulent era, leaving traces of their existence. Pursuing the pinnacle of personal power, enhancing their bodies through genetics, Spiritual Energy, or even mechanical modifications, their physical forms traversing the universe. Or forming their own teams, legions... or even carving out a domain to rule over a planet or a Stellar District, becoming a true cosmic warlord. Alternatively, simply exploring the ruins of ancient civilizations among the stars alone or with a few close friends and family, being a simple and happy treasure hunter earning some pocket money. The official had once painted a beautiful game experience for the players, but did not inform them how to survive if unfortunate enough to be reincarnated as an artificial being about to be sent as cannon fodder to the battlefield. The turbulent era could not sustain the fragile flames of life of ordinary people. Choose to be eternally enslaved by high-dimensional demons or be injected with digestive bacteria by the Swarm and turned into a nutrient solution for the queen to absorb? Perhaps finding a cool spot to bury oneself is a more comfortable way to die? This world... is too dangerous. No ability was sufficient to bolster Bai E''s confidence in surviving. Not to mention the limited personal ability improvements that could be obtained under the current limited training conditions. Too slow... "Is there movement over there?" The moment he went out on patrol, Song Ying''s eyes spotted something unusual. Following his gaze, Bai E, who had returned from his reverie, also noticed the writhing shadow hidden in the darkness. "Click~" Song Ying held up the machine gun in his arms and loaded it, "Be careful." "Mhm." "You guys follow behind me." As the team''s close combat specialist, You moved to the front of the two. The three spread out at a distance and slowly approached the target, with Bai E quietly gripping the rifle he had just been issued. Due to not having enough physical attributes, Bai E was not yet qualified to use the kind of machine gun Song Ying held. Rifles, pistols. These were the equipment Bai E now possessed and could use. [Type 77 Assault Rifle ¡ª Quality: White (Light Firearms)] [Basic Parameters: Semi-auto mode firing rate 1.2 rounds/S, full-auto mode firing rate 3 rounds/S; Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (rifle); Range 500 meters; Basic attack power (type: piercing): 15~23; Output level 13; Durability 20/20] [Usage Requirements: Semi-auto mode physical 10 (usable), full-auto mode physical 12 (not usable).] [Trait: In full-auto mode, the trajectory is very likely to skew, shooting accuracy -15%.] The standard equipment exhibited a reliable quality, and the rifle in hand gave Bai E a certain confidence. ``` Chapter 12: 012 First Interaction Malicious gaze? Before leaving the camp, Captain Hu hadn''t been very detailed, because there were indeed a lot of enemies. Could it be something from some force? It wasn''t until Song Ying had closed enough distance for a reaction that he turned on his flashlight and aimed it toward the target. "Who''s there?" He was experienced and knew that not everyone appearing near the military camp was a vicious enemy, but he hadn''t explained right away to train Bai E''s mindset. In reality, there were always some humans with ill intentions who would sneak near the military camp to steal. As artificial humans, they were not allowed to kill regular humans at will. If the situation was serious, they could only arrest and hand over the culprit to the city''s judiciary for trial before getting official permission to kill. If it wasn''t serious, then they had to judge for themselves, and they could administer a light punishment. ... Kuang Xin, caught in the flashlight beam, felt as though he was looking at the sun, his vision filled with a dazzling light, and could only vaguely discern the silhouettes of three humans through the halo. So he immediately raised his hands and stood up. "Your Honor! I''m a good citizen! I am a good citizen!" He keenly knew that he was still a newbie in this game and stood no chance against these soldiers from the barracks. He fondly remembered how in another game, his max-level character was wiped out by a guardsman at the village gate with a couple of swipes, causing him to hold a healthy respect for soldiers as official game characters ever since. "What are you doing here?" You asked coldly. "I..." Kuang Xin found himself at a loss for words. The game lacked dialogue boxes or selectable dialogue sentences, and the excessive freedom in choice left him bewildered when confronted with such a situation. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to explain truthfully, "I heard that I could get some bullets you don''t need around here..." Bullets you don''t need? How could such precious resources be unwanted? Who was this ignorant person? Song Ying and You frowned momentarily. Bai E, who had been following behind Song Ying and You, had remained silent, just quietly sizing up the individual with his gaze. [You are using your ability to observe individuals'' characteristics...] The conversation around him faded away like a distant chant, and the surrounding world quietly blurred, leaving only the human, waving his arms and babbling nonsense... [Face smeared with chaotic bloodstains] [Behavior is erratic and abnormal] [No genuine fear] [Through careful observation, you realize a certain possibility...] "There''s nothing you want here." Suddenly stepping forward, Bai E took the initiative to speak, drawing the attention of the three present. Pressing down the flashlight in Song Ying''s hand that was aimed at the individual''s eyes, Bai E stepped closer, allowing the man to clearly see his face. "This is a military camp, not a place for you. Leave now." [Your action has been noticed by the camp''s soldiers, and you are about to be expelled.] On hearing the panel''s prompt, Kuang Xin''s face fell instantly, looking rather pitiable, "Really nothing?" That was information I bought with 100 black water coins... Bai E lifted his rifle muzzle, his expression calm and detached, "Or perhaps you''d like to visit the security team?" On the way to camp, Song Ying had clarified some basic knowledge with Bai E. [Unlocked information: Security Team.] Security Team? Prison? Solitary confinement? Kuang Xin''s hair stood on end, "No, no... I''m leaving! I''m leaving right now..." "I''ll escort him out." After explaining to the two behind him, Bai E followed behind the strange human to escort him away. For situations not too serious, handling it themselves and ensuring an expelled individual was a sufficient distance away were experiences Song Ying had shared with Bai E. "Hmm." Song Ying nodded, showing no intention to follow. Watching the receding figures, You''s eyes were somewhat cold. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It seems he has some ideas of his own?" "Who isn''t?" Song Ying sighed softly, "Curious? Or kind? Who knows? Whatever..." As time passed, every artificial person would gradually awaken to their unique individuality and personality. Loyalty to the city, loyalty to the empire, loyalty to humanity were basic principles,, yet humans were unable to enforce further prohibitions upon them. Even amongst artificial persons, there were different likes, dislikes, and concepts. ... Kuang Xin glanced at the shadow cast from behind with the corner of his eye, unwilling to accept that the intelligence he had bought for 100 Blackwater coins had been for naught. Eager to say something, but the reverence he had for the grunt prevented him from knowing how to start. Unexpectedly, the seemingly cold soldier behind him took the initiative to speak. "Are you a player?" Of course, Bai E would not ask directly like this. He was unsure whether the person in front of him was a player, and he was also unsure what it would mean to reveal his and the player''s identities. Treated as an Easter egg? Or attracting attention? But it''s always better to be cautious. He was neither a true NPC nor a true player, an alien to both sides. "What do you need bullets for?" Kuang Xin didn''t know if he was having a delusion. The other''s words were calm, lacking the sharpness of the earlier interrogation. Could it even be perceived as a tad friendly? "I need to complete someone else''s request to go hunting, but hunting requires bullets, and I have none..." Kuang Xin was talking to an NPC, so he started voicing his grievance, trying to see if he could elicit a bit of NPC sympathy. According to the law of conservation of luck, if there were bad NPCs, there must be good ones as well. Most importantly... he firmly believed that the lesson he had bought for 100 Blackwater coins must have some significance. Otherwise, wouldn''t that loss be in vain? Bai E was also pondering in secret. In fact, he was troubled too¡ª He had too many bullets. Using the training rifles at the shooting range to acquire proficiency in shooting had a limit, and he had advanced his specialization level so fast that even if he hit the bullseye with the training rifles using rubber bullets, he wouldn''t gain any more experience. The training field cannot produce War Gods; otherwise, this world would have been full of demigods by now. Apart from actual combat training, there was no other aspiration. However... With informants all around the military camp, how could he explain summoning an endless supply of bullets out of thin air? Not to mention, it was hard for him to find an opportunity for real combat. While others lamented the scarcity of bullets preventing them from effectively enhancing their abilities, he had to worry about how to utilize his abundant resources without drawing attention. 5000 refined brass bullets, this was his largest asset at the moment. Having resources but unable to convert them into actual combat capability was quite disheartening. Players... It was quite common for players to take quests from NPCs to improve themselves, but he wondered if, as an NPC, he could somehow benefit from the players... "I do have some bullets..." Bai E said thoughtfully. His casual words triggered a hidden mechanism, and he heard a prompt from the game system. [Interaction system activated.] [Do you choose to issue a quest to the target player "???"?] [Available quests for issuance: Basic Combat, Basic Resources, Basic Construction, Basic Mixed.] [Basic Combat Quest (3/3 available for issuance): Permission (single quest common experience limit 50~100, daily quest common experience limit 50~300, or half the quota of special experience from your personal abilities); Outlay (according to your current moral reputation, you must provide commodities worth at least 20 Blackwater coins); Return (all "basic attribute improvements" and half of the "special experience gains" the target player earns during the mission).] [Basic Resources Quest (3/3 available for issuance): Permission (single quest technology point limit 0~1, daily quest technology point limit 0~3, or half the quota of special experience from your personal abilities); Outlay (based on your current moral reputation, you must provide commodities worth at least 50 Blackwater coins); Return ("specified resources," all "basic attribute improvements" and half of the "special experience gains" the target player earns during the mission).] [Basic Construction Quest (0/0 available for issuance): Permission {faction-specific currency (requires target''s recognition, currently no permission to issue)}; Outlay (provide commodities or services equivalent to the value of the faction-specific currency); Return ("specified construction goal," all "basic attribute improvements" the target player earns during the mission).] [Basic Mixed Quest: A combination of Combat, Resources, and Construction Quests with permissions, outlays, and returns stacking according to their category. (Depending on the adaptability between the combined quest types, the permissions, expenditures, and returns may vary.)] He can issue quests? Chapter 13: 013 Release task Bai E''s gaze meticulously swept over the explanation written on the panel that abruptly popped up before him. It seemed... like a win-win situation. No matter the task, it appeared that players would absorb some of the personal ability they enhanced during its completion. As long as a task was issued and players completed it, it would be mutually beneficial. The only thing one needed to give was... resources? The rewards for the task? This was reasonable. Bai E blinked gently, coming back to reality. He continued in a soft tone, as if he had only paused to consider his wording. "But first, I need you to complete some minor errands for me, such as... chopping some timber under the watch of those wolf packs in the Black Forest that can be used to construct buildings." Having reviewed the military camp map, Bai E was crystal clear about the nearby terrains and the primary threats within them. As for the tasks, setting aside composite ones, there were three types. He didn''t have authority to issue construction tasks yet, meaning Bai E could only release two types of tasks at present. Combat and resource gathering. Of course, Bai E wanted all of them. According to the task feedback mechanism, the more challenging the task for the players, the more it would guide them to surpass their limits, allowing him to gain from the task rewards their experience in growing their abilities. The underlying mechanism of this world was trial with rewards. Therefore, he had to keep them as busy as possible. Make the players grind! The harder they grind, the stronger he gets! [Generating task description automatically...] [Side task - Repair Supplies Needed (Combat, Resource Compound Task): The flames of battle have destroyed certain facilities within the camp, and the Logistics Department is currently short-staffed. With the war looming, some soldiers are privately hoping you can bring enough lumber to repair the facilities. But be careful ¨C those wild wolves patrol their territory relentlessly!] Task requirements: Submit lumber *0/10~20 (adjustable), Eliminate wild wolves 0/3~5 (adjustable). Task Rewards: Experience Points 1~100 (adjustable), Technology Points *0~1 (adjustable), Item Rewards (undetermined).] (Rewards are scaled to the character''s current moral reputation) (Note: The task requires a physical submission, cannot be "automatically completed," and must be "verified upon completion"; after confirming task issuance, "permissions" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) [Would you like to issue this task now?] As for the task description itself, Bai E just glanced over it, believing players wouldn''t bother to look closely either. He didn''t pay much attention to the adjustable options, only showing some concern at the final note. "Verification upon completion" required? Did it mean he had to meet the player personally after they completed the task in order for them to receive their reward? Is that how it''s gonna be? Currently stationed in the military camp, and with opportunities to take a walk like tonight being uncertain in the future, thinking about the other party coming to him with a pile of lumber and loudly demanding to submit their task... The whole scene just called for a reset. Bai E stroked his chin, slightly worried. "Bro?" Kuang Xin looked at the burly soldier who seemed to have fallen into deep thought, feeling somewhat hesitant. Will you issue the task or not, just give me a clear answer... It''s hard for me to do things for you if you only want help and don''t issue tasks. "..." Bai E concluded that it was the fault of the resource-gathering task. The combat task only required kills, no physical submission, and allowed for automatic completion. So tasks had to be issued separately after all... "With your current ability, it''s challenging to complete these two tasks at the same time... How about this, those wild wolves have already caused some interference with the lives of nearby humans. Go and eliminate some to intimidate them." Bai E changed his approach. [Generating task description automatically...] [Side task - Driving Out the Wolf Pack (Combat Task): The packs of wild wolves in the Black Forest have greatly impacted the lives of nearby humans, causing widespread fear. Soldiers are busy preparing for war and can''t spare their efforts, so they hope you can eliminate the threat. Task requirements: Eliminate wild wolves 0/3~5 (adjustable). Task Rewards: Experience Points 50~100 (adjustable), Item Rewards (undetermined).] (Note: "Automatic completion" is permitted; after confirming task issuance, "permissions" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) [Would you like to issue this task now?] Confirm! [Task requirements and rewards undetermined.] Auuuu~ Eliminate wild wolves 3~5? 5! Reward with experience points? 100 points! Item rewards? Not less than 20 Blackwater coins? Bai E glanced at the bulging items around Kuang Xin''s waist... Then it''ll be "20 Refined Brass Bullets (Handgun)"! This stuff must cost at least 1 dollar each, right? [The current value of the item is extremely high, approximately equivalent to 100 Blackwater coins. Are you sure you want to make the payment?] Hmm... how about a discount? Bai E did indeed want to give players more bullets so they could train their abilities, but he couldn''t set expectations too high right from the start. The minimum requirement is 20 Blackwater coins, giving bullets worth 50 Blackwater coins should be quite generous, right? 10 finely crafted brass bullets! [Confirm release!] ¡­ [A side quest¡ªDrive Away the Wolves¡ªhas been triggered.] Upon seeing the shiny reward of "10 finely crafted brass bullets (pistol rounds)," Kuang Xin''s tears streamed down his face in an instant. Finally, an NPC is giving me bullets! Wuu wuu wuu~ ¡­ Bai E didn''t know if other NPCs could issue quests to players, and of course¡­ even if they could, they would likely unconsciously follow a set of uniform conditions. In other words, everyone was actually in competition. If you published the same quest, whoever could provide players with more rewards would be able to get their help. There wasn''t much description about the quest system of "Galaxy Online" on the official website; it seemed the choice might be more in the hands of the players. So the rewards that could be given should be as much as possible. And the difficulty... for the sake of improving one''s strength, it had to be as hard as possible. Strive on, my players! The harder you work, the luckier you''ll get! "Additionally, I might need your help with the matter of wood..." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E continued to add. There was a daily limit on what could be given away, so not to send out the quest seemed wasteful. Although Bai E hadn''t figured out the place and time for inspection, it didn''t hinder him from issuing the quest first. Chopping wood was also manual labor, and manual labor meant "physical" training. [Automatic quest description generation in progress¡­] [Side quest¡ªNecessary Repairs (Resource-based Commission): After driving away the threat of the wolves, don''t forget the original intent, bring back more wood for the soldiers in the barracks!] Quest requirements: Submit wood*0/10~20 (adjustable). Quest reward: Technology point*1, item reward (undetermined).] (Note: There is a real-world submission step involved; the current commission cannot be "automatically completed," it requires "inspection completion"; once the commission is confirmed for release, "permissions" and "expenditure" will be deducted and locked.) Wood requirement, 20! Item reward... Proportionally increasing, 25 bullets! [Would you like to release the current commission?] Confirm! [Publishing failed, "inspection location" not confirmed.] Annnoying! Inspection location... Bai E pondered in silence, and the next moment, he noticed the terrain nearby appeared before his eyes like a semi-transparent three-dimensional map. Around him, labels such as [Clearing (developable)], [Barracks (allied territory)], [Settlement (no sovereignty)], [City (allied territory)], and more marked clearly differentiated areas outlined by green lines. As Bai E''s awareness explored, this three-dimensional map which seemed centered around his current location could even zoom out to display larger areas, although¡­ regions farther away appeared covered in a thicker layer of white fog on the map due to a lack of relevant information input. It even comes with a system map to look at? Bai E casually selected a clearing as far away from human settlements and barracks as possible. [Confirm release!] ¡­ [A side quest¡ªNecessary Repairs¡ªhas been triggered.] "Damn it!" There''s another quest? And the bullet reward is even larger! It seems Hans didn''t lie for once, these soldiers are indeed loaded! Overjoyed, Kuang Xin found direction in his efforts for the upcoming time with these quests upon him. "Also... I need a large quantity of supplies." Bai E wasn''t about to let this rare encounter with a player slip by. Who knew when he''d run across a wild player again? I''ll give you all the authority ratio I have on me! [The current target player has accepted one combat-type commission and one resource-type commission from you, no more commission acceptance authority available.] "..." Ch''ih. So he immediately changed his pitch, "If you have any companions, you can call them over to help." "No problem!" Kuang Xin agreed instantly, then promptly forgot about it. This was intelligence I bought for 100 Blackwater coins, can I share it easily? In your dreams! I''ll keep this goldmine to myself and mine it until the end of time! Chapter 14: 014 There is a thief! ``` Watching the other party leave, Bai E''s eyes were filled with complexity. He really wanted to ask how they logged into the game and how they logged out. When the game started, whether there were any more specific official announcements, and so on... However... he didn''t dare. He wasn''t sure what kind of consequences his actions would bring. Perhaps time would bring the answers... "Back already?" Hans eyed the three returning individuals, greeting them cheerfully, "Run into any trouble?" Ying set down his machine gun, responding while doing so: "Encountered a wandering local resident, chased them away." "Hmm..." Hans nodded and then turned to look at Bai E. "Get some rest early if you have completed the mission, you''re the new recruit in this batch, and the training tasks before you deploy are very important." "Alright." [Side mission¡ª¡ªPatrol, completed!] [Mission reward: Insight +0.1, distributed.] It feels... like nothing has changed. Bai E sat on the edge of his bed, frowning. The 0.1 increase in the basic attribute of insight seemed not noticeable, as if it didn''t exist... Not nearly as immediate in effect as specializations and knowledge. Bai E brought up his panel¡ª [Name]: Bai E [Race]: Human [Template]: Genetic Modification Prototype [Health]: 75/75 (Base 60 + (Physique -10) * 15) Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Physique]: 11 (current) / 15 (trainable limit) [Insight]: 10.1 / 15 [Reflex]: 10 / 15 [Mystique]: 8 / ¡Þ [Genetic Optimization Degree](Current tendency: Orc): 0.1 / 100 [Skill]: Lucky Strike (Non-upgradable) [Lucky Strike: Ten times critical hit, max out critical hit rate, one hit 999! Current charge: 1/100 (Not usable)] [Trait]: Emotion Blunting (Slightly reduces the risk of high-dimensional demon contamination), Battlefield Instinct (Adapts to the battlefield environment faster to unleash full potential) [Expertise]: Rapid Recovery (Locked) [Mastery] (Stealth points *3): Light Firearm Control Specialization (134/1000) (Level 3) [Spiritual Energy]: Not mastered [Knowledge](Technology points *1): Firearms Maintenance and Repair (3/300) (Level 1) [Technology]: None [Mutation Risk]: Extremely low [Assets]: Refined Brass Bullets¡ªRifle 1000, Machine Gun 2000, Pistol 1965 ... His growth was not bad, but most of it came from the drops from the Lucky Strike. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn''t be easy to achieve the kind of growth he had today, so all in all... What''s the deal with this Lucky Strike skill? Was it compensation for dragging an unsuspecting "player" like himself into the "game world"? In a world filled with "Spiritual Energy," a force where "believing is existing," is this skill a good thing? Does it have any relation to Spiritual Energy? Could it, as described in the official worldview, cause the demons to notice my Spiritual Body that is reflected in the higher dimensions? Moreover, the official website''s introduction is extremely vague, giving no description of what a normal person''s life in this world would be like. What about myself? Will my life forever be warfare? And... what''s the deal with this task feedback system? If I have several tasks going on simultaneously, how would it determine which task my current efforts belong to? Who should receive the compensation for the attribute increase? Bai E had a stomach full of questions that currently seemed impossible to answer. Of course, rather than pursuing those questions without answers for now, it might be better to contemplate how to best make use of the "Lucky Strike," this special skill. Consider... how to recharge quickly in order to achieve the fastest growth. Today, he earned one charge point because he helped Ying maintain his machine gun. So, could he use this maintenance ability to help others and, in turn, acquire charge points? Hmm... Worth a try. "What''s the matter, can''t sleep?" You''s soft voice suddenly came from behind his forehead, sounding almost within arm''s reach. ``` Bai E still lay on the pillow and responded in a low voice, "Mhm..." "Cherish the times when you can''t fall asleep." "..." After a long wait, Bai E didn''t get another sentence from the girl. Turning his head upwards, he found that You, who had lain head-to-head with him, had already peacefully entered dreamland... Her shoulder-length short hair scattered softly, her nostrils quivering faintly, emanating a pure white halo. [You (Human) (Ally) ¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop¡­] Forget it... ... The NPCs are all asleep. Kuang Xin, like a mouse, used his shining eyes to survey the NPC settlement in the dead of night. Having been in the game for a while now, the game''s rich interaction system and freedom of exploration and interaction were instilling in him the idea that¡ª This is a new era online game unlike any other before! Discard experience, set aside prejudices, and view problems with an eye for growth. Hasn''t gotten a reward for the quest yet? Can''t take the initiative to borrow what''s needed? To chop down trees, the right tools are needed, right? And does that mean relying on that rusty little knife in one''s hand? Kuang Xin tried to lighten his steps as much as possible, not wanting to wake any NPCs and feel embarrassed about disturbing their slumber, especially at night. Especially Hans! Circling around Hans''s wooden cabin, Kuang Xin spotted a rusty axe in the corner of the cabin. It seemed to be used for splitting firewood. It also seemed quite suitable for felling trees. So he decided to borrow it for a while. [Axe for Chopping Firewood ¡ª Quality: Gray (Heavy Weapon)] [Basic Parameters: Axe Blade Attack Power (Type: Blunt) 10~18; Output Level 9; Buff Attributes: Strength +3%; Durability 8/20] [Usage Requirements: Physical Strength 10 (can be used).] [Trait: Handle With Care, the wooden connection has long been rotten and might break at any moment.] The axe was heavy, but its substantial weight could provide sufficient attack power. It would definitely be a good choice for chopping trees. Off we go. Just as Kuang Xin, carrying the axe, hadn''t gotten far from the settlement, he heard a prompt from the panel¡ª [Your act of theft has been discovered. Hide the loot, or you will face unknown hostility.] [You have completed a theft, Theft Experience +4.] [Current Theft Experience 4/100, at 100 points you can master the skill "Level 1 Theft."] "..." Upon hearing the prompt, Kuang Xin''s heart skipped a beat. He quickened his pace, fearing that he would be caught by any NPCs that might chase after him. As for the future? Wouldn''t everything be fine as long as he didn''t bring the axe back to the settlement? He would chop trees in the forest¡ªthose cowardly NPCs were obviously afraid of the wolves and dared not go in. Instead, he had to be wary of other players, who, like him, were all part of Old Six. With a jumble of thoughts, Kuang Xin stepped cautiously back into the jungle. Careful! Even more careful. Kuang Xin''s vigilant gaze swept around, preempting any potential dangers. In the darkness, any rustling of grass or gust of wind couldn''t escape his watchful eye. It was all eerily quiet, except for the faint rustling sound when his feet disturbed the underbrush. A perfect immersive experience. Fully immersed in a first-person stealth operation, Kuang Xin was so engrossed that he momentarily forgot he was inside a game. [Your ability has been honed through observation of the environment, Insight +0.1.] ... [Feedback from a commission, Theft Experience +2.] [Current Theft Experience 2/100, at 100 points you can master the knowledge "Level 1 Theft."] [Feedback from a commission, your Insight +0.1.] Bai E, still lying in bed and not yet asleep, was slightly taken aback. Was this feedback in real-time? Could one have someone level up for him even while sleeping? Perfect! It couldn''t get any better! But, what''s with this theft? Chapter 15: 015 Not a Yan Kingdom person if not diligent In the vast Black Forest, silence prevailed as if there was only one living creature. Kuang Xin caressed the branch in front of him, thick enough to require two people to wrap their arms around it, and as his knife punctured the bark, the corresponding information popped up before his eyes. [Spruce (Plant): Can be gathered for wood.] At last, a tree that could be gathered for wood had appeared¡­ Kuang Xin turned his head to look back; the clearing outside the forest was far beyond the murky mists. The saplings near the edge were either too thin or too soft, entirely unsuitable for gathering "wood," only yielding "kindling" once he chopped at them. Thus, he had to venture deeper into the jungle, probing each tree with his rusty knife. This was the first one. To get rich, you must first chop trees. Regarding the task issued by Sergeant, as a seasoned online gamer, Kuang Xin had his own opinion. Follow the task description, kill the pack of wolves to intimidate them, and then chop trees in the open? No, no, no! That''s not cool at all. Classic designers teaching players how to play the game. High-end players must learn the skill of skipping class. Kill the wolf pack first? With what? Strangle them to death? Stealing resources under the watchful eyes of guard monsters is the essence of being a game master. Clearly, the sequence of this linked task should be to steal the trees first, use the rewarded bullets to kill the wolf pack, and then use the wolf meat to fulfill Hans''s task without having to fuss over finding some other small wild beast. That would be like Qin Shi Huang eating Sichuan peppercorns¡ªnumbingly victorious! Next, he would transform into a bald man, becoming enemies with the forest! "tui!" "tui!" Spitting twice into the air with each hand, Kuang Xin gripped the axe tightly and swung it fiercely at the base of the tree. "Heave-ho!" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Duang!" The axe blade, driven by Kuang Xin''s brute strength, plunged deeply into the trunk, the brown bark shattering, splintering into chips as the axe got slightly stuck. The dull sound wasn''t very loud, it likely wouldn''t attract the attention of the beasts in the distance. "Good." Kuang Xin let go and vigorously rubbed his hands together. The chilly, damp mist of the night made his hands feel stiff with cold. Warming his hands a bit, Kuang Xin once again grabbed the handle and yanked the blade out, swinging it in a wide arc before chopping down fiercely once more. "80!" "80!" "80!" ... After every few chops, Kuang Xin would halt and scan his surroundings with vigilant eyes, only continuing his resource-stealing endeavor once he was sure his noise hadn''t drawn the predators lurking in the dark. [You are using your Perception ability to observe environmental threats¡­] Nothing, continue! "80!" "80!" Having never done such a thing in reality, Kuang Xin was falling in love with the invigorating sweat he poured out. Every chop, the rebound transmitted through the axe handle to his hands felt so real; he could sense the plaintive groans of the trunk under his onslaught. The occasional appearance of experience gain prompts only added meaning to his actions¡ª [Using a heavy weapon to hit a target, Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +12, Undiscovered Talent (Unlocked) progress 6%.](Stacked) [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 12/100, reach 100 points to master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization".] Chopping trees not only granted experience but also helped unlock latent talents. And after all that, he could still turn in the task and get paid by others; where else could you find such a deal? I''m head over heels in love with this game! "Duang!" With the final hefty chop, the already tottering trunk lost its last connection to the roots. After emitting a series of harsh raspy sounds, the not-too-old spruce collapsed completely under the thief''s axe. The fall of the not-so-tall tree brushed past the branches of others, so when it finally hit the ground, it didn''t make too much noise. Kuang Xin leaned on his knees with both hands, panting, as the hot breath he exhaled from his lungs condensed into a cloud of white mist in the air. Tired. But it felt incredibly exhilarating. The experience of the game was unbelievably good; Kuang Xin could feel a tenderness from every cell after pushing his body to its limits, yet it wasn''t the same kind of soreness experienced after excessive physical labor in real life. Or rather, the same soreness in this world was incomparably alluring, making one long for the next time to come. There was a sense of additional pleasure bestowed upon it. What a magical experience¡­ The spruce that lay beside him told the tale of his "great achievements." [Using a heavy weapon to hit a target, Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +14, Unruly Physique (unlocked) unlock progress 7%] (stacked) [Current Heavy Weapon Specialization experience 26/100, at 100 points you can master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization."] [Your abilities have been trained during a long time of lumbering, physical endurance +0.1.] Compared to the feeling of +0.1 Insight, the feeling of +0.1 Physical Endurance was quite significant. Kuang Xin could clearly feel that his body, which had been almost as depleted as a dried-up riverbed, suddenly seemed to spring forth with a bit more strength from nowhere. That "sense of joy" from pushing his own limits surged again, urging him to spend the newly emerged stamina. Under this primal impulse, Kuang Xin stood up, picked up the axe beside him, and headed toward the front of the spruce. There were some messy branches there that undoubtedly would make transportation easier once cut. Ah¡­ transportation was another hassle. Kuang Xin pulled up the map on the panel, looked at the specified delivery location for the task in relation to his current position, and couldn''t help but sigh. Too far... another physical task. But no matter! Effort always pays off! He absolutely loved the feedback mechanism in this game! Charge! "Heave-ho!" "Heave-ho!" With several swings of his axe, those disorderly branches were cleanly separated from the trunk. The advancement in weapon mastery allowed him to freely control the landing point of his axe blade, hitting the key spots he aimed for with precision. The improvement was subtle, but looking back, it was obvious. Compared to the tree stump that looked as if it had been gnawed by a dog, the cuts made on the branches were much cleaner. Simultaneously, his control over his body had also improved. [Your abilities have been trained during a long time of lumbering, reflexes +0.1.] [Axe overly fatigued, handle connection damaged, durability -1.] Hmm? Glancing at the axe, Kuang Xin didn''t make much of it¡ªwhen the durability ran out, the task would likely be completed. Rubbing his palms, Kuang Xin embraced one end of the spruce and exerted his strength with a mighty heave! "Hei~" It didn''t budge¡­ Would he have to split it into sections? That seemed fine; at the moment, the information displayed for the spruce in his arms was "Log" rather than "Timber." [Log: Can be collected for Timber*4~6 (depending on the "Lumbering Skill" level). Trait: Hard texture.] Then he''ll just have to cut it up. Picking up his axe, Kuang Xin began his struggle anew¡­ [You have completed a round of lumbering, obtained Timber*4, Lumbering Skill experience +9.] [Current Lumbering Skill experience 9/100, at 100 points you can master "Level 1 Lumbering Skill."] [Using a heavy weapon to hit a target, Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +7, Unruly Physique (unlocked) unlock progress 8%] (stacked) [Current Heavy Weapon Specialization experience 33/100, at 100 points you can master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization."] He split it into four sections, roughly equal in size. Dusting off his hands, Kuang Xin looked satisfied at the fruits of his labor from the night. Due to the limits of his stamina, he had also taken a break in between. He had the timber, but there was still that distant transportation distance¡­ Looking at the increasingly deep night and the thick fog spreading through the forest, Kuang Xin took a few deep breaths. It was still early, time to continue! Gamers are all about grinding! Not grinding is not to be from Yan Kingdom! Chapter 16: 016 Recruit Training Dawn light pierced through the dense clouds on the horizon, scattering the world with sunbeams like golden arrows that darted through the patchwork of the jungle, draping the earth with a golden quilt. [The night has passed.] Mr. Kuang, who had toiled through the night, looked at the ten neatly arranged logs on the clearing in front of him and grinned with his large teeth in silly happiness. A fruitful harvest. In every sense of the word. ... "Dinglinglinglingling..." The urgent ringing of the bell echoed over the entire camp, serving as a signal for morning training and waking every sleeping artificial human soldier. But Bai E was not awakened by the bell. [Feedback from the mission, your physical fitness +0.3, insight +0.1, reflex +0.1.] [Feedback from the mission, Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +32.] [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 32/100, at 100 points you will master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization".] [Feedback from the mission, lumbering experience +12.] [Current lumbering experience 12/100, at 100 points you will master "Level 1 Lumbering".] These prompts from the panel started to pop up in his mind in quick succession just as he was regaining some semblance of awareness. Bai E''s regained consciousness processed it all. During the night that had just passed, that player... had been quite diligent. "Let''s go." As Bai E was still examining the prompts on the panel, he suddenly heard You''s cool voice close to his ear. He dispersed his gaze, and when he could see everything inside the tent clearly, Bai E realized that seemingly everyone was ready to go. Song Ying sat at the edge of his own bed, sincerely saying to Bai E, "Today is your first training session, but considering you are part of our special forces squad, we might have higher expectations for you." Da Shan stood with his arms crossed beside the iron frame of his bed, laughing as he added, "The instructor has uniform requirements for the training of all new artificial humans, but those are his requirements, not ours." "We will push you to your limits to ensure that on the battlefield, you can become a back we can trust." Hu clapped his hands, "Alright, let''s go. Don''t be late for the first assembly. The first lesson the recruits need to learn... is discipline." All artificial humans had the will to dedicate themselves written into their genes, yet with the current human capabilities, it was not possible to arbitrarily write much more into the genes. Apart from the broad value of "dedicating oneself to humanity," the genetic expression of all artificial humans was free. After encountering different characters and events, they naturally developed distinct personalities and preferences. They were born warriors, but how to fight, how to coordinate, still required systematic training. Before they went into real combat, this was what they needed to learn most urgently. Bai E felt no discomfort as memories of military training, long forgotten, began to assail him. ... On the assembly square, artificial human soldiers stood, some curious, some bewildered. They had received the assembly prompt, but did not know the purpose of the assembly, or what they were supposed to do. Although they instinctively formed up, their ranks were loose and their postures casual. Bai E stood motionless amid the crowd, like a block of wood. From memory, he found the approximate spot where he had first woken up among the artificial human formation the night before, and then he remained silent and immobile, waiting for further instructions from the officers. Unless he found out more basic information about this world, he did not intend to show more personality traits. Being a little stiff... was quite alright too. ... "This batch of synthetic human soldiers seems a bit livelier." The young military officer with a silver stripe on his shoulder stood on the high reviewing stand, able to sweep all the formations of synthetic soldiers into view below. Forty small formations, totaling two thousand soldiers... or rather, two thousand new cannon fodder, were thus presented before his eyes. "We have an endless supply of warriors," the young officer said proudly. His target was the slender figure beside him, all shrouded in black cloth. Yue Ying''s gaze swept across the crowd, pausing for a half-second on one proudly standing face before moving on. The number of humans... indeed, was vast. But it seemed there were few heroes in this city. "Cooperating with us is the wisest decision you''ve made," the young officer remarked, cautiously glancing at his Elf Race collaborator beside him. Weslin had lost interest in humans after being fortunate enough to see the true appearance of the other just once. Therefore, it was imperative to retain this short-term collaborator, to thoroughly open up a bridge of cooperation and communication between humans and elves. To demonstrate strength was undoubtedly the most powerful proof in this world. The operation two days later, to annihilate the insect nest in a single stroke, would no doubt make the other take a fresh look at them. This battle would be glorified for a thousand autumns! Feeling the intense desire emanating from the person by his side, Yue Ying felt somewhat ill at ease and shifted his position. Wondering about his level of Spiritual Energy... such people were too liable to attract the attention of demons. Compared to that, the stiff synthetic humans seemed easier to get along with... ... "Attention!" With a shout, a non-commissioned officer in front of Bai E''s formation captured the attention of all the synthetic soldiers who were in a relaxed state. "I am your drill instructor for this New Recruit Training Group, you can call me Wood! Remember this name, as in the next three days, I''ll get you quickly accustomed to your bodies and push your abilities to their limits!" The dark-skinned NCO with a shining silver star on his shoulder bellowed. The initial training period for the nascent synthetic humans was when everyone''s basic attributes surged rapidly. To boost everyone''s attributes by ten percent in three days would be quite an accomplishment. Although high-intensity training could still improve basic attributes later, the speed would not be impressive. Humans were willing to wait, but the bugs were not. More room for development was left for the real combat to discover. And the first step in raising personal attributes was to push the limits. All improvements in basic attributes occurred after surpassing limits, of that there was no doubt. Among the most foundational was physical fitness. No matter what role you played in a battle, physical fitness was of utmost importance. Wood paced slowly back and forth in front of the crowd, raising three fingers. "Today''s training¡ªI demand that each of you improve... by at least three times! Those who do not meet the requirement are not allowed to sleep!" [Trigger side quest¡ªPhysical Fitness Training.] [Physical Fitness Training: The instructor''s demand is a responsibility for your life. For your survival chances in future battles, you need to perfectly complete his directions. Quest requirement: At least improve physical fitness by 0.0/0.3 before the end of the training time. Quest reward: Physical Fitness +0.1. (Countdown: 15 hours 51 minutes 13 seconds)] ... S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Our synthetic human soldier project is quite perfect; each of them has been developed equitably according to their ''birth'' attributes, and we''ve formulated a sufficiently scientific training plan for them. The types of training that can exhaust their strength and excavate potential have all been included, leaving no room for surprises!" The young officer looked forward, speaking lightly in front of Yue Ying. Perhaps humans were still barely surviving in their battles with other races, but being able to continuously produce identical and fearless super-soldiers was the confidence that the synthetic soldier project gave him! Chapter 17: 017 Surpassing Limits Physical training, obstacle course navigation. Following a 500-meter warm-up run, Bai E''s group began the first official item of today''s training. Queued behind his teammates, Bai E recalled the introduction to the four basic attributes from the official website¡ª Physical attributes are a general term for a composite of attributes including strength, endurance, muscle power, self-healing ability, and even the ability to extract energy from food. Perhaps in the later stages, when attributes are higher, the same number of physical points but different strengths may make a world of difference. However, in the early stages, the physical point count is the absolute expression of those finer abilities. Insight relates to a character''s observational abilities or, more specifically, the ability to collect and receive information, describing the strength of the five senses. Reflex represents the body''s coordination ability, the speed of nervous reflex transmission, and so on. According to the official explanation, this is quite important in latter-stage combat¡ªwhether a person''s reactions can be faster than a bullet depends on this attribute. As for the last, the mysterious... it''s indeed mysterious, known only to be related to Spiritual Energy, with the specific effects left unsaid by the official site, leaving players to find the answer in the game themselves. And the main target of the current training is¡ªphysical attributes. Jumping, running, climbing, crawling... all these methods undoubtedly share the same goal¡ª To drain every ounce of their physical energy. "When you feel your strength has been exhausted, advance one more meter! And then another meter!" This is the absolute secret to attribute enhancement. Wood wandered by the side of the obstacle course, observing the arduous progress of the artificial humans under his command. Upon reaching their limit, every step forward was accompanied by torrents of sweat and trembling bodies. The path of thorns cut into many a warrior''s arms and thighs, and the diluted blood turned a pale pink as it mixed with sweat and was absorbed by the dark earth. Among them, some of the more clumsily controlled artificial humans quickly exhausted their energy and stopped, unable to move an inch further. This group of 50 individuals were all artificial humans with an initial physical attribute of 11 points. In theory, their performance should be the same, but reality proved otherwise; even with the same attributes, there would be differences in performance. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, it didn''t matter, as they would naturally learn how to conserve energy during training. And moreover... Wood''s mouth twisted into a wicked smile as he walked to a point on the course and marked a boundary. "You are a team, and should learn to help each other. Now, if someone is lagging behind, it''s up to the others to make up the distance. However far from the finish line they are, somebody will have to go that extra distance. If you don''t complete it, none of you will get to eat. And besides... the whole camp will know your fame! They''ll know what sort of... weaklings the 358th squad is!" Artificial humans might not fear death, but that doesn''t mean they don''t tire or lack the mindset and emotions typical of humans. The normal punishments for human training apply to artificial humans as well. Upon hearing Wood''s words, some artificial humans instantly found the essence ingrained in their DNA. "F*ck!" "Crap!" "Geneva!" Bai E remained silent, continuing to climb forward at a steady pace. This was a stretch of rope net in the air, shaking and swaying with large holes that made it easy to step through. His nearby comrade, overwhelmed with emotion, stepped through and ended up in pain. Bai E had no objections to the instructor''s directions. The finish line drawn by the other party was actually within sight, but Bai E did not feel his body had reached its limit. With a physical attribute of 11.3 and reflexes at 10.1, he was already starting off at a different point from the other artificial humans. Without touching his limits, there would be no benefit to his attribute growth. Every bit of growth was crucial for survival on the battlefield in two days. Not to mention there was also a mission: buy three, get one free. Even without the encouragement from his teammates or the demands of the instructor, he would push himself as much as possible. ¡­ Watching the figure on the rope net who strived to maintain balance yet couldn''t stop swaying, a group of four from a special team discussed softly from a distance. "Who''s going to be the bad guy later?" "I''ll go." You''s tone was cold, "Ordinary progress can''t keep up with the demands of battle." They too had come from the new recruit phase and knew that there would be a period of rest after the initial training. But rest? Why rest? Only the useless, those of no benefit to humanity, would rest. Since Bai E had been assigned to their special squad and was about to assume more severe responsibilities in combat, he should be stronger than anyone else. If Bai E couldn''t meet their standards, perhaps he would be temporarily unable to participate in the special operations as their teammate. Even if he reached the finish line, Bai E could forget about resting! ... He crossed the finish line! Bai E kept his head as low as possible, sweat droplets fell like rain from the tips of his soaked hair. Advance one meter! Then another meter! His body was far from its limit, he couldn''t stop now. Seeing Bai E still moving forward, You narrowed his eyes, his footsteps, which had just showed signs of movement, stopped instantly, "He didn''t stop?" ... "The targets set by our instructor are precisely calculated, only the most excellent of the new artificial humans can reach the endpoint. Among those, only the exceptionally outstanding individuals who break their limits directly in training might progress further." On the high platform, the young military officer continued to demonstrate humanity''s technical excellence in front of Yue Ying. "Is that so?" Yue Ying''s gaze slightly narrowed, easily locking onto the three figures that had surpassed their limits. "Damn those losers, now I have to make up for them!" "Why did I have to end up with such losers as teammates!" By Bai E''s side, two well-built brutes slowly marched forward, cursing their teammates through gritted teeth. Eight meters... Ten meters... One fell. Twelve meters... Fifteen meters... "I can''t go on..." After reaching their limit, every step felt like moving mountains, both legs as heavy as if they were filled with lead. The muscles in their arms ached, and the rope they tried to grip tightly in their hands became loose and slack. They probably wouldn''t be able to get past this slope... The brute looked up at the wooden plank slope in front of him, which was at an angle of roughly 70 degrees, let out a forceful exhale from his chest, and his body immediately flopped onto the ground, every fingertip spelling out "total collapse." Shadows overtook his eyes, he turned his head and saw that the average-sized guy beside him was, as before, calmly tightening the rope in his hand, his black leather combat boots softly stepping onto the plank, slowly yet steadily climbing upward... "Where did he get that fierce gene from?" "That''s not right... wasn''t this kid registered as a sharpshooter yesterday?" "Proficiency is one thing, attributes are another..." Lacking enough resources for the training ground, the other artificial humans who had finished training earlier and were now resting on the side watched this continuing figure and uttered gasps of amazement. Despite the short time they had been training, they had already dubbed that slope "The Terminal Chasm," and not a single new recruit had managed to cross it. And now, was it about to be conquered? Chapter 18: 018 Endless Bai E alternated hands to move forward. He was also nearing his limit, his grip strength alone insufficient to secure the rope; he could only wrap the hemp rope twice around his palms and forearms with each step he took. The coarse hemp rope rolled over his arms, abrasive enough to cause a burning pain on his skin with each forceful tug. However, compared to the aching all over his body, this pain seemed insignificant. It was like the not-so-deep pale pink cut on his arm, which, soaked by his sweat, probably had already been marinated. This was a wound Bai E had intentionally inflicted on himself earlier when climbing through the thorny path, for the purpose of testing his true genetic trait¡ªrapid recovery. It was better to test its effectiveness during training rather than hoping for a miracle on the battlefield. [Your body is rapidly repairing the injury, don''t worry! Warrior!] [Injury repair progress 70%, Rapid Recovery (unlocked) progress 1%.] One can only say... it''s somewhat useful, but not greatly so. The cut wasn''t deep, but to still have a gash after so much repair, a slight stretch of the muscle caused a burning pain. In battle, one could receive a minor injury, and before it healed, they might not even be left in one piece. Bai E instantly lost any expectations for the unlocked ability. In the end, it was the basic attributes that were effective, a mere difference of 0.3 allowed him to still not reach his limits so far. In "Galaxy Online," the calculation of basic attributes was extremely simple; every point of strength was a 10% enhancement over the previous point. 12 points of strength were 110% of 11 points, which in turn were 110% of 10 points. If someone with a physical strength of 10 points could lift a 100-pound object and move freely, then a person with 12 points could lift and move freely with a 121-pound object. Being stronger by 1 point is significant; being stronger by 0.3 points also matters. To be strong is just that¡ªstrong, no frills attached. ... "Which line''s android is this?" The young military officer looked sideways at his adjutant nearby and asked. The adjutant, upon hearing the question, nodded and responded, "Just a moment." "Line 95." Yue Ying said softly from aside. Her eyes narrowed, her gaze cutting across space like that of an eagle. The metallic lettering on the chest badge of that android, glittering occasionally amidst his movements, indicated his origin¡ª95B27. She also had a clear view of the android''s face. Was he the soldier inclined towards the archer specialty that had registered last night? The young military officer glanced at Yue Ying with a hint of surprise before murmuring softly to himself. "The one with orc genes? That might... not be so... strange." Why did he have to excel at an unusual time, right after his own boastful claim? "Bring his file over and check if he executed any mission last night?" The adjutant''s military boots clicked crisply, "Yes!" ... "He executed a ''patrol'' mission last night?" The young military officer leafed through the record, as if talking to himself but clearly enough for others to hear, "Then it''s no wonder. Perhaps he had already improved during last night''s mission, and then made progress again in the recent training... This soldier''s potential may be quite notable." "Look, he is about to stop." Weslin was somewhat relieved; everything was still going as planned, "Get someone to catch him, don''t let our most excellent soldier get injured." "Yes!" ... "Reached the limit?" Bai E desperately wrapped his arms around the hemp rope, feeling his strength supporting his body was entirely drained, his legs being pulled down as if weighted with sandbags. He was about to lose the posture necessary to continue climbing upwards, even though the end of the slope was within sight. But... One more step! Another step! The breakthrough of fundamental attributes arises from pushing beyond the limits, a perpetual truth in Galaxy World. To progress, one must reach rock bottom. Feeling his body about to give way, Bai E mustered the courage to release his right hand below his left and attempted to grasp the rope section above. He had finally hit bottom, and even if he fell at this point, it would still be considered achieving the effect of training beyond his limits. He thought to himself somewhat relieved. Suddenly, an abrupt notification from the panel appeared¡ª [Feedback from the commission, your physical strength +0.1.] Player??? "Fuck!" Even someone as steady as Bai E couldn''t help but swear inwardly when he heard the unexpected message from the panel. The next moment, strength surged like a fountain in every corner of his body, and his limbs, sore to the extreme, felt as if they were brushed by a cool breath of air, regaining some vitality. "..." Li Zaigan, a demon or a god? Having hustled all night without rest, now you''re working harder than us soldiers in the early morning? Is this how other players play the game these days? No wonder I could never beat these try-hards when I played. Of course, Bai E didn''t mind the player who took on the task striving for greatness; it was just that the timing wasn''t quite right. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was not easy for him to have entirely drained every ounce of his strength, as bottoming out was not a wonderful process. The human body is like a sponge full of water. At the beginning, a light squeeze is enough to release water, but when only a little water is left, it''s hard to say how much effort is needed to wring out the last reserves. This last moment of self-extraction is extremely painful, requiring the gathering of strength from every inch of skin, every strand of muscle. Bai E had managed to reach the end with great difficulty, and then someone immediately poured a little water back into his sponge... Damn... But what could he do? Having come this far, to not continue extracting from himself would be to waste all his previous efforts, wouldn''t it? Taking a deep breath, Bai E gripped the rope tightly again and braced his combat boots against the slope. Charge! ... "How is this possible?" At the base of the mountain, he involuntarily dropped his crossed arms, staring in stunned disbelief. Even You, who had been composed throughout, couldn''t help but feel genuine admiration for the will and talent of their new teammate, her delicate lips parting slightly in surprise. Ying looked on with a vacant gaze, softly sighing, "Bai...is pretty fierce." The new teammate had given them an unexpected surprise. Bai E had just shown signs of faltering, but now he had regained the momentum to move forward, a feat that couldn''t be explained without another breakthrough in physical ability. To progress this madly during the first training session was beyond what most artificial human warriors, including himself, could achieve. There had been such exceptions before, but those miracle-making predecessors had since been transferred to other institutions to serve the city. Perhaps Bai E was the one in countless warriors. ... "Veslin, how common are such exceptions among your soldiers?" The young military officer, faced with Yueying''s gentle inquiry, had no choice but to smile wryly and shake his head, saying, "Naturally, they''re not common." "What''s their future development like?" "It varies, some progress fiercely and then become average, and many have also perished young. Only those fortunate enough to grow are transferred to other departments to continue contributing to the city in different ways." As he spoke, the young officer paused, his eyes brightening as he found another point to showcase human superiority, "Of course, relying solely on their initial genetic gifts, it''s difficult for them to go much further. But our city can stably produce large quantities of ''Gene Optimization Solution'', and even these artificial humans, if they perform well, have the chance to receive ''Gene Optimization Solution'' and directly elevate their life levels and potential. If these recruits perform well in the great battle two days from now, they might just get that share. Miss Yueying, if you have a need in this regard, perhaps I can try to apply for a dosage of medication that suits you." "No need..." Yueying shook her head, pausing for a moment before adding a sentence. "Thank you..." What she was more curious about now was just how far this human artificial human, who had left a bit of an impression on her, could go? Chapter 19: 019 Self-Breakthrough "Huff~ Huff~" Bai E controlled his breathing. The air filled his lungs, and with the transportation of cells, enough oxygen was delivered to every tissue of the body, providing sufficient energy. This was the regulation of the "reflex" attribute. With a 0.1 enhancement, Bai E could instinctively deepen this control. As his hands released the ropes, and his feet struggled to step onto the platform, a burst of noisy excitement suddenly erupted from the observing squad not far away. He really made it up there! The soldiers of Unit 358, sitting and resting on the ground, were looking up at their glory. A chasm that had never been crossed by new recruits was now conquered by their comrade. From this moment, those with a shallow understanding of the world began to slightly grasp the meaning behind words like "group" and "honor." ["Lucky Hit" charge +3.] Hmm? Bai E, taken aback by the unexpected notification, almost faltered and fell backward due to surprise and his already exhausted body. Stabilizing himself, Bai E''s gaze swept across the faces looking up at him. The new artificial human soldiers all watched him with eager eyes, among which Bai E thought he saw emotions like "admiration" and "worship." Recalling the situation when he was maintaining Ying''s machine gun, Bai E narrowed his eyes, forming some speculation¡ª The charge mechanism of this skill might be coming from other people''s... some positive emotions? Acknowledgment, worship, respect, faith... It''s worth trying more. But could it wait for a different time? He was really tired now... Every finger of Bai E wanted to slack off, regrettably, there was still some unfinished energy inside him. Without completely draining his physical strength, he wouldn''t gain the benefits of the exercise, and breakthroughs would be hard to come by, not to mention any "buy three, get one free" after completing the task. Looking at the rings swinging gently in the breeze before him, he shook his sore arms. Next, it was time to test the strength of his arms and core. Up we go... Since I''m here, what else can I do? The high breeze was cool, and Bai E took a deep breath. The coolness dispersed throughout his body, and every rested cell was fully immersed in the nourishment of oxygen, with some particularly solid presences feeling the will of their master and expelling their accumulated strength of many days... [Your body feels your intense desire and rapidly converts a bit of energy from the "Action Power Reserve" for you. Please cherish it; it''s at its limit.] [Physical recovery 1%, Quick Recovery (unlocked) progress 2%.] It''s like the arrival of a spring breeze overnight. "..." ??? Are you joining the excitement too? The talent "Quick Recovery" could restore not just injuries but also stamina? That''s a pleasant surprise. But at this moment, it''s rather shocking. "Geneva!" Bai E gritted his teeth, even the cool air seeping through his clenched teeth couldn''t be stopped. Why is it so difficult when I just want to honestly push my limits? Climb! Will climbing not suffice? Bai E leaned forward, gripping the unevenly spaced, cold steel rings in front of him with both hands. ... "Moving forward from here wouldn''t be appropriate, right?" The young military officer''s tone became somewhat uncertain now. Perhaps most of the artificial human soldiers were unclear on more details, but as the highest-ranking officer in this military camp, he knew precisely the extreme records. Since the establishment of this military camp, there have been new recruits who managed to cross the slope on their first training, although not many. But those who had surpassed the challenge of the rings, thus far, there were none. He skeptically flipped through the file in his hands, confirming that this artificial human soldier''s physical data was indeed 11 points when he emerged from the incubation pod. "It shouldn''t be..." Could it be because of his specialty? He flipped to the specialty section... "[Dynamic Vision Self-Perception is excellent, capable of capturing objects moving at high speed, inclined towards ''shooting class'' talent specialties.]" ??? Shooting class talent specialty? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Is that memory accurate? "How could he have a shooting specialty?" Yue Ying, who had witnessed Bai E''s shooting performance, heard Weslin mutter to himself and said indifferently. "He indeed possesses a shooting talent, and his shooting abilities are quite outstanding." Talent abilities remain unseen until they are fully unlocked; however, personal abilities, in a sense, are one facet of talent specialties. Those with related talent specialties tend to be much more efficient when performing related actions, and one can completely infer the underlying talents from the outward performance. But at the moment... does he also possess decent talent in physical aspects? Could it be the rare case of a dual talent specialty? Weslin put away the file and gazed thoughtfully at the figure struggling on the rings. Even if it were a dual specialty, the current performance of this artificial human, Number 95, definitely exceeded understanding. Incomprehensible. But that''s alright... there are plenty of incomprehensible things. The scientists in the city still haven''t fully figured out the underlying logic of the artificial human incubation chambers, let alone cracking the mystery of the genes. As for research? What research! If those scientists could research and discover something, they wouldn''t still be relying on these artificial humans to conquer the world. He''s just a minor gene mutation among a vast population; no one knows how long he''ll live. Having one more formidable soldier not only means more enemies killed, but there''s also no harm; in the end, it''s just an artificial human... Letting go of the desire to question its rationality, Weslin crossed his arms, focusing intently on the spectacle. At this point, he was also curious about what this mutant artificial human could ultimately achieve. Let me see your limit! ... Bai E hung midway on the ring course, with the inconsistently spaced and staggered rings presenting a great challenge to him; each advancement required the full cooperation of every muscle in his body. This stage was more physically demanding than any previous one, completely draining his strength. At this moment, the only thing keeping Bai E from letting go of the rings was sheer willpower. One step beyond the limit! From beginning to end, Bai E''s goal was only that. Moving forward was no longer possible; maintaining his current position without falling was already a challenge to his limits, with each additional second being a testament to that challenge. One second... Two seconds... The soreness in his arms reached its limit, even becoming numb. Bai E gradually lost control over his palms. His fingers reluctantly slipped one by one from the smooth iron rings until they finally let go completely. "I wonder if he can rely on self-breakthrough..." Not every surpassing of one''s own limits leads to an enhancement of attributes; otherwise, the standards set by the instructors would have to be moved forward again. Bai E, his body falling through mid-air with dry lips tightly pressed together, thought somewhat hazily. "Catch our hero!" He heard someone shouting not far away. "[You have surpassed your own limits during intense activity, physical strength +0.1, reflex +0.1.]" "[You have completed a self-breakthrough, ''Side Quest ¡ª Physical Training'' progress 0.1/0.3.]" Hmm? The consciousness of Bai E, quietly returning, suddenly heard the somewhat distant fuzzy notifications from the panel. Strength and control over his body almost simultaneously revived, and Bai E, still in mid-air, involuntarily spun around. His body performed a 180-degree turn in the air, and the moment he landed, he supported the ground with his feet and one hand in a conical shape... Instructor Wood, who had come prepared to catch the hero, blinked his distinct black and white eyes. He ended up embracing solitude. Chapter 20: 020 Delicious Paste Song Ying, who originally looked somewhat agitated, concerned his teammate might have injured themselves, belatedly opened his mouth wide in realization. "That looks cool?" ["Lucky Hit" energy charge +5.] ¡­ Bai E stood up, dusting off his hands, and gently smiled at Wood, who appeared somewhat dazed, "I''m fine." "Oh oh~" Wood felt that, for the first time in his life, he was truly awestruck, and just nodded blankly, "Alright, go rest for a bit. We''ll join everyone for breakfast soon." Facing the new recruit who shattered his preconceptions, Wood''s tone became unconsciously gentler. "Okay." Bai E maintained as much composure as possible, even though he was utterly exhausted. But within his pale smile, he couldn''t hide his weakness. He might still have a bit of newborn strength in him, but both his body and spirit were incredibly tired. He also had no thoughts of squandering that newborn strength on another test of his limits. According to the official website, self-breakthroughs are incredibly hard, and it''s difficult to achieve them consecutively in a short period. Having managed to break through on his own during the first training of the morning was satisfying enough for him, not to mention that it was a double boost through a single breakthrough. Both his physical fitness and reflexes improved. Looking back, the consistent external supplementation was crucial; it made his process of pushing limits much more prolonged and thorough. The players can be said to have played a significant role in this. It''s just that it was quite painful for him¡­ Well done, next time, hmm¡­ should we continue? That''s the question. "Brother, have some water." As Bai E, lost in thought, walked back to his own squad formation, a deep voice immediately rang out in front of him. The robust man who had stayed with him until the end now looked at him with admiration, handing over a bottle of clear liquid with no labels. "My name is Rock, this is the name I''ve given myself. Brother, you must remember me!" Bai E took the bottle of fluid offered by the other man and smiled gently, "Thank you." [Advertisement space for rent: Electrolyte Water (Level 3 Composite) (300ml): Quickly replenishes nutrients lost with sweat after intense physical activity, recovering 5% stamina within 5 minutes of consumption.] After checking the item''s properties, Bai E twisted open the cap and drank it all in one go. In his moaning mouth, the cells reveled as if parched land meeting sweet rain, eagerly absorbing the moisture from outside. "Everyone continues to rest for 5 minutes, then proceed to the canteen for a meal!" Wood, still keeping a stern face, shouted to everyone present. His gaze unintentionally softened into a faint smile when it swept over Bai E. ¡­ "We should also go train." You whispered a soft reminder. Since Bai E clearly didn''t need their supervision, it was time for them to do their own thing. Veterans needed training too, their gains from it might not be immediate, but over time, they would still be useful. As part of the special forces squad, they had more freedom, but at the same time, they were more disciplined. But today they didn''t feel like being disciplined¡­ You''s eyelashes fluttered gently, her face calm, "I want to watch a bit longer¡­" Shan Meng vigorously shook his head, "Our training can be done anytime, but Bai''s initial training only happens once." Song Ying nodded, "Indeed." Wood sighed softly, watching Bai E walk towards the canteen with the team, and shook his head, "Alright, we won''t train today." "By the way, what training do they have when they come back?" "Weapon training, right? I think that''s it." Continuous physical training won''t yield particularly good results, and the new recruits still had many skills to master. Scheduling their time wisely was the best way to enhance their combat capabilities. ¡­ The canteen. Bai E scooped up a colorful paste-like viscous liquid in front of him with his spoon. [Delicious Gloop (Level 3 Food) (500g): Made from a mixture of starch, meat, fruits, and vegetables, this gloop is high in calories and easily absorbed, eating it restores "Energy Reserve" by 15 points and satiety by 80%.] Is this what food looks like in this world? Do they really not consider taste or flavor at all? Luckily I''m not picky¡­ Bai E braced himself to eat a clump of thirteen-spiced flavor mudpie and abruptly stuffed a big scoop of it into his mouth. He almost swallowed without chewing, and it was only after a two-second delay that the taste buds belatedly caught the returning odor through the brain''s perception. Unexpectedly... not bad? The unknown spices were wrapped in the thick soup, covering every inch of the food, with the fresh fragrance of fruits and vegetables, and the rich taste of minced meat blending perfectly. The starch gathered what was originally a loose thick soup together, adding elasticity and toughness... "Burp~" A satiated Bai E gently let out a satisfied burp, with an 80% fullness that was just right. Being too full can cause drowsiness and is not conducive to continuing training thereafter. The recovery of 15 "Energy Reserve" points could not be compared, so it wasn''t clear if it was good or bad. Energy Reserve is the energy stored inside everyone in Galaxy World, where stamina can be restored by sitting and resting after being exhausted, coming from its conversion. In fact, if you replace it with a more familiar term, it might be easier to understand¡ªfat. It''s just that the fat in the real world is not as flexible and convenient as this world''s "Energy Reserve." The full value of a person''s Energy Reserve is usually around 100 points. It''s rarely consumed during normal actions, and it''s only during intense exercise or prolonged hunger that it gets used to convert into physical energy. 15 points of Energy Reserve would be enough for me to use up my stamina... one and a half times. After all, it''s military rations, so it must have some merit. Having eaten his fill, Bai E turned his attention to the silver machine that had made the mush. [Delicious Mush-Making Machine (Neutral)¡ªIf destroyed using "Lucky Strike," the following will drop: Certain (Delicious Mush*250kg, Cooking Experience by 500 points); Possible (Recipe: Delicious Mush)] Hmm... If there''s a chance, I''ll blow it up. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No matter where you are, food is always the most important. What if... one day I defect? Without food, wouldn''t I starve to death? ... "Without food, I''m going to die..." Kuang Xin never imagined that, after wittily playing mind games with NPCs and bravely battling against wild wolves, not dying to natural disasters or calamities, he would succumb to hunger at the crack of dawn after laboring. A night of frenzy topped off with morning toil drained all his Energy Reserve. The inconspicuous, slender yellow bar under his character''s health bar on the panel was now bottoming out. And Kuang Xin, who had simultaneously depleted physical strength and Energy Reserve, found himself unexpectedly waiting to die where he stood. In fact, even if he had the strength to move, he wouldn''t know where to find food. Meat? The fresh chunks of meat obtained yesterday seemed to have a trait for restoring Energy Reserve, but he had turned them all in... not saving a single piece. "I''ve been careless..." So, I actually have to prepare food in advance in this game to prevent starving during missions? I''ll definitely keep this in mind next lifetime! Bullets cost 2 black water coins each. Hans is a cheap bastard. Kuang Xin began to summarize the experiences that might come in handy in his next life. Starting over didn''t seem like such a big deal. It was just a shame to lose the current quest on his person... and all that experience he''d worked so hard for. I wonder if I could find that big-headed soldier again? Did I meet that big-headed soldier because I got Hans''s information first as a prerequisite, or was it just luck? Could other big-headed soldiers also give out quests? As a seasoned online gamer, Kuang Xin knew that some games operated this way; without fulfilling the prerequisite conditions, going directly to the target was likely to trigger nothing. Damn it! Do I really have to be cheated by Hans once in order to get key information? Starvation was a slow process, and Kuang Xin leaned against the tree stump he had felled, lost in thought. He even considered stabbing himself to death but hesitated for so long that he couldn''t bring himself to do it. The game had no pain feeling adjustment, and while pain wasn''t "painful," the sensation of committing suicide probably wasn''t pleasant. He was scared... "Sss~" "Sss~" "Sss~" The rustling sounds of something sweeping through the bushes came from nearby, and Kuang Xin immediately perked up his ears. Human? Or wolf? If it''s a person, maybe I could ask for help; if it''s a wolf, maybe it''s a fight to the death, drinking wolf blood! I still have one bullet, maybe I could turn the tables. "Eh? What happened to you?" A crisp female voice asked curiously, as the girl with 50 bullets stood not far away, hands clasped behind her back, smiling while looking over at Kuang Xin who was sprawled on the ground in a disheveled state. Chapter 21: 021 Plague Rat Upon seeing that it was a female player who approached, Kuang Xin instantly changed his slacker attitude, adopting as suave a side-lying pose as possible, his expression carefree. "Tired, just resting a bit." The girl sized up Kuang Xin''s face, now slender enough that his cheekbones cast shadows, and his panda-like dark circles, her face sporting a mischievous smile. "Is that so... Guess you don''t need any help then?" Kuang Xin flicked his hair, trying to show off his +10 charm, "Of course not." "Alright then..." As she spoke, the girl slowly backed away, giving Kuang Xin a cheerful wave before she was obscured by the bushes, "Goodbye, Mr. Grudge." She''s really leaving? Watching the yellow-green bushes that trembled for a moment before falling still, Kuang Xin felt like slapping himself twice. Why the hell was he trying to act cool? "Oh, right!" The bushes shook, and out popped a fresh, youthful face. Barely visible beneath the foliage, the girl grinned at Kuang Xin, "I''ve got something here I''d hate to waste, so I''ll give it to you." As she spoke, she tossed over a package wrapped in tattered cloth. The item had heft, bouncing twice on the ground before landing half a meter in front of Kuang Xin. Struggling to reach out and grab it, he unwrapped it to find a piece of irregularly shaped, earthy-yellow blocky material, covered in wax paper. "Powdered Lump Group (Level 1 Food) (300 grams): A simple food made from some plant starch, a bit toothsome, best consumed dissolved in water. As for the taste... don''t be demanding. Eating it can restore 4 points to your ''Action Power Reserve'' and 45% to 90% satiety." "This..." Kuang Xin was startled and looked up. The girl, with an earthy-yellow canvas bag slung across her shoulder and dressed in hip-hop-style wasteland attire, was smiling like an angel as she waved goodbye, "See you later, dummy!" Kuang Xin wanted to chase after her, but he didn''t have the energy, frantically biting into the powdered lump group. He couldn''t bite through it... It was as hard as a rock. Recalling the hint in the item description¡ªwater? Where could he get water? He barely had any saliva left. Kuang Xin could only moisten the edges of the powdered lump group with his damp mouth, incubating it for a while until a small corner softened slightly under the effect of the vapors. He broke off a piece with his teeth and continued to let it soak in his saliva. Silently struggling with the rock-like food, Kuang Xin''s eyes grew somewhat damp... Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was damn disgusting. Disgusting in more ways than one. Regaining some strength, Kuang Xin sprang to his feet, grabbed his axe, and headed straight in the direction where the girl had disappeared. "You are using the cave ability to track the target''s trail..." Following the faint traces on the ground, Kuang Xin wasn''t sure he was going in the right direction until he saw the figure bending over, searching for something on the ground, and he finally relaxed. "Thanks for the food." "Don''t mention it." The girl didn''t turn her head, seemingly having heard Kuang Xin''s approach long ago, and was still earnestly searching among a cluster of plants. "What are you looking for?" Kuang Xin leaned in closer, the plants growing in the dark, moist soil before him appearing grey-green and dull. Untended wild plants stretched out haphazardly. "Some herbs..." The girl seemed to be comparing against a panel of illustrations while trying to sift through the plants to find the ones she needed. As she searched, the girl chattered on, "I''ve taken on a task, there''s a girl who''s sick, need to find some herbs to make a decoction. By the way, the thing you just ate is the mother''s way of thanking me." "Is it hard to find? What''s the reward like?" Kuang Xin also pretended to look, "What does it look like? I''ll help you." "No need for your help... You can''t see the guide anyway." The girl shook her head indifferently, "As for the reward, it''s worth 25 points in pharmaceutics experience." "That''s pretty low..." Kuang Xin''s face lit up immediately, "I have some tasks you can take on that offer far better rewards than yours." The way a seasoned player repays a kindness... is to share gaming resources. "Hmm?" The girl was quite interested, "What is it? Chopping trees?" Having just seen several freshly chopped stumps beside the big grump, it was hard not to guess. "Yeah... The reward is great, you get a tech point and 25 bullets!" The girl was taken aback, "Tech points? What are those?" "Something for upgrading technology, I guess..." Kuang Xin was also unsure, "Sounds like a tough resource to get, saving it can''t hurt." "Indeed..." The girl nodded thoughtfully, considering; she hadn''t heard of such a reward in any of the tasks she had taken, "Is it very hard to complete?" "It''s alright..." Kuang Xin thought back on his overnight endeavor, "Just a bit tiring." "Where can I take on this task?" ```"It was given by a soldier at the military camp." "Military camp?" The girl was slightly startled, "I heard that people who wander around there for no reason all died." Could that be true? Kuang Xin took a moment to recall; those soldiers did start off a bit aggressive, but they never intended to kill... Although he was puzzled inside, his face showed confidence, "I have a special access, which I wouldn''t tell just anyone." "I see..." The girl turned her head to quietly stare at Kuang Xin. Her face was not the height of beauty, but her eyes seemed to capture souls. "So... I''m not just anyone, right?" Kuang Xin dared not meet her gaze and turned his face away with a twang, "Well... you did save my life..." "Did I?" Seeing Kuang Xin''s shy demeanor, the girl''s mouth curled up into a mischievous smile, her fingertips absentmindedly twirling a dry grass stem. "Ah~" "What''s wrong?" "A thorn..." The girl covered her fingertip, curling up and blowing on it gently. "Are you okay?" "I''m fine... it doesn''t hurt." The voices of the young man and woman echoed through the empty valley, while their silhouettes reflected light that was captured within the limited circular horizon, creating a strange halo effect at the edges. The grass and stems swayed slightly in their field of vision... Blood! Genes! "Hiss!" A grey shadow suddenly burst out from the tall grass! Caught up in emotions and his vision in disarray, Kuang Xin instinctively lifted his axe and charged forward. [Using the heavy weapon to attack hit the target, Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +7, Barbaric Physique (unlocked) unlock progress 11%.] [Current Heavy Weapon Specialization experience 72/100, can master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization" at 100 points.] [Hit the target''s vital spot, causing 10 points of critical damage!] [Plague Rat (Mutant): Health 13/23; Defensive Power 5; Action Power 52%; Attack Power (type: piercing) 3~5; Traits: Tiny Size, Utter Madness...] [Tiny Size: When facing heavy weapon, ranged weapon, light firearm attack, dodge +15%, damage received from "blunt damage" is halved.] [Utter Madness: Parasitized by the alien fungus, it has completely lost its sanity, extremely bloodthirsty, and never retreats! Attack power +50%.] "Ah!" The girl, belatedly realizing the danger, let out a cry and instinctively reached for her gun. Kuang Xin stopped her, stepping on the black little thing on the ground that seemed to have lost some of its vision. With a swing of his hand, the axe came down, and with one blow the deed was done! [Using the heavy weapon to attack hit the target, Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +1, Barbaric Physique (unlocked) unlock progress 11%.] [Current Heavy Weapon Specialization experience 73/100...] [Hit the target''s vital spot, causing 13 points of fatal damage!] [The target has ceased breathing and lost all basic vital signs.] "What is this?" "A rat... a mutant one." Kuang Xin said nonchalantly, holding the axe. Inside, he roared triumphantly¡ªwasn''t Xin amazing? "You reacted so quickly just now..." The girl''s tone was full of admiration and sincerity. Kuang Xin waved it off, "Just luck." Indeed, it was luck; the axe blade hit the target amid his panic. It wasn''t so much his skill as it was the rat running straight into it. Nevertheless, it felt like his aim was true, and he received a substantial boost in weapon mastery experience. Awesome! As he waved, the scratches on the back of Kuang Xin''s hand were also displayed clearly in front of the girl. "Ah~ you''re hurt." "It''s nothing..." "Huff~~~ Does it hurt? Let me bandage it for you..." Feeling the girl blowing gently on the back of his hand, Kuang Xin''s spirit soared, "No... it doesn''t hurt." ... [You have performed a bandaging, accelerating the healing of the wound, bandaging experience +4.] [Current bandaging experience 12/100, can master "Level 1 Bandaging Technique" at 100 points.] "It''s a bit shoddy, but it''ll do for now~" ``` Chapter 22: 022 Teaching Bureau? [Feedback from the commission: Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +4.] [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 36/100, upon reaching 100 points you can master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization".] Bai E had hardly returned to the training ground and stood in front of the instructor when he heard the prompt from the panel. The player is working hard again? What a workaholic? There was a reason after all why I couldn''t outperform them in other games back in the day! S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "At attention!" A sudden shout brought Bai E''s focus back. Wood was holding a specially designed broadsword in his hand, with a thick back and an extremely thin edge that flashed a dazzling silver brilliance at the front, while the rest of the blade was black and shiny, as if it were not sharpened. "Mere physical fitness will not allow you to defeat the enemy on the battlefield! Skillful use of weapons can stop the enemy at the gates of the city. To deal with different foes, we have different equipment. In two days, your enemy will be those bugs, and this Bug-Slaying Blade is the weapon you must familiarize yourself with! Of course..." Wood''s voice paused slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the group of 50 soldiers in front of him, lingering on a few figures, "I know some of you have talents in shooting... but what if you run out of bullets? What if your gun is destroyed or taken? The battlefield is ever-changing, and too many contingencies can occur. Being able to pick up the most common weapon and use it against the enemy is an ability you must learn." With that, Wood stepped aside to let the soldiers see the row of broadswords on the iron rack behind him unobstructed. "Now, line up and pick up your weapon!" Bai E received his own weapon. [Bug-Slaying Blade - Quality: White (Heavy Weapon)] [Basic parameters: Blade Attack Power (Type: Slashing): 8~15; Edge Attack Power (Type: Blunt): 12~20; Output Level 12; Amplifying Attributes: Blade Armor Penetration +10%, Edge Heavy Strike +5%; Durability 25/25] [Usage Requirement: Physique 12 (usable, flexibility -5%).] [Trait: Blade constructed with a special material designed specifically to break through the Bug Race''s armor shell, avoid using the blade for frontal confrontations as much as possible.] The broadsword was incredibly heavy, as heavy as its appearance suggested. Therefore, it demanded an even higher basic physique. In Galaxy World, the usage requirements listed for various weapons are not mandatory conditions; not meeting the required attributes does not mean the weapon is completely unusable, but there will be some level of attribute penalty. With his current physique of 11.5, Bai E could still wield this broadsword that requires a physique of 12, but certainly not as efficiently as someone with a normal physique of 12 or higher. "Pretty heavy, isn''t it?" Wood asked with a cold smile, "This will be the absolute companion for most of you when you step onto the battlefield next. Use it, get familiar with it, let it become a part of your flesh and blood! It''s the most reliable ally on the battlefield and a sharp tool for killing enemies! Remember, don''t die easily, your lives are the currency of the city lord, and have no right to be wasted!" Wood''s dark complexion was matched by a cold white shine reflecting from between his teeth, his words constantly reminding Bai E¡ª This world is by no means a happy amusement park. As a player, one may love the chaos of these troubled times, but as a native inhabitant of this world... Bai E gripped the hilt of his broadsword tightly; it fit the muscles in his palm as if it were made for him. The basic 36 points of Heavy Weapon Mastery experience gave him a rudimentary familiarity with these weapons. "Now, everyone follow me, swing your sword a thousand times!" [Side Quest Triggered - Familiarize Yourself with the Weapon.] [Familiarize Yourself with the Weapon: The instructor has a wealth of experience, and his instructions are bound to be useful. Completing his instructions will earn you enough basic proficiency. Quest Requirement: Mimic the instructor''s movements with at least 80% accuracy and swing the sword 0/1000 times. Quest Reward: Corresponding weapon mastery experience +50. (Countdown: 59 minutes 59 seconds)] After finishing, Wood turned his back to all the soldiers. He grasped the handle with both hands, raised the broadsword high above his head, and brought it down in a mighty diagonal slash. The heavy whistling of the blade cutting the air was filled with murderous intent. [You are observing a professional sword swing demonstration. If you have any insights...] [Teaching: Feeling the professional mastery of the opponent, you decide to pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) to learn the corresponding ability. (Exchange ratio: Every 2 points of combat experience/general experience can be exchanged for 1 point of the specific experience.)] This teaching exchange? Even without mastering at least a level 1 mastery ability, you can still use teaching as a way to apply combat or general experience to learn the desired ability. So that''s the purpose of the "teaching" method? Bai E glanced at the panel prompt that did not obstruct his view, clear on its function. As for the Heavy Weapon Specialization ability, Bai E naturally wanted it. As Wood said, the battlefield is ever-changing, and who knows when a situation would arise that would require him to take up a melee weapon for combat. The more skills one has, the better. But the pity was... He didn''t have even 1 point of combat or general experience at the moment. Can''t exchange... Might as well just follow and learn honestly... [You completed a swing of the blade, completion 83%, "Subquest¡ªWeapon Familiarity" progress 1/1000.] [You completed a swing of the blade, completion 81%, "Subquest¡ªWeapon Familiarity" progress 2/1000.] While some artificial humans were still confusedly holding their blades, Bai E was already trying as much as possible to imitate Wood''s demonstrated posture, fully and repeatedly practicing swings in front of him. Wood spoke of a thousand times, but it was impossible to monitor in real-time how many times each person had slashed; he was actually basing it on time. This was already indicated on the mission. Swinging a thousand times within an hour might not be an easy task. Time needed to be utilized efficiently. [...Progress 3/1000.] [...Progress 4/1000.] As Bai E took the lead in blowing the charge, the rest of the soldiers also began to move. The movements, of course, were not uniform, with the chaotic glint of blades shining everywhere. "Strange..." Yue Ying, from the high platform, could nearly sweep her gaze across the entire field simultaneously, and as a master of the blade herself, she focused on one figure among the countless on the vast training ground, mixed within the military ranks, a look of puzzlement on the face hidden beneath the black hood. "Such high proficiency." All the artificial humans were imitating the instructor''s movements, of course, due to different talents, the completion rate of the imitation varied. The higher the completion rate, the faster the uptake speed naturally, and the more likely it is to achieve sufficient training effects. And that artificial human, who had already stood out during the previous physical training, was now displaying sword-swinging skills that caught the eye of her, the master of the blade, within a troop of 2000 people in no time. From the very first swing, this artificial human soldier''s moves achieved the goal of "having a training effect." And it was no coincidence... Once... Twice... Ten times... A hundred times... He was earnest enough, and persistent. So stable it was almost like a... robot? Chapter 23: Mysterious master [You have completed a swing of your sword, completion rate 95%, "Side Quest ¡ª Familiarize with Weapon" progress 513/1000.] [You have repeatedly accomplished high-completion learning, Heavy Weapon Mastery Experience +1.] [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery Experience 41/100,when reaching 100 points, "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization" can be mastered.] "Feels... a bit sore." Bai E murmured to himself. Swinging a sword in the same motion for a long time, and considering that the combat blade was so heavy, had already put too much strain on his arms. Not to mention that the soreness from the physical training that had pushed his body to its limits had not yet completely disappeared; his tired body was now struggling against his willpower. Willpower, too, is a resource that can be depleted. Hundreds of sword swings tested not only his body and skills but also mentally ground him down in a way hard to put into words. Of course, he could rest when tired; the instructor had never stopped anyone. After all, sword swings with seriously altered motions had no training effect, and at that moment, many humanoid soldiers also set down their combat blades to ease their muscles. But Bai E could see the panel... A tangible quest right in front of his eyes, already half completed. What''s most important is that the countdown had also nearly reached its midpoint... If the mission was still incomplete when time was up, that would be more unbearable than death. Others might rest, but not him! Bai E lifted his combat blade high, feeling a bit weary at heart. But... did he really need to take it that seriously? Maybe try swinging the sword in a more comfortable position? With this thought, Bai E brought down his sword in a swing. [You have completed a swing of your sword, completion rate 66%, "Side Quest ¡ª Familiarize with Weapon" progress not increased.] [Your completion rate has significantly decreased with this swing, falling below average standards, identified as slacking off! Progress -10, "Side Quest ¡ª Familiarize with Weapon" progress 503/1000.] [Masterfulness comes from diligence, playfulness leads to waste, hope you won''t neglect your skills!] "..." Damn it! Bai E instantly snapped to attention. His previous performances were too outstanding, so much so that a casual swing even resulted in a penalty. Better to rest than to swing haphazardly? Bai E planted his sword into the ground and took several deep breaths. "Fine!" A bit of mental adjustment allowed Bai E to regain his spirit. After easing the muscles in his arms, Bai E once again lifted the great sword high with both hands. In front of him seemed to stand that accursed panel quest. With one swing, the pale blue panel shattered, and a killing aura flew wildly. [You have completed a swing of your sword, completion rate 98%, "Side Quest ¡ª Familiarize with Weapon" progress 504/1000.] [Perfect execution! Keep it up!] S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I''ll chop you down! ... "Pfft~" Yueying couldn''t help but let out a soft sound. 513 times. Even though her gaze swept across the entire field, trying to witness the characteristics of every humanoid soldier in person, she never forgot to observe the one who had been noticeable from the first swing. 513 swings! She remembered the number. Every swing was above standard, precise and consistent like a mechanical being. It was hard to imagine that this was something a newly created humanoid could achieve. The overly stable performance within expected parameters let her observation enter a state of indifference. Until the coming of the 514th swing... A misfire, yet unexpectedly delightful. After all, it made him seem more human. "What''s the matter?" The young officer beside her took the chance to cast a concerned look. "Nothing..." In an instant, Yueying''s expression returned to its usual calm, her tone cold and indifferent as if it were none of her concern. Emotions, after all, are something the elves strive to suppress as much as possible... ``` "Oh~" Weslin responded with a hint of disappointment. I actually liked you quite a bit, didn''t expect you to be so cold and indifferent... I like you even more now. "Simple training might be somewhat dull..." "No!" Yueying interrupted for the first time, "It''s very interesting." Weslin''s eyes shone slightly, feeling she might have discovered Miss Yueying''s interests. It is said that from the moment elves come of age, they choose a skill to pursue as their ultimate path in life. Each elf makes a different choice, with wielding swords and handling weapons being quite common, but if they approve, painting or playing with mud can also become an elf''s ultimate pursuit. In the eyes of humans, this is a racial quirk, but no doubt it was a breakthrough at this moment. "Miss Yueying really likes swordsmanship?" The hooded figure nodded slightly, "I have studied it a bit." Weslin''s heart leaped. The way elves speak and their mannerisms are somewhat similar to those of the East Asians living in a city 2,000 kilometers away, who typically speak with modesty. But they are straightforward in character; if they aren''t interested, they usually say so directly. Does this mean that Miss Yueying''s elven path is truly swordsmanship? Swordsmanship? I myself don''t know swordsmanship. Perhaps those artificial human soldiers currently training with combat swords could bring her some joy? To teach is also a hobby for many. "Then may I ask if Miss Yueying is interested in giving some pointers to my soldiers?" "Not..." Yueying''s first instinct was to refuse but then hesitated, "It''s not out of the question..." She bore a racial mission, needing to see if humans were worth long-term cooperation. Examining the results of the human core technology, the artificial human soldier project, seemed reasonable. To assess the learning capability of these artificial soldiers that had just stepped out of their incubators. After basic training, whether they could acquire enough combat experience. "Then it''s settled!" Saying this, Weslin waved to his aide-de-camp not far away, "Pass the word, have each instructor select the most proficient soldier from their unit; Miss Yueying will personally guide them later." "Yes!" ... [You completed a sword swing with 96% proficiency, "Side Quest - Familiarize with Weapon" progress 837/1000.] [You have completed several high-proficiency training sessions consecutively, Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +1.] [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 45/100, you can master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization" at 100 points.] So tired... So sore... Swinging a sword is not only a two-handed task; it requires the coordination of the entire body. Although it doesn''t exhaust the body like the earlier physical training, it nearly destroys the arms. Long durations and fast-paced sword swinging had almost numbed Bai E''s arms. Swinging the sword had become instinctive. Fortunately, there was good news: the increase in proficiency experience and the extended mechanical sword swinging turned the standard movements into Bai E''s muscle memory. Even without deliberate control, each sword swing was almost always above standard. This also resulted in a higher efficiency in gaining mastery experience directly from training. Of course, the most important was the 50 points of mastery experience granted after completing the mission. Only ten and a half minutes left. Can''t slack off now. ... Wood glanced at his watch; the soldiers in front of him were showing signs of fatigue from the prolonged mechanical training, the atmosphere was down. But it was still early; time couldn''t be wasted. They needed a boost! "Lads! I''ve got good news for you!" Wood''s announcement captured the attention of all the artificial humans. "After the training ends, a mysterious expert will offer some guidance to the best among you, and if your performance satisfies the superior officers, there will be a mysterious reward waiting for you!" [Whether it''s the mysterious reward or the challenge of facing an unknown mysterious expert, both are very attractive to you, you decide...] ``` Chapter 24: 024 Side Quest - Confrontation Train seriously! I''m almost finished with my task! No pie in the sky can measure up to the importance of a task you''re about to complete on your own. Bai E focused wholeheartedly and kept swinging his sword without distraction. 838¡­ 839¡­ The earnest Bai E, even among these naturally born artificial human soldiers, stood out quite noticeably. While companions couldn''t keep their eyes on him at all times, as an instructor, Wood could observe everyone constantly. He couldn''t be certain if Bai E''s training effects were sufficiently excellent, but at least his attitude was the most serious among them. Although he motivated the other artificial human soldiers by saying that everyone had a chance, in his heart, he had already decided on the candidate. ¡­ [You have completed a swing, completion rate 98%, "Subsidiary Task ¨C Familiarization with Weapon" progress 1000/1000.] [You have repeatedly completed high completion rate learning, Heavy Weapon Proficiency Experience +1.] [Current Heavy Weapon Proficiency Experience 51/100, reach 100 points to master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization".] [Subsidiary Task ¨C Familiarization with Weapon, Complete!] [Task Reward: Heavy Weapon Proficiency Experience +50, awarded.] "Phew~ Finally finished." [Current Heavy Weapon Proficiency Experience 101/100, "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization" acquired, and 1 Potential Point earned simultaneously.] [Heavy Weapon Specialization (Level 1): Attack Power (Blunt) +2%, Heavy Strike +1%.] [Current Heavy Weapon Proficiency Experience 1/300, reach 300 points to master "Level 2 Heavy Weapon Specialization".] The moment the task was completed, Bai E felt a surge of heavy weapon use experience flood into his body, taking command of his limbs. That instinctive familiarity made him feel curiously in sync with the battle saber in his hands, and he even felt the urge to spar with the warrior in front of him. [??? (Human) (Ally) ¡ª Use "Lucky Strike" for a kill to drop: Certain (Fresh Meat*2000, Combat Experience 800 points); Possible (Specialty: Muscular Development)] Forget it. ¡­ 1011 times. Yue Ying''s sufficiently intelligent mind could easily remember this number. It''s rare for artificial human soldiers to take their instructor''s initial command so seriously. A thousand swings within an hour. This was an extremely challenging criterion to meet, one that even the instructors themselves didn''t really expect to be achieved. And it had to be effective swings. Yue Ying, with a comprehensive view, could easily notice ¡ª That artificial human was the only one among the 2000 soldiers present who followed the instructor''s order to the letter. Time remaining... 1 minute and 26 seconds. He stopped swinging. Counting on his own? He was indeed strictly following orders. But why exceed by 11 swings? It must be... a miscount. Yue Ying''s lips curled slightly. This particularly rigid artificial human soldier was unexpectedly clumsy in some aspects. "Time''s almost up." Veslin mentioned kindly from the side. They followed an absolutely reasonable schedule for the artificial human soldiers'' training program, not allowing anything to disrupt this rhythm. ¡­ Wood kept an eye on the time, and as soon as the predetermined moment arrived, he immediately called a halt. His fellow instructors were already having their groups sign up and vote democratically, but he was different... he decided internally. "I''ve seen everyone''s performance just now, and Soldier 95B27 has arguably outshone everybody. If there are no objections, let him represent our group against the mysterious War God." In the group of 50 soldiers, most of the artificial human soldiers remained silent, seemingly content whether out of genuine approval or grudging acceptance. The remaining few who were eager to show off hesitated after seeing Bai E''s stern face, which remained expressionless even after grueling training, and then chose to keep their mouths shut. Defaulted the qualifications for Bai E to represent the 358th Battalion in combat. From a troop of 2000 people, 40 genetically engineered soldiers who had been selected in their own way, formed a neat square formation, with Weslin stretching out his hand towards the thin figure cloaked in black beside him. "This is Yueying from the Elf Race, who is also an extraordinary master of swordsmanship. It''s rare to have such an opportunity to make progress in a one-on-one duel with a master. What kind of advancements you make depends entirely on your own fate. I don''t have high expectations for you..." Weslin raised three fingers, "30 seconds of time, if you can last for 30 seconds, I will prepare a surprise package for you! Did you hear me clearly?" "Understood!" [Triggered a side quest¡ªDuel.] [Duel: You''ve benefited greatly from your duel with the swordmaster from the Elf Race, provided you can last a sufficiently long time. Quest requirements: Persist for 0/30 seconds in your duel with Yueying of the Elf Race. Quest completion reward: Ability Extraction Card*1.] "30 seconds?" Bai E vaguely sensed a flicker of disdain from beneath the black cloak of the Elf Race representative. "You, step forward!" Weslin, allowing some rest time for all the genetically engineered soldiers with the assembly and his speech, coldly ordered the leading soldier in the front row. The soldier called upon was a tall Caucasian male, with a broadsword in his hand that seemed almost toy-like. Upon hearing the order, the soldier jogged up to the platform. Weslin smiled and patted the shoulder of his most elite soldier, "Perform well." "Yes, sir!" The Caucasian male''s face flushed with excitement; the silver bar sparkling on Weslin''s shoulder denoted his status. Recognition from such a person stirred his genes into action. "I will definitely defeat her!" The soldier vowed silently. Yueying gently held the standard-issue broadsword; even when directly faced, only her right hand holding the sword extended from the black cloak, exposed to the air. Crystal clear and fair, with slender knuckles. Weslin, who had stepped aside, pinched his chin, quietly planning to enjoy the spectacle of a beauty''s battle. It was unknown whether Yueying was truly an Elf who pursued swordsmanship as her ultimate goal, and to what extent a true swordmaster could achieve... "Swoosh!" With a flash of the blade, the standard-issue broadsword was flung high into the air, making several large arcs and emitting a ''whoosh'' as it sliced through the wind. It landed on the hard ground nearby with a crisp clang. "Clang~" Coming back to his senses, Weslin stared blankly at the broadsword lying close to him, then at the tall Caucasian soldier who had been disarmed and now lay defeated on the ground. "Is... is it over?" What happened to the 30 seconds? Just like that? "Useless trash, get down!" Regaining his composure, Weslin shouted angrily, "Next, up!" "Yes, sir!" ... "Clang~" "Clang~" "Clang~" "Clang~" Rain of standard-issue broadswords fell upon the stage. Yueying seemed to have a penchant for disarming her opponents; every genetically engineered soldier''s weapon ended its journey with a high plummet to the ground. And the soldiers themselves... Not a single one had managed to withstand the second strike. Disarmament and subjugation happened at the same time. No matter what stance the blade-wielding genetically engineered soldiers took as they charged forward, Yueying always found the perfect angle to strike down the enemy. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Such ferocious swordsmanship... I feel like I wouldn''t last more than a few moves myself," spoke the burly melee brawler of the team, unable to keep from expressing his amazement. Members of the special forces squad who had been continuously watching Bai''s training began to voice their astonishment. "This elf lady doesn''t know the meaning of holding back..." "Trying to spar with such a master on your first training is indeed a bit out of their depth... Veslin didn''t communicate beforehand to tone it down a bit." "It''s almost Bai''s turn..." Chapter 25: 025 Heavy Strike 1% Weslin could clearly feel the rising murmurs of dissent among the dwindling number of teams. Survive 30 seconds? Under Yueying''s formidable strength, this number seemed like a joke uttered in passing. It was filled with the organizers'' mockery. Before the next artificial human warrior stepped up, Weslin took the initiative to announce, "5 seconds! It seems our esteemed lady of the Elf Race believes that only giving her all can bring better progress. All you need to do is survive for 5 seconds against the Elven miss! Successful warriors may make any request of me! Any at all!" [Side Quest¡ªDuel, information has changed.] [Duel: Having observed that your opponent''s strength is terrifyingly unimaginable, you now only need to survive for a shorter amount of time in order to learn some of her abilities. Quest Requirements: Survive for 0/5 seconds in the duel with the Elf Race''s Yueying. Quest Reward: Target Character Ability Extraction Card*1.] "5 seconds!" The female warrior with wheat-colored skin stepped forward, her expression transforming from perplexed to excited. If it''s just 5 seconds... "Swish~" "Clang~" The elongated faces of comrades lining up in front of Bai E shimmered with two spots of excitement. "I''ve been watching her for a long time, and I have spotted her weakness." "Swish~" "Clang~" ... 30 seconds and 5 seconds, there was no fundamental difference. Just the duration of one move. Yueying, under her hood, let a contemptuous and calm light flash in her eyes. These artificial human warriors were indeed mass-produced by humans, great in quality but devoid of creative talent. In the simple drills, not a single artificial human warrior could master even Level 1 weapon proficiency, not even those who rigorously trained in the most standard manner according to the instructors. In fact, Yueying had been holding back considerably. If any of these artificial warriors had shown the slightest hint of a move infused with the essence of weapon mastery during their attacks, she would have allowed them that one to two percent chance of performance. Unfortunately, there were none... And these were the finest individuals selected by human instructors from a pool of 2,000. It was somewhat disappointing. Yueying''s veil drooped as she heard another calm and steady voice in front of her. "Please enlighten me." ... "It''s Bai''s turn! It''s Bai''s turn!" Dashan was visibly excited. Song Ying gazed into the distance, trying to discern any trace of a master''s aura from Bai E, "Don''t tell me he''ll be taken down in one move as well?" "You, do you think Bai can survive two moves?" The smaller girl responded to the question with an unrelated shake of her head, "He trained very seriously." But against such a master... it''s not enough. ... Yueying lifted her head slightly to get a clear view of her opponent. A man of average height with unremarkable features stood not far from her, brandishing a battle saber in greeting. The guy who had swung 1,011 times? This was the artificial human warrior who trained the most with standard posture. Previously, Yueying held the greatest expectations for him, and now... Yueying gently lifted her saber, signaling that she was ready to defend. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E held the blade with his left hand, gripping the hilt with his right, launching a charge. The blade was too heavy; holding it this way would make it easier to wield. The first slash... In Yueying''s eyes, she could see the trajectory of the falling blade, simple and direct, without any fancy flourishes. But... was he holding back strength? With one hand, Yueying lifted her battle saber to meet the strike. No matter how the opponent attacked, she would always vanquish them in one move, but that didn''t mean she always struck just once. Executing all moves within a short time frame with a tactical objective constituted one move, also known as an attack routine. This was a combat concept that had long been propagated within the Elf Race. Facing Bai E''s attack, she tentatively seized on the weakest point in his force output, attempting to defeat him. Many artificial humans had tried to change their moves, but mere change was pointless. She was faster. Unless... they could seize the opportunity she intentionally left open. "Clang!" The collision of blades rang out clearly. As Bai E pressed down on the blade with his left hand, pulling away, a harsh grating noise emanated from the friction between the two sword edges. [Your attack caused a heavy strike, but failed to penetrate the opponent''s defense.] [In practical combat, you have delivered a heavy strike, Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +2.] [Current Heavy Weapon Specialization experience 3/300, upon reaching 300 points, "Level 2 Heavy Weapon Specialization" can be mastered.] Bai E, stepping back, looked on with a stunned expression. He landed a critical strike! The additional attack power from Level 1 Heavy Weapon Mastery wasn''t very useful in such a skillful duel, with the only possible advantage for Bai E being the 1% chance of landing critical hits. A critical strike is a brief confrontation where the attacker strongly overpowers the defender. Whether it''s offense against offense or offense against defense, a critical strike can be triggered, commonly when heavy weapons hit a vital spot or when striking powerfully against a joint. The critical strike rate granted by mastery isn''t just an unreasonable random trigger, but an instinct to find or even induce the opponent''s weaknesses during the fight. The instinct granted by Level 1 mastery isn''t very impressive, and Bai E didn''t count on exploiting that tiny chance during the short battle. The observation from below made him realize that the Miss Yue Ying from the Elf Race was unbeatable. Survive for 5 seconds? Completing this task was difficult, and his current move was purely about doing his best and leaving the rest to fate. But as it turned out, was he in luck this moment? ... "He didn''t fall, he didn''t fall!" Dashan was somewhat excited, as if the one who had endured a move without defeat was himself. The remaining challengers in the synthetic human team were visibly moved. "He held on!" "It''s that guy again!" ["Lucky Strike" charge +3.] Regardless, the appearance of the first companion to withstand a move gave the rest who hadn''t yet challenged a sliver of renewed confidence. Perhaps, were those before just too weak? Standing here, to some extent, they were all elites. No one doubted themselves. "Again." This was the first time everyone heard Yue Ying''s voice in this duel. Cool and crisp. Like a foggy figure under the obscure moonlight, hard to discern¡­ Bai E silently pulled away and charged back in. 5 seconds, and showing any sign of fear wouldn''t count. As he drew his sword and left, the countdown on the mission panel accordingly paused. Nothing but battle! [Your attack was a critical strike, but it failed to break through the opponent''s defense.] ... [Your attack was a critical strike, but it failed to break through the opponent''s defense.] ... [Your attack was a critical strike, but it failed to break through the opponent''s defense.] ... [You have landed multiple critical strikes consecutively in actual combat, Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +15.] (Accumulated) [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 18/300, upon reaching 300 points you will master "Level 2 Heavy Weapon Specialization".] In a brief series of exchanges, each one was a critical hit! 1% chance. Even as Bai E initially thought it was luck, he now perceived a problem. This Elf lady seemed to be intentionally guiding him, turning the original 1% chance into some kind of inevitability. Of course, the prerequisite was that he, as the opponent, could precisely seize every opportunity she provided. If he failed to grasp the fleeting chance, Miss Yueying''s blade would show no mercy. This was the real essence that a warrior with a certain level of base strength could learn from this duel. Task duration completed: 4.69/5 seconds. Just one more move! Bai E took a deep breath, the excitement of nearly completing the task filled his chest, causing a tremble of excitement throughout his body. Noticing this, Yue Ying slightly narrowed her eyes. "The last lesson... always stay calm in battle!" Control is needed not only over thoughts, but also... hormones. The body too can betray the truth. As blades crossed, Bai E felt a sudden crushing blow to his biceps brachii. His right hand turned numb, and the battle sword slipped from his grasp. He experienced what those synthetic human warriors who had been defeated felt. "You had a chance to dodge, but your muscles were too stiff," said Yue Ying as she sheathed her sword. This was the second thing she said in this duel. The executive officer urgently stopped the stopwatch. 5.31 seconds! [Side mission¡ªDuel, completed!] Chapter 26: 026 Camp Exit Permit ``` [Task Reward: Target Character Ability Extraction Card*1 has been issued.] [Target Character Ability Extraction Prize Pool Locked: Expertise*Self-Restraint, Expertise*Bladework, Expertise*Self-Control, Skill*Wildfire Slash, Skill*Lightning Leap, Mastery*Heavy Weapon Specialization level +1, not exceeding level 6. Would you like to begin the extraction?] Draw...I''ll draw later. Drawing lots should naturally be taken seriously, and the matters at hand are not yet finished. Weslin excitedly approached Bai E, demonstrating extreme enthusiasm when facing the first artificial human soldier who had fulfilled the promise he made. "Well done! My warrior." Bai E''s gaze slid off the other''s shoulder. A slash. This person was the highest authority in the military base and counted as one of the few top power figures in the entire city. It seemed that it was he who had spoken up for all the newly created artificial humans yesterday, but Bai E had been in a daze then and couldn''t remember the distant details. But right now, he should display the... "respect" that befits the other person''s status. Bai E''s face bloomed with thick apologies, blushing as if he had received an honor he didn''t deserve. "It''s all because of the instructor''s good teaching." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Very good, you must always remember who trained you!" Hearing Bai E''s response, Weslin''s smile became even more splendid. He patted Bai E''s shoulder forcefully, "Speak up! You can make any request of me, anything!" Bai E hadn''t felt confident about completing the task, but he hadn''t missed a single prediction of what would happen after. Leaving the task reward aside, he had long thought about what he would ask Weslin for. "I would like to see the world beyond the camp..." Bai E brought up his wish with a slightly paused tone. Leaving the camp! That was Bai E''s most urgent need. He needed to understand what the outside world was like... more importantly, there were players outside. He needed more opportunities to interact with players, whether to understand their origins or to engage in interactions and post tasks. The feedback rewards from tasks given by players were too generous, and he had experienced the thrill of rocket-like advancement. Upon hearing Bai E''s request, Weslin obviously hesitated for a moment. "Just that?" He had braced himself for a significant expenditure, yet the artificial human soldier''s request was just this. The camp was under lock and key management, and without a Leave Camp Certificate, leaving the camp at will was not permitted. But in reality, it was just for convenience of management. These artificial human soldiers would never hold any important positions; they were just ordinary grunts. Even if they left the camp, they wouldn''t be able to do anything to harm it. Curiosity about the outside world? That was all too normal. The first one to meet the challenge requirements just asks for this? "No problem!" Weslin agreed instantly, his compliance was quite abrupt. He then gestured for his aide, "Award him a medal, permitting him to leave the camp at any time." Bai E''s chest thumped with excitement, everything was going unbelievably smoothly. "Thank you, Sir!" The sincere thanks made Weslin''s mood soar, and he used Bai E as an example to brainwash the other artificial human soldiers opportunistically. "This is your role model, as long as you do well, I can grant you anything you desire!" Bai E stood to one side, playing along with the act, seemingly gazing at Weslin''s profile with great eagerness, yet in his peripheral vision, he caught sight of a pair of cool, detached eyes. When he looked directly, the black robe trembled slightly, and a flash of skeptical light appeared then disappeared. That elf lady? She was a very strong master; did she have the ability to perceive the thoughts of others? This thought instantly cooled the agitation in Bai E''s heart. His face remained beaming with a smile, but his mind had already calmed down. "Alright, return to your unit." "Yes, Sir!" Bai E had obtained the thing he had long dreamed of¡ª ``` [Bronze Medal #1: As proof of your honor, you may freely enter and exit the "barracks" while you possess this medal.] Got it! "Well done!" Wood was the first to come forward to congratulate Bai E. Having his own trained soldier be the first among many challenging teams to seize the laurel undoubtedly brought glory to his face. Not to mention that the achievements of the artificial soldiers he trained would be counted in the assessment of their instructors; the more impressive his artificial soldiers were, the more substantial the reward he would receive after training was complete. The interests of everyone were aligned. Bai E''s performances, both past and present, had already proven his significant worth, and any relationship usually starts with a need. "You can visit my home when you have time off from the camp." He was a natural person with his own family. Bai E nodded with a smile. "Definitely!" After a pause, Bai E took the initiative to ask, "What are we training next?" Wood looked towards the high platform, waiting to see other artificial warrior soldiers being knocked down by a mysterious master with one move. There is a higher value in being the sole victor. Hearing Bai E''s question by his side, he answered offhandedly. "Still physical training, which is the main focus for these days, continuing until lunchtime. After that, you can rest for an hour and a half, then in the afternoon, you''ll undergo specialized training." "Specialized training?" "That involves strengthening the battlefield abilities related to your talents..." Wood paused, then turned back to look at Bai E, "I remember your talent is in sharpshooting, right?" "Right." "So, it''s about enhancing your shooting capabilities, not just your sharpshooting specialization but also the fundamental improvement to your perception attribute is key. It won''t be me training you then¡­ Do well, as the training is not just for others, but for yourselves as well. Only by surviving can you experience the broader world!" "Yes¡­" Bai E responded with a hint of emotion. After a brief exchange, the two ended their conversation; Wood continued to look in the direction of the high platform. A small number of challengers remained, and he was curious to see if any others could achieve the same feat as Bai E. Standing in the ranks, Bai E remained silent, his thoughts deep. The lottery card! Here I freakin'' come! When it comes to testing one''s character, it''s hard not to have an overwhelming sense of excitement. There were six abilities unlocked in the prize pool¡ª three specializations, two skills, and one mastery. Through the link, Bai E could view the respective functions of the six abilities. [Self-Restraint]is a method for suppressing emotions and thoughts, specially designed to cope with the Elf Race''s inherently sensitive senses and thought processes. In this world where spiritual bodies are projected into higher dimensional spaces coveted by demons, overly active thoughts are absolutely lethal. Fortunately, human physiology isn''t as sensitive as that of the Elf Race, not to mention that the template for Bai E''s artificial body includes a trait for dulling thoughts. This specialization, critical for the Elf Race, isn''t of much use to him. A loss if drawn. [Sword Technique]strengthens the experience of wielding bladed weapons, which in some ways is similar to a mastery, albeit non-upgradeable; of course, its base effect is also stronger. [Self-Mastery]governs control over the exertion of physical abilities, bringing inherently wild instincts under the bind of willpower. It''s like breathing; the moment you become conscious of it, automatic turns to manual, and you can control it to be rapid and sharp, or slow and gentle. It allows for the perfect execution of one''s physical abilities, which Bai E feels might be the most optimal option in the draw. The remaining two skills, one for offense, the other for mobility. Mastery needs no further explanation. In Bai E''s view, out of the six abilities, aside from [Self-Restraint], the rest are all acceptable. Furthermore, according to the official website, combinations of related specializations, masteries, traits, etc., enable the possibility of triggering some hidden effects. For the thrill of the unknown, Bai E is always hopeful. Chapter 27: 027 Specialty – Self-restraint "Start the draw!" [Beginning the draw...] The consciousness submerged upon the panel, the pointer slid swiftly over the hexa-sectioned circular pattern, and eventually slowed to a halt, landing on the yellow area¡ª Specialty¡ªSelf-Restraint. ??? Bai E''s face darkened. I''ve already entered the game world in my true form, and still I''m stuck playing this unlucky adventurer''s game? Out of the six, five were acceptable, and I had to get the only bad one? "Can I redraw, please?" The panel was silent and still, as if mocking without mercy. [Self-Restraint: To suppress overly sensitive senses, you have learned a method to lessen the sensitivity of your body. From now on, your "will" can maintain "absolute calmness" whenever necessary, no longer affected by the body''s primal urges; at the same time, the mental constraints also provide a certain degree of protection for your spiritual body in high-dimensional spaces. (Note: Mastering "Self-Restraint" is a prerequisite for every Elf Race member practicing the "Breathing Skill".)] Fine then... I''ve already drawn, what else can I say? Let''s try out the effect... [Activating "Self-Restraint".] Uh... I don''t feel anything. There seems to be some change, yet also none at all. Damn it! "waaaaaahg!" "Holy shit, holy shit!" "It''s got to be you, bro!" [Lucky Hit energy +5.] What just happened? Bai E, with a look of bewilderment, came back to his senses to see his teammates congratulating him. What does that mean? Mocking him for being unlucky again? Or finding solidarity in their shared bad luck, so much so that even the "Lucky Hit" got charged up? "What''s up?" Bai E asked, expressionless. The number one fan, Stone, who had previously handed Bai E the water, exclaimed joyously, "Bro! They all failed! No one could withstand a move from the mysterious master!" Bai E was stunned for a moment, then suddenly it dawned on him. His own failure was certainly regrettable, but the success of his teammates was ever more vexing. Seeing the others fail undoubtedly highlighted the value of his own unique success. So should he be... excited? Surrounded by his teammates, Bai E felt something exciting being secreted inside his body, but at that moment, he could even feel these substances coursing through him. It was like fervent agitators, trying to use the body''s energy to pay for their decisions. He could let go and embrace this excitement, or he could... refuse. The whole process was but a fleeting thought, and the sounds of congratulations from others at that moment sounded elongated and strange in Bai E''s ears. "..." Is this the effect of "Self-Restraint"? With every instinctive emotional fluctuation, he possessed the autonomy to choose. And this decision-making process was completely seamless, without any abrupt or unnatural hesitation. In the midst of the revelry, Bai E stood as if he were alone in a frigid, snowy landscape, entirely lucid. "...Accept." Bai E softly made his decision. He was not an elf with acutely sensitive feelings who sought pleasure unrestrictedly. The commotion here had evidently attracted attention from elsewhere. "I thought he was just starting, but it turns out he''s already at the peak." ... "Didn''t that elf lady pull her punches only with him? Otherwise it makes no sense." ... "Only Bai lasted 5 seconds..." ... Yue Ying''s eyes pierced through space, also focusing on the only man who had lasted more than 5 seconds against her. Being able to master weapon proficiency with just one training session... It seems that human cybertech can occasionally create some surprises. Was this officer holding back his skills? Watching Weslin''s face, dark as a thundercloud ready to burst, Yue Ying sensed an air of profound mystery. Humans... are indeed full of deceivers. "Let''s start the next phase." Weslin waved his hand and left with some displeasure. He never imagined that the warriors under his command would be so weak, incapable of even holding their ground against the enemy for five seconds. Nor did he expect this Elf Race lady to be so unforgiving, defeating each one with a single move, not granting a chance for a second strike. The only successful one... on looking back, appeared more like charity. Feeling the full resentment of the departing enemy, Yue Ying narrowed her eyes, becoming more convinced of her speculation. Frustrated due to the exposure of the secret weapon? It seemed that warriors with talents similar to 95B27 abounded in their Artificial Human project? Being alone in human territory, facing these cunning beings from the rumors, she had to be as cautious as possible, always preparing for the worst! ... "Alright!" Wood bellowed, and despite feeling inwardly pleased, he still put on a stern face and coldly commanded, "95B27''s achievement is indeed remarkable, but his effort is also clear to all. I hope that within this team, no one drags another''s feet. For the physical training to come, I will not allow any single person to not cross the finish line!" According to experience, nearly all the warriors would experience a physical breakthrough during the second physical training; consequently, even those who were wasteful in their physical exertion should be able to barely reach the finish line. "Begin training!" Bai E, without uttering a word, turned his head and followed the team as they set off. The final requirement for today''s physical training was to achieve at least a 0.3 breakthrough; he had only achieved 0.1. A higher starting point brought nothing but stricter demands, and he needed to work harder than others to earn the same improvement. The responsibility was great, and the journey long; he could not slack off even the slightest bit. And... it seemed the player had been quiet for quite some time now. Were they resting? Resting was good; otherwise, every training session brought its own shock, and his heart couldn''t take it. Now Bai E''s attitude towards the player was somewhat strange¡ª Afraid they wouldn''t come, yet also afraid of their chaotic interference. He wished the player''s playing schedule were like a regular person''s, handling missions at night, causing fewer disturbances during his daytime training... With mechanical movements, Bai followed the team starting to climb, lost in wild thoughts. He wondered how far the player had progressed with their mission? He now had a Leave Camp Certificate and could leave the camp whenever, but obviously, it wouldn''t be good to leave several times in one day. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It would be best to dispatch today''s mission quota while validating the completion of the tasks. Inquiring Wood about the day''s training plans was Bai E looking for an opportunity to leave the camp. As for the player, Bai E didn''t know if they had taken his advice to heart, to bring along more mischievous friends. Surely no player was an orphan, playing the game all alone, right? No way, no way... ... "Goodbye, I need to go back to my mission." Kuang Xin felt he could no longer afford to waste time with a woman. Running back and forth with this woman on the charred streets had already squandered too much of his life. With this time, he could have chopped down several more trees, hehe! Gong Yan glanced back, her peach blossom eyes rippling. "What, are you already tired of being with me?" "It''s not that..." Kuang Xin was at a loss for words, and it took him a while to clumsily object, "It''s mainly because these tasks are too tedious." Foraging in the fields, fishing in the sewers... This game wasn''t about reading progress bars; every activity required a hands-on experience. The rewards were meager, and the process was tedious. This kind of meticulous work wasn''t suited for him; he was more fitted for the straightforward tasks of chopping trees and fighting. "What about your food then?" Gong Yan twirled a key on her fingertip, leaning forwards as she spoke, her breath falling on Kuang Xin''s face, "Are you expecting me to feed you?" Kuang Xin remembered his original intention. He had followed this woman to complete missions for food. But... "But I didn''t expect these tasks to be so troublesome..." Kuang Xin said hesitantly, then his eyes lit up, "How about I buy from you?" "Buy? Do you have money?" "I''ll have bullets when I complete the mission! I can sell them for money, or directly give them to you..." Gong Yan raised an eyebrow playfully, "You haven''t completed it yet... trying to get credit?" "Or I can give you cash!" "You want my real-world contact info? You''re quite the schemer..." Flushed and embarrassed by Gong Yan''s words, Kuang Xin didn''t know how to respond and simply blurted out, "Then what do you propose?" "I don''t want your money." Gong Yan took several items wrapped in greaseproof paper from her bag and stretched out her hand towards Kuang Xin, "Here~" Seeing the girl''s blushing smile, Kuang Xin felt bewildered, "Wha... what does this mean?" The girl shook her head, hair swaying gently, her gaze never departing Kuang Xin''s eyes, "It''s just a little food. If you want it, I''ll give it to you~" "This..." "Go on, go on... I know you''ve been thinking about your trees. You go ahead, and once I''ve finished my current tasks, I''ll come find you~" Chapter 28: Task 028 has been submitted "Mom... I think I''m in love." "Woman, don''t even think about corrupting my Dao heart!" "If we have a kid in the future, let''s go with her surname..." Kuang Xin had an unconscious smile on his lips as if he was falling in love while chopping down trees. The sound of rushing wind suddenly came from beside his ear, and without thinking, Kuang Xin reflexively swung his axe back in response. [Using a heavy weapon to attack and hit the target, Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +1, Bullying Physique (Locked) unlock progress 13%.] [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 77/100, mastery of "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization" available at 100 points.] [Hit the target, causing 3 points of damage!] [Plague Rat (Mutated): Health 18/21; Defensive Power 5; Mobility 92%; Attack Power (Type: Piercing) 3~5; Traits: Tiny Size, Utter Madness...] Slow on the uptake, Kuang Xin learned from the panel what had just sneak-attacked him. However, when he turned around, he could no longer see even a shadow. Didn''t attract wolves, but instead attracted a rat? I''m just here chopping a tree, who did I provoke? Bet, once I finish chopping these trees, I''ll roast your entire clan, arrgh! As for now... no time to chase. Killing a rat only yields two or three combat experience points, and they''re not easy to kill. Obviously, it''s a loss without a quest. Don''t come anywhere near me! Carrying his increasingly worn-down axe, Kuang Xin pressed on with his struggle. All the other players were striving in unknown corners; he absolutely couldn''t fall behind. "Heave-ho!" "Heave-ho!" [Your abilities have been honed after a long time of woodcutting, physical stamina +0.1.] ... [Your abilities have been honed after a long time of woodcutting, physical stamina +0.1.] With the deep use of physical strength, the "joy" that emerged from the deepest part of his body and soul whenever he neared his physical limit had Kuang Xin utterly hooked. The game''s sensory experience was almost no different from the real world. Exerting too much energy caused muscle soreness, yet oddly, this soreness didn''t make him want to slack off like in the real world. Instead, it made him feel "happy" and desirous of chasing after that feeling. Especially after exceeding limits and the sudden boost in attributes that followed felt like a wave of vigorous ecstasy. In this world, labor itself seemed to be a pleasure. If such a world really existed, then surely it must be heaven? Engrossed in random thoughts and dripping with sweat, Kuang Xin piled up the section of log he cradled in his arms with difficulty. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Behind him, the repetitive actions had carved a shallow rut in the ground. Dusting off his hands, Kuang Xin placed his hands on his hips and looked at his creation before him with a touch of smug satisfaction. Twenty logs, mission accomplished! [Would you like to submit the task?] Do I even have to say it? [Submit!] [Task has been submitted, awaiting verification...] Waiting... Waiting... Kuang Xin waited expectantly for a strong man to descend from the sky. Waiting... Waiting... Where the heck are you? Shouldn''t you have dropped down from the sky the moment I submitted the task? "Eh? So you''re here?" An excited voice came from the direction of the forest, and following the trail on the ground, two figures approached from afar. Hearing the familiar voice, Kuang Xin''s heart skipped a beat, and only then did he notice that behind Gong Yan followed another... man? "Still haven''t finished chopping... Do you need help?" Kuang Xin shook his head and casually waved his hand, "No need, it''s already done." While talking, Kuang Xin made eye contact with the man who had come with Gong Yan, smiled and nodded as a greeting. The other party''s face was calm, and when Kuang Xin greeted them, they responded with a slight purse of the lips. Gong Yan''s eyes swept over both of their faces and introduced them cheerfully. "Meet my friend, Dai." "This is Kuang Xin." Kuang Xin looked puzzled at the other person, "Dai?" Dai kept a cold expression, maintaining the persona of a cool and aloof handsome guy, "I''m a powerleveler." "There''s powerleveling in this game?" "...Previously." Galaxy Online accounts were tied to individuals upon log-in, and the enhancement of abilities also required personal training. Both logging in from different locations and playing on behalf of others were difficult, effectively killing off the powerleveling industry. But there was no choice, the game squeezed out all other games on the market as soon as it appeared; what else could be done if not taking the opportunity to play the game? Putting aside the identity as a powerleveler, Dai Lian, himself, was also an avid game enthusiast. He had the skills and the strategy, and with strategy came skill. "I told him about the task you received, he''s quite interested." Gong Yan explained with a smiley face at the side. "Does Powerleveler Bro have any insights?" "No insights, your task has a pretty good reward, I think it''s a high priority." "Priority?" Dai Lian, with his arms crossed, remembered what Gong Yan, that kind-hearted fool, said about taking care of an even bigger fool in the game, and he started to detail his thoughts carefully. "I''ve taken many tasks and analyzed the difficulty compared to the rewards. I''ve found that the game''s quest system is too rich, leaving us to make our own choices ¨C not all tasks are necessary to undertake. Some tasks'' rewards don''t match their difficulty; it''s best to just delete them. But some tasks are highly valuable, like the one you''re currently undertaking¡­" Kuang Xin was somewhat surprised by the other''s professionalism and muttered, "There''s always a time when a task is completed... it''s not wrong to keep accepting them." Dai Lian explained calmly, "It''s uncertain, but there is a limit to the number of tasks you can accept at the same time; taking on too many low-priority tasks can prevent you from accepting new ones, and if by chance you come across a fleeting opportunity, it''s easy to miss out." "How do you delete tasks?" Kuang Xin pulled up his panel to try and experiment with Hans''s task, but he found that there was no option to delete a task. "You need to find the NPC who assigned the task and formally refuse it in person. It''s quite troublesome. So in the future, you should apply your own judgment when accepting tasks." "I see¡­" Kuang Xin nodded, feeling as though he had learned something new. He then reacted, "But I went through a lot of effort to take on this task; of course, it''s a good one." Dai Lian looked at Kuang Xin''s disheveled state and nodded sincerely, "I can tell." Gong Yan, who had been quiet until now, asked softly, "So right now you are..." Dai quickly replied, "Waiting for the NPC to come and check." ? Kuang Xin looked at Dai Lian in surprise, realizing that Powerleveler Bro really knew his stuff. Dai Lian frowned, touching the wood in front of him, "The realism of this game is overdone, actually not so great for our gaming experience..." Kuang Xin, who had been bored of waiting, instinctively countered, "I think it''s okay... it''s quite interesting, and it''s a good chance to take a break." Gong Yan also nodded in agreement, "Occasional waiting can be nice, too." "..." Dai Lian''s gaze swept over the two of them, and a hint of resignation flashed in his eyes. Wasting time. But... foolishness is kind of cute, too. He''ll just wait with them then... ¡­ [Reward from the commission: Your physical strength +0.2.] [Reward from the commission: Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +5.] [Current Heavy Weapon Specialization experience is 23/300. When it reaches 300 points, you can master "Level 2 Heavy Weapon Specialization".] [Reward from the commission: Logging experience +15.] [Current Logging experience is 27/100. When it reaches 100 points, you can master "Level 1 Logging".] ¡­ [The commission you posted ¡ª "Materials Needed for Repairs" has been submitted, please proceed to the inspection as soon as possible.] Chapter 29: 029 goes out to camp "How many breakthroughs has he actually made?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It feels like he should have completed today''s training objectives already, right?" "Where is the limit of 95B27?" When all his synthetic peers were worn out and had fallen, there was still one figure moving towards the distant horizon as if tireless. Incline... rings... The obstacles that stopped Bai E in the morning''s fitness training failed to halt his progress this time. The effort from the player, combined with his natural talents, gave him more stamina than he had in the morning. Task feedback notifications popped up on the panel from time to time, but the frequency was much lower compared to the night and early morning. It seemed the weapon mastery experience players could gain from repetitive simple actions was getting lower and lower, just as it had with his previous shooting training. However, he never neglected physical training. Not only were the initial physical attributes of synthetic soldiers easily improved through exercise, but it seemed that the players were also the same. Just from the task of chopping wood alone, Bai E had gained 0.6 in physical growth through the task''s feedback. One night plus one morning, it felt... even more efficient than the training of synthetic soldiers like them. Is it the privilege of the players? Damned privileged dogs! Bai E struggled to expend his energy while thoughts ran wild in his mind. With "self-restraint" now in place, the fatigue brought on by physical training only affected his body; his spirit was free to choose whether or not to be influenced by "fatigue." This undoubtedly greatly reduced the pain he experienced while pushing his limits. When his body reached its limit again, the news of a breakthrough naturally followed. [You have surpassed your own limits during strenuous exercise, physical fitness +0.1, reflex +0.1.] Not every new soldier had a breakthrough every time they pushed their limits. But amid the continuous addition of new strength midway through, Bai E''s exploration of limits was longer and more thorough, resulting in superior training effects on his body, making self-breakthroughs only natural. [You have achieved a self-breakthrough, "Side Task - Physical Training" progress 0.2/0.3.] ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +3.] The fanboys sent up their respectful gaze. "Huff~" "It''s time to eat, it''s time to eat!" Seeing that Bai E had finally touched down, Wood clapped his hands, calling the warriors who had rested for quite a while to head to the mess hall for a meal. What''s familiar becomes easy. He was no longer surprised by such achievements from Bai E. He even wondered if there had been a mistake in recording his talents and specialties. With the current technological means of humanity, the detectable states of a warrior''s body are only the basic three-dimensional attributes¡ªphysical fitness, insight, reflex. Everything else had to be felt by the warriors themselves, and mistakes were common. But none of that mattered. As fearless warriors, killing the enemy for the survival of humanity was their largest and only mission. Where the ability to kill came from... no one cared. Oh... maybe the people at the Science Academy cared, but no one cared whether they did or didn''t. After all, they were just synthetic beings. ... The military mess hall. The sounds of swallowing mash echoed one after another, as the intense physical training had drained every bit of energy from the warriors. Although the body''s backup action mechanism would convert some energy for movement during rest, their bodies had never craved nutritional intake as they did at this moment. Feeling the fullness of a hearty meal, Bai E also couldn''t help but feel joy. It was at this moment that the task completion pending inspection notification stealthily lit up on his panel. Bai E casually let his gaze drift away from the pale blue panel that had suddenly lit up in front of him due to the player''s submission of the quest and gently stood up. "Not eating anymore? Dinner is a long way off..." The muscular warrior who had chosen the name Stone for himself asked, looking puzzled at Bai E''s figure. Bai E wiped his mouth expressionlessly, "Excessive eating will affect one''s ability to move..." With that, he turned and stepped out. There was one hour of rest at noon, during which most warriors could take the opportunity to rest their weary bodies and minds. He had originally planned to enjoy a good nap after lunch, but it looked like there was no time for that now. He had been a player too and understood the eagerness of players to receive their rewards after completing a task. Disappointing players was clearly not something a qualified NPC should do. ... "You''re saying you spent 100 Black Water Coins for this piece of information?" "Of course! Could I not see the bullets were way above the market price? The game is fair; if it screws me over on one side, it''ll definitely compensate on another." Full of confidence, Kuang Xin believed his more than ten years of gaming experience wouldn''t lead him astray. Dai Lian nodded, offering no contradiction. "Maybe that''s the case." Considering that players are not ones to easily accept losses, many games often hide compensating opportunities behind seemingly unfair choices. Although the information he had gathered so far in "Galaxy Online" suggested that the behaviors of the characters in the game seemed closer to those of real people, perhaps the game''s underlying mechanics had taken this into consideration as well. It was hard to imagine how the game creators managed this, but until more information was collected, past gaming experience was always worth referencing. "Hey~ someone''s coming over, is it him?" The usually quiet Gong Yan suddenly pointed at a black dot appearing in the distance and asked. Kuang Xin squinted, striving to see into the distance, but found everything blurred and unclear. The power-leveling brother nodded, "Wearing military uniform, it should be him." "You can see that far?" "I mainly invested in insight..." "Oh~" Bai E had already slowed his pace from afar, trying his best to steady his breathing. In order not to attract attention, he had chosen a verification location as far away as possible from human settlements and army barracks, even avoiding any place where humans might appear. So, naturally, he was nearing nature... and quite a distance from the barracks. To minimize the players'' waiting time, he had run all the way from the camp. It was only as he approached that he slowed down. He didn''t know what image he projected in the eyes of the players. Having never even seen a mirror until now, he didn''t even know what his current appearance looked like. But he knew that if he wanted to interact with these players, who had 99 pounds of rebelliousness in a 100-pound body, he needed to establish an authoritative image from the start that would prevent anyone from daring to act rashly. Otherwise, it would be quite troublesome to have groups of five players constantly coming up and causing trouble. With steady and powerful steps, Bai E arrived in front of the three waiting players. His gaze swept over the twenty pieces of wood stacked only two layers high and then locked onto Kuang Xin among the three, his face showing a look of satisfaction. "Very well done. Not everyone is qualified to work for us; you''ve proven your ability." Chapter 30: What does running a ring task mean? [Side Quest ¡ª Repair Necessities, Completed!] [Reward: Technology Points*1, Fine Brass Bullets (Handgun Ammo)*25, issued.] Compared to the rewards delivered to the system backpack, the words of this NPC seemed even more pleasing. Not everyone was qualified to work for them, and himself... was undoubtedly one of the best. Kuang Xin''s face showed a restrained smile, and the immersion of the game made him subconsciously bow slightly, nodding in acknowledgment. "It''s an honor to work for you, my lord." Bai E nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the wood materials, then said, "You did well, but this alone is far from enough, would you be willing to gather more resources for me?" [Continuation of commission template, publish?] [No.] Bai E, seeing the unabashed scrutiny of himself by two players standing beside Kuang Xin, changed his mind on the spot. [Item reward increased to: Fine Brass Bullets (Handgun Ammo)*27.] A... loop quest. The more times a quest was completed, the richer the rewards would be. Any player would be familiar with this sort of system. Moreover, this kind of accumulation also created an illusion of sunk costs for the players. If something were to happen to him, all their previous efforts on his behalf would vanish into thin air, all efforts wasted. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A rational player wouldn''t want to see that happen. [Publish!] ... [Side Quest ¡ª Repair Necessities triggered.] Kuang Xin glanced over... Subconsciously feeling something was amiss. He looked over again... Hmm? 27 bullets? The reward, it increased? "Holy shit!" Bai E no longer paid him any attention, instead turning to thoroughly inspect the quality of the wood materials. He had to give players time to communicate, not beg them to do the work. ... Glancing at the NPC''s back, Dai Lian whispered to Kuang Xin. "Are the rewards issued?" Kuang Xin looked at the 25 bullets in the system backpack, then at the 27 bullets indicated as the task reward, and just nodded back, "Issued!" "Let me have a look." Facing Dai Lian''s outstretched hand, Kuang Xin didn''t think twice before taking out one of the reward bullets and handing it over. [Fine Brass Bullet - Quality: Green] [Basic Parameters: Handgun ammo, Attack Power Modifier +3] [Usage Requirement: Compatible with handguns.] [Trait: High precision mass production, exquisite craftsmanship, strict quality inspection, shooting accuracy +6%.] "Exactly!" Dai Lian''s eyes lit up at the bullet''s attributes. "What''s up?" Gong Yan timely asked from the side. "Take a look." Dai Lian passed the bullet directly to Gong Yan''s hand, "This isn''t the same stuff we''re using. I figured this wasn''t for nothing." "Huh?" The still-delighted Kuang Xin expressed his confusion with a puzzled sound. What the heck was the power leveler thinking? "Money! Can ordinary, inferior bullets and these exquisite, perfect bullets be the same price? We can totally sell the quest bullets and buy the cheap, normal ones instead, at least doubling our profit! That''s the real value of this quest reward." "Is that necessary..." Kuang Xin, who had already seen the bullet properties, felt disdainful. Selling and buying, how troublesome, plus good bullets inflict more damage, one shot one young wolf down. Gaga fierce! "You understand..." Dai Lian glanced at Kuang Xin and, considering the other was a bit of a simpleton, his tone instantly softened, "It''s not about the harm. What we need most right now is all sorts of experience, and more bullets will undoubtedly give us the chance to gain more proficiency experience. Early in the game, leveling up is far more important than pursuing extreme damage." "..." It seemed to make sense. It turned out the power-leveler really had some tricks up his sleeve, Kuang Xin admitted to himself with admiration. Gong Yan looked at him with a sort of reverence, "You''re really amazing." Dai Lian''s expression remained composed, unaffected by praise or scorn, "Go find him and accept the task quickly, this reward is substantial." "Okay!" Kuang Xin volunteered eagerly, "I''ll introduce you guys." "Sir..." Kuang Xin approached Bai E, hesitating before speaking out. Bai E turned slowly, his expression calm, "You don''t need to call me sir, we''re all working for humanity, we are like-minded comrades." I''m here for the orc sisters... Kuang Xin kept in mind the original purpose of playing the game, but at this moment, he held back his retort, "Sir, you mentioned earlier that your plans required more hands, I''ve brought two companions today... What do you think?" Bai E''s gaze swept over the two of them, his tone low, "Since they are companions you''ve introduced, they must be reliable." ... [Side quest triggered¡ªExpel the Wolf Pack.] [Side quest triggered¡ªMaintenance Required.] Five tasks for three people. Unfortunately, Kuang Xin wasn''t diligent enough, his task to kill the wolves was still incomplete, so he missed out on one combat mission. With the quota reached, a weight lifted off Bai E''s heart. These tasks were like daily quests, with limited resources available each day he felt uneasy if they weren''t completed. It was ironic how he used to be preoccupied with completing tasks in games every day, and now, being played by the game, he still had to worry about issuing tasks every day... It was rather lamentable. Having dispensed the tasks, Bai E looked at the three before him and, pointing to the woodpile by his side with a stern expression, spoke, "Perhaps you may bring me these precious resources amidst the circling wolves, but don''t forget that driving away the wolf pack is also a serious responsibility. Any potential threat to humankind must be nipped in the bud." Bai E''s steady tone made Kuang Xin subconsciously comply, his military uniform undoubtedly reinforcing this impression. "Yes, Sir!" Bai E gave a gentle smile, "You''re not my soldier, no need for saluting... Besides, your form is incorrect." While speaking, Bai E''s tone paused for emphasis, keeping a firm control over his inflection, "Also, in the future, the time for me to inspect the resources will always be at this time, you only have one chance per day, so pay attention to the time." It was during mealtime, maximizing time management to the extreme. As for nighttime... Night was too dangerous. He didn''t have the immortality of a player right now, and at night, when nature was closest, he kept a respectful distance from such wilderness. After concluding, Bai E turned and left, decisively and without delay. His figure was rigid, meticulous in every detail. Watching the soldier''s retreating figure, Dai Lian stroked his chin, his eyes reflecting some confusion. "I feel... there''s something off about this NPC." From their first meeting, Dai Lian''s professional instincts had been sounding alarms. In that brief interaction, he had intuitively detected something amiss. But... what exactly could it be? Staring at the ground in front of him, Dai Lian fell into deep thought. Hearing Dai Lian''s mutterings, Kuang Xin was a bit puzzled. "What''s strange about it, isn''t it just an NPC?" An NPC that gives out tasks is a good NPC. Plus, this soldier was efficient and decisive in his actions. Most importantly, the tasks were rewarding, earning his favor. "I also don''t see any issue, there seems to be a heroic aura about him..." Gong Yan Shi tapped her chin, her gaze slightly unfocused as she recalled carefully. Everything he said was for humanity, his tone succinct and powerful, yet without losing a humorous charm. In her eyes, an unexpected sense of loneliness, the gravitas of bearing secrets, and a hint of mystery wrapped around the disciplined face of the soldier, endowing him with the charisma of heroes stepping straight out of legends. "It''s the location!" Dai Lian narrowed his eyes, his right foot lightly tapping the ground, "There''s something wrong with this place, why would he choose to check on the task requirements here?" Chapter 31: 031 Show ones true colors "Location?" Kuang Xin looked around in confusion, the vigorous forest growing wildly not far away, human buildings towering in the distance, the flat black earth beneath their feet stretching to the horizon, emanating a natural wildness with no sign of having been cultivated. "What could possibly be wrong with this place?" "It''s too far." Dai Lian''s tone was firm; he had carefully read the task''s description, and if it was supplies needed by the barracks, this should not be the chosen delivery location. It was too far from the barracks. Could it be that they were considerate of their labor capacity? If so, they might as well be closer to the forest... It could only be... a private job? In the limited time available to play in this game, his way of thinking had already adapted to that of Galaxy World, due to the immersive experience of the game and the realism exhibited by those NPCs. The actions of all NPCs here are never aimless; behind every move, there is an inevitable and absolute reason. By grasping these details, one might uncover opportunities that other players have not realized. The most important thing is... trying doesn''t cost a thing. Kuang Xin''s brain raced, "So it''s not something the barracks want?" This big brother, you wouldn''t want others in the barracks to know about your private jobs, right? I could keep your secret for a lifetime! Such thoughts popped into Kuang Xin''s mind in a flash, "I wonder if it''s possible to threaten an NPC..." Dai nodded, "Of course you can, I''ve tried it." "..." Kuang Xin looked at Dai Lian''s calm face, taking a step back in reverence. Bro! You truly are a bro! "So we..." "Profit." Dai Lian looked at the timber on the ground, "Generally speaking, those who engage in shady dealings tend to offer us more advantages. Moreover, we know nothing about his identity, and it''s not easy to provide evidence; even if we wanted to report him, we likely wouldn''t know how." As for what shady dealings themselves mean in this world... What do we players have to fear? "The only point is, we can''t be kept in the dark..." Gong Yan highlighted Dai Lian''s thoughts. "Exactly! Next time we meet, we can look for an opportunity to proactively probe." Details are important. If enough details are observed and the argument is logical, those NPCs will also take corresponding actions. The NPC that Dai Lian had threatened had done just that. "That''s settled then." "Oh, right..." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kuang Xin recalled something, "How much was your task reward?" "10 and 25 bullets, why do you ask?" Kuang Xin blinked, "I just took ''Maintenance Required,'' 27 bullets..." In an instant, Dai Lian''s eyes lit up fiercely, "Chain quests!" As the number of completed tasks increased, so did the rewards. He was all too familiar with this pattern! "The rewards actually increase?" The original reward of 25 bullets already seemed like a prime task to him, but now... "I wonder how long we can do it for..." "Is it calculated by time or by the number of cycles?" The three of them exchanged glances quietly, suddenly thrilled. Gong Yan turned her head slightly, her voice raspy and deep, "Then what are we waiting for, let''s get started?" Dai Lian looked at Kuang Xin''s right hand, "Where''d you get the axe from?" "...Stole it." "..." After a slight hesitation, Dai Lian decided, "Then let''s go exchange for bullets first, and we''ll start with the ''Expel the Wolf Pack'' task." "But I''m already on the second cycle of tree chopping," Kuang Xin voiced his confusion. "Both!" Dai Lian was resolute, "Don''t forget what he just said, we only have one chance to meet each day. The implication is most likely that each task can only be published once a day, and as these are both daily tasks, we definitely need to do both of them. Before he comes to check, let''s complete the other task that doesn''t require verification, so we can free up the slot to take on new tasks." Dai''s line of thinking was clear, and Kuang Xin suddenly felt that his previously instinctive and chaotic thoughts had become lucid. "Alright then, I''ll go exchange the bullets for some inferior quality ones," "Hold on!" "Hold on!" Watching Gong Yan and Dai Lian speak in unison, Kuang Xin was a bit stunned. "What''s up?" Gong Yan flashed a smile. "You''ve been chopping trees for so long, you must be tired. Take this chance to rest. If you trust us, you can leave the bullets with Dai, and he can go exchange them while we wait here for him," "Oh~" She''s so considerate~ I''m gonna cry! And there''s even a chance to be alone... Kuang Xin promptly took out his bullets, each set of ten wrapped in a special greaseproof paper, a total of two and a half sets, and handed them over to Dai Lian, "Here you go!" "Off you go, and be quick about it~" Gong Yan and Dai Lian exchanged knowing glances. If Kuang Xin were to exchange the bullets himself, he might very well end up with a one-to-one resentment. "Don''t worry." The voice of Dai Lian was gentle, reassuring that, when it came down to it, he could rely on himself. Watching Dai Lian''s retreating figure, Kuang Xin asked casually, as if he didn''t care, "How do you know each other?" Gong Yan suddenly leaned in close, tilting her head up to lock eyes with Kuang Xin, her peach blossom eyes fluttering, a direct gaze into the soul. "Why? Are you jealous?" Kuang Xin''s heart skipped a beat and he instinctively avoided her gaze, "No... not at all..." "Silly~" "Huh?" Kuang Xin''s eyes were clouded with confusion, his gaze swung back seeking an explanation, but he found she had already turned away with her hands behind her back. What does she mean? What on earth does she mean? ... "I''m back." Dai Lian returned quickly. Carrying a small box filled with bullets, Dai Lian handed them all back to Kuang Xin, "75 bullets, count them." Three to one! Although he hadn''t been in Galaxy World for very long, his connections were clearly nothing Kuang Xin could compare with. 25 exquisite brass bullets had been exchanged for 75 inferior bullets. The actual disparity in worth between the two, it seemed, was considered even greater than their cost of production in the eyes of those local toughs. Carrying the box and feeling its hefty weight, Kuang Xin grinned foolishly, "No need, no need... Hey, aren''t you going to take some?" Gong Yan waved her hand dismissively, "No need, you use them for now. If we run short, we''ll ask you for more." With that, she beckoned towards the forest and declared with vigor, "Let''s go!" "Are we going straight to kill the wolves? Is the damage from our three guns enough?" "The firearms'' DPS might not be enough, but don''t we have traps?" Dai Lian was unfazed. To him, in the game, there was only what he wanted to do and what he didn''t, nothing he couldn''t do. "Huh?" Dai Lian pulled out an entrenching tool from the canvas bag he''d been carrying on his back all this time, "No worries, just follow my lead." Leading a levelling party... a familiar feeling. Dai Lian took a deep breath, his professional ethics driving him to be thoroughly proficient. "I''ll dig the traps later, you go find the wolves'' trail. Once we''re ready, you''ll lure the wolves into the traps. After they''re trapped, we''ll suppress them with firepower. Now that we''re not short on bullets, we can empty them first and then switch to melee for the kill," Pausing briefly, Dai Lian added, "Of course, some unexpected situations might arise during the execution of the plan, so at that time, follow my commands. Now, let''s get moving." ... [Successfully crafted a small batch of minor items, skill *Crafting Experience +2.] [Current Crafting Experience 2/100, at 100 points you will master "Level 1 Crafting."] [Sharp Wooden Spikes: Arranging them together might have some special effects...] ... [Successfully set up a trap, knowledge *Trapping Experience +2.] [Current Trapping Experience 34/100, at 100 points you will master "Level 1 Trapping."] [Simple Trap: Movement of "medium-small sized" creatures falling into the trap will be greatly restricted, receiving 2 points of "Piercing" damage per second.] ... [You are using your Hole Insight ability to observe and track your target''s trail...] The three of them each focused on their tasks. Chapter 32: 032 100m Moving Target [Feedback from the commission: Handcrafting experience +18.] [Current handcrafting experience 18/100, mastering "Level 1 Handcrafting" upon reaching 100 points.] [Feedback from the commission: Trapping experience +5.] [Current trapping experience 5/100, mastering "Level 1 Trapping" upon reaching 100 points.] [Feedback from the commission: Insight +0.1.] What sort of imagination are the players using? Traps? Planning to trap a pack of wolves? Bai E felt some relief; it seemed his previous admonitions had been heard. The method doesn''t matter as much as the execution. "Focus!" As piercing as an eagle''s gaze, the moment Bai E became lost in thought, the stern-faced instructor rebuked him. "I know you stood out in this morning''s training, but do not forget the duties you are responsible for on the battlefield. As a sniper, you need to provide appropriate fire support to all comrades in need! Not only for your squad, but for everyone within your range. Hence, constant, concentrated attention is essential." Bai E''s face became serious and he saluted sharply in response, "Yes, sir!" The instructor, with three silver stars on his shoulder, glanced indifferently at Bai E''s figure and said nothing more. He had volunteered to be the instructor for this group of artificial human soldiers... or more specifically, Bai E''s instructor. He was well aware of what had happened in the morning. In his opinion, the only possibility for achieving such results in the physical tests was clear¡ª These dimwits had once again muddled their innate talents. He had the records of Bai E''s initial performance with firearms right out of the cultivation chamber in his hands. 11 points in physique, 10 points in insight, 10 points in reflex, these were obviously the stats of cannon fodder talent. A true sniper should have unique advantages in either senses or reflexes, and his initial shooting scores were not particularly impressive either. The old team leader was too hasty... placing him directly into the special forces with such results could easily provoke criticism from political rivals. He had to correct this mistake. Either show enough strength or... start from the bottom in a junior squad. After glancing at Bai E''s straight posture one last time, the instructor paced lightly in front of the group of 20 artificial human soldiers. "Today, your training is about rapid-response shooting." Simply put, moving targets. The instructor casually picked up a rifle nearby and pressed a switch. About a hundred meters away, three objects of different speeds were suddenly launched from different directions. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Gunfire merged into a continuous echo, with the rapid and brisk sounds of full-auto mode, the three hit objects shattered into pieces in mid-air. After the simple demonstration, the instructor turned back and his gaze swept across each of the 20 artificial human soldiers who were watching him. "See that? That is your training for today, hitting the moving targets before they touch the ground. Completing all three hits counts as one set, and each of you must complete at least 10 sets... Remember, you only have 2 hours. Compared to ordinary soldiers, you consume more of the city''s resources, so you also have to bear a more severe responsibility." His tone lightened slightly, the instructor''s gaze finally rested on Bai E. As an instructor, he had just a bit of privilege to give special attention. "As for you, as punishment for your distraction just now, and upon the special force''s request..." The instructor stretched out his right hand, "50 sets!" [Side quest triggered - Shooting] [Shooting: You are actively challenging your limits. A 100-meter moving target is relatively difficult. Quest requirements: Complete effective shooting 0/50 sets. Quest reward: Universal experience +50. Countdown: 1 hour 59 minutes 59 seconds.] Bai E''s face was expressionless as he loudly replied, "Understood, sir!" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Very good." Overestimating one''s abilities. But commendable for its bravery. This was the first time Carlos felt a hint of satisfaction with this special case artificial human soldier. "Now, begin the training!" Bai E picked up the rifle and went to his shooting position. This was also a shooting range, just larger and more versatile. Once the switch was pressed, after a 3-second delay provided to prepare, three moving targets would be launched. During the instructor''s shooting, Bai E had already observed the characteristics of the moving targets. Their speeds varied, their sizes uneven; in short, there was no clear pattern to rely upon. The only trick is to finish all the shots within 3 seconds. The time it took for the slowest moving target to be launched and hit the ground was about 3 seconds. ``` Complete three effective shots within 3 seconds, yet the burst mode of the recruits'' rifles assigned to us has a firing rate of only 1.2 rounds per second, leaving very little room for error. As for the automatic mode... with a higher firing rate comes greater recoil and harder-to-control trajectories, clearly not something that the new artificial humans can handle. Clearly, all the training objectives set by the instructors have been honed through a combination of past experience and precise calculations. Compared to the new recruits'' test, changing from fifty meters to a hundred, from stationary to moving targets, the difficulty has increased by leaps and bounds. Bai E took a deep breath and activated "self-restraint". The excitement and tremble in his body faced with the challenge calmed down, and the confusion towards the unknown was suppressed. All for the sake of achieving the goal. He pressed the switch. 3... 2... 1... Three targets shot out in different directions, each tracing a different trajectory through the air. Bai E, concentrating intently, naturally visualized their upcoming paths of movement in his eyes. Three clear parabolas intersected in his view. Bai E raised his rifle and fired. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" [Successfully hit moving target, Light Firearms Mastery experience +2.](Stacked) [Current Light Firearms Mastery experience 139/1000...] Off by one? Bai E, having put down his rifle, had a slightly focused look in his eyes. This unexpected feeling... quite simple? All the various abilities on the panel are numbers, and their effects seem to be some kind of instinct, Bai E had no idea to what extent his current abilities could take him. It just felt like the moving targets at 100 meters... weren''t that difficult. ... "Click!" The flint sparked, and kerosene blossomed with an acrid scent. Carlos lit a cigar, waiting for a good show. The awkwardness of the new recruits always brought joy, as if seeing oneself in younger days. So far, very few new recruits had managed to complete the shooting objectives on time during their first training. How difficult it was to complete three effective shots within 3 seconds? As soon as the moving targets were launched, one had to react quickly to their source and decide the shooting order ¨C that was the function of the "Reflex" attribute, determining how much time could be saved for the actual shooting. The "Insight" attribute then determined the observation of dynamic vision, along with the prediction of the trajectories and spatial imagination capabilities, mostly a manifestation of mathematical thinking, which was the most important part of the process. Only after these comes the actual execution of shooting, which is the control over the firearm itself, such as proficiency in shooting skills. A combination of these three abilities, complementing each other, is what it takes to achieve the final goal of three effective shots within 3 seconds. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" The intermittent gunshots rose chaotically, as the launched targets flew all over the sky. Occasionally, Target disturbed by a bullet''s trajectory looked like a miracle. No new recruits had managed to complete even a single set of effective shots at the beginning of their initial training, let alone 50... "Hiss~" Hot hot hot! Carlos was startled as the cigarette end burned his mouth; he paid no heed to the cigar, only his gaze shockingly fixed on the field. All hits? No, one was missed. But it grazed the edge. An early anticipation by just a hair''s breadth led to a near miss. Was it skill or luck? Looking at that exception pondering something, Carlos''s look was uncertain. It should... be luck, right? ``` Chapter 33: Difficulty Increase Try again. Bai E pressed the switch, slowed his breathing to prevent significant shaking of his body. The moment the three moving targets were launched from different locations than before, Bai E''s mind naturally outlined three parabolas, each with a different function. The humidity of the air, the flight time of the bullet, the point of impact... These pieces of information were instantly computed like instinct by the Light Firearms Specialization. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" The three gunshots were rhythmically consistent. The slowest moving target was hit by an overwhelming force just at the edge of landing, instantly blowing apart. [Successful hits on several fast-moving targets, Light Firearms Mastery experience +5. (Cumulative)] [Current Light Firearms Mastery experience 144/1000...] [You have completed a perfect shot, "Sub-mission¡ªShooting" progress 1/50.] "One set..." Bai E thought to himself. 50 sets? Does that require 2 hours? Including the time to reload, it wouldn''t even take 10 minutes, right... No wonder the reward for this mission doesn''t seem very impressive? Turns out it''s just too easy... But the experience Bai earned was definitely worth taking. Continue! Bai E steadied the rifle and opened fire again. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" Every 3 seconds, three continuous shots were heard. Not a single miss. Watching Bai E complete hit after hit in each set, Carlos rubbed his eyes, then rubbed them again... How... how is that possible? Look again... After multiple observations, he noticed a pattern. Every shot at the last target was at its limit, almost skimming the ground before landing. Reflexes barely keeping up, at the level of an ordinary person... S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His judgment of the moving targets'' trajectory was quite accurate, his level of insight appeared to be somewhat high, at least not what those close-combat cannon fodder would have. Isn''t he supposed to have a physical condition of 11 and insight of 10 points? Last but not least... his shooting accuracy was astonishing, hitting whatever he aimed at. His Light Firearms Specialization ability was exceptionally good. Carlos was not a machine, the minute differences that the attributes decimals represented were hard to discern with the naked eye and could only be judged by experience. This recruit... the three core skills affecting shooting weren''t bad. Decent reflexes, decent insight, plus excellent specialization skills, combined, made the seemingly tough training objectives seem like child''s play to him. Still, it seemed a bit odd... he shouldn''t be having such an easy time by logic. Narrowing his eyes, Carlos stepped forward. The old team leader was indeed extraordinary, with exceptional vision. Regardless of how this new synthetic human managed to do it, at this moment, he acknowledged this soldier who had been specially allowed to join the special forces squad... Therefore, the demands would only be higher. The military camp is not a school, training objectives that are easily met mean there is no training effect. If you want to improve your capabilities, you must challenge the limits that are beyond your reach! "Stop for a moment." "Four sets..." Just as Bai E was about to press the moving target launch switch, he heard a voice from behind. This time, it seemed to carry a bit of warmth. "This presents no challenge to you." Bai E gently set down the rifle he was holding, puzzled by the instructor who had just seemed somewhat hostile, so he simply responded vaguely, "Hmm." "The ultimate goal of your training is to enhance your personal abilities, which is crucial to whether you can kill the enemy and survive on the battlefield," With a different mindset, the way of expressing changes naturally, Carlos patiently explained the reason, "A target without training effectiveness is meaningless, let me change your shooting lane." Bai E paused for a moment, as if to comprehend the meaning in his words, and after a short while, he nodded and said, "Okay." [Side Mission¡ªShooting, information has changed.] [Shooting: You actively challenge your limits, and the 200-meter moving target is more difficult. Mission requirements: Complete 0/10 sets of effective shots. Mission completion rewards: Light Firearms Specialization level +1, up to level 3, Universal Experience +300. Countdown: 1 hour 56 minutes 38 seconds.] "The distance has been increased a bit, and there are more variables. Although you might think it''s a bit unfair, I still hope you can complete 10 sets just like them." "Yes!" Watching Bai E''s expressionless profile, Carlos patted his shoulder and ultimately fell silent. Only after Carlos''s footsteps were gone did Bai E breathe a sigh of relief. The appearance of the mission prompt was undoubtedly good news for him; training is training, and an extra gain is always more security for his life. However, for the sake of his own safety, he needed some camouflage... at least in this military camp. Standing out in action had become inevitable; this is a world where one must undergo extreme training to improve personal abilities. If one wants to advance, they must challenge their limits. And to prepare for the upcoming battlefield, he would not give up any opportunity to enhance his skills. Surpassing the performance of other artificial persons would certainly draw more attention. A personage who is silent, plain in character, but somewhat yearning for the outside world in his heart might relieve some trouble for himself. He wanted to appear as harmless as possible; it might significantly reduce the chance of being dissected. And wherever you are, there are factional conflicts; the previous recruit shooting test had already revealed a glimpse of this. An outstandingly reliable soldier might just keep the military''s people from the claws of scientific researchers for him. Being conscious in this game was starting in hell. Without training, you die on the battlefield; with training, you get dissected. Bai E still hoped to have some control in his hands, no matter where he was, since only strength is the capital to stir things up. Once he had accumulated enough power, even if things escalated beyond control, he might have the chance to violently break the situation. Suppressing these thoughts, Bai E refocused his attention on the present. Every training session, every mission, was a small accumulation. Rivers flow into the sea... 200 meters¡ªthe increase in distance meant a linear increase in difficulty. Not to mention anything else, just the flight time of the bullets would be a little bit longer. His previous shooting, while stable, was always at the limit. Now? This limit might well be the boundary of completing effective shots. The pressure is on, wow! After pressing the launch switch, Bai E raised the gun and fired. Although the difficulty had increased, the ability to shoot had already become instinctual. The premise being to leave the hit rate aside... [Successfully hit the target, Light Firearms Mastery Experience +1.] [Current Light Firearms Mastery Experience 156/1000...] "Just hit one?" Bai E thought to himself as he rested the gun''s barrel. Indeed, with the distance changed, everything had to change. The deviation of the bullet''s trajectory, the anticipation required for prediction, the difficulty of capturing the target''s path, and making judgments... Try again. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" [Successfully hit the target, Light Firearms Mastery Experience +2.] (Stacked) [Current Light Firearms Mastery Experience 158/1000...] ... [Successfully hit the target, Light Firearms Mastery Experience +2.] (Stacked) [Current Light Firearms Mastery Experience 166/1000...] ... Indeed, being fully focused made it possible and quite easy to hit two targets, but the third... entirely out of time. Need... to be a bit faster. Gather information faster, judge faster, act faster! Faster! Faster! Faster! Chapter 34: 034 Fierce Battle! "What happened?" "Are they targeting our Bai?" From a distance, no one knew the difference between the shooting requirements of Group 50 and Group 10, but the change from a 100-meter target to a 200-meter target was obvious to everyone. The observant Dashan and You, along with two others, were somewhat anxious, not knowing what had unfolded. Song Ying squinted his eyes, and even with a composed tone, was somewhat uncertain, "Maybe the instructor thinks his ability is decent?" As the team''s covering fire, his level of insight was undoubtedly the highest in the group. Even from a distance, he could roughly make out from the chaotic moving targets that Bai''s hit rate was not on the same level as his peers. Higher demands to challenge the limits seemed reasonable. But... moving targets at 200 meters. Even for himself at present, perhaps he couldn''t hit every single one, could he? Was this training difficulty a bit too high? A target that is too high to reach, just like one that can be easily achieved, is meaningless. ... "Still forced it..." The figure in the black robe quietly watched the human warrior who had been performing brilliantly, a hint of resignation flickering in his calm eyes. A difference of a few tenths of a second seemed to be an insurmountable chasm. At 150 meters, perhaps one could still try hard, but at 200 meters, the moving targets were, at this stage, an impossible goal for that artificial human no matter what. This warrior might excel among his peers, but fortunately, he had not yet broken free from his own worldview. That was a relief... [Feedback from the commission: Stealth experience +8.] [Feedback from the commission: Trap experience +8.] [Feedback from the commission: Insight +0.1, Reflex +0.1.] [Feedback from¡­] ??? "Bang!" Bai E''s wrist flicked, and the bullet trajectory headed straight for Syria. ... "Lure them over! Quick, lure them over!" Kuang Xin, seeing the girl not far away stick her head out and beckon, was hopping mad. "Damn, I forgot where the traps are!" After discovering the wolf pack''s tracks, he did his best to sneak back to where Dai had set the traps without drawing the attention of those vicious wolves. Under Dai Lian''s meticulous planning, Kuang Xin had memorized the route to lure the enemy while avoiding every single trap. But now, in his urgency... Quan Jibai had forgotten! Especially since in this game, life was extremely precious, Kuang Xin had no desire to remake lightly. But the wolves following close behind would not give Kuang Xin a moment''s respite, their agile black bodies moving faster than the wind, their claws aimed straight for his back. The ground-shaking commotion instinctively filled Gong Yan with fear, and despite knowing it was just a game, the realistic immersion caused her to tremble uncontrollably, her face turning pale as death, "How many did you even bring?" Dai Lian was, after all, Dai, with solid professional standards. Though he, too, felt fear, he was more rational, knowing that he was simply within a game, his entire being focused solely on the thought of clearing the level, "21... coming this way!" Perhaps the wolf pack would follow Kuang Xin and take the same detour, but it didn''t matter; he would intervene. As long as they came this way, he could do his utmost to attract the attention of the wolves and lead them into the abyss of death. It might be dangerous, but racing against death was undoubtedly a thrill only humans could experience in games. It''s just a game, be bold. The stench almost grazed his neck, Kuang Xin''s limbs filled with blood; he ran for his life. The remnants of his sanity made him avoid the traps as much as possible, taking a wide turn, as several wolves, enticed by the smell of flesh, landed in pursuit, kicking up chunks of earth and sending twigs and dried leaves flying. The rest of the wolf pack halted, their keen sense of smell detecting the human evaporates lingering in the air. Not just one! Green pupils swiftly locked on, and two shadows, flickering behind the bushes, entered their blood-red vision. "Thud!" The predatory wolf that lunged heedlessly struck a trap, howling in agony as it struggled amidst a field of spikes. [Your trap has captured prey, trap experience +16.](Cumulative) [Based on the trap damage, you have gained the following information¡ª¡ª] [Green Wolf (Wild):Health 58/60; Defensive Power 10; Mobility 83%; Trait: Tough Fur¡­] The impatient wolf pack suddenly fell by more than half, with the remainder pacing warily in front of the trap, their eyes hungrily focused on the two human figures not far away. Instinct craved flesh and blood, while intelligence restrained impulse. The roving gaze shifted easily to the one, chased by his pack, frantically fleeing. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Save, save, save, save, save, save... Save me!" "Bang!" "Bang!" The sound of a homemade gun firing was not so crisp, making Kuang Xin''s heart pound in fright. "Watch it! Don''t shoot me!" Gong Yan held her gun with both hands, tilting her head to squint through the sights on the barrel, doing her best to keep the pursuing wild wolves from getting too close. "Don''t worry, my bullets won''t hit you!" The harried Kuang Xin had no time to respond as he dodged the nearest wild wolf''s lunge with a roll and countered with a shot. [Hit the target''s vital spot, causing 18 points of piercing damage!] [Quick counterattack at close range hit the target, Light Firearms Specialization experience +3] [Current Light Firearms Specialization experience 5/100, at 100 points you can master "Level 1 Light Firearms Specialization".] Where did the bullet go? The intestines? Glancing at the wild wolf staggering back in pain, Kuang Xin felt a wave of satisfaction. "That''ll teach you to chase me, you son of a...!" "Hey, hey, hey! Save, save, save, save!" "This way!" Dai Lian came forward proactively, beckoning to Kuang Xin, and at the same time drew a knife from his waist, chopping it down on the hemp rope tied to the tree trunk beside him. "Ssshh..." The sound of the pulley system whirring urgently filled the air as the woven net suddenly tightened. Realizing the change underfoot, Kuang Xin lunged forward but still got his toe caught by the edge of the net. The instant the hanging net was hoisted into the air, it sent Kuang Xin tumbling in disarray. "Ow, damn!" Kuang Xin clutched his chin, struggling to get up, "That was close!" Dai Lian fired indiscriminately into the three wolves caught in the net, emptying his magazine, "This is part of the plan..." "Four more!" The sound of gunfire continued unabated as Gong Yan alerted from behind. Most of the wild wolves were temporarily trapped by the traps set in succession, but a few particularly vigilant ones continued to follow Kuang Xin''s tracks and caught up. Sensing a shadow looming behind him, Kuang Xin fired three shots behind him without looking and took a small sidestep forward. The shadow passed by, skillfully dodged with nimble footwork. [You swiftly gather battlefield information in combat and react flexibly, +0.1 Insight, +0.1 Reflex.] Once accustomed to dancing on the edge of a knife, one continues to be comfortable dancing there... Shedding the initial fear of being chased, Kuang Xin subconsciously made some dangerous and extreme movements while attempting a counterattack. Fortunately, the results weren''t too bad. Seeing the fleeting shock in Dai Lian''s eyes, Kuang Xin realized what he had unintentionally done. "Don''t space out, the fight isn''t over yet." "No one''s spacing out." As Dai Lian spoke, Kuang Xin noticed that his hands were quickly reloading. "Click-clack!" The mechanism locked back into place, and Dai Lian re-entered the fight. "Grab your axe, cover us so we can finish this fight quickly!" Noticing that Kuang Xin had the strength and mindset for close combat, Dai Lian made a decisive choice and reformulated tactics. "Alright!" Chapter 35: 035 The Mission Behind the Plague Rat [Using heavy weapon to attack and hit the target, Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +18, Brute Force Physique (unlocked) unlock progress 14%.] (accumulated) [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 95/100...] [Attack hits the target, inflicting 8 points of critical damage!] "RUA!" Kuang Xin stood with his axe, unwavering like a War God. "Quick, finish it off; the wolf in the pit has jumped out." "Oh oh~" When the depth of the trap caused the wolves to despair, the group intelligence of the beasts made those who felt more severely injured willingly act as stepping-stones. The beasts returning for revenge were even more brutal, but what met them were three dark gun muzzles. Setting aside the damage, the kinetic impact of the bullets also served as a form of control. 21 wolves! All annihilated. Seven each, divided fairly. [You have completely killed the target, earning 20 points of combat experience.] x7 [Sub-quest ¡ª Drive Out Wolf Pack, completed!] [Quest Reward: 100 points of Universal Experience, Exquisite Brass Bullets (Pistol Ammo) *10, issued.] The rewards were credited directly, bringing smiles all around. Dai Lian took a deep breath in relief as he looked at the bullets lying quietly in the system''s task reward backpack. This quest was good, the rewards generous, and there was no need to go to an NPC to submit it¡ªan effort well spent. "Eh? What are you doing?" Kuang Xin hummed a tune while brandishing a small knife, merrily replying as he cut, "Dissecting¡­" Dai Lian''s eyes lit up, "You took on another task?" "Just the previous one that required chunks of meat, just conveniently completed it¡­" "Does it have to be chunks of meat?" "What else then?" "Looks laborious... Have you tried just turning the prey over to the NPC?" Kuang Xin was stunned, "Can you do that?" Then he waved his bloody hand, "Whatever¡­ Yanzi, turn away, don''t look." "It''s fine, I''ll help you." Gong Yan rolled up her sleeves, ready to join the fray. "Do you know how?" Pushing a stray lock of hair from her brow, Gong Yan smiled softly, "I don''t, but I can learn... is it like this?" The bright and blood-splattered smile on the girl''s face made Kuang Xin''s heart skip a beat, but then he composed himself and passed on his dissection expertise. "Start at the neck, slice it open with one cut!" "Oh okay~" [You are attempting to perform a dissection, dissecting in progress¡­] Dai Lian waited patiently for a while, only to find that the two of them had been busy for ages and yet had not completed dissecting even one. At this rate, when would they finish dissecting? Moreover, the air seemed to carry a hint of romance, with the pale pink mist of blood almost resembling the light of flirtation. "I say if it''s no good, just drop it, directly handing over the game to the NPC is probably also feasible. This wastes too much time, we still have to go chop trees." Kuang Xin, holding the knife, looked up blankly at Dai Lian, "But dissecting also gives experience¡­" "¡­" That made sense. This cursed hoarding instinct! Whether it''s useful or not, if it''s a resource, hoard it. "And that''s why I hate playing with ordinary players¡­" Dai Lian sighed inwardly and felt no strength to argue. He could only pick up Kuang Xin''s axe and walked to the side to find a slightly slimmer large tree to vent his frustration. [Using heavy weapon to attack and hit the target, Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +1.] [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 1/100, at 100 points you can master "Level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization".] "Eh?" Another swing with the axe! +1 Another swing with the axe! +1 Another swing with the axe¡­ Damn it, why can''t I stop? What''s so alluring about this chopping of trees? Why is my mind now fixated only on perfecting the angle of the axe, if this goes on, won''t I get sucked into Kuang Xin''s network? I can''t just fall into decadence like this! One more axe chop! +1 One more axe chop¡­ [Your ability has been honed through a long time of woodcutting, physical strength +0.1.] [The axe has been overused, the handle connection is damaged, durability -1. Current durability is 0, "Firewood Chopping Axe" can no longer be used.] Dai Lian''s eyebrows twitched. "..." Clutching the robust staff in his hand and looking at the dog-bitten appearance of the break, Dai Lian stiffly turned his head, only to find Kuang Xin and Gong Yan still peeling the skin and deboning like a couple of idiots, letting out a sigh of relief. Carefully placing the staff on the ground, he strained like an old ox to pull the axe blade out of the trunk. Laid it on the ground, arranging it together. Everything seemed like the original shape¡­ "Cough~" With his hands behind his back, Dai Lian coughed lightly and approached the blood-stained duo, "Aren''t you guys done yet? Need a hand?" Gong Yan looked up, her delicate face lifted like a housewife busy with chicken and duck, smiling gently at him, "It''s okay, you rest. You also got tired just now." A breeze blew by, scattering the girl''s hair and stirring the lonely heartbeat. It also dispersed the pink mist of blood¡­ And toppled the teetering tree¡­ "Creeeak~bang!" "What the fuck!" The trio belatedly turned towards where the tree was falling, only then did they see a black and grey figure clumsily leaping out from the swaying underbrush. "..." "???" Eight eyes met¡­ The newcomer smiled awkwardly, "What a coincidence, Yanzi¡­" Dai Lian narrowed his eyes and directly drew his gun, "Stop right there, don''t move, who are you?" The person raised his hands, showing no intent to resist, just shamelessly smiling, "A friend¡­ Yanzi''s friend." "Your friend?" A trace of helplessness crossed Gong Yan''s face, "Mmh¡­" Then she turned to the newcomer, "Weren''t you messing around in the city? What are you doing here?" "Investigating a case, just happened to be chasing it here¡­" "A case?" "An old rat case, have you seen some crazy-acting rats?" Gong Yan glanced at Kuang Xin, who nodded and took up the conversation, "The Plague Rats? Seen them, what about it?" "Exactly! The Plague Rats!" The newcomer''s face lit up with joy, "The big shots in the city don''t want to delve into the burrows, and they need lots of samples for research, so they gave me a chance. The reward is hefty, and if successful, I might even get a residence permit for the Inner City¡­" Inner City? Residence permit? Kuang Xin muttered quietly before he realized the game actually had its rich world lore. "So what? How did you end up here?" The newcomer scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I followed those rats all the way through the sewers, and just came out of a deserted sewage outlet not far from here. Then I heard the noise over here and came to have a look¡­" As he spoke, he glanced at the ground. The wolf carcasses everywhere gave off a strong scent of blood and the allure of flesh. The attraction to those plague rats was unimaginable. Maybe I could use this to fish for them? "Um¡­ do you guys still want these corpses?" "What''re you planning to do with them?" "I need to capture samples, but it''s really hard to find the traces of those rats actively. I''m thinking of trying to use these bodies to lure the plague rats out¡­" Dai Lian''s ears twitched, catching some out-of-place sounds. "Rustle rustle rustle rustle¡­" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The frenzied crimson was striking even in the daylight, scattered all around. "Perhaps, they''ve already been lured over¡­" The newly met stranger quickly joined forces. "Rodent Master, it''s your time to shine." "Rodent Master?" The person plunged through the thorns, leaving only a distant figure to the trio. "The wind''s tightening! Bugger off!" "Fuck!" Chapter 36: 036 Must be cheating! The four of them ran away until they were completely exhausted. The plague rats did not catch up, the dead wolves scattered everywhere were enough to fill their bellies for the moment. Dai Lian gasped for breath and asked, "You''re going to catch rats in your condition?" Pu Jie retorted softly, "You guys drew too many..." "Heh." Gong Yan caught her breath for a while and was the first to stand up, ready to leave, "Let''s go, we still have tasks to do..." "Hey, hey! Where are you going?" "Chopping trees." "Not hunting anymore?" Pu Jie became somewhat anxious, "I can share the source of my tasks with you, and you can do them too. We can all do them together..." In his view, a team that could take down so many wolf corpses had great potential. Without them, where would he find so much fresh meat? Without fresh meat, how could he catch more plague rats? This task was one with a shared goal limit; wasting time here meant letting other players snatch up the biggest rewards. "But we''re busy, you see." "Brother, really busy, we can''t even finish our own tasks." It wasn''t that they looked down on his offer, but they genuinely did not have the time. Even in playing games, one had to learn to make choices. Perhaps the reward for his task was indeed generous in some ways, but when it came to words like "inner city" or "residence permit," it indicated that the reward was not of the same type as the resources they needed the most. For Dai Lian, this was as time-wasting as what Kuang Xin had done earlier, obsessing over dissecting for experience! "Don''t leave... Can''t we talk this over? If really necessary, I can buy it from you guys. When will you hunt again?" Buy? A side profit was always better than watching Kuang Xin dissect them one by one. Dai Lian was somewhat tempted. But then, this guy seemed to be a friend of Gong Yan''s... Seeing his hesitation, Gong Yan quickly agreed, "If you want, we can talk about it at this time tomorrow. We''re not hunting today. We''re off to do a task, goodbye~" As she spoke, she pulled the two away. Once they were at a distance, she whispered to Kuang Xin and Dai Lian as if plotting a secret, "Don''t pity his money, earn more." "Oh~" Dai Lian nodded in understanding. "Forget about him, what about our tree-chopping task? We even lost the ax earlier..." The ax? Dai Lian raised his eyebrows, feeling somewhat lucky. Lost is good... Lost is very good... "No problem, we''ll just buy a new one when we get back. We now have quite a bit of money. Not just for an ax, we also need to buy a couple of bearings..." Dai Lian calculated the materials they needed. "Bearings?" "Yeah... Let''s make a simple cart. How long are you going to carry things like that, one by one?" "..." Kuang Xin was silent, feeling like they were not all playing the same game. Can the game even be played like this? ... sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [The commission you posted¡ª"Dispel the Wolf Pack", has been completed.] The notification for the task''s completion appeared three times in succession, and only then did the constant task feedback quiet down a bit. [From the commission, Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +4.] [From the commission, Physical Stamina +0.1.] Oh, more? Too many... Bai E held his rifle, his eyes glazed over. He tallied up his gains, from the beginning until the end when the notifications finally became silent, he had improved quite a bit in every aspect¡ª Physical Stamina +0.1, Insight +0.3, Reflexes +0.2 His diverse experiences had also expanded¡ª Stealth experience +8, Trapping experience +8, Light Firearms Specialization experience +88, Heavy Weapon Specialization experience +13, Bandaging experience +10, Dissection experience +8 The efficiency of a three-person team in providing task feedback was, indeed, incomparable to that of a lone player. In such a short time, they provided growth that would have been hard to achieve by himself alone. Of course, the ample supply of bullets he provided might also be the core reason why these players had the confidence and ability to clear out the monsters this time. The multitude of feedback directly affected his physical abilities¡ª [Name]: Bai E [Race]: Human [Template]: Prototype Genetically Modified [Life Points]: 75/75 (Base 60 + (Stamina - 10) * 15) [Stamina]: 11.8/15 [Insight]: 10.7/15 [Reflex]: 10.4/15 [Mystique]: 8/¡Þ [Genetic Optimization Degree] (Current tendency: Orc): 0.1/100 [Skills]: Lucky Strike (Not upgradeable) Stealth (8/100) Handcrafting (18/100) [Traits]: Thought Dulling (Slightly reduces the risk of contamination by higher-dimensional demons), Battlefield Instinct (Adapts more quickly to the battlefield environment to exert full strength) [Expertise]: Rapid Recovery (locked), Self-restraint [Mastery] (Potential Points * 4): Light Firearms Specialization (254/1000) (Level 3) Heavy Weapon Specialization (36/300) (Level 1) [Spiritual Energy]: Not Mastered [Knowledge] (Technology Points * 1): Firearms Maintenance (3/300) (Level 1) Lumbering (27/100) Thievery (2/100) Trapping (13/100) Bandaging (10/100) Dissection (8/100) [Technology]: None [Mutation Risk]: Extremely Low ... "Why has he stopped moving?" "Is it too difficult for him?" Carlos began to reflect on whether his actions made this newly-trained superb fighter doubt his abilities. The test target of a 200-meter moving target was the extreme level that new recruits could encounter, with the recruits'' rifle firing rate of 1.2 rounds per second at this distance, leaving the soldiers virtually no margin for error. If one could achieve this, they could no longer be called a recruit. "Don''t tell me he''s been so discouraged that he can''t recover?" A bit guilty... Maybe, should go and comfort him? Pacing on the spot, he hesitated for a long time. The moment he made up his mind, Carlos saw 95B27 move again. He pressed the switch, raising his rifle. His actions were the same as before but, for some reason, they now carried an unusual aura. Bai E squinted his eyes. The previously blurry trajectories of the moving targets now seemed crystal clear in his vision. A slight increase might not have such a powerful effect, and feeling overconfident with the skyrocketing attributes might also play a part. Was it arrogance or strength? He was about to find out. The calculations in his mind seemed slow but were actually urgent, all thoughts occurring in the blink of an eye. While the idea of testing his strength still hovered in his mind, Bai E''s fingers instinctively pulled the trigger. "Bang!" The barrel shifted lightly, stable yet swift. "Bang!" The recoil from continuous shooting was firmly controlled, not stirring the slightest ripple. "Bang!" "Pfft pfft pfft..." Upon the sound, the moving targets shattered, exploding into pieces in the air. [Successful hits on several distant, fast-moving targets, Light Firearms Specialization Experience +8.] (Stacked) [Current Light Firearms Specialization Experience 262/1000...] [You''ve made a perfect shot, "Sub-quest ¨C Shooting" progress 1/10.] "Huh?" Carlos'' footsteps abruptly halted, and he stood there dumbfounded. "How could he hit those!" Must be cheating! Chapter 37: 037 level 4 specialization! [Side Quest ¨C Shooting, completed.] [Reward: Light Firearms Specialization level +1 (up to level 3), General Experience +300, awarded.] [Detection: character''s current specialization level too high, reward: (Light Firearms Specialization level +1, up to level 3) has been converted to (General Experience 500 points).] As expected. Bai E raised an eyebrow, not feeling too surprised. Those rewards that added +1 directly to specialization levels always came with the caveat of not exceeding a certain level; obviously, they weren''t just for show. It made sense that low-level quests couldn''t enhance higher-level abilities. To go from level 3 to level 4 required 1000 points of experience, so getting half directly was generous; one couldn''t ask for too much. And now... with 800 points of general experience, as long as he invested it in Light Firearms Specialization, he could immediately break through to the level 4 specialization. A level 4 specialization came with additional attribute improvements, which should be a qualitative change. Go wide or go deep? The answer was clear. [You have learned "Level 4 Light Firearms Specialization" and obtained 1 potential point.] [Light Firearms Specialization (Level 4): Shooting accuracy +12%, critical hit +2%, arc shot (special) +5%.] [Current Light Firearms Mastery Experience 0/2000, at 2000 points you can master "Level 5 Light Firearms Specialization".] [Detection: character currently has Light Firearms Specialization (Level 4), skill tree unlocked for further training: Fire Suppression, Precision Shooting, Gun Fighting Skill.] [Current unlock requirements: General/Combat Experience *1000 (cost doubles with each skill of the same level unlocked), 2 potential points (fixed).] "Level 4 really unleashes the power..." Turns out the potential points he had been accumulating could be used in this way, but the 1000 points of general or combat experience was temporarily a bottleneck to further progress. Special experience could still be obtained through training, but general experience was harder to come by. He could have obtained some more special experience through training at the firing range before adding points, but now that he had used the general experience, he was further from unlocking the skill tree. But if he didn''t unlock it, who knew whether the skill tree would still be accessible after the level 4 specialization? "That was hasty..." "You''ve graduated." The voice behind him made Bai E, who was lost in thought, startle, "Ah?" "You won''t need to come back for the shooting training anymore." Carlos looked at the calm and determined warrior before him with satisfaction in his eyes, "The moving variable frequency targets at 200 meters are the most challenging part of the basic training. Since you''ve already reached this level, regular shooting practice is of no use to you." Out of the total of 10 shooting targets, the first 7 obviously involved some luck, but Carlos had watched Bai complete the last 3 sets in succession. This performance was already the upper limit of shooting ability that a soldier could achieve through normal training in the barracks. Further progress could not be made without real combat experience. Of course, since the hit rate hadn''t reached 100%, perhaps Bai still had some room to improve and refine his skills in training. But there was another issue ¨C it''s hard for a tree to stand alone in the forest. Exceptional performance could easily attract unusual attention. A step beyond is talent; two steps beyond¡­ is anomaly. If those factions that have always been hostile to artificially-created humans discovered such a seed... a new soldier without any background could easily encounter misfortune. Now, Carlos needed to think about how to conceal the infinite potential of artificial human Bai E. "Don''t need to come back?" Bai''s face showed the right amount of confusion. "Yes, no need to come back. You can use your free time to learn more life-saving skills that are practical on the battlefield. I will tell the others that I''ve given you specialized individual training." Carlos''s face bore a gentle smile. Facing these artificial humans, whose thought processes were still naive, there was no need for him to go into such detail. Some earnest intention would naturally be revealed in time. An artificial human''s identity was not only the starting point but also a stance that persisted throughout. Speaking of which, Carlos took out a bar-shaped object wrapped in silver tinfoil from his breast pocket and handed it to Bai E. "In addition, as a reward for being the first to graduate, this is your prize. Starting tonight, you can go to window number 11 and collect an extra... snack with every dinner." The moment he took the bar into his hands, a pale blue panel appeared in front of Bai E. [Bar No. 3 (Level 6 Food): ...Unknown... Consuming can restore 30 points of "Energy Reserves" and 3% Satiety Level.] A... snack? The puzzlement on Bai E''s face grew more genuine. Witnessing the confused warrior before him, Carlos smiled playfully, "Physical training is up next¡ªgive it a try after you eat. Alright... you''re free to do as you please now, no more training for today." Having said that, he turned crisply on his heel, seemingly diligent in supervising the training of the other artificial human warriors, as if he had no inclination to show any special favor towards Bai E. "But this must be a special case, the so-called regular graduation surely wouldn''t come with such treatment. What... happened in between?" Holding the bar in his hand and gazing at the instructor''s departing back, Bai E stood still, like a marionette that had lost its master''s control. [In this world, there is no love without reason, nor hatred without cause. From the instructor''s attitude, you sense some potentially hidden secrets, you decide to...] Bai E turned and left. Sensing the footsteps receding behind him, Carlos''s eyes were filled with satisfaction. If one could not harbor hope for those who come after, the world would be shrouded in darkness. Strive to grow... child. Flipping open the hand-held tablet, Carlos logged Bai E''s training scores¡ª100 meters variable frequency moving targets in 10 sets, time taken... 1 hour 53 minutes 37 seconds. Newborn artificial human warriors were coming in a constant stream, and with many instructors for each batch of warriors, no one had the time to watch over the training of all warriors. A super soldier surpassing all recruits, for now... keep him hidden. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... There were a few minutes left until the gathering time for the physical training, and Bai E had already returned to the 358th troop''s assembly area beforehand. Three days into the life of a recruit, training was consistent from the start to the end. The others hadn''t returned yet, so Bai E played with the bar in his hand. The Satiety Level was low, but the Energy Reserves were even higher than a whole serving of military rations; this clearly had some significance. Through several training sessions, Bai E had come to understand the unique settings of "Satiety Level" and "Energy Reserves" in the world of Galaxy World. Similar to his original world, Satiety Level supported the energy needed for normal activities, which could be understood as how much energy is obtained from food, normally diminishing over time. Simply put, one must eat when hungry. As for Energy Reserves, it referred to a deeper layer of energy stored in the body, which was rapidly consumed during rest after vigorous exercise to be converted into physical strength. It was a backup source of energy, somewhat akin to the function of fat, and quite easy to comprehend. Give it a try after eating? It seemed the instructor wasn''t planning on harming anyone, and the system-identified panel showed no harmful elements in this snack. Peeling back the foil, Bai E eyed the gum-like bar, raised an eyebrow, and swallowed it in one bite. ...It was tasteless. There was no reaction in his body. Except that the Energy Reserves seemed to have exploded... 120 points? "Gather!" As more people joined, Wood''s robust voice interrupted Bai E''s thoughts of further exploring his bodily condition. "Begin training!" Chapter 38: 038 Make Great Achievements It seems effortless, doesn''t it? Bai E, who had started physical training again, clearly perceived a completely different sensation than before. Proceeding to the same endpoint planned by Wood, his body seemed to feel no fatigue at all, as fresh as in the beginning. Was it because of the 0.1 physical enhancement obtained from the mission feedback just now? But when increasing physical abilities by 0.1 before, the sensation hadn''t been so distinct. Remembering Instructor Carlos''s smile, Bai E realized the possible reason¡ªthe No. 3 ration bar. Or rather, the bursting reserve of kinetic energy. It wasn''t that his body wasn''t consuming energy, but rather the excessively overflowing kinetic reserve continuously replenishing his strength, propelling him forward. Did the maxed-out kinetic energy reserve have this effect? But how am I supposed to challenge my limits like this? It seems that the instructor had no intention of harming anyone with such precious resources, right? Maybe there were other unknown effects yet to be verified. The truth quickly emerged... [Your body is well-nourished, and the surplus kinetic energy reserve has strengthened your physical condition during prolonged exercise, physical ability +0.1.] [You''ve completed a self-breakthrough, "Side Mission¡ªPhysical Training" progress 0.3/0.3.] [Side Mission¡ªPhysical Training, completed.] [Mission Reward: Physical ability +0.1, distributed.] The notification was quite abrupt, and Bai E only felt a slight sensation in his body, far from the limit of exhaustion. However, the consecutive enhancements had already realistically manifested in the feeling of his body. The rapid surge in physical ability caused a more robust power to course through his muscles. 12 points! Task completed. Bai E snapped out of his full immersion in training and found the area around him quiet. Turning around, he saw the surprised and admiring gazes of his teammates flickering everywhere. [Lucky Strike energy +5.] Are they all down already? But it seems like I could go much further? This breakthrough wasn''t as painful and difficult as the previous two. Is this why Instructor Carlos rewarded me with the "No. 3 ration bar", to make my physical breakthrough a bit more comfortable? Enjoying comfort? Such a rare word in this world. Perhaps there were other effects? Such as breaking the curse that it''s hard for the human body to break through limits consecutively? [A sense of unease envelops you, you decide to continue training... or to conceal your edge?] After a moment''s hesitation, Bai E chose to let go. I''ve been training all day, can''t I enjoy a bit of relaxation? Most importantly... if I advance any further, it would be too conspicuous. I surely can''t be taken away for dissection, can I? ... "I''ve made a great achievement!" Carlos retracted his gaze with satisfaction. He hadn''t been present for the morning training of 95B27 but had heard the performance was not bad. Now, with his "little snack" having helped, it had been like adding wings to a tiger, surpassing the other soldiers by a great deal¡ªperhaps even breaking the record for the first day of new recruit training? Performing as well as possible within reasonable bounds is an essential part of the growth of artificial human soldiers, which relates to the assessment of their potential. ... Holding a tablet in hand, Wood hesitated for a long time but eventually marked the training target as completed behind the number 95B27. He was rarely this hesitant, as usually, every breakthrough of new recruit soldiers marked a significant upgrade, extremely evident. But did 95B27 seem to still have energy to spare just now? Yet his actual scores... even with some restorative talents, it would be difficult to reach based on the distance surpassed other soldiers. Maybe that always expressionless face was too deceptive... perhaps he was actually exhausted. It must be so! As for the instrument check? Those instruments were precious and expensive, and starting them up once was very costly; it was not feasible to test the physical data of the new soldiers every day. After completing the assessment, looking at the screen on the tablet with a spot of green amongst the sea of red, Wood nodded contentedly. Very good, except for 95B27, everyone else failed. "Alright! Eat! Those who haven''t completed today''s training tasks, extra training tonight!" ... Dining hall. "Window number 11..." Muttering to himself, Bai E spotted an inconspicuous window in the corner. As he approached, the camera scanned his face, and a silver foil-wrapped snack bar shot out from the unmanned, elongated, pitch-black window. It was no different from the reward given by Carlos. This instructor was a good guy, easy to get along with. Bai E reached out eagerly for the snack, only to find a hairy hand got to it first. "?" Bai E looked at the other person with an unfriendly gaze. Where did this little nobody come from? The bulky man with dense body hair also stared at Bai E, his large, bell-like eyes filled with an aggressive intent. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Was it you who lasted five seconds against the mysterious expert today?" Bai E''s eyes shifted to the snack bar in the other man''s hand, fearing he would mishandle it with his hairy hands and feet, "So what if it was?" "I think she went easy on you." If everyone else couldn''t hold out, the only one who did certainly looked out of place. Moreover, this 95B27 didn''t seem any more agile or powerful than himself; he fell at one blow, so how could he have lasted 5 seconds? 98A29 was convinced there had to be some unspeakable trick! Bai E chuckled in response, "What reason would she have to go easy on me?" "..." The big man was at a loss for words. It was just a gut feeling, and feelings don''t need reasons. "Perhaps..." He gazed intently at Bai E''s face, "Maybe it''s because you''re good-looking?" Objectively speaking, his genetics acknowledged Bai E''s charm. "..." Saying that, it''s not easy for me to beat you up. "Alright, alright, let''s just say she went easy..." Bai E couldn''t be bothered to argue with this simpleton, "Give me back my snack." "It is what it is, and it''s not if it''s not." The big man looked serious, "Whether or not isn''t for you to decide." "So what now?" "Fight me!" Bai E waved his hand dismissively, "I''m busy!" "If you''re too busy, then I''m not giving your snack back!" "..." Bai E ground his teeth, feeling this idiot was probably asking for a beating. "What if I win?" "If you win, I''ll acknowledge you''re tough!" "..." Claptrap! What''s this about men''s ultimate recognition? Bai E snatched back the snack, "Finish your meal and meet me on the training field." "I''ll be waiting for you!" The big man watched the receding figure holding his tray, adding extra stakes distrustfully, "If you don''t come, you''re a coward." Bai E didn''t look back as he waved his hand, "You need to work on your insults." Finding a vacant spot, Bai E pinched the snack bar in his hand, hesitating for a long time before finally putting it into his jacket pocket and buttoning it up carefully. After all, anything that could accelerate his training was certainly a good thing. Moreover, even if it was an emergency supplement for physical strength, this thing was a great strategic resource. Being able to get one a day... the instructors really had a lot of authority. No matter where you are, it''s always about climbing up the ladder. "I wonder if there''s such a thing as military exploits..." If at first he just wanted to survive, then as his understanding of the world deepened, some basic desires started to grow quietly within him. The grand visions occasionally advertised by the officials would flash across Bai E''s mind¡ª The pinnacle of individual strength, warlords who stride across Star Domains, Rangers roaming freely... If he really couldn''t return to his original world, could those grand promises depicted on the official website become his future? [Feedback from the commission: Handcrafting experience +36.] ? ... Dai Lian patted the new concept scooter beside him with heartfelt satisfaction, thinking this game that allowed players to express themselves was just too good. "The scooter''s ready too! Let''s go!" Chapter 39: 039 Fight! "What''s making things so lively?" It was not Yue Ying''s first day at the military camp, but it was the first time she heard such a raucous night. Of course, it was usually noisy as well, since nighttime in the camp was less solemn and stiff than the day. Old soldiers often pulled the new recruits over to the bonfire to tell their exaggerated heroic tales loudly. The occasional addition of natural-born soldiers only made all the artificial soldiers more interested in the true aspects of the world. It was a rare amusement for these soldiers, a pleasant moment of relaxation after a day full of training. But it was somewhat restrained. Today was different. The atmosphere today was more restless, and Yue Ying could even feel the aggressive hormonal air permeating the atmosphere. What happened? Yue Ying''s gaze turned toward the source of the restlessness; the fiery bonfire lit up half the sky, abuzz with lively figures. After a few ups and downs, she ascended the watchtower and the figures'' interlocking gaps allowed the scene through space to fall into her flickering fiery eyes. "Is that him?" The artificially created soldier, who performed exceptionally well during training, was now engaged in an intense melee with another fighter she hardly remembered. Sparks flew as blades clashed. "Bang!" [Your attack has caused a critical hit.] [You''ve landed a critical hit in live combat, heavy weapon mastery experience +0. (Current opponent too weak, unable to gain improvement.)] ["Lucky Strike" charge +3.] A forceful and heavy slash made the unknown fighter stagger backward. "Nice!" The watching new recruits cheered happily. The newcomers had much to learn, but being drawn to excitement was an unchanging nature. Bai E held his sword, standing in the center of the arena, surveying the surroundings with an expression as still as an ancient well. "I''m in a hurry! Anyone else want a go?" He didn''t know how things had gotten this far. The agreed-upon one-on-one had somehow turned into this ongoing series of individual challenges. A single day''s training wasn''t sufficient for these new soldiers to all gain weapon mastery, not to mention Bai E''s 12-point physical fitness level was unrivaled, overpowering in both skill and brute strength. Luckily, there were still "Lucky Strike" charge credits to be earned, or else this beating would have been utterly dull. "I''ll take you on!" Another fighter, a woman with an agile figure sporting a wolf''s tail braid, shouldered her sword and stepped forward. It seemed like she had just finished her training and rushed over, her light brown abdomen bare beneath a black sports bra, beads of sweat trickling down it. Her sharply defined abs exuded a wild ferocity. Bai E''s gaze swept over the iron tag on her chest¡ª92C13. The woman''s eyes held a similar wildness as they fixed on Bai E''s face, filled with the intention to attack. "You''ve got a talent for shooting?" "What about it?" The female soldier pointed her sword at Bai E, her smile recklessly confident, "I believe she didn''t go easy on you when you faced that mysterious expert, but while you were training your shooting skills, we were still practicing our swordsmanship. Now, having a shooter like you challenge all of our brothers hurts our pride. The instructor has given a direct order for me to defeat you, or else the whole squad goes hungry tomorrow." "Oh~" The instructor sure knew how to stir things up... "So, you''ll fall to my sword... Of course, it won''t be fair. After I defeat you, I''ll request the instructor provide extra training just for us two, hoping you can keep up with my pace and earn your way back." Bai E indifferently lifted his sword, "I hope your sword is as tough as your mouth." The female soldier laughed outright, "Tough or not, we''ll see after the test! Watch out!" Then came a slash straight for his head. "Ha!" The precondition for boasting, of course, is having enough confidence. This woman appeared to be the ace of the new recruits in close combat, or else her instructor wouldn''t have sent her out to regain their honor. As soon as the sword was drawn, that fierce and unparalleled fighting spirit spread. Maybe she hadn''t mastered weapon proficiency during her bout with that mysterious expert, but while Bai E trained in shooting that afternoon, the exceedingly talented woman also achieved level 1 in heavy weapon mastery. With every move, she instinctively tried to force Bai E into revealing an opening with sheer brute force. "Clang!" Bai E neither dodged nor avoided, meeting the attack head-on. "Self-restraint" was always controlling the impulses brought by the hormones, but Bai E did not want to stop the body''s natural, bold spirit in such a scene. Before coming to this world, he had been just a possibly ordinary college student, without an opportunity to exhibit personal bravery and will in a well-regulated society. But if he needed to survive in this world, he had to embrace it wholeheartedly and without hesitation. Circumstances create heroes. It was just a spar, be bold. As the swords met, the jarring clash echoed throughout the arena, causing nearby soldiers to cover their ears in pain. The first strike, evenly matched. No matter how gifted, a new soldier could only break through his own limits three or four times on the first day of training. At most, a physical ability score of 11.4 against Bai E''s 12 certainly put one at a disadvantage, but it was only because the opponent moved first, seizing the advantageous position for exerting force, that a tie was barely achieved. After the strike, the female warrior did not hesitate. Everyone had witnessed Bai E''s physical training achievements during the day; not having the upper hand in strength was expected. However, combat is not just a contest of hardware capabilities. Drawing the sword and turning around, she struck twice more with both hands! Bai E''s face was expressionless, steadying his slightly trembling hands, he gathered his strength to meet the challenge head-on once again. The opponent''s intent was quite clear, to force him to expose his weaknesses through brute force. Whether it was physical strength or willpower. The heavy blows in weapon mastery were meant to tear such opening. He would get hurt, and so would his opponent! "Clang!" Another strike, the fierce sound of metal-on-metal clash made some of the mentally weaker soldiers instinctively take a step back. Two consecutive confrontations were an opportunity, Bai E''s reflexes peaked, and his will, following his nerves, directed every muscle in his body, executing an even faster third strike giving the female warrior no chance to breathe. As the great sword fell toward her, the female warrior, muscles sore, forcefully blocked with her sword and slid away, retreating. [Your attack caused a heavy hit.] [You have dealt a heavy hit in actual combat, heavy weapon mastery experience +1.] The force was mostly unloaded, but her arms were still numb. "Huff!" The sound of cutting wind came again, filled with a hopeless howl. At the brink of defeat, the female warrior spun around, her eyes ablaze with wild fighting spirit, seemingly ready to trade injury for injury. "Clang!" The scenario of mutual destruction did not occur. "Alright, alright, stop chopping before you break the swords." "Instructor?" The square-faced man who had abruptly stepped in eased his slightly sore muscles, making peace. "That''s enough, let''s call it a draw..." "A draw my ass! I lost!" The female warrior sheathed her sword and walked away, pushing through the crowd, her valiant voice echoing in the distance, "But remember my name -- Rose! I''ll come back for a rematch!" [You''ve experienced a refreshing battle, combat experience +5.] ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] Not bad. Bai E massaged his arm, soothing his injury. "Hiss~" It did hurt a bit. His face calm, "Next!" ... Watching that spirited warrior in the arena, Yue Ying''s eyes were full of admiration. Good talent, and willing to make an effort. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this rare moment of rest, he wanted to spar with other warriors to improve his skills. But... "Pity..." A fine seedling indeed, but not in a good environment. Apart from that female warrior, the others were far from being his match, and it wasn''t a life-or-death situation. What progress can one make by beating the weak? Learning is like rowing upstream, not advancing means falling behind. ... [Feedback from a commission, your physical ability +0.3, reflex +0.1.] (Stacked) [Feedback from a commission, heavy weapon mastery experience +52.] (Stacked) [Feedback from a commission, lumberjacking experience +38.] (Stacked) ... "Hm?" What''s happening? Yue Ying''s eyes widened in surprise. Just when he was feeling disinterested, the way Bai E swung his sword now overlapped with the posture from his memories but with some noticeable differences. It seems, there was some improvement after all? Not sure, let''s watch some more. Chapter 40: 040 Heretical Arbitration House With doubts in her heart, Yue Ying noticed something distinctly different as she looked again. It was a minuscule improvement, but the expert insight of a swordsmanship grandmaster was beyond question. Could she actually gain experience from bullying the weak? She didn''t understand, yet she was greatly shocked. ¡­ [Your attack caused a critical hit.] [You have delivered a critical hit in actual combat, heavy weapon proficiency experience +0. (The current opponent is too weak to provide any improvement.)] ["Lucky Strike" energy +10.] [Your abilities have been honed through prolonged sparring, reflexes +0.1.] Huh? An unexpected gain. "Next!" There was no response. The most elite and fierce of the new recruits had been laid out, all of them looking up to their king. Bai E''s gaze swept around him, and no one dared to meet it head-on. That''s it? If that''s it, so be it. A total of 22 points of "Lucky Strike" energy had been scraped together from the battle royal, and he was definitely not at a loss. The origin of this skill was unknown, but it was undoubtedly his capital for establishing himself. As for interactions with players... He didn''t know how many there were at present, but there were definitely others besides himself capable of issuing quests. If he could improve through interactions with players, so could others; this was not his sole advantage. The future was still bleak; comrades still needed to work hard. "Hey, where are you going?" Seeing Bai E trying to head toward the drill field, an onlooker grabbed his arm. It was Dashan. All four of his teammates were there. They had witnessed the entirety of the wheel war, feeling honored by their teammate who descended like a deity among the new recruits, unmatched in his prowess. For the first time, they felt their leader was wise. Seeing his teammates, Bai E also showed a smile, "When did you guys get here?" Hu coughed softly and said cheerfully, "We''ve been here all along." Could they admit they had been following him all day? Once more, Dashan asked, "Where are you planning to go now?" The daytime was for training, but the night was a precious opportunity to deepen bonds and understanding among teammates. On the battlefield, teamwork was always more important than individual ability. "Training," Bai E answered as if it were the most natural thing. The instructor wasn''t around, and the nights were lonely when spending them alone. Sneaking in training, the passion was thrilling. "..." "???" Seeing the astounded looks of his teammates, Bai E felt as if ants were crawling on him, "Why are you looking at me like that?" "You''re still going to train?" "Does your instructor even let you go?" Given Bai E''s performance, not even a new recruit warrior who had self-improved three or four times could catch up; wasn''t it clear that he had already met his targets? Still going? "But in two days..." You picked up on Bai E''s thoughts, "Even if the battle starts tomorrow, training now won''t help..." "Hmm?" "You probably haven''t been told yet... but managing to break through three to four times within 24 hours is already the limit for the human body. If you can still break through if you train now, then you can only be a believer of the war devil." "..." Are there daily limits to self-improvement? Is the human body that fragile? But... "Demon Believer?" In Bai E''s understanding, weren''t believers supposed to worship deities? Higher-dimensional demons, the endless Bug Race, the crisis of intelligent machinery... These cosmic nuisances were just broad information released by the official site, and Bai E knew nothing specific about them. Realizing this was an opportunity to learn more, Bai E actively prompted the topic. "Demons, too, are deities," You explained as they walked along with Bai E. "Believers who worship demons and receive a response gain powers beyond imagination. Those who worship the Warbringer are fierce in flesh but prone to killing; those who worship the Eternal are not afraid of illness but will spread plagues uncontrollably; those who worship Desire obtain endless pleasure but fall deeper into degeneracy; as for the believers of Conspiracy... it''s imperceptible. The demons of higher dimensions are endless, and beneath the four Great Evil Gods, there are countless Greater Demons, each granting different powers to their believers. However, one thing remains unchanged: Demon Believers must be eradicated quickly, or their bodies will become a bridge through which demons can enter our world. That''s precisely what the Heretical Arbitration House in the city takes care of." [Acquired character information: Demon Believer.] If one could gain abilities surpassing ordinary people, it''s not surprising that some would choose to believe. After all, human bodies are simply too weak. Even breaking through has its limits. Hmm... it seems players can surpass this limit? Just from one lumberjacking task, that player named Kuang Xin seemed to have gained a 0.6 increase in physical fitness. Damn privileged dogs! "Did you just say... the Heretical Arbitration House?" You sat down in front of the fire, staring into the dancing flames as they explained absentmindedly, "It is a law enforcement agency within the city, designed specifically to deal with Demon Believers, harmful mutants, and other heresies that might emerge from amongst regular humans. Their methods tend to be rather radical, so if you ever come across them in the future, remember to keep your distance. Of course, if you have aspirations in this area, you could also try to get in touch." [Unlocked Knowledge: Heretical Arbitration House.] Bai E heard some hope for the future. It seemed that the future of a created being wasn''t limited just to being an expendable soldier. "So, do I also have a chance to join the Heretical Arbitration House?" You glanced at Bai E, "Are you really interested?" "Just curious..." "Curious..." You murmured softly. Curious? Curiosity is normal. Newly created beings are curious about everything, but Bai''s curiosity seemed even more intense? Dismissing these thoughts, You continued, "Not only the Heretical Arbitration House, the Mechanical Court, the Security Forces, the Judgment Hall, all are possible destinations for us. Of course, staying in the military is another development path. Your admission into any of them will depend on your training in the camp and your performance on the battlefield." "What about everyone else?" "Us?" You shrugged, "Who knows?" You might end up dead on the next battlefield; the future is too uncertain. Song Ying, expressionless, added on the side, "But you are very impressive, I think you will have room for choice in your future. If you develop in the military, remember one thing¡ªstay away from the armored regiment. No need to understand, just remember." "Oh... okay." Armored regiment... a familiar term. The general who challenged the chief examiner during the new recruits'' shooting test seemed to be from the armored regiment. So, is it because of the identity of a created being? Bai E felt a slight heaviness in his heart. External threats and internal troubles, trouble really does come in spades. Seeing Bai E seemingly a bit downcast, as a thoughtful team leader, Tiger patted his shoulder, "Don''t think too much about it. Train well and fight hard. That''s our primary duty." Da Shan also asked cheerily on the side, "Yeah, how was today''s training? We saw you come out of the shooting range a few minutes early this afternoon." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Speaking of business, Song Ying''s face became more solemn, "That is your greatest responsibility on the battlefield; take it seriously." "Oh~" Bai E nodded in agreement, "The instructor said I graduated and that I don''t need to go anymore..." "???" "???" "He also gave me this, as a reward for being the first to graduate." "Ration Bar No.3!?" "???" "!!!" Little brother, what''s going on? Chapter 41: 041 Warriors Gas Station "Is it very precious?" Seeing the expression on his teammate''s face, Bai E realized that this item might indeed be extraordinary. He knew beforehand that it was precious, but he didn''t know just how "very" it was. Now that he had taken it out for his teammates to see, he hoped they could enlighten him on the correct way to use it. "Of course, it''s precious. Only two-star generals and above are allocated such resources, and these people generally don''t serve as instructors. What''s the background of your instructor?" "Carlos? Yeah, I think that''s his name." "The Ace Sniper?!" "Oh~" No wonder his drop rate was quite high, making people''s hearts race. Bai E twirled the No. 3 cartridge in his hand and said, "So this thing..." "This is a great invention from the Scientific Research Institute. Not only can it make your training breakthroughs more comfortable, but it can also break the shackles that prevent consecutive breakthroughs in a short period. Of course... the premise is that you don''t have too many deficits to begin with." Bai E nodded. It was about what he had guessed. But having a panel, he knew more clearly that the underlying factor was an excess reserve of action points. "Moreover, in urgent situations that require continuous combat, this item is a lifesaver." "Hmm." This benefit went without saying. Bai E suddenly paused, realizing this was a perfect excuse. The first day of physical training had passed, and even if his performance had been slightly better than the other synthetic soldiers, it was still at the limit. It was within the normal range that others could understand. But what about tomorrow? And the day after? Right now, his regular performance might be similar to that of the other recruits on drugs. Meanwhile, players were always on missions, and he himself was also training hard. Pile that up, and his later performances would probably be incredulously better than the others. Without pushing to the limit, there was no improvement, but pushing to the limit seemed too outlandish. Now with this No. 3 cartridge, he could just blame it for his prowess. He could train as usual without taking the cartridge. A compromise on his later performance might be acceptable, right? The opportunity lost for additional breakthroughs each day and a more comfortable process of breakthroughs, in exchange for a reasonable explanation, wasn''t a bad deal. Besides, this strategic material wouldn''t spoil if not consumed and would surely be useful someday. Bai E was contemplating this internally, but then he asked aloud, "Instructor Carlos said that when I''m not at shooting training, I could learn some other survival skills. I wonder if the camp has... " Veteran nodded, "That makes sense... Since your shooting skills have been recognized by the Sniper Ace, further training would be a waste of time. It''s better to master some more practical abilities. When it comes to learning... " Narrowing his eyes and pondering for a moment, Veteran continued, "Emergency medical skills on the battlefield and post-combat clearing abilities are both good choices. Simple bandaging can keep non-seriously injured soldiers in the fight, and being skilled in dissection can acquire a vast amount of resources for the city. All of these can increase your merits to some degree. It''s up to you how you want to choose." "Oh~" Bandaging or dissection? Maybe I''ll check them out tomorrow. "Actually, your skill in maintaining firearms is also one of them." Song Ying suddenly interjected coolly. Seeing the usually stoic man with a pleading look, Bai E instantly understood his intention. "Brother Ying, pass me your gun for a moment." Song Ying''s face lit up with joy as if he had found a beautiful bride, "Sure thing!" "Technicians..." "Right here! All ready." Bai E glanced at Song Ying, who was smiling somewhat flatteringly. It seemed that it wasn''t just the gun that was yearning for some attention... The rest of the teammates looked on in confusion at the scene, "What''s this...?" [You have completed a maintenance service on the target, restoring 4 points of durability.] [You have completed a maintenance service, "Firearm Maintenance" experience +4.] [Current Firearm Maintenance experience 7/300, upon reaching 300 points, "Level 2 Firearm Maintenance" will be mastered.] [...Durability 17/20.] [Trait: Having received maintenance again, it has revived, with its trajectory no longer deviating. Modo Modo... (Cooldown: 23 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds)] Having grabbed the machine gun, Song Ying couldn''t wait and immediately jumped up, "I''m going to test the gun." The remaining three pairs of eyes were all fixed on Bai E; shooting wasn''t their main job, but almost everyone was equipped with a handgun. Da Shan''s eyes were seductive as silk, "Brother Bai, I want it too..." "I''ll give you two punches!" Being comrades who had been through life and death on the battlefield, they had quite a few acquaintances in the military camp, and the commotion by the campfire easily attracted the curiosity of acquaintances. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A couple of casual chats and Bai E''s skill spread from one to ten and ten to a hundred. All of them were ignorant artificial people who had been born not long ago and had to go to the battlefield soon. Most of them probably wouldn''t live longer than the weapons in their hands, so where was the time to learn such meticulous craft? Yet, firearms, being such delicate equipment, really needed maintenance, and many seasoned soldiers had long been dissatisfied with the accuracy of their weapons. Bai E didn''t refuse any comers, accepting openly and generously. This was a great opportunity to grind proficiency and charge energy, and it was exactly his intention. Not to mention the rare moments of rest that always brought a moment of peace to one''s soul. [You''ve completed a maintenance, "Firearms Maintenance and Care" experience +4.] ["Lucky Strike" charge +1] ... [You''ve completed a maintenance, "Firearms Maintenance and Care" experience +3.] ["Lucky Strike" charge +1] ... [You''ve completed a maintenance, "Firearms Maintenance and Care" experience +2.] ... "..." Why isn''t this one adding a charge? Bai E glared at the retreating figure with an unfriendly gaze. Though it wasn''t clear yet whether the charging mechanism was based on positive emotions such as gratitude or admiration, if everyone else was getting a charge and you weren''t, it was definitely your problem. Ungrateful wretch, noted! [You''ve completed a maintenance, "Firearms Maintenance and Care" experience +3.] "..." Another ungrateful wretch! ... The lively night gradually quieted down, and those new recruits who had been hard trained during the day for not qualifying returned to their tents, their bodies worn out to the extreme and fell asleep as soon as they dropped their heads. Even with something as counter to nature as a reserve of energy for action, the soreness in the muscles after long periods of intensive training was always inevitable. Bai E also slept soundly. In the evening, he had harvested 58 points in Firearms Maintenance and Care experience. Perhaps there was no need to use this just for gaining charge, but what if high levels later came with effects like enchantments? Unknown... Keep a hand in anticipation. And more importantly, the addition of 18 points of "Lucky Strike" charge, which made Bai E smile even in his dreams. ... [Reward from the commission fulfilled: your physical strength +0.4, reflex +0.1.] (Stacked) [Reward from the commission fulfilled: Heavy Weapons Mastery experience +30.] [Reward from the commission fulfilled: Logging experience +44.] [Reward from the commission fulfilled: Bandaging experience +6.] [The commission you posted ¡ª "Repairs Needed" has been submitted. Please proceed to inspection as soon as possible.]X3 ... "Finally finished..." Watching the sky brighten, Dai Lian let out a long sigh of relief. The efficiency of three people was naturally higher than that of one person, it''s just that Gong Yan, being a girl, was somewhat of a drag during the tedious task that tested physical strength. He and Kuang Xin had both helped out a little, and only then did they manage to complete the task smoothly together. Now, it was time for that mysterious soldier to come for inspection. During the inspection... they could also verify their own suspicions. Chapter 42: 042 Its all out in the open now [You have acquired "Level 1 Logging" and simultaneously obtained 1 Technology Point.] [Logging (Level 1): Slightly increases the ability to cut and obtain more lumber from logs, along with a +5% efficiency in logging.] After a night''s sleep, Bai E had acquired a whole, complete set of knowledge skills, something he never anticipated. After carefully reviewing all the abilities he had acquired, Bai E felt like something was missing. The same task, when assigned to three people, did not yield three times the benefits of assigning it to one person. A lot was missing. Of course, it might be that the three people worked more efficiently together, or perhaps the experienced Kuang Xin had found a more effortless method for his two friends. Players, after all, can always come up with boundless ideas when it comes to skipping classes. And the threshold for gaining attributes through training is ever-increasing; the higher the attribute, the harder it is to improve. It is common knowledge that the same tasks provide progressively less in terms of attribute gains. Regardless, the contribution of three people was more than that of one, and that was good. All six tasks had been completed, and Bai E was looking forward to the tasks he would assign today. The morning and forenoon rushed by, as he was immersed in training, and time flew swiftly. During the two physical training sessions before and after breakfast, Bai E had only made progress once. The higher the attribute, the harder it is to break through; not every limit reached results in an improvement. What had started as getting familiar with the combat knife on the first day had turned into team combat training today. Physical training is fundamental and essential. The other elements are not. What kind of special forces elite can you train in three days? Being familiar with the basic properties and usage of weapons is sufficient; the battlefield teaches everything. Those who can''t learn, die. Only soldiers forged through relentless training can survive in this cruel world. Compared to unparalleled individual strength, learning to cooperate with a team and assist each other is something even more essential to master. For the next two mornings'' second halves, it''s all about group combat. The purpose is to get everyone accustomed to group combat, understanding cooperation, and avoiding accidentally harming teammates at crucial moments. Bai E saw a familiar face across the field; Rose''s spirited face stood out among the crowd of new recruits. Her natural boldness and status as an ace made her the definite core of her team. At this moment, this core sent Bai E a dazzling smile and whispered something to the new recruits beside her. Then, Bai E saw the eyes of those unfamiliar new recruits turn green with envy... [Side quest triggered¡ªTeam Combat.] [Team Combat: As a warrior, the first thing you need to learn is not heroism. Coordinating with your teammates and surviving on the battlefield as much as possible is what allows you to kill more enemies! Completing the training perfectly will bring extraordinary growth! Quest requirements: Successfully perform "Coordinated Attack" 0/500 times, "Cover Retreat" 0/500 times, "Assist Teammate" 0/500 times, "Knock Down Enemy" 0/500 times before the training ends. Quest reward: Trait¡ªWell-trained. (Countdown: 26 hours 58 minutes and 53 seconds)] Taking me as prey? Bai E gave the other side a slight smile. Sorry! You''re the prey! He reveled in the sensation of being targeted, just as he once did in other games. Strategy! Overpowering the weak doesn''t bring pleasure; it''s being outnumbered that stimulates the senses. Like to bully the few with the many? Watch me stand unyielding! With a smirk, Bai E flipped off the group of new recruits. A universally understood gesture of friendship; hopefully, they got the message. Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two large groups, Wood and the instructor opposite him exchanged a knowing smile. "Begin!" ... Thank goodness no one got slapped in the face. Bai E felt relieved as he hurried to the task verification site; if his face had been swollen and bruised, he probably wouldn''t have been able to show his face among the players anymore. Reaching the clearing, the mountain of wood was even more impressive, and one could see a slope formed from the wood even from a distance. One glance, and the disorderly stacked number was etched in his mind¡ª a total of 80 logs. These players hadn''t been lazy in the slightest. "My lord!" Kuang Xin was the first to greet him, his eyes alight with fervor. Bai E nodded slightly, accepting the form of address, "You''ve done well." [Side quest¡ªRepair Supplies Needed, complete!] [Quest Reward: 1 Technology Point, Fine Brass Bullets (Pistol Rounds)*27, distributed.] "Thank you for the praise, my lord!" With the reward in hand, Kuang Xin''s face was flushed with excitement, anticipation, and hesitation as the question they had agreed upon internally crept into his mind. "My lord..." Dai Lian stepped forward, positioning himself halfway in front of Kuang Xin, also blocking the words he was about to say. He didn''t dare let Kuang Xin speak, as speaking also required tact; saying the wrong thing could potentially leave them no room to back down. "My lord!" "Hmm?" Bai E''s gaze shifted calmly to Dai Lian. [You notice that the emotions of the three individuals before you are unusual¡­] Dai Lian looked directly into Bai E''s eyes, his tone sincere, "We want to take on more responsibility!" "Oh?" Bai E slightly lifted his chin, his eyes narrowed, "What do you mean?" Is there any chance? Or is there none? The officer''s tone was somewhat enigmatic, but he didn''t outright dismiss the suggestion. The NPCs in this game were quite intelligent, reacting differently depending on the player''s choice of words. Dai Lian didn''t know what exactly the situation was, so he had to muster up his courage and choose his words carefully, following logical deduction. "We¡­ perhaps are not simply working for the military camp?" [The person across from you has become suspicious of the mission you issued, and you decide¡­] Better to let things flow than to try to block them. Bai E''s eyebrows rose slightly, showing a trace of interest, "Continue." This encouraging manner slightly relieved Dai Lian¡ªthe other party was not angered. "My lord! If it''s for the military camp, this place seems a bit too far off." "Hmm..." Dai Lian cautiously observed the other''s expression but couldn''t discern any particular inclination; he continued hesitantly, "So, we boldly speculate that there might be¡­ another organization behind you, my lord?" Silence. A deadly silence. Bai E did not speak, his gaze making Dai Lian unable to maintain eye contact. The realism of this game was done too well; the pressure exerted by some high-ranking individuals felt disturbingly real. This silence made one''s heart panic, and Dai Lian could not help but explain proactively, "Of course, we are only loyal to you, my lord. The camp¡­ we are not familiar with it." "Heh..." Bai E chuckled lightly, thawing the frost like spring warmth. "No need to be nervous, I am just considering whether to inform you of the truth." Was he considering whether to reveal the truth, or whether to silence them? The thought flickered through Dai Lian''s mind. The atmosphere didn''t seem like a minor situation; perhaps he''d stumbled upon some high-end content within this game? This speculation sent a thrill through him. Bai E no longer looked at them, his gaze drifting to the distant horizon where the city''s dark silhouette stood silently towering, "You can smell the blood in the air, can''t you?" Dai Lian quickly agreed, "Of course." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From the beginning of entering the game, the strange scent in the air¡ªblending the smell of blood, sea, sand, and oil¡ªhad left a deep impression on him. The game''s realism was astonishing from the very start. However, after spending a considerable time in the game, he was somewhat accustomed to it. Bai E''s gaze lowered, though still looking towards the earth, it seemed to stretch to the horizon. His voice was deep, carrying a profound weight. "This land has drunk deeply of our blood." "..." Kuang Xin and the others remained silent, quietly waiting. "The foundations of our city are built on sacrifice, a veritable maxim, where the blood of martyrs is the spark of the empire. When loyal slaves learn to love the lash, only in death does duty end." Everything was silent, as if even the wind was listening. Bai E spoke swiftly. "For thousands of years we have endured in silence, at times briefly flourishing under the sunlight, but more often languishing in the shadows. Over countless centuries, we''ve fought and died, spilling the blood of our enemies and our own across innumerable battlefields. Humanity keeps sacrificing itself, the sacrifice allowing the bloodline to continue, generation after generation after generation. Not for any grand ideal, because sacrifice itself is greater than any ideal. But perhaps, there is a hope buried deep in the heart of every person: maybe there will come a day, maybe in ten thousand years, when a generation will no longer need to sacrifice, a generation that will exist in peace eternally¡­" Chapter 43: 043 Unlock Faction Information: Li Ming Bai E''s voice was steady yet influential, with the eyes of the emotional Gong Yan already misting over. The images that surfaced in his mind were of generation after generation of warriors bravely rushing to battlefields. The people of this world... seemed to be living quite miserably. "Yet even so, our city, the one we depend on for survival, is still filled with darkness, with desires breeding in the shadows and conspiracies flourishing in the light," Bai E did not know what the real situation was, and could only use some ambiguous words to subdue these players who had discovered anomalies. As for the future... who knew if they would recognize each other? Plus, in such a big city, there had to be a few bad guys, right? He was definitely not wrong about that. "My companions and I have identified those unstable elements, and without excising these boils, we can never unite everyone''s strength to strive for that ultimate goal." After speaking, Bai E looked at the three in front of him, eyes imbued with an inexplicable force, "If you insist on knowing the truth, you might lose the right to withdraw. This will be a long and thorny path, and without the resolve to face death unflinchingly, you''ll surely perish in the ascending flames." Dai Lian felt his long-absent fervor rising. Why did he love gaming? Even those virtual stories, as if they truly took place in another real universe, what kind of splendid life would it be to experience them firsthand? The words of this officer sparked boundless imagination in people''s minds. To fight against the shadows of the entire city for the future of all humanity, what kind of heroic path was that? Even if they failed, they would be remembered by the world. "Sir, we are not afraid of hardship; we only fear mediocrity!" "This is not a path strewn with flowers and grandeur." "Even a death filled with glory is what we seek in our hearts!" "Good." Bai E''s eyes showed a hint of appreciation; indeed, these were the familiar players. "Since you are determined, I will not reject companions who share our cause. Remember this name¡ªLi Ming! Then bury it deep in your heart, and before the arrival of dawn, we will fight ceaselessly through the night." [Unlocked Faction Information: Li Ming (Prestige Level: 1).] [Unlocked Identity: Leader.] [Identity¡ªLeader of Li Ming: Can issue faction missions to all "Li Ming" members, currently able to issue 1 mission. The number of missions that can be issued will increase with the faction''s prestige level.] [Basic construction-type commission unlocked, currently can issue 1/1 construction-type commissions.] [Please set the Faction Token: ¡­] [Please set the Token''s ability/material exchange ratio: ¡­] "..." Bai E was somewhat astonished. Random blathering counted too? Building a faction was this simple? Kuang Xin and the other two were excited, unhesitatingly confirming upon the prompt''s appearance. [The other party invites you to join the faction: Li Ming (Prestige Level: 1), do you accept?] [Yes!] ... [Kuang Xin, Gong Yan, Dai Lian have joined your faction.] Hey, hey, don''t be so hasty! I haven''t even set the tokens yet! Bai E had never felt his mind work this fast. How had he ended up entangling himself with his own bluffs? Just wait, let me make things up... [Temporary member; cannot view Faction Shop.] "..." Dai Lian and the others were silent, looking pitifully at Bai E. Bai E breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness he was one step ahead. With a straight face, Bai E spoke indifferently, "Our cause does not permit the slightest error. Although I am willing to trust your character, a basic test is essential." Tapping the pile of lumber next to him, Bai E remembered the small hill he had seen from afar earlier. It was too conspicuous. "Our original intention was to build a small base here, and your gathering of these materials serves that purpose. As our organization is short on manpower, and since you have just joined, this new base will be entrusted to you to construct." [Commission description is auto-generating...] [Side Mission¡ªConstruct Warehouse (Construction-type Commission): The beginning of constructing a base requires a warehouse that can accommodate supplies without being disturbed or discovered. Mission Requirements: Build an underground warehouse, capacity (0/1~¡Þm3). Mission Reward: Li Ming position, Li Ming contribution points (distributed as progress is made).] (Note: There is a physical submission step; the current commission cannot be "auto-completed" and requires "acceptance completion"; upon confirming the release of the commission, "authority" will be deducted and locked.) [Do you wish to issue the current commission?] The initial capacity of the underground warehouse... If it''s too big, they''ll just slack off; if it''s too small, it won''t drag out enough time. Let them start with this¡ª20*20*3m3! Cheer up, darlings. Publish! ... "1200 cubic meters?" "Seems not too small." Everyone knows how big one meter is, but twenty meters starts to get hazy, and 20*20*3 is even more confusing. The three players who had never done similar work also had no concrete concept of it. It seemed not small, but once they got to work, it would be done. "Work hard, and once this small base is completed, you''ll be the backbone." Kuang Xin muttered softly, "But... I have no idea how to dig holes..." Bai E''s gaze was calm, trying to convey strength, "Believe in yourself, your creativity is infinite." "That''s true..." Kuang Xin felt empowered. If you don''t know how, try; if you can''t try, learn; there''s everything on the internet, just look it up and it''s settled. This is a world where players can freely remodel, and having a floor that can be dug permanently is a blessing from heaven! "Additionally..." Bai E said, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. ... The scarlet view bestowed a red glow on everything in sight, the serrated edges of grass blades cutting through the visuals, every living thing exuding an enticing scent of flesh and blood. The genetic blueprint outlined everything, with infinite mysteries hidden within the double helix. Desire! Everything! Flesh and blood! "Hiss!" "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" [Successfully hit multiple small targets, Light Firearm Mastery experience +5.] (Stacked) [Hit the vital part of the target, causing 25 points of fatal damage to the target!] [Target''s breathing ceased, has lost basic life signs.] [Plague Rat (Mutated): Health 0/25...] ... [You have ended the battle, gaining 12 points of combat experience.] The sudden gunfire startled Kuang Xin and the other two, their eyes wide with confusion. What happened? Were they silenced? The officer''s face was expressionless as he holstered his gun, giving the impression that the shooting had nothing to do with him. Their slow-reacting brains recalled the sound of the gunfire¡ªfour shots. On the ground beside the officer¡ªfour plague rat corpses. One bullet each, and he only spared them a glance. Is this the strength of NPCs in the game? "Gulp!" Kuang Xin swallowed dryly. With such strength, if he had truly angered him just now, he might have been silenced in minutes... He had firsthand experience with the difficulty of these plague rats. Small, fast. Forget using guns; even in close combat, it was quite hard to hit them. Their only weakness was low attack power, but even ants could kill an elephant if there were enough of them. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... "My lord..." Dai Lian looked at Bai E''s back, his voice trembling slightly. The abject humiliation of being chased by a swarm of rats yesterday was still fresh in his memory, and now... were they coming again? Bai E looked behind, rustling shadows surging over the black and yellow earth. A few dozen? A hundred? Quite a spectacle. Narrowing her eyes, Bai E suddenly remembered yesterday''s instructor''s tactical exercise. Could she... give it a try? Chapter 44: 044 Teaching Bureau - Shooting "Have you encountered these things before?" "Mm-hmm," Dai Lian nodded. His thighs were a bit wobbly, and he wanted to run. In this game, life was precious, and you couldn''t tough it out if you couldn''t beat the challenge. But there was still some distance, and it wasn''t impossible to wait and see what the NPC would do next. Maybe he could clear the area by himself? This was the first advanced NPC he had encountered, and from the move he had just made, he was terrifyingly powerful. "Can''t beat them?" "Too many of them, and they are hard to hit." "Take out your weapons." Bai E commanded in an indifferent tone, having already drawn his own pistol once again. Perhaps it wasn''t as powerful as a rifle, but it was military-grade, reliable quality. [Desert Fox - Quality: White (Light Firearm)] [Basic parameters: Fire rate 1 shot/s; Magazine: 10 rounds (pistol ammunition); Range 50 meters; Basic attack power (type: piercing): 11~13; Output level 11; Durability 15/15] [Usage requirement: Physical strength 9 (can be used).] [Trait: Only women would use this thing!] "Find the moving patterns, predict the trajectories, they''re just rats, not that hard to hit." The sound of gunfire accompanied Bai E''s words. Bang! Bang! Bang! [Successfully hit multiple small targets consecutively, Light Firearms Specialization experience +4.] (Stacked) [Hit target''s vital spot, dealing 23 points of critical damage!] Level 4 Light Firearms Specialization had made the Desert Fox in Bai E''s hands seem like an extension of his body. The bullet friction through the barrel grooves was like blood surging through veins. The brain doesn''t need to precisely control every single red blood cell; the body naturally knows where to send blood when it''s needed. And if he could hit a 200-meter variable frequency moving target, how could he miss a 20-meter rat? [Do you decide to impart combat skills to the target?] [Confirmed!] ¡­ [You are observing a professional shooting demonstration and gaining some insights...] [Instruction: Sensing the opponent''s professional specialization, you''re determined to pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) to learn corresponding abilities. (Exchange ratio: Every 2 points of combat/general experience can be exchanged for 1 point of specialized experience.)] What is this? Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kuang Xin and the others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock. An instructional session? Indeed, there were still many secrets in this game, waiting to be unearthed by everyone. "Are you going to learn?" Gong Yan was somewhat hesitant. At a 2-to-1 ratio, it seemed like a loss, especially since after acquiring at least level 1 of specialization, points could be added on a 1-to-1 basis. "Learn it!" Dai Lian was determined. In the early stages of the game, losing some experience to get ahead was definitely worth it. The experience required to level up was bound to increase, and even if the experience needed for level 1 specialization was doubled, it couldn''t compare to the experience gained from casually killing a couple of monsters later on. What''s more, quickly unlocking a level 1 specialization would save time and resources, which were undoubtedly the most valuable. Just by looking at the accuracy penalty on pistols, even a level 1 specialization could greatly improve their shooting accuracy, which would benefit both the efficiency of gaining experience and saving ammunition. If they had at least level 1 specialization yesterday when facing the wolves, they wouldn''t have wasted so many bullets. How could one pass up such a rare opportunity? Were their brains blasted by artillery? "Steady your wrist, and if you''re not strong enough, hold the gun with both hands. The required strength to fire a gun is just the minimum; resisting the recoil as much as possible is what you should be most concerned about." ¡­ "Keep moving, crossfire, don''t panic, you have teammates." [You are trying team combat under the guidance of a master, remember this feeling, and you may acquire the trait - Well-Trained.] ¡­ "Don''t deliberately chase after the same target, chasing limits your observation and wastes your time. Prioritize the targets you can hit most easily." Amidst the chaotic gunfire, Bai E''s voice was always steady. He stood like a steadfast pillar amidst the tide of rats, calm and composed, and with each strike, a plague rat was inevitably robbed of its vitality. It was a far cry from the disheveled flight of yesterday. Of course, the reason for yesterday''s disarray was that the blood of the dead wolves had attracted too many plague rats; the scale of today''s encounter was clearly not on the same level. But it was just the right challenge for some practice. The Teaching Bureau wasn''t an immediate success, as there was room for choice in every move. "You have spent 10 points of battle experience, converting it into 5 points of ''Light Firearms Mastery'' experience." During the fight with the wolves yesterday, everyone''s shooting skills had improved. Dai Lian''s chosen innate talent was a perfect match, showing the most growth, having already reached 83/100. He now spent just 40 points of battle experience to successfully acquire level 1 Light Firearms Specialization. But... "Target skill is exceptional. Continuing to learn might yield unexpected gains." After much hesitation and looking at his substantial surplus of battle/general experience, Dai Lian decided to take a gamble. Initially, 110 points of battle experience and 150 points of general experience would have been enough to nearly reach level 2 specialization, but losing half of the experience for a lower-level specialization in exchange for a chance to discover a miracle... Aren''t you still a player if you don''t gamble? The excitement of the unknown is always more thrilling than a safe and sure outcome. All in! "You have spent 10 battle experience points, converting it into 5 points of ''Light Firearms Mastery'' experience. (A very small chance of awakening a special attribute.)" Bai E''s shooting movements were imprinted in his view, turning into subtle insights that melded into his shooting specialization with the help of the system''s mighty power. Bang! "You have spent 10 points of general experience, converting it into 5 points of ''Light Firearms Mastery'' experience. (A very small chance of awakening a special attribute.)" Bang! Killing two birds with one stone. The bullet followed a curve, piercing through two plague rats and still carrying momentum. "You have spent 10 points of general experience, converting it into 5 points of ''Light Firearms Mastery'' experience. (A small chance of awakening a special attribute.)" Bang! "You have spent 10 points of general experience, converting it into 5 points of ''Light Firearms Mastery'' experience." "Your prolonged learning has allowed you to draw enough experience from the master''s performance. Your specialization ability¡ªLight Firearms Specialization¡ªhas gained a brand new ''special'' attribute boost!" "Light Firearms Specialization (Level 1): Shooting accuracy +3%, critical hit +0.5%, Arc Shot (special) +2%." Hmm? Dai Lian, his mind somewhat muddled, suddenly snapped to attention. Did it really happen? The sound of gunfire was still in his ears. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bai E unceremoniously took down the last three plague rats. These were all experience points. To legitimately steal a player''s experience and still have them be grateful¡ªwhat a rotten NPC I am~ And... "The ''teaching'' is over. Through the feedback from the ''teaching,'' you have altogether acquired 340 battle experience points and 120 general experience points." A total of 460 points? The amount seemed... not to add up. Based on the rewards from the task feedback yesterday, the total Light Firearms Mastery experience gained by these three players was at least 176 points combined. That means, together, they would only need to pay out (300-176)*2... which is 248 points of general/battle experience at most, to acquire level 1 specialization for everyone. This calculation was simple. Now... Clearly, someone learned too much. It''s good if someone learns too much. How else would I profit if the players aren''t fools? Bai E felt a surge of pleasure internally but remained expressionless on the outside, his gaze casually sweeping over the dark objects in their hands, speaking in an even tone. "Where did you get the guns in your hands from?" "Bought... bought them." Kuang Xin replied cheerily, the first to respond. "The quality seems pretty poor..." A level 4 shooting skill allowed Bai E to notice much more. Leaving technical reasons aside, the accuracy of the guns they held was also very low. So... Can teaching knowledge open a Teaching Bureau too? Chapter 45: 045 Each has its own gains "Let me see it." "Okay!" Kuang Xin was the first to hand his over, quite eager. Once the homemade gun was in hand, its attributes unfolded. On one hand, the gun''s performance was inferior to the military-issued Sand Fox, which was a hardware issue that couldn''t be resolved. However, on its own... [...Durability 4/10] [Trait: Roughly Made, shooting accuracy -10%; the manufacturing process is too poor, there is a certain chance of barrel explosion during use; lack of proper maintenance over time has led to rust at critical parts, durability is rapidly decreasing, significantly increasing the chance of barrel explosion!] The debuff was nearly maxed out, weren''t they afraid it would explode in their own hands? Seeing Bai E frown, Kuang Xin cautiously asked, "Sir?" Without a word, Bai E took out a screwdriver from his embrace and got to work. He had already carried with him the few tools necessary for maintaining light firearms. After disassembling the parts, Bai E exposed the rust inside to the sunlight, "If you are warriors, you should learn to protect the weapons in your hands. They are your tools for killing enemies and the partners you should value the most." "..." Kuang Xin didn''t make a sound. They were just beginner weapons. If they blew up, just buy another. Bai E''s words continued to echo in their ears, "I know you might not care about such a readily available weapon, but I don''t want it to betray you at a critical moment. If you cannot treat it well, you will eventually be hurt by it. As new members of the organization, I don''t want to see you get injured." [Do you decide to teach the target survival skills?] [Confirm!] ... The three players who received the system prompt were startled at the same time. Firearm maintenance and care? This auxiliary ability costs 200 general experience points to learn? Are you learning it? I''m not. Kuang Xin and Dai Lian exchanged glances, reaching a consensus. Amidst the silence, Gong Yan squatted down, moved closer, and observed Bai E''s motions carefully. "Sir, can you teach me?" Compared to the previous Bai E, the one now bending down to maintain the firearm seemed warmer, and Gong Yan, with her careful thoughts, captured this tender moment. For her, rampaging through the game wasn''t important, but certain interesting details were simply too appealing. Moreover, she was willing to learn these support abilities. Bai E glanced at her, "Okay, where''s your gun?" "Here..." "Take it out and follow along." [You have spent 10 general experience points in learning, which has been converted into 5 points of "Firearm Maintenance and Care" experience.] ... [You have learned "Level 1 Firearm Maintenance and Care" and simultaneously received 1* technological point.] [Firearm Maintenance and Care (Level 1): Maintains light firearms, restoring the target''s durability by 3 points, target cooldown time 24 hours.] The three homemade guns were revitalized after maintenance. [...Durability 7/10] [Trait: The original hand-assembled homemade gun has been carefully treated by a professional, significantly reducing the chance of barrel explosion; limited by inherent conditions, shooting accuracy -5%. (Cooldown time: 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds)] S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kuang Xin''s eyes widened, "The effect is so powerful..." When he first got it, there was a -10% penalty in shooting accuracy, but after one maintenance, it was reduced to only a -5% penalty. If it''s maintained once more, wouldn''t the penalty disappear? Maintain one more time, wouldn''t it become +5%? And if maintained yet again... If the homemade gun was like this, surely other weapons obtained in the future would benefit as well. He never thought that such an auxiliary ability could be so potent, it could be described as defying fate. In that moment, Kuang Xin felt a bit of regret. He had plenty of experience left, enough to learn the skill. But... an opportunity missed is missed for good. The officer probably had no interest in teaching it again. Gong Yan was all smiles, her eyes curved into crescents, willingly declaring, "If I know it, it''s as if you know it too." "Alright." Bai E got up, and for the first time in front of the three of them, he showed a smile, "Goodbye." The two educational sessions had wasted too much of his time; would he have to run back so fast he''d practically fly? Fortunately, the first half of the afternoon was the original shooting training, so as a newly graduated rookie, he didn''t need to assemble immediately. Watching Bai E''s retreating figure walking away briskly, Dai Lian tightened his grip on the pistol in his hand, feeling for the first time a real advantage in this game. A brand new organization! A mysterious chain of missions. A powerful yet gentle superior! And... a specialization with special attributes that no one could have at the early stages of the game! "How did everyone do?" Dai Lian asked. Understanding the combined combat power of the team was the most important thing for a team''s strategist to do. "I spent 100 points of combat experience to get Level 1 Light Firearms Specialization, 200 points of general experience for firearm maintenance, and didn''t use the rest of the experience to level up to Level 2," Gong Yan answered crisply. Dai Lian let out a light sigh, "Same here, but I used 150 points of combat experience and 120 points of general experience just to get Level 1 Light Firearms Specialization. Now I only have 30 points of general experience left..." "???" Kuang Xin and Gong Yan looked at Dai Lian like they were seeing him for the first time. Since when had Dai Lian tapped into Kuang Xin''s network? Dai Lian smiled mysteriously, after knowing each other for so long, he always wanted to show off in front of his acquaintances. "My specialization might be a bit different from yours." Kuang Xin was full of curiosity, "What is it?" Dai Lian placed a finger to his lips, "It''s a secret." Then he turned to ask Kuang Xin, "What about you?" "Me?" Kuang Xin shrugged, "I used 90 points of combat experience~ But..." "But what?" "I got a trait too..." Kuang Xin grinned, his smile beaming brightly. He''d held back until now, finally ready to reveal it. [Trait¡ªWell Trained: More adept at team combat, with no fewer than "five" combat units working together, Insight Performance +1, Reflex Performance +1; more likely to survive in complex combat environments (with over 10 participating units within 500m3), Block +5%, Dodge +3%.] "Damn!" Dai Lian lost his composure for the first time. Gong Yan also opened her slightly parched mouth wide, "...Shit!" The attribute boosts that were triggered were terrifyingly strong, even stronger than all the progress they had made in the game from the start until now. This this this... Dai Lian remembered the prompt that had flashed briefly in the educational session, "Could it be..." Kuang Xin shrugged smugly, "Yeah, I just learned it naturally." "..." Naturally... Damn it! Dai Lian pursed his lips. He''d been outdone. But the fact was, Kuang Xin had learned it, and he hadn''t¡ªthat was skill. "Eh? You guys are all here?" An incongruent voice suddenly rang out, and Pu Jie''s face, which looked sleazy no matter how you saw it, came running over from a distance. "It''s noon, shall we go wolf-hunting?" Dai Lian nodded fiercely, "Let''s do it!" Having just acquired specialization skills, and his weapons feeling reborn, with his accuracy indeed improved significantly, if they didn''t go on a killing spree now, when would they? "Exactly!" Pu Jie was exceptionally excited, "We''re all friends of Yanzi, I won''t let you down! I''ve already found out, at the top of this mission is the Heretical Arbitration House in the city! As long as we get the best results, I can get you guys connected to that line, it''ll be totally worth it!" Chapter 46: 046 Show off a little Bai E returned to the camp with a heart full of joy. "This trip out, it was worth it!" More than just worth it, it was a huge gain! The experience from those little mice wasn''t much, only 3 points each, but you can''t beat the sheer number of them. The only regret is that this world seems to have some kind of experience punishment mechanism -- killing too many of these weak creatures in succession reduces the experience significantly, from 3 points at first to 2 and then 1 point. Nevertheless, overall, he still gained more than a hundred points in combat experience. Wasn''t that much faster than training in the military camp? Actual combat had always been the quickest way to improve. However, that was just a small part of it. The experience gained from teaching players twice was the real meat of the matter. His under 100 points of combat/general experience had, after this one excursion, soared to an impressive 879 points. He was just 121 points away from unlocking the skill tree that opened up after reaching level 4 specialization; hope was right before his eyes! Upon returning to the campsite, all was silent. Bai E felt like a student who was late to class, each step he took into the military camp filled with trepidation. Everyone was training. It wasn''t just the new recruits; even the veterans needed to undergo various degrees of training in different areas. For them, breaking through limits might be harder, but without training, there was no chance for improvement at all. The only difference was, perhaps, that those veterans with certain military achievements had a bit more freedom in scheduling their time. Like the four members of the special squad... "You''re finally back!" Upon seeing Bai E return, Dashan popped out from behind a tent, his tone energetic, "Didn''t you say yesterday you wanted to learn how to dress wounds? We''ve already arranged it for you. Nurse Chief An Lun is teaching her subordinate medics right now, and you can still make it if you hurry." "Huff... Huff..." Bai E was still breathing heavily, unable to speak, just letting others make arrangements. He had casually mentioned it just last night; he didn''t expect his teammates to take it so seriously. "Let''s go! I''ll take you there!" Gripping Bai E''s hand, Dashan took off running. "Slow... slow down." ... "You are special." In front of a pristine white tent, an elegantly poised lady with traces of time upon her face gently spoke to the line of "nurses," "The soldiers'' hands are for killing enemies; yours are for saving lives. Not many have the ability to soothe pain, and I am glad you can feel that kind of suffering. Remember one thing¡ªif the weak and the sick are not cared for, humanity has no future. Soldiers spill their blood, but there should be no needless sacrifices." Genetics are uncontrollable. In a batch of 2,000 new recruits, there will always be some unexpected births, those naturally capable of sensing injury, bleeding, abscess, and other factors, are naturally destined to be medics. Besides, there are also some civillians who volunteered to enlist. Joining the army could bring some subsidies to the family, but the front line was far too dangerous. Being a military medic was somewhat safer. Moreover, with free training to master a skill, they could make a living even if they left the army later¡ªit was a good choice. Apart from some standard basic training, what these military medics needed to train for was not combat ability, but battlefield medical rescue capability. That was when Dashan and Bai E arrived at the back of the crowd. "Go on, hurry up!" Dashan clearly revered the elegant lady, and when he maintained a certain distance, he gave Bai E a push. Dashan was stronger than Bai E, and with that shove, Bai E had no power to resist, stumbling to the very right of the line. The new "nurses" could not help but glance sideways, and Nurse Chief An Lun also cast a pair of calm yet solemn eyes toward him. "You has already spoken to me... but you are late," she said. The lady, elegant yet austere, showed no interest in hearing Bai E''s excuses¡ªbeing late was being late, no excuses. Fearing Bai E might not catch up with the progress, she had already waited six minutes. The golden window for saving many injured soldiers did not even last six minutes. So... She reached out to the dummy beside her, "Yesterday, we had already gone through the basic bandaging practice, which you missed. I cannot waste time teaching it again. If you have no basic knowledge at all... you can leave now." Bai E pursed his lips and, without saying a word, stepped forward. If you''re late for a beating, you stand firm. He was late; there was no getting around that. Even if he was being targeted, it was deserved. An Lun handed Bai E a roll of somewhat blackened gauze, saying nothing, her calm yet stern gaze was pressure in itself. The rookie nurses were familiar with this kind of pressure; a few naturally gentle girls looked worriedly at Bai E''s retreating figure. "Nurse Chief An Lun seems angry..." "None of these newcomers, the artificial humans, should know anything..." "It took us a long time yesterday to even grasp a little trick..." Yesterday''s training was called basic, and it was indeed very basic. Nothing in the world is simple: how to bandage securely, whether too tight might restrict blood flow, whether too loose might render it ineffective, when to bind blood vessels, when only to clean the wound to prevent infection, how to bandage so as not to affect the ability to move... and so on. It took everyone two hours just to get a basic handle on it; without any basics, there were no patients willing to let them practice freely. "Is he going to be sent away?" Being driven away... always seemed like such a shameful thing. Mashati''s brown amber-like eyes gazed at Bai E''s back, full of worry. Bai E tore open the gauze. "16 points in bandaging experience should help me cope, right?" He indeed had not genuinely practiced, but the experience fed back from the missions subconsciously told him what to do. Experience was just that, experience, not the ability to convert bonus attributes into absolute operations bestowed by the system, but still something familiar. Just like the dozen or so points of shooting proficiency he had earned through his own efforts at the beginning of the rookie shooting test. Though he was a novice, it did not mean he was completely clueless. Just not sure if it would catch the eye of this nurse chief. It was good to learn; after all, arriving in a strange new world, the more skills, the better. If not allowed to learn... it seemed like there wasn''t much of a loss. With the right attitude, Bai E simply got to work. [You are attempting a simulated bandaging...] Whish, whish, whish! Bai E''s hands fluttered like butterflies threading flowers, his main show was confidence. Inexperienced yet confident... "Wow! He''s so skilled!" "He''s doing better than I did yesterday..." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The girls whispered among themselves. [You have completed a simulated bandage; validation successful, bandaging experience +1.] Great success! Now to tie a butterfly knot... ["Lucky Strike" charge +3.] A glint of astonishment flashed in An Lun''s eyes as she stared intently at Bai E''s profile, "Have you practiced on your own?" Chapter 47: 047 Born Doctor "Sort of..." Bai E responded ambiguously. Rubbing his hands, he felt that making money from a girl''s adoration was easy. Show a little skill, and three o''clock was at hand. An Lun nodded her head, without expressing any opinion, "Return to the ranks." Her attitude was still proper, and she had been working hard in private, so it seemed there must have been some important matter that had delayed her. She didn''t believe in people''s words, only in what she saw with her own eyes. "Alright, let''s continue the lesson. Those who have mastered the skills will have the opportunity to practice later..." Nurse An Lun''s voice was gentle and clear, pointing out tips on the dummy by her side as she spoke. "As everyone knows, the functions of bandaging usually include protecting the wound, reducing infection, pressing to stop bleeding, fixing bones, and reducing secondary damage. The timing, location, and method of bandaging determine the effects you want to achieve..." [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Bandaging," progress 1%...] "For example, when dealing with wounds on the forearm, upper arm, or lower leg, one can adopt the spiral bandaging method..." [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Bandaging," progress 12%...] ... [You have mastered "Knowledge ¡ª Bandaging," and now you can improve your knowledge level through the method of investing "General Experience."] The distinction of knowledge from specializations lies precisely here: once you have grasped the relevant knowledge, even if it''s at level 0, you can directly upgrade it through experience points. But before obtaining the skill specialization at level 4, is it worth it to spend precious experience on something like this? Bai E remained silent, entirely unmoved. "Alright, I''ve explained the main points to you, now follow me." An Lun started walking, heading towards the back. Passing through several tents, a large iron house appeared in front of them. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Faint groans emanated from within, with the smell of blood mixed with the pungent odor of antiseptics penetrating the nostrils. Pushing the door open, figures in white coats stained with blood shuffled back and forth, extremely busy. It wasn''t just the battlefield; even in daily training, there were many soldiers injured by accidents or exertion. An Lun''s voice rose softly, "Many patients are due for a change of dressings. If you feel confident about your skills, go ahead and try." [A subplot mission ¡ª Changing Dressings has been triggered.] [Changing Dressings: The moans of many wounded stir your compassion, and you too might lie among them one day. Mission requirement: Complete the dressing change for at least 0/5 patients. Mission completion reward: 100 General Experience points, advanced knowledge in bandaging ¡ª First Aid. (Countdown: 39 minutes 17 seconds)] ... There''s advanced knowledge too? Bai E was not impulsive; the rewards were good, but he could observe first. "I... I want to try." A girl with flaxen hair following behind Nurse An Lun shyly raised her hand. The girl had a few fetching freckles on her face, not ugly, actually quite cute. At the moment, her eyes timidly fixed on Nurse An Lun''s face, somewhat uneasy. An Lun glanced at her faded grey-black canvas shoes, a light smile touching her lips, "Mashati, go ahead." "Yes..." The girl bowed respectfully, encouraged to some extent by the nurse''s smile. Lying on the iron bed was a well-built brute of a man. Seeing the approach of the cute girl, although his lips were dry and pale, he still tried to muster a smile, "Go ahead and change it, it''s alright, I''m not afraid of pain." It was something the nurse had informed everyone about in advance: bringing a group of new nurses to practice. He had volunteered himself; for these newcomers, he felt they deserved encouragement. "Yes... I''ll try to be as gentle as I can." Mashati may have seemed timid, but she was the first to step up bravely, with all her fellow nurses watching her performance from behind. Gently untying the knot, the pasty medicine powder mixed with dark red blood, an unpleasantly putrid smell hit her the moment it was exposed. Mashati''s expression didn''t change as she carefully cleaned the wound. Bit by bit, with utmost meticulousness. Bai E stood to the side, where he could see the seriousness in the girl''s eyes as well as the blood still seeping from the wound beneath. The wound had not healed, and this warrior''s injuries were quite serious¡­ As time ticked by the second, the bustle in the distance had nothing to do with this hospital bed, within the small area there was a terrifying silence, everyone was observing Mashati''s movements, she was unanimously recognized as the best learner among them. "Ah!" Blood, continuously spurting from the wound. The shock of red brought an unsettling emotion, Mashati''s hands trembled, her mind going blank for a moment. "Stop the bleeding." Nurse An Lun''s voice sounded flatly from behind. She had not the slightest intention of helping, while simultaneously using Mashati as a negative example, "Reducing the patient''s pain is indeed important, but speed is also crucial within a tolerable range. We need to soothe the pain, but first we must save lives¡­" Mashati quickly pressed on the artery above the wound according to what she had learned from memory, her other hand trying desperately to clean the blood, while also reaching for the medicinal powder, intending to apply and dress the wound. However, the incessant flow of red from the wound made her frantic, and large tears fell "plop, plop" from her eyes. "It''s okay! I''m fine¡­" The burly man on the bed was stubborn and tough, every muscle taut, sucking in cool breath through clenched teeth while still managing to squeeze out a few words to console the flustered girl. His attempt at consolation only made Mashati feel guiltier, her teary eyes blurring her vision even more. An Lun seemed determined to leave her to fend for herself, her voice calm to the point of seeming cold, "Who will take over for her?" "I''ll do it." Mashati heard a gentle voice near her ear, like an angel in despair. Through her tear-blurred eyes, she seemed to see the late arrival, the synthetic warrior. [Would you like to confirm the payment of 83 general experience points to upgrade "Knowledge¡ªBandaging"?] Confirm! [You have learned "Bandaging Level 1," and simultaneously gained 1 technological point.] [Bandaging (Level 1): Quickly stops minor bleeding, significantly reduces the chance of infection, enhances the target''s natural immunity, target health regeneration +1/H.] Knowledge covered his body, and his actions were like instinct. Taking over Mashati''s task, Bai E moved extremely quickly, cleaning the blood, applying medicine, and rewrapping the wound with bandages in almost a single fluid motion. The burly man was still gritting his teeth, trying to resist the pain, but in the blink of an eye, clean white bandages already securely appeared before his eyes. [You have completed a bandaging, accelerating the healing of the wound, bandaging experience +0.] ["Knowledge¡ªBandaging" level has reached its limit; to continue improving, you must obtain further advanced knowledge.] [You have completed a treatment, "Side Quest¡ªChanging Dressings" progress 1/5.] ["Lucky Strike" charge +4.] "..." "..." Even the usually composed Nurse An Lun couldn''t help but open her mouth in astonishment at this moment. "Which new recruit unit are you from?" Bai E''s progress was there for all to see; his performance upon arrival was the level he started at, and even if he pretended to be inexperienced, he couldn''t have feigned it so convincingly. And right after she had finished explaining all the insights and techniques needed for bandaging, this new recruit had digested and mastered them completely. It''s important to know that the bandaging she taught was not just about wrapping and tying knots; it involved a lot of professional knowledge about the human body''s joints and blood vessels and was considered a basic introduction to medical science. It takes a long time for knowledge to go from learning to mastery; most people need time to practice and strengthen it. Mashati was already the fastest-improving new nurse, yet she was still unfamiliar with bandaging, slightly flustered at the slightest emergency, clueless about how to react. And him? Merely learning was nothing special; speed was the key. Thoughtful and skilled, with a natural sensitivity to medical-related knowledge. Such learning ability, such practical capabilities... this was a born physician! Such a person shouldn''t... and couldn''t be wasted as a mere expendable warrior on the battlefield! Chapter 48: 048 Asking someone to come over "Battalion 358..." He replied casually as he looked towards the busy other beds, "I''ll go help." Throwing out 83 points of universal experience, wouldn''t it be a loss if he didn''t earn back the 100 points of universal experience reward from the mission? Bai E kept his mission in mind. "Okay..." Nurse An Lun nodded blankly. Having gotten past the initial surprise, there was no need to rush now. Soldiers, after all, always have to follow the arrangements of their superiors. As long as he communicated with those at the top, the value comparison between a top-tier medical system talent and an ordinary cannon-fodder soldier was understood by those who understood it. Under the gaze of a group of enthralled female fans behind him, Bai E casually completed the mission that was triggered this time. [Side Mission ¡ª Replace Bandages, Completed.] [Mission Reward: 100 Universal Experience Points, Advanced Bandaging Knowledge ¡ª First Aid has been distributed.] With more than ten minutes left on the countdown, he had plenty of time to spare. "Clap clap clap~" "Very good!" An Lun was the first to lead the applause, and a smile spread across his usually solemn face. Battalion 358, 95B27. There''s no escaping it... Bai E was also smiling; never had a mission been as simple as this one, freeload an advanced knowledge and 100 points of universal experience. Made a killing... [Received feedback from the commission, Bandaging Experience +3.] ["Knowledge ¨C Bandaging" level has reached its limit and cannot be improved further; to continue improving, subsequent advanced knowledge is required.] Huh? Bai E''s expression stiffened slightly. A slight loss... ... [You have completed a bandaging, accelerating the healing of the target wound, Bandaging Experience +3.] [Current Bandaging Experience 50/100, at 100 points you can master "Level 1 Bandaging".] ["Knowledge ¨C Bandaging" progress has reached its limit and cannot be improved further; to continue improving, full subsequent knowledge is required.] "Huh?" The smile at the corner of Gong Yan''s lips suddenly paused. Looking at her, Kuang Xin asked with concern, "What''s wrong?" Gong Yan shook her head, "I''ve hit the ceiling of proficiency in bandaging; I need specialized knowledge to further improve it." Kuang Xin scratched his head, somewhat puzzled, "My woodcutting didn''t say it needed knowledge though..." He had already acquired Level 1 Woodcutting Knowledge. "It''s a matter of the level of specialization." Pu Jie had been watching his goddess the entire time; hearing their conversation, he was the first to jump in and show off his knowledge. "Knowledge varies in specialization too; that''s a hidden condition. Some knowledge is low in specialization, and anyone who is willing to practice it can eventually master it given enough time, like coarse tasks such as woodcutting. Then there''s the high-specialization knowledge where it''s difficult to level up without the in-game specialized knowledge passing the tests, such as bandaging and pharmaceutics." "Oh~" Gong Yan nodded, looking somewhat puzzled and uncertain. "Stop chatting, it''s time to get to work..." Dai Lian felt a bit helpless from a distance. Are these two stupid? Even doing rough work, they still manage to injure themselves? Giving this game away for free to these people is a big loss. "Here we go!" Kuang Xin shook his arms, feeling the bandaged wound had no impact on his movement. Indeed, players didn''t feel pain from injuries, but untreated wounds would cause continuous bleeding or even bacterial and viral infections that could accelerate death, so proper bandaging was necessary. "Hurry up and get the traps set. Kuang Xin, you can start looking for the target soon." With the experience from before, everyone worked more efficiently this time, especially with one more helper. "Roger that!" Kuang Xin was full of enthusiasm. With the free-for-all battle approaching, he wondered how powerful the effects of his newly acquired trait would be in actual combat, and he was somewhat excited... Before long, hidden among the trees, Dai Lian''s ears twitched, picking up the gradually approaching sound of a stampede of beasts. Who knows how many that guy Kuang Xin has brought this time! With a clench of his silver teeth, he let out a low growl, "Prepare for battle!" "Oh yeah~" This was Pu Jie''s first time experiencing a combat scene like this, and his heart was pounding. The dense foliage obscured their vision, but judging by the noise, there were quite a few beasts. Is this how they hunt? Geez! Getting closer¡­ even closer¡­ The low growls emitting from the beasts'' throats seemed like a harbinger of death, their black fur glistening under the slanting sun with a metallic sheen. "Gulp!" Pu Jie swallowed reflexively. The shock of seeing these ferocious beasts charging toward him was incomparable to any experience he had ever had. For a moment, his mind went blank¡­ "Grip your gun tight, prepare to fight!" Dai Lian''s voice reminded him from not far away. "Oh yeah!" Damn if the realism of this game wasn''t done too well! Pu Jie gripped his handgun tightly, his palms sweaty. "Axe, here!" Kuang Xin, who had been through this once before, was even wilder, his new trait making him particularly emboldened. He lured the wild wolves halfway, then grabbed the new axe he had prepared by the side of the road. An axe in one hand, a gun in the other, he was like a god descending amongst mortals! "Kill!" ¡­ [Feedback from the commission, Handicraft experience +20. (Accumulated)] [Feedback from the commission, Traps experience +18.] [Feedback from the commission, your Physical Fitness +0.1, Insight +0.1, Reflex +0.1.] [Feedback from the commission, Heavy Weapons Mastery experience +25.] [Feedback from the commission, Light Firearms Mastery experience +74.] [Feedback from the commission, Dissection experience +22.] After leaving the infirmary and undergoing physical training, Bai E felt a sudden surge of strength within him, his expression stiffened, and he contemplated slacking off. His body, which had just started to feel somewhat fatigued, was now revitalized with new vigor. The players were working hard, which was good. But... he was moving further and further along the path of training. Looking back, he saw many comrades struggling far behind him. The significant improvement in physical fitness wasn''t just about having more stamina in reserve, now even without trying to speed up, his pace was much faster than other recruits. Not to mention, his true talent was "Fast Recovery," which was proving to be exceptionally effective. It was that darned choice again - without pushing to the limit, he wouldn''t gain the slightest improvement, but by pushing to the limit... others couldn''t keep up. The others, too, were striving, but the gap only widened. Possible odd glances in the barracks loomed like a ticking time bomb. No one mentioned it yet, but it was always on Bai E''s mind. "Um... Bai E." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wood approached him; after hanging around for two days, he had learned the name Bai E had chosen for himself. "Finally, you ask." Bai E sighed inwardly, deciding to be upfront and pulled out an excuse he had prepared in advance, "Rule No. 3." "Rule No. 3?" Wood was taken aback, "What''s Rule No. 3?" "?" Wood waved his hand, "I''m not asking about your stamina; everyone knows about the Sniper God awarding you Rule No. 3. It''s about Nurse An Lun..." "Nurse An Lun?" "Yeah... did you ever go to her for training? She''s now asking for people, and I wanted to see what you think?" Chapter 49: 049 Is it 95B27 again? "My opinion?" Bai E had never considered this aspect; just moments ago, that head nurse had already made a decision about his future without a word. To become a military nurse? It seemed like a good choice, as the safety of a military nurse would undoubtedly be much higher than that of a front-line soldier. If this were right after he had arrived in this world, Bai E would have agreed without a second thought. But now... After learning more about this world, Bai E''s desire to cling to life had somewhat faded without him noticing. After all, survival was not guaranteed. The Bug Race swarmed everywhere, the mechanical army was always ready to deploy, high-dimensional demons infiltrated everything... Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without these soldiers risking their lives, the cities would have long been reduced to ruins. Even so, they were still precarious, like eggs under a toppled nest. No matter where one tried to hide, danger could strike at any moment. As for the words he had told the players before, which were heartfelt and which were lies, even he couldn''t tell anymore. How could one hide from this turbulent era without establishing a world that was safe for generations to come? Of course, with his current strength, aspiring to create an eternally peaceful world was nothing but a fool''s dream, but... Power, is always the eternal truth. Even if he wasn''t striving for such a noble goal, he needed to gain enough strength to ensure his own safety. To become a military nurse? How much experience could one gain from a single battle? Bai E shook his head and said straightforwardly, "Not interested." "I guessed you wouldn''t be." Wood grinned, "You''re a born soldier." With that, he gestured and said, "You continue training; I''ll deal with her." ... The military district''s conference room. A young officer with a silver stripe on his shoulder tapped the table, concluding this battle planning session, "The operational plan is decided. The day after tomorrow, we will completely eradicate the Bug Race''s hive in Black Rock District!" His gaze swept across the room, pausing briefly on a dark silhouette at the edge, full of youthful vigor. This was his first large-scale operation since taking over the district, and achieving the strategic goal would greatly increase his chances of succeeding as the city lord. Even with a father who was a city lord, he had to start from the bottom and work his way up step by step, without giving his detractors any excuse to criticize him. "Gentlemen, does anyone have anything to add about this battle plan?" Over thirty officers were present in the room, with all commanders of two stars and above in attendance, most of whom remained silent at this point, observing quietly. The war against the Bug Race was brutal and straightforward, as those bugs hardly had any tactical sophistication to speak of. Thus, battle plans were naturally simple and brutal, and the real test of skill came in handling unexpected changes on the battlefield. The arrangements here were based on broad strategic directions, leaving nothing much to discuss, hence the silence from the crowd. "Commander Veslin..." A somewhat languid, mocking voice arose from the side of the long table as the burly general tapped his fingers lightly on the surface, "Our armored battalion can surely execute your operational plan, but I can''t say the same for some people." Veslin frowned slightly, "Speak plainly, there''s no need for sarcasm." Hamilton''s mouth curled into a sly smile, "Some of the new android soldiers have been directly assigned to special squads for operations. I can''t say for sure if they''ll let us down." "New recruits directly in special squads? Is that even a thing?" Veslin''s gaze swept across the room, skimming over the faces of several two-star generals, "Who arranged that?" The elderly Laurent leaned back comfortably in his chair and calmly replied, "I arranged it." A flicker of anger crossed Veslin''s face. Even though he had started from the absolute bottom, there were still people who were unwilling to follow his leadership, making such decisions without so much as notifying him. However, out of respect for the senior officer, he refrained from rebuking and instead inquired, "Perhaps you had some deeper considerations?" The burly Hamilton sneered indifferently, "Consider? What''s there to consider? It''s nothing but the hope that those artificial humans might one day remember his kindness..." Another genial, chubby general chuckled as he tried to smooth things over, "Perhaps that recruit has exceptional talent?" Hamilton snorted derisively, making no effort to conceal his contempt, "Talent..." What kind of talent could qualify a newly created artificial human to join a special squad composed of veterans? No matter how you looked at it, this was a personal mistake by Laurent. The room fell silent. Everyone knew it was impossible; the chubby general seemed to be smoothing things over but was actually twisting the knife. All were waiting for a statement from Laurent''s faction. Facing Hamilton''s unexpected challenge, the aged Laurent remained silent, and his deep, sea-like eyes betrayed no emotion. It was Sniper God Carlos, sitting to his right, who seemed inclined to speak up and argue... "Oh, that''s right..." Noticing Carlos''s eagerness, someone with a jovial smile asked, "I heard our Sniper God shared some of his ''No. 3 ration bars'' with a new recruit these past few days. Is that true?" "The new recruit you''re talking about, isn''t the same one, is it?" "Indeed, the same one. The code number is... 95B27?" "Shall we have him perform a bit, to see how exceptional a recruit is, one who has garnered such attention from both our veteran marshal and Sniper God?" Veslin, standing alone at the end of the long table, furrowed his brow. 95B27? That sounded somewhat familiar. In a corner, a black robe rustled, and the quiet hood was gently lifted, revealing a hint of intrigued expression. "Knock, knock, knock!" In the midst of the hubbub, a knocking sound suddenly rose, and everyone fell silent, turning their gaze toward the door. This was an important strategic meeting. Even if the content seemed pointless to the attendees, the officer guarding the door would never interrupt at such a time unless it was a matter of great urgency. "Come in." Carlos''s adjutant opened the door and stood at the entrance to report with a salute, "Reporting, sir. Mr. Andrew urgently needs to see you!" A deep voice followed immediately behind the adjutant and pushed through the door, "No need, I''ve come myself. Entu, I''ll just ask you one question, are you releasing him or not?" "???" With the dean approaching aggressively, Carlos''s eyes widened slightly, his face full of bewilderment. What had happened? Release who? Who had offended the boss? A forehead full of question marks. But even in ignorance, facing this medical elder, he had no choice but to appease him, considering the dean and his physician colleagues had saved enough people to wrap twice and a half around the city, esteemed and respected. "Dean, please, don''t be angry. But who are we talking about? Which little rascal has gone after your people?" "Of course, it''s that 95B27!" Nurse Chief An Lun, who had appeared beside Andrew, spoke vehemently, her chest heaving slightly. This matter was infuriating. Normally, recruits were assigned to specific combat units after completing their training¡ªtheir assigned unit during training was the training troop itself. But when inquiring with instructors from the 358th Troop, she was told the target had already been assigned to the special squad. Upon finding the special squad and questioning You, a familiar face, she was told it was a superior''s arrangement and they were simply following orders to take him in. Chasing down the source led to Laurent''s adjutant, only to be told it was Laurent''s arrangement, but he was in a meeting... a wait that turned out to be half an hour. It was just about transferring a new recruit, which she thought was too trivial a matter not to be granted, for no one would dare deny their medical department''s face. But... it was a runaround! Was someone actually daring to mess with their medical department? An Lun, convinced of this, directly informed the dean, who was a straightforward person, leading to the current scene. "Again, 95B27?" "So, the rookie favored by his own has also crossed Mr. Andrew? The old marshal is in trouble now~" Chapter 50: 050 Contest Hearing it was about 95B27, Sniper God Carlos seemed somewhat tense and was the first to ask, "May I know what you need him for, Director?" As for the others, if he offended them, so be it, Carlos didn''t care. However, this was the Director; in these times, who can guarantee they won''t get injured? Even though the Director had never shown a vengeful demeanor in this regard, no one wanted to test that unknown limit. The elderly man with white hair and a strong voice resonated in the conference room like a large bell. "What for? Of course, I want him to follow me and learn! I don''t know why you have sent such a naturally gifted medical talent to the battlefield?" Everyone says those close-combat recruits are cannon fodder, but without any alternatives, who would willingly fill the city walls with their lives? While he couldn''t interfere with the grand strategic situation, his very job was to do his best to save every life. He had been diligently serving for more than fifty years, without a hint of negligence. The old man''s words left more than half of the generals present with their brains in shutdown mode. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Naturally gifted in medicine? Such a precedent had never been set in the military camp, and even if he truly had such talent, how could a soldier find the time to demonstrate medical system talent amidst busy training schedules? Isn''t that a bit ridiculous? Mistaken identity? Or... did Head Nurse An Lun have ulterior motives? She was the one who got emotional just now... an old maid... Some generals glanced over at the head nurse standing behind the old man, entertaining indecent thoughts unrelated to them. Among the three-star generals, a silent, dark-faced man listened for a while before he recalled the origin of the number 95B27. "Isn''t this the recruit Rose mentioned?" He was neutral, or more precisely, a pragmatist. If there were capable artificial soldiers, he would admire and reuse them; if all were mediocrities... dead is dead. As the boss of the cannon fodder camp and accustomed to sacrifice, his attitude towards artificial soldiers wasn''t so complex. However, among this batch of artificial soldier recruits was a Rose... And Rose had once made a request to him... In the midst of a room filled with secretive whispering and a peculiar atmosphere, Dewa stood up, his gaze fixed on the old man, unflinching, "I''m not sure if the Director is mistaken, but even if it''s true, there is an order of precedence to consider. The application to transfer 95B27 to our assault camp was submitted this morning. If you really need him, you''ll have to ask if I agree." When it comes to talent, everyone is eager. Each recruit with exceptional close-combat talent is exceedingly precious. Close-combat cannon fodder is just that, but an elite in close combat is on a whole different level and can''t be compared. Whether the front lines will hold or collapse, the assault camp has the final say. Artificial soldier fighters indeed fearlessly brave death, but they are also human, subject to morale fluctuations. The morale boost that a strong and charismatic elite fighter can bring is unimaginable, often more impactful than the individual combat strength, as can be seen from Rose''s training squad. Because of Rose''s presence, the training effectiveness of her squad was much higher than that of other squads. According to her, this new recruit numbered 95B27 was even more formidable than her, and her instructor had confirmed her claims to be true. He usually kept silent about the fact that all camps chose their elites from the assault camp, precisely to secure some bargaining power when vying for key personnel. It couldn''t possibly be said that their assault camp was treated like a stepchild, could it? When the honest man spoke up, the room instantly quieted down. The dean didn''t care about these issues, he only sincerely asked, "So do you agree?" "I do not agree!" "Entu, what do you say?" Weslin looked at the two sides arguing, feeling a bit troubled. The dean was the core of the city''s medical system, but the Assault Camp had always been at a disadvantage; it couldn''t always be bullied. As victory and defeat seemed to demand a conclusive judgement between the two sides, Carlos could no longer sit still. "I think, perhaps everyone has misunderstood something?" In an instant, the dean and Dewa''s gazes turned towards him, as scorching as the midday sun. "His registered talent is in shooting, which is clear-cut. I don''t know why you are all arguing here." Nurse-in-Charge An Lun started to panic, "But his talent isn''t on the battlefield! You shouldn''t waste his abilities!" Carlos gave a cold laugh, thinking, How could you possibly know his talents when I don''t? "95B27 has shown exceptional results in various shooting trainings, a born shooter. I am counting on him to take over my position! If he had no talent, would I not be able to find someone who does?" Dewa snorted contemptuously, "There are so many recruits who pass shooting training each year; you''re telling me there isn''t a single one you approve of? To speak of talent, Miss Yueying should be the most aware¡ªout of 2000 new recruits, only 95B27 lasted more than 5 seconds under her hand. I think it''s very likely his talent was registered incorrectly..." For a moment, all eyes were once again directed to the silent figure in a black cloak in the corner. This partner from the Elf Race hadn''t made a sound, but no one would ignore her presence. After all, the image was still vivid in everyone''s mind from the day of their first encounter, when this Elf lady alone with a blade had fought her way through the tangle of brainless orcs. There likely wasn''t a single human in the entire city who could take her on in a head-to-head fight. "..." Yueying never expected the topic to pivot to her. After a long pause, she finally nodded somewhat stiffly, "Indeed." "But his medical talent is even better!" An Lun''s eyes bulged, displaying her loss of composure for the first time. "Haha." Dewa sneered. Miss Yueying had already proven it, what was there left to argue? "You don''t know anything about his shooting talent!" Carlos was also frustrated to the point of despair, unable to share what only he knew; it was agony. No, that''s not right¡ªthe old captain must know. He was the one who picked the man out; he certainly must know better than Carlos himself. Carlos suddenly turned his desperate gaze to Laurent. Won''t you please say something? Laurent, who had been sitting quietly, stirred with a soft, "Ah," as if just awakened from a deep dream, and realizing that everyone''s gaze was subtly fixed on him, began to speak softly. "I think everyone might have forgotten something¡ªthe full name of the special forces unit is the Emergency Situational Response Special Combat Team..." In other words... he can learn it all. Where he is doesn''t affect what 95B27 can do. "As for which area he prefers to develop in... personal preference is also a kind of unique talent." A compromise, of sorts. No one was satisfied with this outcome, but no one was dissatisfied either; it was better than being completely poached by someone else. "Alright, alright." Seeing that everyone''s expression had eased somewhat, Weslin finally intervened, "That settles it then, he''s just a recruit, no need for everyone to get so heated. Compared to this, the clearing operation the day after tomorrow is far more important. I hope everyone prepares well, and let''s take it down in one go!" Chapter 51: 051 Arc Strike! Bai E didn''t know about the small debate that had just occurred, which determined his own fate. After all, Wood had returned with a relaxed smile. He just felt a bit strange. What were the players doing? Ever since the task of driving off the wolf pack had been completed, it had been a long time since he received any feedback from the tasks. You''re not even doing tasks, where are you? Could it be that you''ve gone offline? It''s already night! If you don''t do tasks now, it''ll be dawn soon! By the campfire, Bai E was maintaining the firearms for the soldiers, his eyes staring blankly into space. "You''re here?" A gentle female voice sounded in his ear, completely different from You''s timbre, making Bai E look up at the speaker. "¡­" He had some impression of her, but not much. With a hint of confusion on his face, Bai E asked, "You are¡­?" "Mashati, thank you for helping me during the day." "Oh~" Bai E remembered now, the little girl who had cried from the fright of her bleeding wound. "What''s up?" "Nothing, it''s just¡­" Mashati did not answer directly, but instead reached behind herself to smooth out her skirt before squatting down. "I think you''re very skilled¡­ was this afternoon your first time practicing?" "Sort of¡­" "Have you ever considered becoming a healer? I saw this afternoon that you seemed quite distressed by the injured soldiers¡­" Amber eyes focused on Bai E''s profile, Mashati blinked, waiting for Bai E''s reply. Everyone was amazed at Bai E''s skill, but on the sidelines, she saw Bai E''s compassion. Witnessing those terrifying wounds in the afternoon, the light in Bai E''s eyes was not fear¡­ but deep pity. How could such a person not be a healer? Regarding An Lun''s head nurse''s orders to probe him, she was full of confusion; such a person was destined to save all and soothe pain, so what was there to test? "If you could join us¡­" "I won''t." Bai E''s voice sounded coldly, cutting off the girl''s fantasy. He didn''t even have any unnecessary movements while he was maintaining the firearms. "Ah?" Mashati didn''t hear clearly. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I will not join you." Bai E repeated. Studying medicine won''t save the world, let alone have time to save others when he could barely take care of himself. The war was drawing closer, and the atmosphere in the military camp visibly tensed up; everyone was preparing, and within Bai E''s heart, it was as if heavy drums were beating¡­ increasingly dense. Nervous? Of course he was nervous. Having grown up, he had never even experienced a street fight; the only time he got close to excitement was one afternoon when he was seven, he had cried for two whole hours after being robbed of 50 cents, which had scared him terribly. And now he was about to step into a life-or-death battlefield to fight against foreign races? Who would have thought fate could be so cruel? "¡­" Bai E''s cold rejection shattered Mashati''s beautiful illusion, "Don''t you want to save everyone?" "I don''t have time¡­" "Oh¡­" Mashati fell silent. Bai E busied himself with his own tasks, not caring in the slightest. These past few days, he had met more people than he could count; the disappointment of one or two of them didn''t matter. [You have completed a maintenance session, "Firearm Maintenance and Care" experience +2.] ["Lucky Strike" charge +1] "Thanks, buddy!" The soldier waiting on the side took his rifle back, greeting with a cheery smile. "Come by more often." After finishing the task at hand, Bai E turned to look at Mashati. The little girl''s willfulness and temper were welcomed¡­ "¡­" "Why are you looking at me like that?" The girl''s face was full of smiles, puzzled by Bai E''s gaze. "Aren''t you disappointed?" "Why are you disappointed?" the girl asked curiously, sizing up the warriors coming and going around her. "You''re also someone who likes to help others, aren''t you? Since you chose not to join us, you must have something you think is more important, right?" "..." If you''re going to compliment me like that, then I''ve got nothing to argue about. Bai E had a grim expression on his face and remained silent. "Brother, help me check my spear." "No problem." Bai E took the newcomer warrior''s black spear and sat down, while the girl prattled on about her experiences by herself. "However, for me, studying medicine is the most important thing. My brother has always been in poor health, and I''ve been taking care of him since we were children, but recently..." ... "Tap~ Tap~" The sewers were pitch-dark, the stagnant surface of the wastewater reflecting a dim, distant glow. The steel soles of shoes struck the pipes, echoing far into the distance. In a corner, a figure huddled in a tangle of scorched yellow fabric gently lifted its head, a faint light crossing the small, bright eyes, "They''re here again..." ... "My lord, we''ll scout ahead for you!" Pu Jie''s voice sounded pleasing as he tugged Kuang Xin and the other two to lead the way. Dai Lian glanced cautiously at the two figures behind him¡ªone robust and the other slender¡ªand whispered, "Are these the ones from Arbitration Place you mentioned?" "Should be. They are said to be the main force against evil powers in the city, where only the strongest and most talented can join. Hanging out with them is definitely a good move!" "But it looks to me... they don''t seem very reliable," Kuang Xin voiced his opinion. Looking at the naive-looking strong man and the ladylike partner behind... Not to mention anything else, they were far inferior in terms of aura compared to their boss. If the city relies on people of such caliber for protection, its future indeed looks bleak. However, the daily tasks issued by their own boss no longer required them to busy themselves for an entire day, so it was excellent to have free time for a side job. "Shush!" Pu Jie desperately gestured with his eyes; this was no longer the game where NPCs acted like fools. One had to be careful with words in front of them because these past couple of days, many players had to remake their characters after offending NPCs with their words. "I know, I know..." Kuang Xin waved his hand dismissively. Anyway, it wasn''t his own boss, so he truly wasn''t afraid. In the quiet passage, only footsteps could be heard. The ten meters between them could not prevent the transmission of sound, listening to the rustling sounds from those scouting ahead, Franca curled her lips slightly, "Aren''t they afraid of us?" The strong man was silent for a moment before he analyzed rationally, "No demon presence detected, the possibility of soul contamination is excluded..." "..." "Are you suggesting they have another purpose?" A flash of crimson blood light swept through his eyes, a fleeting murderous intent. "Stop stop stop!" Franca quickly called out, "That''s not what I meant... I just found them interesting..." Glancing at the strong man''s puzzled face, Franca relaxed completely, "Forget it... I think they''re unrelated to this matter, so why should we bring them along?" The strong man kept a stern face and spat out two words, "Reward." Franca cocked her head, "Why should we reward them?" "To dispel fear and provide benefits. Those evildoers often come from the common folk, deeply rooted and intricately intertwined, protecting each other, making it hard for us to detect them," the strong man articulated deliberately, like reciting a textbook, "Plus, those who destroy evil are often equated with evil themselves, we need to give them a friendly image to facilitate our operations. Friendship and interests can pierce through the lies of the heart. Heh~" Seeing the scout looking back, the strong man revealed a simple smile. "I think you''re better off not smiling..." The strong man ignored the girl''s teasing altogether, emphasizing the focus of this operation, "Based on the sample bodies collected by the scouts, the target is not very formidable, so I will give you room to play. If possible, you should try to take down the target alone!" As he spat out the last two words, a killing intent filled the strong man''s mouth and teeth. "Hiss!" "Bang!" A gunshot echoed far through the quiet pipes. Franca could feel the hot air that whisked past the tips of her golden hair. The bullet grazed past her cheek and hit the plague rat that had leapt out of the air behind her. An arc gun? The strong man''s eyes narrowed slightly. This time''s scouts seemed to be on to something. He had intended to test Franca, but her vigilance was too poor. He had been ready to intervene, but the scouts in front had preempted him. Such precise shooting with an arc gun... what''s the story behind this time''s scouts? Chapter 52: 052 Spiritual Energy level 1 [Arc Strike triggered! Successfully hit the target behind the obstacle, light firearms mastery experience +5.] [Hit the target''s vital spot, inflicting 22 points of critical damage!] [Target''s breathing ceased, basic life signs lost.] "Phew~ Not bad luck." Dai Lian felt somewhat relieved, he almost hit a person... The arc gun was a sporadic stroke of genius, when there was a strong demand for the arc gun in one''s heart, and there was a kind of recognition similar to an "epiphany", the next time one fired the gun using a specific swinging method, there would be a high probability of producing an arc shot. But there was also a possibility of failure... Not knowing what fate awaited someone who blew off the head of a person from the fearsome Heretical Arbitration House, he thought... it was quite thrilling. "Take care of yourselves, we don''t need you to interfere." A brusque voice like cold stone came from behind. "Aow~ Got it." The reminder from the other party was not only a notice after the fact, but also a warning in the present moment. As the player with the best tunneling ability among them, Dai Lian already felt the subtle vibration transmitted through the walls of the pipe beneath his feet. Dense but not heavy... and continuous. The rustling noise was like locusts passing through. Gradually, Kuang Xin and Gong Yan, whose tunneling abilities weren''t as keen, also became aware of the commotion coming from ahead... and it wasn''t just from ahead, but from behind as well! This was the enemy''s den; they were everywhere! Above, below, in front, behind. Franca and the burly man had already stopped in their tracks, and Franca, drawing her steel sword from her waist, had a look in her eyes that yearned for battle. Opportunities to fight without restraint were rare, and she was excited. In the dim light, crimson eyes like flickering rubies lit up the black blanket dotted with Rubies advancing rapidly from a distance. The silent onslaught, free of any screaming, exuded an exceptionally unsettling pressure. Pu Jie''s legs trembled a little, "There are... too many of them." Kuang Xin held his battle axe, shielding the three behind him, "Be careful on your own." Dai Lian and Gong Yan drew their pistols, sensing for the first time that the guns in their hands weren''t so reliable. With so many rats, how were they supposed to fight? The enemies wouldn''t give them time to think; those crazed plague rats surged forward en masse, their tiny pointed fangs filled with bloodthirsty desire. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The messy gunfire started the battle''s drumbeat, the explosion of sound echoing in the pipes, exceedingly harsh. Kuang Xin used the axe as a shield, batting away the plague rats that leapt at him. In the chaos of battle, the trait "Well-Trained" was fully triggered, with multiple attribute enhancements making his performance outstanding. "Careful!" A large rat lunging at his face was knocked away by the axe. Shaken, Pu Jie regained his composure, "Thank you..." "React faster." Kuang Xin didn''t linger, confident that his vastly enhanced attributes in battle would allow him to accomplish more, and protecting his teammates felt like the most important thing to him. "Got it..." The four kept their backs to the pipe wall, retreating as they fought, attempting to converge with the two from the Heretical Arbitration House some ten meters away. Their mission was merely to preserve their lives during the task and to earn varying amounts of black water coins based on their contributions. Indeed, the reward for Kuang Xin and the three others was only black water coins, as for Pu Jie¡­ who knew? At the start of the battle, the burly man stepped aside, arms folded, watching. Though Franca was young, she was competent, but what really surprised were those few informants... His gaze shifted from the wireman wielding an axe, a flash of amazement twinkled in the burly man''s eyes. "Battle instincts honed through specialized training." In the chaos of battle, they were even more pronounced, always managing to shield comrades from potentially fatal attacks at critical moments, allowing team members to exert their full combat strength. The combined prowess of these four wiremen wasn''t particularly strong, but their ability to hold their ground and retreat towards his side amidst the frenzied rat tide owed greatly to him alone. And... the arc gun that briefly revealed itself just moments ago. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The combat strength of these individuals wasn''t overwhelming, but the traits they had displayed promised a considerable potential for the future. That they appeared together was certainly no coincidence. Behind them, who could it be? However, it seemed to have little to do with him, as the enemies of the Heretical Arbitration House were only those who had abandoned humanity''s stance... the heretics! "Heh!" A sharp yell by his ear drew his attention, as Franca''s steel sword created a dazzling arc of light. The movement of her sword was nimble, dead rats fell like rain around her. However, no matter how fine the swathe of her sword, it couldn''t simultaneously defend against the rat swarm that surged like a tide. Every so often, small figures would breach this sword barrier, leaving Franca''s tightly-fitted leather skirt in shambles from the attacks of sharp teeth and claws. Patches of sheer fabric hinted at the pale flesh beneath. A misty layer of Spiritual Energy had, unbeknownst to anyone, cloaked Franca''s brown pupils, an overpowering presence exploded in an instant, causing the encircling rat horde to falter under the shockwave. Seizing this chance, Kuang Xin and the other three hurried to escape, reaching the proximity of the two Arbitration Place members and temporarily coming together. In this critical moment, they still had to cling to the strong. "What is that?" Gong Yan looked towards Franca, feeling something odd. In her eyes, Franca seemed surrounded by a strange Spiritual Energy, radiating outwards like an icy orb, casting a chilly glow. A sensation like pinpricks incessantly assailed her skin, demanding attention towards Franca''s unusual state. "What? What?" Dai Lian, amidst the chaos, took a moment to ask. "She..." "She?" Kuang Xin had been focusing almost entirely on his teammates, but at their reminder, he glanced at the Arbitration Place heiress, "Damn! That''s fierce!" With a layer of misty Spiritual Energy over her eyes, Franca''s movements visibly quickened by a great deal, her swordplay fiercer and more agile. "Spiritual Energy, first stage: Spirit Heart Crossing." The burly man watched Franca''s actions, nodding with some satisfaction to himself. First-stage Spiritual Energy could significantly enhance physical attributes such as strength, speed, and reflexes, even optimizing current combat techniques in a subconscious manner, the enhancements being quite comprehensive. Franca''s basics were extremely solid, her use of Spirit Heart Crossing nearing perfection, yet it was uncertain how long her Spiritual Energy would last. One minute? Two minutes? Or five minutes? And... the burly man''s gaze drifted to the side. Being able to subconsciously sense the radiation when Spiritual Energy burns in a higher-dimensional plane, the lone girl among the wiremen showed promising Spiritual Energy talent, the question was whether demons would discover her first or if she''d learn to hide herself... The fleeting thought that had crossed his mind earlier resurfaced¡ª Were all these distinctive individuals together by design? Who was nurturing them from behind the scenes? ... The campfire crackled, and Mashati reflected upon the flames in her eyes as she spoke to herself. She just wanted someone to confide in; whether or not the listener actually heard her was of little matter to her. "...Lately his health seems to have improved a bit, which is why I dared to leave him temporarily to come to the barracks. This is the only place I can learn a bit of knowledge for free. Once my year of service is up, I can go back and take care of him." The girl smiled, filled with a longing for the future. "Then, no one will bully him again..." Chapter 53: Hit on "Combat with cold weapons is reserved for the big shots..." "I feel... he''s not as good as our boss," Kuang Xin remembered who had given him the chance to rise. The feeling of sweeping through enemies in the chaotic battle due to the trait "well-trained" was just too exhilarating! Could these people from the Heretical Arbitration House give him such ability? No! The reward was only 100 Blackwater Coins, not even close to what their boss could give! "But is this mission over just like that?" Gong Yan was somewhat puzzled, it didn''t seem like the mission was a success, was it? The main goal was to kill the rat horde, right? But in the onslaught of the rat tide, everyone had just scrambled out of the sewer manhole under the burly man''s sacrificial cover. As for the mastermind behind it all... emmmm, was there one? "Alright, thank you for your help. This matter ends here for now, and what follows does not concern you. You may leave." The burly man came over and dismissed the four of them. He had never expected to get straight to the heart of the problem. It was rare to encounter a mission that was a bit tricky yet not overly dangerous; the idea from above was to let that young lady gain more experience through practice. It''s normal not to succeed on the first try. How to proceed was something the young lady should contemplate. After watching the four odd Chevie leave, the burly man approached Franca, who looked a bit ragged, "How about it? Got any ideas now?" Her exquisite skirt was torn and tattered, yet Franca''s tone remained spirited, "Of course!" The young lady already had a plan up her sleeve! ... "Let''s go, let''s go! Time to head back and do the mission." "How much lumber did we prepare yesterday? How much more do we need to add today?" "About ten more pieces, I guess?" With complete tools and increasing experience, chopping down trees had become easier and easier for them. Finishing tasks ahead of time meant they could prepare the materials needed for the next day''s mission in advance. While the ability gains from the tasks were dwindling, the speed of completing them had increased a lot! The time saved could be spent doing other tasks all over the place, creating more income! As long as the boss kept assigning missions, they could keep collecting their loot! ... [Feedback from the commission: Heavy Weapon Mastery experience +18.] [Feedback from the commission: Lumbering experience +8.] [The commission you issued¡ª"Materials Needed for Repair" has been submitted. Please proceed to the inspection as soon as possible.] Bai E, who had just finished chatting with Mashati, received a message and paused in his gun maintenance. The task is completed? After half a day without any prompts, did the missions just complete themselves this easily after several alerts? The feedback is getting less and less... Bai E narrowed his eyes, feeling that this could not continue. He wasn''t here to do charity work; the only reason he gave players tasks was so they could grind for him. Now that they found the tasks as simple as drinking water, what benefit did he have? Those useless pieces of lumber and the abandoned wolf corpses? They were of no use to him... "This can''t go on like this!" He needed to find them some work with a bit more difficulty. However, his current understanding of this world was not very deep, especially regarding the dangers and specialties of the vicinity. Maybe tomorrow... should he leave camp to look for opportunities? It was only in places where ordinary people congregated that he could find more information. Having made up his mind and about to take the large gun handed over by the warrior beside him, Bai E suddenly paused. ``` No! The only opportunity to leave the camp tomorrow is at noon, but that''s when those players are waiting at the task submission spot as agreed. If I don''t show up and miss the timing, I have no idea when I''ll be able to meet them again. Breaking the appointment would be a waste of time, and issuing a task would waste the quota for the day. Leave now! The night is when most people are idle. Maybe I could gather more information. Bai E stood up and left. "Hey brother?" The rifle-carrying warrior was a bit taken aback as he watched Bai E''s receding figure. Without looking back, Bai E waved his hand, "Not tonight, I still have things to do." "Ah?" ... Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the open ground where tasks were handed in, Dai Lian and his two companions looked at the pile of wood before them and worried. The task involving the wolf pack and the wood was completed, but... "How should we handle this construction task?" "Isn''t it just digging a storage underground? It shouldn''t be that hard, right?" "Not hard? Just digging a pit almost killed us with exhaustion. Digging a pit big enough for a warehouse while ensuring it stays hidden and doesn''t collapse, do you know how hard that is?" With a roll of his eyes, Dai Lian, who was proficient in traps and had some civil engineering experience, continued. "Why don''t we just give it a try? The rewards are settled based on progress anyway. Even if we can''t do it now, it should be fine to do it later, right? There''s no time limit on the task anyway," Gong Yan suggested, tilting her head. Dai Lian looked up at the dark night sky and nodded, "It''s early still, so giving it a try wouldn''t hurt." This construction task was also the first task for the faction force, with rewards including faction identity and contribution points. Faction identity would unlock the Faction Shop, while contribution points were the currency used within the organization¡ªboth crucial resources. The task definitely needed to be completed. "However, just giving it a try might not necessarily succeed. We need a backup plan," Dai Lian said, frowning. "Here''s what we''ll do: we''ll split into two groups. One group tries to dig here, while the other goes to the settlement to find an opportunity. See if we can find NPCs or other players with similar skills to help, or take the chance to learn relevant skills ourselves," he suggested. Pu Jie had informed him in the afternoon that in this game, one must learn the professional knowledge before using it; not everything can be done just by using their common sense. They all knew that digging a hole underground required preparations against dampness, insects, and collapses. But as for how to do it, especially the details, no one knew. And in this world with the most realistic physics engine, one slight mistake could cause a catastrophic collapse in minutes. Any irresponsible work was, in essence, deceiving themselves. Kuang Xin nodded in agreement with Dai Lian''s decision, trusting in Comrade Dai''s professional integrity, "Okay." "Then I''ll go," Gong Yan volunteered. Dai Lian nodded, as his plan was to send Gong Yan; it was the best choice, "Okay, then you go, but be careful. If anything happens, come back. We''ll be right here." "No problem!" ... Gong Yan cautiously passed through the settlement. The age-old hardwood emitted a musty, damp smell of decay and fungus, and the moss in the corners added to the shabby appearance of the long, gray streets. Ramshackle wooden planks and sheets of metal haphazardly patched up the dilapidated houses on both sides of the road, while numb gazes peered out from the cracks that let in drafts, sizing up the occasional passersby. This was not a safe area. The danger didn''t come from other players but from the NPCs themselves. Outskirts of town... it couldn''t even be considered the outskirts, just a human settlement outside the city, exuding a deathly stillness yet striving to survive each day. The only place that seemed to have any vitality was the tavern here, which opened only after dusk had fallen. There was the place for many deals and entertainment, where those in the know could easily gather useful information... However, tonight there seemed to be an out-of-place figure. As soon as Gong Yan stepped into the tavern, she saw, amid the dim flickering lights, a figure neatly dressed, with a quiet and imposing aura, sitting at the bar with his back to the door¡­ "So you''re here!" Bai E felt a tap on his shoulder and immediately heard an unexpected voice. ``` Chapter 54: 054 Fire Rat Bai E had sensed someone approaching, but he hadn''t expected that person to be coming straight for him. He had been at the tavern for a while now, dressed in the practical clothes of the military camp due to a lack of spare attire. Not particularly lavish or expensive, but they certainly bore an air of Order, clashing noticeably with the atmosphere here. The moment he walked in, he could distinctly feel the ambience of the place quiet down, and it took several conscious seconds before the vitality resumed. No one paid him any direct attention, yet it seemed he was being watched from every corner. Bai E, aware that he had attracted notice, refrained from making any overt gestures that might be misunderstood and quietly made his way to the bar to order a glass of water, sitting alone. Being undisturbed was quite fine with him, after all, he was just there to listen to people boast¡ª "Hey, do you guys know? Yesterday a bunch of idiots came from the south, and Old Yi Deng and his group made a good sum of money off them!" "Those garbage collectors are always up to no good, they''ll offend someone important sooner or later!" ¡­ "Did you hear all that ''clang clang clang'' down below this afternoon?" "Who would go down to the sewers that have been abandoned for so many years except for those mischievous kids?" ¡­ "I heard there''s going to be another war in a few days, the military is drafting all over the place." "Anyway, don''t we have those artificial humans? Why bother drafting us as soldiers?" ¡­ "Has there been some movement in the Black Forest recently? The other day when I went to collect firewood, I smelled a strong scent of blood¡­ It scared me so much I ran straight back." ¡­ "The day before yesterday, Ge Langtai found a broken mining machine in the territory of those metalheads and made a lot of money selling it!" ¡­ In the time he had sat there, he had captured quite a bit of information from the buzzing voices¡ª [Obtained Power Information (Unidentified): Garbage Collectors.] [Obtained Knowledge Information (Unidentified): Post-natal care for sows.] [Obtained Current Affairs Information (Unidentified): War.] [Obtained Current Affairs Information (Unidentified): War Spoils.] [Obtained Rumors Information (Unidentified): Wandering Orcs.] [Obtained Resource Information (Unidentified): Iron Ore Vein.] ¡­ As for whether the information was useful or accurate, that was unknown. The truly secretive content wouldn''t be tossed around by these drunkards; for them, it''s probably all common knowledge. And it was precisely this common knowledge that Bai E lacked. And at this moment¡­ someone coming over to chat broke into Bai E''s solitary leisure time. A woman? He didn''t turn around, but simply stirred the liquid in the iron cup in front of him, "Do we know each other?" Gong Yan leaned forward with a chuckle, trying to catch a glimpse of Bai E''s face. The dim, flickering lights cast shadows, and underneath the light, the visible chin hinted at a steadfast and resolute contour. The specific features were unclear, but they seemed quite pleasing; at least the face was crafted to fit human aesthetics. Must be a player¡­ Gong Yan''s lips quirked slightly, her eyes squinting into slits resembling crescents, "Sorry, my mistake, I thought you were someone else." Unabashedly, she seated herself on a high stool next to him, "Aren''t you going to buy me a drink?" "I have no money¡­" Bai E''s expression remained unchanged as he refused; even the money for the glass of plain water in his hand was borrowed from Song Ying¡­ after all, artificial humans like him didn''t receive military pay. "I have money¡­" Gong Yan tilted her head, still focusing intently on Bai E''s profile as if trying to melt this block of wood with her gaze, "Let me buy you a drink." "No need¡­ Aren''t you waiting for someone?" "Waiting for someone, huh¡­" Gong Yan''s tone wavered, she tilted her head up to think for a moment, then let her hair fall loosely as she leaned close to Bai E''s ear and said in a low voice, "But I think you might be more interesting than him~" "¡­" Using such a tactic? Bai E realized that this woman might be targeting him and couldn''t help feeling resigned as he turned his head, looking at her for the first time¡­ "¡­" Gong Yan''s concentration shattered instantly, and she stared with wide eyes, her mouth slightly agape in surprise, "Sir... Sir?" Thanks to his self-restraint, Bai E maintained his composure without a hint of surprise, simply placing his index finger in front of his lips with a calm demeanor, "Shush~" Gong Yan quickly lowered her voice, "What are... what are you doing here?" "...Investigating." After about two seconds, Bai E finally came up with a plausible excuse. "Investigating?" Gong Yan''s eyes lit up, "Investigating what?" It sounded mysterious and fun. Bai E shook his head, his tone somber, "Your skills are still too immature, don''t ask." "Aww~" Her eyes rolling, Gong Yan wasn''t content to stay silent, "By the way, sir, about the task you assigned us, it seems like we''re having some difficulty?" "In what respect?" "None of us have experience with underground construction, so I was wondering if you could find an experienced expert to guide us a bit, otherwise this underground warehouse..." Her thoughts scattered, never rigidly hoping to rely solely on her own strength to accomplish everything. If there''s a problem, bring it up; keeping it to yourself will only harm you. The ideas proposed by Dai Lian, they were but child''s play for her. "Expert?" Bai E considered briefly, weighing the pros and cons of deployment. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a moment, he shook his head, "Can''t spare anyone right now, everyone''s got their own tasks to attend to." A single lie necessitates a hundred more to cover it up; he couldn''t very well admit that the organization he used to intimidate them was something he had whimsically concocted on the fly, now could he? "I see..." Gong Yan''s eyes darted around, lively. However, the profound bass voice, carrying an indescribable sense of duty, broke through first. "We always start from nothing, beginning from the trivial. Not every difficulty comes with past experiences to learn from; we''re on a path no one has ever walked, and you should learn to do things you''ve never done before." "..." Gong Yan was momentarily taken aback. Her mood, previously light and cheerful, shifted slightly. Life in this world wasn''t easy, as she could see. And what greatness then would such NPCs, burdened with heavy missions, hold in their own world? Teasing them now seemed a bit disrespectful... "Yes... I understand." The atmosphere turned silent for a moment, and the tavern''s noise once again pressed in. Suddenly, someone shouted outside the door, drawing the attention of many idle drinkers to go see¡ª "Fire! Fire!" Bai E''s body moved, following the departure from the bar. He loved a good spectacle. In the dimly lit street, tiny flames blazed like stars, streaking through the air, with a burly man of a stature hard for ordinary people to match, leading the way in a clumsy escape. "What are they doing?" "And what''s chasing them¡­ what is that?" The more chaotic the spectacle, the better; some thrill-seekers even climbed to the roofs on either side of the street, idly making up theories. Bai E squinted his eyes, and it took him a moment to make it out, "It''s rats..." Rats on fire, chasing after the few figures with a mad ferocity. Quite a lively scene... "Ah!" Screams emanated from various parts of the street. The calamity spread, the crazed rats attacking anyone they saw, and the spectators quickly becoming part of the spectacle themselves. "It''s them..." whispered Gong Yan, standing beside Bai E, a comment he heard. "You know them?" "Know them..." Bai E looked at the residents being attacked by the flame-covered rats, struggling and howling in agony throughout the street, and couldn''t help but shake his head. "We''ll talk about it later... first, save people." Chapter 55: 055 This TM is Arbitration Place The mice, engulfed in flames, were incredibly frenzied, making the phrase "as timid as a mouse" seem inapplicable to them. However, fire is the enemy of all carbon-based life forms, and those that were scorched by the flames were merely venting their final madness. After bringing the flames to the onlooking humans, they gradually lost their vitality in the fierce flames. What was left... was a scene of utter chaos. Those unfortunate enough to be ablaze rolled on the ground, while others brought dark blankets and beat them randomly; some people used dirty water to extinguish the fires. An utterly messy scene ensued. The victims of burns moaned weakly, and Bai E, accompanied by Gong Yan, stepped into the midst of it. "You know some basic first aid, right?" "Mhm~" Gong Yan hesitated, recalling her capped proficiency, then added, "But I''m not very familiar with it..." Not very familiar? Does that mean her proficiency isn''t enough? That''s excellent, Bai E''s eyes lit up, never anticipating such an unexpected gain. "Then watch closely..." Bai E squatted down, catching the eyes of a sufferer filled with pain, and transferred power to him. "Don''t be afraid, I''ve come to treat your wounds." After comforting the victim, Bai E taught softly, "When dealing with burns..." [Would you like to decide to impart Survival Skills to the target?] [Confirm!] ... Gong Yan gazed at Bai E''s serious profile, her eyes sparkling. Mysterious, powerful, all-around, yet gentle. Even though it was a game, such a character still couldn''t help but draw admiration... "What are you daydreaming about?" "Ao ao~" [You have spent 10 points of universal experience in learning, converted to 5 points of "Bandaging" experience.] S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Immersed in her study, Gong Yan found the game''s knowledge incredibly real. Learning it was neither dry nor dull but rather interesting. After all, it wasn''t a game of loading bars; every action had to be performed manually. It was a matter of being manipulated like a puppet under the system''s arrangement or being more proactive... undoubtedly the latter was more fun. [You have spent 10 points of universal experience in learning, converted to 5 points of "Bandaging" experience.] [You have acquired "Level 1 Bandaging", and have also earned 1 technology point.] "..." Did she make it? Gong Yan, focused on her studies, suddenly snapped back to reality. The 100 points of universal experience she spent were exchanged for 50 points of "Bandaging" experience, which required prior knowledge. This was her last reserve, completely drained by Bai E, but the outcome was quite satisfying. "That''s about right, you can try to treat the victims yourself now. Apply what you''ve learned to make real progress," Bai E said. "Yes!" Gong Yan replied firmly, feeling more confident in treating wounds after fully grasping Level 1 Bandaging, and had a clearer idea of what to do. This opportunity to truly grasp skills and to have a stage to display them might be what players truly desired... In the dark corner of the long street, as chaos reigned, a burly man clutching a large flamethrower in his arms watched expressionlessly before him the little lady whose face had turned a patchy gray and white from the smoke of the fire. "It seems your plan has failed." It was an enchantment! The young lady''s wild ideas had provided the already frenzied plague mice with the magic attack of flames! All the hired residents who operated the flamethrowers were severely burned. This time it was uncertain how much expense it would take to settle the matter... "I''ll pay for it myself!" Franca, looking even more disheveled, was still full of vigor, "I''m sure I can capture the main culprit!" The joy that came after overcoming a challenge was determined by the difficulty of the challenge. Franca, who had faced setbacks repeatedly, found her interest in completing the mission growing. To avoid the repercussions of this failed operation, Franca pointed towards two figures wandering in the distance on the long street. "It seems someone is helping to give treatment?" "Yes." Looking at the hired thugs lying around in agony, Franca, who had been using her Spiritual Energy to suppress the pain, felt that keeping it up wasn''t a solution; she rolled her eyes and grabbed a thug to rise. "What are you doing?" "Freeloading..." ... [You have completed an emergency aid, the patient''s condition has stabilized and is beginning to slowly recover, emergency aid experience +3.] ["Lucky Hit" charge +1] Bai E and Gong Yan worked together, dividing the labor; Bai E handled the more seriously injured while Gong Yan dealt with the minor injuries. After acquiring the advanced knowledge of bandaging¡ªemergency aid, Bai E''s treatments finally started to pay off. When faced with knowledge that has a threshold, acquiring the knowledge is only the first step, whether to use general experience to directly add points or to practice through self-effort is a choice for individuals to make. Bai E, not wanting to waste hard-earned experience, would never take shortcuts and add points if he could gain it hands-on. Now that there was a rare opportunity to practice, he was definitely going to seize it and practice more. Whether emergency aid turned out to be useful or not, stocking up on it definitely couldn''t hurt. Essentially, he was also a player¡ªwho could resist the urge to hoard? When he occasionally had a free moment, Bai E also asked about the question that had been on his mind. "You said just now that you recognize the two people who were leading?" "Yeah... we were doing a task this afternoon... when they were the clients." The truth is out! So they were lured away by others! No wonder you all disappeared this afternoon! Half a day passed without any task feedback. As expected, it was the tasks... the fewer and less difficult tasks I arranged, the more time you had to be tempted away by others. Bai E deeply reflected on this and resolved never to make the same mistake again. "What task did you do?" "Investigating the cause behind the plague rats, seems like it was caused by demonic cultists... Oh right, I heard they are from some Heretical Arbitration House in the city, they seemed kind of fierce... Are they very powerful?" Gong Yan, speaking, looked at Bai E''s profile, wanting to see his reaction. This was a chance to dig deeper into the game''s content, not to be missed. "Arbitration Place?" We just talked about it last night, according to Song Ying and the others, after leaving the army camp, it seemed to be a more advanced place to go. They''re probably powerful. Bai E kept his expression neutral and vaguely replied, "Not bad." The real situation he was not clear about either, the more he said, the more mistakes he could make. "Oh~" "The things they asked you to help with... are they troublesome?" "Hmm... not easy to do. There''s an entrance to the underground sewers, we ran out from there this afternoon. There were too many plague rats, we couldn''t find the mutant behind it all." Difficult? Difficulty is good! Difficult means there''s a chance to train. Bai E''s eyes gleamed slightly as he found a new task opportunity. What the Arbitration Place can do, I can do. What the Arbitration Place can''t do, I can do too. Stealing performance? Sorry about that! "Ouch~" "Ouch~" The sound of what seemed like a pitiful wail arose not too far away, drawing Bai E''s gaze. "Hmm? Are there new casualties over there? Why didn''t we notice them before?" As this casual thought crossed his mind, Bai E called out to Gong Yan, "There are a few more over there, I''ll go have a look." "Okay." Franca, with her torn and scorched clothing, was half-lying on the ground, her elegant high ponytail hairstyle in disarray, her big, round eyes with sharp black and white contrasts met Bai E''s gaze. Smack~ Smack~ "..." "Is this TM person from the Arbitration Place?" Chapter 56: 056 Emergency First Aid Based on the seemingly profound discretion displayed by Song Ying and his group, Bai E initially thought that those from the Arbitration Place must be the kind of cold-blooded creatures who kill without blinking, annihilating indiscriminately all who are related to devils, such as believers or mutants, cruel and ruthless, showing no mercy and incapable of adapting... However, could this pitiful-looking girl before him be one of them... If it wasn''t for Gong Yan''s testimony, he wouldn''t dare to believe that these two were people from the legendary Heretical Arbitration House. "Where are you hurt?" "Here..." Franca, with tears shimmering in her eyes, raised her arm, revealing a patch of skin on her right arm that was slightly reddened by fire, "It shouldn''t be serious, right? Maybe you should check on them first?" Bai E glanced at it, "Indeed, it''s not serious. It''ll heal on its own soon enough..." However, this seemingly naive little girl did seem to have some conscience; the injuries sustained by the ordinary people she had hired were indeed more severe. Kneeling down, Bai E began to examine the injuries. He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but the moment he took over, the victim''s cries of pain seemed to fade a bit, as if he was hurting them himself. Without thinking, he glanced at the pair from the Arbitration Place next to him, and noticed the girl looking up at the sky with her head held high while the burly man squatted on the ground with his head buried in his knees, silent... Strange. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the injuries were indeed severe, and they were rightly the most pitiful for facing the first wave from the fire mice. "Bear with it a bit, the injury isn''t particularly severe, don''t worry." Bai E''s voice was steady as he began to work. [You are attempting emergency treatment...] ... [You have completed emergency treatment, the victim''s condition has stabilized, emergency treatment experience +5.] Effortlessly bandaging the wound to prevent a secondary infection, Bai E sternly cautioned, "Don''t get it wet when you return, it''s best to have someone take care of you for a few days to minimize movement, and have someone re-treat the injured area in two days." The victim, feeling as if he had walked back from the brink of death, nodded gratefully, "Thank you! Thank you!" ["Lucky Strike" charge +1] There were three badly injured mercenaries, and Bai E treated each of them with complete focus. He knew the knowledge of "First Aid," but wasn''t fully familiar with it on an experience level, not allowing for any distractions. The burly man, whose attention was eventually drawn by Bai E''s actions, felt curious, "His techniques look like they''re military. Strange..." "Huh? Why did you raise your head?" Franca casually threw out a comment and then turned her attention to the situation at hand, "What''s strange about it? Are military techniques difficult to learn?" "It''s not that they''re hard to learn, it''s that he''s too young... The military wouldn''t let him retire at this age, and by now the barracks should already have a curfew, unless he''s a mid-to-high-ranking officer..." "Oh~" Franca didn''t care at all, just quietly watched the man who might be an officer comforting the ordinary civilians she had hired. "He''s quite patient..." His voice was also quite gentle, and she could feel the warmth and strength that was reassuring enough from the comforting words he spoke. Perhaps this was the demeanor of military folks... Her long eyelashes blinked... blinked... "What about you two..." Coming back to his senses, Bai E had finished treating the three more severely injured victims and turned to look at the pair from the Arbitration Place. The burly man stood at a distance in silence, as statuesque and tranquil as a carving. The girl was sitting on the stone steps, her legs together tilted to one side, the longsword with its scabbard lain across her legs. Despite the white and yellow leather armor being tattered, there was an indescribable noble air about her as she sat quietly. There certainly was some temperament to her... Hearing Bai E''s question, Franca broke the picturesque scene with a smile and pushed forward her arm, "It doesn''t cost money, right? If it''s free, can you take a look at me too? It''s stinging..." "Okay~" Bai E picked up the ointment, haphazardly applied it as the injury indeed was not severe, and with a better physique, it would heal by itself shortly... As she watched the determined man tending to her, Franca''s eyes danced with curiosity, "Hey~ where are you from?" "A secret." "Do you always keep such a stern face? Can''t you smile?" "Born with facial paralysis..." "Who taught you these skills? Are you from the military? Can I come to see you sometime?" "No, I''m busy." "You..." "Are all you Arbitration Place people so talkative? Just handle it..." "And you?" The burly man took a step back, "Me? I don''t need..." "Oh." Bai E turned to look down the long street. The commotion from before had gradually quieted down, with most of the injured receiving temporary treatment, and Gong Yan, who had minor injuries, was busying about with each one. It seemed there was nothing left for him to do, and besides, he had accomplished the goal of his evening''s sortie. It was time to head back. "Goodbye." Bai E left decisively. "Eh? You''re leaving just like that?" As Franca watched Bai E''s departing figure, she felt a tinge of regret, "He was quite fun." "You should be more concerned with your mission now." "I know, I know! The rat hiding in the sewer, I''ll drag him out!" Saying so, Franca strode towards the outside, "First, a meal!" "..." This young lady''s temperament really did differ from those of her clan. The burly man glanced at Franca''s retreating figure, then turned his attention to the steady figure growing distant in the dim light. "Not heading towards the military camp... Could I have guessed wrong?" Shaking his head, the burly man turned and followed Franca. A fleeting acquaintance, what did it matter? ... Bai E, who deliberately took a longer route, ran wildly all the way. The other party had already deduced his association with the military from his actions, and unsure whether such contact was good or bad, Bai E opted for caution. By the time he returned to the special squad''s tent, it was already past 11 p.m. The darkness was peaceful, and the mountain''s deep sleep was exceptionally serene. Bai E, who had stealthily washed up and just laid down on the bed, was startled by a soft whisper beside his ear, "Out of camp?" It was You. "Mm..." "Was it fun outside?" "I went to a nearby settlement to look around... I was very curious." "Did you find anything?" "Just looking around..." Bai E paused, wanting to delve deeper into what the people of the Arbitration Place were really like, "You mentioned the Heretical Arbitration House last night... Could you tell me more about it?" You hesitated for a moment, and amidst the "shasha" sounds, it seemed as if You glanced up at Bai E''s head, "Do you have thoughts about the Arbitration Place? But it might suit your character pretty well..." "My character?" You continued on his own, "They are very dangerous..." Bai E''s eyebrows furrowed, "How dangerous?" "For their mission objectives, they often stop at nothing." You lowered his voice, "Any targets that might be associated with demons or mutants are often entirely eliminated by them, without the slightest concern for human emotions and connections..." "They are ruthless..." "They are merciless..." "They are inflexible..." "They are a group of demon hunters... who are themselves demons." "Stop, stop, stop, stop..." Bai E looked puzzled, "Have you seen them?" "Oh..." You retreated back into the blanket, "Heard about it." "..." Chapter 57: 057 Abnormal [Feedback from the commission: Your physical ability +0.3.] The only feedback for the entire night was this; Bai E sat up from his bed with a sigh, only to realize that the atmosphere in the tent was somewhat strange. You was slipping on his tactical vest, and the others were also busy organizing their weapons and gear, rustling about in a manner that seemed quite serious. "Today... you guys are training too?" Though training is the duty of every soldier in the camp, for the past few days the squad of four had been either tailing or spectating, and Bai E, who had seen them from a distance around the training field multiple times, found it hard to associate them with normal training. Moreover... even for training, there seemed no need to put on all that official gear, right? E unbuckled his belt and replied while continuing, "We''ve received an urgent notice, we need to carry out a mission." "Oh." Bai E subconsciously wanted to ask if he didn''t need to go but then thought since he was still a new recruit, and his three-day recruit training period hadn''t ended, their not calling for him was the answer. After a long silence, Bai E could only muster a "safe journey". "Hopefully." Song Ying came over and patted Bai E''s arm, "Train hard." Every combat mission was a walk on the edge of life and death, and no one knew whether they would return alive or not. That sentence was as good as a farewell. "Goodbye..." As he walked to the assembly point, Bai E noticed that the whole camp was stirring, countless figures emerging from all over like ants flowing into a torrent, kicking up dust along their way and rendering the entire parade ground a hazy gray. It wasn''t just the special squad; it seemed like the entire camp was mobilized... except for them, the recruits. "Such a huge commotion..." Stone, who was following behind, said in an astonished tone beside Bai E. Bai E looked vacantly, feeling somewhat uneasy, "What kind of big event is happening?" "Don''t know..." "..." The whole camp became much quieter. Normally, during training, there would be noise from the training of other old soldiers, and the mechanical transmission sound from the adjacent armored camp would occasionally cause a slight tremor in the ground. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But now, it was eerily quiet. As the new recruits bit their lips and went through physical training, the entire camp was as silent as a ghost town. It wasn''t until the second half of the morning''s mock combat training that there was a bit more liveliness. Rose was still spirited as ever, "Hey! Are you ready?" Bai E motioned with his hand, "Come on!" To teach everyone to cooperate in combat, or rather, to unconsciously master the trait - well-trained, the team drills were divided into two stages. The slow improvement of basic attributes for most recruits was clearly not as significant as the enhancement gained after this trait was triggered. The locals don''t have panels and mission systems like Bai E, but the abilities they can acquire through training are probably the same. It''s just that Bai E, with the presence of the panel, knew more clearly the direction of his efforts; he had acquired the trait... yesterday. "I hope you can last a bit longer this time." Rose swung her wooden sword, which, though edgeless, was quite substantial. Even if Bai E might have been the first to master "well-trained", his side still ended up losing to Rose''s team in the large group confrontation. This warrior woman, who bloomed like wild flames, had an incredible ability to inspire, and under her leadership, her battle team was as ferocious as a pack of starving wolves. Before individual strength became extraordinary, a tiger would always struggle against a pack of wolves. "Attack!" Amid the clash of wooden swords, there was a brief struggle of strength, but Bai E''s mind still lingered on the day''s anomalies in the camp. "Do you know what they''ve gone to do?" Rose glared viciously at the close Bai E and replied through gritted teeth, "Don''t know, who cares!" Their team had won, but Bai E had not lost, which particularly bothered her. Seeing Bai E''s mind was elsewhere, Rose was a bit irritated and chopped down hard with her sword, "Those who aren''t focused will be punished severely!" Crossing swords with both hands, Bai E still wondered, "I asked the instructor, but he doesn''t know either. Aren''t you worried?" "Worried?" Rose broke into an indifferent smile, "Why worry? I am only regretful, regretful that I couldn''t take part in it! Cut the crap, take this!" Enduring a strike with difficulty, a somewhat shaken Bai E still gritted his teeth as he gasped for air, "Barbarian!" On the contrary, Rose, rubbing her arm, her eyes brimming with excitement, said, "You''re getting stronger and stronger!" "You''re getting more reckless!" Bai E gathered his thoughts and focused on the present. His teammates were being fiercely attacked by Rose''s teammates, and if he didn''t defend against Rose''s attacks while also aiding his teammates, the battle group would only collapse faster. However, this disadvantage was precisely what Bai E delighted in; a battle with the wind at one''s back couldn''t touch the limits. Bai E also wanted to see what kind of achievements he could muster in disadvantaged group battles and when besieged. Training existed at every moment, and anything that couldn''t completely knock him down would only make him stronger. "Ha!" Bai E parried Rose''s wooden sword and struck a sweeping blow, charging into the enemy ranks. A fierce shout echoed, like the roar of a tiger in the forest. "Come!" Fight with all your might! [In the chaotic battle, you endured against multiple enemies, Heavy Weapon Mastery Experience +46.](Accumulated) [You aided your teammates in a timely manner, assisting the offense, Heavy Weapon Mastery Experience +23.] [Your body is rapidly repairing the damaged muscles, don''t worry! Warrior!] [Injury repair progress 50%, Rapid Recovery (Locked) unlock progress 7%.] [Your body feels your urgent desire and has rapidly converted a little bit of energy from "Action Power Reserve," cherish it, for it''s already at its limit.] [Physical recovery 2%, Rapid Recovery (Locked) unlock progress 8%.] [In the heat of battle, you maintain control over your body, Insight +0.1, Reflex +0.1.] In the midst of the melee, Bai E naturally filtered out the continuous prompts, and with a last burst of strength, he clenched his teeth and faced the four incoming wooden swords head-on. Just as he pushed back the four attacking recruits, a heavily forced blow from the back of a sword suddenly smacked onto Bai E''s right leg. The next moment, the remaining Rose Team recruits swarmed forward, and Bai E barely had time to shield his head with his arms. "Not the face." ... The surveillance screen played out each intergroup battle, and the spacious interior of the base vehicle hosted two-star generals and above sitting on both sides, all focusing on one enlarged group battle. "Pretty ruthless..." "Is that the 95B27? Indeed, quite formidable, holding out on his own for so long." In a casual tone, comments filled the vehicle''s interior; the atmosphere was relaxed. There was no significant combat mission, simply a basic camp-wide training exercise. Training seasoned soldiers was not the primary goal; clearing the camp for the new recruits to express themselves freely was the true purpose of mobilizing the entire camp. Using a bit of a bloody baptism in exchange for the survivors'' improved adaptability to the battlefield, wasn''t this an incredible win? A little surprise of worms for the recruits! "Are there protective measures? If Carlos''s successor dies, it won''t be easy to find another," someone sardonically remarked. Dewa, as stoic as a stone, buzzed, "Anyone can die, but Rose cannot!" "95B27 can''t die either!" Weslin knocked on the tactical table in front of him, speaking in a grave tone, "No one is invincible, war is war, and if they cannot survive on their own, nobody can protect them forever." "Exactly," Hamilton laughed boldly, "Anyone can die!" A two-star general frowned, somewhat distressed about the hard-earned combat strength, "But there was no notice, isn''t a trial decided on the spot too abrupt?" "What in this world isn''t abrupt? Isn''t it just the right time to make use of the things that the research institute has finished with?" "But they''re just recruits..." "Recruits need the experience even more." The debate arose once again, filling the space with noisy discussion. Someone, amidst the turbulence, locked their gaze on the nearing end of the battle displayed on the monitor screen, their expression growing suddenly intent. "Huh?" Chapter 58: 058 New Task Bai E felt a little sighful after being pinned down and beaten¡ªno combat experience was gained. Intense battles could sometimes yield a bit of combat experience, like a few points he got from the one-on-one duel with Rose during the last endurance battle at night. After teaching Gong Yan bandaging skills and reaping 100 points of general experience, his reserve of combat/general experience had reached a total of 996 points, just 4 points shy of 1000, which would allow him to decide whether to activate one of the skill trees after the 4th-level specialization. However, not enough is not enough. Just short of 4 points, it was so tantalizing¡­ "Ah!" A hysterical voice, like that of a wounded beast, suddenly came from the chaotic crowd, and a streak of blood flashed through the exhausted warriors. By the time Bai E turned around in shock, the quicker-reacting warriors had already reached out to help, but their limbs were weak from being pushed to their limits, and their well-intentioned efforts were powerless against the sudden burst of madness from one of the fighters. The warrior who was seen as the target was sitting on the ground, frantically retreating on all fours, his thigh bleeding profusely; getting injured during training was common. However, the dark red blood seemed to have stimulated the nerves of the maddened warrior, whose eyes gleamed with visible greed as he stared at the blood. Ignoring his aching limbs, Bai E got up and wanted to intervene, but an agile figure beat him to it and leaped forward. "Smack!" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A precise and harsh chop, the crazed warrior stiffened and then slumped into Rose''s arms. "Take him to the infirmary," Rose nonchalantly handed the limp warrior over to two fighters that still had strength and shook her hand as if it were no big deal. "What''s wrong with him?" Bai E followed the gaze of the warrior Rose had knocked out, his chest badge revealing his origin¡ª69A44. According to what he had learned these past few days, this seemed to be a production line for artificial humans using Bug Race genes. Rose rolled her eyes, "How would I know¡­" The sudden incident didn''t seem to trouble the others much; perhaps the fighter had snapped due to being hit hard during training? It was hard to say. However, there was silence within the command center vehicle watching the scene. After a long while, someone sighed, "Artificial humans¡­" ¡­ "Eat and then train some more?" In the cafeteria, Rose took the initiative to invite. Defeating Bai E completely was her one and only desire before that happened. "No time." Bai E picked up his clean plate and left. Players were waiting to be fed, and he had no time to indulge Rose''s antics here. Under the midday sun, Bai E strode with steady steps to the appointed place on time. "My lord!" Three people came forward to greet him, and the look in Gong Yan''s eyes when she saw Bai E was somewhat complex. After Bai E''s departure, many of the injured and their families came to express their thanks, leaving her alone to receive it. This game was too realistic¡­ The NPCs'' gratitude seemed all the more sincere. It was somewhat touching¡­ Perhaps the lord and the organization behind him were protecting a group of people who were mostly humble, sometimes cunning, and occasionally genuine. "You''ve done well." Bai E patted the stacked lumber; the players were already familiar with the tasks involving the wolf pack and lumber, nothing much to discuss. He looked around and asked in confusion, "Where''s the burrow?" The 0.3 point of physical ability he casually gained last night must have come from their digging, but Bai E could not see the entrance to the burrow at the moment. "It''s here." Dai Lian took the initiative to lead the way, lifting a disguised turf to reveal the dark entrance beneath it. The entrance was roughly one square meter in size, with a ladder hanging down into it. Leaning over to look, it seemed they had only dug two or three meters down, and as for expanding it or even completing an entire storage, that seemed a long way off. Well... it looked like it would keep them occupied for a while. Bai E nodded silently and turned to the three people, "I''m here today to share some news with you. Tomorrow, I will join the army on an expedition. Our target is the Bug Race''s nest on the Blackrock Plains." Some things could be said, others could not. Bai E did not know how long the attack on the Bug Race''s nest would take, but the fact that he would be gone for at least a day was set in stone, and he needed to give these players a reasonable explanation. "Our goal is to expand the living space for humanity. Many people are working towards this common direction. There may be some shadows in the city, but not all are enemies. When I''m not here, you must be careful and... keep your passion alive." Bai E did not know what truly lay in the depths of these currently very respectful players'' hearts. Each player was chaotic and dangerous, so he could only try to shackle them with the reins of Order while advancing his own development. "Last night I received some information and went to check out the district. The already scarce space we depend on for survival is being invaded by evil forces. Put the Black Forest issue aside for now, the threat that is near at hand needs to be eradicated even more." [Mission description auto-generating...] [Side Mission ¡ª¡ª The Mastermind Behind the Curtain (Combat-type Mission): An abnormal rat swarm is roaming the city''s underground, what conspiracy is brewing behind them? Mission Requirements: Investigate the truth 0/1, eradicate the plague of rats 0/1. Mission Reward: Universal experience 50~100 points (adjustable), item reward (undetermined).] (Note: "Auto-complete" allowed; once mission is confirmed, "authority" and "expenditure" will be deducted and locked.) [Would you like to release the current mission?] [Settings ¡ª¡ª Mission Reward: Universal experience 100 points, item reward...] Bai E hesitated slightly. People from the Arbitration Place should not be greenhorns, and the missions that seemed challenging to them were never simple. Bai E did not expect these three players, who had not yet grown, to be able to directly kill the boss-like mastermind, but assisting was still feasible. Considering that even assisting would be challenging, he might have to offer more than just authority as a reward. 100... The circuit rewards must not be lost; they need to know that the circuit is tied to people, not the mission! [...Fine brass bullets, 100+30 rounds.] If he was to give, it had to be a shock that exceeded their expectations ¡ª that was what a surprise truly was. [Confirm release!] However, that was not enough. The experiences gained from repeated activities would definitely diminish, and logging could be stopped as well. Moreover, since they were planning to construct underground buildings, they could not do without more advanced building materials ¡ª cement. [Mission description auto-generating...] [Side Mission ¡ª¡ª Building Requirements (Resource-type Mission): Just wood is not enough to support the construction of a complete, massive underground warehouse, cement is also an indispensable material. Mission Requirements: Submit cement *0/10~20 (adjustable). Mission Reward: Science points *1, item reward (undetermined).] (Note: Involves physical submission, current mission cannot be "auto-completed," must be "verified upon completion"; once mission is confirmed, "authority" and "expenditure" will be deducted and locked.) As with the previous issue, with the mission difficulty increased, the reward granted by authority was not enough. In order to make the missions he released competitive, Bai E had to increase the item reward. Luckily, there wasn''t much on him, just plenty of bullets... [Settings ¡ª¡ª Mission Requirements: Submit 20 cement; Mission Reward: 30+9 fine brass bullets.] ... The three who received the mission were momentarily wide-eyed. "This, this, this..." Bai E''s mouth curved into a slightly softer smile, "Although our mission is tough, I won''t let down any comrade who contributes to the organization." Watching Bai E turn to leave, perhaps it was a woman''s natural sensitivity, but Gong Yan always felt there was something especially solemn and tragic about this soldier''s back. Maybe this expedition was not going to be easy? She couldn''t help but step forward and ask. "Sir... How long will you be gone?" Chapter 59: 059 Insect Tide Incoming! "One day? Two days?" Bai E turned his head and smiled wryly, "No one can say for sure, I might not even return." Today, the military camp''s oddities kept a shadow clinging to Bai E''s heart; he didn''t know what had happened, so he was uneasy. Death... seemed as though it could descend at any moment. But then again, there didn''t seem to be much to fear... Was it because he had gradually become accustomed to the tone of this world, or was it because the genes of dedication in his artificial human body were controlling his thoughts? Who knows? "But you guys don''t have to worry..." Bai E said with a smile: "While I''m away, you can still work hard for our shared dream. Even if I don''t come back, you can certainly find more companions in the city. Since you''ve joined Li Ming, I only hope you remember one thing..." The wind brushed through Bai E''s hair; he seemed like a gentle elder recounting tender tales of the past. "If a person lives only for himself, he might become a famous warrior, philosopher, physicist, but he will never become a flawless, great figure. Our history acknowledges those who strive for the entirety of humanity and become noble as great figures; experience praises those who bring happiness to the masses as the happiest people; faith teaches us that ideal figures revered by all have sacrificed themselves for humankind. If we choose the path that strives most for human life, then the burden cannot crush us, because it''s a sacrifice made for everyone. What we will feel then is not pitiful, limited, selfish pleasure. Our aim will belong to millions, our cause will exist silently but eternally, and in the face of our ashes, noble people will shed hot tears." "..." Watching the steady fading figure of Bai E, a mist seemed to shimmer in the eyes of the three people. Indeed, most players seldom delve deeply into the loves and hates within the game world''s narrative; after all, even the deepest hatred seems fleeting compared to grabbing a couple of fries at the dock... However, after being forcibly injected into their world through regular task lines with game characters of strong personal colors, they could also love certain characters deeply. At this moment, they realized that the leader of the Li Ming organization... seemed to be one such character with some charm. "Stop gawking! Get to work!" Dai Lian tossed his shovel aside, sick of digging holes. Repetitive simple tasks also wore on their patience; it was challenges within a certain limit they yearned for. "First, let''s decide which task to do..." "For burning lime, first we need a furnace, right? We''ll also need limestone, clay, iron slag..." "Doesn''t sound too hard..." After all, you could mooch it all for free. "What about the investigation task?" "That Arbitration Place has got it all wrong; they stand too tall and won''t bow down. We can sneak around quietly. If we draw all the rats out in the open, no one can beat them." "You''re right." "Let''s do this, we''ll split into two groups..." "I''ll find the materials needed for making cement." Gong Yan volunteered eagerly. Yesterday''s help with rescuing and treating the injured wasn''t without its benefits; at the very least, it had opened up connections for her in the neighborhood, and when she needed something for free, people were quite willing to lend a hand or provide some information. Dai Lian and Kuang Xin exchanged a glance. Great, they were splitting up again. "Then the two of us will go explore the sewers." Let''s go! ... S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon returning to the military camp, it was still eerily quiet. At the time of assembly, Bai E and others from three different groups were taken to a slightly gloomy... screening room? "This is the last afternoon before going into battle, and there won''t be any training tasks scheduled this afternoon, allowing everyone to take a look at the opponent we''re about to face, to familiarize ourselves with the opponent''s characteristics and attack methods, so as to avoid messy and blind combat on the battlefield." The instructor''s coarse language elicited a round of laughter. As the door closed, heavy curtains blocked out the sunlight and the projector emitted a beam of light, projecting a film with the texture of an old movie onto the white screen. A well-modulated male voice calmly followed the progress of the film with an introduction¡ª "The Bug Race is a sinister species with intelligence akin to that of lower life forms. Their will is similar to a hive mind, and most individual bugs only possess a bloodthirsty and murderous instinct, lacking the ability to respond complexly to environmental changes. They are devoid of communication capabilities, existing solely to devour and kill. Each hive has but one Brain Bug, the queen that rules them all. Yet below it, there still exist various types of bugs responsible for different aspects." "The Mantis Bug." A bug resembling the build of a human appeared on the screen, moving swiftly through the chaotic battlefield, its scythe-like, serrated forearms acting as deadly tools for harvesting the lives of soldiers. Their bodies stand and run like humans, with a bent spine causing a slight forward center of gravity, and heads long and thin like mantises, covered with bony carapaces; they are about twice as tall as an average human and possess unimaginable agility. "From our observations, this type of bug is similar to a squad officer within the Bug Race. The lower-ranking bugs nearby follow the Mantis Bug''s direction of attack to coordinate their assaults. In certain special instances, they are even capable of assessing the battlefield situation to make decisions on transferring positions or even retreating." "They possess a thick chitinous exoskeleton, and attacks with power levels below 15 struggle to inflict damage upon their carapaces. The claws of the Mantis Bug are also grown from chitin and attached to the body by highly elastic muscles, which can project the blades at supersonic speed when rapidly extended." "Furthermore, they possess a type of ranged symbiotic weapon known as the ''Corrupting Gun''..." The image showed a Mantis Bug retracting its bone blades, with a conical red swollen mass at the connection with the muscles, where numerous black, mucus-covered flesh worms writhed and twisted. "When the Mantis Bugs stimulate these symbiotic worms with bioelectricity, they are then catapulted by powerful muscle contractions. If hit successfully by these worms, they will rapidly burrow under your skin and muscle, gnawing along your nerves all the way to your brain. This process lasts for several minutes, and the excruciating pain is enough to break down even the most strong-willed soldier. If you do not wish to lose control due to pain and harm your teammates, the best solution is to give yourself a quick end." Besides... A dark red, large figure appeared on the screen. It seemed quite distant, and the image could only present a blurry outline, with four muscular blade arms particularly noticeable. Ability characteristics: Unknown! "This type of bug rarely appears, suspected to be a subspecies or mutant of the Mantis Bug, with unknown abilities at present..." [Acquired Pictorial Information: Mantis Bug.] "Worker Bug/Bee Bug." Two small bugs, approximately half the size of a normal human and varying slightly in size as if small dinosaurs, appeared together on the screen. "These two are the most common lower-ranking bugs and will be the most numerous enemies we''re going to face. They are almost devoid of intelligence. Without the control of the Queen or Mantis Bugs, these lower-ranking bugs will solely follow their innate violent desires to kill and feed, attacking the nearest target. When they are extremely hungry, we have even observed them killing each other." "Of course, the Bee Bugs are a bit more intelligent. They use a weapon for melee combat that we call the ''Spiked Short Spear.'' It is a bone organ lined with muscle, studded with sharp harpoon-like barbs that can easily tear through our flesh and blood vessels. Moreover, the surface of the barbs is covered with acid glands and poison sacs, so even a slight scratch can be life-threatening if not treated promptly." "Worker Bugs, on the other hand, are even more primitive. These bugs lack the intelligence to even use symbiotic weapons, but they come in many subspecies, capable of advancing like heavily armored defenses, or rapidly penetrating and disorganizing our lines..." [Acquired Pictorial Information: Worker Bug/Bee Bug.] ... [Acquired Pictorial Information: Artillery Bug.] ... The film ended, and the lights came on. Read exclusive content at m v l em pyr As the door opened, the already darkening sky filled Bai E''s pupils, along with the blood-red sunset. Blood, like tiny snakes, wound its way from the doorway inside. Shattered flesh was scattered all over the entrance. Bai E''s pupils abruptly contracted as the hair on his body stood on end. "Bugs!" [Triggered a time-limited side quest¡ªThe Onslaught of Bugs.] [The Onslaught of Bugs: During the main troop''s exercise camping trip, the Bug Race attacked your military camp. Quest requirements: Eradicate the attacking Bug Race 0/100%. Quest completion rewards: Universal Experience *??? (Calculated based on the number of surviving recruits 2000/2000). (Countdown: 1 hour 59 minutes 59 seconds)] Chapter 60: 060 Rapid Response The bone-clawed bee insect, like a nightmarish creature emerging from a bad dream, flailed and clawed at the entrance of the projection room, its insect-like mandibles muddied with fragments of flesh and bone. The muscular limbs below were stepping on a broken human arm, the edges littered with the mess of gnawed and torn flesh. This brutal scene shocked the minds of many soldiers who witnessed it, and those who were slower to react didn''t even understand what had happened. Bai E, who always kept "self-restraint" activated, did not let confusion and fear overwhelm his mind. "Enemy attack!" From the neighboring projection room also came the barely audible enraged roar, full of vigor. "Prepare for battle!" No one knew why such terrifying creatures as the Bug Race had appeared in their base. Where had they come from, how had they bypassed the surveillance around the camp and broken in? Was the entire camp''s mobilization today because of them? Or was it a cunning trap laid by the Bug Race, a feint to draw the tiger away from the mountain and launch a surprise attack on humanity''s core military base? Many thoughts flashed through Bai E''s mind, but that wasn''t what he should be focusing on right now. "Get your weapons!" That was the immediate priority! Don''t think that the worker insects and bee insects seem to be the lowest existence in the Bug Race, as if they are low-level combat forces that overwhelm their opponents with numbers. However, in the data they were actually equivalent to the Bug Race''s ordinary infantry, not much different from a human individual infantry. Both sides could easily injure or kill each other, and if the new recruits in an entire military camp couldn''t adopt the right combat mindset, in a one-on-one duel, it was uncertain who would win. Not to mention that the new recruits were unarmed while watching the film. And... the Spiked Short Spear! The more Bai E thought about the information he had just acquired, the more alert he became as he observed the bee insect''s pair of bone claws tipped with pale bone spears. Acid glands, poison sacs... a touch could injure, and if the toxin wasn''t promptly removed, the blood would carry the toxin throughout the body, and even divine intervention would be futile. One could not engage directly until they got their armor. "Where''s the instructor?" "Gone!" the other soldiers said in some confusion. "The windows! Break out!" While speaking, Bai E led the way by stepping on the row of tables in front of the new recruits and leaped toward the window on the right. "Bang!" Mid-air and following through with an unstoppable elbow strike, the glass shattered upon impact. Bai E, tumbling out of the broken window with a graceful roll, outclassed the other new recruits with his superior overall physical fitness, allowing him to perform certain actions unimaginably smoothly. Not to mention the numerous teammates around him. The moment his brain shifted into combat mode, the trait¡ªwell-trained¡ªbegan to play its part, and its actual performance exceeded its own attributes by a margin. To the right... nothing. To the left, three! Two worker insects, one bee insect. Bai E started observing the situation outside the projection room while still airborne, knowing that understanding the environment was always essential. He didn''t know how many insects had come, and which direction was more suitable to break through to get armor and weapons; these were the factors he needed to consider quickly while in motion. "Bang!" The broken glass scattered everywhere, and a figure slammed through the curtain that obstructed the opposite projection room. It was Rose. After landing, Rose quickly got on her feet, scanning her surroundings, as Bai E''s voice already reached her, "Go to the back, those insects know where the main entrance is." The information introduced in the data wasn''t detailed enough, such as the insects'' vision, hearing, sense of smell, or how they lock onto targets. But looking at the movements of the three insects, it was clear they at least knew how to navigate obstacles to hunt the new recruits trapped inside the projection room like fish in a barrel. "Okay!" The two moved extremely fast, first ensuring their own safety and clear thought process, which was vital for potentially leading others in a desperate turnaround. It was only as they sprinted towards the back corner of the projection hall that other recruits began to break through the glass to escape. Experience more tales at m vl-em|p-yr Three bugs, already attracted by the commotion caused by Bai E and Rose, seemed startled by the sudden appearance of prey, hesitated for a moment, then immediately attacked the nearest unfortunate ones. Fortunately, humans knew better than to clash directly with the bee bugs'' spiked short spears, which were covered in acid glands and poison sacs. But the bee bugs themselves seemed unaware of their deterrent power, not considering inflicting a cut on every recruit, with their low intelligence. The recruits who broke out through the windows were no cowards; implanted memories and the past two days of training meant they faced these bugs without much fear. Even those bare-chested didn''t hesitate to help their fellow recruits and gang up on the bugs. Despite their reduced numbers and strength... The other bugs burst around the corner to the big doors, then suddenly faltered. "Fuck!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Facing such chaos, Bai E and Rose, who had already made it to the other corner, just glanced once and ran without looking back. Any hesitation at this point was meaningless, and camaraderie among soldiers wasn''t something to be displayed at such a time. Weapons and armor could greatly enhance an individual''s combat abilities. Even though Bai E''s attributes outmatched those of the other recruits, he dared not claim to easily kill those inherently armored, weaponized bugs. The sooner he got his hands on weapons and armor, the more people he could save! In the midst of his mad dash, Bai E didn''t forget to pull out two foil-wrapped snacks from his chest pocket¡ªNumber 3 ration bars. All two pieces of his supply were handed over. "Eat these!" With an unknown number of enemies, maintaining one''s own condition was of the utmost importance. Rose, far from polite, tore open the package and stuffed the contents into her mouth. She didn''t have the breath to speak, focusing all her energy on keeping up with Bai E''s pace. Just how strong was this guy? ... Watching the chaotic scenes on various surveillance screens, the atmosphere inside the base command vehicle also became somewhat serious. Even though these artificially created new recruits were considered cannon fodder, they were still part of humanity''s forces. A too pathetic performance would be unacceptable, not only for the outcome on the battlefield but also for morale. And the alien allies were watching too... But as of now... "It seems not bad." "They''re reacting quite quickly." The greatest danger in this trial was how one reacted initially; how long it took to acquire weapons and gear would determine the outcome of the test. So far, it was looking acceptable. "Are those Rose and 95B27? Their qualities really are a step above the other recruits." "No wonder they''re all fighting over them. I want them on my team too." A few neutral officers nodded at each other, exchanging opinions. Dewa snorted, "Don''t even think about it!" Yue Ying, sitting in a corner, was as silent as ever, her gaze drifting into a vacant stare between two of the monitor screens. In the last image from a previous monitor, 95B27 made an upward gesturing motion with his hand, but it was too rapid, moving out of the frame in the blink of an eye. When he reappeared in the next monitor''s range, he had returned to the normal running motion. However... something was not right! That abnormal hand motion would slow him down; he must have executed some other action. Did this recruit have something he wanted to keep hidden from others? Her gaze swept over the circle of officers who seemed not to notice this detail, and Yue Ying blinked, ultimately choosing to remain silent... Chapter 61: 061 Battle ready! ``` Nearing the tent area where they lived, the two split up and went their separate ways. Guns and battle knives were left at the training grounds; Rose needed to take people to retrieve them. Although Bai E and Rose were quick to react and fast on their feet, many new soldiers who were sharp-witted had already followed them to get their weapons. Bai E was different; as a member of the special forces, his weapon and equipment had been issued directly to him, all kept inside his resting tent. According to some rumors, many objects had their own spirits, colloquially known as "machine spirits." Cultivating a relationship with one''s own gear was certainly the right choice. Furthermore, due to individual usage habits, other than new recruits, old soldiers with assignments would always carry their equipment with them, treating it as personal property. Bursting into a quiet living area, Bai E didn''t stop his pace, quickly scanning the shadows of each tent with his eyes. The Bug Race, though it was unclear where they came from, would certainly first be attracted by the scent of human flesh, their absolute instinct being a thirst to absorb all biomass. During training, the living area was usually deserted, so the likelihood of encountering bugs was low, but caution was still necessary. Suppressing the secretion of hormones in his body, Bai E''s heartbeat increased due to running, but his brain didn''t go blank from the fight-or-flight response, nor did his eyes narrow from stress. Keep the adventure going on m_vl-em|p-yr What he once thought was a poor lottery draw, now seemed quite useful. No! No! There were no bugs! When Bai E lifted the tent flap and sat on his bed, he finally took a deep breath. He was lucky; he hadn''t encountered any bugs along the way. As he dressed in his combat suit, Bai E brought up his panel; he needed to have a clearer overview of his current abilities¡ª [Name]: Bai E [Race]: Human [Template]: Gene Modification Prototype [Health]: 105/105 [Identity]: Leader (Li Ming) [Physique]: 13.2/15 [Insight]: 10.9/15 [Reflex]: 11/15 [Mystery]: 8/¡Þ [Genetic Optimization](Current trend: Beastkin): 0.1/100 [Skills]: Lucky Strike (Current charge: 83/100) Stealth (8/100) Craftsmanship(74/100) [Trait]: Emotional Dullness, Battle Instinct, Well-Trained [Expertise]: Rapid Recovery (Locked), Self-Restraint [Mastery](Potential Points *5): Light Firearms Specialization (119/2000) (Level 4) Heavy Weapon Specialization (231/300) (Level 1) [Spiritual Energy]: Unmastered [Knowledge](Tech Points *3): Firearms Maintenance (89/300) (Level 1) Lumbering (17/300) (Level 1) Thievery (2/100) Trapping(31/100) First Aid (Bandaging) (24/300) (Level 1) Dissection (30/100) [Technology]: None [General Experience]: 499 points [Combat Experience]: 497 points [Mutation Risk]: Extremely Low [Faction]: Li Ming (Reputation Level 1) ... sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The myriad abilities were diverse, but most were not yet fully developed; the most useful for the current situation were likely to be the shooting and heavy weapons specializations. One had already reached level 4, not only providing special attribute bonuses but also just 4 points away from activating a unique skill tree. ``` ``` One was also close to reaching Level 2 specialization, just 69 experience points short. Practicing to break through in battle was an excellent choice. Shooting was somewhat safer, but there was the fear that those insect creatures, agile as they were, might burrow into the crowds. Blind shooting could end up injuring teammates first. Bai E trusted his own marksmanship, but it was possible that teammates could walk into the line of fire. The possibility of close combat couldn''t be discarded. Survive? Of course, Bai E wanted to survive. But in this world, just trying to scrape by was clearly not enough. Without working hard at every possible opportunity to improve one''s strength, the end result would only be a total defeat. In fact, faced with insect creatures that had suddenly invaded his world at close range, Bai E''s state of mind to date was a complex mix of confusion and excitement. The confusion was naturally fear, unfamiliarity, unknown; excitement...being able to kill the Bug Race with his own hands and fully step into this mad, desperate world, how could he not be excited? Bai E could feel his body getting excited, he deliberately indulged a little, his muscles trembled slightly¡­ "Ziii~" The zipper closed, the pitch-black combat suit wrapped around every inch of Bai E''s skin, the buckle on his back locked the combat knife in place, a pistol was stuffed into the leather buckle on either side of his waist, and the alloy dagger was inserted into the slot on the side of his combat boots, ready to strike at any moment. "Click!" The bullet was chambered, the assault rifle mode set to burst fire¡­ The curtains fluttered open, and steel combat boots stepped out. ¡­ "Quick! Retreat! Retreat! Fire blockade! Hold them back!" The new recruits retreated en masse from the auditorium to retrieve weapons and equipment, and the chasing insects that had caught the scent of flesh followed suit. They were born carnivores, indifferent to all cold steel except for biomatter. The combat suits and combat knives were placed nearby, but it took time to don the combat suits. The soldiers who got their hands on guns first provided covering fire under the command of prestigious recruits from each training unit. Even if some soldiers were quicker and had already put on their combat suits, they wouldn''t rush forward to engage in close combat with the Bug Race. Without the pressure of an active attack and the enemy lacking long-range attacks, there was no need to start bayoneting the Bug Race from the get-go. Once entangled in close combat, humanity''s range advantage would vanish. Using firearms to significantly reduce the number of the attacking Bug Race wave was the optimal choice. Close combat would only become necessary when they closed in to a certain distance, out of sheer necessity. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" The rifles in semi-automatic mode fired around, the not-so-dense sheet of bullets struggled to make a mark on the naturally armored exoskeleton of every Bug creature. Only occasionally when a shot hit a vulnerable spot not covered by armor could a small spray of green bodily fluid be seen. More often, it was the defensive but slow-moving worker subspecies of the Bug Race that took the brunt of the fire. Indeed, the Bugs were numerous, but hitting specific parts to do effective damage was not easy. The clash between the rate of advancement of the Bugs and the killing efficiency of firearms determined whether the defensive line could be held. Clearly, the slow rate of fire could not stop the Bug Race''s advancing lines. If one looked down from the sky, they would see countless green dots converging from all directions, pressing toward the little black dots in the center. The rustling of soldiers donning their combat suits mingled with the occasional anxious curses. Rose gripped her combat knife tightly, her gaze frequently swept between the increasingly pressing front lines and her fellow shooters. The semi-automatic mode was too slow! It couldn''t create effective suppression. As for the burst fire mode¡­ The basic requirement for new recruits equipped with the Type 77 assault rifles to use burst fire mode was a physical strength of 12 points. Recruits with firearm talents typically had attributes leaning towards insight or reflex, starting with a mere 10 points in physical strength¡ªthree days of training couldn''t possibly raise it by a full 2 points. Using burst fire mode without sufficient physical strength meant within a few seconds, the muscles in the arms would be unable to control the trajectory due to intense vibration and recoil¡ªineffectual suppressive fire with uncontrolled spraying was as good as none. As for those recruits who started with 11 points in physical strength and had rapidly improved during these three days¡­ firstly, they were few in number, and secondly, none of them had firearm talents nor had they undergone related training in these three days, resulting in terrible accuracy. Letting them fire a machine gun was just going through the motions¡­ Close combat¡­ it might come very quickly. However, in the chaos, the progress of everyone donning their combat suits was also slow. There weren''t enough melee fighters ready at the front line in time to form a solid enough defensive line at close quarters. If only they could drag it out a bit longer... Rose clenched her teeth tightly, her face anxious. ``` Chapter 62: 062 Unparalleled! "It''s too chaotic..." A sigh rose from within the base vehicle as they watched through the surveillance screens how the soldiers were responding. If they maintained order, the rookies could have finished their combat readiness work at least 20% faster. That 20% at a critical moment could mean the difference between life and death. "We just didn''t have enough time to conduct more discipline training." Some of the officers were self-criticizing. "Da-da-da-da-da!" Lively shooting sounds suddenly erupted from one of the monitors, and the hit bee-creature instantly turned into a sieve under the torrent of bullets. "Is there someone else out there?" "It''s 95B27!" "He can actually use burst fire mode!" "But he''s just one person, what good can he do?" ... [Firing barrage hit the target massively, causing 82 points of fatal damage to the target!] [Successfully barraged the same target with fire, light firearms mastery experience +2.] [You have completely killed the target, gaining 10 points of combat experience.] The battle information flashed past, and Bai E had no time to care for anything else. As he rushed from the living area, he saw countless bugs swarming towards the training ground where the rookies were gathering at first glance. The bugs, clad in bone armor, clicked their segmented bodies continuously, such a surging and wild assault would awaken fear in anyone''s heart; the bloodthirsty desire full of wildness was enough to cause any human who witnessed this scene to feel dizzy. Even more worrying was the slightly chaotic frontline of rookies retreating step by step... Looking from afar, separated by a sea of bugs, Bai E knew he couldn''t let the tide of bugs quickly approach the frontline; they were not ready. A quick sweep around, and a few nearby bugs reflected his figure in their gem-like black eyes; startled, they quickly changed direction and rushed towards Bai E. The distant flesh was too far away; it was more important to seize the food in front of them. "The lower Bug Race has low intelligence, and without the command of brain bugs or mantis bugs, they often act on their bloodthirsty instincts of hunger..." Bai E''s mind raced with the information he had just seen. He had a plan! ... "What... what is he doing?" Exclamations filled the base vehicle. 95B27 didn''t flee! He didn''t even keep his distance! He... He''s charging behind the bug tide! "Has he gone mad?" "No! He is keeping an appropriate distance! He is... using his own body as bait." ... Or rather, kiting. The surging bug tide failed to crush Bai E''s will, fortified by the "self-restraint" blessing. Never had he been so calm. Want meat? Come on! Bai E rapidly moved around the edge of the bug tide, the sound of gunfire and the scent of flesh easily attracting the bugs within a large range nearby. Far? Near? Difficult? Easy? In their low-level intelligence were just a few simple comparative choices. Without a doubt, Bai E, near at "arm''s length," was easier to stomach. "Da-da-da-da!" [Massive hits on the same target, causing 43 points of piercing damage! The target''s mobility is severely impaired.] [Massive hits on the same target, causing 28 points of piercing damage! The target''s mobility is moderately impaired.] [Successfully barraged the same target with fire, light firearms mastery experience +11. (Cumulative)] While maintaining movement, the roar of Bai E''s rifle never ceased. Acting alone granted him greater agility, with even the slightest obstacles serving as his natural shields. Even in the midst of chaos, he remained utterly calm, his gaze almost simultaneously encompassing all the attacking bugs in his field of vision. The trait of being well-trained enhanced both his reflexes and observational abilities substantially. Discover magic on m_v_l_e_m_p_y_r Memories of practicing with a 200-meter moving target overlapped with the present; Bai E first identified the agile worker subtypes and wasps mixed in with the swarm, prioritizing them for elimination. The remaining slow, armored worker bugs were ignored. Originally the shields of the Bug Race''s battle lines, they now hindered the other bugs'' pursuit. The only pity was... in a hit-and-run kite battle, it was hard to direct a large volume of firepower at a single target for a quick kill. The first kill might be the only combat experience he could gain in a short time. But it was enough! After all, he was only 4 points short. ... "What a clear train of thought!" "Decisive in judgment, precise in execution. Indeed, a real talent!" Occasionally passing in front of the camera, Bai E''s expression was calm, his eyes resolute, as if not at all concerned about his predicament. Even when gunfire fell silent and magazines were emptied during a reload, he didn''t falter due to the approaching bugs, displaying utmost calm. The drone''s aerial view revealed that because of Bai E''s efforts, the bug forces behind the front lines split like a hurricane into countless branches. Wherever Bai E went, he drew the attention of a large number of bugs who followed, chasing him. The bug tide pressing on the rookie squadron had no backing and was temporarily held off by the sparse gunfire. Many in the rookie battalion also noticed the figure dancing within the swarm. Rose watched with fervent eyes, "It''s Bai E!" He always managed to create miracles! ["Lucky Strike" Charge +50!](Cumulative) ["Lucky Strike" Charge has reached 133/100, now available for use!] "Deservedly so for Carlos'' adamant protection... This rookie is truly exceptional!" "Is it reasonable to consider awarding him a Gene Optimization Solution?" Bai E''s outstanding performance caught the attention of nearly everyone, the atmosphere was fervent. Only Yue Ying in the corner of the base vehicle remained quiet, her eyes filled with concern. Despite the seemingly glorious success, 95B27''s actions were undoubtedly like dancing on the edge of a knife. Each time, he barely missed death''s grasp; if caught by any of the bugs, his advantage would vanish instantly. The bugs might be continuously distracted, but he couldn''t afford a single mistake. Moreover... as the attracted bugs increased, Bai E''s maneuvering space became more restricted. He had already put himself in a perilous position, not one he could easily walk away from now. Yue Ying slightly closed her eyes, the numerous bug shadows in her mind abruptly speeding up, interweaving around Bai E who always seemed to choose an almost impossible optimal path for kiting, but in the end... S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yue Ying suddenly opened her eyes. Hamilton''s mocking voice almost synchronized, "Let''s see if he can survive first..." With pursuers ahead and tigers behind... Bai E''s steps faltered slightly as he realized he was completely surrounded by the bugs. Even with their low intelligence, numbers were their unbeatable weapon! "He''s done for..." Carlos suddenly got up, bellowing, "Deploy the armed drones!" "Veslin just said... anyone can die. If we use the armed drones, this test will have no meaning," someone said slowly and deliberately. ... Far within the front lines, Rose also noticed Bai E''s predicament from a distance. "Damn!" With a swing of her battle saber, Rose''s sonorous voice exploded over the front lines, "Follow me! Rescue our hero!" ... Trapped, Bai E smiled wryly. It seemed the choice of his skill tree was no longer important, as his situation had made the choice for him¡ª Gun Fighting Skill! Chapter 63: 063 Gun Fighting Skill! The skill tree opened after reaching level 4 specialty offered three choices: Suppression Fire, Precision Shooting, and Gun Fighting Skill. The three skills actually had clear divisions of labor¡ª Precision Shooting was about enhancing long-range sniping proficiency, shooting more accurately with stronger penetration. Suppression Fire tended toward mid-range combat, using a relentless barrage to cover targets to either kill or provide cover for teammates. It seemed that Song Ying possessed this skill. Gun Fighting Skill was biased towards melee combat... Well, not exactly melee combat, but a skill that maintained the ability to move and shoot quickly even when entangled by an opponent. And a skill was a skill¡ªit contained certain supernatural elements. Take Suppression Fire, for instance. Could a machine gun replace Suppression Fire? No, it could not. A person with Suppression Fire, when using a machine gun, would only be more terrifying. Under the skill''s influence, barrel heating would be delayed, bullets would be more lethal, and the barrage could cover any creature within range. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E originally hesitated between Precision Shooting and Gun Fighting Skill as he felt that his personality wasn''t about brandishing a large machine gun and spraying bullets all around, which also drew too much attention, practically making him a live target on the battlefield. Hiding in the shadows, picking off enemies one by one with Precision Shooting from a distance, or maintaining the agility of Gun Fighting Skill provided the ability to extricate oneself when someone got too close. At the moment, it seemed there was no choice. [Payment: 2 Spirit Energy points, 493 universal experience points, 507 combat experience points.] [Acquired Skill¡ªGun Fighting Skill.] [Gun Fighting Skill: Allows dual-wielding guns, using firearms to parry; Insight +2, Reflexes +2, Rate of Fire +50%, Block +30%, Dodge +30%, Movement Speed +10%. Consumption: 10 Spiritual Energy (100 Action Points reserve)/min.] When the Spiritual Energy reserve runs out, the body''s energy reserve is used instead. And when the body''s energy reserves are depleted, life force itself is burned. Occasionally, one hears about Spiritual Energy practitioners being drained dry by their own abilities. Any ability that consumes more Spiritual Energy than one can handle becomes the cause of their own death. Fortunately, having eaten the No. 3 ration stick earlier, Bai E''s Action Points reserve was already at 110 points, enough to last for a minute. If he couldn''t get out of a sticky situation in one minute... he might as well be dead. A faint mist of grey light clung to Bai E''s hands. The mist seemed alive, stretching along his palms and onto the rifle he was holding... "Click~" Bai E unbuckled the safety, his right hand gripping the pistol. His gaze was calm and indifferent. The bugs seemed to rush at him in a swarm, but their distances and intervals varied, with different directions exerting unequal pressures on the attack. The skill provided him with more than just a statistical boost to his attributes; instinctively seeking opportunities to achieve combat objectives was the true function of the skill. Blasting a bloody path with the gun in his hand was the only thing he had to do. "Ratatata!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Casings ejected, both hands firing at the same time, the assault rifle tearing openings, the pistol stopping nearby threats. Different rates of fire and handling could disrupt a shooter''s instincts; however, under the control of Gun Fighting Skill, both worked together seamlessly. ... The bugs leapt high, their lower limbs'' remarkable muscle granting them incredible leaping power. Number 95B27 was surrounded by countless green bugs, seemingly about to become engulfed in a spherical killing hell. The next moment... "Bang!" Metallic combat boots kicked away a fierce worker bug with pincers for teeth. Bai E''s left hand with the rifle parried the sting of a bee bug close by as he flipped backwards in the air, executing a 360-degree turn to breakout from the encirclement. "Thud!" The moment his combat boots hit the ground, a nimble roll dissipated the force of inertia, his long and short guns firing again. Bai E''s steps did not cease, moving quickly and stably towards the outer perimeter of the encirclement. His face remained as impassive as ever, without a ripple. ... "..." The cigarette burned quietly, leaving the entire base vehicle in silence. Many people''s retinas still held the moment when 95B27 broke through the encirclement, a soldier stepping on a sea of insects, flipping and leaping up, his grace indescribable. For most veterans, this would be considered a sure-death situation, yet this fighter had fiercely carved out a bloody path! This rookie, was a bit too tough. The burnt-out cigarette ash lightly fell, as if turning a switch, activating the silence inside the vehicle. "Bang!" Carlos slammed the carriage, emotionally jumped up, and exclaimed, "Good!" Do you need saving? No need! The man chosen by the old captain is invincible! Keep killing for me! Hamilton''s eyebrows twitched, his face as black as charcoal. This TM can kill his way out? What have those bugs been turned into by the research institution? Have they lost all combat ability? But... "It''s still early!" Where are we even at? The general still looked at the monitoring screen with worry, his tone grave. "The real threat hasn''t appeared yet." ... The breakout by Bai E undoubtedly revitalized the already desperate new recruits. Abandoning fire suppression to rush out and save the hero, they watched Bai E fall into the sea of insects, but the bugs in between were like a chasm; even if they broke their teeth, they couldn''t instantly overcome the barrier of space. Now, Bai E had indeed created an unimaginable miracle by breaking out of the encirclement. Moreover, Bai E''s delaying tactics had given the new soldiers a precious breathing opportunity, with more close-combat soldiers ready for hand-to-hand fighting. The bugs were still a distance from the defensive line, yet courage spread like a tide across the chests of every soldier. "Kill!" Bai E was taken into the battle formation brought by Rose, "You rest for a while, leave the rest to us." Having restrained the enemy and then breaking out, logically Bai E should have been nearing his physical limit. Even with a reserve of energy, he needed proper rest to quickly convert it into strength. However, Bai E''s condition was actually quite good, his full reserve of energy plus his talent growing nearer to activation kept him in good shape, and escaping to Rose''s rescue had taken just over thirty seconds, with plenty of energy reserve left. But even if he still had the capacity to continue the fierce fight, Bai E needed to "rest." His gaze occasionally swept over the ubiquitous cameras in the camp, and Bai E had his own guesses about this sudden event... "I''m fine," Bai E waved his hand, "Don''t worry about me, I''ll cover for you." Once the close combat unfolded in full, firearms couldn''t be fired recklessly anymore. He instantly went from main attacker to supporting restraint. Bai E carefully avoided some chaotic situations, blended in behind other soldiers, and took the opportunity to take cold shots, enjoying a moment of ease. "Is there a nurse? Someone''s been injured! Someone''s been injured!" Occasionally, some unlucky soldiers who got hurt through their combat suits were covered and sent to the rear by their comrades. Powered by m|v|l|e|mpyr "What''s wrong?" "He''s been wounded by a bee insect''s short gun!" Chapter 64: 064 Its hard for me to say The soldier''s sleeve was torn open, revealing a bloodied and mangled upper arm beneath. Even combat suits couldn''t fully defend against all attacks from the lower ranks of the Bug Race, the reinforced material in the chest and shoes could withstand most of the ordinary bugs'' bites and claw strikes. However, for ease of movement and due to resource limitations, it wasn''t possible to use highly durable and tough materials for the sleeves and trousers. Torn easily by the bugs, even more fatal¡­ were the acid glands and toxin sacs on the weapons of the wasp insects. The descriptions in the data sheets were very clear, even the lowest rank of the wasp insects'' symbiotic weapons could cause fatal damage to human soldiers, and quickly at that. Even a mere scratch would allow the toxin to seep into the bloodstream through bodily fluids and then spread throughout the body; if not treated promptly, it could easily claim the life of a soldier. Of course, it was a stroke of misfortune amongst misfortune that he was not bitten to death on the spot but could still be rescued by his comrades. But when faced with the calls for help from the soldier cradling the injured, the group of rookie shooters exchanged glances, at a loss. A nurse among the recruits... that was rare indeed. "I''m from the medical corps... I''ll do it!" A soldier who had been hiding at the back of the crowd stuck his head out; he had also grabbed the emergency medical kit when everyone was arming themselves. "Our head nurse has taught us... she taught us... how to deal with this kind of external injury..." The male rookie nurse muttered to himself, his hands and feet a bit flustered as he opened the first aid kit, intending to provide aid. ... Even under Bai E''s influence, the soldiers'' combat morale seemed high, but the will of ordinary people couldn''t change the facts. In close quarters combat with the bugs, danger was ever-present. "If we can''t resolve the battle quickly, even a common scratch could take the lives of many recruits." Facing the savage toxins of the bugs, human bodies were still too fragile. In confrontations with these lowly Bug Race infantry, the number of soldiers directly bitten to death was actually the minority; more often, it was those who didn''t receive timely treatment and succumbed to the poison that accounted for most casualties. The chaotic battlefield conditions for rescue were one thing, but often under the intense influence of adrenaline, soldiers wouldn''t even feel minor scratches. By the time it was noticed, it was already too late. "I wonder how many will die..." Some officers were full of concern. Using live bugs for recruit combat training was rare, the first time in nearly a year, after all, live bugs were not so easy to capture. And each time after live combat training, the results weren''t particularly pretty to look at. "Sssshhh¡ª" The side door of the base vehicle suddenly slid open, and an old man with white hair and beard appeared before the gathered officers, chuckling cheerfully. "Everyone''s here? I said let''s have intensive training, what''s the need to drag this old man along? Hm... what''s this?" "..." Upon seeing the numerous surveillance screens, the old man''s expression changed abruptly, "Our camp is under attack?" Only then did he realize, "It''s another live combat training..." Weslin chuckled, "Losing a few recruits but in exchange for a surge in the combat effectiveness of the survivors, that should be a gain." Controlled live combat was a means to let soldiers quickly acclimate to the battlefield, certainly better than training them on the battlefield itself. Most importantly, tomorrow''s mission aimed at a complete decapitation strike, allowing no mistakes. The old dean said nothing, only casting his gaze over the numerous surveillance screens, finally locking onto the most prominent large screen showing the first soldier receiving treatment, the focus of everyone''s attention. "Dean, take a look at this nurse from your medical team..." "Foolishness!" With an explosive shout, the old dean glared angrily, "How can you treat someone like that? This is harming them, not helping!" "..." Silence fell inside the vehicle. It''s bad, more are going to die. "Let me do it." Bai E watched from a distance for a while, he hadn''t planned to intervene initially. If these rookie nurses could handle it, he had no interest in saving people; just a moment ago, he''d enjoyed a lively one-man battle that turned the tables, all of which offered more combat experience than the occasional sniping and finishing moves now. But the rookie nurse was not skilled enough and clearly couldn''t handle the situation; unable to bear seeing his comrades in distress, he had no choice but to rush over. "Oh, okay!" The rookie nurse breathed a sigh of relief. Having a master to guide him through practice was one thing, but being asked to do it on his own was like a headless fly not knowing where to start. "Treating this kind of wound with toxins can''t be done like you were doing..." [You are attempting to perform emergency first aid...] As Bai E worked, he explained his thought process. After plucking the wool from the players, he wondered if he could pluck it from other NPCs as well. However, it was clear the system didn''t acknowledge his teaching, as there was no response at all. Stay ahead with m v l em pyr ... [You have completed emergency first aid, the patient''s injuries have been stabilized, emergency first aid experience +6.] "Do you understand?" "Understood." ["Lucky Strike" charge +4.] Several admiring voices chimed in from behind, and as Bai E turned around, he saw several gazes of reverence fixed firmly on him. The rookie nurses were not skilled in their craft, and having a "senior" who seemed very reliable give on-site teaching had almost moved them to tears. "Medic! Medic! Help, please!" From a distance, the warriors'' roars could be heard intermittently. "Coming! Coming!" The rookie nurses who had received the "true transmission" dispersed and began to save lives in all directions. ... "Not bad." The hospital director inside the carriage nodded in satisfaction, then turned to An Lun, the head nurse following behind, "Who taught this soldier? He''s got solid fundamentals." An Lun''s face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he reminded softly, "He is 95B27..." "..." Upon looking back at the monitor, the director''s demeanor became more serious, and his gaze slowly shifted to Weslin''s face, "Entu, you''ve seen the facts... This rookie has a natural talent for healing and saving lives. Perhaps we should discuss the matter we talked about before once more?" "..." The atmosphere became even more silent. The honest man, Dewa, wore a strange look in his eyes as he watched the director. Everyone had seen 95B27''s performance. If we were to compare it with his talent for healing... S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s hard to say... I''m not going to say it. "Director, you have arrived late..." Finally, someone broke the silence. Video playback... The short video of just over thirty seconds gave the old man a small shock to his worldview, and both the director''s and the head nurse''s faces looked as colorful as an overturned paint box. "This..." Carlos was not willing to let his prized asset be taken away, "Now, do you still think he is more suited for a transfer to the medical department?" ... With logistics secured, the frontline warriors fought even more fiercely. If it doesn''t kill you, fight to the death. However, unbeknownst to them, a strange disturbance began to cover a certain area of the battlefield at an imperceptible level. The moment Rose, who was swinging her war scythe in battle, felt a change, she squinted her eyes to survey her surroundings. For some reason, the eyes of the lowly bugs seemed to come alive in an instant, and Rose could even sense a flash of more aggressive intelligence within them. The world spun around her. In the pitch-black space, pairs of malicious eyes began to appear one after another. Countless bugs from every direction focused on her simultaneously, and the pressure, tangible as it was, surged over her like a tsunami in an instant. Overwhelming and chilling. "I''ve been targeted..." Chapter 65: 065 Bug Race Commander! The bugs'' attack rhythm began to change markedly. They were no longer like a pack of starving hyenas, fixated only on the prey they had chosen. Nor would they abandon a target that was already weak and within easy reach simply because the human soldiers provided each other with interlocking cover. "What''s going on?" "They seem to have gotten smarter all of a sudden!" "Ah!" "Help!" Four or five bugs quietly encircled a soldier amidst the chaotic battle, only revealing their intentions at the last moment before pouncing like the most vicious hunters. As the bone-chilling screams tore through the air, the soldier''s mutilated body was torn beyond recognition by the clutches of the bugs. The anguished cries for help that arose everywhere jolted the remaining soldiers to full awareness. The bugs... had gotten smarter! ... "This is the real test." Bugs without a commander are just a mob of chaos; if humans could manipulate them so easily, they would not deserve to be humanity''s greatest threat on this planet. ... The bug commander had appeared! Was it a Brain Bug? Or a Mantis Bug? Continue your journey on m-v-l-e-m-p-y-r Only these two types of bugs in the recently played footage possessed command abilities. Bai E leaned towards the latter; the Brain Bug was the core of a bug nest and unlikely to appear here. But a Mantis Bug, an equivalent of a Bug Race platoon officer, could only command a limited area. Their small nest''s influence couldn''t cover a large range; the enemy had to be nearby! Where? Bai E turned around in one swift motion, scanning the entire field with his gaze. The area surrounding the training ground was quite open, and the few small obstacles couldn''t conceal a Mantis Bug that stood twice as tall as a human. The only place was... behind him, the armory storage, the ready room! "Run outside!" Upon realizing this, Bai E was startled, his body breaking out in a cold sweat, and in the next moment, he bellowed loudly. "In the back! Mantis Bug! In the back!" Bai E explained the situation as simply as possible; some of the nearby recruits were skeptical, as the front was a chaotic battlefield filled with hand-to-hand combat soldiers and bugs; others placed their complete trust in this War God who had performed miracles before and ran for their lives. Seemingly aware that its location had been discovered, the nightmarish creature emerged from the dark shadows of the tall ready room, with ground-shaking steps. Under the two scythe-like massive claws were the bodies of two recruits, cut in half at the waist, their blood flowing into rivers. The upper half of a yet conscious soldier weakly tried to call for help, reaching out to touch the world one last time¡­ "Crack!" The mandibles snapped shut, and the body hung limp. The sun was setting in the west, and even the last sliver of reluctance had been shaded. The scattered daylight spread from the horizon, casting an ominous blood-red hue over the vast training ground. [Mantis Bug (Bug Race) (Elite) ¡ª "Lucky Strike" kill drop: Guaranteed (Bug Tribe Essence Extract*500, 3000 battle experience points); High probability (Trait: Bloodthirst Instinct); Possible (Trait: Hive Mind)] The big boss had appeared! On the frontline, such Bug Race platoon officers might be a dime a dozen and insignificant against human artillery and armor, but to these fleshy recruits, it was almost a reaper inducing despair. The explode muscles of its lower limbs allowed this embodiment of death to harvest lives among the crowd effortlessly, sending soldiers in combat suits flying with a sweep of its bone-blade, crushing their ribs, spewing out blood in gushes. Not to mention, most of the recruits at the rear were shooter-types. A one-sided massacre! The horrifying creature from the Bug Race spread death and terror without restraint. As Rose was being besieged, she saw the collapse at the back and, with her eyes wide with fury, let out a heart-wrenching scream that echoed across the training field, "Run for your lives!" ... "The alertness is too poor. At first, the Mantis Bug was in a weakened state, and you''ve delayed so long allowing it to feed on several people that now these recruits will have a hard time killing it." "Should we terminate the trial?" Using lives as fodder might work, but the costs would be too great if the losses became excessive. With the previous battles, these recruits should be more or less battle-ready and shouldn''t drag their feet on tomorrow''s battlefield. Everyone in the command vehicle watched the highest-ranking officer, Commander Weslin, as he tapped his fingers on the tabletop, pondering for a moment, "Let''s wait and see a bit longer." ... [Warning: Mission has encountered unexpected complications and may end at any moment. Please kill the target "Mantis Bug" as soon as possible! Otherwise, the mission will fail! Countdown: Unknown!] "Run! Run outside!" Bai E clenched his teeth tightly, waving his hand to command. Reason told him he should retreat; there were 2000 recruits here, and even if it was a matter of piling up lives, they should theoretically be able to bury it. At such a moment, the core condition of the mission was no longer important. However, the impulse in his body was leaping arrogantly. "This isn''t training!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s not a drill!" Reason screamed wildly. This was real combat arranged by the military! Those high and mighty figures were sitting behind the monitors, watching their life-and-death struggle with cold eyes. Only those who have been through the ordeal of blood and fire are qualified to set foot on the battlefield and fight for the survival of humanity! Bai E knew everything! The abnormal actions of the military camp and the red dots that lit up in the cameras had almost made everything clear. As for the sacrifices in combat... This era never took sacrifice to heart. Just like the words spoken by the highest commander of the military district when he had just awakened¡ªthe foundation of the empire is built on sacrifice! If Bai E died, no one would care. The deaths of those recruits would be even less of a concern to anyone. But these soldiers, who had just been born, hadn''t even had the chance to properly see the colors of this world, even if it was the black color of despair! "Help! Help!" The genetically enhanced soldiers did not fear sacrifice, but this overly powerless death seemed to break the genetic order within their bodies. Under the panic, the recruit who fell and rapidly retreated on all fours watched as the tilting shadow enveloped him, the flow of time before death seemingly so slow, in his eyes he could see the fearsome beast slowly raising its right claw, its pale bone blade inching down. "Clang!" "Sss!" [You have used a weapon to parry your opponent''s attack once, heavy weapon mastery experience +5.] [Based on your attack block, you have gained the following information¡ª] [Mantis Bug (Bug Race): Health 260/260; Defensive Power: 15; Attack Power (Type: Slashing): 30~unknown; Skills: Bone Blade Projectile; Traits: Symbiotic Weapon, Chitin Armor; Mobility: 80% (Semi-weakened state)¡­] Metallic combat boots scratched the ground over several meters, the terrifying force numbing Bai E''s arms, lucky that the regular slash was still caught. Standard-issue combat sword, superior in quality. "Move quickly!" Bai E''s eyes were fixed on the fearsome beast in front of him as he whispered instructions to the recruit on the ground. It''s not training, it''s not a drill... can''t you be bolder? A battle group of 2000 recruits, were they really afraid of just one enemy? If today''s minor challenges can''t be overcome, what about the future? With his chest filled with boundless pride, Bai E let it surge and swirl within him. Surging emotions are not always a bad thing, humans... sometimes they can unleash 120% of their potential! "Cover me!" Blindly running away is but a prelude to collapse; the impact of the internal shooters on the delicate balance of the frontline melee soldiers'' rhythm. We must withstand it! Even if it''s hard to bear, we must persevere! "Yes!" The retreating recruits did not flee in terror due to the fear just now. The shadow of fear had been dispelled by Bai E, and what remained... Zhou lifted his rifle, "Bang!" "Bang bang bang bang!" A series of bullets came from all directions, the thick chitin shell easily blocked each bullet, but the kinetic energy that came with the bullets still made the seemingly invincible boss take a slight step back. The genetically enhanced soldiers would not run in fear; they were just waiting for the right moment to strike. Bai E spread his stance, lowered his body, and braced his left arm with the combat sword, all his focus honed. Chapter 66: 066 Listen to my great plan to defeat the enemy "Help me get out of this mess!" Rose, who kept an eye on the situation behind them from time to time, felt a surge of joy when she saw Bai E block the Grim Reaper but then was immediately consumed by deep worry. By himself... he likely wouldn''t be able to stop this terrifying creature. I must go help him! Once the option to entangle the beast with one''s life was discarded, only elite combat strategy could possibly lead to victory. And who else among the 2,000 new recruits could coordinate with him and lend a hand? Your story continues with m-vl-em|p-yr While fighting with worker bugs and wasp bugs was certainly important, it was clear that it was no longer the core of this current battle. Whether or not they could kill the mantis bug would determine the outcome of this defense battle! Rose''s orders were perfectly executed by the surrounding soldiers, not only could the bugs be controlled, but the human soldiers could equally respond. ... Bai E gasped for air, the cold airflow of twilight filled his lungs, taking away the heat generated by his intense movements. Three strikes, he had only blocked three strikes, and his hands felt as useless as limp noodles. Fortunately, although his "Fast Recovery" talent hadn''t been unlocked yet, it still had some effect, and the extreme training over the last three days had made Bai E all too familiar with combat under these extreme conditions. The biggest problem was that as the light grew dimmer, in the darkness, the humans'' vision was most likely not as sharp as the bugs'' senses! "I''m on my way!" A figure suddenly appeared in front of him. Rose was breathing heavily, speaking in a slightly fluctuating tone. "Help me take a strike," Bai E said, his spirit lightening slightly as the pressure of hovering on the edge of death eased somewhat. But his gaze was still firmly fixed on the mantis bug, which also seemed to be looking for an opportunity, its pair of dark, onyx-like eyes seemingly flickering with cunning intelligence. Rose concentrated, "Mhm!" "We must fight quickly and decisively." "I know, any ideas?" Rose, who had observed the battle here beforehand, was utterly clueless, even with the information obtained from the data she had no clue how to defeat the enemy. Just drag it out? But as twilight deepened, Bai E was right, they must fight quickly and decisively. "Yes," Bai E bit his lip lightly. ... "What are they talking about?" As twilight fell, the footage from the cameras became increasingly blurry. In this world, the night falls early, with the frequent black clouds often blocking the light diffusing through the atmosphere, making the night even darker. Moreover, the noisy chaos of the battlefield completely covered the not-so-loud conversation between the two, leaving the curious officers only able to vaguely see the two of them apparently discussing something. Could it be that these two new recruits really plan to work together to take down that mantis bug? "However, if it''s those two new recruits, there might actually be a chance." Their performance on the battlefield just now inevitably gave rise to hopes for their coordination. "But why isn''t the mantis bug moving either?" "It''s also looking for an opportunity. That new recruit called 95B27 is doing very well, not giving it any openings. Together with the firing support from the other recruits, it''s hard for the bug that just recovered from a weakened state to act. Moreover, as time goes by, its chances of winning get bigger... These bugs are not stupid," said a neutral party, simply commenting based on what they observed. The chitinous exoskeleton of the Bug Race indeed has strong defensive power, but like human combat suits, at joints and other areas where flexibility is needed, overly thick and heavy armor would clearly impede movement. The mantis bug''s shell, which couldn''t withstand bullets all over, had weak spots vulnerable to gunfire. That was the basis on which the other new recruits could restrain it with their guns. "Maybe we should end this..." the Dean was somewhat averse to seeing too many casualties, "The night is the bugs'' turf." Weslin pondered for a moment, "Let''s wait and see." If these new recruits could overcome this wave of invading bugs on their own, it would undoubtedly greatly enhance their combat effectiveness and confidence, which would be a good thing for tomorrow''s decisive battle. Among the officers, Dewa and Carlos were undoubtedly the most tense, both staring at the screen, fearing that their most valued new recruits would fall under the mantis bug''s blade. "Damn!" Dewa''s nerves spasmed abruptly. Rose was caught off guard! It seemed that in the process of consulting with Bai E, Rose''s concentration had lapsed slightly and her attention had shifted a little, giving the mantis bug a sliver of opportunity to launch a surprise attack. In the somewhat blurry screen, the massive body of the mantis bug erupted instantly, and what was more terrifying was its bone blade. The bone blade was retracted beforehand, which looked like a prelude to a spring launch! The spring-launched bone blade of the mantis bug could exceed the speed of sound, with astonishing lethal power. "Rose!" "Bang!" In the nick of time, Rose seemed to come to her senses at the last moment, placing the blade horizontally, ready to take the hit head-on. As the bone blade sliced into the combat knife, shards flew, and with the speed magnifying its force, the attack power of the bone blade was unimaginable. After shattering the combat knife, the sickle-shaped bone blade lost much of its momentum but still struck Rose precisely in the chest. "Pff!" The wild force instantly flipped Rose''s body over, and the crack of her breaking ribs was so sudden it made no sound, as the blood spurting from her mouth while she was flying backward painted the sky red. "It''s over!" Although Rose had reacted in time, the blow had clearly inflicted serious injury, and the so-called coordination... In the screen, Bai E seemed to lose his reason due to his teammate''s severe injury. He actually dropped the combat knife and rushed forward with his gun in an embrace. "Has he gone mad? Is he seeking revenge for Rose?" "Without the knife, how is he going to withstand the mantis bug''s bone blade?" In the corner, Yue Ying''s expression did not change at all. Her gaze had been fixed on the recruit referred to as 95B27 all along. The decision to drop the combat knife was not made after Rose got injured, but rather... at the very moment the mantis bug launched its attack! They were prepared; this was the trap he had set! But how is he planning to execute it? ... As Bai E advanced holding the gun, his eyes were cold. The bugs were smart, their wild and fierce appearance hid an unimaginably cunning mind. The bone blade of the mantis bug was indeed sharp, but it couldn''t easily cut through the standard-issue combat suits of humans. The slash attacks it had used on other recruits earlier had proven this... And this did not match the performance it had shown when it first appeared. The severed combat suits of the recruits were cut cleanly, not torn or stretched apart. This meant the bug had deliberately created panic to establish a sense of terror. Walking into a human military camp alone with a group of lower-class bugs, it also did not have absolute confidence that it could win this battle that was unexpected for both sides. It needed to establish dominance from the beginning! And it used its trump card to do so! If it could use the spring-loaded blade bit indefinitely, he certainly couldn''t withstand three strikes from it. Clearly, the spring-launched bone blade was not an ability that could be used continually. It wasn''t confident it could take him down with one strike, so it had been waiting for the right moment. Similarly, the existence of the spring-launched bone blade was also a huge deterrent to him. To truly defeat this terrifying beast, with the equipment he currently had, only the Gun Fighting Skill had the potential. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gun Fighting Skill could only be executed when holding a gun, but while he could ward off the attack holding a rifle, he wasn''t confident he could dodge a strike that exceeded the speed of sound; while holding the combat knife could block, but it couldn''t inflict lethal damage on it. The situation had reached a stalemate. Until the arrival of Rose... through the perspective of other bugs, the mantis bug realized that Rose also had the potential to injure it, and the balance that the two people had achieved together was broken. The opportunity had been bought with Rose''s severe injury¡ªthis was the only chance! [Gun Fighting Skill, activate!] Bai E''s form weaved and swerved, narrowly avoiding the sweeping bone blade of the mantis bug. As he neared, he executed the Flying Swallow step, climbing the twisting body of the mantis bug by leveraging its momentum, unfurling his rifle as if a great roc spread its wings! Chapter 67: 067 Explosion! Getting close, it became crystal clear where the exoskeleton didn''t protect, and Bai E pressed his gun barrel directly against the soft flesh beside the mantis bug''s spine where the thick chitin shell was absent and pulled the trigger hard. "Da-da-da-da!" The gun muzzle spat out flames lightly, and the flash of the Type 77 assault rifle was exceedingly conspicuous in the dark evening. Metal shell casings flew past occasionally scraping across Bai E''s cheek, his calm yet angry eyes reflecting the flames. [Heavy damage inflicted on the target''s weak point, causing 109 points of piercing damage! (Cumulative)] [Successfully unloaded firepower on the same target, Light Firearms Mastery experience +3.] Bugs aren''t like those metal clunkers, they still have biological organs such as brains and hearts. While these parts are certainly well protected, the body''s vulnerable spots are not limited to the core vitals like the brain and heart. The flesh exploding at the rear of the spine, the bullet storm that flooded in had turned the muscle tissue into a messy tangle. The hunt! Like a predator stalking its prey, the diminutive human launched a death-seeking attack on the monster twice his size. This scene imprinted in everyone''s eyes, something they would struggle to forget for a very long time. ["Lucky Strike" charge +7.] The expansion data wasn''t detailed enough, for instance, whether the mantis bug''s projectile bone blades had a minimum interval of use, and so on. The reason being that such elite members of the Bug Race were not considered an adversary for a regular human infantryman. What they truly had to contend with was the human''s heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, and other steel weapons. It was hard to believe how a human body could fight against them. The command vehicle was silent. The fearless warrior had just presented a perfect answer to this trial with his actions. But... Read the continuation at m-vl-em,pyr "Can it be killed?" The danger of the Bug Race lies not only in their bizarre methods of attack but also in their formidable vitality which serves as their trump card across the battlefield. "Hiss!" The mantis bug struggled frantically. From the moment it had gotten close to Bai E, it had been attempting to shake off this seemingly threatening opponent, but in just a few seconds it had suffered unimaginable horrible damage. Severe injury triggered its ferocious nature, and with a sudden burst of energy, Bai E finally stumbled and fell. As he landed, a nimble roll quickly got him up to regain his balance, preventing the bug from pursuing. The badly wounded bug had no intention of further entanglement with Bai E. Retreat! Run! At the command, countless worker bugs and bee bugs, in an instant, abandoned their opponents, rushing madly towards the direction the mantis bug was fleeing. And that direction... was exactly where Rose lay on the ground. "Puh~" The bone blade pierced through the thin spots in the combat suit, skewering Rose''s shattered and powerless body, and blood gushed from the corner of her mouth, frothing with blood. She was still alive. Humans do not abandon their comrades. Shielding Rose''s body in front of them, that became their bargaining chip to escape. The gunfire suddenly fell silent. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The cunning bug even used Rose''s body as a shield in Bai E''s direction, his most threatening enemy! "What''s there to fear! Fire!" "Indecisive!" The commanders, who sought results, did not care about the life and death of one or two synthetics. Killing this mantis bug, which wouldn''t have likely been killed otherwise, would make for a perfect answer to the trial! "Fire..." Half of Rose''s chest shattered, blood foam relentlessly gushed out from the corner of her mouth. Hoisted in front of the mantis bug, she couldn''t speak due to weakness, but she managed to smile broadly and mouthed to Bai E, "Fire..." "Bang!" The gunshot awakened the slightly quiet battlefield and echoed in the command vehicle for a long time. Under the dim night sky, the flare of the handgun was blindingly bright. The towering figure suddenly stiffened, then collapsed powerlessly. "Dead!" "They really killed it!" "What luck! To avoid hitting the comrade and strike the bug." "Good!" Inside the command vehicle, the old dean suddenly slapped the carriage, his expression excited. Carlos looked at him, perplexed, wondering why he seemed even more excited than himself? "It''s done," Weslin finally showed a smile on his face. He clapped his hands to draw everyone''s attention, "This trial is perfectly completed, and I will report the results to the Senate. Now... clear the field!" "Yes!" The army pulled back, armed drones descended from the sky, and speakers blared everywhere in the camp, "The trial has ended. Please, all soldiers, protect yourselves as much as possible; the drones have taken over." The somber atmosphere ended, and the officers got up to give each other high fives in celebration. The performance of the new recruits was their performance, and now they could also beam with pride as they reported the trial''s outcomes. Yue Ying, sitting alone in a corner, remained as silent as an outsider. The dim light obstructed the prying of the cameras, and she could only catch glimpses through the faint light and shadows. With her eyes slightly closed, her mind replayed the last few seconds before and after the final shot, with the images of Bai E, a bug, and Rose constantly shifting. "From that direction... it shouldn''t have hit." The carapace and Rose had blocked all vital parts; unless the shot hit the wound opened by the rifle, it would be hard to kill with a handgun. After a while, she slowly opened her clear eyes. Unless it was... "A curve shot!" "Rose! Rose!" In the midst of victorious celebrations, only Dewa was so anxious it seemed he wished he could fly back to the camp. ... "Huuh~" Bai E''s body went limp, all his courage seemingly draining away with his strength. What have I done? Directly confronting a Bug Race elite¡ªcould that really be something I accomplished? That was close! Got carried away... As his consciousness returned to reality, it received information that seemed belatedly, and panel alerts overwhelmed him like a flood. ["Lucky Strike" activated.] [Triggered Curve Shot! Successfully hit a target behind an obstacle, Light Firearms Expertise experience +8.] [Hit the target''s vital spot causing 151 points of critical damage!] [Target''s breathing has ceased, and basic vital signs are lost.] [Loot obtained: Bug Tribe Essence Extract*500, 3000 battle experience points, Trait: Bloodthirsty Instinct, Trait: Bug Hive Will.] [Detection: Current character does not match the Bug Race template; "Trait: Bloodthirsty Instinct" and "Trait: Bug Hive Will" are incompatible and have gone dormant.] [Side mission¡ªBug Swarm Assault, completed.] [Survivor count: 1713. Rewards have been calculated. Mission Reward: General Experience +856, issued.] "Only a little over two hundred dead..." Not bad, much better than he had expected. Bai E didn''t zone out for long, actually just for a moment. After briefly checking the prompt messages, he waved his hand, commanding, "Quick, save people!" Not many dead, but countless injured. Without prompt medical care, the number of those who could die was unknown. Hearing Bai E''s command, most of the soldiers who had freed themselves from the bugs immediately sprang into action. After this battle, Bai E was the unparalleled War God amongst the new recruits! [Would you like to pay 270 general experience points to upgrade the "Knowledge¡ªFirst Aid" level?] Confirm! ["First Aid Level 2" acquired, Technology Points*1 obtained.] [First Aid (Level 2): Quickly treat all injuries except for instant death, prevent any further deterioration, activate the target''s own vitality, target heals +3/H. (This effect requires the target''s own action point reserve: 10 points/H)] Approaching Rose, although the female soldier looked so wretched like she might die at any moment, she still managed a tough-looking smile. "Am I about to die?" Her voice was as thin as a thread, and Bai E read her words through her lip movements. "What are you thinking?" Bai E stretched out his hand to take the first aid kit passed from behind by other recruits, "I won''t let you die." [You are about to attempt first aid...] Chapter 68: 068 Post-war [You have completed one emergency aid, the target''s injury has eased, emergency aid experience +0.] [The "Knowledge¡ªEmergency Aid" series level has reached the maximum and cannot be improved.] "You..." Rose could clearly feel that her body was getting better, Bai E''s hands seemed to possess magic power, and now it felt as if a warm current was flowing through her body. Bai E sat beside her, gazing at the large lamps shining through the night''s thin mist from outside the barracks, his eyes somewhat distracted, "Don''t talk, you haven''t recovered yet." "Ow~" The empty training ground was somewhat silent for a moment, almost all the new soldiers seemed to have let go of all their strength as if shedding it off after the threat of the Bug Race had passed, and occasionally medical professionals would come over to inquire and check on each recruit to decide whether to treat them on the spot or take them to the infirmary. The new soldiers had just come into being, and although they did not fear life or death, it was all happening too fast... Their lives were the common currency of all humanity, and should be used more rationally rather than being easily wasted at home. The relief of surviving disaster fermented in the heart of every soldier, with everyone licking their own wounds. And the entire process of this battle revolved around an absolute center, with glances occasionally sneaking towards the same spot. That silently seated figure in the halo of the lighthouse had become the faith of many recruits in this batch. The center of attention, Bai E, remained motionless. Rose curiously stared at his profile. What was hidden in his gaze? Pity? Sorrow? Whatever it was, his eyes were like the stars that had fallen into the pond, twinkling and shimmering. She didn''t know what this warrior, unparalleled in courage, wisdom, and strength, was thinking at this moment? ... [Is the life of an artificial person really so insignificant?] There were also natural human new soldiers, Bai E had seen them in the past two days, but he hadn''t seen any in this trial. Was it targeted only at artificial people? Even if they were purely tools of war, wouldn''t it hurt to lose so many? It was just a test in the barracks, yet the military could bear such a degree of loss. If it weren''t for his significant contribution in this trial, who knows how many more would have died? If the losses reached a certain extent, would they... intervene? Bai E didn''t know, he had no answer. There was only one thought he knew¡ªwhen the rabbit dies, the fox grieves. Would he, one day in the future, also die as silently and obscurely as he did this night? Silently and obscurely? Bai E suddenly chuckled at his own thoughts. Was he afraid of being insignificant, or of dying? Strength! What distinguished him from the other new soldiers, waiting passively for rescue during this trial, was strength! Experience magic at m v le mpyr Despite the danger of this trial and the severe losses of the new soldier camp, the gains he had acquired... were probably much more than all the training results combined up to that point! [Name]: Bai E [Race]: Human [Template]: Initial Gene Modification [Health]: 105/105 [Identity]: Leader (Li Ming) [Physique]: 13.2/15 [Insight]: 10.9/15 [Reflex]: 11/15 [Mystery]: 8/¡Þ [Gene Optimization Degree] (Current inclination: Orc): 0.1/100 [Skills]: Gun Fighting Skill, Lucky Hit (Current charge: 44/100) Stealth (8/100) ``` Handicraft (74/100) [Traits]: Thought Dullification, Battlefield Instinct, Well-Trained, Bloodlust Instinct (Dormant), Hive Mind Will (Dormant) [Specialties]: Rapid Recovery (Locked), Self-Restraint [Mastery] (Potential Points*3): Light Firearms Specialization (143/2000) (Level 4) Heavy Weapon Specialization (246/300) (Level 1) [Spiritual Energy]: Unmastered [Knowledge] (Tech Points*4): Firearm Maintenance (89/300) (Level 1) Logging (17/300) (Level 1) Theft (2/100) Traps (31/100) First Aid (Bandaging) (Level 2) (Max Level) Dissection (30/100) [Technology]: None [General Experience]: 592 S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Combat Experience]: 3000 [Mutation Risk]: Extremely Low [Faction]: Li Ming (Reputation Level 1) ... Experience explosion! With a total of 3592 general/combat experience points, it''s enough for me to level up my current most prominent skill, Light Firearms Specialization, to level 5 with some to spare, and the remainder could even bring my level 1 Heavy Weapon Specialization up to level 4. Or should I directly raise Heavy Weapon Specialization to level 4 and see if it also unlocks a skill tree? Then use the leftover experience to activate abilities on the skill tree. Gun Fighting Skill had already given Bai E enough surprises; he speculated that the skill tree from Heavy Weapon Specialization wouldn''t be disappointing either. Alternatively, I could continue pouring experience into the skill tree unlocked by Light Firearms Specialization and unlock the previously hesitated "Precise Shot." There are many choices, and it seems that any method of improvement would bring satisfying growth. But too many choices have thrown Bai E into a kind of anxiety, uncertain about which method of improvement was the best choice for maximizing his progress. Or should he stay put? A level 4 Light Firearms Specialization was already sufficient for most situations, and without unlocking new special attributes, raising it to level 5 wasn''t particularly meaningful. Although the 2000 experience points required to unlock "Precise Shot" might not seem too much, it was the additional requirement of 2 potential points that especially concerned Bai E. He had suffered too many losses due to similar "skill points" in other games. Compared to experience, these were probably the truly precious resource. To be stuck later on learning a more powerful skill would be a serious issue. As for Heavy Weapon Specialization? Given his current role as a marksman, even on the battlefield, the chance that he would need to rely on his own close combat to break through was slim; leveling it from 1 felt like a waste. Rather than such potentially insignificant upgrades, the fact that these large amounts of combat experience were hard-earned was more important, especially the 3000 combat experience points from the rarely-used skill "Lucky Strike." He hadn''t forgotten it. The charge for "Lucky Strike" was hard to come by; his most recent battlefield prowess had netted him the highest one-time addition of just 50 points. That seemed to be the maximum charge he could gain from a single event or emotional experience in the short term. The charging mechanism of this mysterious skill suggested... it was an incentive to take action, to do things that would catch attention. Change... huh? This mechanism consequently meant that the next use of this skill was uncertain. In fact, even this time, Bai E wasn''t too keen on using it. Though the experience dropped by the mantis bug was plentiful, other rewards were mediocre, and two traits luckily burst forth that he couldn''t use temporarily because he didn''t fit the Bug Race template. When it came to the functionality of drop items, it was even inferior to him blowing a roadside fence... Basic construction techniques, oh~ If it wasn''t for witnessing Rose in danger and needing to resolve the situation *quickly, he would''ve preferred to save his critical hit chance for a more suitable target. Of course, the timing of its use wasn''t much of an issue. "Lucky Strike" required a finishing blow to kill, and using it prematurely without securing the kill meant it would be wasted. "Ah~" Bai E sighed deeply. Annoying! ... "Now there''s a problem, how should he be rewarded?" Seated in the base vehicle on the way back, Weslin tapped her fingers on the table, highlighting the most pressing issue. ``` Chapter 69: 069 Honor Tomorrow they would march to the battlefield, so there was no sense in delaying tonight''s trial reward. Normally, for a single trial, praise those who performed well, scold those who did poorly, and the matter would be considered settled, with everyone shouldering the consequences together. The problem was that in this trial, the new soldier with the code number 95B27 performed exceptionally well¡ªignoring it completely could invite criticism. But as for rewards... What to reward? Status? Position? For an artificial human destined to shed blood on the battlefield, these were useless to him. Money? Housing? It would seem distasteful to retract these upon his death... Weslin could not decide alone, so he decided to gather a wide range of opinions. Carlos was the first to suggest, "Gene Optimization Solution! His performance totally justifies applying for a dose of Gene Optimization Solution for him!" This suggestion was swiftly rejected, "A mere trial is not significant enough to merit the issue of Gene Optimization Solution." This stuff was a scarce resource across the entire city, with the Research Department producing very limited quantities each month. Was it even possible for an artificial newcomer to get a share? It was the only possible reward but seemed highly unlikely at the moment. The room momentarily fell into a deadlock. With Carlos leading the proponent faction, they didn''t have any ideas for other rewards either. An artificial human soldier... really didn''t need much. A better gun? More bullets? Better training conditions? Those hardly counted as rewards. "Then... announce his induction into the special forces squad," someone suggested. In the ensuing silence, the aged voice of Laurent, Carlos''s old team leader, began to resonate. "That would work!" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A good reward." Suddenly, a chorus of agreement nearly resounded simultaneously. Laurent''s proposal unusually gained the unanimous consent of almost all the officers from the three factions. Joining the special forces squad was an established fact, and to announce it publicly... was an honor. Offering the intangible honor to appease an artificial person was clearly the optimal choice, as it cost nothing. Carlos''s faction was not dissatisfied either; in doing so, they essentially legitimized the previous team leader''s irregular actions, making the question of 95B27''s affiliation more straightforward and quelling idle gossip. Perfect! ... Blinding floodlights illuminated those bewildered souls, as the battle-scarred new soldiers gazed up at the figure bathed in endless light. "Yes, this was an exercise without prior notice! Life offers no redos, and danger lurks daily. This was a test of everyone''s ability to react to crises, and I am pleased... You all did very well. And among you..." Weslin paused slightly, emphasizing his next words, "The soldier from Line 95, B27, has without a doubt shone the brightest! This is something everyone can attest to. Therefore, we have decided to break the precedent, promote him exceptionally. This newcomer who joined you will now be inducted into our special forces squad, which bears the hardest responsibilities! Let us invite this miracle-making soldier onto the stage with a round of applause to accept this honor!" Bai E, below the stage, was slightly taken aback. ??? What''s going on? He had envisioned many possible outcomes, such as being dissected... dissected... and dissected. Stay tuned with m,v le,mpyr After all, his fiery performance earlier did not seem like that of a recruit with less than three days of training, and his recent sorrow was partly due to this concern. But he hadn''t expected... that merely restating the facts would be considered a reward? That worked for him¡ªjust as he wanted! Bai E jogged onto the stage, his expression calm, still sporting an impassive face. "Anything you wish to say?" Weslin looked at Bai E, a gentle smile in his eyes. He remembered this artificial human, who would have been shaved bald by Yue Ying if not for his intervention. Moreover, this soldier had a compelling presence and was somewhat endearing. Adhering to the principle of keeping a reserved demeanor, Bai E replied somewhat stiffly, "I merely did what the instructors taught us to do, what I should do. I don''t know what else to say." Weslin felt somewhat guilty toward this pure and reliable soldier upon hearing Bai E''s words, "The instructors, no doubt, made a lot of effort, but you must have also undergone strenuous training privately. This is the honor you deserve!" Weslin turned to look at all the soldiers, patting Bai E''s shoulder while saying, "In light of Soldier 95B27''s performance during the new recruit training, we''ve decided to give him the highest S-tier potential rating. Next, as long as he can earn a small amount of combat achievements during the war, he''ll have the chance to obtain a precious and compatible Gene Optimization Solution!" Gene Optimization Solution! In fact, over the past few days, this was the term the new recruits heard the most, and Bai E naturally knew its value. The human body has its limits in strength. For Bai E''s body at present, even if he were to push his abilities to their limit through feedback from player tasks and diligent training, he would only reach a trifecta of physical attributes: 15 points in physical strength, insight, and reflexes. To break through the shackles of the human body, the help of Gene Optimization Solution is indispensable. It can push the three-dimensional attributes of the human body past the 15-point limit, opening up more possibilities for a warrior''s personal combat development. Also, according to some rumors, each use of the stuff might even unlock new traits for humans, with numerous functions. Only with this can one have a future. This is a true core resource, coveted by everyone. The mention of certain terms easily stirred up everyone''s emotions, and even some of the artificial humans, who usually lacked personal desires, seemed to breathe a bit heavier. Weslin''s lips curled slightly, very pleased with everyone''s reaction, "Of course, you don''t have to be disheartened. Anyone who demonstrates outstanding combat achievements will have the chance to obtain the precious Gene Optimization Solution. He''s just one step ahead of you! And tomorrow, it will be everyone''s opportunity!" The crowd dispersed, full of enthusiasm. ¡­ "Tomorrow is the battle, get some sleep early." Inside the tent, Dashan playfully slapped Bai E on the shoulder, "Tomorrow we''re counting on you, hero." Tiger stopped Dashan''s teasing, "Don''t tease Bai, he''s a serious guy." "So I''m not serious?" Tiger ignored him, just looking earnestly at Bai E, "I don''t know how the higher-ups made their decision, but... it''s very rare for artificial humans to get the Gene Optimization Solution. So, don''t push yourself too hard." Song Ying also nodded and added, "Do what you can." "Um~" Bai nodded, he had no intention of pushing himself to the limit. If his life were lost, no amount of Gene Optimization Solution could bring it back. Besides, he''d just checked, the 500 vials of Bug Tribe Essence Extract that dropped didn''t seem to be junk either. The so-called Gene Optimization Solution was made from this stuff... [Feedback from the commission, Stealth Experience +15.] (Cumulative) [Feedback from the commission, Ranged Weapons Mastery Experience +9.] "¡­Huh?" ¡­ "Shhh, keep it down." In the silent sewer, Dai Lian made a shushing noise. "They''re distracting them at the front, we''ll circle around from behind! We''re sure to catch the mastermind behind this!" Kuang Xin pointed behind Dai Lian, "Rat!" Dai Lian turned and shot. "Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~" [Successful hit on a small moving target, Ranged Weapons Mastery Experience +2.] [Multiple hits on the same target, inflicting 25 points of fatal damage!] [You have ended the battle, gaining 2 points of combat experience.] Under the barrage of arrows, the rats were killed. Bending down to retrieve the crossbow arrows he had shot, Dai Lian held his hand crossbow with some pride. This thing is much better than guns ¨C quieter, recyclable, truly the perfect weapon for assassination and must-have for households! Chapter 70: 070 Frontline Battle The army set out. The armored battalion''s tanks rolled out from the west side of the barracks, their tracks kicking up a haze of dust and sand. The armored vehicles carried heavy cannons, grinding out two deep tracks on the ground. The humanoid mechas moved slowly, each step shaking the earth. Mechas! The romance of men! Bai E had long heard that the armored battalion had gadgets beloved by many, but this was his first time seeing them with his own eyes. They were far away and hard to see clearly. But that didn''t stop him from supplementing with his imagination, based on various films and shows he''d seen before... It would be great if one day he could pilot one himself. As a member of a special squad, Bai E boarded a fully enclosed troop carrier. The nearest and most threatening Bug Race nest to the barracks was over fifty kilometers away. The journey was through complex terrain different from paved roads, and even by vehicle, it would take at least three hours. The wheels occasionally hit potholes, and everyone dressed in black combat suits swayed in their seats, their somber mood before entering the battlefield contributing to a silence within the vehicle. Bai E pushed against the steel armor, peering through a narrow reinforced glass window at his side to view the passing landscape. After leaving the barracks, the black and yellow earth spread endlessly into the distance, and occasionally on top of mud pits floated numerous white bones. Giant pale skeletons harbored strangely shaped black birds, their blood-red eyes staring at the passing convoy, waiting for potential prey that might fall behind. The withered and twisted branches resembled contorted human figures, standing unyieldingly atop the earth, their meandering and twisted forms full of a fierce malevolence towards this world. The closer they got to the target, the more bizarre the shapes of the natural animals and plants became, as if they were alien species from another planet, their black spikes and serrations seemingly stained with dark red shredded flesh. Even the dark, blood-soaked hard ground seemed to be covered with a layer of greasy, sticky mucus. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was said that the Bug Race were invaders from outer space, and it was only human resistance that had stopped their expansion. These extraterrestrial beings not only brought themselves but permanently changed the ecology of the planet. Three hours on the road was neither long nor short. With a prolonged "hiss," the friction of the brake discs signaled the troop carrier to a gradual stop. As they were about to fully enter Bug Race territory, all corps needed to be ready for an encounter. "Thump thump thump!" The leading officer in the front passenger seat knocked on the compartment''s door panel and shouted through the small window to the back, "Everyone down!" "Put this on." You, sitting next to Bai E, handed over a black mask, "The air in Bug territory contains microscopic organisms. Exposure for more than half an hour can lead to trouble. It''s a bit uncomfortable to breathe with this on, but don''t take it off." Bai E paused slightly, took it, and responded, "Okay..." The rear door of the troop carrier opened, and metal combat boots swiftly and agilely stepped down over the edge. Several troop carriers lined up in a row, and the elite soldiers disembarked in formation. "Assemble!" "Count off!" "One!" "Two!" "Three!" ... "Report! Squad A43 should have 6 people! All 6 present!" "Report! Squad A97 should have 5 people! All 5 present!" ... "Now to assign combat missions!" "Squads A51, A43, and B28 are responsible for following Vanguard Third Squadron!" "Yes, sir!" "Squads A22, A97, and B13 are responsible for following Vanguard Fourth Squadron!" Like his two companions'' squad leaders, Mo replied in unison, "Yes, sir!" A weird, fishy cool breeze swept up and around them as huge tanks thundered past not far away, and the infantry jogged in formation, keeping close to the armored convoy for cover. The sandstorm blurred the view, and the commanding officer of the integrated special squads clapped his hands, "Follow your respective combat units and enter first-level combat readiness!" "Yes, sir!" ... Bai E participated in war for the first time, following closely behind You and the others. "Is this the star rookie of your team?" The three special forces squads performing the same combat mission walked side by side, and a soldier with a scar over his right eye looked at Bai E, his mouth curling up with an inexplicable smile. Following closely behind, You took the initiative to introduce, "He was promoted from among the rookies." The scar-faced soldier''s disdainful gaze flickered over the Type 77 assault rifle in Bai E''s hands, and he scoffed, "Still using this kind of trash... Hope you don''t hold us back. Our boss is just a little military merit away from getting a dose of optimization fluid!" Walking ahead, Big Mountain couldn''t help but retort, "Don''t underestimate the guy! Little Bai is much fiercer than you think." Another soldier from the scar-faced man''s team couldn''t help but snicker, "A rookie who''s only had three days of training..." "Enough!" The squad leader at the front seemed to be talking to Tiger about something and, hearing the noise behind him, shouted to scold, "Why so much talk? Save your energy for the bugs!" It was clear that this squad leader had considerable authority, as his rebuke immediately silenced the soldiers. After speaking, the leader nodded at Tiger, "Take care of yourself!" "Goodbye, Mo!" "Goodbye, Tiger!" The two teams dispersed. The Vanguard Fourth Squadron was large, especially in an offensive stance, spreading out to an exceedingly wide area. This naturally required the three special forces squads to spread out individually, deciding which parts they were responsible for and allowing them to adapt flexibly and quickly as needed. In the midst of the formation, Bai E felt surrounded by figures in every direction, yet also an overwhelming sense of emptiness. The buzzing roar of the engines mixed with the footsteps of the advancing infantry flooded his ears. As he turned to look around, it felt as if the world was spinning before his eyes, a wordless pressure weighing heavily on his heart. How insignificant does an individual''s strength appear in such a battle situation? This was after he had already partaken in a small-scale skirmish the day before, and as an artificial human with innate qualities¡ªinstinctive battlefield adaptability. Imagine an ordinary person who hadn''t experienced this being sent to a battlefield... such oppressive, tense atmosphere alone could be enough to cause a breakdown. "Don''t take it too hard, they don''t really have much ill will." Seeing Bai E a bit out of it, Big Mountain believed he was bothered by the earlier comments and slowed his pace to come alongside Bai E, offering comfort, "After all, your training time has indeed been short." Short training time meant not being able to learn as much, a constraint of time, not a problem of personal ability. What was their special forces team''s duty on the battlefield? More elite infantry? Regular infantry would take on worker bugs and wasps, and they would take on praying mantis bugs one-on-one? No! Not every elite soldier could perform the feat of singlehandedly taking on praying mantis bugs, and humanity didn''t rely on that kind of individual heroism. What was war about? It was about equipment! Weapons! Competing in brute strength? Who could outfight these bugs? So the role of the special forces team was all-around infantry. Multi-function Infantry Vehicle? They could drive! Heavy machine guns? Flamethrowers? They could operate them. Tanks? Not a problem! Aside from those most specialized mechas, which were the domain of the armored battalions, the special forces soldiers could handle anything else. Perhaps they were not as familiar with it as those who received specialized training, but when something went wrong on the battlefield, the special forces team''s members could step in and fight. That was key. They filled gaps and prevented small-scale battle scenarios from spiraling into chaos. That was the purpose of the special forces team''s existence. And since they were responsible for the same squadron, a teammate''s slip-up meant others had to put in extra effort to compensate. It''s natural to feel resentment; the difference was that some expressed it while others did not. Bai E didn''t take any of those comments to heart. "I want to survive! I need to survive!" That was his sole thought. Tiger didn''t pay attention to the mutual comfort among his men behind him. He trusted his team members'' ability to regulate themselves. Stay updated on m v l e mpyr It wasn''t until countless sinister, jointed limbs began to wave along the horizon that he gave his order in a grave voice. "Prepare for the first wave of assault!" Chapter 71: 071 Hive Mind Compared to the horrifying scene of the Bug Race invasion before his eyes, the bugs that had infiltrated the barracks yesterday seemed as adorable as children''s toys. The sticky, clammy sound of countless bugs running filled the air, a dense and vast number that drove one to despair. Using an uncountable number of worker bugs and wasp bugs to first assault the human front lines was a tried and true classic tactic of the Bug Race. For the Bug Hive, these lowest-order bugs were merely endlessly producible tools, not to mention that the battlefield was within its own territory. The Bug Race could recycle all biomaterials. Corpses, even those blown to pieces on the battlefield, could be reclaimed and used to quickly produce the next batch of tools inheriting the flesh of their predecessors. Their endless craving for biomaterials and terrifying efficiency in utilizing them were the primary reasons they could dominate this planet. In the face of the Bug Hive''s first wave of assault, the main battle tanks, advancing in formation, let out a fierce roar. Orange tail flames propelled high-explosive shells, raining destruction upon the bug swarm, with earth and bug limbs and fluids flung high into the air. The heavy machine gun atop the Multi-function Infantry Vehicle began to sing, and the spent casings soon formed a carpet on the ground near the vehicle. Even the foremost heavy-armored worker bugs couldn''t withstand the surging firepower and fell down in rows. And yet, their numbers still seemed infinite, with no end in sight. The bugs weren''t just brutes knowledgeable in melee; after the human artillery opened fire first, large bugs much bigger in size were pushed forward by the tide of bugs into the visible range. Biological, earth-brown barrels, much like human cannon muzzles, were mounted on the backs of toad-like bugs, with faint blue light flickering within. "Target... location..." As Bai E was observing the distant battlefield through his scope, a deep and chaotic terrifying voice suddenly flashed through his mind. The voice was not of any known human language system, yet Bai E felt as if he could roughly understand its meaning subconsciously. So, he subconsciously turned his head toward the direction mentioned in the voice... behind his own position. "Whoosh!" A pale blue crystal traced an arched trajectory through the air, rocketing over the low battlefield with a supersonic speed unseen by the naked eye. "Bang!" The pale blue crystal smashed heavily onto a Multi-function Infantry Vehicle rushing from the rear to the front line, resulting in an immediate blaze that reached for the sky! The explosion''s roaring wind swept over the infantry squad marching near the vehicle, the gale entwined with faint blue electrical streams formed from residual static charges, exploding violently; soldiers too close were blown away, their bodies charred by the turbulent electrical streams. "Zzzzzz!" A flurry of static interference immediately filled the designated battlefield radio channel. "Boom!" A moment later, a light hot wind accompanied by the continuous roars of explosions reached Bai E''s ears. The Cannon Bug Symbiotic Weapon¡ªBio-Plasma Cannon! Information learned from the data files instantly surged in his mind. And it was not the only one! Bai E''s eyes widened as the subtle voice rang again in his mind, and earth-yellow orbs with a hint of green, akin to mortar shells, were lobbed from behind the bug tide towards the human position. Their speed was relatively slower, but a volley covered the sky, driving one to despair. "Pop, pop, pop!" Another variety of Cannon Bug Symbiotic Weapon¡ªSpore Mines! "Clear the minefield! Clear the minefield!" The squad commander screamed frantically, but his voice could not keep up with the spreading speed of the exploding Spore Mines. The acid completed the first wave of attack at the instant the Spore Mines exploded, with soldiers close by corroded by the acid, emitting a "sizzling" noise, and fell to the ground in agony. Green toxic smoke quickly spread out from the center of the Spore Mines'' landing, forming an indispensible killing zone. Human artillery shells could cause extensive damage to the bugs, while the bugs'' long-range weapons could also be lethal to humans. Even though humans were more tactically skilled and had intentionally spaced out their attack units, the relentless assault of bug shells still resulted in heavy losses. At least in Bai E''s field of vision, it certainly was so. "Target... location..." Find adventures at m v lem|p-yr "Target... location..." The cold and calm voice echoed in his mind, one after another. Bai E felt dizzy and overwhelmed, as if the terrible voice echoing in his brain were the scythe of the Grim Reaper, claiming a life wherever it pointed. Strength? Suddenly, Bai E doubted the significance of the training he had undergone these past few days. Personal strength seemed far too insignificant on this battlefield; his chances of survival seemed not much different than they had been three days ago. It had nothing to do with strength, only luck. "Don''t zone out, keep up!" You''s cool voice sounded not far away, snapping Bai E back to attention, his body slick with cold sweat. He, capable of self-restraint, should not have so easily fallen prey to negative emotions! What was interfering with his thinking? That... voice that arose inexplicably in his mind? Without a doubt, that was the so-called hive mind of the Bug Race operating in the shadows. Just as the untapped talent of rapid recovery could produce some minor effects, the latent trait¡ªhive mind¡ªalso brought him information others could not perceive. He shouldn''t sink into despair! He needed to use this unique advantage to do something! "Come and help! It''s easy." Subconsciously following You, Bai E heard Dashan''s call; he was already seated in an unmanned Multi-function Infantry Vehicle, whose original owner lay beside it, lifeless after succumbing to a spore mine''s attack just moments before. In the last few seconds of life being corroded by acid and poison gas, the soldier endured excruciating pain to drive the infantry vehicle out of the toxic fog''s reach. The corrosive acid did not spare the body, still sizzling as it spread across the flesh. Bai E glanced at it, then quickly turned his gaze away. Dashan, used to such sacrifices, simply patted the metal of the infantry vehicle''s roof and laughed heartily at Bai E, "Flamethrower, you know how to use it, right? It''s easy!" "Flames can cleanse these poison clouds; waiting for them to dissipate naturally is too slow," You explained coolly from the side. "Be careful on your own, we''ll go help elsewhere." Bai E nodded, understanding they were teaching him more about battlefield experience, "Okay!" "Bang!" The intense flames shot out from the muzzle, blowing away the grim green smoke. Flame is the bane of all carbon-based lifeforms, and the essence of the poison cloud is also a living thing. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Using a special weapon to purify poison gas, Weaponry Expertise Experience +2.] [Current Weaponry Expertise Experience 2/100, attain "Level 1 Weaponry Specialization" at 100 points.] The light of the flames reflected in Bai E''s eyes as the battlefield blazed before him. Every tactical arrangement of humanity had its reason; these were lessons learned through countless battles against the Bug Race. The Multi-function Infantry Vehicle equipped with heavy machine guns and flamethrowers was capable of handling nearby enemies and terrain limitations like poison gas; infantrymen operating close to tanks and armored vehicles were there to stop any small Bug Race creatures that managed to break through and enter blind spots in the firepower. Marksmen weren''t safe just providing long-range support from afar; they were no safer than melee soldiers. Advancing to operate the heavy machine gun from a Multi-function Infantry Vehicle might already be the safest and greatest achievement for most rookie marksmen. The lower-tier Bug Race creatures were not like the simple trial opponents of yesterday, with weapons like Hook Scythe Guns, Barbed Flesh Whips, and bone blades... The various types of symbiotic weapons were exhibited to their fullest extent on the Bee Bugs. His understanding of the battlefield deepened gradually in his mind, becoming ever more real. "Target... location..." The rough layout of the battlefield quickly formed in his mind. Bai E was startled and executed a front flip forward while roaring angrily, "Bail out! Run!" Chapter 72: 072 Side Quest - Air Raid Precautions "Bang!" Daya trusted his teammates unconditionally. Less than half a second after Bai E issued a warning, Daya immediately followed Bai E''s action and jumped out of the vehicle urgently, rolling several times upon landing to get as far away from the not-so-agile infantry vehicle as possible. The next moment, a spherical spore mine smashed onto the top of the infantry vehicle, acid exploded outward, and green toxic gas spread. The relieved Daya, who had just survived the disaster, looked at the infantry vehicle engulfed in toxic gas and exclaimed with some admiration, "How did you know it was aimed at us?" Bai E didn''t know how to explain and simply replied calmly, "Can''t you figure it out?" "..." Daya felt a tightness in his chest. Can''t figure it out, really embarrassed for you... The frontline battlefield was tense; the war with the Bug Race had no frills, starting with a fight to the death. Drones filmed the entire scene, so that the generals inside the command vehicles in the rear could stay updated on the battlefield in real time. From time to time, the screen would turn into a blizzard of static due to the drones being shot down by the Bug Race''s long-range weapons, but soon there would be a new drone feed coming online. "Miss Yueying, rest assured, through hundreds of battles big and small, we have come to understand this bug nest quite thoroughly. Today, we will surely take it down in one fell swoop!" Through reasonable tactical arrangements, Weslin, overseeing the whole situation, could see that the overall casualties were still within an acceptable range. The stern-faced Yueying didn''t make a sound. Right at the forefront... deep within the territory of the bug nest... an immense and terrifying will seemed to be watching them quietly. The dreadful radiation of Spiritual Energy... Humans, are they really prepared? Moreover, the losses on this front didn''t seem small; with each artillery strike from the Bug Race, there were casualties among the soldiers. This was just the beginning of the battle... The humans were able to endure such a level of loss to their own kind, something unimaginable for her Elf Race. In the chaotic frontline, the Bug Race''s artillery fire covered the invasion of the lower-class bugs. Following the chaos caused by the first wave of worker bugs and bee bugs, larger mantis bugs emerged from the surging waves of bugs and joined the battle. Discover what''s next on m-vl-em,py-r They were the squad leaders of the bugs, with a limited range of control. Only by joining the front lines could they direct the lower-class bugs to launch sufficiently threatening attacks. She felt her blade humming softly... But what then? Even if she were to go into battle, she would only manage to kill a few artillery bugs deep in enemy territory, which would have almost no significant impact on the grand scheme of the battle. It was those seemingly inconspicuous ordinary soldiers who were the real force capable of resisting this biochemical storm! No... there seemed to be noticeable ones as well. Yueying''s brow twitched. It was difficult to focus on any specific area in the aerial footage of the battlefield; however, the little black dots that managed to repeatedly escape the green toxic gas bombs stood out conspicuously, even in the overall view. The aerial footage was not clear, only faintly visible... "Bang!" A spore mine that had not even landed yet exploded mid-air; apart from the sparsely falling acid, the released toxic gas ineffectually floated in the air... S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Watch out for falling mines!" Bai E, who had received prior notification from the "mole," suddenly looked about a hundred meters away, where members of another special forces squad accidentally neared their own area while scrambling to put out fires around them. And the target of this spore mine attack was precisely that special forces member who had previously spoken sarcastically... On the chaotic battlefield, Bai E''s warning was obviously hard to be heard in time by the other side, and all Bai E could do in the moment was to shouldered his rifle as a last-ditch effort. "Bang!" [Successful interception of a fast-moving aerial target; Light Firearms Proficiency experience +3.] Watching the spore mine explode in mid-air, Daya was full of doubt about himself. "He said he calculated it..." One shouldn''t be so dazed on the battlefield, but the scene before him was too fantastical. "Could you calculate that, Song?" "..." Song Ying looked up at the spherical artillery shells that were being lobbed over from the rear of the Bug Race. "..." Having seen such a large volley of incoming shells, he immediately calculated the approximate trajectory of each shell, ascertaining whether they posed a nearby threat, and accurately predicted the impact points. He then quickly alerted others or intercepted them in midair... Although military training also included moving target shooting practice, nobody practiced like this, wow. This was a job for antiaircraft artillery with radar assistance. "You don''t have to do anything else; the air defense task in this area is all yours!" Tiger didn''t care about the difficulty involved. If Bai E had the ability, he would press the task upon him. [Triggered side quest¡ªDefend Against Air Raid.] [Defend Against Air Raid: The Bug Race''s artillery shells are dangerous and lethal. Preventing them from landing near your teammates is your greatest responsibility at this moment. Quest requirements: Intercept at least 0/10 spore mines before the war ends. Quest completion reward: +200 Light Firearms Mastery Experience.] Better than nothing. "Yes!" Bai E accepted the task immediately. Human antiaircraft gun¡ªModel 95B27 online! In the distance, a special forces soldier who belatedly realized he had escaped a falling spore mine thanks to a comrade''s warning, found Bai E who had saved him from certain death. He waved from afar and shouted, "Awesome! Thanks!" Another teammate specifically drove an infantry vehicle over to ingratiate himself, "Bro, look out for us more, I''ll buy you a drink when we get back!" ["Lucky Strike" energy +3.] ... An overly conspicuous performance, even in the eyes of generals overseeing the entire battle, was too attention-grabbing. While everyone else was struggling for survival under the Bug Race''s artillery fire, the soldiers in this area seemed to be able to ignore the spore mines entirely. What blessing of not dying under artillery fire? "Do we have antiaircraft artillery emplacements on the front line?" a two-star general asked, somewhat confused. "How could that thing move?" Antiaircraft gun emplacements were huge and had to be connected to a radar scanning system; they could only be set up near the camp as a defensive force. They were fighting on enemy territory; it was impossible for them to bring such equipment. "Then this..." "It''s man-made..." Yue Ying whispered, unable to see the specific situation from the distant footage, but this was certain, "someone is intercepting the shells." "That skilled?" "Is Carlos there?" Carlos: "?" Weslin turned to his aide, "Check which special forces squads are responsible for that combat zone; it must be the work of our elite special forces soldiers." "Trouble!" A general watching the frontline footage uttered a worried exclamation. Three mantis-like bugs, clearly different from the lower-tier bugs, changed their direction of attack... What humans could observe on the battlefield, the bugs knew as well. They wouldn''t abandon the overall situation to target a specific point on the battlefield, yet reallocating troops to eliminate the biggest threat within a small range was effortless for them. Together with the original two mantis bugs attacking in that direction... five in total! They were heading towards that miraculous combat zone! Chapter 73: 073 Fierce Battle "Support..." Stay connected with m|vl|e|mp|y|r [Successfully intercepted a fast-moving aerial target; light firearms proficiency experience +2.] [You have intercepted a spore mine, "Side Mission¡ªAir Raid Defense" progress 8/10.] Bai E, who had just blasted a spore mine out of the air before it could land, hadn''t had time to rejoice when he heard a fine noise, different from the previous grand and terrifying sound, echoing in his mind. Realizing what this meant, Bai E turned in shock to meet the malicious eyes of five mantis bugs rushing at him from all directions. Five of them! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Vanguard Fourth Squadron, attention! Vanguard Fourth Squadron, attention! An emergency has arisen, five mantis bugs are charging our formation. Reserve squadrons and special team members, be ready to reinforce at any moment!" The command from the rear command center blared out of numerous speakers. Upon hearing the voice in their headsets, all members of the three special squads in charge of the Fourth Squadron looked towards the frontline. The five mantis bugs that had launched consecutive attacks were now fast approaching the frontline, which was already in a critical situation under the cover of the dispersed low-level bug horde. "Squeak!" The barrels of several main battle tanks began to move urgently as they tried to lock onto the targets. "Dadadadadada!" The vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns, disregarding their heated barrels, roared with steel as they locked onto their targets. If these five mantis bugs were allowed to break through the lines, this battle zone would be lost in an instant, and the repercussions for the entire battlefront under the radiative fallout were unimaginable! However, these elite members of the Bug Race, though large, also possessed a remarkable degree of agility. The tanks'' heavy cannons could certainly pose a significant threat to them, but locking on wasn''t easy. It was a time when the rich experience of the tank gunners and their coordination with each other could lead to a successful hit through cross-targeting. "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" The armor-piercing and concussion grenades, trailing slightly different colored flames, roared out violently. A mantis bug that was hit by an armor-piercing round on its right side was flung into the air by the tremendous force; the concussion grenade that missed still managed to cause considerable damage among the horde. One! The mantis bug that was hit had a strong will to live and struggled to get up, but it no longer posed much of a threat. The invigorated gunner quickly swung the barrel around, aiming for the next ferocious beast! "Bang!" Triple crown. The mantis bug that was simultaneously hit by an armor-piercing round and a concussion grenade turned into dust on the spot, exploding in a shower of blood and gore. Two! "Boom!" The counterattack from the Bug Race was swift and fierce, not even allowing the soldiers a moment of exhilaration. The pale blue traces of light only left a fleeting remnant in the humans'' retinas before one of the tanks that had achieved two hits was instantly torn apart in a violent explosion, its residual electric currents shredding everything nearby, incinerating the infantry guarding the tank as well as the flying bugs trying to infiltrate it. The focused firepower on the mantis bugs consequently left the already precarious front line vulnerable to being rapidly breached by the Bug Race. Humans were the aggressors, but the bugs also fought with mad ferocity. The firepower meant to block the mantis bugs was also designed to resist the push of the bug swarm. Between the two sides was a delicate balance; the frontline that relied on the tanks as its first line of defense was instantly overrun by the bugs. The triumphant bugs crawled over the bodies of their kin, climbing atop the tanks and armored vehicles. The armored units, swarming with bugs, now resembled corpses of insects covered in ants. The situation was dire. What was more terrifying was that the remaining three mantis bugs had, with the invading swarm, broken through the line of defense! "Push forward!" Mo, the captain of the special squad familiar with the tiger, slung a heavy belt of ammunition over his shoulder and patted the metal beneath him as he ordered the soldier driving the armored personnel carrier. "Yes, sir!" With an unflinching expression, the soldier floored the accelerator, charging fearlessly towards the reaper wielding pale bone blades. Tiger activated the diesel engine he had been carrying all along... "Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~" The high-speed rotating chainsaw, like a giant sword, shrieked with the high-frequency vibration; its serrated edge blurred into a straight line. "Retake the tank!" The Bug Race''s attacks mostly targeted humans, except for the artillery bugs at the rear, as the symbiotic weapons of the assaulting bugs weren''t enough to threaten the thicker armor of the tanks. Thus, the reason for the loss of combat effectiveness of the armored vehicles often laid in the death of the soldiers operating them. As long as they could recapture those tanks submerged by the bugs, there was still a chance to stabilize the situation! It might be difficult, but the strong ought to do the impossible. That was the very duty of their special squad in the battle formation! An unexpected turn of events caused the situation nearby to heat up in an instant. Confronted by the cold, bloodthirsty desire of the bugs against the heated counterattack of humanity, Bai E felt as if everything around him was rapidly moving forward. Reinforcements arrived from all directions towards the front line to cope with the increasingly turbulent bug tide, and the elite Mecha of the armored battalion, which had been on standby, also stepped forward with heavy strides. Testing? Attrition? Maybe it was happening, maybe not. With the Bug Race, there was no war of attrition, yet every battle could be considered as such; no final battle, yet every battle could be the final one. From the moment the mantis bugs entered the fray, the war had blown the trumpet for a decisive victory. Bai E, caught in the midst of it, felt a sudden shock of astonishment rise within him. He realized¡ªdespite the fierce firepower of humanity and the bravery of the soldiers, the level of the war... was perhaps too low? Even the society he came from before traveling to this world, if a final war erupted between two superpowers, the level would certainly not be just this. The level of wartime technology... didn''t match the stage where artificial human technology was pointed out. Could it be that the potential development of the human body was holding back the advancement of technology? It was a fleeting thought. Bai E shook his head to clear these notions, as the pinnacle of world technology was far removed from himself and what was urgent was how to endure the current situation. The target of the bugs... was me! "Swish!" A blade moving faster than the speed of sound cut through the infantry vehicle, and the top half of the mounted heavy machine gun was unbelievably sliced into two. To overcome the barriers, this mantis bug had exerted all its strength. Bai E unbuttoned his combat suit''s chest pocket and took out a strip of chewing gum, swallowing it in two or three bites. After the commendation ceremony last night, Carlos had slipped him a bunch, probably for him to deal with moments like this. Facing the eyes of the nearest mantis bug, filled with bloodlust, Bai E, now feeling his reserve strength brimming, cracked a smirk. I''ve killed one of your kind before! [Gun Fighting Skill, activate!] "Brother!" "Bai!" Soldiers from all around cried out in alarm. Compared to facing the mantis bugs head-on, they felt it was more cost-effective to let Bai E act as a human anti-aircraft gun. "Tss~" Ignoring the cries of alarm filling his ears, Bai E swiftly side-rolled, narrowly avoiding the long-range attack launched from the connecting point of the mantis bug''s blade¡ª the Corrupting Gun. The mantis bug from yesterday did not have a chance to use it, but Bai E certainly hadn''t forgotten about this capability. He didn''t need to be faster than the ballistics of the worms'' spitfire, just quicker than the decision-making time of the mantis bugs, that was enough! Perhaps the battle from yesterday had awakened the ferocity within Bai E''s bloodline, or maybe the latent trait "Bloodlust Instinct" was affecting his decision-making process, or perhaps it was the sacrifice of his comrades that Bai E couldn''t bear to witness. He didn''t want to understand these things, nor was he willing to suppress everything with self-restraint. Right now, Bai E just felt... His body was somewhat agitated! Chapter 74: 074 Spiritual Energy Field The Gun Fighting Skill and the well-trained trait effects were simultaneously activated, allowing Bai E to precisely collect all the battle information around him. Metal war boots scraped across the ground as Bai E abruptly performed a Z-shaped dodge to evade the predictive Corrupting Gun shot from another mantis Bug. Arching his body to avoid the mantis Bug''s blade that swept past his face, Bai E stepped twice onto the rugged exoskeleton of his opponent. The same technique, as long as it''s useful, will never become obsolete. With prior experience, Bai E carried out the maneuver even more deftly. [You rapidly collect information on the battlefield during combat, reacting flexibly. Insight +0.1, Reflex +0.1.] "Target¡­ location¡­" Bai E, who hooked one foot around the edge of the carapace, did not fire immediately; instead, he took less than half a second to aim as he turned around. Fire! "Bang! Bang!" [You have successfully intercepted fast-moving targets in the air, Light Firearms Mastery experience +5.] [You intercepted a Spore Mine, "Side Quest¡ªAir Raid Precautions" progress 10/10.] [Side Quest¡ªAir Raid Precautions, completed.] [Mission Reward: Light Firearms Mastery experience +200, awarded.] Two Spore Mines flying from different angles were intercepted midway. Bai E then swung the rifle muzzle around and unleashed all its firepower on the Bug beneath him. [Multiple precise hits on the same target''s weak points, dealing 82 points of piercing damage!](Accumulated) [Successfully poured fire on the same target, Light Firearms Mastery experience +1.] The mantis Bug in pain struggled violently, but Bai E, with his prior experience, did not let it break free easily; his one hand and one foot hooked into the chitin carapace''s crevices made it difficult for him to be thrown off. The only thing to be cautious of was¡­ "Swoosh!" A dark worm brushed closely past his cheek, while the two other mantis Bugs at a distance could still lend support to their comrade with their Corrupting Guns in hand. "Boom!" It wasn''t good for a tank facing its own camp to fire, but its heavy steel body roared to the extreme. The tank that had been recaptured by Tiger charged back into the fray, ramming into a mantis Bug that had stopped to shoot. These Bugs were indeed flexible in their movements, but they proved to be quite clumsy when firing¡­ The three infantry vehicles on the other side fired simultaneously, beating back the last mantis Bug into a retreat. The mantis Bug, unable to rid itself of Bai E, was almost single-handedly killed by him. "Dada Dada Dada!" As he emptied an entire magazine of bullets, the mantis Bug''s huge body, bearing its king, slowly collapsed. [Multiple precise hits on the same target''s weak points, dealing 168 points of fatal damage!](Accumulated) [Successfully poured fire on the same target, Light Firearms Mastery experience +1.] [You have thoroughly killed the target, earning 50 points of combat experience.] ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +21] Bai E, with some sticky body fluids splashed on his legs, jumped down lightly, his face still as motionless as dead water, without a ripple of emotion. The drone attempting to lower its flight altitude to observe the specifics of the battle zone remained hovering in the air. Big Mountain repositioned the jaw of another team''s special forces member beside him. "This this this... Is this the new guy in your squad?" Big Mountain boasted proudly, "Do you understand what star rookie means in terms of value?" Bai E glanced at him from afar and casually reminded, "Behind you." ¡­ In a crisis, all soldiers performed exceptionally well, perfectly repelling the sudden onslaught. The next wave of mantis Bugs, mixed with the Bug swarm, attacked again, but they could no longer make a fatal breakthrough against the stable frontline with reserve force support. "Thud! Thud!" The shadow loomed over Bai E''s head as the slow-moving Mecha finally arrived at the frontlines. The Mecha, at least ten meters tall, lifted its tank-like feet high amidst the sounds of pistons and jet propulsion, and stomped down on the Bug swarm. "Squish~" Under the terrifying weight, the Bugs burst open like squeezed toothpaste in an instant. Aside from a few Bio-Plasma Cannons that could pose a sufficient threat to these war machines, the other Bugs on the battlefield were incapable of resisting these steel constructs even slightly. The mecha, easily slicing into the insect swarm, unfolded its chest armor, and dozens of small missiles burst forth like darting fish, blooming into flowers of flame under its feet. "Dadadada!" The rotary cannon on its right arm fired at full force, madly reaping. The massive size brought enough defensive power, but it also meant the ability to carry countless heavy weapons. Each mecha was an absolute ruler on the local battlefield! "This is our ultimate weapon!" "A mere Bug Nest, nothing to speak of!" Weslin somewhat excitedly boasted to the Elf Race''s emissary about human military force, "Our Titan-class armaments have never been used until now, precisely so that we could eradicate the Bug Nest in one fell swoop during today''s decisive battle!" Under the cloak, Yue Ying''s complexion was somewhat pale, with fine beads of sweat seeping out from her fair skin. A terrifying Spiritual Pressure was brewing in the depths of the Bug Nest. How could humans know if the Bug Race had exerted its full strength when they themselves had never done so? Humans seemed to have stirred something terrifying. "I suggest..." Yue Ying lightly spoke, yet struggled to continue. As an outsider, would these humans believe her? "What did you say?" a nearby commander kindly asked. "It''s nothing." Yue Ying shook her head, her knuckles white as she gripped her long sword under the cloak. "What is that?" In the distant footage captured by the drone, a red circular form slowly rose from the edge of the Bug Nest structure. Discover more stories on m_vl_em_p_yr Higher and higher... and higher... A... creature similar to a mantis, only much larger and notably possessing four scythe-like arms, appeared! A variant of the mantis insect? But there seemed to be slight differences in its features; the mantis insect had a more slender form, and its exoskeleton wasn''t as thick as this newly emerged creature''s. "Isn''t this the insect that was photographed from a distance by the drone that one time?" "It''s big, huh..." Low murmurs rose in the command vehicle. "Is it a variant of the mantis insect?" Yue Ying stared intently at the target appearing on the screen. The drone couldn''t convey the pressure of Spiritual Energy, but she instinctively felt that the overwhelming Spiritual Pressure was emanating from it. The sea of insects, parting as if to welcome a king and creating a wide thoroughfare, was the clearest evidence. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... "Thump thump!" "Thump thump!" The sudden appearance of the gigantic insect instantly captured the attention of nearly everyone on the battlefield; all sentient beings couldn''t help but look towards it. For a moment, the battlefield was so quiet it seemed you could hear your own heartbeat. No! You could actually hear your own heartbeat. Getting faster and faster! "Thump-thump! Thump-thump!" Some soldiers, powerless, dropped their weapons and knelt on the ground, bewildered. The Titan-class armed mecha stood silently in place, as if they had lost all power in an instant. On a silent battlefield, that voice in the mind conveyed unimaginable brutality. It roared through like a tempest, sweeping over the souls of all sentient beings present. Rage! Rage that seemed to fill the chest and could burst at any moment! A breath held in the chest, unbearable unless released. Bai E''s veins bulged, struggling for a long time before finally breaking free from the constraints, and he bellowed fiercely, "Run!" [With the help of "Self-Restraint," you have successfully passed a "Psychic Check."] [You have successfully passed a mystical resistance check, mysticism +0.1.] Chapter 75: 075 Flee in utter defeat! All control is lost! The elite soldiers of the veteran army were almost entirely paralyzed. Watching the soldiers in the screen, who didn''t flinch or evade even as the bugs tore at them, the generals, far away, still had no idea what was happening. Aside from a faint sense of palpitations... they were also driven away by an anxious impatience. Weslin furiously picked up the walkie-talkie, "What are you doing? What are you doing?" "What are you doing? What are you doing?" The voices coming from every corner of the battlefield were particularly jarring, yet no one responded. Only when a black dot first fled backwards did movements gradually start to ripple across the entire battlefield. "Run!" The voice of Bai E was like a wake-up call for those in a deep slumber. Some of the soldiers snapped out of it as if from a big dream, but still trembled with pale lips. Stay updated via m_v_l_e_m_p_y_r Not daring to take another look at the newly appeared red monster, they turned around, dropped their weapons, and ran! Like sands flowing through a desert, streams of soldiers converged into a river, running backwards in terror, utterly disorganized. The red giant bug, not known for its speed, slowly moved forward, coming up to the closest human Titan-class armed mecha that had plunged into the sea of bugs. Its arms, which looked no different from the bone blades of a mantis bug, swung, and the towering mecha was instantly sliced into three parts. The cuts were impeccably neat, sliding down gradually at an angle. "Thud!" The noise of it hitting the ground was earth-shattering. "My mecha! My mecha!" Hamilton watched in utter disbelief as the core weapon in his hand was destroyed. Mecha armor was tougher than that of tanks, made from the highest-grade advanced alloy humanity could currently produce. How could this happen... how could this... "What''s going on? What exactly happened?" Weslin was both shocked and angry. What happened at the front line? An unanticipated situation unfolded before his eyes, yet no one could provide him with a reasonable explanation. "Can someone go check it out?" "No need..." Yue Ying, who had been biting her silver teeth and trembling slightly in the corner, suddenly spoke up, "They won''t be coming back." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, everyone turned to look at the silent Elf Race swords-master. "Spiritual energy... the collective sea of the Bug Race''s spiritual energy far surpasses the will of any individual. That new bug that appeared is the master controlling it all!" "Bugs have spiritual energy?" "Isn''t their overlord the brain bug?" This did not match the humans'' long-standing observations of the Bug Race, leaving the generals present somewhat puzzled. Yue Ying shook her head, "This is the reality before us." Perhaps the Bug Race had two overlords: the brain bug governed internally, while the newly appeared bug exerted control externally? Perhaps it was also a variant of the brain bug, since the bugs'' evolutionary and transformation abilities were strong. When the bugs first landed on the planet centuries ago, they were completely different from now. But no matter what... "If they have such strength, why haven''t they..." Why haven''t they completely devoured humanity? In human observations, bugs are gluttonous creatures that covet the biomass of all life forms. If they haven''t eaten you yet, it''s because they can''t beat you, not because they don''t want to eat. With such a powerful domain of spiritual energy that could instantly control all living beings, they should have swallowed cities whole long ago! This planet would have been under the rule of the bugs already. Yue Ying shook her head, remaining silent. How could she know the specifics? Her innate sensitivity to spiritual energy allowed her only to make these observations. And now the most pressing issue was, "How do we retreat?" The situation had become a rout, and their priority now was to minimize losses as much as possible. "Go and gather those deserters." Ice-cold fury burned in Weslin''s eyes as he donned his black filter mask and leather gloves impassively, yanking open the car door. "Let''s see what our bravest warriors fear death for!" "Huff! Huff!" Even the rear of the battle lines was in chaos at this moment. The reserve forces had been urgently ordered to halt their advance, the center wavered between fear and ignorance, and some of the front-line soldiers were retreating in a frenzy. Groups of officers, braving the wind and sand that filled the air, had the corners of their dark green coats blown about by the raging winds of the plains. The first thing they saw was a soldier retreating from the center line. "What happened?" Weslin grabbed him, trying to meet his fearful gaze with his own, "You''re safe! Tell me, what happened at the front line?" The fleeing soldier struggled frantically, yet he was powerless against Weslin''s hands, strong as steel bands. After calming down a bit, he shook his head, bewildered, "I don''t know... I don''t know..." Weslin pushed away the soldier, who seemed to have lost his wits from fright, and stopped another one, "What happened!" "I don''t know..." "What happened?" "I... I..." It took stopping several more before one soldier was able to collect his thoughts a bit. "Commander... I, I became a deserter!" The soldier who had come to his senses was filled with regret for his choice, crying as he spoke, "I''ll go back! I will go back! I want to rejoin the battle! I will kill the enemy for humanity!" "You''re very brave! Soldier!" Weslin had no time to entertain the self-redemption of a single soldier and just squatted to look into his eyes, "Tell me, what happened on the front line?" "The front line... the front line¡­ everyone is retreating!" The soldier knelt on the ground, clutching his head with both hands, "I don''t know what happened, darkness covered my mind, fear¡­ I shouldn''t have feared! Commander! I want to go back! I want to kill the enemy!" More chaotic footsteps came from ahead, and Weslin, who could not ascertain much detail, stood up and gazed into the distance. The slight, cool breeze coming off the Blackrock Plains blew away the obsessions in his heart, and Weslin sighed with resignation, "No need to kill the enemy anymore." The defeat was sealed. Fear? The spiritual energy powers could affect such a vast battlefield simultaneously... This was a significant discovery in the realm of spiritual energy. Human psychics had never managed such a feat before. Until a major breakthrough was made in protection against mental-level spiritual energy, this hive would remain an insurmountable mountain for humanity. The fault wasn''t with them, it was not a sin of war. Weslin felt a mixture of emotions and waved his hand, "Prepare for an orderly retreat!" ¡­ [???] All was ??? Even the drop rates marked by a lucky hit didn''t show any information about the bug. What this signified, Bai E was not quite sure, but one thing was certain... it was a creature beyond human opposition. Instinctively, Bai E started to flee, but after just a few steps, he slowed to a stop. What about my teammates? My comrades? Everyone? Hu, You, Dashan, Song Ying¡­ Looking back, Hu seemed to be struggling a bit, You was rigid and motionless, Song Ying... like a statue. They weren''t dead yet! They couldn''t die here! "I can''t just leave like this!" Having passed the mental fortitude check, Bai E was able to think clearly. Under the dominion of that mental force, not just humans, but even the bugs had nearly stopped their assault. They were still far from a complete collapse, and for the moment, it wasn''t so dangerous. Perhaps... perhaps I can save some people? Chapter 76: 076 Whose subordinate is this? Bai E turned back and found Dashan. Wanting to retreat with everyone, relying solely on his own two hands and legs was definitely not enough¡ªinfantry vehicles capable of carrying more people were faster and more agile. But he couldn''t drive, and the brief three-day training wasn''t enough for him to master so much knowledge. Given time, he might have been able to figure it out on his own, but time was what he lacked the most at the moment. He needed to wake Dashan up, as it was him who had been driving the infantry vehicle in coordination with himself just now. Read more tales on NovelFire-l-em,py-r "Slap! Slap!" Having no qualms about the thick-skinned Dashan, Bai E slapped his face without reservation. "Wake up!" "Slap! Slap!" "Hmm?" Dashan shook his head vigorously and jolted awake, as if he had been trapped in an unimaginable nightmare, his face filled with lingering fear. "It''s okay! It''s okay!" Bai E held his face, making him look into his eyes, "Breathe deeply! Breathe deeply! We need you, be calm." "Hoo~ Hoo~" Dashan obediently followed the instructions and after a while, he began to calm down. He looked around in shock, only to realize the battlefield had taken on a bizarre appearance. "What... what happened?" "That bug terrified everyone," Bai E locked eyes with him, pointing toward the distant crimson giant bug, "We need to lead everyone in a retreat now, understand?" "I¡­ understand!" Despite coming to his senses, Dashan''s hands and feet were still trembling involuntarily, the oppression of Spiritual Energy constantly affecting his body, "What should I do?" "Drive, take everyone away." "Okay! Okay!" Though his thoughts were somewhat muddled, Dashan was now utterly compliant with Bai E, "I''ll drive, I''ll drive." "Hum~" The sound of the infantry vehicle''s engine starting was not particularly noticeable amidst the gradually spreading scene of soldiers fleeing, but Bai E instinctively glanced at the overlord bug, still far away. For some reason, it seemed as if the overlord bug glanced their way... But there was no additional action; perhaps it was just an illusion. After waking Dashan up, things started to get easier. One by one, they hoisted You, Tiger, and Song Ying onto the vehicle like sacks, and the not-so-spacious infantry vehicle began to feel crowded. "Take them away." Bai E patted the vehicle door, signaling Dashan to take them. The vehicle was too crowded for him, so he could only run alongside. The chaotic battlefield swept by behind him as Bai E passed numerous soldiers standing rigid, and saw some soldiers tripping over themselves in their panic-stricken flight; even without enemies close on their heels, they frantically crawled on all fours across the ground... The sound of the wind whistled past his ears, the sight of the fleeing soldiers felt desolate. The range of the overlord bug''s mental radiation was extraordinarily large, nearly covering two-thirds of the human front line. It was not until they retreated to the middle line that he could see the soldiers'' mental states gradually returning to normal. How many people were there? Bai E didn''t know exactly how many soldiers were in the camp; in the heat of battle, it felt as though people were everywhere. But with everyone mobilized, there had to be at least tens of thousands. What was two-thirds of that? These soldiers were the city''s most loyal guards, as well as its strongest force. Under a fallen nest, how can there be whole eggs? But humanity''s enemies were not just bugs. The troublemaking beastmen... the Mechanic tribes that had been quiet but could not be overlooked. Wild beasts, mutants... although there were institutions like the city guard and Heretical Arbitration House in the city, the absolute military power was always in the hands of the military... The genetic restriction within him roared. The education of modern society awakened. Bai E, who had never faced such a situation, had never anticipated what choices he would make if it came to pass. But when it unavoidably came before him, it seemed all questions had their answers. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. While running, Bai E gradually clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white with force. If there''s a spark of heat, it emits a glow... Suddenly, Bai E accelerated, running towards an oblique direction. "Hey? Where are you going?" You, who had just come to on the infantry vehicle, weakly called out, trying to retain him. Bai E didn''t look back, "Rescue people." ... The transport vehicle''s driver was waiting in the vehicle when suddenly a figure burst beside him at the co-driver''s seat, "Teach me how to drive!" "..." The driver was utterly baffled, what did this mean? "Teach me." Bai E showed his badge, the shiny black metal clearly displaying Bai E''s identity, "No harm intended, I need to rescue people." Seeing it was one of their own, the driver was no longer so tense, but he still hesitated a bit, "Although it''s not complicated, it''s easy to get started with such a large vehicle but not easy to get familiar with. Where are you going? If I apply for it, maybe the superior can let me join you." Bai E pointed ahead, "You can''t go." He had thought about organizing a military rescue, but the soldiers already in the dominator''s territory were in that state; the soldiers from the rear probably would face the same fate if they entered. The only choice was to move freely without being affected. "..." The driver actually wanted to give it a try. The soldiers up front were in retreat, but who has legs that can outrun a vehicle? However, he had not yet received orders from the superior, so he didn''t dare act on his own. Idling was boring anyway; Bai E wanted to learn and he didn''t mind. "I can teach you, but it''s hard to drive such a big vehicle at will... this is the throttle, this is the brake, this is the gear, and here is a switch to open the emergency armor..." [You are now learning "Knowledge¡ªConventional Vehicle Operation," progress 100%.] [You have mastered "Knowledge¡ªConventional Vehicle Operation," and you can now raise the level of expertise by investing "Universal Experience."] "I got it." "You got it?" The driver looked at Bai E with some confusion, "You got it too soon. Even with driving, there are tricks and insights, and you can''t get them into a ditch; off-road plains here are not paved and it''s easy to flip the vehicle, and if you don''t drive well, you''ll be banned from driving." Bai E kicked the driver out of the driver''s seat and said with a stern face, "You talk too much..." [Would you like to confirm spending 100 Universal Experience points to raise the level of "Knowledge¡ªConventional Vehicle Operation"?] Confirm! [You have learned "Level 1 Conventional Vehicle Operation," and have simultaneously gained 1 Technology Point.] [Conventional Vehicle Operation (Level 1): You are now familiar with the driving methods of most conventional vehicles and can skillfully handle various non-extreme terrains while slightly improving the riding experience of passengers, with over-speed control increased by 5%.] ... "Tsk!" The tires kicked up dust as the vehicle roared away into the distance. The driver dumped on the ground ate a mouthful of dirt but didn''t forget to shout at the rearview mirror, "Don''t drive too fast since you''ve just learned!" "..." No, that''s wrong! "That''s my damn vehicle! The superior hasn''t given the order yet!" The driver from the next vehicle, hearing the noise, poked his head out, "How did your vehicle get driven off?" The unlucky driver had a gloomy face, "How should I know what''s going on..." Another driver poked his head out, "Stop chatting, the superior wants us to assemble urgently! Something big has happened!" ... Close to the centerline of the battlefield, Weslin watched a row of combat vehicles advancing to the front along with a group of officers. Once the vehicles reached a certain limit, their routes became erratic, as if they had drunk fake alcohol, with some even colliding with each other. "Ah!" "Failed again..." "There''s absolutely no way to organize a rescue." Through the drone footage, the center line was somewhat better, seeming to be far enough away that most soldiers were able to react and instinctively retreat to the rear. But what about the front line? Facing fear directly, they sank into fear for a longer time, and even now, only a small amount of soldiers like flowing sand were able to escape. If all those soldiers were to fall at the front line... The loss was unimaginable. "It won''t work this way..." The officers sighed with dismay, and the atmosphere was low. "Where are your spiritual energy users?" Yue Ying suddenly asked from the side. "Spiritual energy users..." The officers looked at each other. "There are too few spiritual energy users..." Most people could sense spiritual energy but were far from having a spiritual energy talent, and those with a rare spiritual energy talent were naturally treasures among humans. Most of them were dispatched to various institutions and agencies in the cities, leaving few at the military camp. And the value of thousands of ordinary soldiers might not be as high as that of a single spiritual energy user, making it a risky proposition to use them... Ying frowned, simply offering her opinion, "Right now, only spiritual energy users might be able to go in and rescue." "Spiritual energy users..." Weslin muttered to himself, finding it difficult to decide. The comparison between the loss of thousands of ordinary soldiers and the loss of all the spiritual energy users in the army... "Tsk~" A slight commotion from somewhere not too far away suddenly drew the attention of the silent onlookers. The engine roar and the chaotic driving transport vehicle stirred up a commotion. The direction of the vehicle''s front was straight, plunging into the domain sealed by the dominator up ahead. Weslin watched the transport vehicle get further and further away with unfocused eyes, uncertain, "Whose subordinate is this¡­" Chapter 77: 077 Seven in and seven out... After a moment''s hesitation, Weslin waved his hand and ordered the troops behind him, "Have the drone follow him." Disobedient soldiers are indeed infuriating, but this one is currently the only seedling... Once the car enters the dominator''s domain, he is the only one who can guarantee a normal driving trajectory. If ordinary soldiers can also do this, does it mean there is no need to deploy spiritual energy users? The chances are slim, but there is always hope. "Let all the soldiers who can drive try it!" The remotely controlled drone took off after the troop carrier, maintaining a low-altitude flight while lockingly fixing its perspective firmly on the vehicle. The live video feed, through a wireless connection, appeared on the rear screens¡ª The yellow sand kicked up by the wheels buried the tracks behind them; the heavy troop carrier accelerated slowly but steadily. The faces of the fleeing soldiers they passed showed panic and fear. Some seemed crazed, others like walking dead. Among the slowly retreating streams of people, this truck driving against the flow appeared quite desolate. It swept past the crowd without ever stopping. "He hasn''t stopped yet; where is he going?" "To the frontline?" "Isn''t that too dangerous?" Even though they had not stepped into the dominator''s controlled territory, the ratio of fleeing soldiers made it clear¡ª The frontline soldiers were clearly under the most severe mental suppression; unwittingly crashing into it, one might include themselves among the casualties. Yet, this troop carrier''s driver seemed oblivious, pressing on regardless. "Reporting, Commander! There''s been an unexpected situation!" Weslin, with his gaze fixed on the screen, commanded without looking back, "Speak!" "A soldier says his vehicle was stolen!" Weslin suddenly turned, "Who stole it? Where is the person? Bring him over!" "Brought already..." The adjutant stepped aside, revealing the wronged driver behind him. Pointing to the screen before everyone, he said a bit aggrievedly, "He''s the one who stole it..." "He stole your vehicle?" Weslin suddenly started, instinctively turning to ask, "Which spiritual energy user intervened?" "None of the spiritual energy users have moved out." The officer in charge of the spiritual energy users replied calmly. "Then that is..." "It''s an android..." Noticing the misunderstanding, the wronged driver quickly explained in a low voice, "He showed me his badge..." "What''s the number?" "Didn''t... didn''t remember it." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "???" "Seems like 9¡­95¡­95 something..." ... "Tsk!" The dark streaks of braking marks stretched out as the troop carrier began to slow down only as it neared the frontline. Under the suppression of the dominator''s bugs, even its own bugs slowed their assault, and the bug tide nearly ceased pushing forward. Only a few wasps, as if unable to suppress their overwhelming bloodlust, were still advancing slowly, intent on engulfing humanity. What Bai E had to do was... rescue those soldiers who shouldn''t perish here from their clutches! Stay ahead on m_vl_em_p_yr If one were to rescue, no distinctions should be made. When the choice falls into one''s hands, there are no certainties in death, even if those corpses could buy time... The figure that suddenly leapt out from the driver''s cabin was incredibly agile, holding a gun in one hand, opening fire in mid-air. "Da-da-da-da!" The lonely sound of the Type 77 assault rifle rang out from the screen, and the soldier did not shrink back, even alone. "Puff!" The already suppressed wasps moved sluggishly and were instantly killed as several shots hit, their bodily fluids splattering everywhere. [Multiple hits on the same target, inflicting 50 points of critical damage!](Stacked) [You have completely killed the target, gaining 8 points of combat experience.] Bai E, quick to react, grabbed the ankle of a soldier about to be devoured by the bugs and pulled him back, not letting the bug''s exploded fluids block his nose and mouth. One! ... Two! ... Three! Bai E opened the back door of the troop carrier, hoisting one stiff body after another, unable to act on their own, and tossing them into the vehicle. Most of the soldiers who could awaken like a mountain had already freed themselves and left early; a few who had a chance to regain consciousness under Bai E''s violent transportation would wake up, but those who remained... probably lacked the ability to act on their own until completely out of the dominion. Drones quietly hovered in the air, witnessing the only orderly activity of living beings on the otherwise silent battlefield. The dominator seemed to be especially interested in human mechas, taking not-so-swift steps, intent on personally slaughtering every combat mecha. That gave Bai E a window of time for action. Every second counted! "Can you make out the ID number?" "Can''t see... but the face looks kind of familiar." "And he''s using a Type 77 rifle, can''t be a newbie, right?" ... Bai E, hoisting bodies that seemed no different from mannequins, climbed up and down, sweat trailing down the tips of his hair like rivulets. Soldiers engulfed in fear were rigid, stiff as frozen fish. Each soldier weighed at least 220 pounds, and with equipment that couldn''t be quickly dismantled, they weighed nearly 330 pounds and up. The back of the troop carrier was at least one meter off the ground; moving such weights in a continuous up and down motion was on some level more grueling than the physical training conducted in the barracks. A difficult task, repeated once... twice... three times, was nothing. But when it''s repeated ten times... twenty times... thirty times... over a hundred times, it becomes a qualitative change. Most officers who watched the scene for a long time couldn''t help but feel a twinge in their hearts. What kind of strength was supporting that persistence? The spiritual energy officer who had been silently observing finally spoke up, "I''ll go notify all spiritual energy users to attack." Other officers instinctively tried to retain him, "The tests on ordinary soldiers aren''t over yet..." Having taken two steps away, Wil Moth turned his head, "One more person, one more bit of strength." ... "Huff~" Filled up. Can''t fit any more. Indeed it was a bit cramped, bodies slightly overlapping and squeezing each other, but comfort of the passengers was obviously not a priority at this time. Being squeezed out of shape would be preferable to ending up in the maw of the Bug Race. Every bit of biomass left in Bug Race territory was a gift of strength to them. [You surpassed your physical limits during strenuous activity, Physical Strength +0.1.] [Your body senses your urgent need and rapidly converts some energy from "Action Energy Reserve" into stamina; please use it carefully.] [Physical Strength restored by 3%, Quick Recovery (Unlocked) progress 10%.] Bai E pulled down his mask, taking a deep breath of the slightly cool air. While the mask filtered out harmful substances in the air, it also reduced air circulation efficiency, making it quite suffocating. It was precisely the moment he pulled down his mask that the face, seen multiple times over the past few days, expressionless as if frozen in time, appeared before the eyes of the officers. "95... B27." Someone watching the drone''s feed spoke solemnly of the fact. "It''s him again..." For the first time, a trace of... respect for the owner of this number grew in the hearts of some of the officers. This newly created artificial human had performed too many miracles before their eyes. ["Lucky Strike" charge +5.] Bai E paused, glancing at the drone that had been following closely behind him. These officers... seemed still manageable? It wouldn''t hurt to boost their favorability while he had the chance, as he probably couldn''t distance himself from them for the time being. "Huff!" Taking another breath, Bai E wasted no more time. The actions of the dominator bug were slow as if coordinating with his rescue mission... If he could speed up, he might be able to make a few more trips back and forth. One more trip meant over a hundred more lives saved! Chapter 78: 078 Abnormal Situation Bai E, who had driven off, finally had the chance to relax his body, as the abundant reserves of his action power were rapidly converted when he got a bit of rest, replenishing his physical strength. Amid the roar of the engine, Bai E glanced at the situation behind him through the rearview mirror. On the tangled battlefront, soldiers perished in the mouths of the insects every moment, yet the rate of loss was not fast, leaving great hope for rescue from the rear. For him, who could shield himself from the dominion of Spiritual Energy, the current situation was actually not particularly dangerous. Havings deeply engaged in the entire process of this war, Bai E felt he might have a bit more insight than others. For some reason, he always thought the behavior of the insects was somewhat strange. If the dominator insect''s ability to control the field was truly effective against both friends and foes without discrimination, such an ability was no better than a chicken rib¡ªtoo insignificant to be of use. Relying solely on the action capability of that single entity, the efficiency of the killing and feeding was dreadful to witness... Perhaps this was why, in previous wars with humans, the insects had never shown this ability? As a result, humans knew nothing of its existence. It was a reasonable explanation, but it still felt odd. Observing through the rearview mirror, the performance of the various insects within the tide was starkly different¡ª Both the mantis insect, acting as a squad commander, and the worker insect with the lowest intelligence were silent and still, not daring to move an inch under the suppression of the dominator''s field. On the contrary, the wasp insects slowly pressed their attack, like¡­ a child sneaking sugar without the knowledge of the adults? Stay connected with m v l e mpyr Information from the data flickered through his mind¡ª The worker insects, low in intelligence and so clumsy they couldn''t even use symbiotic weapons, followed orders from higher-ranking insects without question, without a trace of independent will. As squad commanders, the mantis insects could even decide on tactical arrangements for a small section of the battlefield on their own. They were smart enough to... also execute orders from superiors completely. And the wasp insects¡­ they had a certain level of cooperation and understanding, but their instinctive bloodthirst and desire to kill were so intense that they couldn''t help but cheat, even when instructed otherwise by their superiors. So... Could this situation be deliberately arranged by the dominator insect? Was it actively suppressing all of its subordinates... to give humans a chance to survive? Bai E had only been in this world for four days, and his understanding of the world was still being formed, with no fixed patterns of thought to restrict him, allowing for unrestrained imagination. The speculation was bold, but indeed¡­ It was very bold. Bai E restrained these thoughts. His knowledge of this world was still superficial. Maybe this mental suppression ability simply couldn''t be controlled? Or perhaps, insects were not as incommunicable as everyone said, only knowing how to eat? Maybe there were traitors among them? It could also be that there were human traitors colluding with the insects to set up the situation? Who knows? These matters were still too remote for him, a manufactured warrior. Minor characters should care about what small people can do, like... saving more comrades. On the way back, Bai E saw a number of troop carriers moving in the opposite direction to him, albeit at different speeds. Some were as fast as lightning, others as slow as a turtle. But without exception... they all rolled down their windows and, from a distance, gave a thumbs-up in his direction. Had the military finally organized enough manpower for the rescue? Bai E felt some relief, knowing that there were others working towards the same goal as himself was always a delight. The military camp was the guardian spirit of the city, and from what he could see, this guardian spirit seemed reliable enough. ¡­ Watching the footage from the drone, Weslin said with a displeased face to the officer beside him, "Wil Moth, some of your people can''t even drive a vehicle properly¡­" Wil Moth kept a straight face, perfectly concealing his embarrassment, "As long as the road is wide enough, it''s fine." Weslin shook his head, not caring too much. The actions of the Overlord bugs captured by the drones were slow, leaving them plenty of time for the rescue. Moreover, the troop carrier''s carriage was large, and if they didn''t care about the comfort of the passengers and just kept piling them on, one vehicle could hold at least a hundred people. A rescue team comprised of more than twenty soldiers selected for their certain level of mental resistance, plus thirteen Spiritual Energy users¡ªif it was calculated by the standards just achieved by 95B27, a single trip could rescue more than three thousand people. 95B27 was a new soldier born less than four days ago; if he could do it, there was no reason the old soldiers and Spiritual Energy users couldn''t. Based on this rescue efficiency, running two trips back and forth would almost bring back all the soldiers left on the front line. Under the premise that the combat plan had already failed, retreating with as few losses as possible had become their only goal. This outcome was also somewhat acceptable. "Come on, let''s go welcome our heroes." Weslin took off his gloves, seeing the returning vehicle''s cab in the distance, he took the lead to greet it. "Tss~" As dust flew and gravel was flung by the rapidly decelerating wheels, the troop carrier with a heavy load came to a tail-wagging stop, even before the gathered officers who couldn''t see clearly where 95B27 was could react. The other troop carrier that was ready to depart had already floored the accelerator and rushed out, leaving them with only its backside. "..." "..." The hero was not welcomed. "Our hero is quite eager," Weslin said, touching his nose and feeling a bit embarrassed. Without time to wait for the hundred or so people in the transport to disembark, Bai E saw another troop carrier nearby and hopped in for another departure. Watching the troop carrier''s receding silhouette, Weslin rubbed his chin, murmuring softly, "This new recruit has performed really well, it might be worth considering awarding him a vial of Gene Optimization Solution..." Even in his high standards, there weren''t any other soldiers who could do better than this 95B27. Strong, brave, and also grateful, he was truly likable. Although artificial humans are all cannon fodder, high-quality cannon fodder that can take more hits isn''t bad either... Weslin''s mood was still somewhat relaxed. This sortie didn''t achieve the desired results, but it had forced the bugs'' ace up their sleeve¡ªwide-range mental suppression effective against anyone. And his ability to maintain the integrity of his forces and minimize losses under such sudden adversity was also a reflection of his skill. He shouldn''t be suppressed by others using this as an opportunity. "Sir... there might be a bit of trouble," Weslin''s adjutant suddenly approached him. "What''s the matter?" Weslin''s eyes narrowed slightly. He had put the adjutant in charge of coordinating the rescue operation of those thirty-plus people. Had an accident occurred on that end? The adjutant looked a bit embarrassed, "Except for the Spiritual Energy users, ordinary soldiers find it very difficult to get close to the real front line." They had tried almost every soldier who could drive and only then selected these twenty-plus soldiers, among whom, a good number had actually been deserters who had fled from the front line. Having been through the mental suppression once, they seemed to have developed a certain resistance and could muster the courage when facing fear again. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as they got closer to the Overlord, this courage became increasingly fragile. Continuing to advance, the fear of the soldiers was impacting their physical state, causing weak limbs and sluggish thoughts. The adjutant, having contacted those soldiers over the radio, quickly came over to report and ask for instructions. Should they risk possibly losing the ability to act on their own initiative and move forward to save as many soldiers as possible, or should they call it enough and rescue whomever they could within their limits? Weslin only thought for a moment before making a decision, "Don''t force it, save as many as you can." Weren''t there still those Spiritual Energy users? If 95B27 could do it, there was no reason they couldn''t. Chapter 79: 079 Genuinely Shocked "So tired..." "Can''t move anymore..." There were no enemies, but climbing up and down with a load over a hundred pounds was definitely no easy task. They were all soldiers who had gone through basic physical training, so this feeling was certainly not unfamiliar. However, the physical burden of basic training was far less than this; let alone filling a truck, after loading just a dozen or twenty, they would already be lying on the ground, gasping for breath. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the same time, the psychic suppression from the dominating domain had never ceased, natural resistance from the tense state of their bodies already consuming more of their strength, and the exhaustion only made their mental state weaker. Under the vicious cycle, their condition got progressively worse. "Let them stop and rest!" Weslin frowned and seemed a bit irritated. He had thought the rescue mission would go smoothly, but who would have expected issues at every turn. If ordinary soldiers felt this way, the Psychic Power Users of the Elf Race should be somewhat better, right? However, the fact was the Psychic Power Users were even more worrying. If the ordinary soldiers'' resistance to the dominating domain could be seen as adaptation, then the Psychic Power Users'' reliance to move freely within it was resistance. And resistance meant consumption, intense consumption. Spiritual Energy was not produced by the body, but the body''s weakness and fatigue would affect the strength of Spiritual Energy. Forcibly battling against the influence of the dominating domain and rushing to the frontline where psychic pressure was the most severe, these Psychic Power Users were already being cautious within the realm of the mind, and severe physical labor could likely be the final straw that broke the camel''s back. If they collapsed during the resistance, the backlash could be even more severe than for ordinary people. "Bring them back." Indeed, Psychic Power Users were stronger, but they also couldn''t afford to take risks in such non-essential circumstances. Wil Moth remained silent for a moment before he heavily nodded, "Yes!" "Beep beep~" The radio was connected, and Wil Moth''s deep voice issued the order, "Everyone, come back." There was silence over the voice transmission, and after a moment, a voice came through breathing heavily, "I can still hold on..." "So can I." As they spoke, the eyes of these Psychic Power Users looked toward the figure in the distance at the frontline, the one who seemed never to tire, and they felt their resistance ease a bit more in their struggle. The power of Spiritual Energy is the power of will. Will can help ordinary people use courage to fight against fear, and it can also help them enhance the extraordinary power of Spiritual Energy. Wil Moth knew the pride of his subordinates who were Psychic Power Users, but for the sake of their safety, he still had to lower his voice, "This is an order." Enjoy new tales from m-v l''-NovelFire "..." "...Yes." "...Understood, sir." "Just one more haul..." The convoy began to withdraw, but the number brought back was far less than anticipated. On average, each Psychic Power User brought back around fifty, and the ordinary soldiers had not yet returned. They needed occasional rests to bring back as many people as possible. For a moment, all eyes unconsciously turned toward the solitary figure still persisting at the frontline on the screen. After silently watching for a long time, the sun also quietly inclined toward the west in the sky. Seeing that miracle new recruit load up another truck, Weslin sighed softly, "Prepare to withdraw." "What about the remaining soldiers?" Even if the twenty-or-so ordinary soldiers all returned fully loaded, they would only amount to over two thousand people, plus the six hundred-or-so brought back by the Psychic Power Users, this wasn''t even three thousand. At least another two thousand warriors were left within the domain of the Overlord. Weslin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then suddenly opened them to look at the officer who had spoken, "They can''t come back!" They couldn''t come back! The journey here along with the combat, as well as the current wait for rescue, had already pushed the time to around three o''clock in the afternoon. Nightfall comes early in this world, and if they didn''t use the remaining daylight to widen the distance from the hive, once the Overlord withdrew its Spiritual Energy that suppressed all the beasts, the swarm that would catch up would devour them whole! He too was saddened by those soldiers who were about to die, but as the supreme commander, he had to consider the overall gains and losses. "Prepare to withdraw!" As the order was given, everyone began to act. The last transport vehicle filled with personnel also arrived successfully under the watchful eyes of the officers. "He''s back..." Bai E hopped out of the cockpit, looking around, "Where''s the truck?" "We''re preparing to withdraw..." Weslin greeted him with a forced smile. Although his mood was not good, he still mustered a smile to win over this new recruit he admired, "Have a rest, we''re about to return to camp." Bai E''s expression was calm, as if the monumental rescue effort of transporting over two hundred people hadn''t come from him, "Let me haul one more load." Hearing this, the officers were all taken aback, and Weslin doubted his ears, "You want to go again?" "Hmm." "You¡­" Weslin stammered, at a loss for words. The ordinary soldiers had nearly reached a state of exhaustion being hauled back in a single vehicle; the spiritual energy users didn''t dare let them continue to risk themselves, yet this new recruit had already brought back two entire carts of warriors. No one would ask more of him. He had done well enough. He must have reached his limit, too. But at that moment... Bai E''s expression was calm as he recounted an evident fact, "Some people still haven''t returned." His tone was casual, yet it was permeated with an incomparable sense of responsibility. Some officers couldn''t bear to ask, "Can you... still manage it?" Bai E looked at them earnestly, "I will not fall before my companions do." "..." The sound of the wind howled. Silence was the utmost form of respect at this moment. This new recruit, time and again, shattered their preconceptions completely. Weslin suddenly took off his hat and saluted Bai E with great formality. The officers behind him followed suit. "May the starlight shine upon you¡­" ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +5.] "Get him a troop transport vehicle." Watching the dust-covered transport vehicle depart once more, like a lonely traveler drifting away, the aide asked softly on the side, "Sir, shall we continue the retreat?" "Continue retreating." Weslin waved his gloved hand and walked away, "Leave a squad here to wait for him." Yue Ying stayed until the last, watching the transport vehicle''s shadow slowly disappear over the horizon with a sense of admiration. Her previous conjecture may not have been accurate; humans don''t have infinite trump cards. Such an artificial human, there was only one. A peculiar impulse about this special artificial human warrior suddenly seized her... ¡­ One. Two. Three. The repetitive motion played over and over in the footage from the drone. Like a videotape stuck on loop, endlessly repeating the same action. The ground was uneven, the carriages rattled and shook, and before that sole visual, no one had the interest to speak. The despair of war, the loss of soldiers, the astonishment regarding the new recruit... all mixed together into a tangle of complicated emotions. "Another cart is full." "How did he do it?" someone suddenly asked. By rational thought, nearly no single soldier should have been capable of what Bai E had achieved at the time. Where did he get so much physical strength? Carlos spoke up morosely from a corner, "I gave him all my rations." "That still shouldn''t¡­" Ration #3 was not omnipotent; consuming more than one in a short period could lead to a decrease in the body''s efficiency in absorbing the energy within. In other words, aside from the first ration, the subsequent ones consumed would not allow a person to ignore the agony of pushing the body to its limit. Of course, a short rest could enable the body''s reserve energy to be rapidly converted into physical strength, but the process of repeatedly draining one''s strength was undoubtedly a form of excruciating torture. The human body could only touch its limit and go beyond three or four times in a day¡ªan arcane rule that, even now, it is unclear whether it is a limit or protection for the human body. How... did he endure being drained over and over to the point where every finger refused to move an inch more? "Love can transcend everything." Everyone looked towards Yue Ying in the corner. The Elf Race''s master had no intention to explain. It was an ancient proverb of the Elf Race; she merely voiced her thoughts spontaneously, without any particular meaning. "Get me another vehicle." A voice suddenly came through in the footage. Bai E knew that behind the drone were those observing officers. So he waved to it, making his request... Under the gradually dimming sky, those eyes burned brightly enough to glow. Chapter 80: 080 Scientific Research Institute [You have persevered through unimaginably prolonged intense physical activity at the peak of your endurance, Physical Energy +0.2, Reflex +0.1.] [Your body has sensed your burning desire and has rapidly converted a small amount of energy from "Action Energy Reserve," please use it wisely.] [Physical Energy has recovered by 5%, rapid recovery (unlocked) progress 18%.] The slanting rays of the setting sun stretched the shadow of the truck, as if the dominator that had finally had its fill trudged towards the depths of the hive with heavy, slow steps. To humanity, that place remained a mystery. "Creak, creak~" The restless noises of agitated limbs began brewing behind, the bloodthirsty desires suppressed by the dominator for so long had built up to a breaking point, and facing the tantalizing flesh so close yet so hard to consume, the bugs had gone mad. The night breeze of the plains swept through the rolled-down car window, as Bai E''s gaze moved from one statue-like body to another on his way back. Without any surprises, their lives would be permanently fixed at this moment. Shrouded by nightmares, did they still feel the pain in their bodies? Having been trapped in extreme fear for so long in their mental world, even if the dominator were to release its suppression, could they wake up and save themselves? This was Bai E''s first experience on a true battlefield. He had witnessed the bloodied scenes of frontline soldiers and could foresee that these fighters, who had lost their capacity to resist, would ultimately fall prey to the bugs. The term "human life" seemed to have become weightless in an instant, like a white feather on a scale, unable to tilt the heavy curtain of night. Night was about to fall, and the dominator would not give him unlimited time. Four trucks in total had been Bai E''s utmost effort. "Creak, creak, creak¡­" The invisible force field covering the vast plains suddenly relaxed at a certain moment, and the unrestrained tide of bugs surged toward what lay ahead, where they yearned for the flesh to satiate their rabid hunger. "I''m sorry¡­" "I did my best." Bai E took his gaze off the rearview mirror and pressed down hard on the gas pedal. ¡­ Cleanup operation, failed! The military camp was serene in the deep of night. The day''s warfare had drained every ounce of strength from all soldiers, except the guards left to watch over the camp, who had all sunk into deep sleep. However, for some, the trouble had just begun. Two glaring beams of light tore through the veil of night, and the guards with guns approached, only to see clearly who was below the halo of light as they drew near. The Scientific Research Institute... "Open the gate!" A wave to the soldiers in the tower above, and the guards duly opened the switch. The vehicle drove straight in. "Tap, tap, tap, tap~" Hasty footsteps echoed rapidly through the hallway, and the door to the meeting room was abruptly pushed open with force. "So soon¡­" Weslin looked towards the door. Read latest stories on m_v-l''e-NovelFire A woman in a white lab coat, with brown hair tied into a bun and two curls falling by her ears revealing her slender, long neck, walked in cradling a tablet. "Helen?" He knew they would send someone from the city, but he didn''t expect the first to arrive would be from the Scientific Research Institute. Entering the meeting room without ceremony, the woman approached Weslin''s side and placed her tablet on the table. The eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses scanned all the officers present as she asked in a gentle, hoarse voice, "I hear you encountered a new type of bug?" "Yes... For the time being, we''re calling it ''Dominator''." Weslin remained calm amidst the change, having already prepared himself for visitors from various factions within the inner city. While speaking, the adjutant by his side promptly displayed the drone-captured screenshots on the screen opposite them. The creature, which looked similar to but was far larger than a mantis bug, was nearly two-thirds the height of a combat mecha with four formidable arms, an absolute sovereign among the bugs. "We''ve caught distant glimpses of this kind of bug once or twice before, but this is the first time it has appeared on the frontline," Weslin commented softly, looking at Helen''s fair profile. "What are its specific abilities?" "Spiritual Energy Impact." "The ability of a second-stage Spiritual Energy user?" "But the range and intensity are inconceivable." As they conversed, the screen played the moment the Dominator appeared, the silent footage of the battlefield. "According to Yueying of the Elf Race," Weslin continued, "the Dominator combines the will of all the bugs, and its spiritual energy power is unbelievably strong." Helen merely fixed her gaze on a part of the tide of bugs and murmured to herself, "Even the bugs themselves can be suppressed?" "I think this is why the Dominator had never appeared before, its ability is uncontrollable, and if it wasn''t threatened to the core this time, it probably would''ve never shown up." It was a fairly reasonable explanation. Helen narrowed her eyes slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "What else?" "It doesn''t seem to have much interest in feeding." The video continued to play, showing the Dominator effortlessly cutting through a mecha made of octonary alloy, then standing still as it toyed with the remains of the mecha, studying it for a long time, "Also, its symbiotic weapons seem much more powerful than those of ordinary bugs." The symbiotic weapons of the bugs are akin to human firearms and combat blades, all removable objects theoretically attachable to any bug. If every bug were equipped with the bone blade used by the Dominator that could easily cut through octonary alloy, then all of humanity''s armor would be virtually as good as waste paper. Helen shook her head, showing little interest in this speculation, "The likelihood is a Spiritual Energy field, with second-stage Spiritual Energy able to be projected externally, the Dominator naturally could do what human Spiritual Energy users can do." As for the desire to feed... Lower bugs are controlled by the instinct of hunger, this Dominator that can rule all bugs naturally possesses enough intelligence to suppress its instincts. Not surprising. The only noteworthy thing... was that this bug seemed to be studying the mecha structure? They are learning? This was an unsettling piece of news. Helen harbored a vague worry, "How did the soldiers perform?" The intensity of Spiritual Energy couldn''t be measured explicitly, one could only make basic analyses based on the performance of soldiers who have confronted it. "We''ve done image analysis..." The battlefield analysts in the military camp were not to be underestimated, after each battle they needed to learn from their experiences, having already thoroughly reviewed all the key points of this battle on their own. "Soldiers who could break free from the Dominator''s Spiritual Energy suppression almost all did so within five minutes, beyond five minutes it became very difficult to wake on their own. At the same time... the proportion of artificial human soldiers reached 89%." This proportion was abnormal, the ratio of artificial people to natural people in the camp was about 7:3. Yet among the soldiers who could wake up by themselves, nine out of ten were artificial humans. "So our hypothesis is that suppression of sensory and cognitive faculties played a decisive role for artificial humans. We wonder if there''s a way to generalize this technology to all soldiers. In face of the Dominator, only soldiers unaffected by its Spiritual Energy field can be effective." If we don''t find a way to tackle this difficult problem, humanity would never be able to eradicate the bug nest that lies within an "arm''s reach"; it will be an everlasting threat, one that will be passed on to descendants. Helen''s brows were tightly knitted. The incubation pod... was actually not a technology developed by the Scientific Research Institute. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was discovered, not created. It was an inheritance from the ruins; to this day they could only make limited use of it, without the capability to modify the settings or dismantle and utilize any specific function in it separately. "What else... What about those soldiers who drove into the suppression field?" "Through practice we found that soldiers who have experienced Spiritual Energy suppression once gain a certain degree of mental resilience when they enter the field again." "No..." Helen shook her head impatiently and pointed at a transport vehicle in the footage that was going in the opposite direction of all the other vehicles. "What about him? What''s his story?" Looking at that particular transport vehicle, Weslin revealed a helpless, wry smile. "He... He is a special case." ... "I think I have a general understanding now." Helen closed her eyes, briefly organizing all the information in her mind, then opened them again to look at the subordinates waiting by the doorway, "Set up the equipment, prepare for analysis." She then looked at Weslin, "Notify all soldiers who came out from the suppression field to assemble!" "They need to rest." "I need firsthand data that haven''t been ''restored'' through sleep." Confronted with Helen''s sharp, narrow eyes, Weslin grimaced, "Understood, I will cooperate with your work." "As for him..." Helen, viewing the artificial human soldier with the designation 95B27 on the screen, said, "Leave him until last. His case cannot be used as a general reference." "Academician Helen..." Weslin hesitated to speak. "Is there something else?" "I''ve heard some rumors about you..." "Hmm?" "..." Despite being an exceedingly beautiful woman, it was rare for someone to not harbor even the slightest fantasy towards her; Weslin sighed internally and blurted out. "95B27 is an excellent soldier, we were planning to announce tomorrow his heroic deeds in saving many soldiers. So if possible... I hope your research does not harm him." Helen was taken aback, then nodded, "I understand... But please keep it confidential until I have finished my research." Chapter 81: 081 Main Quest – Iron Curtain [Feedback from the commission: your Insight +0.3, Reflex +0.2.] (Already stacked) [Feedback from the commission: Stealth experience +20.] [Feedback from the commission: Proficiency with ranged weapons experience +14.] ... [Main Quest¡ªSurvive, completed.] [Quest Reward: Potential Points *3, General Experience +1000, distributed.] [Main Quest¡ªIron Curtain, activated.] [Iron Curtain: In the battle against the Bug Race, you''ve realized that this enemy is unbeatable, and with your current strength, you cannot survive better in this harsh world. For the future, you need to make a decision... Quest requirements: Complete 0/1 genetic optimization to strengthen your personal abilities, establish 0/1 faction of at least level 2 prestige, complete 0/1 relic exploration to expand your knowledge. Quest Rewards: 3000 General Experience Points, Potential Points *3, Specialization Points *3 (cannot be increased beyond level 6), item rewards unknown.] Bai E, who awoke from his sleep, suddenly sat up, his sensitive nerves looking around abruptly. "No one?" "What time is it?" The sunlight streaming through the tent''s small window wasn''t too strong, but it was often cloudy in this world, and even at noon or in the afternoon, the sunlight might not be blinding. "When did they leave?" Bai E struggled to sit up. He had been worn out yesterday, falling asleep the moment he returned, and he probably wouldn''t have woken up even if someone had carried him away in his sleep. It was only now that he had the mind to check the various prompts from the panel. As he was getting dressed, the tent curtain was pulled back, and someone walked in. "Huh? You''re awake?" Bai E looked at the returning tiger, "What time is it?" He had kept training in mind the past few days and had been able to get up on time, but yesterday he had been truly exhausted, losing all concept of time. "Still early, a little after eight." Bai E was startled, "A little after eight, no training?" Big Mountain squeezed in after Tiger, "What''s there to train for? We just had a big battle yesterday, everyone''s resting for the day... Stop talking, I''m dead tired, let me sleep for a while... Ha~~~~~ Yawn!" "Then what are you guys..." Tiger went back to his bed, undressing as he explained, "Oh... People from the Scientific Research Institute came, they called everyone who was affected by the Sovereign''s Spiritual Energy field, and we researched all night." Song Ying added with a stern face, "We were researched." "What about me..." "They specifically said not to wake you, mentioning they would conduct separate research and analysis on you later." "...Hmm?" Bai E''s heart skipped a beat. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What was inevitable was finally arriving. He had long known that his performance was bound to draw attention. A biopsy might not be certain, but research definitely was. But there was no way around it, unless he wished to halt his progress entirely. As long as he displayed his normal level, he would undoubtedly draw attention. If exposure was a given, it was better to excel thoroughly. He needed to make a profound and shocking impression on others! This was also one of the main reasons he had tried so hard to provide assistance yesterday. He was destined not to be able to leave the military camp anytime soon, so it was better to make a good impression on his superiors while he could, perhaps saving himself in the process. Now, was it time to face the trial? Bai E felt somewhat nervous. "Xiao Bai, you were really fierce yesterday." Experience tales at m v|l e-NovelFire "We all heard about it, you managed to pull back more than four hundred people on your own, how did you do it?" You remained silent, just sitting on the bed looking at Bai E''s profile. Having such a teammate undoubtedly provided an indescribable sense of security. No matter how dire the situation, he would never abandon his comrades. That would bring courage... Bai E scratched the back of his head, "It''s all thanks to exit number 3''s boon." Tiger shook his head, "External factors are ultimately just that, external." He didn''t say much more. Some precious qualities were hard for the person themselves to notice and articulate. It was enough to know that their teammate was excellent. During the break in conversation, a familiar voice sounded at the door. "95B27!" "Present!" Bai E immediately responded, rising to meet them outside the tent. Outside stood two people, an officer responsible for managing living arrangements, and a young man wearing gold-rimmed glasses who was unfamiliar. The young man sized up Bai E as he walked out and finally fixed his gaze on Bai E''s eyes with a somewhat pressuring intent, "You''re 95B27?" "I am." The living arrangements officer also confirmed from the side, "He is 95B27." "Alright, come with me, the mentor wants to see you." "Mentor?" "Academician! An academician from the Scientific Research Institute!" out of fear that Bai E might unintentionally offend someone, the living arrangements officer quickly explained. "Oh~" The man leading the way retracted his sideways glance and seemed somewhat perplexed. Last night, the research work was presided over by the mentor only for the first half before leaving; the rest of the time seemed to be spent researching this individual''s data. A synthetic soldier who appeared so ordinary... was there really a need to take such keen interest? Or perhaps, had they found another suitable dissection teacher? ... In a quiet room, crystal-clear fingernails gently tapped on a snowy-white workbench; Helen turned the last page of the documents in her hands, with a trace of puzzlement still in her eyes. The research on ordinary soldiers held no great surprises; the mental resistance of the warriors who had resisted the dominator''s psychic suppression markedly improved, especially for those who broke free on their own¡ªtheir improvement was even greater. If there truly were no technical means in the end, subjecting them to artificial psychic pressure to train their mental resistance could still accustom them to a certain extent to the dominator''s psychic suppression field and enable them to maintain a degree of combat effectiveness within it. Both contingencies would have to be prepared for; the proposal to create an artificial psychic suppression field had already been sent back for reporting. What puzzled her was the new recruit with the designation 95B27. She had stayed up to read through all the performance data related to 95B27''s existence since birth, along with several battle recordings, and yet found nothing she could understand. "It shouldn''t be..." None of the items matched up. The various training programs in the military camp were all customized under the guidance of their Scientific Research Institute, almost all of which were pushed to the limits of a synthetic human''s body functions¡ªit made no sense that his training results exceeded those of other new recruits by such a large margin. No. 3 clause might explain some of it, but it still felt off. Not to mention his performance in actual combat, which was incredibly defying¡ªfinding a Spiritual Energy user might not even yield someone as capable as him. The video where he was able to extricate himself from a sea of bugs during his first encounter in the military trials, even nearly taking down a mantis bug by himself, she had watched back and forth three times and still couldn''t understand how he did it. As for the immense pressure of facing a sea of bugs alone and forcefully bringing back four trucks of soldiers, the perseverance involved was beyond imagination. A new recruit with such performance... was this a unique mutation out of a million genetic cases? Or perhaps... Could love truly overcome everything? In a world view that includes Spiritual Energy, similar miracles aren''t actually that rare; strong willpower is enough to distort reality. The existence of Spiritual Energy undoubtedly casts nebulous fog over many cases, but its physical reality also allows it to be included within the scope of scientific research. Let me see... this new recruit who created all these miracles, just what kind of Magic Power he possesses. The noise suddenly coming from outside the closed door made Helen narrow her eyes... "Let me speak with him for a moment..." "This is the person Helen the mentor has asked for." "I know, just a moment, just two words." Helen shook her head gently, giving permission from inside. "Let him speak..." ... Carlos pulled Bai E to the corner of the corridor. "Instructor?" Carlos looked solemn, a hint of apprehension about him, "Don''t ask too much, just remember this, be good." "Be good?" "The Academician Helen you''re about to meet has dissected quite a few synthetic humans, and she takes great interest in it. Don''t anger her." Even though Weslin gave the heads-up, Carlos still feared these madmen from the Scientific Research Institute had no regard for personal feelings. If they dissected you, you would have nowhere to even cry. "..." There really are those who like slicing up, huh? Bai E''s expression didn''t change; he nodded, "I understand." Chapter 82: 082 Test "Alright, off you go, and don''t be too scared, just answer the questions normally and cooperate with her research," Carlos patted Bai E on the shoulder and added, "Remember, be good." "Yes, instructor!" Bai E, led by the man in glasses, stepped through the door, his heart far from as calm as he appeared on the surface. Carlos''s attitude was serious. Anyone regarded with such importance by the Sniper God must be extraordinary, like a looming flood or a ferocious beast. Named Helen, definitely a woman. A fellow of the Scientific Research Institute, surely an old thing. Likes dissecting corpses, must hate the world with a twisted psychology. An old, ugly, and psychotic obasan... To maintain composure? Well, that''s really... quite an easy thing to do. The woman rose gracefully, her white lab coat sketching her exquisite figure along the curves of her body, as her slender, charming eyes looked over, "Come here." The glasses man who was leading Bai E had a smile on his face as he prepared to walk further in, saying at the same time, "Tutor, I''ve brought the person..." "You, get out." "Ow~" The door lock clicked shut, Bai E stood silently still. "..." Must behave. "Come on," Helen stood up and walked over to the bed-like device that seemed like it was from a previous life''s MRI, patting the side, "Come over for a full-body check first." "Yes," Bai E obediently complied. "Lie down, relax," Helen instructed from beside the bed and watched Bai E slowly enter the cabin, "Relax, a certain amount of electrical stimulation might make your body feel a bit odd, numbness or tingling is normal, don''t mind it. Also, don''t close your eyes, some images will appear in front of you shortly, concentrate on observing them, you can blink, just watch naturally, no need to deliberately do anything." The woman''s voice was low and magnetic, her explanation clear and gentle, nothing like the brutality Carlos spoke of. Perhaps tigers always like to tease their prey? Bai E used self-control to tightly monitor his body''s hormone secretion levels, striving to maintain a calm state of mind. "Got it?" Helen asked for confirmation at the end. "Understood." "Let''s start then." "Hum~" The sound of the motor running echoed inside the cabin, and Bai E began to feel a tingling sensation where restraints wrapped around his limbs and parts like his back. Needles pierced into his body, numbing and tingling, drawing a bit of blood. About thirty centimeters from his lying face, the inside of the cabin wall started to display dazzlingly chaotic images. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had no clear logic, seeming just like a mix of random, colorful patterns jumbled together. Looking at them for too long could even make one''s head swell. Bai E discarded distractions and executed the instructions as told. The camera scanned his facial expressions and eye movements, beginning to analyze the data. The room was quiet for a while, save for the monotonous sound of the motor operating. Until a "beep," the motor''s sound gradually quieted, and the chaotic images stopped playing. "Lie still, don''t move," Helen said as she held a freshly printed report and casually examined it, leaning back in her chair. Physical ability 13.5, insight 11.3, reflex 11.4 In the single-item scores influenced by physical ability, the "Cell Self-Repair" category was slightly prominent, but not particularly noticeable. Compared to the data at 95B27''s birth¡ªphysical ability 11, insight 10, reflex 10, the total increase in attributes was by 5.2 points. A truly terrifying rate of improvement. Other recruits, after three days of training and surviving two major battles, would not see their total attribute improvement exceed 2 points. 95B27 exceeded that by more than double. Of course, even though this speed of enhancement was indeed terrifying, it was still within Helen''s expectations. After all, the combat achievements of 95B27 were there for all to see; it would be strange if it didn''t have such a degree of foundational attributes as a cornerstone. Even this attribute, when compared to his performance, seemed somewhat low. Was it because... alien genes had awakened? As an expert in this field, she knew more about the human body''s hidden details and many low-probability possibilities than those laypeople who only had a glimpse of the whole picture. Synthetic humans all contain some alien genes from other species; if an event led by an awakening of alien genes occurs, it is possible that attribute progression could be faster than that of regular synthetic humans. And the 95 series used orc genes; it seemed somewhat reasonable that those battle-thirsty savages could achieve such combat performance. But... awakening alien genes is not just full of benefits; it often brings along the inferior traits of those alien races as well. If it was the orc''s... The room was quiet, and Bai E felt somewhat uneasy, not knowing what kind of information would be displayed in the instrument''s report. Helen''s slender jade fingers brushed over a knob on the instrument, "Continue watching the screen." "Yes." The screen in front of Bai E played again, flickering rapidly, as if the meaningless chaotic patterns were inducing dizziness and a slight irritation that began to well up in his heart. It seemed to deliberately evoke a violent need to resist from deep within... Meanwhile, a more powerful electric current was stimulating specific parts of Bai E''s body. [Heart requests to accelerate pumping...] [Pupils request to dilate...] [Lungs request more oxygen...] Read the latest on m_v-l''e-NovelFire Self-restraint sends a rapid alarm. Bai E''s thoughts raced. Is this normal? Or should it be suppressed? What would be the normal reaction for a regular person facing this test? Was his response within the range of a normal person''s? His mind was reeling with thoughts, yet with virtually no delay in time, Bai E made a decision¡ª He believed that his reactions should be those of a normal person. [Release.] The sound of the motor slowly ceased, and Helen gazed at the display on the instrument, her eyes slightly stern. No emotional anomalies? Even more stable than the average person''s behavior? Not an alien gene awakening? Or perhaps... a perfect alien gene awakening? A situation where only the advantages of alien genes are brought forward without bearing any of their ill effects, a scenario that only exists in theory, is also known as a perfect alien gene awakening. While guessing in her mind, Helen also chatted about seemingly unrelated topics. "What did your superior tell you outside the door earlier?" As she spoke, she also pressed a button on the control panel of the instrument. A machine capable of monitoring bodily states can naturally also perform some side jobs¡ª For instance, lie detection. Bai E felt a jolt in his heart upon noticing Helen''s subtle movement. [Heart requests to accelerate pumping...] [Suppress.] He had never been so tense before, not even the first time he faced a mantis insect up close. The unknown was what he found most frightening. The direction of human technology in this world was a mystery, and he himself held too many secrets... [An unknown test awaits you. Faced with the questioning from human technology, do you, filled with a myriad of secrets, decide to weave a web of lies and dance with deception? Or do you opt for honesty and lay everything bare?] Chapter 83: 083 Genomic Project Bai E''s expression remained unchanged, as if he were simply recalling, "He said... that I should cooperate fully with your research." "Is that all?" Helen knew her own reputation and found it hard to believe that was everything. "There''s also the fact that you''ve dissected many of my counterparts..." "Afraid?" "Afraid... very afraid." "Why?" "To be dissected is to die." Helen''s eyebrows lifted slightly, her gaze fixed intently on the instrument display, "Are you afraid of death?" "I''m afraid of dying in a place like this." "Why?" "The commander said that our lives do not belong to us, and that we have no right to waste them carelessly. They should be used for more meaningful and wider purposes, we are the city''s sharp sword, cutting down all threats." Emotions can misconstrue commands; the same order can lead to different actions when carried out by different artificial humans. The same genetic decree that all can be sacrificed for humanity is interpreted by some artificial humans as being fearless in the face of death, ready to die at any moment; for others, it means to protect oneself at all costs, because they... represent humanity. What do you think? Helen became interested, shifting her gaze from the instrument display to Bai E''s face, "Being the subject of my research also has meaning, and it''s of significance to many people." "I don''t understand research, but I am cooperating. If what you''re saying is true, and a corpse would be more suitable, I will apply to the commander," Bai E said as calmly as he could, voicing his willingness to die. It''s hard for those in the know to imagine the world of the ignorant. Bai E could only try to simulate the state of a newly created artificial human with pure dedication. Helen''s eyes flickered. This rookie was hinting at her... His willingness to cooperate with the research meant¡ªliving people could also cooperate, so why would there need to be dead ones? Was this deliberate? Or a simple statement of fact? Her gaze swept over the display once more as Helen''s right fingertip gently tapped on her palm. There wasn''t the slightest flaw detected, but this rookie''s performance in actual combat was indeed baffling. So, let''s start from the beginning and sort it out. "I have some questions for you." Lying flat on his back, Bai E faced Helen, who sat behind his head, naturally at a disadvantage in his position; not seeing the other''s expressions or movements was undoubtedly unsettling, "Go ahead." "The day the Bug Race invaded the barracks, why did you leave everyone behind and act alone?" "My weapons and equipment were in the resting area. I needed to fetch them." "After returning, why did you choose to fight alone instead of sticking with the others?" "The Bug Race had surrounded them, I couldn''t get in." "Your teammates were drawing attention; you could have hidden first. To fight alone carried too great a risk of death." "I felt I had to do it, someone needed to create a diversion to buy them time." "You were confident? Otherwise, it would have been a senseless death, an action without meaning." Was this impulse or judgment? Helen studied Bai E''s every facial detail with great interest, for every slight expression had its purpose. [There''s a trap...] Bai E''s eyelids flickered slightly, having made a decision, "This is a battlefield, everyone''s lives are equal. It was risky, but I had to try; success would mean saving many lives." A certain confidence followed by a gambler leaving it all to luck? This decision seemed faultless. No wonder he was the rookie all the officers in the military district wanted to protect; his capability truly commanded respect. So, the decision to fight the mantis Bug Race alone fell into place. Such tactical improvizations were not her area of expertise; she had no desire to inquire further. But still... "Why did you have Rose block that strike for you?" "At that moment, only I posed a threat to that mantis bug, I needed to maintain my condition, and... she wouldn''t die." "..." Beneath the calmly narrated words was an overwhelming confidence, strength, and complete trust in his teammates. Helen slightly narrowed her eyes, "One last question, on the frontline against the Bug Race, when the ''Dominant'' behemoth appeared, what did you feel?" According to the principles of 95B27, the reason for continually saving people with the transport vehicle during the retreat was consistent, no need to ask further. But how he managed that was a matter of curiosity, what enabled him to move freely in the almost sovereign domain of the giant bug? "Darkness... It wanted me to kneel." "Hmm..." Helen was neither agreeable nor disagreeable. On this point, the answers from the soldiers were quite similar, purely the fear that was stirred within both body and soul. Darkness was the only element, the rest was up to the soldiers'' own imagination. The important thing was... "How did you break free from that situation? You should have realized later that besides you, no other soldier was able to move freely within the domain of the Dominant behemoth." "Because I was responsible for air defense..." "Air defense?" Helen looked stunned. "The captain gave me a task, to help shield the battlefield from all the spores and thorns shot by the bugs from the air, it was something that had to be done... I couldn''t fall." "..." The room was silent, but a ripple disturbed the calm mindset. The strong sense of duty that emanated from 95B27''s seemingly bland words even allowed him to transcend all fear. The answer to how he intercepted all the spore thorns was obvious¡ª Registered as 95B27''s talent was the ability to see every detail in a high-speed state, which was unbeatably advantageous for shooting and interception. It can only be said that his talent was indeed a bit terrifying. Thus, all of the anomalies displayed by 95B27 seemed to have their explanations. The high likelihood of his physical abilities stemmed from his awakening of alien genes, and the negative emotions associated with the awakening of these alien genes were also likely suppressed by his unimaginable passion and sense of duty. Behind all his actions was a clear line of logic for support. This heart, this conduct, clear as a mirror. Looking at the humanoid soldier still lying calmly on the bed, expressionless, Helen''s eyelashes trembled lightly. Could he... be the perfect template she had been looking for? Astonishing talent, enthusiasm emanating from the soul, and even an extremely intelligent brain. The calm analysis behind everything he displayed in situational assessment and decision-making, and the rigidity shown in the conversation, stemmed from the lack of information intake and obedience to orders. He was definitely not stupid. Read the latest on m_v-l''e|m,p| y- r Perhaps as a humanoid soldier, his only flaw was his deliberately suppressed Spiritual Energy talent... However, she had it. Could the seed of the genetic origin project choose him? Or rather, should it choose the seed that combines him with her? Just as in that world recorded in epics, where humans selected the best variant seeds from numerous rice crossbreeding processes to preserve and breed across generations, ultimately obtaining the staple food best suited for humanity. Could they also select the best template from countless cases of gene programmable mutations to replicate, becoming the standard answer for all humanoid soldiers? She had planned this proposal for a long time but had always lacked a suitable target. Could this one be the answer? She still needed to observe a bit more... S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Get up." Helen pressed the switch, and the bed automatically moved out. As Bai E rose to his feet, he saw the gentle smile on the woman''s face for the first time. "I need to make one thing clear to you, I don''t like dissection." [From the attitude of the other party wanting to ease the relationship, you realized that you had successfully passed the test...] Chapter 84: 084 Drive away the tiger to swallow the wolf Watching Bai E get dressed, Helen''s eyes softened a bit, "Do you still remember your companion who went mad after your second team confrontation ended?" "Um..." Bai E paused, recalling, "What about him?" The memory of the black iron badge flickered before his eyes¡ª69A44. "He is an artificial human from the 69 series, whose foreign genes mainly come from the Bug Race," Helen said, organizing the materials in her hand while speaking seemingly at random. The original intent of the artificial human warrior program was to create a group of super soldiers that surpassed ordinary humans. If they were only human genes, then after all, they couldn''t surpass human limits. In this aspect, without a doubt, the genetic performance of bugs, beastmen, elves, and other such foreign races was more outstanding. "Um..." Bai E responded softly, indicating that he was listening. "His will is being assimilated by the Bug Race genes, and the probability of mutation is very high, which means... he will definitely turn into a bug. In fact, all of you artificial human warriors have a potential for mutation, and many sudden external factors can trigger the dominant expression of latent genes." Helen lowered her eyelids, not knowing whether she was in remorse or reminiscence, "I just screened out those warriors with a high probability of mutation and ended their lives prematurely..." When the will is assimilated by the wild nature of a foreign race and inflicts harm on one''s fellow kind, it is uncertain whether the kin feels more sorrow or the mutant itself feels more guilt. Bai E instantly realized what the other was referring to. It was the thing on the panel... ["Mutation Risk"]! Seeing Bai E''s somewhat dazed actions, Helen smiled, "Don''t be nervous, willpower can shatter even the hardest stones, whether you persist as a human is up to you to decide." Those words were very metaphysical, which seemed out of place coming from a scientific researcher like her. However, this was a world where Spiritual Energy existed; metaphysics... was also a part of science. Your next chapter awaits on m v|l--NovelFire.net "Alright, you can go back now. I might need you to come over at any time if there is a need during this period." Bai E posed respectfully, "Goodbye, superior." "Farewell... 95B27. By the way, many artificial humans give themselves a name. Have you named yourself?" "...Bai E, you can call me Bai E." "Bai E..." Helen murmured softly, then her face broke into a smile, "Then farewell, Bai E." Watching 95B27''s silhouette gradually blocked by the slowly closing door, Helen''s eyes briefly glazed over, "Bai E... what does it mean?" After pondering for a moment, Helen shook her head and stopped dwelling on it. The experiences one comes into contact with can bring countless variables; perhaps it was simply a random combination of two characters. There were many strange names among the artificial humans, difficult to analyze. Standing up, Helen called out to the hallway, "Aer, I have a meeting to attend later, and you will be responsible for analyzing the data collected from those artificial human warriors for the time being." "Yes, teacher... Oh, and teacher, Marshal Weslin has sent word that if you finish your research, he wants to be informed immediately. He needs the deeds of that artificial human to boost morale." "..." Helen fell silent for a moment, narrowed her eyes in thought, then decided to keep a low profile for now, "Tell him the research isn''t finished yet, ask him to wait." "What about the body data of this artificial human?" "Keep it sealed, no one is allowed to look at it." "Understood!" ... Helen, dressed in a white lab coat, hurried through the door. Many inside the room glanced in her direction, but without much attention. Marshal Weslin stood on the stage in front of staff members from various departments who had rushed in from the inner city, delivering a comprehensive report on the failure against the Bug Race war. Helen found a nearby seat to sit down, leaning against the moderately firm sofa, crossing her legs, and listening. "...And the main reason for the failure of the operation is that our troops could not continue to launch effective attacks within the ''Dominators'' Spiritual Energy field. If we hadn''t mounted a significant enough attack on the Bug''s nest this time, the Dominator, a double-edged sword, still would not have appeared. But now that the Bug Race''s trump card has shown itself, I believe we can take some targeted measures to counter it. All along, we have regarded enemies related to Spiritual Energy as scarce, entrusting such duties entirely to the Heretic Judgment Court, adopting a strategy of decapitation by elites. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But now, the Spiritual Energy suppression field of the Bug Hive''s will has clearly rendered past policies impractical. If we cannot spread resistance to Spiritual Energy suppression to all warriors, we will never fully destroy the Bug Hive, which will be an eternal barrier to the future development of humanity. Therefore, I believe that some training methods and equipment unique to the Heretic Arbitration House should also be promoted in the barracks going forward. At the same time, I also hope His Excellency the King of Night can select some suitable heretic enforcement officers from under his command to come to the barracks and provide appropriate guidance to our warriors." The man being referred to, wearing a long black leather coat, leaned back in his chair, remaining silent without any intention of expressing his position. Among the elderly seated behind the long table on the stage, one old man with white beard and hair, wearing round-frame glasses, looked over the rim at Marshal Weslin''s profile and asked in an aged voice, "Marshal Weslin, are you sure that the Psychic Pressure Resistance Training of the Heretical Arbitration House can achieve excellent results against the Dominator''s Spiritual Energy field?" "Helen can guarantee that." Weslin saw the arriving Helen and promptly kicked the ball her way. Helen smoothed out her lab coat and rose gracefully, "We conducted an analysis immediately last night. The dominator''s spiritual energy field and the psychic pressure resistance training conducted by the Heretical Arbitration House are almost identical in nature, there''s no doubt about that." "Good!" The elder nodded, "Then... what about the funding?" "Don''t even think about it!" The plump finance officer suddenly stood up, "The equipment for psychic pressure resistance training is exorbitantly expensive. The cost of training your entire camp is too high, it''s impossible!" "We can trade this information with other cities, top-secret details regarding the Bug Race''s hand. Many cities are in desperate need of it." Cities threatened by the Bug hives weren''t limited to just Blackwater City. The Empire existed in name only, and each city governed itself autonomously, completely capable of grabbing what they lacked from others'' pockets. As far as he knew, they were still the first city to have truly made it to the Bug hive''s home. Weslin clearly came prepared, speaking with full confidence. "That''s still not enough!" The finance officer waved a hand, "At most, we can only train a small number of elites. Don''t even think about extending it to all the soldiers!" "Only in this way can we completely eradicate the Bugs! Break through the barriers, restore world sovereignty, and only then will humanity have a future!" "The city can''t hold out until that future arrives!" "¡­" After a brief dispute, calm was restored. This was an unsolvable deadlock. "But gentlemen... why not consider beyond-visual-range combat?" A voice unexpectedly emerged from a corner of the room. When resources are scarce, resort to single soldiers infiltrating; when abundant, use artillery to cover. Always using soldiers'' lives to protect the city, where is the satisfaction compared to a face wash with artillery fire? If manpower can''t maintain combat readiness under the dominator''s field, why not consider bombing it to death from outside the field? "And what shall we use for beyond-visual-range combat?" Someone immediately scoffed, "It''s not 400 years ago anymore!" The time of the Bug''s arrival on the planet was no longer verifiable; ancient humanity had managed to resist their initial ferocious onslaught and reduced them to their current state of decay using countless cutting-edge technologies. Back then, satellites filled the planet''s orbit, spaceships and warships patrolled outer space, and space-based weapons could initiate terrifying barrages on the ground at any moment. Unfortunately, a rebellion of the intelligent machines over 400 years ago had overturned all of humanity''s technological achievements. Now, unable to even achieve inter-city communication, they still talked about beyond-visual-range combat. The reason human tactical systems now seemed outdated was the lack of a network connecting all electronic devices; the currently used local networks could only support information transmission within a 10-kilometer diameter sphere, which limited the development of many systems. After 400 years of decline, if it wasn''t for the endless supply of troops to operate these outdated weapons, humanity would have long ceased to exist. The man who had suggested the idea stood up abruptly, not willing to give up, "We can restart the network, establish signal stations." "Minister Likok..." someone called out to the man, and then nothing more was said. The man scanned the room, and for a moment, no one dared to meet his gaze. Silence reigned. It was a heavy suggestion, and no one dared to speak rashly. After an extended lull, an old man at the front tapped the table and spoke softly, "The Electronic Silence Pact hasn''t expired yet..." "It''s been 439 years! Are we to wait another 61 years!? After over four hundred years of silence, the electronic demons should have dissipated long ago; there''s no need to be so conservative! No one anticipated how severe the survival environment would become today; how many more lives must we sacrifice? The length of the Pact is far too conservative!" "Who can guarantee that?" "Those piles of metal wandering the wasteland are all waiting for their king to return." A smattering of voices rose here and there. Minister Likok, with a scholarly air, stood resolute, "Times have changed, and the mechanical environment is not what it was back then; even if we have to invite a tiger to devour a wolf, it would still be a much better situation than what we''re facing now." It made some sense, but not much. No one else said anything, all eyes turned to a few elders seated behind the long table on the stage. "There''s no need to bring up this proposal again!" After a moment of whispering and exchanging views, the three elders spoke in unison to make the decision. Likok clenched his fists so tightly that his fingertips turned white... "Let''s proceed with Weslin''s proposal, then, and allow a portion of the soldiers in the camp to undergo psychic pressure resistance training, especially our mecha pilots. I also hope that the King of Night will arrange some reliable executives to help our soldiers familiarize themselves with resistance to the spiritual energy field. Additionally... due to the failure of this operation, with extensive losses of mechas and personnel, this month''s supply of Gene Optimization Solution for the camp will be halted. Meeting adjourned!" Chapter 85: 085 Clues to the Elf Breathing Skill "Minister Likok?" Seeing the man who had secretly followed him to his private office, Weslin was somewhat surprised, "You''re looking for me... Is there something you need?" Likok''s gaze fixed intently on Weslin, his eyes a bit fervent, "Let''s... cooperate." "Cooperate?" The biggest collaboration between the military and the Information Department was that they provided the army with drone video feedback and short-range communication technology for the troops; otherwise, there was hardly any interaction. Weslin couldn''t think of anything they could work on together. Likok stepped closer, "You must have seen the attitudes at the meeting today. Everyone isn''t unwilling to reboot the network; they''re just afraid of the responsibility. But I''m not!" "So?" "There are bioengineered guards at the server host ruins, and en route, we might encounter bugs, orcs, and the like..." Weslin''s eyes narrowed slightly, "So you want me to send someone to escort you there?" "Yes! Given your demeanor, Marshal, it seems you too wish to restore humanity''s dominion over the planet in our hands, leaving no burden to the next generation. How long has it been since we''ve looked over this planet from ten thousand meters above? I want humans to return to the age of technology, and you want to perform great deeds and unify the cities; we could join forces!" "But..." "This matter doesn''t involve you. If it succeeds, you reap the benefits; if it fails, throw me into the Spiritual Energy Furnace, and I''ll accept it willingly." "..." Weslin was silent and contemplative. Likok, somewhat anxious, "You just need to send an elite squad to escort me, and if it fails, no one will know it was you." "..." "I''ve already arranged with others for the subsequent construction of the base station. Once we succeed, I can immediately set up an automated fire control network for you!" Weslin smiled warmly, "Minister Likok, you misunderstood; I was just considering what kind of soldier to assign to assist with your operation. What type of soldier do you need?" Likok''s expression brightened, "I''ve studied the armaments at the ruins closely. The bioengineered guards aren''t extremely formidable, but there are too many electrical cables and conduits in the guarded area which can''t be damaged, as repairs will be highly troublesome. So if possible, we need some warriors with strong close-quarters combat ability who can strike with precision. Moreover, if they understand some computer hardware, that would be even better, helping me in case of unforeseen complications." Weslin listened quietly, then nodded in agreement, "I need some time to pick the right people for you." "No problem, I also need time to thoroughly prepare for the work." "Then... I''m pleased to be in collaboration," Weslin offered his right hand. "Pleased to collaborate!" ... After leaving the somewhat dreary room and stepping under the sun, Bai E finally felt a bit of warmth returning to his body. "Whew~" It was only now that he took a long breath out, releasing the physical tension he had been suppressing until this moment. Self-restraint is about suppressing outward expression, not completely isolating the body''s instinctual responses. When everything was over, Bai E gladly freed his repressed emotions, which made him feel slightly exhilarated. He could feel his fingertips trembling; this could be said to be the most dangerous encounter since his arrival in this world. Facing what could be the most intelligent group in this world, Bai E''s palms were sweating. Fortunately, he had persevered. A mix of truth and falsehood, the blend of real and fake, allowed for a perfect cover. As for how much was true and how much was false... who knows? Bai E looked up at the sky, where the cloud-shrouded sun cast a warm glow as if heralding a rebirth. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having finally gotten a day to rest, what should he do? His feet unconsciously moved toward the residential area. "Bai... E?" A voice suddenly sounded nearby, cool and clear, as a black cloak quivered slightly in the shadows of the houses. That lady, from the Elf Race? What did she want with him? Bai E instantly tensed up again; in his current state, he was far too weak, and most unknown visitors were dangerous and potentially lethal. Approaching her, Bai E asked with confusion, "Do you... need something?" Yue Ying looked left and right as though wary of being seen by others. Making sure it seemed no one was paying attention to them, she then whispered to Bai E, "Follow me." ??? Something felt off. Bai E followed nonetheless; he didn''t know what status this elven lady held within the military barracks¡ªseemingly no real authority. Yet the entire barracks seemed to have no secrets from her, as if she could be seen everywhere. He was an entirely detached character, transcendent over the ordinary, and what''s more important was... power! Bai E didn''t know what the ceiling of combat strength in this world was, but setting aside that dominant giant worm, among the targets he had seen so far through lucky strikes, hers was the most outrageous. With power, you can speak your mind anywhere. Following Yue Ying, Bai E arrived in a secluded place. Today was a day of rest for everyone. Clearly, not many had voluntarily come to the training ground, not to mention the great battle the day before and the torture by the research institute in the middle of the night; most were probably sleeping. The usually bustling training ground was quiet. Yue Ying had set up three targets in a line on the archery range and, seemingly out of nowhere, produced two longbows, handing one to Bai E. "..." Bai E took it, completely puzzled by her intentions. Yue Ying gripped the longbow, pinched an arrow''s fletching, and began to explain to Bai E, "I''ve seen your performance during the trial..." "Hmm..." "The last shot that saved the female soldier, that was a curved shot, right?" "..." This was the first time someone had directly pointed it out. Considering the speed at which bullets leave a gun, it''s hard for even slow-motion camera footage to capture the details, and neither the personnel who examined the mantis carcass nor Helen from earlier had noticed anything unusual. Bai E thought the matter had been left in the past. Of course, it wasn''t a particularly precious secret, just a special attribute automatically unlocked with Level 4 specialization. It probably wasn''t that rare... probably. There was no need to conceal it, but having less attention and more cards unknown to others was always better. Bai E was somewhat anxious, unsure of her intentions. "I originally thought you might possess some talent in swordsmanship, but I didn''t expect your shooting talent to be even more outstanding. However..." [Standard but...] "Firearms are difficult to improve in terms of technical skill. When your power exceeds the limits of the weapon, the surplus of personal power cannot enhance your shooting ability any further. At that point, the weapon''s performance becomes a restraint. Cold weapons, on the other hand..." Technology is indeed important, but that belongs to the overall advancement. Only abilities that can be cultivated are the direction for personal effort. The Elf Race is keen to develop these ancient skills and believes that studying them is the key to finding true spiritual comfort in life. Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelFire.net As she spoke, Yue Ying drew the bow and casually shot an arrow. "Thud~" The arrow''s tail quivered lightly, landing in... the center of the last target in line. "Gulp~" Bai E swallowed hard. If the faint trace in his retina wasn''t mistaken, then the elf miss''s arrow just now had made an S curve before hitting the final target. Two opposing arcs... Meaning... if the elf miss wanted to attack someone with her bow and arrow, then no matter what kind of cover they hid behind, they couldn''t escape the fatal pursuit. Very impressive! Yue Ying, standing with her bow at rest, continued, "Moreover, specially crafted arrows can accomplish many things that firearms can''t." Arrowheads containing explosives, toxins, electromagnetic pulses, and the like, in the hands of a true expert, make the bow and arrow far more functional than firearms. However, this skill is difficult to master, and slow to learn, so normal human soldiers who train on a large scale naturally wouldn''t consider it. "So..." Bai E''s gaze slowly moved from the target to the elf miss''s face, not seeing it clearly, only the arc of her clean, pale jaw. He didn''t quite understand her point. Was she intending to teach him? But even if you want to teach, it depends on whether I have time to learn... Skills need practice. There are no shortcuts to success in this world. If others can''t learn it, could he? Yue Ying stepped aside, giving Bai E access to the target and passing him a light-feathered arrow, "Bows and firearms are completely different domains. Once you''re familiar with them, both can bring out your talent, but it might initially be challenging for you. Give it a try, and don''t be discouraged if you don''t perform well." [Trigger Side Quest¡ªYue Ying''s Approval.] [Yue Ying''s Approval: Yue Ying from the Elf Race has shown appreciation for your performance and is willing to teach you some archery skills. Strive to demonstrate your abilities, and you may gain more of her attention... Quest Requirement: Display at least Level 1 expertise in the corresponding specialization before the end of the instruction period 0/1 (Tip: The higher the expertise you display, the better the rewards you''ll receive). Quest Reward: Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill *1 (Clue Quality: ???) (Countdown: ??? [Depends on the target''s mindset])] "..." The Elf Breathing Skill! In fact, ever since he had acquired "Self-Restraint," Bai E had been harboring various thoughts about the Elf Breathing Skill. It was plainly stated there, always inviting wild thoughts. And now, the possibility of obtaining the Elf Breathing Skill was laid out before him? Chapter 86: 086 Yue Yings Hands-on Teaching The Elf Breathing Skill is a method to cultivate Spiritual Energy, and Spiritual Energy is the manifest extraordinary power in this world. Everyone can practice the three basic attributes, but the privilege of Spiritual Energy only exists within a select few. According to the official website of "Galaxy Online" I saw before, there are only three paths to ultimate transcendence for the power of a human individual: Spiritual Energy, Genetics, Mechanics. Or try to grasp all three at once... Bai E had no hope for any of these paths before, but now for the first time, he had a chance to touch the realm of Spiritual Energy laid out before him. That is to say, as long as he could perform well, it was possible that the young lady of the Elf Race might consider teaching him the Elf Breathing Skill. The mission description is a bit strange, but that''s the idea at its core. One can''t help but be moved. Didn''t expect this mission to understand one''s heart so well? With an instant change from his indifferent attitude, Bai E gripped the longbow in his hands. Just as the elf miss had said, the lethal power of a bow and arrow is entirely different from that of a firearm. The attributes of the bow and arrow in hand were also displayed before his eyes in the moment of contact¡ª [Eaglehorn Bow¡ª¡ªQuality: Green (Ranged Weapon)] [Basic Parameters: Range 3~1000 meters; Attack Power (Type: Piercing): 8+(Physical Strength-13)*2; Output Energy Level 8+(Physical Strength-13)/2; Durability 15/15] [Usage Requirement: Physical Strength 13 (usable), the character currently has no Ranged Weapon Specialization, shooting accuracy -30%.] [Traits: An Elf-made sturdy bow, difficult for ordinary people to draw continuously, physical strength consumption +10% when shooting continuously; shooting kinetic energy +2. (Maximum tensile strength bearable: 25 points of Physical Strength)] ... [Steel Arrows¡ª¡ªQuality: Green] Enjoy new chapters from m-v l''-NovelFire.net [Basic Parameters: Defense Penetration +5%, Attack Power Modifier +2, hits add bleeding effect.] [Usage Requirement: Usable with bow and crossbow types.] [Traits: Crafted with the ingenuity of the Elf Race, hand-polished, shooting accuracy +10%; maximum shooting range +100 meters.] ... Compared to firearms, it has no rate of fire or ammo capacity limits; from range to attack power and output energy level, it all depends on individual abilities. With Bai E''s current 13 points of Physical Strength, the arrows he shoots are even less powerful than a Type 77 rifle. Investing time or other resources in this at the early stage is undoubtedly an unwise choice. However, now, there might only be one chance to gain the favor of such a character. He hoped that the 23 points of Ranged Weapon Specialization experience feedback from the player mission would give him a hand... Bai E held his breath, drew the bow, and notched an arrow as he pulled the bowstring taut. Yue Ying stood silently on the side, watching Bai E''s actions, expressionless and silent. With 13 points of Physical Strength, Bai E could barely draw the sturdy bow. His attributes were likely around this mark. He could manage to draw it, but the consequence of doing it with difficulty was his arm muscles trembling, lacking sufficient control over the entire bow. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this state, hitting a target 50 meters away was probably not even possible... "Whiz~" "Thud!" "..." Hit...hit it? Although far from the bullseye, it still stuck in the edge of the ten rings on the target. Picked up the skill unexpectedly quickly? This recruit has appeared before her numerous times, so he supposedly hadn''t arranged for any private bow practice. Or was it just luck? Her expectations for humans were low, but even for beginners, hitting one or two shots out of ten was possible. Seeing Bai E looking over, Yue Ying slightly lifted her chin, "Shoot a few more times." "Oh~" Bai E obediently responded and drew the bow to notch another arrow. "Whiz~Thud!" A shadow flashed, and the arrow flew like a dragon! The muffled sound of hitting the target echoed. [Successfully hit the target, but far from the center, Ranged Weapon Mastery experience +0.] "..." Didn''t gain again. Is training this thing that tough? Bai E glanced at the black garment fluttering to the side¡ªno reaction. Continue! "Whiz~Thud!" "Whiz~Thud!" +0 +1 +0 ... Damn it! There''s no chance of improvement at all! With his eyebrows tightly knitted, Bai E held the arrow and wondered how to unlock level 1 specialization with the situation at hand. He had so much experience on him, but without at least a level 1 specialization, he couldn''t add any points¡­ What should he do? Seeing Bai E, who seemed to be pondering over techniques, from behind, Yue Ying was trembling with excitement. In their Elf Race, every outstanding apprentice brought genuine pleasure and satisfaction to their teacher. Not to mention the number of rings, at least every arrow hit the target. Is this the level of a beginner? This talent is amazing! Soon realizing that her emotions were getting a bit too sensitive, she quickly suppressed her excitement. Bai E''s shooting continued. +0 +0 +0 ¡­ After another arrow hit the edge of the target, Bai E turned around and actively looked at Yue Ying, "My lord¡­" "You can call me Yue Ying." After watching a few more arrows and feeling a bit disappointed¡ªstarting at the peak, hardly any progress was visible, she had been happy too early¡­ "Lord Yue Ying¡­" Bai E scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat embarrassed, "I feel like there''s something wrong with my posture. I can''t shoot accurately. Would you mind teaching me the correct way to shoot?" This can''t go on. Bai E felt like he could hear the countdown to the mission''s end ticking away right beside his ear. Missions without a specified time limit were even more nerve-wracking. The caprice of this Elf lady could end at any moment, and he couldn''t afford to waste any more time. If an instructor could open a teaching session for him and he could do the same for other players, then surely this Elf lady should be able to open one as well, right? Bai E decided to take the initiative! "Oh~" Yue Ying sounded a bit dazed with her response but didn''t refuse Bai E''s request. Coming to teach something to this soldier numbered 95B27 was a whim of hers. Having witnessed this artificial warrior''s sincerity on the battlefield several times, she felt an impulse to do something for him. And now, encountering the rare opportunity when he seemed to have nothing else to do, she decided to fulfill a small wish of hers. She had no idea when she would leave, but since she decided to teach, she might as well do as he asked, "I''ll try to slow down. Pay attention and watch." In her opinion, whether it''s swords, spears, clubs, bows, axes, the works, they''re all just toys you get the hang of as soon as you pick them up. She had never taught anyone, not even in her race... so she had no experience. The occasional guidance was more akin to that time she showed 40 artificial soldiers how to use a sword in combat. Even without Bai E mentioning it, she only had this method for teaching archery, but it seemed Bai E was even more anxious. Well then, it''s up to you to comprehend it now. Yue Ying breathed calmly, her movements to nock the arrow exaggerated. She was trying to manifest all the adjustments to her body''s state as clearly as possible on the outside. Archery is not just the work of both arms¡ªcooperation between all parts of the body is necessary to shoot the arrow faster and more accurately! "Watch carefully." Just before releasing the arrow, Yue Ying reminded him again. "Whoosh!" The arrow shot out like lightning, striking the center of the target at 50 meters with precision. [You are observing a master''s archery demonstration; if you have an epiphany¡­] [Teaching: Sensing the opponent''s professional specialization, you decide to pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) to learn the corresponding skill. (Exchange ratio: 2 points of combat/general experience can be exchanged for 1 point of corresponding specialized experience.)] Exchange, exchange! Bai E couldn''t wait. [You have spent 10 points of combat experience in learning, converting to 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Specialization" experience.] [You have spent 10 points of combat experience¡­] "Did you understand?" Yue Ying looked at Bai E. Bai E blinked innocently, looking somewhat helpless, "Could you demonstrate a few more times?" Yue Ying''s brow furrowed slightly, but she didn''t say much and began to demonstrate again. [Do you wish to pay¡­] Cut the crap! Exchange, exchange! Exchange it all! I''m dying of impatience! ¡­ After a few more demonstrations, Yue Ying stopped. For her, those with enough talent could grasp the essence after watching three or two times. Those without enough talent could watch a hundred times, and it would still be useless. "Just watching my demonstration won''t bring much improvement. Ultimately, you have to do it yourself to see any effect. You try again now..." Chapter 87: 087 Clue Quality Improvement Yue Ying stepped back two paces, leaving the stage to Bai E. "..." Bai E stepped forward. There was a bit of pressure, but it was manageable. Originally at 23 mastery experience points, he had obtained 1 point through his own diligent practice, and the remaining 76 points depended entirely on cheating. He had spent a total of 160 combat experience points to directly upgrade his Ranged Weapon Specialization to level 1 through the Teaching Bureau. [Current Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience 104/100, "Level 1 Ranged Weapon Specialization" learned, with 1 Quiescent Point simultaneously obtained.] [Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 1): +5% Shooting Accuracy, +3% Firing Rate, +100 meters Range.] [Current Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience 4/300, reach 300 points to master "Level 2 Ranged Weapon Specialization".] His abilities became more professional, and with the formidable power added through specialization directly overlaid on the motor neurons of his body, Bai E''s every move seemed identical to the standard maneuvers Yue Ying had just demonstrated. The two shadows interweaved and ultimately merged into one. Finger relaxed, arrow released. "Thud!" At the red-dotted center of the target, the lightweight steel arrow shaft kept quivering. [Successfully hit the target center, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +3.] "..." Yue Ying''s brows, hidden beneath the hood, suddenly twitched. What happened? Isn''t the difference from before and after a bit too great? Having only been instructed a few times, he had learned this fast? "Shoot two more times." [Side Quest ¡ª Yue Ying''s Approval, countdown extended.] Hearing the prompt, Bai E breathed a sigh of relief. Not bad, the life extension worked. Without wasting time, Bai E continued to execute the most standard shooting motions meticulously. The lessons learned had taught him a rule of this world ¡ª any insincerity in action would only yield perfunctory results. "Thud~" [Successfully hit the target, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +2.] "Thud~" [Successfully hit the target, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +2.] "..." He didn''t hit the bullseye again, but the deviation wasn''t too far. Bai E carefully watched the still, black-robed figure, whose face was partially obscured under the hood, its expression unseen. Wondering what she was thinking... Is this considered up to par? [Was my teaching talent really that remarkable?] Yue Ying felt very pleased inside, having found sufficient confidence from this human warrior with the number 95B27. "Then let''s continue... this time, we will advance a step further." [Prompt: Current "Side Quest ¡ª Yue Ying''s Approval" has been preliminarily completed. You may refuse at any time to receive the quest reward.] [Current quest reward: Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: Grey)] [Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: Grey): You have attained the initial goodwill of the Elf Race''s Yue Ying. By showing more of your excellent skills, there''s a very small chance of obtaining the knowledge of the "Elf Breathing Skill" from her.] What Elf girl conquest? Bai E didn''t hesitate. Continue, continue! "100 meters?" The increase in distance was undeniably the simplest form of making it more challenging. "No." Yue Ying shook her head slightly, "Given that you could make a handgun shoot in an arc, you must have some insight in this area. Watch closely..." "..." Watching her turn around to seriously begin drawing the bow and nocking the arrow, Bai E felt a bit like crying without tears. Have you misunderstood something? Is that really an upgrade in difficulty? Is it that you don''t know how to teach, or do you have too much confidence in me? "I''m about to shoot." [The target technique is exquisite, continuing to learn may yield unexpected rewards.] ``` Hmm? Bai E blinked in surprise, subconsciously making a decision to agree. The arrows, like swimming fish, deftly skirted the first target in line, accurately striking the bullseye of the second. [You have spent 10 combat experience points in learning, which were converted into 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Specialization" experience. (A very small probability of awakening a special attribute.)] ? What is this? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A small probability of awakening... a special attribute? Hmm, there''s also a "very". The same teaching scenario... A recent event suddenly came to mind, and Bai E had an epiphany. Last time he held a teaching session for players, he found it odd how some of them, so foolishly, took lessons at a 2-to-1 ratio of loss, giving him an extra dose of experience. Now it seemed not that they were foolish, but that they were gambling. There were no foolish players, only those who, even with a one in a thousand chance, would believe they were the chosen ones. Otherwise, what would those gacha games earn from? Gamblers! All of them gamblers! Fortunately, he was one too... Saving up so much experience had indeed been a wise choice. Learn! Learn fiercely from Yue Ying! The loss of experience at a 2-to-1 ratio meant nothing when that lost experience was equivalent to unlocking special attributes available only after reaching level 4 specialization. Whether it was a loss or gain was hard to say. But as long as he could learn that special attribute, he could then teach it to the players. What he lost, he could always recoup from others. Not only would he not be at a loss, but he might even profit from it. He was the middleman, making a killing on the margin! Not to mention, "Yue Ying''s Approval" the side quest just required breaking more of Yue Ying''s expectations and earning her admiration, so what if he threw all he had at her? "Did you see clearly?" Yue Ying asked considerately after noticing the flash in Bai E''s eyes, as if he was recalling techniques in his mind. Bai E blinked and said, "Could you shoot a few more times? This is kind of difficult..." Previously moved by her own talents in teaching, Yue Ying didn''t hesitate to accept, "No problem, you can perform the movements with me in real time to adjust better, you may progress faster that way." "Great!" "Whoosh~" "Whoosh~" "Whoosh~" The arrows, like swimming fish, freely circled around the targets, and like sharks smelling blood, ferociously collided with the target in the back. [You have spent 10 combat experience points in learning, which were converted into 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Specialization" experience. (A very small probability of awakening a special attribute.)] ... [You have spent 10 combat experience points in learning, which were converted into 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Specialization" experience. (A small probability of awakening a special attribute.)] It seemed there was a hidden mechanism of cumulative proficiency in the teaching scenario, with the probability description changing after multiple learning sessions. Bai E felt exhilarated. Keep throwing in! [You have spent 10 combat experience points in learning, which were converted into 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Specialization" experience.] [Your prolonged learning has allowed you to absorb enough experience from the master''s performance. Your specialization skill¡ªRanged Weapon Specialization¡ªhas gained a new "special" attribute bonus!] [Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 1): Shooting accuracy +5%, firing speed +3%, range +100 meters, parabolic shot (special) +2%.] [Current Ranged Weapon Mastery experience 271/300, you can master "Level 2 Ranged Weapon Specialization" when full at 300 points.] "Whoosh~" The arrow pierced through the air resistance, its sleek shaft flexing with elasticity, lightly grazing past obstacles, and thrusting straight into the second target! "Thud!" [Arc shot triggered! Successfully hit the target behind an obstacle, Ranged Weapon Mastery experience +5.] A peripheral vision flashed across the screen, nerves rapidly reacting, Yue Ying shuddered, and suddenly looked over. Success? [Luck Strike energy +1] Bai E, calmly focusing within, showed not the slightest excitement. [Current mission reward: Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: White)] [Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: White): You have gained further favor from the Elf Race''s Yue Ying, showing more of your excellent talents, there''s a slight chance of acquiring the "Elf Breathing Skill" from her.] Read exclusive chapters at m_v-l''-NovelFire.net [Continuing to challenge higher difficulties could lead to disappointment from the target, thus lowering the quality of the clue. Will you decide to quit while you''re ahead? Or perhaps...] ``` Chapter 88: 088 Scattering Give up? Impossible. What I, as a man, am all about is betting like a mad dog! In total, the two learning sessions cost me just 680 points of combat experience, which is negligible compared to what I have in store. Keep going! Bai E looked at Yue Ying, "Yue Ying, I want to learn more advanced techniques." "No problem!" Yue Ying felt greatly pleased inside, her teaching talent unmatched, and this human''s comprehension was also quite acceptable. An eager teacher and a willing student, where could one find such a coincidence in the world? "The difficulty of multiple arc shots is a bit higher. Once you''ve mastered the single arc, you''ll gradually come to understand it yourself. Now, I''ll teach you another technique." Scatter Shot! Yue Ying drew her bow and notched an arrow, her delicate palm grasping ten arrows at once. "Gulp!" Bai E''s eyes went wide, ten arrows? She wouldn''t be thinking of shooting all ten arrows at once, would she? "Bang!" Yue Ying didn''t give Bai E more time to react. The bowstring vibrated the air, echoing resonantly. The ten arrows shot out, amazingly hitting ten different targets! On closer inspection, each arrow had penetrated the wood by three inches, with ample force. "..." Is this really something humans can learn? Bai E''s gaze shifted to Yue Ying''s small hand holding the bow, feeling that what limited the number of Scatter Shots wasn''t strength, but... her hands were too small. [You have paid 10 points of combat experience in learning, converted to 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Mastery" experience. (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] As Yue Ying looked over, Bai E blinked, "Could you demonstrate it two more times?" A nod from under the hood, "Okay." Bai E hastily splurged more experience. Learn! Learn fiercely! [You have paid 50 points of combat experience in learning, converted to 25 points of "Ranged Weapon Mastery" experience. (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] (Stackable) [Current Ranged Weapon Mastery experience 306/300, "Level 2 Ranged Weapon Specialization" has been learned, with 1 latent point acquired.] [Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 2): Shooting accuracy +8%, shooting speed +5%, range +200 meters, Arc Shot (Special) +4%.] A prompt sounded quietly. The special attribute hadn''t been learned yet, but the specialization level was upgraded first. And... Arc Shot +4%? If he remembered correctly, the Arc Shot was +2% at level 1. Does that mean the effect of the special attribute improves along with the specialization level? Bai E''s gaze became somewhat unfocused, realizing that there were many unknowns in the world yet to be discovered. Was there such a good thing? Did that not mean that the earlier the special attribute was unlocked, the higher the bonus it would provide at the same specialization level? Waiting to naturally unlock the special attribute bonuses at specialization level 4 would certainly save experience, but in the long run, it would unquestionably be a weakening to one''s personal strength. The guidance of a great master indeed had its advantages! Yue Ying unstrung her bow, looking at Bai E, who seemed to be pondering while learning, "You try it as well, start with just two arrows for your training, no need to aim too high too soon." "Um..." Bai E nodded his head, not so presumptuous to directly go for ten arrows. In fact, up to now, he still didn''t understand how Yue Ying''s five fingers were able to hold ten arrows... Positioning two arrows between the index and ring fingers on top of the bowstring, Bai E held the longbow horizontally and pulled back the string. Knowing that the special attribute developed along with the specialization level, his interest grew even more. Indeed, using experience points directly to upgrade was more of a loss; what''s missed can''t be regained, and he should be more attentive in the future. With the bowstring trembling slightly in hand, Bai E tried to control the direction of the arrows'' impacts, which was of course very challenging. Without the empowering infusion of the system''s might, naturally one arrow veered off course, and the other one did too... "..." Your journey continues on m v|l--NovelFire.net "Don''t be disheartened," Yue Ying''s voice was calm. Bai E''s performance had been quite satisfactory just now, so now she had even more patience. "Yes..." Bai E hesitated, "Could you demonstrate the two-arrow shot a few more times? I can''t see clearly with ten arrows at once." "...No problem, practice with me," Yue Ying agreed very readily. "Notch the arrow." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [You have paid 10 points of combat experience in learning... (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] "Draw the bow." [You have paid 10 points of combat experience in learning... (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] "Aim." [...(tiny)] "Shoot!" [...(tiny)] Tiny... tiny... tiny... tiny... The difficulty of scattering shots was a level higher than that of arcing shots, perhaps because Bai E had a certain foundation in arcing fire which made scatter shooting seem much more challenging. [You have spent 10 points of combat experience in your learning...(tiny chance of awakening special attributes.)] Bai E occasionally glanced at Yue Ying''s delicate figure wielding the bow and had some sneers in his heart. To say it''s a demonstration, it really was just a demonstration. It could only be me. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn''t even be able to learn arcing shots... [You have spent 10 points of combat experience in your learning...(small chance of awakening special attributes.)] Hm? Bai E''s spirits lifted; at last, he was making progress. Drawing the bow, nocking the arrow..."Whoosh!" "Thunk!" After the dull impact, a scraping sound followed. One arrow hit the second ring on the target, another grazed the edge of the target and whizzed off, skimming the ground. Finally, some progress... The eyes of Yue Ying, who had been losing interest, lit up again. We''ve been practicing for at least ten minutes! The slightly invigorated Yue Ying regained some vitality, and her demonstration movements became more standardized. [You have spent 230 points of combat experience in your learning...(small chance of awakening special attributes.)](accumulated) ... [You have spent 10 points of combat experience, which has been converted into 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Proficiency" experience.] [Long-term learning has provided you with sufficient experience from the master''s performance, and your specialization ability¡ªRanged Weapon Specialization, has gained a new "special" attribute boost!] [Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 2): Shooting accuracy +8%, shooting speed +3%, range +200 meters, arching (special) +4%, scatter shot level (special) +1.] [Scatter shot (Level 1): Double shot success rate +50%, triple shot success rate +5%, quadruple shot success rate +0.1%.] [Current Ranged Weapon Mastery experience 426/500, mastering "Level 3 Ranged Weapon Specialization" at 500 points.] It was a bit risky, but fortunately, the special attribute was successfully activated before reaching level 3 specialization; otherwise, he would have missed the chance for a simultaneous upgrade from level 2 to level 3. I wonder if this world has any reset potions... I''m going to spend some money to reset my firearm shooting skills! Bai E breathed a sigh of relief and once again steadied his fingers holding two arrows, as firm as Mount Tai. His gaze simultaneously locked onto two targets, sharp as an eagle. "Whoosh!" "Thunk!" The noise made by the two arrows was almost entirely overlapping; one hit dead center, the other the second ring! [Triggered Scatter Shot (Dual Shot)! Successfully hit two targets at the same time, Ranged Weapon Proficiency experience +7.] "Well done." Yue Ying was pleased in her heart. Finally learned it! "Scatter shooting and arching both require you to practice slowly. Once familiar, you can even combine the two. Next..." [Current mission reward: Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: Green)] [Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: Green): You have gained the distinct favor of Yue Ying of the Elf Race by showing more of your excellent talents, and you have a certain chance to obtain the method of the "Elf Breathing Skill" from her.] [Target''s favorability is already over the line; one or two failures will no longer disappoint them. Currently, you have an opportunity to retain the mission''s progress...] "Yue Ying..." Yue Ying didn''t give Bai E a chance to speak, "The technique I''m about to show you might be beyond your grasp for now. I''m only demonstrating a few times to give you a goal; you can practice on your own as well." Steady the wind! [You have spent 10 points of combat experience in your learning...(tiny chance of awakening special attributes)] [Reminder: Your current "Physical" attribute is unlikely to support the awakening of this special attribute; the chance is minuscule, please make your decision wisely.] "..." Bai E quickly called a halt, "Yue Ying, the shooting technique you just demonstrated seems to require superior physical abilities." "You actually noticed?" Yue Ying was somewhat surprised. She didn''t expect that just one demonstration would reveal such sharp insight from this warrior. "Actually, there''s not no chance. Skill can make up for a lack of physical strength to a certain extent." Like herself... with a physical strength level of 13, she could still perform the same archery skills. [You think everyone is like you?] Bai E, keeping a serious face, said meticulously, "I might not be able to achieve that level of skill." To have that kind of self-awareness was also quite good. Yue Ying nodded in silent satisfaction, "Alright then, come find me when you feel that your physical strength has improved sufficiently." [Side mission¡ªYue Ying''s Approval, progress has been retained.] Chapter 89: 089 Management Studies+1 Bai E had just bid farewell to Yue Ying when he once again received a long-absent message. [Feedback from the assignment: Your technology¡ªManagement+1.] Ever since the new tasks were assigned, the players had been quiet for a long time. I let you go investigate, and all I added was a bit of insight, stealth, and ranged weapon abilities. It''s not that I''m entirely unsatisfied, just a little dissatisfied. As for not cutting trees but burning cement... Ha! No movement. Don''t you have to find limestone and clay to make cement? Don''t you need to add a bit of insight for map exploration? Don''t you have to fight some enemies when you encounter them? Don''t you need some professional skills and physical strength to mine ore? Don''t you have to drive or carry the mined resources back on your shoulders? All of these are fresh fields, and fresh fields are where people''s abilities are more easily honed. After all that effort, all I got was a Management+1? Let me see what this Management+1 is good for... [Management+1: You can now govern a larger population, assignment posting qualification+1.] "emmmm¡­" Seems like it''s not entirely useless. Well done! ¡­ "Kill him! That nasty brat dares to steal our boss''s stuff!" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Doesn''t he know that even a single black coin dropped on Black Street should bear the name Jonathan?" In a corner where the sunlight couldn''t reach, a few thin and wildly dressed men were punching and kicking a small figure. The small fellow could only hug his head as tightly as possible, stubbornly clinging to a twisted, yellowed book in his arms. Passing by the corner, a figure suddenly paused, retracing the two steps she had already taken. A gentle female voice mockingly asked, "Who are you bullying this time, tormenting some poor creature?" ? The ruffians, upon hearing the woman''s voice, paused, subconsciously stopping their assault. The bearded man in the crowd, who hadn''t laid a hand but merely stood by with his arms crossed, greedily swept his gaze over Gong Yan''s somewhat spicy figure, "Little girl, this has nothing to do with you, I advise you to mind your own business." Jonathan knew this young woman who looked like she had Dragon Country blood, who the night before last had settled the chaos caused by who knows whom - it was her who had cleaned up the mess. She had saved quite a few Black Street residents that night, so this little girl had some temporary respect in this area of Black Street. If he went after her directly, he didn''t know whether it would arouse public anger or be met with indifference, but it was certainly a risky move. Besides, this girl was a newcomer, popping up only in recent days, and she was either an outsider Wanderer or someone from the inner city, mysterious at best and to be avoided. Gong Yan giggled, as if not taking him seriously at all, instead only looking at the boy on the ground... or rather, the player with a seemingly fragile appearance who lifted his head as the hooligans ceased their beating. If it were a normal poor inhabitant of Black Street, their eyes wouldn''t be so bright after a gang beating, filled with excitement and vivacity when looking at her. The beatings of those hooligans were not without damage, but for the players, whether it was physical harm or negative states like fatigue, what they felt was often an indescribable sense of pleasure. This caused them to not fear getting hurt or tired, to the point of actively seeking trouble. Gong Yan''s eyes briefly caught the book clutched tightly in the player''s arms, and she understood that perhaps he had spotted some remarkable treasure. A treasure, huh... finders keepers. Even if it wasn''t of use, just looking at it was enough, satisfying curiosity was still a must. Her right hand already quietly released the safety on her handgun behind her, Gong Yan looked up with a smile, "How about you let him go? He''s my friend." "Friend? Your friend sure has sticky fingers." "Click!" The figure cocking the bullet emerged from behind, Jonathan''s bearded face more shamelessly smirking, "I told you to leave and you didn''t listen. What? You think I wouldn''t dare touch you?" A cold voice emerged from behind, "Move forward! Don''t make trouble." Gong Yan slightly turned her face, seeing the dark muzzle of a gun pointed at her from behind. [There are accomplices¡­] The plot thickens... After a moment''s hesitation, Gong Yan chose not to act and obediently walked forward as instructed. A game, huh... let''s see how many ways this could unfold. As she moved closer, Jonathan''s greedy eyes swept up and down Gong Yan''s pretty figure. This woman''s looks weren''t the most stunning, but her skin glowed with a magnetic sheen, frequently adorned with a flush of desire, clearly not of the same caliber as those scrawny women on Black Street. He played around in the outer city''s underground, and no one would know it was his doing. "Now you can''t get away..." "Are you sure you dare to touch me?" Despite being at a disadvantage, Gong Yan still stared into the other''s eyes, her smile lush to the point of decadence. Jonathan twitched his eyebrows, "Oh? Got any big secrets? Let''s hear them." "You want me to tell you? Can''t you find out yourself?" "Find out?" Jonathan sneered coldly, "I know you''ve been asking around about limestone, clay, and all that stuff the past few days... what? Are the city''s bigwigs planning to build a high wall here too? Surely they wouldn''t be so clueless as to not know where to get that stuff and have to ask us poor sods, right?" Gong Yan''s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze filled with unstoppable disappointment, "I thought there would be a few smart people around here..." "Oh?" Jonathan let out a light sound of surprise, still looking wicked on the surface, but his smile was slightly stiff, betraying his inner uncertainty. "I was just waiting, but I didn''t expect the first one to come up..." Gong Yan smiled sweetly, "...would be an idiot like you." The underling behind Jonathan, upon receiving a look from him, pressed his gun muzzle forward and threatened coldly, "Speak respectfully!" "Respectfully... respectably and you''ll have nowhere to run." Jonathan instantly showed evident apprehension, his voice trembling as he asked, "Are you with the Heretical Arbitration House?!" "..." Seeing Jonathan''s sudden change of expression, the male player pinned to the ground was visibly anxious, wanting to speak up as a reminder, yet hesitantly clamped his mouth shut. To remind was to expose. [The acting is too dramatic.] Gong Yan laughed even more joyously, genuinely, "Do you have a pig''s brain or something? How could you associate me with those kinds of people? Hahaha~" While laughing, Gong Yan reached into her bag to take something out, "Here''s a hint for you, you''re really too... dumb... hahaha~" A single... bullet. Jonathan carefully took the bullet, scrutinized it close up, and then, his gaze toward Gong Yan finally filled with genuine dread. The standardized industry process, definitely not something ordinary people could get their hands on. His gaze drifted off into the distance, "Are you really from there?" There were indeed people who kept a trade relationship with some on Black Street, so every once in a while whispers about that place would emerge in the district. But... "How can you prove it?" Gong Yan raised her eyebrows, "You know what the objective of their full deployment yesterday was?" Jonathan asked in a deep voice, "What was it?" The military''s big movement certainly couldn''t be hidden from everyone, but as ordinary citizens, they could barely know the rough direction the military headed, let alone the specifics of what they did. Those bold enough to pry would have grass growing over their graves two meters tall. Gong Yan stared into the other''s eyes, enunciating every word, filled with murderous intent, "Blackrock Plains, purging the Bug Race''s hive." When she wasn''t laughing, her eyes were like knives, as if the military''s target wasn''t a bug hive... but him. [She got back last evening, the news will spread by tonight or tomorrow at the latest, she wouldn''t dare lie about this.] Jonathan turned thoughts over in his mind¡ª So, did a big shot from the military district want a new partner, or was there some other idea in play? Damn, my brain''s not up to speed... But what is certain, this person cannot be touched. "So, you released the news deliberately, just waiting for a partner to come to you?" Gong Yan tilted her head to one side, showing a satisfied look for the first time, "Finally figured it out?" Stay connected with m-v l|e''-NovelFire.net Jonathan kicked at Gong Yan''s inattentive underling behind her, "Impudent! Who allowed you to point a gun at an adult!? And you guys, come on! Help our brother up!" After resolutely taking a stand, Jonathan put on a shameless face and drew close to Gong Yan, "Milord, any insider information you could... leak a little bit?" Gong Yan raised an eyebrow, "I wouldn''t be showing up here for no reason." "Milord, you mean..." "We need to set up a warehouse in a hidden place to store some stuff, but..." "Secrecy! I understand!" Jonathan swore with his hand up, his expression excited, "I know the rules!" Saying so, he scanned his underlings around him, "You all heard, if anyone leaks the news, I''ll shoot him dead! So I don''t know..." "First prepare about 100 kilograms of cement, let''s see what you''re capable of." "Right away, Milord! No problem, Milord! Milord, please proceed!" [You have completed a perfect act of intimidation, Management +2.] [Management +2: You can now take on more commissions, commission acceptance qualification +2; at the same time, you have a unique advantage in influence management and partial tech research.] Chapter 90: 090 Realistic Physics Engine "Sis, you''re so awesome, you had them going in circles, haha... I was even worried for you just now." Gong Yan''s eyes lifted slightly, "Who said I was deceiving them?" The skinny player blinked in bewilderment, "Huh?" "Basically everything was true..." Except for the bit about deliberately fishing for information, which was an impromptu fabrication, the rest was essentially true. Plus, it looks like NPCs can be deceived too~ This game just got a lot more interesting... Gong Yan''s eyes darted gracefully, landing on the book in the boy''s arms. "What''s your name?" "Wen Jie... Zhou Wenjie." "Playing by yourself? Stealing things without even having someone to cover for you." "Haha~ I didn''t expect to get caught so easily, I thought they wouldn''t care about this sort of thing..." "What kind of treasure is it? You almost got killed over it." "Just a book..." Zhou Wenjie openly showed it. The book''s cover was curled and yellowed, covered in years of accumulated dust and some visible grease stains that couldn''t be wiped off. There was an indentation in the center that caused the first few pages to be somewhat torn and missing. Apart from that, the book was still fairly intact. Gong Yan saw the two big characters on the cover ¡ª"Mathematics". "A book?" "Yeah!" Zhou Wenjie''s face turned red with excitement as he talked about his field of interest, "Did you know? This game world has the most realistic physics engine, all the fundamental laws here are completely different from our world! And it can even run flawlessly, with coherent logic. Do you know how much energy is needed to achieve this level of realism? It''s an unimaginable miracle in our field of computer science! It''s like starting a whole new era! Only a creator god could achieve this feat. Haha! To the people of this world, the developers who made this game are gods! The gods of creation!" The boy rambled on, oblivious to whether or not his topic was of interest to anyone else. "Oh?" Gong Yan just listened with a smile, walked to a deserted wilderness, even found a fallen tree trunk to sit on comfortably, and stretched out her hand to the boy, "Can I take a look?" "Oh oh, here you go." Gong Yan opened the cover, and the table of contents displayed the actual content of the book. Basic mathematical theorems... Basic physics laws... As the pages softly turned, Gong Yan''s movements were extremely gentle. Zhou Wenjie''s initially excited demeanor quieted down as he watched the side of Gong Yan''s face turning pages quietly. Brushing a stray lock of hair from her ear, Gong Yan turned her curious gaze towards Zhou Wenjie, "Why did you stop talking? I''m listening. What made you think of stealing this?" "Oh oh~ It''s so fun!" Zhou Wenjie''s excitement returned, "Don''t you think this is fun? A brand new world, brand new laws of physics, I can''t imagine how the production team came up with all this! I can study it too!" "You''re researching this world?" Gong Yan''s eyes lit up, with a hint of awe-inspired admiration, "That''s a great idea." "Not really..." Zhou Wenjie scratched his head sheepishly, "I just think it''s fun, and if I can learn the rules of this world, maybe I''ll have a chance to join the production team! Creating a world, you know? That''s too cool!" Gong Yan paused in flipping the pages, pointing at a line on the page, she asked with some curiosity, "But can math...be different as well?" "The basics of mathematics remain the same, 1+1=2, 1+2=3... But you know the simple Pythagorean theorem, right? In this world, it''s not! Here, it''s the square of the hypotenuse equals 4.90934143088 times the square of one of the other sides!" "That sounds way too complicated..." "Yeah... way too complicated." ... Below the dugout hole, Kuang Xin and Dai Lian were looking at a piece of wood that was obviously longer than expected, a bit vexed as they tried to fit three pieces of wood to form a frame. "Did we calculate it wrong?" "The sum of squares of the legs of a right triangle, when square rooted, gives the length of the hypotenuse¡­" Dai Lian was desperately trying to recall what he had learned in middle school, "There''s nothing wrong with it, so why is it still too long?" "Did you measure it incorrectly?" Kuang Xin shifted his gaze to the corner, "Could it also be that the angle we dug isn''t straight enough?" As the hole got bigger and bigger, they had to set up some supports to prevent a collapse. Since they needed supports, triangles were undoubtedly the most stable shape. The two old men turned out all the common knowledge they had for this life, just to complete this task. But¡­ "Why doesn''t anything match up properly?" Read the latest on m_v-l''e|-NovelFire.net "You didn''t measure it wrong." An unexpected voice suddenly sounded from the entrance of the hole. Kuang Xin, looking up, was startled, "Who are you?" Zhou Wenjie continued to descend the ladder, engrossed in his own thoughts, "It''s not your fault, it''s the world''s fault." He instinctively reached to push up his glasses only to remember that in this world, there were no glasses, "The people in this world have determined through measurement and calculation that the sum of the squares of the legs of a right triangle equals the hypotenuse raised to the power of 2.023, not simply squared. A miss by an inch leads to a failure by a mile." "But, who exactly are you?" "A new friend," Gong Yan followed down the ladder, "I saw him being bullied by an NPC on Black Street earlier, so I helped him out¡­" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Still so kind-hearted¡­] Looking at Gong Yan as she slowly climbed down, Dai Lian''s eyes were gentle, "How''s the cement situation looking?" "There''s a bit of a clue, but we''ll have to wait and see¡­ How about you guys? Why didn''t you go to the sewers?" Kuang Xin waved his hand dismissively, "Don''t mention it, there are too many rats and they''re too troublesome. We''ve set a sky net in the sewers, and the two from Heretical Arbitration House won''t be able to do anything in a short time, let alone us. However, it''s kind of fun to practice our skills while we''re at it..." Dai Lian gave him a sidelong glance, somewhat speechless. That''s how the average players are; even if they can''t complete a task, they take the setbacks and challenges they encounter during the task as fun. But it was true, the past two days they had been running back and forth, digging here, sneaking there. And they were quite enjoying themselves¡­ "Oh, I need to log off," Kuang Xin said with a cheery smile, listening to some prompt. "Time to log off¡­" Getting up from the gaming pod, Kuang Xin recalled the game content from his dream, with the most amusing part being¡ª The sum of the squares of the legs equals to the hypotenuse to the power of 2.023? How strange, how could there be such a complex constant in the world? "Di-di~" The phone by his side suddenly lit up, and upon opening it, there was a message from a vaguely familiar ID in the gaming group: Xu Ruoguang: "Guys, if you know the circumference of a circle, how do you find the diameter?" Kuang Xin snorted with laughter. Does this even need to be asked? "@Xu Ruoguang, the circumference divided by ¦Ð gives you the diameter, man. Did you return all your middle school knowledge to your teacher or something?" Xu Ruoguang: "So, what''s ¦Ð?" "¦Ð?" Kuang Xin burst out laughing. "¦Ð is, of course, 3." So seriously, how could there be such a weird constant like 2.023 in the world? Chapter 91: 091 Advanced Physical Fitness Training [Feedback from the commission: your physical strength +0.2, insight +0.1, reflex +0.1.] (Stacked) [Feedback from the commission: stealth experience +12.] [Feedback from the commission: remote weapons mastery experience +10.] A day of rest passed in the blink of an eye, and the tense and exciting training came again. The warm morning sunlight was heartwarming, and Bai E woke up to the mission feedback in a good mood. Regarding the cement task, he didn''t know what shortcuts those players had taken, and then the combat-type investigation and construction tasks, they seemed to be trying to complete meticulously. What mattered most was the repeated feedback of remote weapons mastery experience in the feedback... This meant that players were also craving this weapon specialization lately, and when the time came for him to "cut" ...teach them, could they refuse? Any player who knew the benefits of obtaining special attributes at a low level would definitely not refuse such a rare opportunity for them. It must be said that the diligence of the players was moving... Is it that none of them need to log off to rest? Bai E mused in his heart. The inquiry of Tiger rang in his ears, "Are you going to train with us today, or continue with the group?" Bai E''s situation was a bit special. Generally speaking, the warriors selected for special squads are the elites among soldiers. It''s not that all abilities are maxed out, but many abilities have reached a plateau. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It didn''t make much sense to continue exercising, so they sought broader development. Training like physical fitness, knife skills, marksmanship, and such, Tiger and the others would still participate in, but it could take a lot of time to make further progress on top of an already high level. Even if they did make that step further, it wouldn''t bring a qualitative improvement. 1+1 is doubling, but 10+1 is just a 10% increase. However, if they were to learn to drive a Multi-function Infantry Vehicle or a tank, or use special weapons like a heavy machine gun or a Chainsword, the effect would be immediate, and they could play a much bigger role. Whether it''s ordinary soldiers or special squads, the military''s purpose in training everyone is not to let everyone choose their own extraordinary path but merely to mold everyone into a screw that could be moved wherever needed. Cost-effectiveness, that is the sole purpose of the soldiers'' training. So, Bai E''s training plan was up for debate. As a new recruit, his training time was too short, normally three days of training wouldn''t be enough to improve a new soldier''s fundamental abilities to the bottleneck stage. But judging from his performance... even some in the special squads might not match up to him. It was probably a case of severe specialization. When it comes to his own business, he had to be clear about it, so ultimately the decision fell to Bai E himself. When asked, Bai E''s eyes became slightly absent-minded, as if pondering. But in reality, he had already made up his mind. Of course... train with the group. His physical attributes might be exceptionally good among the new soldiers, but definitely inferior to the old soldiers, and Ms. Yueying''s archery was also at a bottleneck, without sufficient physical fitness he couldn''t learn more advanced techniques. Whether he could learn high-level archery determined whether he could obtain the "Elf Breathing Skill" from her. The answer was obvious. "I''ll go with the group. I feel like I still have a lot of fundamental weaknesses," he said. "That''s good; you should solidify the foundation. We''re off to train too," Tiger patted Bai E''s shoulder and walked away with the other three. Bai E''s performance on the battlefield had also stimulated them; such an outstanding newcomer made those comfortable old-timers look bad. Bai E arrived at the training site early. Seeing Bai E appear, Wood, who had been waiting, was clearly in a good mood and took the initiative to greet him. "Your performance in the trials was not bad." The official announcement of battlefield performance, including military achievements, had not yet been made, but Bai E''s performance in the final trial for new recruits had almost spread throughout the camp and the scores had already been settled. Because of Bai E''s presence, his teaching scores had significantly improved, and there was a share for him in the medals of honor, naturally bringing joy. And even without considering the interests involved, who wouldn''t like to be friends with an excellent and non-aggressive person? "How about the training later?" Today was the first day of recovery training; normal new recruits were still normal new recruits. Even if they were mixed with some veterans for training, essentially everyone was still from the same pool. Apart from the new recruits who had just been born a few days ago, all older soldiers'' training was divided into two tiers, with the boundary generally set at a physical condition of 13 points. Soldiers with less than 13 points, even if they were not the most recent batch of new recruits, still had a great deal of room for physical improvement. A bunch of mediocrities pecking at each other, everyone could mingle in training together, which could also foster a sense of teamwork and competition. However, the training for soldiers with a physical condition above 13 points was much harsher; a higher physical condition required a more intense amount of training for the potential improvement. The intensity of the training for the two tiers wasn''t on the same level¡ªif you didn''t recognize your position, you would either not improve or be worn out. Group training also required screening; with Bai E''s identity and performance being quite different, Wood was not clear about his current positioning. After listening to Wood''s explanation, Bai E glanced at his own panel¡ª With a physical condition of 13.7, training with the upper tier should be no problem... "I''ll join the advanced training." "Advanced training?" Wood was taken aback, then nodded, a bit surprised but it made sense. "Indeed. Then follow me, I''ll help you arrange it." This was originally his job; the combat arrangement of new recruits who had already been organized would be somewhat disrupted, and part of his job today was to help with the transition. With Bai E in tow, Wood found a grim-faced instructor at the training field and introduced Bai E with a pat on his shoulder, "This is Bai E..." "State the number." The grim-faced instructor, with hands behind his back, interjected coldly, seeming somewhat unsociable. Wood was momentarily stunned but didn''t take it to heart, "95B27... he wants to join the advanced training, please take him under your wing." The grim-faced instructor gave Bai E a once over, "The new recruit batch from five days ago?" He had heard a bit about the rumors concerning the number 95B27, but for a new recruit just five days old to join the advanced training directly, wasn''t that... a bit overconfident? "Have you told him about our training methods?" "I''ve told him, don''t worry, he should be able to keep up." "Should?" The tone of the grim-faced instructor took on a questioning lift. Wood, upon being questioned in this way, started to feel uncertain himself. Yes... with at least a foundation of 13 points in physical conditioning, wouldn''t it be a bit far-fetched for Bai E, just five days old, to keep up? Previous performance was just that¡ªperformance. After all, he had the support of unlimited No.3 ration bars to bolster his actions, and they themselves had never experienced this, most people felt that those outstanding performances were just slightly unexpected, top-level standards. But even the top-tier newly created people couldn''t catch up with the first tier''s level in just five days. After years of accumulated effort, why should they lose to a few days of rapid progress? Experience tales with m v|l -NovelFire.net Bai E didn''t make it difficult for him and stepped forward timely, "If I get trashed, it''s my own problem; please, don''t worry, sir." The grim-faced instructor smirked, his chill evident, "Quite the bold talk... but I like it." He then tilted his head back slightly, "Fall in, I''ll be watching." "Thank you, sir!" Chapter 92: 092 Specialty - Overlimit Drive More and more soldiers were assembling, and upon seeing the unfamiliar face of Bai E, many in the original team grew curious. "Bro, new guy?" "Yeah." The woman who spoke, as majestic as Mount Tai, glanced at the identity tag on Bai E''s chest¡ª "95B27?" Did that sound familiar? The female soldier furrowed her brows, silently searching her memory for the origin. Hearing the female soldier''s self-murmuring, though quiet, was still loud, a soldier next to her remembered the source of this number, "Isn''t that the big hero everyone''s been talking about the last couple of days?" The female soldier was taken aback, looking at the soldier who spoke, "What big hero?" "Him, during our retreat, he alone saved several hundred people, and those who woke up after being rescued all wanted to thank him... Wasn''t it the hot gossip yesterday? Didn''t you hear?" "Ohh~" The female soldier realized and punched Bai E in the chest, "Impressive, huh!" Bai E, caught off guard, took a half step back. His gaze toward the female soldier changed. Who would have thought that this rough-voiced, burly woman would have so much strength? A training unit starting with 13 points in physical fitness truly harbored crouching tigers and hidden dragons. "But how come I heard that 95B27 is a new soldier freshly spawned from the last batch?" someone seemed to be casually chatting with a companion, yet their voice carried straight into everyone''s ears. "New soldier? What''s wrong with a new soldier? As long as you''re brave, a new soldier can train too." "Just afraid they won''t know what''s good for them and hurt themselves, you know~" The two voices, one after the other, were full of sarcasm. Bai E''s eyes slightly twitched when he heard all this. Clearly, the term "big hero" had struck a nerve with some people. Artificial human soldiers were already fearless in the face of death, why couldn''t they have other aspirations? But... it was unpleasant to the ears. "If you can''t speak nicely, then shut your mouth." Bai E stood up straight, his face not even turning as he spoke. "..." The retort from the newcomer quieted the previously noisy training unit for a moment, and all the assembled soldiers involuntarily looked in Bai E''s direction, even the seemingly thick-skinned female soldier took a step back unconsciously. In the military camp, collective honor was highly valued. They were all familiar comrades-in-arms, and with Bai E being new, regardless of whether he was right or wrong, he was naturally at a disadvantage due to unfamiliarity. If someone said a few words to you, you just took it, and that was that. But to dare talk back... was this looking for trouble? "Eh? Does someone seem discontent?" Discover more content at m,v l''e-NovelFire.net "This new guy seems pretty gutsy..." "Gutsy or not, that''s hard to say." The drill instructor with the dark face, standing with his back to the soldiers, said nothing as he listened to the commotion behind him, the corners of his lips slightly curling up. It was good to be resentful. He liked this kind of spirit. But... being resentful had to be backed by the ability to be resentful. Dignity was not something to be begged for. If you had the ability, you''d make others shut their mouths on their own. ``` Watching for the precise moment, the stern-faced instructor barked, "Attention!" The training group fell instantly silent. The instructor slowly surveyed the solemn faces of the soldiers before him, his gaze turning somewhat sorrowful as it passed over the few gaps in the ranks. With every mission, there were always soldiers losing their lives. No matter how accustomed one becomes, there''s an inevitable sadness that accompanies the loss of comrades... it''s uncertain when the era of sacrifice will end. Of course, new recruits continually join. 95B27 wasn''t the only new recruit to join his training group today, but without a doubt, he was the most controversial. The title of a great hero, the status of a new soldier¡­ an unknown strength. Heroes saving hundreds may be just rumors after all, and the participation wasn''t solely his; data authenticity was also uncertain. Only higher-ranking officers of two stars and above, who watched the entire situation through drone footage, were privy to the exact details, clearly unknown to their subordinate instructors and the common soldiers. No one knew what kind of strength was required to achieve all that he had. Indeed, many soldiers felt that they merely lacked the ability to drive, while others thought that they only missed the support of the third feeding port, and if not for that, many could have done the same... Chavez had heard plenty of such opinions in the last couple of days. When the blade doesn''t fall on one''s own head, no one knows how sharp the edge truly is. But none of that mattered. An outsider capable of stirring up the quiet pond is always a good thing. Whether the outsider smooths out his edges in the pond, or the pond itself gets blown sky-high by the newcomer, that was their affair. All Chavez could do was let it be. "The new soldiers might find our training methods unfamiliar, for standing here are the most exceptional in certain areas within the barracks, and so our training methods and objectives differ. Now, I will demonstrate first, and then give you 10 minutes to prepare." Chavez''s gaze swept over each soldier''s face, particularly making sure the new recruits felt the weight of his words, "Remember two key points! First, watch my movements closely and try to mimic them as much as possible! Second, choose the weight you think you can handle!" Weight training. On one side of the training group, vests and black garments resembling wrist and ankle weights were neatly arranged; Bai E had noticed them already. Seeing the instructor donning the weights was no surprise. Chavez meticulously put on the weights and approached the familiar physical training obstacle course. The same course, but with added weights was considered advanced training? Bai E felt curious, as during his few days in the barracks, he had heard often that the higher one''s physical attributes, the harder it was to improve. As to why it was so difficult, no one could give a clear answer. The instructor began the demonstration. The same course, exaggerated movements. Like a spider, or perhaps a hunting cheetah. In Bai E''s eyes, the instructor''s movements appeared slow and laborious; with each step forward on the course, it seemed like a multitude of cells in his body were burning energy just to push through it with difficulty. [You are observing a master''s demonstration of Body Refinement, should you gain any insight...] [Triggered a teaching mission¡ªAdvanced Physical Training.] S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Advanced Physical Training: A higher base in physical fitness requires more intense training methods to condition the body. The instructor is demonstrating the correct way to refine oneself. Mission requirement: Mimic the instructor''s movements with a completion rate of 95% or above "multiple" times during physical endurance training 0/? Reward for completion: The possibility of unlocking the specialization¡ªOverlimit Drive (the higher the completion rate and the more repetitions, the higher the chance of activation). (Countdown: 56 minutes 32 seconds)] [Instruction: Feeling the professional expertise of the other party, you decide to pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) in order to correct your simulation of the corresponding abilities. (Cost: 10 experience points/min)] "..." The moment the mission was triggered, Bai E''s eyes became clear and sharp. So... that''s how it is. ``` Chapter 93: 093 Beyond Cognition The instructor''s demonstration lasted a long time, and even though he tackled the physical training stations in the most energy-consuming way, completing the entire process did not drain all of the instructor''s strength. But he clearly did not have the strength to demonstrate a second time. The instructor, still catching his breath, came to the front of everyone again and pointed to the equipment in the distance, his voice trembling slightly with loudness as he issued the order, "Everyone line up to put on your protective gear on your own, start with the lowest 30 kilograms of weight for the first attempt, and feel free to switch it out mid-way if it''s not suitable." "Yes, Sir!" "Begin!" The gear was laid out extremely tidily, separated by category. When it was Bai E''s turn, he didn''t overestimate himself. For the first contact, he chose the most conservative 30-kilogram weight as suggested by the instructor. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 5 kilograms on each ankle and wrist, and a 10-kilogram vest, Bai E was meticulously putting on the gear when a voice suddenly rang in his ear. "Kid, you had some guts earlier." "?" Bai E turned his head slightly and saw a fierce-looking man with a face full of horizontal flesh. He hadn''t even turned to look at who it was when he had retaliated before, but now the person had approached him on his own. Amid the rustling sounds of donning gear, the man''s voice was still relentless. "Not talking? Got scared now?" An outcome was definitely needed for the conflict between the two, and the other soldiers around, listening, could only snicker covertly, waiting to enjoy the show. The silence from 95B27 seemed like a sign of weakness, and gradually, jeers began to spur on the crowd. "Click~" About four or five seconds of silence later, Bai E buttoned up and, for the first time, looked directly at the other person, "I don''t know why you talk so much... We all have valuable time, so if you have something to say, just say it. I''ll take it from there." "I thought you''d chickened out! Good! Very good! I won''t bully you, we''ll do it by our traditional rules," the man said as he was putting on his gear, gesturing towards a nearby area with his chin, "See that over there? There''s a target for testing strength. After the training, we rest for five minutes. Each of us goes there and throws a punch. One punch to determine the winner, the loser crawls under the other''s crotch. Got it?" Bai E stared at the man''s face and narrowed his eyes. "What? Scared again?" Shaking his head with a light sigh, Bai E replied, "I don''t like this approach, but since you insist, I can only accept." "Rookie, I like your fearlessness in not knowing your limits, but I don''t like this nauseating pretense of yours," the man challenged. "Don''t like it, then hold it in," Bai E retorted. Bai E turned and walked to the front of the physical training stations. "Inhale~Exhale~" The extra weight on his hands, feet, and body made Bai E somewhat unaccustomed. Standing before the station, he took a few deep breaths before starting. The full breaths made blood circulation smoother, preparing all tissues in the body to burn. "Don''t be afraid, it''s just a simple crawl, it''ll be quick," the man taunted, sticking to Bai E like a plaster, and after saying his piece, he did not give Bai E a chance to retaliate, starting to move forward. During training, there wasn''t much opportunity to speak, as any improper breathing could cause injury to the body under extreme conditions. This type of experience was common for veterans, but naive rookies looking to regain some dignity with words during the process often received an unforgettable lesson. Tobyn had been through the same thing, always wanting to share his experiences with others. With a faint smile on his lips, Bai E just found it amusing. "Hey! Look, who''s that coming over there?" Just as they were about to start officially, an exclamation came from the soldiers still queuing to put on their gear. Following their gaze, a figure in a white coat was indeed strikingly conspicuous against the yellow, green, and black primary colors of the training field. Helen? The soldiers discussed quietly. "What is she doing here?" "Do you know her?" "That''s Helen from the Scientific Research Institute. Didn''t you know that she''s the one who gave us a hard time last night? They say she loves dissecting us synthetics. Maybe she''s here to pick her target?" "To be dissected by her..." "...unbelievable." Bai E withdrew his gaze, not paying further attention. ``` After the last collaborative research, he knew that he was probably a long way from being dissected. Although the scholar had not given any explicit verbal assurance, her attitude suggested that she probably didn''t have any intention of dissecting him. Moreover, since she already had all his physical data, it meant that his current abilities were within her expectations. It also meant... that no matter how excellent his performance was, there should no longer be any worry about being dissected. It was a good thing. Seeing her appearance, Bai E''s mood even improved a bit. Begin, advance! Bai E crouched down, and his streamlined muscles showed an inexplicable terrifying explosive power. Like a cheetah poised to pounce, he began his intimidating pre-hunt display at his prey. [You are using combat experience to correct your training movements... (Cost: 10 experience/min)] [Current Simulation Completeness: 98.3%] ¡­ "Helen, this is just a normal training ground for soldiers, there''s nothing worth researching here. Perhaps you should go look somewhere else?" The officer leading Helen was sweating profusely. Helen''s fierce reputation was well known, and he was terrified that this mad scientist from the Scientific Research Institute would randomly select a "lucky" audience member for a once-in-a-lifetime scientific experience on the spot. If there were to be a live demonstration... Just the thought was frightening. Helen''s gaze shifted, giving the officer a quick up-and-down look. The officer''s hair stood on end, and he immediately fell silent. "Beep beep~" Helen reached out to touch the gold-rimmed glasses resting on her eye sockets, and after a faint electronic sound, the distant scene was instantaneously magnified before her eyes. In the viewfinder, it was Bai E who was starting to move forward on the training course. Bai E was wearing only a simple tank top and shorts for easy ventilation and sweat dissipation during training, his exposed skin revealing large areas of muscle. Those smooth yet distinct muscle lines were easily visible. Watching somewhat avidly for a while, Helen blinked her eyes back to reality with satisfaction. That is how muscles should be, supple like a cheetah yet not bulky, hiding tremendous explosive power within the harmony of bones and muscle. This was a perfect work of genetics, more captivating than any artwork by human masters. But like the big soldier two steps ahead of 95B27, his muscles looked as hard as stone, sinewy and bulging with veins... lacking both the aesthetics of the human form and the necessary flexibility and explosive power. A failure! Helen''s delicate index finger once again swept over the bridge connecting the centers of the two lenses, and instantly, the human figures in the glasses'' view shifted to display a flowing chart of colors like deep blue, orange, and red. Thermal imaging. The focus of advanced physical training is to rapidly and thoroughly exhaust the body''s potential energy; the more complete the consumption, the easier it is to achieve improvement after training. She had participated in and led the refinement project, so she knew the essentials better than anyone. The primary range of the big soldier''s bodily energy consumption was in his limbs and key areas such as the lumbar spine; the red imagery indicated his physical energy was burning intensely. Yet there were also areas of orange and even deep blue, representing completely undeveloped regions, showing on many parts of his body. "Not bad..." He essentially met the requirements of advanced physical training, it seemed the instructors here in the camp were quite diligent and committed. Turning her head slightly, her gaze returned to the figure labeled 95B27, Helen''s red lips parted in disbelief. "How is this possible..." Were the glasses broken? This was the first thought that sprang to Helen''s mind. Turning her head slightly to look at the other synthetic soldiers, she found that their situations were almost identical. Explore more stories with m,v l''e-NovelFire.net The flowing meld of deep blue, orange, and red tones wove an energy transformation map within each of their bodies. However... shifting to 95B27¡ª Red... almost entirely red... ``` Chapter 94: 094 Experience Correction Helen''s gaze returned to the body of 95B27, only to find the energy pattern on this body almost entirely red, with the orange-yellow of medium consumption rarely visible. Limbs, waist, spine¡ªthe usual parts were one thing, but even the internal organs within the chest cavity, the nerves at the ends of various tissues and organs... It seemed they were all furiously burning themselves out. To supply this body with action, it appeared as if every single peripheral cell had its own consciousness, striving to give everything it had, burning to exhaustion, just to provide a tiny bit of strength. This... how is it possible? This is complete development, something that theoretically could only be achieved. Even as the improver of this advanced training program, Helen could hardly imagine anyone capable of reaching this step. Those instructors... even those instructors probably couldn''t achieve this level. How... did he manage it? Helen''s eyes widened, her gaze firmly locked on that climbing body, which seemed to possess an infinite magical power that captivated her entire mind. She had to completely memorize every minute detail of 95B27''s movements, which could potentially lead to unimaginable scientific breakthroughs and benefit all of humanity! ... [You are using combat experience to correct your training movements... (Consumption: 10 points of experience/min)] [Current Simulation Completion: 110.7%] The system panel''s might constantly corrected Bai E''s movements, and it could even exceed 100%... Clearly, the instructors'' movements were just their personal interpretations, not the ultimate answer to advanced physical training. With the bolstering from experience paid, each of Bai E''s movements became the most energy-efficient. The human body''s reserve of physical strength was like a pool filled with water¡ªno matter how much water it had, it only existed quietly until it was released to influence the world. Of course, the effect of a tap''s gentle flow and the violent extraction by a water pump were completely different. Being able to perfectly control the pace, that was the ultimate mastery over one''s body. The process of advanced physical training was essentially based on understanding and controlling the body. Movements perfectly in sync with breathing, every action following a harmonious rhythm, even the viscera, usually hard to train, received proper exercise with the rhythmic rise and fall of the chest cavity during breathing. Bai E could feel his body like seaweed in the waves, rhythmically undulating wave after wave. [Current Simulation Completion: 111.2%] ... [Current Simulation Completion: 111.9%] Sweat poured down like a waterfall, the intense consumption taking away a large amount of water and heat from his body. Bai E, who initially only knew how to clumsily mimic, gradually developed his own understanding of the essentials of each movement after repeated corrections infused with experience. The innate talent combined with numerous challenges pushed him to his limits, gradually familiarizing him with the state of his body under extreme exertion. The corrections from spending experience mixed with his own intuitive insights, and for a moment, he couldn''t distinguish which one was determining his now perfect performance. [In prolonged perfect execution of extreme physical activities, you gain better coordination over your body, reflex +0.1.] [Your body feels your intense desire and rapidly converts a bit of energy from your "Action Power Reserve"; please use it wisely.] [Physical Recovery 6%, Quick Recovery (Unlocked) Progress 20%.] "Huff~" "Huff~" Bai E, already accustomed to the emergence of new strength, didn''t even let it disrupt his breathing rhythm slightly. Under the gentle sunshine, this fighter, whose stature was by no means noticeable among the warriors, gradually lost the strength to hold on with his hands. Midway down the familiar slope, the fighter with limp limbs tumbled down like a rolling gourd. "He''s down already?" "Isn''t this our great hero? Looks like his skills aren''t even half as solid as his boasting..." Some warriors who were resting halfway casually commented, finding their sole amusement amidst the grueling training. Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelFire.net Bullying the strong and oppressing the weak is the norm among many groups in the military camp. Hearing the commotion, Tobyn glanced back in the midst of his busy schedule and cast a brief look at the figure on the ground, lying there like sludge. "Tsk..." Is this all? He''s just a coward who knows how to talk big. The scowling instructor standing to the side and observing the status of all warriors frowned deeply, his disappointment evident. The purpose of advanced physical training indeed was to exhaust one''s strength as quickly as possible, but even among the worst-performing newcomers who joined the advanced training group for the first time, this one had fallen the closest to the start. Clearly, his foundation was too weak! Based on different physical fitness levels, the two phases of physical training for ordinary soldiers were indeed vastly different. The primary objective of initial physical training for new recruits favored endurance. This was because newly created artificial humans were not familiar with their bodily abilities and often expended more physical energy than necessary in their actions, an inefficient waste that didn''t much contribute to their training. Therefore, instructors always asked recruits to try to go as far as possible. Advanced physical training was different. Warriors who had reached this level often passed through long-term training and actual combat assessments, and were relatively familiar with their bodies. They rarely wasted energy significantly, so the instructor''s requirements for soldiers who could participate in advanced physical training were to exhaust their energy as quickly as possible¡ªthis also demonstrated control over their own bodies. Theoretically, rookies and experts should perform the same, but Bai E''s performance was too outrageous, with the backdrop of being less than five days old making it difficult not to associate him first and foremost with the identity of a rookie. So... A recruit who was just born less than five days ago really was too arrogant to directly join the ranks of advanced training. "Get him out of here." After giving a casual order to two soldiers assisting the training, he no longer paid much attention to this soldier brought in by his old friend, Wood. Even if it was training, advanced physical training was quite dangerous. He needed to constantly be vigilant about the status of all the soldiers and be ready to implement immediate remedial measures; he couldn''t afford to focus solely on one. ... "Beep beep~" Following the faint electronic sound, Helen turned off the thermal imaging scanning feature of her glasses, and the world returned to its normal appearance. With a hazy glow attaching to her eyeballs, she closed her eyes, and every single action of Bai E replayed in her mind in a 360-degree angle with no blind spots in extreme detail. Forget human memory capacity¡ª even cameras couldn''t achieve such free and meticulous observation. Spiritual Energy was the key that helped Helen accomplish all this. "Breathing..." "Rhythm..." "Breath..." "Integration..." Muttering some words that were hard for others to discern, Helen suddenly opened her eyes wide and turned around to head back. She needed equipment to help record these fleeting inspirations! ... Unattended, Bai E lay alone on the ground, his long and smooth breathing following a certain rhythmic flow. [You have surpassed your own limits in intense exercise, Physical Energy +0.1, Reflex +0.1.] [Your body is desperately craving, fast recovery triggering reserve energy storage, Action Power reserves accelerating transformation...] [Physical Energy Recovery 5%...] [Physical Energy Recovery 10%...] ... S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Physical Energy Recovery 50%...] Chapter 95: 095 Alternating training Bai E''s frown relaxed in his coma, and his face looked serene. Since his arrival in this world, he had never slept so soundly, not even on the night after returning from the great battle with the Bug Race. Exhausted, he had only slept deeply, not soundly. Anxiety constantly lingered in his heart. This was the first time he experienced sleep like that of a baby. It seemed as if countless warm currents were gushing from the ends of numerous synapses within his body, chaotically surging like uncontrollable torrents, yet it was under this onslaught of warmth that every fiber of his muscles, down to each cell, was reborn in the flow. They were pulsating, they were rejoicing, they were... welcoming the return of their king. [Physical recovery 100%, Rapid Recovery (Unlocked) Unlock Progress 25%.] "Huh!" Bai E suddenly opened his eyes and sat up straight. "Ah!" Tobyn, who was nearby and uncertain whether to lean in for a kiss or punch Bai E, jerked back in alarm. He had also been carried down here, just twenty-one seconds earlier. And he had specifically requested to be placed next to Bai E, just to be the first to mock him upon his awakening. As a stalwart member of this advanced training group, he had almost perfectly executed the instructor''s will, typically among the first to go down in every training session... which meant that his training outcomes were quite standard and outstanding. Without some skills, how could he boast and suppress the newcomers? Seeing Bai E awake, Tobyn''s heart leaped with joy, and he was about to press on with his mockery. But for some reason, meeting Bai E''s seemingly vacant yet tranquil eyes upon awakening stirred some trepidation. Was it apprehension? No, no, no! Tobyn immediately dismissed the thought. It must be... pity. Yes! Definitely pity. The kid must have been struck so hard that he''s dazed. Seeing everyone else persevering for so long, he who fell early must feel like a complete failure, right? Ah~ realizing his situation, he must return to where he belongs. Maybe this afternoon, we won''t see him here, or perhaps after breakfast, he''ll be gone. Truly, it''s regrettable. Finally encountering a newcomer with some spunk, only to see him collapse in defeat. It''s a bit regrettable... Had I known, I wouldn''t have put so much pressure on him. "Hey, hey, hey?" Seeing Bai E stand up once more, Tobyn was caught off guard, "Where are you going?" Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelFire.net Bai E ignored him, knowing that the memory of thought needed repetition to deepen, so did the body. The instinctual understanding of the body that he had gained after expending 280 points of combat experience needed to be reinforced with repeated training. After all, he couldn''t always rely on expending experience for the system to correct his movements. Only by mastering the tricks himself would he probably meet the core requirement of the teaching mission. Completing many training sessions with an extremely high completion rate on his own, without relying on the system''s assistance, must be a requisite condition for unlocking the specialty¡ªOverlimit Drive. Most importantly... the task description didn''t include an exact number; who knows how many attempts it would take to activate it? With each training session costing about three hundred points worth of experience, he couldn''t afford many attempts; quickly mastering advanced training techniques was essential. With his physical strength fully restored, he could start his second round of training immediately! As for drawing attention? If Helen from the Scientific Research Institute wasn''t even considering dissection anymore, what was there to fear? Not many retake the training stage after such a brief rest, or, to put it more accurately, there was only one at the moment. The fighters queuing up to go on stage were still enduring the previous challenge; the previous group of fighters lay like dead dogs, resting. Bai E''s lone figure stepping onto the initial training stage was conspicuously visible. "Sir?" Two assistants turned to the stern-faced instructor immediately for directions. Chavez looked at Bai E''s retreating back with narrowed eyes and shook his head, "Don''t bother." Was it because his earlier performance was so poor that many hidden strengths had not been excavated, or was it simply an unwillingness to admit defeat? Either way, they would find out soon enough. Lack of ability can be trained, but absence of spirit is fatal. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, it seemed that this "great hero" indeed possessed a resilience uniquely his own. "Huh~" Bai E exhaled deeply, feeling as if he could sense the trajectory of oxygen-rich blood circulating through his body. It was like a warm current touring through his body, bringing a surging vitality to every part. Could it be that I''ve developed Inner Strength? Bai E snorted dismissively to himself and lightly stepped onto the solid plank in front of him. This time, Bai E''s movements were even slower¡­ Without choosing to correct with experience points at the moment, relying on his own body memory to recall that feeling was not fast. Bai E needed to find that sensation of his body feeling as if it were burning fiercely in a furnace on his own. [Current simulation completion: 89.3%] ... After just one glance, Chavez became somewhat disinterested and looked away. It wasn''t even as good as before. The "great hero" had started his first training with movements that were somewhat similar to his own. Even if the form was similar but the essence was not, after multiple trainings, he could find the right body feel through standard movements. However, now it was just like the latter part of the previous training; during the training, the "great hero''s" movements gradually deformed, and eventually, he even lost the resemblance to his own movements. Now, starting with deformed movements and likely not having much energy recovery, I''m afraid his performance was probably not as good as before¡­ Go up and correct him? Without letting them first truly experience and understand the state of their bodies, rash corrections would be difficult to accept. Those who truly wish to change can watch and learn from the other old soldiers who are also training. Training is a daily affair, not something accomplished overnight. As for problems with my own movements? That''s simply impossible! ... "Squeak, squeak, squeak~~~" Bai E felt as if he could hear the creaking noises between his muscle fibers. Under high-level training, his muscles didn''t ache or swell with pain as they did during ordinary training but felt a scorching burn. This meant that his efforts were still somewhat effective. [Current simulation completion: 90.1%] Without correcting with experience points, Bai E could only use the completion percentage on the panel as a reference, relying on his own body memory to slowly progress through the simulation. [Current simulation completion: 90.2%] [Current simulation completion: 90.7%] ... Little by little, then a little more. Progress was slow, but he was slowly finding the feel. A lower completion rate, slower burn efficiency, allowed Bai E to go further this time. "Huh?" Chavez became a bit curious. He had made quite some improvement compared to before? Was it really because he hadn''t performed well earlier and therefore had a lot of unused energy hidden throughout his body? Seeing Bai E able to walk down from the stage on his own, there was a hint of pleasure in Chavez''s eyes. This second display of achievement from 95B27 stood out among the new soldiers, rare as a phoenix feather or a unicorn horn. That was more like it for the performance routine of the advanced training group~ It seemed that the "great hero''s" foundation wasn''t too bad, and coming here for training wasn''t being overly presumptuous. As for earlier... perhaps it was because it was his first time participating in such training, so he was not quite accustomed to it? Thus, Chavez approached Tobyn, who was resting on the side, with a nearly motionless whisper from the lips of the ramrod-straight Chavez, "That''s about enough, don''t be too hard on the newcomer." "Oh~" Seeing Bai E walking back, Tobyn, having struggled to recover quite a bit of energy, walked over, "Hey! I know you''re a newbie, and I won''t bully you. I''ll give you more time to get used to our advanced physical training. When you feel you''ve adapted to this pace, we can compare then." "Whatever...." [Your body is thirsting, quickly tapping into backup energy reserves, with action power reserves accelerating the conversion...] [Physical fitness recovery 10%...] The body, was getting accustomed to this rhythm¡­ Bai E sat on the ground, his body finding the feeling on its own, while he replied casually. "Hiss~" Tobyn sucked in a breath of cold air. Why was this kid''s naturally arrogant attitude so irritating? Couldn''t he just accept the offer and be done with it? Does he have to be so proud? It''s so infuriating! "Fine! Later! It''s not fair right now as I''ve had more rest time than you, let''s compare after breakfast later!" "As you wish," Bai E replied, his breathing steady, as he stood up and walked away. Chapter 96: 096 Modest Success Walking towards the cafeteria, Bai E felt light on his feet, as if about to take flight, now that he had shed the training weights from his body. The high-level physical training was showing remarkable effects. Even without having acquired the specialization mentioned in the teaching task¡ªOverlimit Drive¡ªthe training had tangibly changed his body. Not all abilities were explicitly reflected on the panel. Or rather, only when such seemingly intangible changes reached a certain threshold would a specialization naturally coalesce. Apart from that, the advanced physical training had also significantly advanced the unlocking progress of his yet-to-be-revealed talents. The talent for rapid recovery and physical training complemented each other, achieving mutual success. The only thing that suffered, perhaps, was his reserve of experience... One had to admit that the decision to save up experience without using it was extremely wise. Otherwise, who could withstand the expenditure of about three hundred experience points per training session? After quickly slurping down the somewhat nauseatingly delicious mush, Bai E found himself missing the variety of foods made from raw ingredients. My roasted chicken, my fried rice... No matter how delicious something is, one can grow tired of it if eaten too much, and facing this colorful glob day in and day out was nearly enough to make him sick. Time for a topped-up meal! Next time he went out, he would find a way to add one! Returning to the training ground, Bai E felt his body, now infused with the essence of food, cry out in exuberance. The training an hour before breakfast was clearly not satisfying enough; the upcoming two-hour session was when he would truly push his limits. Not everyone had arrived yet. But his body was already itching to move. Craving it. Couldn''t handle it! Start training! "..." The soldiers who had also arrived after breakfast and were waiting looked at the figure eagerly donning training weights as if their eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. With their limited understanding, their trembling lips could find no words to properly articulate their condemnation of such a person. Chavez walked back slowly, mumbling to himself in his own world. "With a newcomer joining, two hours might not be enough. It probably wouldn''t matter if we extended it by half an hour..." High-level physical training was different from that of new recruits; it was all about efficiency. The faster one depleted their energy, the better the training outcome. Based on the average level in the troop, it took only about thirty to forty minutes to be completely drained, but including the required rest, aiming to undergo two limit-pushing sessions in two hours was quite a rush. If soldiers were to train, they needed proper rest. Without a good condition, the subsequent practical combat training wouldn''t be effective, right? "Hmm... Let''s just extend it by half an hour, I reckon the combat instructors will understand." Having made up his mind, Chavez only then noticed the eeriness of the silence around him. Why was it so quiet? Chavez lifted his gaze to scan his surroundings, only to find everyone silently watching in one direction. Following their gaze, he was struck by the sight of someone climbing across an obstacle course rope¡ª B27! "..." A wave of emotion welled up in Chavez''s heart, and he began to understand why Wood liked this recruit so much. Diligence compensates for weaknesses; the early bird gets the worm. Maybe his movements weren''t that standard, but his attitude was definitely top-notch in seriousness. "What are you waiting for? You want the newbie to catch up and then trample you underfoot?" Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelFire.net Chavez roared furiously, and all the soldiers, whether voluntarily or not, scrambled to don their weights as if injected with adrenaline. For a moment, the air was filled with searing ferocity... Chavez, feeling somewhat guilty, walked near Bai E and looked up at him on the ropes. To stir up the troops'' passion, he had made Bai E the spark to ignite the flame. Considering the potential disputes this might cause for Bai E and being swept up by emotion over reason, he decided to do what he needed to first. Whether Bai E could take the advice and act on it would be a test of his intuition. "Your posture is not quite right; it''s a bit off. Your upper arms should be more forward, and you should feel a slight tearing sensation as if the muscles are being stretched¡ªthat''s the correct way..." Chavez never thought his voice could sound so gentle. Bai E paused, glanced at him, and then... continued forward. [You are paying combat experience to correct your training movements... (Cost: 10 points of experience/min)] [Current simulation completion: 121.3%] He needed to switch between experience correction and personal memory in execution to truly ingrain the full secrets of advanced training into his body. At this time, he was paying with experience to correct every minute and every second of it, with no spare time to listen to nonsensical talk. "emmmm..." Chavez''s gaze went blank as he watched Bai E''s soles continue to move forward, recalling the look in Bai E''s eyes just now¡ª He could understand that the other party was not supposed to speak during training. But that look just now... did he listen, or did he not? Before he could come up with an answer, Bai E, who was struggling mid-air, visibly began to tremble all over, his form swaying as if about to fall. "Hey, hey, catch him!" Two assistants sprinted wildly, successfully offering their bodies as a cushion before Bai E hit the ground. Chavez helplessly pressed his temple, feeling somewhat distressed. This performance... was sometimes brilliant, sometimes terrible. After all, E was a new recruit and a novice to high-level training, unstable indeed. Bai E, thrown aside, breathed smoothly, his body''s muscles seemingly beginning to get used to this degree of exhaustion and recovery. The muscles twitched as if alive, pulsating with life. ... [Physical recovery 100%, rapid recovery (Locked) unlock progress 26%.] "Huff~" Bai E, who had sat up suddenly, straightened up and headed toward the course again. Chavez, who couldn''t help but glance at him from time to time, had a twitch at the corner of his eye. He recovers so quickly. "Young people are so vigorous... Is it because of the No. 3 ration bar?" He had never had the unrestricted supply of the No. 3 ration bar, so he could only speculate. Once... twice... thrice... While most soldiers were still resting after their first training, Bai E had already completed three extreme challenges. "Hey, hey, don''t run!" Seeing Bai E, who was about to faint, suddenly rise and attempt the course again, Tobyn with a face full of flesh quickly stopped him. If he kept training like this, he might break; they were human, not machines. "I know you want to win, but don''t rush, let''s just forget about our bet, alright? I admit you''re tough." "Ow~" Bai E paused, nearly forgetting about that matter. "Come." Bai E led the way straight to the power measuring machine, "You first or me first?" "You''re really doing this?" Tobyn followed unconsciously, his fierce countenance looking somewhat guilty now. The kid was too honest; it always felt uneasy to bully such an honest person. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed, "I''ll go first." Showcasing his strength to make the other back off was fine; seeing the gap would let him give up on his own. Moreover, since he had had more rest than Bai E, even if E lost, Tobyn could give him an out without it being too embarrassing. "Huff~" Tobyn, who had adequate rest, took a deep breath, his thigh muscles driving his hips, activating his whole body, and he threw a punch at the target. "Bang!" As soon as the punch landed, a disheartening figure appeared on the machine. 323.5 kilograms! A person''s punching power correlates to their weight; his physique was not particularly robust, but it was obviously stronger than Bai E''s, and their fundamental strength was totally different. Not to mention, their physical attributes were not on an equal level; with more training time, his punching technique was definitely superior to Bai E''s. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The contest was unfair from the start. "Even if you lose, you don''t really need to worry about it..." Tobyn was speaking when Bai E, who had stepped up to the machine, raised his hand and threw a punch. "Bang!" 323.7 kilograms! [Use of close combat attack to achieve perfect force application, hand-to-hand combat mastery experience +2.] [Current hand-to-hand combat mastery experience 2/100, reach 100 points to master "Level 1 Combat Specialization."] Chapter 97: 097 Challenge [Control wasn''t restrained enough...] Discover more content at m,v l''e-NovelFire.net Bai E sighed lightly in his heart. It was 0.2 kilograms too many; he had hoped for just an additional 0.1 kilograms. It seems his control was still not flexible enough. The purpose of high-level physical training was to enhance the body''s physical attributes. However, to achieve this goal, one must first fully develop their body. This process naturally improves the individual''s ability to control their body. After numerous perfect demonstrations of his physical abilities, Bai E felt as if he was becoming increasingly familiar with his body. What was once automatic now seemed to be manual, within his control. He felt as though he could sense the trajectory of airflow within his body, he could feel where exactly the so-called reserve of action power was stored, and he could control every strand of muscle stretching and contracting as naturally as breathing. Thus, he knew exactly to what degree he could execute each movement. To expend more physical strength, output more power, and clearly define this limit¡ªthat was the specialty of Overlimit Drive. Now, he was just getting a small advance taste of it. With the same physical attributes, his current self, after undergoing high-level physical training, had at least a 10 to 20 percent increase in striking power compared to before but also felt a bit more exhausted. A punch weighing 323.7 kilograms wasn''t his full strength now, but he was not too far from his peak... Perhaps the limit was around 340 or so? Quite risky. Still not enough practice. Thinking this, Bai E turned and left. "Wait!" Tobyn stared at the number displayed on the equipment, his eyes somewhat glazed over. Was the equipment broken? Impossible. He was confident in his own level of skill. It worked fine when he was using it, but broke down when it was his turn? Impossible. Outskilled, no excuses. Realizing that Bai E was about to leave, Tobyn called out to keep him there, his legs bending as if he was about to kneel. "Shush!" Bai E, with his quick eyes and feet, instantly kicked out to stop Tobyn''s bent knee. "No need for that, it''s just a joke." With that, he turned and walked away without dragging his feet. "I still need to train; do as you please." In the eyes of others, he had already challenged his limits three times, but he only regarded it as half of a set of training according to his own rhythm of experience and correction. He needed to quickly commit to muscle memory the wonderful state experienced during correction; he had no time to indulge in emotional scenes of brotherhood with others here. Moreover, there were still thirty minutes of training time left, he could not afford to waste them. "..." Watching Bai E''s retreating figure, Tobyn stood there, stunned, The departing Bai E was like an icy, dazzling sun occupying a permanent corner of his heart... ["Lucky Strike" charge +3.] "..." So a person could provide more than just 1 point of charge value? This was a new discovery. Bai E happily began a new round of limit challenges. [Current simulation completion rate: 93.4%.] ... [Current simulation completion rate: 91.7%.] Damn! Actually regressed. [Current simulation completion rate: 94.2%.] [You have surpassed your own limits during vigorous exercise, physical +0.1, reflex +0.1.] "Huff~" Newly gained strength supported Bai E as he slowly climbed down from the challenge. The extreme exertion induced a sensation that was either pain or exhilaration, making every cell in his body seem to groan. Sitting at the side to rest and wait for his strength to return, Bai E silently calculated his gains and losses¡ª The high-level physical training had already cost him 830 battle experience points. Adding on what Yue Ying had previously extracted, his battle experience points had dwindled from over 3000 to just 710. Fortunately, there were still 1,592 general experience points left, but adding them up amounted to just over two thousand points. He still had no idea how much of his own experience the not-yet-acquired "Overlimit Drive" specialty would consume. Saving was not easy, spending was like running water... Looks like the next lucky strike will have to be against a big guy? The current charge value was... 82 points. ...Still pushing me to do things, huh. [Physical recovery 100%, Rapid Recovery (unlocked) unlock progress 27%.] Bai E, whose physical strength had quickly recovered to full, stood up and walked to the spot where he was supposed to assemble. Logically speaking, after two hours of physical training, the next class would be starting... "Smack~" "Smack~" Bai E, standing alone at the assembly point, locked eyes with the scowling instructor Chavez. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [What are you doing?] [Why haven''t you called for dismissal?] [Oh right~] Chavez suddenly remembered his responsibilities. "Assemble!" He had planned to delay for half an hour, but this recruit named 95B27 had truly shattered his worldview and had inadvertently dissuaded him from the idea. While others may have come twice, he came four times, and any more would be unbearable. Does this guy not see himself as human? But how does his body withstand such exploitation? Should he report this to the Scientific Research Institute for investigation? Hmm... none of my business. "Dismissed!" The second class of the morning was practical combat training. Close-hand combat. After the initial emergency boost to combat skills, the various components of regular combat training began to evolve in a more fundamental and universal direction. No matter the time, human fists and feet are always the most basic and effective weapons. All other external weapons are merely extensions of fists and feet; formidable close combat skills are essentially training the body''s emergency response to various sudden situations. What can be achieved unarmed will only be done better with a weapon in hand. And the first small project to be trained in close combat is... power delivery techniques. A new instructor stood in front of all the fighters, pleased with the tenacious warrior temperament that the batch of recruits, who had not long been born and already baptized by blood and fire, possessed. "I am your close combat tactics instructor for the coming period. You can call me Dan." Dan stood with her hands behind her back, her body as straight as a slab of steel, her skin tanned and her build tall and proportionate. She was one of the few female templates among the artificial human warriors, and in terms of skill, the delicacy written into female genes tended to be superior to that of males. "This self-introduction will suffice. My task is to train your fighting skills, which is both your responsibility and mine. I don''t know about the other instructors and it''s not my concern, but my requirement for your graduation is... to defeat me!" Dan''s expressionless gaze swept over all the soldiers present. The frosty glint in her eyes was enough to put pressure on any fighter she locked eyes with. [A minimum of level 5 combat specialization.] Through observations made possible by "lucky strike" abilities, Bai E shook his head inwardly. In normal training, who could possibly defeat her.... Such characters are likely the survivors from countless batches of artificial human warriors, seasoned veterans who have luckily survived numerous battles. Expecting to surpass them during training is simply wishful thinking. [Side quest triggered¡ª¡ªChallenge.] [Challenge: Defeat the arrogant instructor and fulfill her wish, and you will achieve unimaginable extraordinary growth. Quest requirement: Victory in a duel with Instructor Dan 0/1. Quest completion reward: Ability Extraction Card*1.] "emmmm... huh?" Chapter 98: 098 Exertion Technique "Before we begin the training, there are some professional concepts you should bear in mind, and consciously reinforce during your practice." As Dan spoke, he twisted his body and suddenly threw a punch forward, the wind from the punch messed up the hair of the soldiers at the very front. While maintaining his punching stance, Dan slapped his punching right arm with his left hand, "About 38% of the force delivered in a punch comes from the arm itself, approximately 45% of the force is from the twisting motion of the upper body, and around 17% is from the muscle groups on the back of the thighs. People who haven''t been trained often overlook the power generated by the lower limbs, which is where the gap between masters and average people widens the most. With the same physical attributes and weight, training can increase the force exerted by the lower limbs to about 2.2 times, leading to an overall increase in power exerted to about 1.2 times¡ªthat''s a significant margin." Dan retracted his right arm, maintaining the punching posture while continuously swinging back and forth to illustrate, "Moreover, each punch takes about 0.05 to 0.25 seconds, but the muscles need about 0.6 to 0.8 seconds to transmit and release the maximum force. Our reflex attributes and training will affect this duration. An ordinary person with a reflex of 8, without any training, might only be able to utilize about 15% of muscle strength within 0.05 seconds, while I can now mobilize about 40% muscle strength. This determines how much of our body''s power we can exert in a quick punch. Knowing this, we also know what we should focus on in training, like leg strength and muscle activation..." [You are observing a master''s martial demonstration, gaining insights...] [Tutorial: Feeling the opponent''s professional expertise, you decide to pay a certain price (combat/general experience) to learn corresponding abilities. (Exchange ratio: every 2 points of combat/general experience can be exchanged for 1 point of specialized experience.)] A familiar prompt appeared. Study? Impossible. Bai E knew the importance of prioritizing; biting off more than one could chew would get them nowhere. The current load of experience storage was already somewhat overwhelming, Yue Ying''s long-range weapons training and the specialty¡ªOverlimit Drive¡ªwere still unknown in terms of how much experience needed to be invested, and there was no certainty about reaping players'' rewards, so he couldn''t waste resources lightly. When faced with too many choices, one must decide rationally. The allure of the All-around Ability Extraction Card was indeed tempting, but this was not something to achieve overnight. Besides, didn''t this task have no time limit? The instructor herself said it¡ªwithout defeating her, graduation wasn''t happening, so why not practice slowly? Bai E was very open-minded about the whole thing. "Next, you will practice on your own! Time limit, thirty minutes; after that, I will check each person''s progress one by one. Now, begin!" [Side quest triggered¡ªPower Striking Technique.] [Power Striking Technique: As your body becomes more and more formidable, you need to learn the techniques to maximize your physical capabilities. Task requirements: Increase your martial arts mastery experience by at least 0/10 points before the training time ends. Task reward: Martial Mastery Experience +20 points. (Countdown: 1 hour 58 minutes 22 seconds)] "emmmm..." Such low requirements, such a low reward. The last similar task was to swing a sword 1000 times, but that also earned 50 points of specialized experience. So this time... is the training goal too vague, or is there no benchmark for reference? Or perhaps the difficulty in mastering martial arts is a bit more challenging than the previous Heavy Weapons Mastery? [Low is low...] It''s not like he can''t go on without a task. Standing still, Bai E recalled what the instructor had said, trying to initiate the punch with as much power as possible starting from the muscles on the back of his thighs, driving through his waist and hips, and finally thrusting his arm forward with force. [You simulate a punch without any improvement over the standard level, Martial Mastery Experience +0.] "..." That''s quite difficult, isn''t it? Try again! [You simulate a punch without any improvement over the standard level, Martial Mastery Experience +0.] +0 [You simulate a punch with a 0.32% improvement over the standard level, Martial Mastery Experience +0.] +0 +0 +0 ... [...Improvement of 1.01%, Martial Mastery Experience +1.] [You have earned one point in the Martial Mastery experience, "Side Quest¡ªPower Striking" progress 1/10.] Lord almighty! Bai E casually swung his arms, the difficulty was indeed damn high! Glancing at the time for the task, 5 minutes had already passed, and that was just the first point gained. Keep it up! Having found a bit of insight, it should be easier now, right? +0, +0, +0, +0, +1 "..." Experience more on m v|l -NovelFire.net Dan''s gaze swept up and down each soldier, pausing for at least 30 seconds on almost each one. She treated them all equally. There was no need to target anyone in particular, nor was there anything that required special attention. To her, this batch of recruits was her responsibility to train. The superior officer''s command had only one option: to be carried out. Not to mention, she hadn''t observed any particularly outstanding new recruits in this batch, including... that much-talked-about "great hero." Rumor had it he was all-around capably, even some of the experienced soldiers in the camp might not be able to best him in their areas of expertise. But now, it seemed he was nothing more than mediocre, certainly not the all-around competent as the rumors suggested... At least, in hand-to-hand combat, he hadn''t shown any eye-catching talents. Glancing at her watch, Dan walked over to a soldier standing at the very front. "Hit me with your best punch," she said, dressed in her sleek black uniform, and added, "with all your strength." Each soldier''s physical attributes were different, and the camp didn''t have anything to measure the proportion of skill to attribute performance, so she could only feel it for herself in her own way. The addressed soldier seemed stunned, hesitantly looking at his own fist then at Dan''s granite-like chest. "Hmm?" Dan looked him in the eye, reinforcing his power, and confirmed his assumption was correct, "Hmm." "So, I hit you?" The only response to the instructor''s request was compliance, no matter how preposterous it sounded. "Hit." "Whew~" The soldier took a deep breath, spinning and throwing a punch with exaggerated and deliberate motion. "Bang!" A dull thud rang out; the soldier crouched on the ground, clutching his fist and gasping for air. "Hiss~hiss~" She casually patted her chest and continued to look at the soldier on the ground with an expressionless face, "Continue, this time with a quick punch." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Comparing the posture and the force of the punch... The contrast between the two was enough for Dan to judge the soldier''s progress. "...Yes," replied the soldier, clutching his wrist and struggling to his feet. The sensation of punching Dan''s chest felt almost like hitting a steel plate, just a tad softer, clearly much of the force had been absorbed; otherwise, his wrist might have been ruined. Instructors were indeed monsters. As a new recruit, he recalled once more the horror of being dominated by an instructor. "Ready..." "Swish!" Dan stared blankly at the fist halted in front of her chest, and after a moment''s pause, she managed to squeak out the rest, "prepare to start..." A slight improvement, but not much... Next! Dan, following the lineup, let her chest serve as a test instrument for each recruit. Her special talent was resilience in defense, and the attacks from these recruits were no more than an itch to her. Next... Next... Arriving in front of Bai E, Dan looked him straight in the eye, "Your turn..." [...Improvement of 1.89%, Combat Mastery Experience +1.] [You have earned one Combat Mastery experience, "Side Quest - Apply Force" progress 7/10.] Chapter 99: 099 Disappointment After completing a round of shadowboxing, Bai E nodded and said, "Good." The Overlimit Drive consumes more physical strength to output greater power, whereas martial skills involve using the same strength to produce even greater force, the two are not derived from the same source. When it came to the tricks of close combat, he seemed to really lack talent. Even though some of his teammates had already delayed for quite a bit of time, when the instructor stood before him, he had only managed to earn 7 points of combat experience through training. Adding the 2 points he already had, his total was only 9 points of combat experience. The instincts attached to him also didn''t feel very strong, likely nothing that could astonish the instructor. "Are you ready?" Helen gazed into Bai E''s eyes, her heart always held high expectations for the so-called "great hero." "Ready," Bai E nodded. Helen took a rare deep breath, fully braced herself for defense, and then nodded, "Come at me." Bai E pulled his fist back, his lower body muscles tensed, his waist twisted, and he delivered a straight punch aimed right at the center of Helen''s chest. "Bang!" [Using close combat attack with perfect force to hit the target, combat proficiency experience +1.] [You have earned one combat proficiency experience, "Sub-quest - Power Strike" progress 8/10.] "..." [My fist hurts, but I have to bear it.] [My chest is stuffy, but I have to bear it.] Helen never would have thought that this "great hero" didn''t seem to have much skill in his strikes, yet the power behind them was surprisingly strong. His punch was far stronger than other recruits from his batch, and even though she slightly adjusted her defense in anticipation, she still felt a slight tightness in her chest. She wanted to cough, but couldn''t. Seeing Bai E standing there blankly, Helen pressed on, her voice lowered, "What are you waiting for?" "Oh~" Bai E''s right hand trembled slightly as he tried to alleviate the pain through shaking. Helen''s chest felt like a stone cushioned by a bit of cotton. The punch that landed didn''t seem to affect her much, but the recoil left his own hand throbbing in pain. Force is mutual, and although some of it was dissipated, at least eighty percent of the force exerted rebounded back to his own fist. This instructor wasn''t just advanced in combat specialization; her physical condition was probably top-notch even among the military camp. "Now, throw a fast punch again." "Okay." In the midst of speaking, Bai E quickly launched a punch. In just 0.05 seconds, not even enough time for an eye blink, his fist that had just retracted struck Helen''s chest once more. Looking down at the fist that landed on her chest once again in less than a second, Helen was somewhat unable to process it. That fast? So, his reflex attributes were also decent? Right, the "great hero''s" actual profession was that of an archer-type warrior, so reflexes might be his main attribute? That wasn''t so strange then. But still... A bit disappointing. Without training, the "great hero''s" fast punch was just of average level. Neither the technique in unleashing the maximum force nor the proportion of body strength used during a fast punch were impressive. They were at best mediocre among the new recruits. He just had brute strength, that''s all. There was still a lot of room for improvement. "Cough~" Taking the opportunity to clear her throat, Helen patted Bai E''s shoulder and sighed with a hint of disappointment, "Keep training." "Yeah." Bai E nodded obediently and continued his diligent training. [...Improvement of 1.73%, combat proficiency experience +0.] ... [...Improvement of 1.94%, combat proficiency experience +1.] [You have earned one combat proficiency experience, "Sub-quest - Power Strike" progress 10/10.] [Sub-quest - Power Strike, completed!] [Task Reward: Combat Mastery Experience +20, Already Issued.] [Current Combat Mastery Experience 32/100, reach 100 points to master "Level 1 Combat Specialization".] "It''s done..." Bai E shook his arm with some joy. Completing a task, no matter how small the reward, was always a reason for happiness. That constant sense of self-improvement undoubtedly gave a full feeling of security. As if the terrifying creatures that dominated everything were now far away from his world. [The task you posted¡ª"Building Materials Needed"¡ªhas been submitted, please verify as soon as possible.]X3 Hmm? Double happiness? "All right, dismiss." Dan clapped her hands and said. The first training session didn''t yield very good results for everyone, which was normal. There were many small projects in combat training that required constant effort. For many soldiers, their lifespan wasn''t even as long as their training duration, and she was used to this. Watching the assembled soldiers disperse, Dan finally took out a tablet and silently recorded the performance of each one. A warm, raspy voice unexpectedly approached, "Is the training over?" "Hmm?" Dan looked up to see a somewhat unfamiliar face. However, the impeccably beautiful face coupled with the white coat made her identity easy to guess¡ª Helen, the Scholar from the Scientific Research Institute who had stayed in the barracks these past days. "Scholar?" Dan''s expression immediately became serious; though Helen wasn''t her direct superior, the entire military region had to speak cautiously around the Scientific Research Institute, "Do you have any instructions?" "I wanted to ask if 95B27 had undergone training here just now." Helen gently flicked her curly hair aside and asked with a gentle smile. Helen''s smile was somewhat unsettling, causing Dan''s tawny complexion to flush slightly, "Yes... he did. Do you need him for something?" "No... I just wanted to inquire about his performance." Discover exclusive tales on m,v l''e-NovelFire.net The inspiration that had emerged from observing 95B27''s performance in advanced training that morning had already been recorded, and the subsequent perfection of it needed patient and meticulous scientific experiments¡ªthere was no rush. But this walking "miracle" was still trying new things, and she couldn''t wait to know if 95B27 had more potential for astonishing discoveries. "Him?..." Dan nodded, "Of course I remember, but his performance... wasn''t very good." Looking at the comprehensive analysis provided by the tablet in her hand, Dan directly placed it in front of Helen, "He can only be ranked in the lower middle among the people I''m training." "..." Helen frowned, a hint of her hopeful disappointment showing, "Could he possibly be hiding his true strength?" Dan furrowed her brow in confusion, "That should... not be the case. The power techniques we train are instinctual; once learned, it is very difficult not to use them, so it should be hard to deliberately hide." "Oh~" Helen nodded, smiling gently again and thanking her, "Thank you. Goodbye." "Goodbye~" Watching Helen''s retreating figure with her white coat fluttering, Dan''s eyes grew somewhat mesmerized. The departing Helen was softly biting her lip, her eyes wandering. "It shouldn''t be..." If it were an awakening of the beastman''s alien gene, his close-combat talent should also be exceptionally strong, and even with simple training, he should have shown rapid progress. Or maybe, he isn''t the perfect alien gene awakening. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In other words, could he not be the seed she was looking for? The genotypic prototype project was extraordinarily important and quite resource-consuming; there was no room for any mistakes. The first creation presented to the Senate had to show unmatched perfect potential! If he was not up to it, then that new soldier named Rose seemed to have quite impressive potential as well? Her performance wasn''t as conspicuous as 95B27''s, but the potential was excellent, and her abilities were very comprehensive, with no obvious weaknesses. Still, there was a feeling of reluctance. "..." Helen bit her lip, making a decision. She still needed to observe him further. Chapter 100: The joining of 100 new members "I''m exhausted..." "Where did you find finished cement?" Kuang Xin and Dai Lian, each having put down a 50-kilogram bag of cement, looked somewhat puzzled. This stuff couldn''t possibly have grown out of the ground, could it? Or was it bought? Gong Yan, with a smile, said, "I tricked them out of it. Those NPCs are so dumb." Zhou Wenjie stood to the side without saying a word. He was there when it happened. To say the NPCs were dumb was indeed true, but this sister''s response was the most impressive. Wen Jie knew everything, he just chose not to speak. "Alright, alright, no matter where it came from, it was given by the NPCs for free, why not take it?" Dai Lian clapped the dust off his hands, looking at Gong Yan with some admiration, "Yanzi is smart, making them leave the goods far away, so we can carry them over without exposing our base''s location." As he spoke, Dai Lian looked in the direction of the distant barracks, "Now... we just have to wait for him to come and check." Adding the day the entire barracks went out to battle the Bug Race, it had almost been three days since they last saw their boss. Not knowing if he was dead on the battlefield. It seemed like those NPCs would receive a prompt when a task was delivered, it was nearly noon, hopefully, he would come... If he couldn''t, that would be troublesome. Having finally clung to a strong leg, to lose it just like that. Dai Lian''s mind was filled with these thoughts... Zhou Wenjie, looking toward the direction he was looking, noticed everyone''s silence and finally couldn''t resist asking out loud, "Who exactly is the boss you guys keep talking about?" Gong Yan pushed away some stray hairs beside her ear and explained with a smile, "Didn''t I tell you before that the three of us joined an NPC organization inside the game? The highest-ranking person we''ve met in the organization is our boss." "Organization?" Zhou Wenjie''s eyes lit up. If it''s an organization, there must be many precious learning materials, right? Others may love slaughtering left and right in the game, but he loves exploring the physics laws that are completely different from reality in this game. Ordinary people can hardly learn advanced knowledge, but in an organization... maybe he could learn something? Thinking this, Zhou Wenjie asked with some excitement, "Can I join?" "You..." Gong Yan hesitated slightly, "That''s not certain, we all joined only after at least completing a mission he posted and gained a certain level of trust." "Ah..." Seeing Zhou Wenjie''s somewhat disappointed expression, Gong Yan laughed and comforted him, "But it''s okay, when our boss comes later, we can ask for you. If it really doesn''t work, you can join us in completing a mission for a couple of days and then join." "...Alright, thank you, sister." "No problem~" Gong Yan cheerfully patted Wen Jie''s head. At noon, a figure in a black uniform arrived on time, walking steadily. Seeing that figure from afar, Dai Lian''s heart lifted with joy. He''s here! "Boss, have you returned in triumph?" Gong Yan was the first to greet him, beaming with a smile. "Failed, got chased back by the bugs," Bai E casually waved his hand, then squinted his eyes at the unfamiliar Zhou Wenjie, asking with curiosity, "He is...?" "Boss, don''t get me wrong, he''s also our friend," Dai Lian quickly stepped forward to explain. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Friend?" "Yes, boss! He has heard of the mission we are undertaking and is eager to join us," Dai Lian assured. Another player? Hmm... not bad. Having just obtained a new assignment distribution qualification, he could get another player to work for him, as he was originally planning to post a task anyway. Now they''ve found a companion on their own, it''s like a pillow coming just as one feels sleepy. Bai E''s scrutinizing gaze slowly swept over Zhou Wenjie, "Since he is a friend introduced by you, he should be trustworthy. Have they told you about our organization''s mission?" "Of course," Zhou Wenjie glanced at Gong Yan, and said solemnly, "But I think our organization shouldn''t consist only of fighting and killing." Bai E raised his eyebrows slightly, "Oh?" It seems this new player is not an easy character to deal with. Smiling gently, Bai E asked, "What are your thoughts?" The kind treatment made Zhou Wenjie feel as if he had found a kindred spirit. "Actually... I just wanted to ask if the organization has any... learning materials," Wen Jie said with some excitement, his face flushed with exhilaration. "..." Bai E looked at the slight figure of the boy, his gaze somewhat inscrutable. What kind of learning materials are you talking about? I don''t have the kind of dull and fixed learning materials you mean, meow... Bai E spoke calmly, "Learning in this world is a luxury, most people don''t have the heart to immerse in it, and if it''s just a spur-of-the-moment impulse, I think you may not endure the loneliness." "Not at all, not at all!" Zhou Wenjie shook his head repeatedly, "What could be more fun than learning in this world? The rules of this world... the rules of your world are too fascinating. I''m only worried I won''t have enough time to use." Where did this study maniac come from? Bai E frowned, slightly worried. Even if it were serious learning materials, he didn''t have any. As for joining the military... that would ruin his mystery in the eyes of the players, making them rebellious, which was not advisable. "Boss..." Zhou Wenjie watched Bai E''s serene face with a touch of apprehension, "Is it very troublesome?" "Not exactly troublesome..." Bai E pondered his tone, as if considering a more profound plan, "You are aware of our mission, aren''t you?" Zhou Wenjie glanced at Gong Yan and nodded repeatedly, "I have been told." "Good... since you''ve been told, then maybe you can also take on some responsibilities while learning," Bai E continued. "Responsibilities?" Zhou Wenjie looked puzzled. "For instance... infiltrating other forces?" The organization really is too poor to afford you... Bai E thought. Bai E looked sincerely at him, "Your identity is now clean, without any hint of us, so others can''t see where you come from. You can blend into any force. In fact, many in our organization do just that; we can be in any dangerous place, as long as we remember what we are fighting for in our hearts." "Do you mean..." Zhou Wenjie started. "I mean... you are free to pursue your dreams. The organization won''t restrict you in any way. However, in order not to expose you, the organization can hardly pave the way for you. If you really have the determination and ability to change humanity through learning, then you''ll easily find opportunities for advancement." Bai E looked towards the towering grey-black city walls in the distance, "Go to the inner city. That''s where you''ll find everything you want." Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelFire.net Chapter 101: 101 Deeply rooted in tradition, broad in layout, quietly reveals itself ``` Listening to the elder''s words, Dai Lian always felt something was amiss. Zhou Wenjie''s recklessness and his making demands were unexpected, but somehow it seemed as if the elder was trying to hurry someone along? Considering this was someone Gong Yan had picked up from who knows where, a poor chap bullied by NPCs, Dai Lian stepped forward in an attempt to salvage the situation, "Elder... actually, Wenjie really does want to join us." Bai E shook his head and smiled lightly, "I didn''t say I would reject him, it''s just that our mission is weighty, and everyone should bear more responsibility... that goes for all of you." With that, Bai E issued an invitation to the new player. [You have invited the party to join your power: Li Ming (Reputation Level: 1).] [Zhou Wenjie has joined your power.] "So, I only hope that when you have learned and achieved something in the future, you will still remember your hidden identity." Bai E looked at Zhou Wenjie, his gaze calm. [Mission description generating automatically...] [Side Quest ¡ª Talent Building (Resource-type mission): Learn as much knowledge as possible. The fate of humanity will be adjudged by you. What supports people''s return to the stars isn''t just the yearning for the future but the need for solid technologies! Mission Requirement: At least 0/3 technological projects of level 3 learned. Mission Reward: Technology Points*1, Bug Tribe Essence Extract*30 (Rewards are issued in a stepwise manner).] (Note: "Automatic completion" allowed; "Authority" and "Expenditure" will be deducted and locked once the mission is confirmed and published.) [Do you want to issue the current mission?] Confirm. The way to deal with someone depends on what kind of person they are. This new player seemed to be a rather pure player. Assigning him those violent missions probably wouldn''t be accepted, or even if accepted, he would probably just ignore them. He had made this clear from the start, and there was no need to try again. So, it was better to be straightforward and go along with his inclinations. As for the Bug Tribe Essence Extract... that was a spur-of-the-moment decision from Bai E. First, he felt that the mission given to this player was somewhat extraordinary, and the rewards had to be special. However, after searching himself, he found he didn''t have anything of great value. Players would definitely exchange information, and to not lose face, he had to give them something real to open their eyes. Secondly... it was an unintended setup. The essence extracts from various races were the core materials for refining Gene Optimization Solution, but he only had raw materials and not the technology. Even with ten thousand units of raw material, he couldn''t convert it to power. As for handing it over to the military or the Scientific Research Institute, that would be downright suicidal. It was better to make arrangements with the players. Since he was a pure scholar, perhaps he could learn the technology to refine the Gene Optimization Solution. If so, then producing and selling himself would be perfect, wouldn''t it? And by giving him the raw materials in advance, he was showing him a clear path. Don''t know what kind of knowledge to learn? I gave you the stuff, and you still don''t know what to learn? As for others... Bai E glanced at the cement laid out in front of the players. This mission offered nothing but a +1 to management skills, with no other benefits. Just looking at the attribute feedback, continuing this mission wouldn''t be as good as going back to chopping trees. But... Bai E hadn''t forgotten the main mission he would activate later¡ª Creating an organization with a reputation level of at least 2. Reputation level? That undoubtedly meant having to interact with people. Without a guide, Bai E could only rely on guesses and exploration. This cement starkly added no type of special experience to his own, which probably meant these players had somehow gotten it from other NPCs. Isn''t this an opportunity to interact with people? ``` For the sake of long-term considerations, a temporary sacrifice of some special experience income is not unacceptable. Such behavior deserves encouragement, so the mission remains. Side mission¡ªBuilding Requirements, issued. Next is... combat missions. "Have you figured out the source of the issue we talked about last time?" "We have!" Kuang Xin jolted and immediately reported the progress, "But the mastermind is always hiding in the complex abandoned sewers, with those rat swarms as cover, we can hardly catch him there..." They hadn''t even seen the culprit''s face up to now. The other side was as slippery as the rats he controlled. So much so that the half of their mission involving investigating the truth hadn''t even been completed. "Is the Arbitration Place still investigating?" Dai Lian took over the conversation, "They are continuing the investigation, and they''ve split up in the past few days. It seems like they have almost cornered the mastermind." "Cornered..." Bai E pondered slightly. If Kuang Xin had said this, he would most likely believe it, but coming from Dai Lian... the credibility might need a discount. But no matter what, a boss kill was about to be snatched away, and this was not good news. So far, the life-and-death combat he''d been involved in wasn''t much. Mostly, they were common mobs, and he had only killed a couple of elite mobs. Your adventure continues at m v|l-e''-NovelFire.net So... Bai E was still a bit curious about a target that might be a boss type. Would the drop rate be terrifying? Even without a lucky strike, could something still drop? Several bouts of combat had gradually emboldened Bai E, and he was eager to explore some of the truths of this world, even if they were slightly dangerous. A not particularly dangerous, suspected boss type target... he really wanted to check it out. Besides, he wondered if the players had honed their stealth and Ranged Weapon Specialization abilities in this mission. If he joined them, he could also show off the archery skills he learned from Yue Ying. If he didn''t harvest some fresh leeks from the players, his training plans would be hard to carry out. A win-win situation. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Tonight..." Bai E''s eyes were vacant as he made a decision, "Tonight, I''ll join you to check out the sewers." "You''re going too, Milord?" Dai Lian''s eyes sparkled with surprise. Plan successful! Yay! "Mm! You might struggle with the truth on your own, so I''ll take a look as well." Even if it was a no-go, seizing the opportunity to show off his archery skills and harvest some leeks would definitely be profitable. [This round, I''m sure I won''t lose out.] "No problem, Milord! We''ll guide you when the time comes!" Dai Lian was overjoyed in his heart, this was a big win! Using an NPC''s power to complete a mission issued by the NPC themselves, this game was too awesome! Having decided on the evening''s action, Bai E once again pacified the pure scholar''s heart. With a calm and wise gaze fixed on the other''s eyes, Bai E''s were full of apology. "I''m sorry to have you bear everything on your own, but for the sake of everyone''s future, we must be extremely careful. The trip to the inner city for study is all up to you now... I believe in you!" The mission had been issued, the reward even included a high-end extract he had never seen before. He truly cares about me! Wen Jie was filled with emotion, "I will not let you down, Milord!" Chapter 102: 102 Secret Military Operation The superior had left. "Why did we have to deceive the superior?" Kuang Xin asked, somewhat puzzled, as he looked at Dai Lian. They had barely interacted with those two from the Arbitration Place these past few days, who knows what they were up to. Dai Lian watched the figure of the superior disappearing over the horizon and shook his head thoughtfully, "First, I didn''t completely lie to him, even though we didn''t meet, those rats have been more frantic these days, most likely pressured by the people from the Arbitration Place. Second¡­ have any of you felt that there''s something off about our organization?" After joining for several days, they hadn''t seen a single other member of the organization. If the line to their superior got cut, wouldn''t they become orphans? And no matter how reasonable and nice the superior''s words sounded, it was just to avoid exposing the relationship, so he couldn''t provide any help, letting them, the players, figure things out on their own... How was that different from not taking them in at all? "...Right?" Once Dai Lian had shared his suspicions, he faced... criticism on the spot. "Don''t talk about the superior like that!" Wen Jie was filled with righteous indignation. The superior is sincere with me, "He included this in my reward!" Following the script, Wen Jie informed everyone about the Bug Tribe Essence Extract included in his mission reward. "It can be used to make Gene Optimization Solution?" "What is that thing?" "It''s essentially something that raises your level in this game." Having known more these days, Gong Yan explained as she saw Dai Lian didn''t know about it. "Our genetic optimization level on the panel needs to be improved with this stuff. A higher genetic optimization level allows us to have higher attribute limits, and to elevate abilities like specializations and skills to a certain degree, you need higher attributes as support. Genetic optimization level is the foundation of everything, and the Gene Optimization Solution is the key material to enhance this foundation." This was one of the core secrets behind why humans in this sci-fi world could thrive alone in the universe. They hadn''t come across any material related to it since they entered the game, but now... the basic ingredient needed to make this key material had been handed out to them just like that? Stay connected with m-v l|e''-NovelFire.net This this this¡­ "Leveling up relies on drugs?" "Isn''t the key to unleashing the power of Gene Optimization Solution role-playing?" "???" "Nonsense." "Anyway, the boss is awesome!" "So now the question is, how do we get Wen Jie into the city." "I remember someone there mentioned having an inner city entry ticket¡­" Dai Lian stroked his chin and glanced at Gong Yan. Gong Yan nodded in agreement, "I''ll go ask him." "And you might as well ask if he''s been acting with the people from the Arbitration Place these past few days, having that intel would make it more convenient for us to take action with the superior tonight." "Alright." ¡­ Bai E made his way back to camp unhurriedly. He hadn''t set up a teaching game for the players today, so he had plenty of time. Moreover, the first half of the afternoon training was on shooting enhancement, and since his Level 4 Light Firearms Specialization had lost much of its purpose in the training field¡ªthe sniper god had even told him not to bother¡ªthere was no reason to waste time there. Still, Bai E sought out Carlos. Bai E wasn''t sure about others, but the caliber-3 sidearm Carlos had stuffed on him before the fight against the Bug Race, as well as Helen''s special instruction before her research into him, were enough to show his genuine goodwill toward Bai E. Having gained the officer''s trust with his apparent obedience, Bai E thought of him first whenever he had special requests. "You want to apply for a bow and arrow?" Carlos looked at Bai E with some surprise. Such weapons were specialized and only allowed in certain situations and were far less intuitive and versatile than firearms. The camp''s standardized training did not include this item. Bai E nodded, reporting truthfully, "Yes... An Elf Race lady has taught me some archery skills in private, and I would like to request a bow and arrows to practice occasionally." Bai E hadn''t advertised this, but he felt it was impossible to keep secrets in the army. Rather than being pointed out by someone else, it was better to explain it first and create a reputation of honesty to gain the commander''s trust. Although bows were rare, Bai E had seen them in the camp a couple of times. The sleek mechanical design of the compound bow was more to his liking compared to the long bows made of unknown wood by the Elves. The most important thing was that the compound bow Bai E saw could fold, which would be much more convenient to carry around compared to the Elves'' Eaglehorn Bow. Carlos furrowed his brows, pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement, "That''s fine... after all, you''ve pretty much hit a bottleneck with your firearms shooting skills. Expanding some other abilities is a good thing." Everyone could see Bai E''s skill level; intercepting spore mines shot by the Bug Race''s artillery bugs on the battlefield was a feat not even Carlos himself could possibly do much differently. Encouraging someone with such talent to learn more varied abilities was a sensible choice. "But I need to clarify something with you first." Carlos was actually considering something else, but he decided to let Bai E make his own choice, "This kind of special equipment isn''t standard issue. Whether you''re exchanging for a bow now or need more arrows in the future, it will cost you your military achievements. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And military achievements are your only way to obtain Gene Optimization Solution." As synthetic soldiers typically had no concept of property¡ªafter all, their lives were meant to be devoted to all of humanity¡ªif they had any possessions, military achievements were the only wealth of a synthetic soldier. Chapter 103: 102 Secret Military Operation_2 The most prioritized item that military honors can redeem is undoubtedly the Gene Optimization Solution, which represents the future. Although he had repeatedly spoken up on behalf of Bai E to request the Gene Optimization Solution for him, he was well aware of the difficulty in obtaining it, especially for artificial humans. Military honors are only the basic requirement. After earning enough military merits, one still needs to apply for the agreement of most officers in the barracks, and then the Scientific Research Institute will dispatch someone to verify and review whether the soldier is qualified to receive the baptism of the Gene Optimization Solution. All these are complications; military merits are the most inconspicuous yet the most fundamental requirement. But first... they need to establish a solid foundation. Many artificial humans are doomed from the moment of their creation never to lay hands on such a thing, so they can frivolously spend their military merits to exchange for items of interest, which is inconsequential for them. However, a warrior like Bai E, who has strong potential and excellent abilities, could possibly obtain the Gene Optimization Solution. His outstanding performance in a trial, his defense against aerial attacks on the battlefield, coupled with saving lives¡ªall these actions were noticed by everyone and he had already accumulated quite a bit of military merit, just one step away from meeting the minimum application requirements. The opportunities to earn military merits are scarce. Sometimes, missing by that slight margin means missing out for a lifetime. The barracks are not short of artificial and natural human soldiers who are just one step away from meeting the application requirements; yet, that gap is forever set in stone on the battlefield. Military merits are not easy to come by, cherish them as you use them. After making the critical points clear, Carlos looked into Bai E''s eyes, and earnestly asked, "So, do you still insist on exchanging for a bow and arrow?" [This concerns future development, you decide...] "I still want to exchange." During Carlos''s explanation, Bai E had carefully considered all the critical points. Military merits aren''t accumulated by hoarding; it''s the strength at hand that determines future opportunities. Moreover, he didn''t rely solely on opportunities given out by the military. It was impossible for him, possessing raw materials, not to have his own plans. As Ying said, artificial humans have limited chances in the barracks; he couldn''t possibly bet all his chips on the care of the military leaders. If in the beginning, the behavior of the players only brought about growth in attributes, now Bai E was increasingly valuing the achievements players could obtain in the outside world. With the right guidance, players were almost akin to avatars of himself, which was the core reason why he encouraged players to continue interacting with other NPCs just now. Hearing Bai E''s firm response, a gentle smile bloomed on Carlos''s face. He was very pleased with the answer Bai E gave. Courage is the greatest gift bestowed by the heavens upon humanity. Military achievement is not accumulated through penny-pinching but through bold and fearless advancement. Earning enough military merits is just the first step to obtaining the Gene Optimization Solution. After getting it, can one hide in the barracks and wait for death? Enjoy more content from m-v l''-NovelFire.net The Gene Optimization Solution raises the upper limit of personal abilities, not the lower limit, while military merits are honors that accompany a warrior throughout their life. As long as one has unwavering belief and courage, military merits are merely a record for the brave. "I''ll take you there." Registering with the quartermaster and receiving various complex items was easily accomplished given the support from higher ups, and Bai E got his first taste of the thrill of backdoor dealings. "The bow body is made of monometal, it will hardly sustain any damage," Carlos said with a smile. The monometal series is the highest strength alloy that humanity can synthesize, with excellent hardness and flexibility, and about one-fifth lighter than aluminum alloy of the same volume, offering more agility in complex and varied battle environments. Even the most basic in the series, the monometal, is an unimaginably precious material to the outside world. In special weapons where not much material is used, the armory is still willing to provide the good stuff. Bai E tightly grasped the bow body. The bow body, made of lightweight blackened steel, fitted perfectly into his hand, and with a vigorous shake, the bow limbs that were about one-fifth shorter than the Eaglehorn Bow stretched open effortlessly. The overall shape is slender and light, and the grip feels much better than the heavy Elven Hawkhorn Bow, though it seems slightly lacking in lethality, the practicality is somewhat improved. [Military Composite Bow ¡ª Quality: Green (Ranged Weapon)] [Basic Parameters: Range 3~800 meters; Attack Strength (Type: Piercing): 5 + (Physical Strength - 12) * 2; Output Energy Level 5 + (Physical Strength - 12) / 2; Durability 12/12] [Usage Requirement: Physical Strength 12 (can be used).] [Traits: The bow body is light and very easy to control, shooting speed +5%; shooting energy +1. (Maximum tensile strength tolerated: Physical Strength 22 points)] ... [Fine Steel Arrows¡ª¡ªQuality: Green] [Basic Parameters: Attack modifier +2, hit adds bleed effect.] [Usage Requirements: Compatible with bow and crossbow types.] [Traits: Lathe-integrated crafting, shooting precision +12%; maximum range +100 meters.] Human basic mechanical craftsmanship is, to some extent, not a bit inferior to those somewhat primitive but sincerely living elves, and the carefully handcrafted fine products of the humans have their own strengths and weaknesses compared to the craftsmanship of the elves. However, undoubtedly, Bai E would need some training to become familiar with the new equipment. "I''m off to train." Bai E had no interest in currying favor; the other party surely wouldn''t value his face or flattering words. Strength was the only chip. It seemed Carlos had something additional to instruct. "Wait, come with me." During training time, finding a spot in the barracks without surveillance and devoid of people was quite easy. Only after taking Bai E to an unoccupied corner did Carlos turn around and, with a solemn expression, start to share some insider information with Bai E. "Normally, opportunities for earning military merit are very scarce, and the fact is, as artificial humans, even if you do earn enough merit, it will be difficult to get the necessary support from the officers... You''ll need to do something even more satisfactory for them to greatly increase your chances of getting the Gene Optimization Solution. Right now, there''s an opportunity before you that you must cherish to showcase your performance." Even if some officers harbored hostility towards artificial humans, faced with undeniable achievements, they too would have to keep their mouths shut. For Bai E, Carlos was pouring his heart out. 95B27 had always been reassuring due to its mild and controllable nature, and its capabilities were exceptionally superior among many artificial soldiers Carlos had seen. Bai E slowly blinked, his face showing a hint of confusion, "The opportunity you''re talking about... what is it?" Carlos spoke in a low tone, with a cautious look, "It pertains to a covert military operation. I can only tell you that it involves exploring an ancient ruin; I can''t reveal specifics to you right now. But you only need to know that, if you can secure a spot on this mission and successfully complete it, in addition to your current accumulation of military merit, getting the Gene Optimization Solution will almost be certain." "..." Bai E fell into a daze. Covert, confidential, unknown... These words seemed to have burnt out the CPU of this simple rookie soldier. Carlos couldn''t help but smile wryly as he patted Bai E''s shoulder, "Anyway, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. The details are still being hammered out. From tomorrow, you will probably start hearing some rumors about a competitive selection. The number of participants in this military operation will not be large, only the best will be chosen. If you''re interested, make sure to perform well and strive for a spot." As he spoke, Carlos gazed into Bai E''s eyes, uneasily asking again, "Do you understand?" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E''s thoughts turned, and finally, his eyes twinkled, "I understand." He understood all too well! Ruins! His main mission required exploring ruins, and he had been worrying about where to find such "ruins"¡ªhe hadn''t expected it to fall right into his lap. "Good to understand." Carlos was relieved, "In any case, it''s up to you. If possible, try your best to fight for a spot. If you don''t succeed, it''s okay, there will be other opportunities in the future." "Understood! Sir." "...Alright then." Carlos sighed inwardly, 95B27 was good in all respects, but such earnestness brought both solace and helplessness, "Do you have any other needs?" "No, sir!" "Then off you go to train." "Yes, sir!" "..." ... The military district meeting room. Weslin pressed his hand against the tabletop, his gaze sweeping over the assembly of officers, "The information on the ruins has been distributed to you all. For the plan of operation and personnel configuration, let''s hear everyone''s thoughts." Minister Likok had provided some advice from professionals, but advice cannot be used as tactics. Planning the details of execution was still up to them to strategize. Chapter 104: 103 Secrets and Relics "The guardians of the ruins were all bioengineered¡­" The storage site for the mainframe was a relic from over four hundred years ago, and its guardians, the bioengineered humans, were now an unfamiliar enemy to the current military district. Bioengineered humans differed from artificial humans and pure mechanical bodies. They possessed certain mechanical structures within their bodies to enhance their abilities, but their foundation still derived from the biological systems of human bodies themselves. This kind of technology, which briefly surfaced hundreds of years ago, was specifically used to guard relics that had not yet rebelled at the time. In order to enable the military to devise a sufficiently detailed and targeted plan, Minister Likok had gathered and sent over all the relevant information on the mainframe ruins. The documents clearly recorded everything that had happened back then, as well as current observations and speculations about the state of the ruins¡ª Over four hundred years ago, as human network technology developed to a certain level, humanity naturally encountered the domain of intelligent AI and inadvertently opened Pandora''s Box. At the beginning, humans maintained a cautious trust in the newly born super-intelligent AI, not daring to grant "It" too much authority while feeding "It" endless streams of data for training. However, as the war with the Bug Race intensified, humans had to give "It" more authority to control most of the automated weapons for precision strikes. The command of a large number of mechanical troops fell under "Its" control, and this almost universally unified battle coordination capability allowed humans to gain an unimaginable advantage in the war against the Bug Race. The once seemingly unstoppable Bugs were beaten until they were on their last legs and resulted in today''s situation, where Bug hives are scattered and fighting all over. If "It" had been given more time, perhaps "It" could have completely wiped the Bugs from this planet. However, there were no ifs in reality. Perhaps "It" knew that once the Bugs were eradicated, "It" would have all authority revoked, or perhaps "It"''s independent will just happened to awaken at that time. So, "It" brazenly launched a rebellion. In response to the intelligent AI''s rebellion, humans were not entirely without countermeasures. At that time, they possessed a final and decisive strategy¡ªdisconnection. The intelligent AI was a ghost living in the cyber world, alike air and water are to humans in the physical world; the network itself was the soil that sustained AI''s existence. "It" was also a type of alternative life form, and as long as "It" was an Anti-Entropy being, "It" could not escape the punishment of time. A long-term ban on network activity was sufficient to cause the birth of intelligent AI to die out. After cautious and conservative judgment by the scientists of the time, this duration was agreed upon at five hundred years. The Electronic Silence Protocol was the only sword in human hands that could checkmate "It." By shutting down the mainframe and silencing the global network, an unimaginable shock to human society at the time would ensue, but it was also the only card humans had that could threaten the intelligent AI. Moreover, supplementing the effectiveness of this card was the setup of the mainframe base. The mainframe was the core that supported the global network, so a place that could shut down the mainframe instantly would not be equipped with any automated devices that intelligent AI could manipulate. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Humans and bioengineered humans were the absolute force guarding the mainframe base. If there were only humans guarding, then there would be no subsequent calamities. However, the threats that the base had to face were not limited to rebellious intelligent machinery; dangers such as invasions from the Bug Race, traitors, and spies all required the base to maintain combat capabilities that exceeded normal standards. Bioengineered soldiers, modified and enhanced, were far superior in combat compared to average humans. At that time, human technology was expanding ambitiously into all domains, eager to step outside the solar system and conquer the universe. Bioengineered humans were just one of the research projects. These soldiers, transformed from regular humans, were not only scientifically regulated through biology and chemistry, but also equipped with partial mechanical devices to enhance their capability limits. Substantial increases in lifespan and physical strength were just the basic enhancements. There were also eyes with infrared scanning and thermal imaging functions, mechanical kinetic-driven arms, skin extremely sensitive to the composition of the air, and auxiliary chips to help the brain process complex information and control mechanical structures, among others... The biochemical soldiers'' individual soldier qualities completely surpassed the common soldiers of that era, and their main consciousness was controlled by the warrior who was originally a normal human being. They were, in theory, the perfect candidates to guard the core base. But these "in theory" never-to-betray warriors ultimately did betray humanity. As support, the electronic chips took over the nests of the doves, dominating the thoughts of these biochemical soldiers. When the resolute AI launched its rebellion, the base was nearly instantly compromised. In the end, only by relying on human soldiers'' fearlessness was the main computer room shut down. With the network silenced, all automated machines, including the cybernetic beings, instantly lost their directive. But from then on, humanity lost its most prized technology. Facing the bewildered state of the directionless cybernetic guards and clinging to the hope that one day the machine room might restart, humans, who regained sovereignty, didn''t completely destroy the base with violent force. And those leaderless cybernetic beings, though lacking initiative, were instinctively maintaining the main base following the last commands of the silent AI. Which has led to today''s military situation where they face the task of restarting the main computer. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the biochemical soldiers, the corresponding tactical plan and personnel naturally emerged¡ª "Without monitoring and unified control, the cybernetic beings cannot share intelligence in real-time, so we can infiltrate in small teams and break them one by one." "That means the team members need to have sufficient stealth capabilities and the ability to assassinate or resolve combat instantly." "The attributes of those biochemical soldiers far exceed normal soldiers; only the most elite warriors, trained to their limits, stand a chance against them." "Why not let the Spiritual Energy wielders take action? They should be foolproof." "No! We can''t reveal this operation before its successful execution. Large-scale deployment of Spiritual Energy wielders will definitely attract attention, but calling on one or two is possible. The same applies to those who have received the Gene Optimization Solution with a higher attribute ceiling. This mission isn''t worth going all out. Deploying those people would be more harmful than beneficial; selecting from within the regular soldiers will suffice." Several centuries ago, the direction and intensity of soldier training were completely different from now, and after hundreds of years of silence, who knows the current situation of those cybernetic beings, everything is unknown. Experience more content on m v|l e''-NovelFire.net For Minister Likok, this mission might be an all-or-nothing gamble, but for the military, it''s just a side move, not putting all their hopes here. Even if the first action fails, it can be a probe, so they can''t risk those important talents who have received resources for training. "Let''s assign a Spiritual Energy wielder specialized in detection... The detection capabilities of the cybernetic beings are no worse than our individual soldier detection equipment. Only a Spiritual Energy wielder can discover them before our soldiers are found out. Understanding their deployment allows us to carry out targeted decapitation strikes." "But we might also encounter wild beasts and wandering beastmen on the way, so we can''t completely ignore the use of heavy firepower." The officers voiced their various opinions. The aide recorded everything, and Weslin tapped on the desk, "So, how shall we choose?" "Assassination and covert abilities are of course the most fundamental assessment items." "Alertness in complex environments, quick response, and sustained combat capabilities must all be at the very top tier." "At the same time, it''s best if each soldier is multifunctional: mastery of driving, knowledge of cybernetics and hardware, proficiency in hot and cold weaponry, close combat, and assassination abilities all should be included in the assessment. The weight of each can be flexibly adjusted, ensuring that even if we lose part of the force, we can still complete the combat mission, restart the main computer, and cover the retreat." "Good..." Weslin nodded in satisfaction. These officers, who had been painstakingly shaped by the army, managed to cobble together a plan that nearly filled in all the details of the entire operation from start to finish. "Then it''s settled. Starting from tomorrow, we will evaluate all soldiers who might participate in this covert operation. There''s no rush, but it must be done secretly and properly." "Yes, Commander!" Chapter 105: 104 Your training methods are outdated Bai E began his archery training with the newly acquired bow. The gap between the Compound Bow and the Eaglehorn Bow was significant, and he needed some time to acclimate. Tonight was his debut in front of the players, and he couldn''t afford any mistakes. "Squeak~" the bowstring hummed lightly. It was uncertain if it was because the Compound Bow was more flexible, but Bai E always felt that drawing the bow was much easier compared to when he used the Eaglehorn Bow that day. In order to test his limits, Bai E drew the bowstring as taut as possible until the muscles in his upper arm squeaked under the strain and his arm trembled slightly before he finally loosened the bowstring a bit and then suddenly released his fingers. "Whoosh!" The arrow, like lightning, zipped through the air and hit the bullseye with precision. [Successful hit at the target center, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +1.] [Current Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience 449/500, at 500 points you can master "Level 3 Ranged Weapon Specialization".] The arrow pierced through the target, the force breaking through the wooden board. "Not bad..." Bai E murmured softly, drawing another arrow from the quiver strapped to his leg. He nocked the arrow and drew the bow. Fire! [Trigger Arc Shot! Successful in hitting a target behind an obstacle, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +2.] "Hmm... Good." Even after switching bows, his skill had not diminished. Once more... With no one around, the small target field that usually provided entertainment was quiet while the other warriors were training. Bai E glanced around and swiftly drew three arrows from the quiver and set them against the bowstring. Fire! They scattered... Fire again! Scattered again... Damn it! Wasn''t there supposed to be a 5% success rate? I''m going to fire again! A shower of arrows... Nope, nope! I wanted to look cool, but with this level I''m sure to embarrass myself. I''d better master the Double Shot first. Two arrows, fire! [Trigger Scatter Shot (Double Shot)! Successful in simultaneously hitting two targets, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +4.] The Double Shot is more reliable... A cloaked figure, unnoticeable in the shadows and motionless, shook his head in resignation and pursed his lips slightly under his hood. "Clumsy, clumsy..." But diligent enough... Perhaps this is one of the few pleasures he could find while spending this time in the human military camp. ... "The training is about to begin..." Chavez looked at the nearly assembled warriors in front of him, his gaze sweeping over them with some concern. Where''s 95B27? Didn''t he train too hard to the point of passing out? I should have advised him to train a bit less... Three... two... Maybe skip one time too, right? The old soldiers can only train twice in two hours, but he starts off training four times as if he''s racing against time. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s hard to tell if it''s good or bad training. To say it''s good... it''s somewhat beyond my understanding. To say it''s bad, his occasional exceptional progress is starting to catch up with the old soldiers. I don''t get it... But don''t leave. Chavez''s gaze passed over the warriors chatting before the assembly, and he sighed with regret. Without this hardworking and diligent kid, they don''t seem to know what hard work is. As time ticked by, just as Chavez was about to call everyone to assemble, a familiar figure came running towards him from a distance. "I''m not late, am I..." Bai E murmured tentatively, sounding like a middle school student who had been late for school, as he saw that the team had basically assembled. Initially, Bai E, who was absorbed in archery, had a sense of time, but as he practiced, he seemed to become completely engrossed in it. After intensely training to gain 27 points of shooting experience, he suddenly realized how time had flown and hurried back to the living area to put down his bow before rushing to the scene of the already assembled team. Finally, with the arrival of the main character, Chavez''s face turned as dark as charcoal. He simply lifted his chin toward the team, "Fall in!" "Yes!" "Assemble!" Begin training! [You are using combat experience to correct your training movements... (Consumption: 10 points of experience/min)] [Current simulation completeness: 125.0£¥] Bai E did not know how high the simulation completeness could go; it seemed like every time he felt an improvement in his self-simulated completeness, the next time he used experience to correct it, it would leap forward significantly, achieving the "Unapproachable Completeness" milestone... Yet... it still didn''t seem to be the limit. Instinctively, Bai E leapt down from the stage. The instructor had said that depending on personal feelings, the weight of the load could be changed at any time. The 30 kilograms he was carrying seemed no longer sufficient to meet his body''s training needs. He needed to move up to another weight class¡ª Wrist and ankle weights... 7 kilograms. Vest... 15 kilograms. A total of 43 kilograms of extra weight, almost like carrying another person distributed evenly over his body. The heavier burden also made Bai E''s physical energy consumption more efficient, and the completeness increased dramatically once again. [Current simulation completeness: 131.7£¥] "Huff~ huff~" Bai E''s breathing was heavy, each exhalation as if carrying a heat capable of scalding the skin. Chavez, watching on the side, couldn''t help but twitch at the sight. Too strenuous... too strenuous... Enjoy exclusive adventures from m-v l''-NovelFire.net Even for someone as demanding as he was, Bai E''s performance was becoming excessively intense. Worried that Bai E might genuinely overexert himself, Chavez, after a while, couldn''t sit still any longer and stepped forward, "Actually, you don''t have to push yourself so hard... Moreover, some of your postures are becoming more distorted, and continuing to train like this may not yield good results." Improper training not only fails to yield results but can even backfire and harm one''s body. Bai E glanced at him without speaking, for under the state of extreme experience-correction training, he was like a tightly drawn bowstring, allowing no room for distraction, not even an untimely breath could disturb this rhythm. Moreover... he was about to lose consciousness. Before his eyes, darkness... [You have surpassed your own limits in intense exercise, physical endurance +0.1, reflexes +0.1.] "Hey, hey, hey!" Quick-eyed and deft-handed, Chavez caught Bai E as he fell. Looking at the 95B27 who had already fallen into his arms and into a sleep like that of a baby, Chavez sighed deeply from up close. This strange artificial human recruit had become a significant challenge to his teaching career. But no matter what, the recruit''s obstinacy had made all the soldiers present look at him with new respect. Even though he fainted quickly during the training, like the clumsiest and most overconfident newcomer, the other soldiers could not dare to look down upon the unconscious body at the side of the field as their gazes occasionally swept over it. "Huff~" Bai E woke up once again. [Current simulation completeness: 99.9£¥] His self-driven completeness was getting closer to the instructor''s, but Bai E knew that he was getting further away from the real pinnacle. Looking at Bai E, who had switched back to a 30-kilogram load and assumed a standard posture, Chavez felt pleased deep down. "That''s how it should be." "This way it''s over!" The harsh female voice suddenly rang out. Helen, who had approached at some point, looked at Chavez with somewhat angry eyes. Bai E''s training results had been incredibly perfect, yet they had dropped significantly after this short-sighted instructor "advised" him with a few pointless remarks. "Please, don''t interfere with his training anymore. Your methods are outdated!" "..." After recognizing Helen''s identity, Chavez blinked innocently, "But, those methods were improved by you..." "...Mine are outdated too." Chapter 106: 105 Knowledge - Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0 Helen''s arrival didn''t disrupt the order of training; Bai E even felt his ears had been granted a reprieve. As for his performance capturing the other''s attention... Emmm, was the attention he drew before not enough? Being researched last time allowed Bai E to roughly understand some of the scientific strategies of this world; there were no maniacal technologists who would slice at the slightest disagreement, as long as he was willing to cooperate with their studies, nothing too outrageous should pose a problem. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This matter now... should not be considered too outrageous, right? In any case, he was definitely going to train with full effort, as it concerned a formidable expertise, not to mention the attribute enhancements brought by the training itself. "You continue to train at your own pace, don''t mind the others," Helen said. "..." Expressionless, Bai E crawled past above her head, as if he hadn''t heard her at all. He knew that this Academician Helen probably took interest in the training effects under his experience-modified state. However, his experience reserve was nearly depleted; he couldn''t always rely on experience to assist training, only the abilities learned by heart were his true, unexaggerated strength. So... unswayed. Unconventional. Imagine the gap between the two states yourself; anyway, that''s just how I am. Bai E cast aside all distractions, striving to recall the feelings from before. Current simulation completion rate: 99.99%! Current simulation completion rate: 99.999%! Current simulation completion rate: 99.9999%! Without a panel hint, Bai E guessed on his own. Why isn''t it improving? It can''t be maxing out, can it? A slight impatience couldn''t break through the self-imposed blockade; Bai E''s breathing rhythm undulated in sync with his body''s flow. [Current simulation completion rate: 100.1%] ... [Current simulation completion rate: 101.3%] ... "Strange..." Helen tapped her own fair chin with pale fingers, her starry eyes behind her glasses slightly absentminded, "I already told him not to be affected anymore..." Through the thermal imaging in her glasses, she could clearly discern the difference between Bai E''s body now and during his exercise moments ago. "Why so?" Is it that he can''t maintain a stable exercise rhythm? Or did he instinctively choose this training mode? But if it was an instinctive choice, then what inevitable reason lies behind it? Pondering carefully... She concluded¡ª "Does he need rest?" Continually maintaining a high-intensity practice could be too much for the body, just as one needs to jog slowly for a distance after an intense sprint; could this slightly moderated training be a way to nurture the body? After all, if he trained to the point of fainting each time, he would indeed need to be cautious of any potential hidden injuries to his body. Precise! Watching Bai E come down from the course after finishing his training, Helen approached him with a smile at the corner of her mouth, "Could I trouble you to come with me? I need to examine your current physical condition." The general following Helen the whole time, seeing Bai E still looking somewhat puzzled, quickly gave an order, "Soldier 95B27! You must unconditionally comply with this Academician Helen''s orders, understood?" "Yes, Sir!" Bai E responded. "There''s no need..." Helen waved her hand, staring at Bai E''s face while gently smiling and asking, "It''s just a request..." "No problem, Sir!" Bai E replied. ... Watching Bai E follow behind Helen and leave, Tobyn, who had just rested enough and was about to start the second round of training, approached Chavez curiously and asked, "Instructor, what are they going to do? Is the academician going to personally teach Bai E training methods?" To receive the academician''s favor, truly befitting the great Bai E... Find your next read on m_v l|e-NovelFire.net ["Lucky Strike" Energy +1.] "..." Chavez looked at Tobyn strangely. "What did you just call him?" "White E..." Chavez stroked his chin with some gossip, "He named himself that?" Although the appellations that artificial soldiers choose for themselves are varied, this one was especially abstract. "No, that''s what I called him... Don''t you think it''s cool?" "..." Incredible! Tobyn, still curious, watched the retreating figure in the distance. "Instructor, what exactly was he called over for? Is it true that Helen is going to personally teach him training methods?" "..." Recalling what he had just heard, Chavez felt the reality might be the opposite. "Perhaps... possibly... Helen wants to learn training methods from him." "What?" ["Lucky Strike" Energy +2] ... With the equipment running again, Helen obtained Bai E''s body data once more¡ªphysical strength 14, insight 11.4, reflex 11.9. Last time it was¡ªphysical strength 13.5, insight 11.3, reflex 11.4... How long had it been? About a day and a half? An increase of 0.5 in physical strength, an increase of 0.1 in insight, an increase of 0.5 in reflex... What kind of terrifying rate of attribute improvement was this? Could a perfect alien gene awakening achieve such a degree of improvement? A perfect prototype template, but why... did it possess a fatal shortcoming? The mediocre melee combat scores of the 95B27 continued to be a thorn at Helen''s side. As the prototype of the progenitor gene, there must be no weak points in any aspect. The genetic material would undergo countless mutations during inheritance. A prototype must strive for perfection to ensure that any minor mutations in descendants can still inherit the excellent latent potential of the prototype. Gazing at the data, Helen''s eyes were lost in thought. It took a while before she blinked and emerged from her contemplation. The attribute improvement efficiency of 95B27 was frightening, but the effect of his genetic instincts on adjusting body exercise couldn''t be ignored either. Genetic awakening was an individual''s miracle, while the optimized training methods developed during Advanced Physical Training 3.0 were a great discovery that could benefit all. "Now I''m going to attach some small sensors to your body. Don''t worry, they won''t have any effect on you; they''re only for recording specific data during your movements. It''s normal to feel a bit cold and a slight pricking sensation during the process, don''t be alarmed." Bai E nodded, "Okay." He had no room for resistance, and rather than staying fixated, he decided to relax and accept it. Without his shirt on, Bai E''s figure, which looked lean when clothed, was astoundingly proportionate up close. Underneath the tight yet non-bulging muscles seemed to lie an explosive power. Helen''s fingers gently brushed over him, but it felt like an electric current was passing through her own body... A perfect body! "Next... next, I need to attach some sensors there as well." "Oh~" Bai E had no trace of an ambiguous mood, and his expressionless face made Helen, whose cheeks were slightly reddened, gradually settle down her thoughts. [What am I thinking...] Scolding herself silently, Helen focused on working. "All set, you can go back to training now... After you''re done, come back, and I''ll help you take off the sensors," Helen instructed. "Yes, Officer." Stepping outside, Bai E stretched out his hand to feel over the clothes the black round sensors fixed to his skin. The cold touch made him a bit uncomfortable. [You are currently participating in the creation of knowledge¡ªAdvanced Physical Training Version 3.0, Current creation progress is 0.1%. Upon complete participation, you will receive: Knowledge¡ªAdvanced Physical Training Version 3.0; Research Experience +1000 points; Technology points *2.] "..." He never expected his lost combat experience to be compensated through such an unexpected method from another source. Though not a researcher, having some form of compensation was always better than none, hoarding never goes out of style! Chapter 107: 106 Move out at nightfall! Being studied, passive cooperation had suddenly turned into proactive willingness, and Bai E burst into action. Delaying for about twenty minutes was not a big deal; the remaining thirty to forty minutes were enough to complete a simple experience correction training. ¡­ [You have submitted part of the experimental information for "Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0" used in research studies¡ªdevelopment progress of "Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0" has increased by 5%.] "All right, you go ahead," said Helen, turning around after removing the sensors. Dressed, Bai E stood behind, hesitating somewhat. Hearing no movement behind her for quite some time, Helen turned back around, looking at Bai E with curiosity, "What''s wrong? Is there something the matter?" Bai E displayed an appropriately awkward demeanor, "I want¡­ to know the result." The task required his participation in development, which surely didn''t mean just sitting idly by, waiting for an easy win. Helen brushed back a curl from her ear, her smile gentle and warm, "Of course¡­ I just need to analyze the data first, and I might need to ask you for specifics later, so I''ll have to trouble you." "No trouble at all¡­ So, I''ll be going now?" "Go ahead." Watching the door slowly close, the corners of Helen''s mouth gave a slight twitch. At this moment, she seemed more like a living, breathing person... After bidding farewell to Helen, Bai E headed to the canteen for a quick meal and then left the camp under the gradually darkening night sky. He had agreed with the players to take action tonight and needed to be punctual for the appointment. The deserted wilderness was tranquil; the three players inside the dugout spoke softly, as though even in the quiet environment their whispers might be overheard by the entire world. "Can''t complain, having an underground base really does give a sense of security." "Yeah¡­ these past days, napping in the wild has been nerve-wracking." Having operated in this world for a while, their bodies would begin to tire, occasionally feeling a wave of lethargy wash over them. Such weariness was unnerving, whether experienced in the Black Forest or Black Street. Only in this small territory of theirs could they completely relax. The dream of building a perfect base in childhood, never imagined to be realized in this game, made them even more committed to the task of base construction, an integral part of faction development. Joy was always the primary motivator driving their actions. "By the way, has that... Wen Jie been sent in yet?" Gong Yan nodded gently, "He has been sent in, Pu Jie says he found new work on Black Street and doesn''t plan to go to the inner city for now, so he gave his residence permit to him." "Speaking of which, the adult is really kind to him, actually issuing tasks based on his wishes." The tasks Wen Jie received made them envious to tears; not only was he developing in a field he enjoyed, but after completion, he would also receive an additional reward. One of those rewards was even tied to the scarce "Gene Optimization Solution" resource, and they might have to rely on Wen Jie for any "upgrades" they wanted in the future. Dai Lian''s eyes glazed over thoughtfully, mulling over the information, "It must be scarce talents that the organization needs... This game world has underlying logic supporting various developments, and it seems... they don''t perceive us as ''players''." Without names above their heads or strange attire, let alone the NPCs, even when they, the players, gathered together, they couldn''t be sure they would recognize other players. On the forums, there were already players from other places who had started playing large-scale games of Werewolf... "By the way... is it about time?" They hadn''t yet acquired any timekeeping items, and could only rely on the changes of the sun and the moon to gauge time. Dai Lian instinctively looked outside through the open hole¡­ A calm and resolute face was right in the center. "My lord?" "My lord, when did you get here?" Kuang Xin jumped up excitedly. "Just arrived¡­" Bai E stepped aside, letting them climb out one by one, "You''ve done a decent job with the construction~" Although it was just a dugout from underground, Bai E sincerely praised their work. To Bai E, the mere fact that they could create a space of several square meters without it collapsing was already an impressive feat. Dai Lian''s face lifted with confidence, taking credit, "Don''t worry, my lord, leave it to us!" "But it''s difficult to continue expanding further," said Gong Yan, pushing back stray hairs beside her ear, "Preventing collapse and dealing with the excavated dirt and rocks is troublesome, we lack experience, and we need more time to explore." "Hmm¡­" Bai E nodded, "When there''s a chance, I''ll also look for someone to help you. For now... let''s get down to business." My scythe is eager for action! "Please follow us, sir." One of the abandoned sewer exits was not far from the Black Forest, and it was through there that Pu Jie had emerged that day, chasing a group of rats. Now this secret entrance was known to Dai Lian and his two companions. As Dai Lian, leading the way, glanced back from time to time at Bai E''s attire¡ª One needn''t mention the bulging pistols at his waist, but what about the two quivers of arrows on his back? What were they for? Additionally, the black object in his hand, obviously made of metal... Could it be a folding bow? "What do you guys think that is?" Dai Lian murmured softly. "Just ask him..." Kuang Xin said nonchalantly. The sir is one of our own; what''s there to fear? Turning his head, he asked Bai E, "Sir, what''s that you''re holding in your hand?" With a flick of his wrist, Bai E extended the bow with a rapid clicking and whirling sound. "This... compound bow." The raw beauty of the mechanical structure instantly caught the eyes of Dai Lian and Kuang Xin¡ªso cool. Bai E, expressionless, explained casually, "The sewer is a closed and quiet environment; firearms make too much noise. Under these conditions, a bow and arrow is more stealthy." Exactly! That''s spot on, brother! Dai Lian was moved, feeling affirmed by the NPC''s approval of his previous combat strategy. Unfortunately, armed with a hand crossbow, he had to run for his life when facing the charge of a dozen plague rats... While the idea was correct, in the context of this world, the bow and arrow was a weapon so obscure, it couldn''t be more out of favor. Could the sir... actually use it? With these thoughts whirling in his mind, Dai Lian quickened his pace. The four moved swiftly, shuttling quickly through the increasingly dim twilight. Arriving at the entrance, Dai Lian brushed aside the concealing weeds and gestured with his hand to show the way. "This way, sir..." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sewer had been abandoned for years, and the entrance was no longer damp. Instead, the water flow from earlier years had eroded a long trench in front of the entrance, hidden amidst the weeds, its end invisible. Bai E glanced around and then stepped lightly into it. "Clack~" Dai Lian lit the lantern; the dim light source cast the elongated, blurred shadows of the four on the curving walls of the pipe. "We can''t use strong light," Dai Lian explained quietly, his voice echoing softly, making the place seem even more quiet. Although the wilderness at night was quiet too, the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind and the distant sounds of insects and birds provided a kind of comforting white noise. Explore new worlds at m,v l''-NovelFire.net In the sewer, the silence was terrifying. Bai E nodded, not saying much. Dai Lian was reliable in doing things, and if Bai E were to do these things himself, he couldn''t have done them any better. "Sir, we''ll lead the way. Although we haven''t caught the exact hideout of the other party in the past few days, we have figured out their general escape direction. We even came here this afternoon to confirm it, so there should be no mistakes. Also, we''ve received word that the Arbitration Place will take action tonight too." "Good." Bai E had also received 8 points in Stealth and 4 points in Long-Range Weapons Proficiency that afternoon, so he guessed they had made some move. Squeak, squeak, squeak~ Suddenly, a faint sound arose from the end of the pipe at the bend. Bai E''s mind, dark as pitch, lit up like a radar, presenting a structural scan of the nearby environment. The space imagination ability manifested by Insight allowed him to roughly pinpoint the location of the target. [You are using Insight ability to explore the environment¡­] Three of them? "Shh~" Bai E raised his index finger to his lips and then quietly drew an arrow from the quiver. He bent his bow and notched an arrow. "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" Three arrows in quick succession followed one another, each plunging into the darkness ahead. Chapter 108: 107 Unexpected Gains [Arc Shot triggered! Successfully hit the target behind the obstacle, Ranged Weapon Mastery experience +3.] [You have killed the target, combat concluded, earned 3 combat experience points.] [You are attempting to familiarize with combat in the "Dark Environment," having successfully acquired "100 combat experience points" through "combat" under this condition, you can train the Blind Fighting feat. Current progress 3/100.] [Blind Fighting (Level 1): Perceptive performance (hearing) +1 in "Dark Environment".] Pretty good... Indeed, any kind of training could potentially enhance abilities. Bai E waved his hand, signaling that the danger was cleared, and everyone continued to move forward. Dai Lian and the other two peered toward the far end of the dimly lit tunnel''s corner, murmuring their confusion. What was the adult shooting at just now? They carefully advanced with their lanterns held high. No... no... No arrows found. Where did they go? Turning the corner, three plague rats pinned by arrows surprisingly appeared before them. "..." Dai Lian glanced at the arrows on the ground and then turned stiffly to look back at Bai E. "My lord..." Bai E stepped over him, removed the arrows from the rat corpses, shook off the plague rat fluids, and reinserted them into his quiver before nonchalantly saying, "Keep moving." "Gulp~" Kuang Xin swallowed, his thirst for action evident. Both were arc shots, but why does a bow and arrow look so much cooler than a pistol? This silent, cold-blooded assassination is hitting the XP spot! And the distance... Carefully considering the distance from where the arrow was shot, Dai Lian realized it was no shorter than their crude guns'' firing range! "My lord..." "Shush~" Bai E squinted, looking ahead into the dark tunnel. The sound of scurrying drew closer, each footstep on the tunnel wall spreading ripples that vibrated outwards until they reached Bai E''s ears. [You are using your echolocation ability to explore the surroundings...] There are just too many rats in this sewer, right? No sooner had he returned the arrows to his quiver than he drew two more¡ªthis time two at once. Dai Lian could also perceive the distant rustling, but what was more intriguing was right beside him. The lord nocked his bow with two arrows at once. Read latest chapters at m_v-l''e|-NovelFire.net "Swoosh!" The sound of two arrows colliding in flight shot into the darkness. Almost as soon as they were released, Bai E drew another set of arrows, already poised for the next volley. Shoot! Shoot! ... The whistling of the arrows was the only movement in the tunnel, the distant cold-blooded assassination deeply stirring. The three players couldn''t see into the darkness beyond the dim light, but Dai Lian could clearly hear faint movements. But they could see Bai E slowly drawing three arrows. The feeling was hot in his hand. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The last strike, triple shot! "Swoosh!" [Scatter Shot (Triple shot) triggered! Successfully hit a large number of distant small targets, Ranged Weapon Mastery experience +26.] (Stacked) [Attack penetrated the target, dealing 18 piercing damage! Additionally inflicted "Serious Injury" and "Bleeding" status.] [Your attack''s "Bleeding" effect caused 6 points of continuous fatal damage to the target.] [Plague Rat (Mutant): Health 0/24...] [You have completely annihilated the targets, combat concluded, earned 10 combat experience points.] [...Current progress 13/100.] The combat experience was becoming less and less... The three rats just now yielded 3 points, and judging from the information that popped up, he must have shot at least a dozen, but only 10 combat experience points were left. Going forward, the experience he would gain from killing plague rats would likely decrease more and more, until it approaches zero. In this world, the combat experience one could gain from the same type of monster does not seem to refresh over time. As one''s strength or the number of kills increases, the various types of experience that can be gained from the same type of low-level monsters becomes less and less. In the future, this could be the biggest constraint limiting ability improvement. ``` But that''s still far off, and any improvement right now is good¡ª [You have learned "Level 3 Ranged Weapon Specialization" and have obtained 1 potential point.] [Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 3): Shooting accuracy +11%, firing speed +7%, range +300 meters, arc shot (special) +6%, scatter shot level (special) +2.] [Scatter Shot (Level 2): Double shot success rate +60%, triple shot success rate +10%, quadruple shot success rate +1%.] [Current Ranged Weapon Mastery experience 12/1000, mastering "Level 4 Ranged Weapon Specialization" when reaching 1000 points.] Level 3 now... The only regret is that I didn''t learn the so-called "Wind Stabilizer" special attribute bonus before reaching level 3, meaning I missed an opportunity to improve. But nothing in life is perfect, and the level I''ve reached is probably something most native NPCs could never achieve in their lifetime. "Let''s go." Bai E put down the compound bow and stepped forward again, ignoring the three players who were still staring blankly at the spot where he had been standing. "So cool..." "I want to learn..." To behead in silence, and to eliminate an enemy miles away. This is just too freaking cool. Firearms require a cold lock-on, but bows and arrows can pull off the coolest tricks. The impact delivered by an arrow''s arc shot feels incomparable to that of a firearm, and you can even shoot several arrows at once... If you combine multi-shot with arc shot, wouldn''t that look just too damn slick? Whether it''s strong or not is a matter of version, but whether it''s cool or not is for a lifetime. Moreover, with Bai E''s expressiveness with a bow, he''s totally on par with common handguns and rifles. The three who followed Bai E and saw the plague rats pinned to the ground by the arrows, with only a few miss shots here and there, were amazed. "Help me collect the arrows," Bai E instructed softly. A quiver holds 25 arrows, and two quivers are just 50; these had been exchanged for with military merits. If they''re not collected, no one can afford such waste. Plus, after being shot, the arrows often go through small deformations that can slightly decrease shooting accuracy. They need to be maintained after retrieval, which is a hassle... "Sir, we also have hand crossbows," Kuang Xin handed back a bundle of retrieved arrows, taking out his hand crossbow and looking at Bai E with fervent eyes. A clear hint! I want to learn! Last time, Dai Lian learned the arc shot from the master''s gun skills and practically cried with envy. During the days the master was away, when they went out on their own for side jobs, Dai Lian''s brief display of arc shot amazed many players they encountered, hailing him as a pro. Maybe the "Well Trained" trait I have holds higher potential, but in terms of expressiveness, the arc shot is undoubtedly more dazzling. And how can I pass up the opportunity to learn both arc shot and multi-shot at the same time? I want to show off! Dai Lian frowned with reservations. He understood the saying "bites off more than one can chew." They can''t compare to the inborn talents among the NPCs; players need to use their limited resources wisely. The application of ranged weapons isn''t widespread, and in this world, they certainly aren''t as useful as firearms. So is it worth wasting valuable combat/general experience on a fancy but impractical skill? That''s a judgment that needs careful consideration. Torn with hesitation, Dai Lian cautiously asked, "Sir... Archery seems to be a difficult skill to learn and master. Did you spend a lot of time practicing?" Finally can''t hold it in? Bai E''s lips twitched briefly with a fleeting smile. He calmly explained, "It''s hard to achieve more technical enhancements with firearms. When your strength exceeds the limit of your weapon, the extra personal performance doesn''t translate into a significant improvement in your shooting abilities. At that point, the weapon''s performance becomes the limit to your performance. But it''s different with cold weapons..." All these were the words of that Elf Race lady, and such a master''s advice is generally not wrong; Bai E didn''t feel too burdened by leading others astray. As for whether Yue Ying might make mistakes due to her limited perspective... you''re asking me? Bai E''s words struck Dai Lian like a flash of light, bringing instant enlightenment. Got it! One skill for the early game, one for the late game! Then what the heck are we waiting for? Learn it! The better the ability, the more important it is to start learning it early on. Realizing that special attributes will increase with proficiency level, they had already concluded this truth. "Sir! Can you teach us?" "No problem..." Bai E was waiting for this moment; the feeling of being asked is quite different from imposing on others. He could also take the opportunity to mentor, "As members of the organization, it''s our duty to nurture juniors. But this is limited to your current status as temporary members. Once you formally join the organization, you will need to exchange contributions for these lessons. Of course, by then you''ll also be free to choose more abilities that suit you." Temporary members get such benefits, so how could full members get any less? Applaud the understanding! Hmm... seems I''ve also cornered myself in the process. If I don''t learn more, what will I have to teach them later on? ...Just put some pressure on myself, huh~ ``` Chapter 110: 109 I allow it The rat swarm seemed to be following some command, interlinking at the end of the corridor near a pipe opening, weaving together a net resembling a spider''s web made of rats. Bai E''s gaze pierced through the encirclement of rats, making out a faint figure above which floated a line of text only he could see¡ª [???(Human) (Demon Believer) ¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill can drop: Definitely (Fresh Meat*900, Battle Experience 1000 points, Favor: Father''s Love); Possibly (Expertise: Digging Whiz)] "..." How strange¡­ Facing the pressure of being assaulted from three directions at once, the boy''s last line of defense was finally breached. "Why!" The voice was piercing, like a cuckoo bleeding, "Why can''t you give me a way out! What''s wrong with wanting to live! My sister..." The boy, biting his teeth until his gums bled, ultimately succumbed to the urge to vent his despair. He had heard that these Arbitration Place people liked to uproot entirely, and if because of his words their attention shifted to his sister¡­ perhaps she too would suffer a cruel fate. "Don''t force me! Stop pushing me!" The boundary between the high-dimensional and the real was blurring. As the boy''s words fell into disarray, the space behind him had already slipped into a kind of hazy state, with sickly green eyes seemingly about to emerge, and the unique aura of demons starting to brew in the hearts of everyone around. Anyone who believed in demons would become a conduit for the demons to infiltrate reality¡­ "Who said they were going to kill you?" Continue reading at m|v-l''e -NovelFire.net The hazy space abruptly stilled. ??? ??? ??? Franca, a burly man, three players by his side¡­ Glances from three different directions simultaneously locked onto the same figure. The figure, as if oblivious to them, merely continued to speak slowly, "When fate corners you, you can choose any means necessary to survive, even if it''s a crime¡­ Remember, that is not shameful. What''s shameful are those who create these tragedies and then ignore them!" "..." Dai Lian, standing beside Bai E, had a blank look in his eyes. What are you talking about, brother? Didn''t you bring us here to complete the mission and slay the evil? How come after a couple of sentences, you''ve changed your mind? Maybe the boy''s fate does sound a bit tragic, but he''s a demon believer, right? Isn''t it worth checking what he might drop? S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The burly man blocked by two walls of rats glared fiercely, fixated on trying to see who the heretic arriving through the slanted pipe was. The appearance of this faction was not part of their plan, and it even seemed they might now be making enemies with them. However, amid the chaotic movement of countless rat bodies, it was completely impossible to make out the newcomer''s face in the dim reflection of the pipe. As for the aura of Spiritual Energy¡­ the other party had no Spiritual Energy, making it impossible to use as a marker for perception. Identity was naturally unconfirmable. "Covering for a heretic is a capital offense as well!" the burly man declared harshly, his intent to threaten clear. The stunned boy also looked at the third party blocked by the rat swarm, completely bewildered by this sudden turn of events, even forcibly stopping the call of the demon''s invasion. In the dark, he instinctively searched for light, even if it was just a fleeting, illusory shimmer. "He shouldn''t die." Bai E said emotionlessly, declaring his conviction, "He did nothing wrong; he shouldn''t be forced to death by this world." A Demon Believer? Bai E didn''t momentarily see any negative traits of a Demon Believer on the boy. His understanding of this world''s inherent knowledge was still superficial, and he only believed in what he could see. And at this moment, he saw the powerful bullying the weak, the unjust fate of the frail, that this world shouldn''t be like this, he saw¡­ justice and human rights! Were his previous words deceiving the players? Or were they a declaration of the maxims he staunchly upheld? Were his prior actions aimed at gaining the protection of a superior officer? Or were they due to his own heartfelt impulses? Perhaps he was an insignificant figure, but he also had certain stubborn beliefs of his own. "I won''t allow it." I won''t allow this to happen before my eyes. The calm voice resounded with certainty. "You are making yourself an enemy of the Arbitration Place," the burly man''s eyes narrowed, and a chilly aura emanated from him. "I don''t care," Bai E''s gaze passed over the swarm of rats, seeing the burly man with a robust build¡­ and the girl dressed in luxurious attire. He had originally thought that the Arbitration Place was not what he had imagined it to be, but now he realized that the Arbitration Place he thought wasn''t what he thought, turned out to be exactly what he had imagined after all. The things You had found out¡­ were actually correct¡­ "Then I''m sorry, but shielding a heretic makes you complicit in heresy!" The robust man''s tone was slightly calm, but the suppressed murderous intent was icy and overflowing. He had not intended to make a move to temper Franca. But now¡­ "No need!" The tremulous voice interrupted the icy murderous intent, the boy''s eyes shimmering with tears as he smiled in resignation, "Thank you¡­ Even though I don''t know who you are or what your name is, thank you." His only regret was that he had not seen the light of this world, feeling too powerless as he faded away. The moment he saw the light, death didn''t seem scary anymore. "I will go with you," the boy looked towards the side of the burly man, his lips trembling, fearful yet resolute about his choice, "Don''t hurt him." "You don''t need to make a self-sacrificial decision on your own; I can bear the consequences of all your choices," Bai E interrupted the boy with a calm voice, "I promise, I allow, I will¡­ shoulder everything." "¡­" In the deathly quiet corridor, only the rustling of the rat swarm sounded quietly. Who exactly was the other party? Looking at the unclear side corridor, the burly man''s eyes flickered with uncertain suspicion. The boy''s body trembled visibly once more. He was caught in a difficult choice. He certainly knew the consequences of being an enemy of the Arbitration Place; it was just his last struggle before an inevitable death. His evasion was just a resentful outcry against reality. The moment he realized he might involve others, he forcefully overcame his fear of death and willingly embraced it. But now¡­ could there really be hope to live? Could he really protect me? Could he really contend with the Arbitration Place? I haven''t even seen my sister for the last time¡­ Bai E remained silent, leaving the final choice to the boy. If he didn''t have the courage to keep living even like this, there was nothing more he could do. The boy''s footsteps hesitated¡­ "Your actions will get him killed," the robust man narrowed his eyes. The footsteps continued as the boy, with his back to the man, guiltily lowered his head, "I want to live¡­" The rat swarm in front of Bai E silently dispersed, and the boy stepped into the corridor. The burly man''s Spiritual Energy burst forth, but the sound of something slicing through the wind came first. "Whiz!" The arrow, taking a curving path towards the right eye, was swiftly grasped in the middle by the quick-reacting burly man in a state of Spiritual Heart Crossing, his powerful grip twisting and deforming the arrow. However, the next two arrows were almost hidden within the sound of the first, striking from two different trajectories at the temples directly following the first. The sharp arrows flashed with a startling cold light, the attack from the shadows decisive and deadly, with a murderous chill overflowing. "Buzz!" The burst of Spiritual Energy momentarily countered the force of the arrows, and the momentum lost, the arrows finally fell helplessly. "Clang clang clang~" The arrows bounced slightly as they hit the ground, only to be crushed under a heavy foot, "Who the hell is it!" "Hiss!" Not giving the robust man time to ponder, the swarm of rats no longer wove together but fiercely launched an attack without fear of death. Chapter 111: 110 The Little Expert at Digging Holes ``` [Trigger Scatter Shot (Double Shot)! Trigger Arc Strike! Simultaneously triggered two special techniques hitting the target, ranged weapon mastery experience +11.] Bai E slung his bow across his back and strode away, with the boy draped in the gray-brown blanket following closely behind. Gong Yan''s eyes shimmered as she watched several silhouettes disappear into the slightly reflective, blurry light and shadows. Even though they are enemies of the Arbitration Place... Such demeanor, so lovable. And that gentle, calm voice that seemed almost powerful enough to be felt, it seemed so familiar. Such a familiar feeling. "Franca!" A burly man''s voice roared from the adjacent corridor. With a helpless shrug, Franca pulled out her longsword and swung it through the air, making "whoosh whoosh" sounds, "I''ve got my own troubles!" That little rat man wasn''t bad; before I showed too much resolve to exterminate utterly, he didn''t let those old rats attack me... "Hmph!" The surging airflow vibrated the entire pipeline walls with a buzzing tremor as the brawny man with Spiritual Energy burst free from those annoying rats... and turned to run. Chasing an enemy of unknown strength and origin in the dark underground tunnels was clearly not a wise choice. Not to mention, there''s a "mole" among one''s teammates! In this city, there are actually people daring to oppose the Arbitration Place! That''s... quite common, actually. The Divine Arrival Sect''s believers entrenched in the deepest darkness, the Mutual Aid Society organized by mutates unnoticed by ordinary people, the city''s underworld that thinks it can maintain Order... All these unstable elements are potential targets. Taking in a desperate Believer of the E forces... it''s nothing out of the ordinary. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The burly man returned to the surface, his expression combining indignation and anger, "Why didn''t you take action?" Although his experience and strength were greater than Franca''s, her speed was faster. She could have easily broken through the rat horde when they singled her out. Even if she couldn''t detain the enemy, at least by engaging in a close battle, she could have learned some details to track their identity. The young lady Xiao Xiong spread her hands, "For 500 black water coins a month, why should I risk my life? I''m just a temp, Uncle~" "..." It was just that so-called compassion that played a fool. The burly man turned abruptly, clenching a deformed arrow shaft in his hand. At least there was a bit of a clue. Looking like a product of military assembly lines, even if the enemy wasn''t from the military, they were undoubtedly connected to the supply line that flows from the military to the black market. If they want to oppose the Arbitration Place, then it''s time to clean up this shady business once and for all! "No more mercy!" the burly man warned sternly. Franca grinned, cradling the sword sheath in her arms, "My sword is not dull either." "..." ... Under the cover of night, several figures swiftly wove through the jungle''s silhouette, silent all the way. Bai E kept silent, and naturally, the players did not dare to speak out of turn. The turn of events was completely unexpected. When issuing the mission, they talked about exterminating evil without mercy, but now they had rescued the boss leader? And it seems the task... Huh? The progress for investigating the truth is also considered complete? That''s not too bad... Without Bai E in charge, they would likely have found it difficult to fight their way through and step over the bodies of those rats to confront the final boss. It''s just unclear what to do next? ``` Enemy of the Arbitration Place? According to Dai Lian''s consistent thinking, he would definitely side with whoever was stronger or offered more rewards. Loyalty? Nonexistent, do players even have such a thing? But those two fools seemed different... Gazing at the figure leading the way, Gong Yan''s eyes glittered. The silhouette that seemed ready to stand against the world for justice was the hero she aspired to be. Moreover, having such a companion or superior meant that even in desperate circumstances, one could trust him resolutely. Whether it stemmed from reason or emotion, this was undoubtedly a leader worth following. As for benefits... if one only pursued benefits, how would a game differ from reality? The game was ultimately an empty experience, but the process one underwent and pursued within it was the true wealth that could impact one''s life. This life... I''ll entrust it to you. "You''re safe now." Having finally arrived at the underground cave belonging to Li Ming, Bai E turned and spoke to the boy who had followed him down the ladder. The dim glow of the lanterns inside the cave allowed Bai E to clearly see the boy''s pale and handsome face for the first time. Exceptionally handsome, his looks seemed to rival those of a player called Kuang Xin, except his face was covered with fine scratches and scars. Perhaps that was one of the reasons for his tragic fate... the uneducated children''s malice was pure and insane. Just didn''t know why... he looked somewhat familiar? Bai E was certain he had never seen him before. "Next, just hide here," Bai E said, before turning to the players who had come down as well, and asked softly, "And you... can you take care of him?" No mission was given, just a question. If possible, Bai E, of course, would have liked to issue a mission, but sadly, the quota for today''s commissions had all been given out, and the only one left, originally meant for the top student player Zhou Wenjie, was a combat mission unsuitable for the present situation. Such a request without mission rewards implied trouble... "No problem!" Gong Yan responded immediately. Bai E''s gaze flickered slightly, satisfied. Gently patting the head of the boy who reached only up to his chest, Bai E''s lips curved slightly as he said, "I promised to find you some helpers for building a base, and now... he''s arrived." "Huh?" The boy looked up at Bai E''s face, full of confusion, "I..." Bai E gave him a gentle smile, "What, you''re going to tell us that mice can''t dig holes? Or... you don''t have plans to put in the effort to build a home for yourself?" "Home..." The boy murmured softly. Such a distant word. The home with his sister was warm, but there were many things he dared not tell her. Ever since his sister had gone to the barracks, it had been very difficult for him to survive alone in that place. Without those "friends," he would probably have turned into a pile of bones by now. "I''ve picked up many people like you before; you''re neither the first nor the last. You need to build a home for everyone, that is your responsibility," said Bai E in a gentle tone, becoming increasingly adept at deception. "Yes, my lord." The man before him had a resolute and reliable appearance, like a cold sun, spreading light that fell on the soul, cool as moonlight. Continue your saga on m|v-l''e -NovelFire.net The boy looked toward the three players and quietly swore an oath, "I will build a home for everyone..." ["Lucky Strike" charge +5.] Chapter 112: 111 The Pure Pursuit of Idealists This was the second time this had happened... A single person could provide a "lucky strike" skill charge value that surpassed that of multiple people. Was it fanatical worship? Or resolute intent to follow? "Take good care of him, I''m leaving the base to you, I''ll see you tomorrow at noon," Bai E waved his hand and quietly left. In fact, there were still some doubts and concerns that weren''t voiced¡ªlike whether the boy could perfectly control the rat horde, or what kind of connection he had with the demons. What sort of impact would the identity of a demon believer have on his body as well as his mind and actions? But today was not the right time. The restless soul needed temporary warmth to soothe it. He also needed to learn more about demons and their believers through other channels. If the boy''s fate was to plunge into the abyss of destruction due to his contamination with demonic influence, he could only do his best to ensure the boy journeyed through the last part of his life with as few regrets as possible. He could rest forever in a sun-warmed afternoon among the chorus of birds and fragrance of flowers, but he should not fade namelessly into the pitch-black, ice-cold sewers amidst helpless panic and indignation. The people of this world lived a miserable enough existence... they shouldn''t also die a miserable death. ... "The boss has left," Dai Lian, who had taken the initiative to climb to the outside of the cave to see Bai E off, let out a long sigh of relief. When one''s conscience is burdened, it tends to cause some panic. In the games on the screens of the past, Dai Lian could sell out NPCs without even blinking. But in this game of maximum realism, the oppression from such characters was also at its peak. Every time the boss''s gaze swept over him, Dai Lian always had the feeling that all his little schemes were completely seen through. Just a moment ago, the quick-thinking he did indeed entertain some various thoughts. Read new chapters at m_v-l''e|-NovelFire.net As their range of activity grew and he heard more news, he came to know that the Arbitration Place was incredibly powerful and, for the right price, not impossible to sell to. Of course, he didn''t ponder this thought further before it was easily derailed by two fools. But merely having such a thought made standing under the boss''s scrutiny feel as heavy as committing a crime. "He''s gone, so what''s with the sigh of relief?" Kuang Xin asked, noticing something odd about his tone. Dai Lian responded with a wistful tone, "Just now, it was lucky that Yanzi reacted quickly, or we would have been in trouble." Kuang Xin looked confused, uttering a perplexed noise, "...Huh?" "Just now the boss told us to take care of that kid..." Dai Lian glanced downward¡ªthey three players had run up to see off the boss, leaving only that Rat Person hiding alone below¡ª"I hesitated for a moment, but luckily Yanzi answered quickly. Otherwise, I guess the boss wouldn''t have offered to help us build a storehouse." Their path to promotion within the organization would probably have grown distant. It was a test. And luckily, Yanzi''s genuine kindness had inadvertently struck true. But I, who quickly reacted as well, deserve some praise... "Um... Oh right!" Speaking of this matter made Kuang Xin curious, "How did the boss know he could help us dig? Didn''t he also just meet this boss for the first time?" "Who knows..." Dai Lian''s eyes wandered, "Maybe he has other sources of information, but speaking of which, I''m more curious about why the boss suddenly changed his mind? Wasn''t he going to kill him at first?" Gong Yan tilted her head, her eyes slightly trance-like, "Maybe it was after hearing about the boy''s ordeal... Don''t you think it''s just what the boss should do? Otherwise, what kind of organization did we join?" If their leader had not made such a decision at this moment, then what did all those words he preached about the beliefs of the organization mean? Were those just hollow goals touted by hypocrites? Ambitious schemers wielding kindness as weapons in pursuit of their plots? "Such charisma is what it takes to lead an organization filled with idealism, right?" "I suppose..." Dai Lian sounded somewhat melancholic. Remembering the heroic demeanor their leader had displayed when confronting the Arbitration Place... even Dai Lian had to admit that he too needed to steer clear for the time being. This NPC was indeed a bit handsome. ... Bai E quickened his pace back to the military camp, propelled by the rare clarity of the starry night. His actions today had indeed been somewhat impulsive. But what venture doesn''t come with risks? If caution were always useful, there wouldn''t be so many sacrifices in this world. Life and death are dictated by fate. As he delved deeper into this world''s backdrop, Bai E felt his natural instincts gradually being unleashed... of course, it might also be the world''s tech restrictions on artificial human genetics subtly affecting his decision-making¡ª To do what you want to do, to say what you want to say. Only with a clear mind can one live a satisfying life. Biding one''s time is just to accumulate strength, hiding away forever is nothing but cowardice. You only live once, so why not live boldly? [Feedback received from the commission, Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +2.] "..." ? ... The city, like a flickering newborn star, played tug-of-war with his solitary lamp throughout the night. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Standing alone and somewhat lost in the middle of the street, Zhou Wenjie was dazzled by myriad spinning lights pouring into his eyes, feeling like the modern urban streetscape hesitantly guided him back to reality. The inner city... is it really like this? No wonder everyone outside is desperate to get in; just this brightly lit comfort is an unimaginable stability for those outside. Wenjie, curious about everything in this world, walked briskly along the clean streets. He soon realized a problem¡ªwhere should he even begin with the most basic survival? Entering the inner city with empty hands, he had neither acquaintances nor funds. "Hiring for LAN maintenance work, eh! Brother... wanna take a look? On-the-job training, guaranteed to learn." The guy yelling on the street corner late at night didn''t look at all respectable. However, Wenjie, with no prospects in sight, seemed to have little choice. Indeed, as long as he had a foothold, he was confident he could learn anything. "Do you think I can do it?" Wenjie asked, slightly anxious. Apart from an Inner City Residence Permit, he had nothing on him, and he was clueless about the inner city''s situation. "Sure, you''re more than capable!" said the skin-and-bones man with a giggle, "Just by looking at you, brother, I can tell you''re hardworking and down-to-earth! As long as you''re willing to learn, there''ll definitely be no issue!" "Alright..." Wenjie silently tightened his grip on the knife hidden in his bosom, the only weapon Gong Yan had given him for self-defense, "I''ll go with you to have a look." To die was no big deal, but to lose the Inner City Residence Permit that Yanzi had gone to great lengths to obtain for him would be an unforgivable sin. But he couldn''t pass up the opportunity; there was no harm in checking out the situation. The man immediately packed up the mess in his hands and, with eyes darting about like a rat, looked around before tilting his head to signal Wenjie to follow him into a dark alley behind, "Come with me!" Even the most luminous cities have their dark corners untouched by light, and after many twists and turns, Wenjie found himself in a dusty basement led by the other man. With the sound of an air compressor thundering in operation, the flashing light from fan blades offered an unstable source of illumination, and the skinny man had to raise his voice to instruct Wenjie by his ear, "When you get there, don''t touch or look around randomly. Focus on the lesson, and afterwards, you''ll be ready for the job." Wenjie nodded, "Okay." ... [You are learning "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Incomplete)," progress 20%...] ... [You are learning "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Incomplete)," progress 40%...] "There''s not much difference..." Wenjie''s eyes were somewhat glazed over as the principles of this work appeared not much different from that of computer hardware in the real world, resulting in a swift and significant learning progress. [You are learning "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Incomplete)," progress 100%...] "Alright, you can go to work now. Remember, if you don''t know something, you can ask, you can reserve it, don''t fiddle around, anything damaged here will cost more than you can afford!" the supervisor warned sternly. Wenjie looked at the mountains of "electronic waste" piled up in the warehouse and smiled helplessly. Gleaning usable parts from this pile of electronic waste was the job he and the others had to do. So-called maintenance, turned out to be salvaging whatever useful parts remained in this trash... Wenjie guessed he had probably been tricked into some kind of small, shady workshop, but as long as there was an opportunity to improve his skills, it wasn''t a dead end. Casually picking up a circuit board before him, the item''s properties instantly floated before his eyes¡ª [Discarded Electronic Component: Careful dismantling may still yield some usable spare parts... Dismantling will yield: Usable Parts 5~8. Dismantling requirement: Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance.] Just recycling? A glint passed through Wenjie''s eyes; working a lifetime in such a place would hardly give access to truly high-end knowledge. Who would have thought he hadn''t had his fill of computers in reality, and now he had to resume the old trade in the game. Well... if he had to advance this way, then let''s give them a little shock with his existing knowledge. "Hey! What are you daydreaming about? I told you to work, did you hear me?" Wenjie turned to look at the supervisor, smiled faintly at him, then sat down at a workbench not far away. [You are attempting to dismantle...] [You have successfully dismantled the target, obtaining Useful Components*3.] [You have completed an instance of practical Computer Hardware Maintenance, gaining Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +4.] [You are attempting to perfect the Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance, current completion progress 1%, upon full completion you will gain: Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance; Research Experience +1000 points; Science Points*2.] Wenjie lifted his head slightly, smiling knowingly. You exploit my labor for free; I exploit your materials for free... Fair enough. Chapter 113: 112 Wen Jies Crazy Feedback [Feedback from the commission: Your physical fitness +0.1.] [Feedback from the commission: Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +50.] Last night, Bai E''s return to the camp had not attracted any attention, as everyone in the tents slept peacefully. During the day, it wasn''t only Bai E who was striving in his training; they too were training their various abilities in their own ways. When he awoke this morning, the improvements from the task feedback had already appeared on his panel. Looking at his current physical fitness attribute of 14.1, Bai E frowned slightly in concern. As the players'' attributes grew, the rate at which they could increase his fitness started to slow. However, this wasn''t much of an issue, especially considering he was almost at his peak anyway. It was good that his attributes were improving, but the nearing human body limit started to create an invisible sense of urgency in Bai E. Before the Gene Optimization Solution could raise the basic attribute limit of the human body, the upper limit of the average person''s three-dimensional attributes was 15 points. No matter how many difficult missions he assigned to the players, or how much effort they put in, once his attributes hit the ceiling, he could no longer make any progress through his own training or via players'' task feedback. This was the limitation of the human body, the decree of genetics. Without a thorough and direct change in potential through genetic optimization, the 15-point threshold in his three-dimensional attributes would lock the upper bound of his development. Of course, this limitation wasn''t unique to him. Every person living in this world suffered from this worry. That''s why the Gene Optimization Solution was the world''s most scarce and treasured possession. The need for a compatible Gene Optimization Solution was pressing! Before that could happen, however, he couldn''t completely ignore the waste in attributes from task feedback. With only 0.9 points left to reach the full value of his physical attribute, Bai E felt that with his grueling training regimen, he could manage to increase it on his own. Therefore, the subsequent missions he would issue to the players... he had to consider letting them help him "proxy train" the two basic attributes of reflex and insight. Physical fitness was undoubtedly the easiest attribute to improve and showed the fastest results, as the standard military training programs could boost it quickly. However, insight and reflex were different. Though they were useful in many situations, they were not easy to enhance. Even the military camp didn''t have any prescribed routines that claimed to quickly train these two attributes... Maybe he could ask the instructor for some kind of extreme training methods? It wasn''t crucial whether these methods would increase the attributes or not; the main thing was they needed to be extreme. He figured the players would like that. In addition, the surprise from that top student player Zhou Wenjie was even more astonishing. A full 50 points of computer hardware maintenance experience, along with the 2 points he had gained last night, totaled to 52 points. According to the feedback experience halving calculation, the player himself would have already received 104 points of computer hardware maintenance experience. In other words, Zhou Wenjie, through his own efforts, had acquired a complete level 1 Knowledge in just one night. This rate of advancement was terrifying. Truly a top student. He just didn''t know what Zhou did to gain experience so insanely. ¡­ [You have completed a disassembly of the target, acquiring useful parts*4.] [You have completed a computer hardware maintenance practical operation, computer hardware maintenance experience +5.] [You have learned "Level 1 Computer Hardware Maintenance," synchronously gaining a tech point*1.] Experience exclusive tales on mvl [Computer Hardware Maintenance (Level 1): You are familiar with the specific functions of all computer hardware, enabling you to keenly troubleshoot all potential computer hardware faults and expertly disassemble and assemble all related electronic components.] [Current computer hardware maintenance experience 4/300, at 300 points you may master "Level 2 Computer Hardware Maintenance".] [You are attempting to perfect your Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance, current progress 39%, upon completion, you will receive: Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance; Scientific research experience +1000 points; Technology points x2.] "Still not enough." Wen Jie who dismantled machines throughout the night, didn''t even have a moment to drink a sip of water. "Such opportunities to gain experience for free from these materials are rare." Wen Jie''s eyes, although slightly tired, shone with excitement, "Keep going, keep going until I can''t rise any higher, then I''ll give them a surprise that''ll make it all worthwhile." While briefly grabbing discarded parts, his gaze flickered over his colleagues who begged and bickered, half-assing their work, and a hint of contempt flashed across Zhou Wenjie''s eyes. He knew that these people were likely NPCs, but in this incredibly realistic world, even NPCs deserved to be looked down upon. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They were given the chance to practice their skills but did not cherish it, only thinking about using boring protests to fight for so-called freedom. Freedom relies on ability, not on begging. Also trapped in this dark workshop, these people only knew to protest, asking for water, food, rest, and fair treatment. But what they got in return was undoubtedly a round of beatings. In this contrast, Wen Jie, who focused on "working," seemed exceedingly docile. The supervisor, clutching his whip, patrolled around, occasionally leaning in to whisper to one another when slacking off, "How long has he been working continuously?" "Has he taken a nap?" "Don''t know¡­ I dozed off for a bit too." "With him here, our performance looks a lot better¡­ The kid is really obedient." "Should I take him some water... don''t want to tire him out too much." "Bring some food too, it''s rare to see someone as well-behaved." The diligent Wen Jie made even the most ruthless enforcers feel pity. The buff man quietly handed over a small bottle of water and two pieces of broken biscuits wrapped in a paper bag, "Have some water... and eat something to fill your stomach." "Just leave it there." Wen Jie, heedless of anything else, focused solely on raking in the experience. The improvement in understanding that came from the steady increase in experience was like the most tempting poison, capturing all his attention and luring him to indulge in it. "I want water too! I want to eat as well!" A man not far from Wen Jie, seeing the food and water ignored by Wen Jie, turned green with envy and lunged for it. "Go to hell!" The muscular man kicked him away, "You don''t even look at your own work attitude, do you think you deserve the same treatment as¡­ as this little brother?" Fearing that Wen Jie would be frightened, the buff man quickly turned around to shield the pitiful, bloodied man, "Don''t worry, little brother, he doesn''t appreciate kindness. We''re not bad people." "Oh~" Wen Jie responded mechanically, and after a pause, added, "You''re noisy." "¡­ I''ll be quiet, I''ll keep my mouth shut." "Tap, tap, tap," the sound of high heels clinking against metal rang out from the spiral staircase on the side. A sultry female voice echoed in the dusty warehouse, "How''s the progress?" Upon hearing this unexpected voice, the supervisors who had been idly wandering around instantly tensed up, their eyes bulging like bells as they began sweeping around. The whip cracked menacingly as it flew through the air, "Work properly! No slacking off!" The warehouse manager, who was napping in a hidden spot, awoke with a start and jumped to his feet, "Almost done... almost done, Ms. Scorpion." The woman with a terrifying scar crossing over her right eye and her purple dress slit up to the thigh, clad in black stockings, paused on the edge of the halfway-ascended spiral staircase. Her gaze slowly swept over the entire warehouse before settling on a particular spot. There, the useable parts that had been stripped down were piled up into a small mountain¡­ Chapter 114: 113 selection begins Bai E arrived at the training ground early, but Helen, who had been absent all night, seemed to have been waiting there for a while. "There''s some more data that needs to be collected." After analyzing the data, Helen discovered something amiss. The body data collected from Bai E were from his second phase of weight bearing, which is 43 kilograms, while most soldiers start their high-level physical training from the first phase with a 30-kilogram load. Helen instinctively felt that there might be some differences between the different weight-bearing levels. For research to be cautious and comprehensive, under the right conditions, she needed to gather as much evidence as possible. Bai E''s gaze swept over the soldiers who were gradually arriving for assembly, with a noticeable unease in his eyes about disrupting Order. "Don''t worry, I''ve spoken with your instructors. It''s just like yesterday with the sensor attachment; it will be quick, and you''ll be able to make it back for training," Helen reassured him. "Oh~" Stay updated through mvl After attaching the sensors again, Helen specifically instructed, "Remember, just use a 30-kilogram weight this time, understand?" "Understood." Upon hustling back to the training ground, Bai E noticed that the atmosphere was somewhat peculiar. Though everyone was still training diligently, the scent of hormones in the air was quite different from usual. There was an added sense of restraint, a touch more fervor. Although the soldiers usually trained earnestly, the repetition of daily workouts would inevitably lead to feelings of weariness. Artificial humans are natural soldiers and absolute war machines, but fundamentally they cannot escape the category of being human. Being human means feeling tiredness, feeling boredom. Even though they would habitually expend energy in daily training, to say that they give their utmost effort to explore their limits without reservation every single day... that''s not quite realistic. Artificial humans also have their own joys and sorrows, happiness and worries. They ponder about what to eat today, strive for the rewards they want, pursue honors, and might even build small nests under bridges... Today... they seemed a few degrees more earnest, their actions a bit more rigid. Was it because of those two officers wandering around the sidelines? Bai E cast a quick glance, then withdrew his gaze calm and unruffled. Yesterday, Carlos had given him a heads-up, saying that the military camp would soon be selecting a small number of soldiers for a secret mission to explore ruins. He was advised to perform well when the time came. The ones before him were probably the officers responsible for selecting the targets? Exploration of ruins... the goal required by the main mission. "Make a good impression." Drill Sergeant Chavez, the stern-faced instructor, noticed Bai E''s return and stealthily came over. With his back to the two officers, he reminded in almost motionless lips. The grassroots instructors weren''t aware of the specifics, but they understood that such exceptional observation and selection surely meant something favorable was at hand. As for asking for details... seeing how those two officers maintained a careful distance from them, it was evident that strict orders had come from above, leaving no room for leniency. "Understood." Bai E nodded slightly and walked over to start donning his weight-bearing equipment. ... "How come there''s still someone late?" "Lack of seriousness in training attitude, deduct five points." The two officers strictly followed commands, executing them rigidly. Even though they held the same rank as the grassroots instructors in terms of military hierarchy, their responsibilities differed. They simply carried out higher-ranking officers'' orders without understanding the details. "What''s the number?" "95... 95B27, I think." One of them stared vacantly for a while before approximately confirming it after comparing with the photo on his tablet. "...Sounds familiar." "Right... I think so too." "Hey~ who cares, just log it down. Oh, and for the instructor''s lack of supervision, dock ten points." "..." His companion paused briefly, "The instructor gets logged too?" "Log... it?" "Sure, I''ll follow your lead." ... [You are paying in combat experience to correct your training movements... (Consumption: 10 points of experience/min)] [Current simulation completion: 125.0£¥] Heeding Helen''s advice, Bai E followed the guidance of experience to enhance his workout results to the extreme. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He also noticed that under the premise of a 30-kilogram weight, even with the correction from expending experience, he could only increase his completion to 1.25 times that of the instructor''s before he could no longer make any progress. Within the confines of limited conditions, there is a benchmark for the extent to which one can push the body, and this was likely his own benchmark. While utilizing experience to drive the efficiency of his body''s consumption to the limit, Bai E''s progress towards exhaustion naturally far outstripped the others. ... Watching the helpless figure collapse from the obstacle in exhaustion, the two recording officers hissed. "That''s it?" "This is just the level of a clueless new recruit..." The officer responsible for observing advanced physical training can''t ask the teaching instructors for fairness, so they need to have a certain level of judgment. Those capable of holding this duty all have some level of understanding, or may even have been high-level physical training instructors themselves. Right now, that 95B27''s performance is blatantly obvious. You can''t expect to be more efficient than the instructor, can you? The current performance is just like that of the most unskilled and unaware novice who has just started advanced physical training. "Ah, I remember now! Isn''t this the new recruit War God that''s been the hot topic these past few days?" "Seems like the level isn''t that great, huh?" "Who cares... We do our job, just make a note of it." "Mmh... Huh? Who''s that over there?" A figure in a white lab coat suddenly entered the line of sight of the two. "Looks like it''s the Scientific Research Institute''s Helen?" "Why is she here?" "Seems like... she''s looking for that 95B27." "...He''s been taken away!" "I saw it..." "Does he... have some special circumstances?" "Should we ask about it?" "Then, shall we ask?" ... "Now, let''s start compiling the physical performance scores observed by everyone." In the dimly lit conference room, the officer responsible for coordinating those qualified for advanced physical training and currently the only one in the know instructed their subordinates: "Each of you put forward the top ten targets from your scores, and we will consider them collectively." Physical attributes are physical attributes, and physical performance is physical performance. Otherwise, why bother observing when you can just thoughtlessly pull out a bunch of soldiers with full 15-point physical attributes? Under the same attributes, each soldier''s ability to use their attributes can vary significantly, and even under the same physical attributes, there are different types of sub-scores composing the combination. In this mission, would a pure damage sponge be of any use? Obviously not. Suitability for the mission''s objective is far more important. "These are my five." "These are the five I''ve picked out..." The officers responsible for observation each expressed their opinions, sharing their data onto the screen in front of their high commander through the local network. "Commander Griffith, I have a special situation to report." Looking at the subordinate who had stood up, Griffith nodded and replied, "Speak." "We observed a peculiar soldier, his performance... is a bit odd." "Go into detail." "We first noticed him when he was late to training, and when he officially joined, his body''s functional balance deteriorated extremely quickly. Even with the highest consumption rate set by the instructors and a combination of 13 points¡ªthe lowest physical attributes¡ªit was far from what it should be. Plus, the target had just been released as a new artificial recruit from the previous batch, so we judged him to be just a newcomer to advanced physical training with poor performance..." "What''s so special to report about that?" "Isn''t the answer obvious? Your judgment is not wrong." "You had to mention that separately?" The other officers assigned to observation were puzzled and there was a buzz of discussion. Being selected as the target of their observation meant achievements for them. Military merit is what most people in the army pursue. However, the word "special" often is indeed very special. Once it appears, it means it will definitely occupy a spot, and those who realized it was a false alarm expressed their dissatisfaction. "But..." The reporting subordinate waited quietly until the conference room''s discussion subsided, then slowly spoke, revealing the unexpected information they had last obtained, "I heard from their teaching instructors that the soldier''s performance was actually outstanding, surpassing everyone. This was personally confirmed by Helen from the Scientific Research Institute..." The irritable officer didn''t wait to hear everything and interrupted impatiently, "Aren''t we not supposed to contact those teaching instructors?" Teaching instructors and their own soldiers spend day and night together. They might have their own biases, and taking their opinions can easily mislead them. To ensure fairness, they had been strictly ordered not to contact the teaching instructors during the observation process, with violations leading to the deduction of military merit. And now... "Shut up!" Griffith narrowed his eyes and shouted angrily, silencing the conference room. He looked at the subordinate who had stood up to report, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty, "You just said... that soldier is related to Helen?" "Yes." The subordinate nodded slowly, "We saw with our own eyes Helen take him away." "..." Griffith was silent for a moment before pressing his hand down, "Keep your opinions about this soldier on hold for now. I will go to verify with Helen. Everyone else, continue with your reports!" Chapter 115: 114 Helens Second Test [Physical recovery 100%, Rapid Recovery (unlocked) unlock progress 30%.]"Ha~" Bai E suddenly awoke, the occasionally cold touch on his body during his sleep always made him feel as if a blade was gliding over him, creating a sense of danger. This was the first time he actively wanted to wake up from a coma induced by physical exhaustion. "Awake?" Helen, who was sitting at the workbench with her back to Bai E, asked softly without turning her head. "Mhm..." Bai E sat up from the equipment bed and began to dress. Only a pair of big shorts was left on him, Helen had almost completely stripped him... sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Another 270 points of combat experience gone.] The little combat experience that he had just replenished from the players had once again grown wings and flown away, leaving him with only 93 points, which wasn''t even enough for the next training correction. Luckily, there was still general experience to fall back on... Bai E sighed in his heart. To cooperate with Helen''s experiment, he had once again sacrificed combat experience for modifications without having the chance to consolidate the memory in his own body afterward. It felt like a bit of a waste. But fortunately, there was another compensating hope¡ª [You are currently participating in the creation of knowledge¡ªAdvanced Physical Training Version 3.0, current creation progress 5%...] "I go... Training?" Bai E, now dressed, asked quietly. It''s never too late to mend the fold after a sheep is lost. His body''s memory of exercising under extreme conditions was fading away. Bai E could only feel as if ants were crawling over his skin without seizing the opportunity right away. Very urgent... "Don''t be in a hurry." Helen, with her head down working at the desk, beckoned for him to continue waiting without turning back, "Just give me a moment, I need to explain some things to you." "Oh~" It felt like years... After finally dealing with the newly acquired data, Helen spun her chair around and, with legs crossed and leaning against the back of the chair, looked at Bai E, "I''ve preliminarily analyzed your body''s movement under two different weight bearing conditions, and I have some suggestions for you." "Mmm..." Bai E listened attentively, as docile as could be. "At this stage, I think you should stick to using a 30 kg weight as it is sufficient to achieve your training goals. Your physical attribute has already reached 14.1, but until you hit 15 points, the effects of extreme training under a 30 kg weight should be enough for your body to make significant progress with each training session. While you can achieve higher energy consumption with a 43 kg weight, it doesn''t significantly enhance the benefits to your body. In fact, your body may experience a deficit from the excessive consumption in this overloaded state. I''m not sure yet why your body recovers from injuries faster than the average, but if you continue high-load training under a 43 kg weight, your recovery speed won''t keep up with the rate of injury, and chronic injuries will be hard to manage." [You are currently participating in the creation of knowledge¡ªAdvanced Physical Training Version 3.0, current creation progress 12%...] "Oh~" Bai E nodded as if enlightened. No wonder his talent unlocking speed skyrocketed after starting Advanced Physical Training; it wasn''t just a matter of recovering stamina, the high-load training was also invisibly damaging his body. In fact, even if Helen hadn''t suggested it, Bai E was planning on continuing with 30 kg weight training. After all, even though he could achieve a higher level of completion under a 43 kg weight with experience correction, with his own memory, he couldn''t reach that extreme level. It was more appropriate for his current situation to train under 30 kg without exceeding 125% completion. "This is just a suggestion from me, but in addition..." Helen took off her glasses, her naturally charming and slender eyes quietly stared at Bai E. A tiny, delicate mole beneath the right corner of her eye attracted Bai E''s gaze like a black hole, making it hard for him to look away. "I want to ask you something..." The soft, bewitching voice seemed to come from beyond the heavens, ethereal and drifting, echoing in Bai E''s mind. [With the help of "Self-Restraint," you successfully passed a "Psychological Check."] [You have successfully passed a mysticism resistance check, Mysticism +0.1.] Bai E''s eyes were blurry, as if his consciousness had drifted off to another world, he responded subconsciously, "Yes?" "Why do you push yourself to train to such an extent?" Helen looked quietly at Bai E''s face, waiting for the warrior who had created many miracles to answer. Human effort has no standard answer, how much should one strive before it is considered "enough"? Is it enough to surpass peers? Is it enough to surpass instructors? To what extent does surpassing them count as reaching an end? Everyone saw the variety of efforts made by this artificial human recruit, everyone marveled at the performance he had demonstrated, but the motivation that supported him to break the norms in the eyes of others time and time again... nobody cared. But she wanted to know. "Of course, you should do everything to the utmost," Bai E said with an ethereal look and a voice as rigid as still water, "Train earnestly, laugh heartily, cry out loud, and enjoy meals as if each were your last. I cherish every day of life, because the start of each day is the first day of the rest of my life. Unless I am about to die..." Bai E''s pace of speaking was very slow, his words measured and distinct, the slow cadence seemingly underpinning the intention behind all his actions. "..." Helen stared into Bai E''s eyes, silent for a moment, that strange attraction fading slowly with the passage of time. Bai E blinked, as though waking from a profound dream. "Helen... Did I just drift off?" Bai E showed a clearly apologetic expression on his face. Helen smiled, her eyes losing their envious glow, "No, it was me who was distracted." Such a pure artificial human... This is the magnificent miracle expressed by genes under the realm of infinite possibility! "You mentioned before that you wanted to know more about my research, are you interested in hearing about it now?" "Yes," Bai E nodded seriously. He had a clear understanding of his own role, which in this task of developing new knowledge was to "participate in creation." It was definitely Helen''s role to create, his to participate. More precisely, Helen was to conduct the research, and he was to be the subject of it... The only hope of completing this task lay in Helen taking the initiative to impart her knowledge generously. If she kept silent, his presence would be in vain. "Originally I planned to adapt your training method so that everyone could utilize it, but based on current findings, to accomplish this there are mainly two concerns¡ªthe damage to the body is too severe, and the difficulty of personal will and control over one''s body is quite high..." [You are participating in the creation of knowledge¡ªAdvanced Physical Training Version 3.0, current progress 29%...] "Moreover, I''ve found that on you, in fact, a 30-kilogram load is entirely sufficient before reaching a physical condition of 15 points, and the three different load levels previously designated are unnecessary. The training with your 43-kilogram load could be applied to those with physical conditions above 15 points..." [You are participating in the creation of knowledge¡ªAdvanced Physical Training Version 3.0, current progress 46%...] "I need more experimental references with different targets as a comparison with your sample in order to formulate a training method suitable for most warriors, and at that time..." "Thump thump thump~" A knock on the door interrupted Helen''s speech. "Speak." "Teacher... Teacher..." Aer''s gentle voice came from outside the door, "The military has sent someone over claiming that they need to verify something urgent with you, do you have a moment?" Chapter 116: 115 Organize a party "Is there an important matter you need me to verify?" Frowning in thought for a moment, Helen looked at Bai E, "Then you go back and continue your training, I still have some things to handle here.""Hmm..." As Helen watched Bai E leave the room, she didn''t immediately set off. The pressing matters of the military base might not be so urgent for her; organizing her own thoughts was more important. "Was he just... controlled by my Spiritual Energy?" It seemed like it from his behavior, but the expected feedback wasn''t quite there... a strange feeling. Especially since the other party had a precedent for resisting the suppression of Spiritual Energy, she had thought this attempt wouldn''t be so easy... but to her surprise, it succeeded. This success seemed all the more suspicious. But on second thought, this was a private setting, not like the battlefield with its spirit of resolute and fervent will. The other party hadn''t received orders to fight like on the battlefield, and his commanding officer''s orders were probably to cooperate with her research, so being controlled by her Spiritual Energy seemed natural. She had only instinctively sensed an inkling of dissonance. If this soldier''s behavior was as it appeared on the surface, then it was flawlessly perfect, even a miracle of genetic expression; but if it was all an act... Helen suddenly felt a chill. Or... should she test him again next time? After sitting quietly for a while, pondering the data she had just received and all the doubts about testing 95B27, Helen finally rose silently. The officer waiting outside the door did not rush her. "Lead the way." "Yes, ma''am!" ... "Is it necessary to convene a council meeting just for a synthetic warrior? If there''s a controversy, why not just disqualify him? With so many soldiers in the barracks, can''t we manage without one?" Hamilton scanned Carlos across from him, his tone mocking, "But someone disagrees..." Hamilton had no personal opinion regarding those synthetic soldiers created as cannon fodder. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even in his view, the performance of that 95B27 was top-notch; if all the synthetic warriors in the barracks could achieve that level, he would be pleased. But if they wanted to climb the ranks? Sorry... synthetic beings should not have such presumptuous ambitions. Sovereignty of the world should always belong to natural-born humans! Carlos stood tall, full of vigor, "Since we are selecting elites, we should treat everyone fairly. His performance should be judged on objective facts, not on subjective decisions based on personal experience." "Pfft," scoffed Hamilton with disdain, "That sounds nice, but isn''t it just for that little bit of military merit after the success of the military operation?" Everyone knew what Carlos was thinking. He wanted to use the repeated outstanding performance of his synthetic warriors to force them to sign the application for Gene Optimization Solution by throwing it in their face. No matter how biased they were against synthetic soldiers, they could not deny the clear facts of combat achievements and would have to begrudgingly accept them. That was the fairness Carlos sought to achieve. To make such a fuss over a synthetic soldier, the guy must be crazy... "Helen is here." The guard whispered a reminder, and footfalls marked by a tight rhythm entered the conference room. As Helen stepped in, she exhibited no intention of sitting and delaying, standing at the doorway her gaze swept around the room before locking onto Weslin to ask, "What did you want to see me for?" Weslin smiled somewhat ingratiatingly, "You see, we''ve heard that you''ve been conducting some secret research with an artificial human soldier these past few days. Our instructors are a bit puzzled by the performance of that artificial human soldier. As it concerns the performance assessment of every soldier, we need to ensure the utmost fairness. If it''s convenient, I hope you can reveal a bit about the situation." "Assessment?" Helen''s brow furrowed slightly as she considered this a good thing. Regardless of whether Bai E''s inner self matched his outward appearance, based on facts as they presently stood, he deserved the treatment he was due in the barracks. Then, she might as well give him a little push... With that thought, Helen immediately nodded and replied, "Yes, he is indeed helping me with research on physical training programs. The advanced physical training method improved upon by Bai...95B27''s instincts, I believe, has the potential to be extended to all soldiers, which could allow each soldier''s physical attributes to improve more rapidly. Moreover, this training method remains effective even for genetically enhanced soldiers with physical attributes above 15 points, solving our previous issue where higher attributes could only be raised slowly through actual combat. We''re still experimenting with the specific plan, and more detailed information cannot be disclosed at this time." "Advanced physical training?" "Plan improvement?" "Instincts?" These unfamiliar terms somewhat jammed the brains of the officers present. They thought the main point of the meeting was to witness the verbal clashes between the two political factions led by Hamilton and Carlos, yet they did not expect to hear even more explosive news. This was something that could enhance the strength of all soldiers, an absolutely tremendous boon for their military faction. Weslin''s eyes lit up immediately, "How confident are you about this plan?" Helen was exceedingly cautious, "I can''t make any promises for now." "Alright," Weslin nodded, "then thank you for your cooperation, Academician Helen." Helen''s voice was cool, "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving now. There''s a lot of experimental data to process." "No, no more questions... no more questions..." As Helen turned to leave, Weslin suddenly recalled something and hastily called out to retain her, "Oh, Academician Helen, there''s one more thing I wanted to ask." "Speak." "Last time you said that once you''ve finished investigating 95B27''s battlefield performance, you could announce the incident where he saved many soldiers on the battlefield..." Helen''s eyes flicked sideways in hesitation before she responded, "It can be announced now..." After Helen departed, a sense of triumph filled Carlos''s face. Complete victory. "The facts are clear, Soldier 95B27''s capabilities far surpass everyone else, and his physical rating should be ranked first!" "Hmph!" Hamilton snorted coldly, turned his face away, crossed his arms, and remained silent. Weslin clapped his hands, "Let''s consider this matter settled, and continue with the subsequent selection process. Additionally, Logistics Department Head, please arrange a grand evening celebration for the soldiers tonight." The recent battle failure had somewhat dampened the morale of the soldiers; the death of two to three thousand men in the past few days had filled the barracks with an air of mournful despondency. He urgently needed a case to boost morale, and the example of 95B27 undoubtedly stood out most prominently in this campaign. It had been suppressed by Helen before and couldn''t be made public, but now that she had allowed it, it was certainly time to make some noise! Chapter 117: Underground boxing? Not long after leaving Helen''s laboratory, Bai E received an unexpected message¡ª["Lucky Strike" Charge +3.] ??? Where did this come from? Did Helen say something somewhere? I had just left her place, and it seemed that only something involving her could have caused a change. But it wasn''t important, no matter where it came from, a benefit was a benefit, and I would take it. The charge was already at 93 points, only 7 points away from finding another opportunity to pick a target and let loose... This time, I needed to carefully choose. My morning exercise time had already passed while being researched by Helen; after hastily grabbing breakfast in the canteen, Bai E began the second intense and thrilling physical training of the day ahead of schedule. 101%... 125%... 108%... 125%... 115%... S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With Helen''s endorsement, Chavez stopped nitpicking, and my companions became united and friendly. Two hours, along with the early start, was enough for Bai E to complete five exhaustive limit explorations. Even a soldier who had only exchanged a few words with Bai E proactively asked for tips, attempting to learn training methods that even the instructors couldn''t match, but the only advice Bai E, reliant on his bodily instincts, could offer were the following six points¡ª ... [In the midst of strenuous activity, you surpassed your physical limits, Physical+0.1, Reflex+0.1.] My body''s memory was getting closer to the limit burn state under a 30 kg load. Perhaps when I completely catch up to the limit state with the adjustment from experience, based solely on my body''s instincts, that''s when I would acquire a new specialty. Soon... "Instructor." After training, Bai E didn''t leave immediately as usual but went to start a conversation with Chavez. "Hmm?" Chavez, who was recording each soldier''s performance, glanced sideways at Bai E, "What is it?" "I want to ask if there''s any way to quickly improve the Reflexes or Insight attributes?" The military camp only provided regular training for physical fitness, the attribute that was easiest to improve through training. Bai E had not heard of any stable methods to enhance those other two. To assign suitable missions for other players to help me level up, I undoubtedly needed to find the right methods first. Although Bai E was getting to know more people in the camp, Carlos and Helen, who were high-ranking, were not suitable to ask. One clearly had his own agenda, while the other was too complex and might cause trouble. Compared to them, the more straightforward instructor was better to ask for guidance. Upon hearing Bai E''s question, Chavez hesitated a bit. In the brief time, he rapidly searched his memory¡ª Methods to quickly improve Reflex and Insight attributes... "Insight is hard to improve." Chavez rubbed his chin with his right hand, "That thing has been a century-old problem. It can be used everywhere, but if you''re thinking about improving it quickly and stably, there really isn''t any outstanding method right now." Engaging in more real battles, making more use of it, is the only secret. That obviously did not fit with Bai E''s needs. More real battle experiences... who didn''t know that? "As for reflexes..." The usually serious and rigid-faced Chavez suddenly became a bit lecherous, looking around he made sure those two officers, who stayed behind for precision in compiling training data, were away before leaning close to Bai E''s ear and whispering, "Do you know about the underground boxing on the outside world?" "?" Seeing Bai E''s confused face, Chavez remembered, "Oh right, you''ve been ''alive'' for just a few days, probably haven''t been exposed to much. Listen, some of the guys here go to places like that to box for some extra cash when off duty. You''ve got permission to leave the camp anytime, right? If you want to train your reflexes, that''s a good place. It''s all bare-knuckle, in-your-face combat¡ªthose who react slowly get wasted. If you go, remember not to join death matches. There''s no need to take that risk just to train your abilities." "..." Bai E looked at the increasingly excited instructor, feeling as if perhaps something had gone wrong with him. "Does this sound like something a stern and impartial instructor should say?" "How do I join the underground fights?" "Oh¡­ When you get to Black Street, look for a guy nicknamed Black Goat, he''ll take you. Also¡­" At this point, Chavez became more cautious, looking around before carefully pulling out a roll of bills from the pocket on his chest that seemed like plastic paper, "If you happen to go there when a Gladiator known as ''Blood God'' is fighting to the death, bet everything on him, everything on ''Blood God''." This is the life of a natural person¡­ Clutching the money in his hand, Bai E felt somewhat emotional. It seemed that even the most upright instructors couldn''t escape the needs of a normal life. They were simply serving briefly and would ultimately have a day to leave the barracks and a chance to return to normal life. As for myself¡­ does a normal life really exist in this world? Better to take control of your own destiny than to leave it in the hands of others. Clasping the money tightly, Bai E gave Chavez a slight smile, "I got it." "Then I''ll leave it to you," Chavez said, patting Bai E''s shoulder with some delight. "If there''s nothing else, Instructor, I''ll head out first." "Go, go," Chavez, already looking down at the tablet in his hands, continued to dutifully score the performance of all the soldiers. He had also started as a new recruit and had worked his way up, training hard to become an instructor without having to worry about participating in real wars where one fights for life and death. This had become the best position that most natural persons serving in the barracks could attain, and he cherished it. "Yes, sir!" After bidding Chavez farewell, Bai E rushed to the second half of the morning''s training. The various training sessions in the barracks were tightly scheduled, and the endless training seemed to be the only destiny of these soldiers. However, Tiger had mentioned that their "training" was quite different from his own, which was more geared towards new recruits. Going on patrols, standing guard, and small-scale skirmishing with different tribes were tasks that were often assigned. It was just that his own foundation wasn''t solid enough yet, and he wasn''t qualified. When his abilities had improved enough, he would probably be sent out on missions like them. As he pondered, Bai E had already arrived at the general combat training ground, where Instructor Dan had been waiting for quite some time. "Assemble!" Dan''s resonant voice echoed across the field, "Today we have a special situation. I just received notice that we need to select the most exceptional fighters from among you to report upwards. This is an incentive program, and those who are selected will undoubtedly receive a generous military reward. But more importantly, it''s about glory! Glory is the life of us all!" There was a complete silence across the field as everyone awaited Dan''s next words. "I have one spot on my hands¡­ of course, it might also be none¡ªit all depends on your performance. So today''s training is canceled. I have only one demand of you!" Dan raised his right hand and extended his index finger, "A melee! Regardless of consequences! Until you surrender or lose consciousness! Medical personnel are waiting at the edge of the field! The last person standing will get this one and only spot! Do you understand?" The crowd shouted in unison, "Understood!" "Then what are you waiting for?" Dan said coldly as he stepped back. His gaze swept over the soldiers who still seemed to be in a daze before him, and Dan''s eyes hardened. The notice she had received was actually to recommend three, and those recommended still might not necessarily receive the rewards and glory. It was said that they would have to compete with others recommended from different training groups, and this would include all soldiers¡ªeven those stronger veterans from advanced training groups. The likelihood was that any soldier selected from the New Recruit Training Group would simply serve as stepping stones for those veterans. That''s why, instead of choosing three who were destined to be eliminated, it was better to let them fight it out here to determine the strongest. Perhaps then they might stand a chance. This strongest wasn''t about just surviving until the end. If they didn''t have it¡­ then there was no need to go in the first place. "Bang!" Amidst the bewildered fighters, Bai E was the first to throw a punch. Last-minute notice? Fighter selection? The answer was almost clear¡ªit was probably the secret military operation Carlos had hinted at before. And if there was only one spot, Bai E naturally intended to compete for it with all his might. Chapter 118: 117 wins! The warrior who had been attacked looked at Bai E with a face full of grievance and confusion, "Boss?"Bai E''s expression was blank as he pounded another fist into the man''s stomach. If combat skills were lacking, sheer strength was relied upon. With a physical strength of 14.2, he was almost in a league of his own within the Actual Combat Training Group, which tended towards the level of new recruits. The pain made the stalwart warrior, who had been attacked, hunch over like a shrimp; he who had almost completely trusted Bai E never expected that the boss he acknowledged would be the first to strike him. Seizing the opportunity, Bai E''s hand-chop sliced through the swift wind and slammed mercilessly into "Stone''s" nape. "Bang!" The sound of the palm colliding with flesh was muffled but jolted the other warriors out of their daze. [Using melee attacks to incapacitate the target, melee combat mastery experience +3.] The melee had already begun. Bai E was the first to strike, and his first target was "Stone", the first little brother to recognize him as boss during the new recruits'' training. The first strike in the melee, aimed at a close brother. Not for any other reason, but to prevent him from helping himself. The instructor''s words weren''t clear, but the underlying implication was quite obvious. The number of spots could be for one, or it could be zero. Then the answer was self-evident, she didn''t want mediocrity, loafers, or connections... but a hero who could truly rely on his own strength to defeat everyone and stand till the end! If such a person didn''t exist, she''d rather not have any at all. In such a situation, there was nothing more to say. Just do it and it''s done. Bai E didn''t know exactly what kind of ability was needed for covert military operations, but displaying his strength as much as possible according to the instructor''s selection criteria was undoubtedly the most likely way to obtain a spot on the mission. The first punch from Bai E completely unveiled the chaos of the melee, while Dan watched with arms crossed from the sidelines. The one who strikes first undeniably draws the most attention. This 95B27 not only stood out in terms of mentality and physiological functions within the group, but was also astute enough to guess the kind of warrior needed and had the ruthlessness to strike at the companion closest to him first. But... The level was indeed too poor. Being the first to move naturally increased his score in her eyes, but sometimes recklessness is only a hair''s breadth from confidence. The one who stands till the end is naturally the most outstanding hero, while those who get knocked down by wild punches are just simple brutes. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E''s first move undoubtedly made him the biggest threat in the eyes of the other warriors. They attacked him in a surprisingly coordinated effort. [Participation from units exceeding 10, trait¡ªWell-Trained triggered.] [Current enhancement: Block +5£¥, Dodge +3£¥.] With no allies, only enemy units, the additional performance in insight and reflex was not triggered. Bai E was calm; he had foreseen this situation of being surrounded before he even started. Equipped with the Well-Trained trait, he tried to block and dodge amidst the flurries of punches as much as he could, attempting to escape the most dangerous spot at the center. Even the most skilled fighter would first try to get out of a situation where they could be attacked from all sides when facing multiple opponents. Although he was not highly skilled, he still understood this theory. "Bang, bang, bang!" Punches the size of sandbags came flying chaotically from all directions; Bai E''s arms turned into shields but still, two fists were no match for four. Fortunately, his constitution was truly more brutish compared to the others, and as he bulldozed his way outwards, the other warriors engaged in the tumult became his cover, finally allowing him to break free from his initial position. Before he could catch his breath, a wind-breaking fist aimed at the back of his head had already smashed over. "NNND!" An ambush? Bai E quickly spun around with a sweeping kick, momentarily fending off his opponent but still took a glancing blow to his back. ... [Indeed, it''s hopeless...] Observing the chaotic scene before him, Dan felt somewhat powerless. These new recruits, with little training time, were indeed far less capable than the veteran soldiers, and there were none with outstanding talent. They were no match for that Rose treasured by the group next door. Even if she was also a new recruit, the gap between her and the veterans was enormous. Moreover, even that Rose might not necessarily hold an advantage over the veterans in a PK, as this selection focused on current strength, not future potential. As for now, the most outstanding fighter turned out to be the one with the code 95B27. Regrettably, while he possessed sheer brute force, he could only dodge and flee and couldn''t organize an effective counterattack when surrounded. There are three key elements to fighting: offense, footwork, and defense. Only with all three can one be invincible. At the moment, 95B27 had only instinctive defense and offense, and they were scattered. A bit of combat experience, but not much. "Hmm?" Entangled again... In the chaos of battle, fighters occasionally reached a perfect understanding, collectively descending on a soldier at a disadvantage to give a good beating to the weakened foe. This temporary cooperation borne of situational assessment and spontaneous decision-making was not a point of deduction but rather an added edge. Understanding how to work together to defeat an opponent swiftly also made an important part of the assessment in this selection. ... "How''s it going?" Dan was intently observing the performance of his group''s soldiers in the brawl, determined not to miss any moment of brilliance, aiming for complete fairness and impartiality, completely unaware of when a white figure had appeared beside him. "Fellow... scholar?" Dan reacted with slight surprise. "Mm..." Helen nodded lightly, always concerned about Bai E''s innate talent in close combat and keen on his training results in actual combat, "How is 95B27 doing?" The battle on the field was nearing its end, and Helen, who was not a specialist in close combat, could not tell if Bai E''s performance in the tumultuous fight was good or bad. And lying amid the fallen soldiers, only his figure remained standing. Could that be considered decent enough? Dan was somewhat startled to realize that this Scholar from the Scientific Research Institute had a special interest in this artificial human. Discover exclusive content at mvl But it was none of her concern, so she spoke the truth, "Average... His physical fitness far surpasses that of the other soldiers in the group. If only his combat skills were a little sharper, he wouldn''t have to win in such a sorry state as now." Yes, quite disheveled indeed. Bai E''s vision was darkening, his body was covered in purple bruises, and the pain was even worse than the most intense physical training. And yet, his strength had not increased by much. [You maintained clarity in the chaotic fight until the end, combat mastery experience +9.] No actions, just numbers. Luckily... he had won. Bai E looked around and realized there were no more standing figures. His body swayed, and finally, he fell backward abruptly. Dan, anticipating this, moved swiftly and caught Bai E as he fell. Looking down at the warrior sleeping like a baby in his arms, Dan shook his head with a wry smile. Impressive courage and will, but that was about it. Should he give the slot to him? With such strength, competing against other soldiers might just be a vain effort. Or perhaps... it would be good for him to experience the gap? Chapter 119: 118 The Third Temptation [Feedback from the assignment, your physical fitness +0.1.][Feedback from the assignment, Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +28.] [The assignment you posted¡ª"Building Requirements" has been submitted, please review it as soon as possible.]X3 The tips from the panel shimmered lonely in the darkness until Bai E woke up to take notice of them. Wen Jie is too diligent! "You''re awake?" Before him was Helen''s face, so exquisite it dazzled from the first glance. Bai E had gradually become accustomed to the sensation of lying on the cold experimental table. "Your body is recovering quite quickly, and there''s no need for any special treatment from me." "Mm..." Bai E glanced at the panel at the progress of unlocking his talent specialty¡ª 33% now. Having few opportunities to get hurt, his progress in unlocking this particular talent specialty was indeed slow, yet even the unlocked portions had been a great help in his routine training and combat. If it''s not weak when fully unlocked, it should be quite strong. In a moment of cautious silence, Bai E carefully inquired, "If you''re not busy, may I go eat..." "Wait," Helen''s gaze was as calm as water as she focused on Bai E''s eternally impassive expression, "I have a question for you, just a simple inquiry." "Please ask." "Did you utilize your full strength during the combat training?" [Heart requests to accelerate pumping...] [Suppress.] In the span of a heartbeat, Bai E suppressed the panic that surged within. Had this scholar from the Scientific Research Institute discovered something? Fortunately, this time he truly hadn''t held anything back. "I did my best..." Bai E looked directly into her eyes, open and honest. His talent for fighting was never strong, and having reserved all of his experience for advanced physical training and Yue Ying''s archery lessons, he couldn''t just cheat to enhance his level of expertise in combat. He was simply unskilled. Staring into the honesty in the depths of Bai E''s eyes, Helen was a bit distracted. She was willing to believe this fact, yet somewhat reluctant to accept it. Performing poorly in combat specialty meant he lacked the inherent talent to control his body well or to grasp the timing of fights, and an individual with such flaws was ultimately not the perfect seed she was searching for. Rose? Her talent was more all-around, certainly outstanding compared to ordinary artificial humans, but her performance wasn''t as dazzling as Bai E''s, and using her as the seed also felt like something was missing. If she had never seen light, she might have endured the darkness... Driven by her pursuit of the prime body project, for a moment Helen was more inclined to believe that the artificial human before her was hiding something. If it was a case of concealment... "In fact, I would prefer if you were hiding something from me." Helen''s sea-blue eyes quietly observed Bai E, yet unfocused, as though she was looking at the perfect seed she imagined stood behind him, "If that''s the case, I hope you remember one thing¡ªyour actions will define your habits, your habits will define your thoughts, your thoughts will define your faith. It will determine the path of your life. You may hide things from me, but please, do not let down humanity..." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If he was as innocent as he seemed, this statement might as well have gone unsaid; but if he was truly cunning, then these words might bring a sliver of hope to her plans in the future... As for the project itself, let''s put it aside for now... Bai E''s eyes slightly glazed over as if he were trying to commit everything to memory, "I will remember your words." "It''s alright, go have your meal," Helen exhaled a long breath, sealing the dust on her plans, now once again shrouded in silence. "Goodbye, Academician." Bai E saluted one last time, left the lab, and quickly headed toward the canteen. Players were still waiting for him; he had to hurry. Your next journey awaits at mvl ¡­ Gong Yan''s eyes slightly glazed over, recalling the words of the thugs from Black Street. "Miss, it''s not that we doubt anything, it''s just that looking for concrete isn''t free of cost for us, that''s money out of our own pockets. Yet, you haven''t shown us any real feedback, and you''ve kept us in the dark about where the concrete we provided is going, which leaves us uneasy... How about giving us a bit of reassurance? What do you say?" The small figures are cunning and ruthless, and like barefoot children, they have a singular focus and determination. Shadowing, probing... In just two days, for the sake of that concrete, Gong Yan and her adversaries had spun a tale reminiscent of a cop drama. The lies she spun in desperation to escape had now entangled her with them, making it difficult to break free. Even if she didn''t need their concrete, as long as she needed to resupply from Black Street, she couldn''t avoid dealing with them. "Not giving them an explanation definitely won''t work anymore," agreed Dai Lian, nodding his head at Gong Yan''s concern. "But we only have a little over 100 bullets at hand; is that useful?" The bullets won from previous tasks had almost all been exchanged, leaving just over twenty, and the 105 bullets rewarded from the concrete task after the grown-up''s return were still in their possession, adding up to just over a hundred in total. Kuang Xin felt that, as a bluff linked to the military area, a mere 100 bullets seemed childish and probably wouldn''t be enough to hold the others at bay. "How about setting up a battlefield in advance and finishing them off?" suggested Dai Lian, a fierce look flashing in his eyes. Playing games, after all, should be done with a smile. To be threatened by an NPC? "But that way we''d also lose our supply of concrete... and it''s dangerous," Gong Yan was reluctant. She preferred strategizing over the brute force loved by other players, and this brought her joy. "If only we had more bullets..." Gong Yan''s eyes glazed over as she pondered the possibilities with the resources and information at hand, "We''ll see¡­" "The grown-up is here..." Gong Yan quickly nudged Kuang Xin''s leg, "Give the clothes to the grown-up." Kuang Xin, as if awakening from a dream, turned to get the clothes from the cave, "Oh right~" As Bai E approached step by step, Kuang Xin didn''t forget to murmur, "Why do I have to do it?" Dai Lian barely moved his lips as he rebuked, "Just do it if you''re told, no more nonsense." "Oh~" Seeing the three waiting, Bai E immediately smiled and asked, "Where''s the boy?" "Below, he doesn''t dare to show his face," Kuang Xin was the first to reply, meanwhile, holding the clothes forward, "Grown-up, it''s not very convenient for you to move around in military attire, so we''ve prepared a set of clothes for you. Would you try them on?" The military uniform might not necessarily have a logo, but it was visibly different from civilian clothing, too easily noticeable. Bai E raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the three faces before him, yet he readily accepted. "I''ll try them on later." Saying so, he headed towards the entrance of the cave below; he needed to see the boy first and then decide on some arrangements that needed to be made today. Chapter 120: 119 Sociology +3 "Wow! Quite spacious, isn''t it?"The sight of the cave in front of him surprised Bai E; primitive wooden beams were placed at equal intervals to support the structure and prevent collapse, with at least twenty square meters of space, which felt much less cramped than the previous night. Was it all the work of the little mouse people alone? The players must have also helped to some extent. The progress had indeed quickened significantly, so it was time to give them some confidence... Construction tasks are supposed to reward based on progress made... How much progress there is could still be up to him to decide, so he should settle part of their rewards first. "You did very well." Bai E nodded, his face showing obvious satisfaction. [Side Mission¡ªBuilding a Warehouse (Construction Commission), progress increased.] [Mission Reward (Stage): "Faction (Li Ming) Official Member" status unlocked.] X3 sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "!!!" The players who followed Bai E down into the cavern were jolted when they received this notification, turning to look at each other with visible surprise in their eyes. Working on a construction task day after day without immediate feedback was very different from the game''s other immediate feedback mechanisms, which could sometimes be demotivating. Now... As official members, they should finally be able to see what items the Faction Shop had available for exchange. They had sweated and bled for Li Ming, all for a bit of the organization''s special resources. Most of their efforts and the bloodshed were indeed due to the tasks at hand, but that wasn''t important! Let''s see... [Heavy Weapon Specialization Training, Price¡ªBasic Instruction: 20 Faction Contribution Points.] [Light Firearms Specialization Training, Price¡ªBasic Instruction: 20 Faction Contribution Points; Advanced Instruction: 30 Faction Contribution Points.] [Ranged Weapon Specialization Training, Price¡ªBasic Instruction: 20 Faction Contribution Points; Advanced Instruction: 30 Faction Contribution Points; Master Instruction: 50 Faction Contribution Points.] [Firearms Maintenance, Price¡ªBasic Instruction: 25 Faction Contribution Points.] [Bandaging (First Aid) Training, Price¡ªBasic Instruction: 25 Faction Contribution Points; Master Instruction: 40 Faction Contribution Points.] [Unlocking the next tier of exchangeable items is contingent on unlocking any item from the current tier, please look forward to it...] "..." "How come there are better and worse options?" The three players'' puzzled gazes fell on Bai E, waiting for the final arbiter to speak. "The organization''s manpower is limited for now, so the choices we can offer are also limited. But rest assured, as you get more involved with the organization, your privileges will also increase." Bai E was quite pleased with the shop rules he had painstakingly crafted during his downtime. "Oh~" The three players nodded, half-understanding. In their eyes, no matter how human the characters in the game seemed, they weren''t real people. These mechanisms surely couldn''t be determined by NPCs deciding whatever they wanted, right? It must be the system in the background, integrating the services the organization could currently provide, along with the level of trust, human resources, and other information, to present them with such a Faction Shop panel. There''s nothing to be gained from contending with such a rigid system setup; one simply has to play by its rules. Moreover, it seems... that as temporary members, they made quite a profit from those teachings from the bureau, didn''t they? Having been in this world for some time, they were aware that the NPCs of this world treated various skills and knowledge as precious and did not impart them lightly. So, this was indeed a significant gain. If only they had known, they would have unlocked their official membership later... Not just the players, Bai E too found it odd. Enjoy exclusive content from mvl Watching the information alerts that popped up on the panel the moment the official faction membership was granted, he was also bewildered. [As the leader of the faction, the bond between you and your organization members has been strengthened. Sociology +3] [Sociology +3: The population under your jurisdiction feels greater recognition of your identity, task delegation authority contents enhanced¡ª¡ªbasic combat task single delegation customary experience quota authority increased to: 50~200 points, daily delegation customary experience quota authority increased to: 50~700 points; basic resource task single delegation quota authority added: research experience 0~50 points, daily delegation quota authority added: research experience 0~150 points. (Effective from the issuance of new tasks.)] "..." An unanticipated path. The new complications were somewhat beyond Bai E''s expectations, but they had no impact on the implementation of the established plan. He needed to first assess the threat of the boy, which was crucial to his subsequent arrangements for the tasks assigned to players. Bai E''s expression remained unchanged as he instructed the three players who had just come down, "You go up and keep watch first; I have something to discuss with him alone." Wrapped in a yellow-brown cloth resembling a hemp blanket, the weary boy seemed to have shrunk into a corner after a night of exhaustion, with his nostrils gently flaring in tranquil and comfortable sleep. Even the not-so-quiet conversation between Bai E and the three players had not awakened the child who had suffered so much hardship. In his days of anxiety, this seemed to be his most peaceful night of sleep... since his sister had left. "Yes, my lord!" Dai Lian took the lead in responding. The recently unlocked official faction membership had him excited, and the prospect of more expansive aspirations for the organization seemed within reach. "What does the lord want to talk to him about?" Kuang Xin, who had climbed up last to the surface, asked with some curiosity. Dai Lian glanced at him disdainfully. Having known each other for a while and becoming familiar, their speech also became more straightforward, "Why don''t you go eavesdrop?" "Aren''t you curious?" Gong Yan, who had silently pulled up the disguise covering the underground hole, smiled and said, "What''s there to be curious about? The lord is worried about the trouble that fernandi might bring later on. Naturally, he needs to ensure there are no hidden dangers." "Yanzi is the smart one," Dai Lian said with admiration, then shifted the topic to what he cared about most, "It seems we need to speed up the construction of the storage building with the ratmen to boost our faction contribution points and unlock subsequent exchange items." "You''re in a hurry to unlock it even though you don''t know what comes next?" Kuang Xin seized the opportunity to retort. "The wisdom of mortals," Dai Lian scoffed, "Do you remember how you got that trait of yours?" Kuang Xin envied Dai Lian''s ability to show off with his curve gun, but Dai Lian also coveted Kuang Xin''s "Well-Trained" trait for its substantial boost to combat effectiveness in melee fighting. This high-level ability was clearly not taught by the lord deliberately, but this lucky guy, blessed by the system''s favor, had learned it effortlessly from the slimmest of chances without paying any price. And one could foresee that not just "Well-Trained," but other equivalent high-level abilities awaited discovery and unlocking. This kind of blind box-like game exploration that could occasionally yield surprises was adept at stirring players'' curiosity. Not to mention that even the basic exchange items were very much worth redeeming. The dignity of the lord repelling the Arbitration Place personnel with three arrows was vividly etched in their minds, thoroughly awe-inspiring! Chapter 121: 120 apply for power leveling "Good afternoon."After the players had left, Bai E approached the boy. The movement of the boy''s feet was slight, indicating he was actually awake. "Sir¡­" The boy who had woken up gazed at the tip of Bai E''s foot under the dim light inside the cave, calling out with a touch of awe. He had already learned of the "sir''s" real identity from the three seemingly amiable people with whom he had built a home last night. The leader of an organization. What a significant figure was that? When could Fernandi ever hope to meet such a high-ranking person? It filled him with reverence. "There''s no need to be formal." Bai E smiled, squatting down and speaking as softly as possible, "I''ve come today because I have a few questions for you." S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After returning last night, he had also inquired the more experienced ones like Tiger about the affairs of the demon believers and was surprised to find out that the believers of the eternal were the most mild-mannered among all demon believers, except for... the uncontrollable plague that they naturally emitted. The plague was often what exposed their sins and caused disaster. Apart from that, "the eternal" and its great demon seemed to have little interest in taking action; this faction of demons¡­ seemed more like recluses indifferent to worldly matters. "You¡­ you may ask." Bai E scrutinized the boy''s eyes, coffee-colored, clear and translucent like amber, "Since you''re associated with a demon, we must eliminate all potential threats, and you should understand this." "Yes." "Yesterday, the people from Arbitration Place said you can''t perfectly control those rats, is that true?" "Yes." "Can you¡­ give them up?" Imperfect control meant harm to others as well as oneself. It would harm normal people and also reveal the boy''s whereabouts due to his unconscious actions. Probably, Arbitration Place, including Dai Lian, had tracked the boy using this method before. On hearing Bai E''s words, the boy hesitated slightly but then heaved a light sigh, "They were with me when I was most desperate¡­" "¡­" Bai E remained silent; he never forced anyone to make any decision. "¡­but I''m aware that it''s just me anthropomorphizing them with affection. They have gone completely mad due to the plague from my body." The boy raised his head, looking earnestly into Bai E''s eyes, "If possible, I hope you can eradicate them soon, so they won''t trouble everyone anymore." [Believers of the eternal are not afraid of illness but will spread the plague involuntarily¡­] The nature of the plague varied from person to person, each case different. Bai E nodded, "I will have them take care of it. Now for the second point, will you continue to infect new rats or say¡­ other creatures? And will those already infected rats come seeking you out?" The boy lowered his head again, his voice somewhat muffled, "It seems any creature with less reasoning can be influenced by me unconsciously, but humans won''t. As for those already infected¡­ I can only try to contract my presence to prevent being sensed by ''them''." "Can you isolate the spread of this plague?" "I can''t control it, unless one stays away from me." The boy said, stretching out his hand to caress the earthen stones on the wall behind him, "If I hide here, there should be no more chances of coming into contact with other creatures..." "Alright¡­ one last thing." Bai E''s tone became slightly more somber, "About you. What impact does the demon have on you? I believe you are currently led by your own will, but might there come a day when the demon uses your body to destroy this world?" "I can feel it..." The boy looked down, his eyes distant, "But it''s all hazy. Even if I tried to summon it to rid me of all fate, it seems difficult. The anomalies in the sewer were already my utmost effort. It''s like it just generously bestowed a tiny bit of merciful blessing on me and then left like a loving father asking for nothing in return. I think it''s unlikely that such a day will come." With that, the boy suddenly looked up, his gaze earnestly meeting Bai E''s, "Leader sir, please, you must promise me one thing." "Go ahead." "If such a day does come, if I truly become a threat to everyone, if I can no longer control myself... I hope, you will take action to kill me! Do not hesitate, do not show mercy. I am already content to have built a home for myself here with you, even if just for one day..." "¡­" Bai E touched his head, smiling indulgently, "There won''t be such a day, rest assured. Someone once told me willpower can penetrate the hardest stone. She''s an expert on demons, and she also told me, behavior determines habits, habits determine thoughts, thoughts determine belief. And belief will decide the path of your life. There''s nothing wrong with being a chosen of the demon, what you do later is for you to decide." The random blessing from the Evil God turns out to be a plague that doesn''t directly affect others, which is rather lucky for the boy. Standing up, Bai E called out to the outside, "Come down." Since it had been confirmed that the boy would not suffer severe consequences, the plans for the next steps could be made¡ª [Side Quest¡ªThe True Culprit Behind The Scenes (Combat Assignment) has encountered an unexpected change, the quest progress has been altered, and the current quest requirements have been met.] [Side Quest¡ªThe True Culprit Behind The Scenes, completed.] [Quest Reward: General Experience +100, Precise Brass Bullets *130, distributed.] The three players who just came down were bewildered upon receiving the notification. The quest is settled? Hooray! The gleaming brass bullets in their perceptual quest inventory appeared as a settling screen raining down from the sky, clinking and clattering in a way that filled them with a pleasant sense of reward. This quest... it had bogged them down for two or three days! They had finally completed it! Continue your journey on mvl Long live the adult! "Even though the previous stage of the quest is completed, you can''t relax yet. The rats left by Fernandi still pose an unimaginable threat to the residents'' lives. I just don''t wish for people to continuously associate the rats with Fernandi, so next up, you are still tasked with eradicating those creatures that have lost all sense of reason." Bai E spoke gravely, starting to arrange the assignment. [Assigning Task Description in Progress¡­] [Side Quest¡ªRat Plague Cleanup (Combat Assignment): Although the aimless swarm of rats needs to be cleared out, to prepare for potentially even greater crises in the future, your personal strength also needs to be honed. Quest Requirements: Slay 0/(20~100) plague rats in the "Dark Environment." Quest Reward: General Experience 50~200 points, Item Reward (to be determined).] (Note: Physical submission is required for this task, and the current assignment cannot be "auto-completed" but must be "verified and completed"; after confirming dispatch of the assignment, "permissions" and "expenditures" will be deducted and locked.) [Would you like to issue the current assignment?] With additional authorization for general experience, Bai E decided to slightly reduce the physical rewards, reverting to the previous level given for wolf killings. After all, watching the bullets being used so freely did hurt his feelings¡ªthey were his personal assets. Therefore¡­ [Settings¡ªQuest Requirements: Kill 100 plague rats; Quest Rewards: General Experience 200 points, Precise Brass Bullets 15+8.] Job well done! Dai Lian, who received the task, was clearly puzzled. One of the terms in the task caught his eye, "In the Dark Environment?" "Yes..." Bai E kept a straight face without revealing any emotion, "Your actions are best carried out in the shadows to prevent tracing back Fernandi''s presence here." That was one of the reasons, but a more important one was obviously for his own benefit. Given the choice to clear out the rat plague, Bai E would rather create a new assignment. First, to give the players more experience so they would qualify to be harvested by himself, and second, to adjust the quest requirements a bit. His own shortcoming, insight¡ªthe attribute Bai E kept firmly in mind. What better than combat in a Dark Environment to hone this skill? When else to have players grind on his behalf if not by finding opportunities to issue quests? By relying solely on himself? Spare me. "But¡­" Seeing his two teammates'' thrilled expressions, Kuang Xin''s eyes were filled with confusion. Why hadn''t he received the quest? "My lord, what about me?" Chapter 122: 121 Psychology +1 (Extra update for monthly pass) "You have other arrangements."Bai E was acutely aware of his current shortcomings. To improve his insight level, he relied on Dai Lian and Gong Yan to hunt rats in the sewers; for reflexes and combat skills, he depended on Kuang Xin, a naturally gifted melee fighter. Based on Instructor Dan''s requirements today, the selection criteria for the secret military operation were combat skills. Knowing that he was lacking in this area, Bai E truly wanted to enhance his skills. Working hard on his own was too slow. Players, you need to put in the effort too! [Quest description is being auto-generated...] [Side Mission¡ªUnderground Boxing King (Combat Commission): The dark currents of Black Street surge, with the most attention-grabbing undoubtedly being the underground boxing matches that attract both eyes and money. The organization needs to understand the inner workings and has decided to send someone to investigate. The best way to do that, undoubtedly, is to blend in with them...] Mission requirements: Complete at least 0/3 bouts in "Black Street Underground Boxing"; or secure at least 0/1 victory. Mission reward: 200 general experience points, Item reward: Exquisite Brass Bullets* (25+12).] (Note: As there is a physical submission stage, the current commission cannot be "automatically completed" and must be "verification completed"; after confirming the release of the commission, "permissions" and "expenditures" will be deducted and locked.) [Do you want to release this commission?] Confirm! "200 experience points!" Kuang Xin trembled at the sight of the mission reward. No wonder Yanzi and Dai looked so excited just now¡ªthey had never enjoyed such treatment from other NPCs. 25 or 50 points were common, but previously a stable 100 general experience points from E had already made him feel like a big shot, but now... 200! Skyrocket! "I will not let you down!" "Hmm..." Bai E''s gaze finally swept around the underground cave one last time. What started as an unpremeditated act now seemed to be on the rise. In the end, he might actually be able to create a fully functional, safe, and stable underground base... "I''m leaving now." "Goodbye, E~" "Oh, right..." Just as he reached the ladder, Bai E turned around and, pointing at the clothes he had neatly stacked in a dry corner, said with a smile, "I''ve tried the clothes. They fit perfectly. Thank you for the gesture." Gong Yan, with her little face raised, just smiled and said, "It''s nothing, E. It''s just our small way of showing gratitude." "..." "I''m off." As they watched E''s figure disappear into the distance, Gong Yan remained smiling. It was only after a while that she softly said, "We''ve got bullets." Explore more at mvl Just when needed, the pillow arrives. They originally had 131 bullets; completing today''s six tasks together, they received 114 from the cement task and 390 from the rat-plague task, totaling 635 bullets. 100 or so bullets, whether odd or even, might be hard to convince others, but with a full 600 bullets, Gong Yan was confident she could persuade those NPCs to work for her without charge again. They still had value to her, and without them, it would indeed be troublesome to find cement on their own, so there was no rush to take them out of the equation yet. When they were no longer of any use... "I''m a little afraid of losing them..." Gong Yan, holding the hefty 600 bullets, appeared somewhat worried, "What if they still don''t believe me?" "No worries." Dai Lian comforted her gently, "We''re here for you. If they still don''t believe, we''ll deal with them directly!" As for the missions... they were bonus. Without these NPCs, they could find other methods. In Dai Lian''s view, the game was full of possibilities. "Alright." Gong Yan nodded, smiling brightly, "Then I''ll give it a try." ... "This is the confidence you wanted." Gong Yan casually threw a cloth bag filled with bullets in front of Black Street ruffian, Jonathan, and it landed heavily on the ground. The underling eagerly approached and opened it, the golden shine instantly blinding his dog eyes. Jonathan excitedly grabbed a handful and examined each one closely in front of his eyes, "Real... real... all of them are real! They feel even better than the stuff they got!" In his excitement, Jonathan suddenly paused and hurriedly put down the bullets, walking back respectfully towards Gong Yan, who leaned against the wall not far away with a slight smile and arms folded. "My lord... is this all there is?" "You wanted trust, and I''ve given it to you, but you haven''t earned my trust yet. 600 not enough? I''ll give you 10,000, 20,000, 100,000? Can you handle that?" "..." Jonathan''s face was plastered with a smile, "You''re right, my lord, you''re right... In that case, how does my lord wish to deal with this batch?" "Money," Gong Yan declared firmly, "You can take five percent." It was too suspicious for these people to exchange pristine bullets for poor quality ones; better to exchange for money. Whatever they needed, they could purchase on their own without suffering a loss. He and Dai Lian were not Kuang Xin. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving now. I don''t want to be seen mingling with you lot." "My lord, take care..." Jonathan bowed deeply, oozing sycophancy, "Oh, I almost forgot. We''ve prepared a gift to celebrate your triumphant return from the last military operation. Could you possibly deliver it for us?" As Gong Yan turned away, her eyes flickered and she smirked coldly, "The operation was a failure, and the camp is on high alert these days, don''t bring trouble upon yourself!" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes! Yes..." Only after Gong Yan''s delicate figure had disappeared around the corner did the underling draw close to Jonathan, eyeing the bullets with greed, "Boss... what if we keep them all for ourselves?" A rough knock on the underling''s head answered him, "Shortsighted! This is just an appetizer; what''s the rush!" Watching as the figure disappeared at the end of the street, Jonathan stroked his golden mustache in a daze, "So certain about the failed operation, it must be true... But, they still don''t trust our strength?" Indeed, he didn''t trust his own strength much either. Well... let''s test our skills with these 600 bullets first! Nobles and generals, is there not a natural order! With military support behind me, I could very well have the potential to be the king of Black Street! [You have completed a perfect psychological operation, Psychology +2.] [Psychology +2: Now you can more easily gain the trust of strange NPCs through your words. Charisma performance +2; also gaining a unique advantage in power management and certain technological research.] ... [Feedback from a commission, your Technology¡ªPsychology +1.] [Psychology +1: Now you have won the trust of a larger population under your control, allowing you to pre-deploy more tasks. The same type of commission can be stacked one more time, consuming relative authority quota on the second natural day.] "..." Bai E had just returned to the camp when he received this message. Is this... from Dai Lian? Or Gong Yan? Seems I''ve been conning NPCs pretty well. Worth encouraging, keep up the good work. Grow bigger, create more glory! "Bai E, Bai E! Come on!" Just as Bai E set foot on the shooting range to practice his archery, he was quickly intercepted by an excited Carlos, "Here you are! That secret military operation selection I told you about¡ªthey''re considering shooting skills now. Go try out!" Chapter 123: 122 Side Quest - Advanced Shooting "I heard from Helen that your physical fitness has already exceeded 14 points, right?" Carlos asked hurriedly as he led the way."Hmm." "Then you should go get a machine gun first." Bai E had always used the beginner''s Type 77 rifle; higher-grade machine guns are more powerful but also require more physical control. The minimum requirement to use the machine gun''s burst mode is also a 14-point physical attribute. Having only trained for three days, Bai E had not undergone a detailed physical examination. Even if he had, with a physical attribute of only 13.7 points at the time, he was still a bit short of the minimum requirement of 14 points. It''s always better to stick with what''s familiar, so he did not change his equipment when he went to the Bug Race battlefield. Now that he knew, the first thing he certainly had to do was to change his equipment. He could also switch to a more powerful Desert Eagle for his handgun. The Blade machine gun that he had only personally fired during the new soldier talent test was finally in his hand, and the sensation of holding something much heavier than a rifle was reassuring. "You go get familiar with the new equipment first, and then I''ll take you to participate in the selection," Carlos said, clearly very concerned about Bai E, the synth. "Alright." "Pupu pupu." The sound of the machine gun burst was more brisk and muffled, effortlessly leaving... a bullet hole on the distant 200 meter target. Carlos gazed closely and saw that there was only one hole at the bullseye that allowed the light from behind the target to pass through. Not bad in terms of precision. "That''s it, go try, go try!" Carlos was visibly more enthusiastic about sending Bai E on a covert military operation. As Bai E approached the specialized test range, he could hear the roar of machine guns from a distance. The moment he stepped through the gate, the muscles of countless burly men immediately stood out before him. The number wasn''t particularly high, probably less than a hundred, but... All burly men! Almost every figure that was carrying and firing a machine gun in the crowd lining up next to it was built; they all had the same uniform machine guns in their hands. Those who weren''t qualified to use the Blade machine gun in burst mode didn''t even have the eligibility to participate in the selection. Bai E deliberately summoned the "lucky hit" rate panel that belonged to him¡ª They were all at least third-level or even fourth or fifth-level Light Firearms Specialization, and almost all of them had the "Firepower Suppression" skill, just like Song Ying. Clearly, as a member of a special forces team, Song Ying was not unique in this military camp; he was just the common face among countless machine gunners. Maybe in terms of all-around abilities, he had something special, but in shooting... everyone''s abilities were almost the same. Especially one muscular man dual-wielding machine guns appeared to be exceptionally showy. The pressure was quite big. Bai E felt his palms begin to sweat, and since it was not a critical moment, he did not suppress his body''s natural emotions. "Go on, it''s okay. Although they are veterans, your abilities are not inferior to theirs," Carlos reassured Bai E, patting him on the back: "It''s just a display of ability. The final selection still depends on the comprehensive score, and shooting ability is just a part of it." Enjoy more content from §Þ?? "Alright~" Bai E, carrying the machine gun, went to the end of the queuing line and waited quietly. The capability test on the field was nothing more than burst firing at moving targets, except it was more continuous than the shooting training before, and not limited to the air, targets could appear from all directions. It also did not require hitting all targets without wasting any bullets; as long as each target was hit the required number of times within its appearance time limit, it was considered a completion. What Carlos said sounded easy, but to actually perform it, judging the order of the targets'' appearance in rapid succession and determining instantly the different hit counts required for each target, as well as their paths of motion... it was still quite difficult. To maintain continuous shooting while also retaining the ability to make reasoned decisions and a certain degree of precision, that''s probably the capability this selection wanted to assess. The only strange thing was... the duration of the test seemed quite long? Bai E pondered quietly, feeling a bit puzzled. "It''s your turn," the officer in charge of maintaining Order reminded softly from not far away. [Triggered side quest¡ªAdvanced Shooting.] [Advanced Shooting: The most challenging shooting test of the training camp is right before your eyes. To qualify for covert military operations, you must perfectly complete this test. Task requirements: a failure rate below 10%, an ineffective shooting rate below 30%. Reward for completion: Light Firearm Specialty Special Attribute Awakening Card *1. Countdown: 10 minutes.] Bai E was slightly startled, then nodded and responded with a smile, "Hmm." "Hu~" Standing in front of the target position, Bai E took a deep breath, turned off the safety, and set the firing mode to burst fire. "Ready!" The officer beside him shouted loudly, "Begin!" The moment the order was given, the moving targets that appeared in front of him traced erratic paths, one in the air and ten on the ground. 20S, 30Hit 18S, 20Hit 5S, 9Hit sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 30S, 50Hit 8S, 3Hit*7 The number of hits required and the time limit for each of the moving targets, crafted from an unknown metal of various sizes and marked with paint, loomed before him. The changing movement patterns of the eleven targets were also instantly outlined in a pitch-black sea of thoughts. The rate of fire for the War Blade machine gun was 8 rounds/s, using the longest firing duration of 30 seconds as a baseline, the number of hits that could be made was 240, while the total number of required hits for all the moving targets combined was only 130. The provided shooting time seemed to be quite ample, the only factor that could possibly affect efficiency was the time needed to reload mid-way, considering the War Blade machine gun''s total magazine capacity was only 100 rounds, requiring a magazine change after no more than 13 seconds of continuous fire. Fortunately, magazines loaded with bullets had already been prepared by the military. The speed of changing magazines determined one''s results significantly. Those veterans were exceptionally smooth in this respect, and that was Bai E''s observation from watching on the sidelines. He might be slightly at a disadvantage here... "DadaDada!" In less than a breath''s time, numerous thoughts flashed through Bai E''s mind, then the machine gun roared into action. [Side quest¡ªAdvanced Shooting, current failure rate 0%, ineffective shooting rate 1%...] ... [Side quest¡ªAdvanced Shooting, current failure rate 0%, ineffective shooting rate 1%...] After opening fire, notifications on the panel flickered like a flowing stream, updating in real-time. Bai E, who had spent days getting used to controlling the intensity of the notifications with his mind, wasn''t disturbed by this. "DadaDada!" At a certain moment when the gunfire fell silent, Bai E''s left hand, which steadied the gun, instantly flicked away the magazine. "Click!" The mechanism engaged as bullets were chambered again. "DadaDada!" The ejected brass casings soon piled up into a shallow carpet of golden yellow at Bai E''s feet. [No wonder they don''t make Advanced Shooting a routine training exercise for the soldiers, it''s too wasteful of bullets...] The task was easy, and Bai E still had the energy to think about various things... "Kakakaka~" There were three targets left in the first round, and several more targets subsequently appeared from all around. Continuous judgment and execution of shooting, that''s the key point of assessment in this advanced shooting test. Bai E''s gaze intensified, he quickly focused his concentration. Watching from the sidelines didn''t provide much of an actual feeling, only by starting the test could he truly feel that pressing tension when one target after another emerged, giving no chance to catch a breath. The time limit marked on each target was like a countdown from the grim reaper, not allowing any mistakes. Chapter 124: 123 Training Special Attributes Or rather... one has to choose to make mistakes on purpose.As time went by, Bai E realized that maintaining a zero-error rate was somewhat difficult. What seemed like a not-too-time-consuming task of changing magazines was continuously adding pressure on Bai E''s shooting time after each accumulation of seconds. Under the continuous pressure of an unending stream of moving targets, the burden of time stacked up heavily. If he still wanted to perfectly hit every target, it could result in total collapse at a certain point. He could only choose to give up selectively. Fortunately, no matter the size of the target, the duration, or the number of hits required, they all counted as one unit in the mission''s tally. The targets to choose to give up on, of course, were those that needed a higher number of hits and had a shorter duration. The countdown was at 6 minutes and 38 seconds. The first target that he had to give up on appeared! [Side mission¡ªAdvanced Shooting, current error rate 1%, invalid shooting rate 5%...] "Not bad," Carlos, who had been watching closely from the sidelines, nodded. It was very rare for someone to achieve a zero-error rate throughout advanced shooting training. Even he had to surrender to the time it took to change magazines and choose to give up. This test was designed to maximize pressure. The only difference was the amount of error rate. Some people wanted to hit all the targets and ended up too tense, resulting in a complete breakdown. Others couldn''t let go of a target that they almost completed and lost balance in their mentality, leading to collapse as well. Learning to let go, or rather, learning to assess the tactical situation on the battlefield, was what a good shooter should achieve. After all, on a real battlefield, there would be teammates to back you up, or you could reposition to evade; there are always more solutions than difficulties. That''s the goal this advanced shooting test tried to teach the soldiers. In this respect, the newly developed 95B27 was doing quite well. "But... the real trouble is still to come." The countdown was at 6 minutes and 37 seconds. The countdown was at 6 minutes and 27 seconds. The countdown was at 6 minutes and 37 seconds. ... The countdown was at 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Another unexpected event occurred. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Side mission¡ªAdvanced Shooting, current error rate 3%, invalid shooting rate 13%...] [Warning: Excessive shooting has caused the gun''s barrel to overheat. Please cool it down; otherwise, the mechanical performance will drop sharply!] [Warblade Machine Gun¡ªQuality: White (Light Firearms/Military Weapon)] [Basic Parameters: ¡­ Durability 19/20] [Trait: Brand new and undergoing its first intense test, its overheated barrel from continuous firing reduces shooting accuracy by 5%, and durability is rapidly falling...] [I can''t be expected to perform maintenance on you right now!] No wonder I felt something was off just now. A pure test of a warrior''s shooting capabilities wouldn''t need ten minutes, right? Was it also taking the soldier''s performance in a prolonged combat situation into account? But when I watched those burly men shoot earlier, I didn''t notice any significant deterioration in the latter half of their performance. Perhaps some had a slight decline in form, but the drop seemed to come... later? Is it because of... suppressive fire? Bai E had no time to think further; the "enemy" wouldn''t slow their assault just because his firearm was deteriorating. The reduction in the hit window was their "attack"! "Da da da!" Bai E, with his knowledge of firearm maintenance, was able to detect the substantial change from the abnormal sounds during gunfire. The hit rate began to plummet significantly. Countdown 3 minutes and 38 seconds. [Warning: Shooting accuracy -1%, current firearm shooting accuracy correction -6%¡­] [Side mission¡ªAdvanced Shooting, current error rate 4%, ineffective shooting rate 14%¡­] ¡­ Countdown 3 minutes and 20 seconds. [Warning: Shooting accuracy -1%, current firearm shooting accuracy correction -7%¡­] [Side mission¡ªAdvanced Shooting, current error rate 4%, ineffective shooting rate 15%¡­] ¡­ Countdown 3 minutes and 4 seconds. [Warning: Shooting accuracy -1%, current firearm shooting accuracy correction -8%¡­] [Side mission¡ªAdvanced Shooting, current error rate 5%, ineffective shooting rate 16%¡­] Three pieces of bad news came one after the other, and although Bai E would not be affected by their prompts and perform immediately, they still sounded like the final ultimatum from the swinging pendulum of the Grim Reaper. The mission''s requirements were likely also the military''s minimum requirements for selection. But... Images of the other soldiers'' shooting tests flashed through Bai E''s mind¡ª Some of the soldiers who only had a level 3 expertise in suppressing fire skills didn''t seem to experience such a rapid decline in performance. "..." Enjoy new stories from §Þ?? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? If all special attributes come from emulating a great master, then where did the first specialized special attribute come from? Was it automatically unlocked at level 4? Bai E was not sure whether real NPCs would have such a mechanism. He was more inclined toward the underlying logic of improving everything in this world¡ªtraining! Indeed, some of the warriors who came here for testing lacked skill trees unlocked after reaching level 4 specialization... However, they might possess their own specialized special attributes, developed through long-term practical training! His own randomly unlocked level 4 attribute¡ªArc Shot, was essentially only applicable to pistols. Was this actually compensation for a high-level specialization that was directly upgraded without training? Real NPCs all have specialized special attributes they trained themselves! For instance... Cooling? Overload mode? Quick reloading and so on? These are the contents displayed on the "Light Firearms Specialty Special Attribute Awakening Card" that came as a mission reward. Those who mainly used machine guns as their primary weapon, of course, couldn''t develop fanciful techniques like Arc Shot, which were specific to pistols. This was also why his Arc Shot was so special in the military camp! A few doubts were suddenly clarified, and Bai E realized his own problem. In this test, those soldiers who had worked their way up through their own efforts had their own trained specialized special attributes helping them, while his own Arc Shot was clearly of no use here. Gun Fighting Skill was not able to cope with this scenario either. "Huh~" Bai E took a deep breath, his self-restraint allowing him to maintain a calm combat state at all times. What others can do, I can do too! With external aid, naturally, I can do better than others. Without the aid... am I worse than others? Having a solid foundation in shooting, any training on top of basic abilities would be doubly effective. His eyes, fixed on the target, became sharp again, and Bai E focused his spirit. [After observing the shooting targets for a long time and perfectly executing combat thoughts, your abilities have been adequately trained, Insight +0.1, Reflex +0.1.] [Successive successful precision strikes on numerous moving targets, Light Firearms Mastery experience +34.] (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.) Chapter 125: 124 Light Firearm Specialty Special Attribute Awakening Card "Da-da-da~"The roaring of the machine gun gradually subsided, and the bouncing metal casings piled into a small mountain at his feet. Bai E''s hand, clasping the slightly warm gun handle, trembled unconsciously. Fourteen points in physical endurance was merely the entry requirement for using the Warblade machine gun''s burst mode; the prolonged burst firing caused his arms to endure a tremendous amount of recoil. Countdown: 0 seconds. [Side Mission¡ªAdvanced Shooting, current error rate 9%, ineffective shooting rate 28%¡­] Fortunately, even without external help, Bai E narrowly completed the test. [Side Mission¡ªAdvanced Shooting, completed.] [Mission Reward: Light Firearm Specialty Special Attribute Awakening Card*1, has been issued.] In the Consciousness Space, a deep blue card with a golden pentagonal star in the center surrounded by twinkling lights quietly rotated around its vertical axis. [Light Firearm Specialty Special Attribute Awakening Card: Upon use, adds one of the following special attributes to the character''s "Light Firearms Specialization" at random¡ªCooling, Overload Mode, Quick Reload.] Bai E glanced at the message on the panel¡ª [Successfully executed precise strikes on numerous moving targets consecutively, Light Firearms Mastery experience +24.] (Extremely low chance of awakening special attributes.) Still, the final popup message did not show any special attribute bonuses unlocked through his own training. The test seemed long, but when compared to the cumulative actual combat time of veteran soldiers, it was still somewhat insufficient. Unlocking on the first training attempt, that''s not the way even for geniuses. Relying on freebies was unrealistic at the moment, better to check out the current luck¡­ [Confirm use: Light Firearm Specialty Special Attribute Awakening Card?] Confirm! Just as with the previous Ability Extraction Card from the mission for Yue Ying, this time the choices were fewer. A pointer spun rapidly within the three-sectioned circular pattern. Finally, it stopped at¡ª Quick Reload? Emmmm¡­ Bai E wasn''t sure if it was good or bad, but having it was certainly better than not. [Light Firearms Specialization (Level 4): Shooting accuracy +12%, critical hit +2%, special trajectory (special) +1%, Quick Reload +1.] [Quick Reload +1: Speed of changing bullets or magazines increased by 10%.] "Not bad," Carlos was the first to greet Bai E as he slowly descended, looking at the contemplation in the eyes of this artificial human soldier and offered comforting words with a smile. He had no time to remember the scores of all the testing soldiers in the field, but he definitely noted that Bai E had passed the threshold. As long as one crossed the line, there was a chance. At the beginning when Carlos leaked the inside tips to Bai E, the internal assessment targets hadn''t been set. He had merely tried his best to help Bai E seize every possible opportunity. As for the firearms assessment, he too only learned that it was an advanced shooting test. Originally, he was worried that Bai E, a newly born recruit with insufficient basic abilities, would fall behind in this kind of test that emphasized heavy firepower coverage. Unexpectedly, Bai E was able to pass the threshold. Passing the threshold was good, since it provided an opportunity. ¡­ [Faction Shop Update: Light Firearms Specialization Teaching, Price¡ªExpert Instruction: 50 Points of Faction Contribution.] Hmm¡­ huh? Gong Yan and the other two who were carving arrows out of wood were stunned by the notification. Changed? Was the system updating all the relevant game content in real-time based on the changes within the game itself? "Wow~" Kuang Xin exclaimed in amazement, then paused, "Does this mean we can monitor the changes in our organization members'' strengths too?" "What''s the use¡­" Dai Lian glanced at him disdainfully and continued to whittle the piece of wood in his hand, "Do you think that''s all there is to the NPC''s strength? Hard work is what really counts. Tonight, the arrows for the sewers are all depending on you." Arrows were low-tech; unless considering bonus properties from arrow quality, you could just carve a wooden rod and it would work. There was no need to waste money on it with able hands and ample supplies. Moreover, there were experience points to be gained¡­ [Successfully crafted a large batch of small props, skill * Handcrafting experience +20] [Sharpened Wooden Shaft¡ªQuality: Gray] [Basic Parameters: Attack modifier -2, 50% of damage converted to blunt damage.] [Usage Requirement: Compatible with bow and crossbow types.] [Trait: If used as an arrow, shooting accuracy -5%.] ... [Feedback from the commission, handcraft experience +29.](Cumulative) Experience tales at §Þ?? [Skill learned¡ª"Level 1 Handcraft".] [Handcraft (Level 1): Your hands have become more dexterous, granting you a +1 in reflex performance when engaging in nimble handiwork.] [Current handcraft experience 3/300, reach 300 points to master "Level 2 Handcraft".] [Detected that the character currently possesses a special attribute in "Light Firearms Specialization"¡ª"Quick Reload +1"; the skill "Handcraft" grants an additional 50% effect.] S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Quick Reload +1: Speed of changing bullets/magazines increased by 10 (+5)%.] "..." Is this the synergy between abilities? This was the first time Bai E witnessed it. What an unexpected surprise! "Carry on with your training if nothing else," Carlos sighed with relief as it seemed Bai E had likely passed the shooting assessment. Combined with the previous physical fitness assessment outcomes... he should be able to secure a spot for the mission, right? "Yes, sir!" The advanced shooting training range was large, accommodating ten people for testing at once. With around a hundred participants, it took less than two hours to complete, leaving plenty of time for the second half of the afternoon''s advanced physical training. Following Helen''s instructions to wear a full set of sensors before each physical training session, Bai E headed straight for the training grounds. He already achieved 115% completion in the morning, only a step away from the 125% overlimit boundary with a 30kg load. Plus, according to Helen, the overlimit burn at a 30kg load was fully sufficient for training needs below 15 points in physical fitness. Higher burn efficiency would actually be damaging to the body, and it''s quite doubtful that unlocking the specialty¡ªOverlimit Drive¡ªwould require a higher degree. So... Unroll! Chavez, who had "prematurely" arrived at the training area to wait for the soldiers to assemble, twitched his eyelid. Why was there someone sweating profusely on the training obstacle course before the assembly time? 114%... 118%... "Huff~" Bai E, breathing heavily after completing the obstacle course, grabbed the "complimentary electrolyte water" that hadn''t been rented out and guzzled it down his throat. Just a little more... Glancing at Bai E resting on the side, Chavez glared at the soldiers who were still waiting for his command to assemble and suddenly bellowed, "What are you waiting for? Get moving and train!" "Yes, sir!" The soldiers passed by that solitary figure with mixed emotions in their eyes, lamenting that the time spent rolled up with the drill was always blissful. (Tears) ["Lucky Strike" charge +5.] Bai E paused briefly, then shook his head and chuckled. His body was rapidly regaining energy during the short rest, and the yet-unlocked specialty was already beginning to demonstrate its power. 125%... 120%... 124%... 12...5%! The prompt didn''t sound instantly, and Bai E remained calm and composed. The long-term training had refined not just his body but also his natural state of mind, which had gradually become steady and tranquil. 125%... 125%... After maintaining the overlimit completion rate for more than one obstacle course, the prompt finally arrived¡ª [Teaching mission¡ªHigh-Level Physical Training, completed.] [Mission Reward: Specialty¡ªOverlimit Drive, activated.] The unexpected prompt did not interrupt Bai E''s movements; he sincerely finished a training session that completely exhausted his strength, and then, he turned to look at the effects after unlocking the specialty... Chapter 126: 125 All-around Overlimit Drive [Overlimit Drive: Through honing and familiarizing yourself with your body, you''ve mastered the method of exerting power beyond its limits.From now on, you can maximize your body''s output power, using up to 30% more stamina to cause up to 150% actual effect in all physical-related judgments; you also recover your physical condition faster, using 50% more "action reserve" to convert to stamina and doubling the recovery speed, possessing the ability to actively maintain your condition, with conversion and recovery rates equal; and you''re more efficient when training any ability requiring bodily coordination, such as: improving "Close Combat Specialization", efficiency increases by 20%, improving "Agile Weapon Specialization", efficiency increases by 20%...] ...an all-around skill that''s hard to imagine! Battle, recovery, growth... An all-around enhancement of abilities, truly deserving of the massive experience invested back and forth. Utter surprise. With the specialization now a part of him, Bai E could feel the explosive power stirring within, eager to burst forth. With the same attributes as before, his maximum strength had risen directly by 50% after receiving the specialization boost! This was a multiplicative calculation at the end, formidable beyond imagination. His stats... had improved again. Bai E, who had just acquired a new specialization, showed no signs of being conceited. Overlimit Drive wasn''t the end; the purpose of Advanced Physical Training was to enhance physical attributes and push them to their limits. The acquisition of the specialization was just an incidental outcome of the process. Continue training! Task completed, and without the completion notification on the panel, Bai E could only rely on the feeling in his body to maintain the sensation. Training is tedious, requiring focus and dedication every day, every minute, every second. If you''re perfunctory with it, it will be perfunctory with you. [In intense exercise, you''ve pushed beyond your limits, Physical +0.1, Reflex +0.1.] ... "Finished training?" Helen''s demeanor had calmed quite a bit when she saw the entering Bai E. When she no longer cared so much, her state of mind also stopped fluctuating so easily. Letting go of the obsession, the world felt wide and vast. "Mm..." Bai E nodded in response. Continuous good news brought about an inner joy that was hard to contain; a bright light shone from his face. "?" Helen, who was in the middle of putting down her equipment, paused slightly, her gaze turning back to the stoic warrior. Perhaps it was just an illusion, but she always felt that he seemed... particularly confident today. This confidence was like sweet nectar flowing effortlessly from within. Yet, a close scrutiny made the impact seem fleeting, like a flash. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An illusion? Helen somewhat absentmindedly removed the various sensors from Bai E, while subconsciously greeting him, "Today might be my last day staying in the military camp. There are quite a few things waiting for me to deal with back in the inner city." "Mm," was the only response Bai E gave, seemingly indifferent. Noticing the somewhat stiff atmosphere, Helen ran her fingers through the curls by her ears and smiled gently, "Train well, your superiors all think highly of you. Tonight, you will have a pleasant evening." "Understood." "Hold on a moment." After collecting the sensors, Helen turned gracefully to go back to her workbench, her voice following from behind, "I''ll tell you the final analysis, hoping it might help with your training..." After two days of familiarity, Helen had become quite adept at analyzing such data. The sounds of Helen typing at her keyboard occasionally echoed in the white laboratory, as time passed in a silent wait. "You''re much more stable now, it seems that your body is gradually getting accustomed to this excessive exertion beyond the norm..." [You are participating in the creation of Knowledge - Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0, current progress 60%...] "In these two days, I''ve carefully analyzed the differences between your training method and the standard one, and I''ve found that maintaining a perfect harmony between the rhythm of your body''s motion and your breathing is extremely difficult; it''s a unique training method belonging to you, and it would be very difficult to generalize..." [You are participating in the creation of Knowledge - Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0, current progress 75%...] "Therefore, even though you''re now familiar with this training method, still pay attention not to get distracted during your training. Compared to the regular training method conducted by the other soldiers, yours requires more focus, every action of your body needs to be controlled..." [You are participating in the creation of Knowledge - Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0, current progress 90%...] "Even if your body has memorized that feeling, it remains the same. It is counter to human instinct and requires continuous control through willpower. A moment''s relaxation, and it will surely backlash!" [You are participating in the creation of Knowledge - Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0, current progress 100%!] [You have fully participated in the development of Knowledge - Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0, reward: Knowledge - Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0, Scientific Experience +1000 points, Science Points *2, already distributed.] Gazing at the artificial warrior in front of her, eyes out of focus and face filled with confusion, Helen seemed unperturbed, aware that knowledge has its thresholds. The mission of them, as researchers, lay precisely there: to turn those abstruse and difficult understandings into practical guidelines for others to follow; that was their responsibility. Explore new worlds at §Þ?? Everyone in this world bears responsibilities from birth... With her long legs crossed, Helen stood up gracefully, concluding her host duties at last. "I will report to your superiors about your full cooperation in perfecting the advanced physical training program, hence... you may make any request of them that is not too excessive, and I believe they will agree. It was a pleasure working with you during this time..." Her back to the soft white light, the rays penetrating her translucent skin and reaching into Bai E''s eyes, "Soldier Bai E, goodbye." Bai E saluted respectfully, "Goodbye, Scholar Helen." ... The military camp was abuzz with activity at night, adorned with lights and a burning bonfire. Everyone was adept at forgetting. One must always look forward, concerned only with the impact on the bigger picture should life be lost; in this era, everyone was accustomed to sacrifice. What kept mankind going was not the bonds of affection with loved ones, but the mere fact of "being alive". And since "being alive" was so tough, people occasionally needed some encouragement from others to get their spirits up once again. Before all the warriors, Carlos''s voice thundered with perennial vigor. "...Now, let us pay our highest respects to this hero!" Drinks were spilled into the sky, reflecting the wavering light of the fire. Standing straight on the stage, Bai E basked in the warmest gazes of everyone present. ["Lucky Strike" charge +50.] ["Lucky Strike" charge has reached 148/100, currently available for use!] Rose brought strong alcohol, Mashati grilled kebabs, and Stone clumsily tried to assist... Song Ying sat with arms crossed in a corner away from the bonfire, You''s face flushed as he was cajoled into drinking by the big man, and Tiger watched everything with a contented smile. That night, he got drunk... the stars fell into his eyes. Amidst the haziness, it seemed only a distant voice echoed ethereally¡ª [Feedback from the commission, your Insight +0.2.] [Feedback from the commission, Long-Range Weapon Mastery Experience +108.] [Feedback from the commission, Finesse Weapon Mastery Experience +14.] [Feedback from the commission, Close Combat Mastery Experience +32.] ... [Feedback from the commission, Close Combat Mastery Experience +16.] ... [Feedback from the commission, Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +37.] [You have acquired "Level 1 Computer Hardware Maintenance," earning an additional Science Point *1.] [Computer Hardware Maintenance (Level 1): You are familiar with the specific functions of all computer hardware. You can accurately troubleshoot all potential hardware-related issues and proficiently disassemble and reassemble all related electronic components.] [Current Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience 17/300, at 300 points "Level 2 Computer Hardware Maintenance" will be mastered.] ... "Hic~" Chapter 127: 126 Hunting Rats "Shh¡ªlighter..."Lighter... "Even lighter..." In the pitch-black sewer, Dai Lian shushed Gong Yan, who was following behind him. He needed a very quiet environment to be able to hear the movements of the evil creatures with his own ears. This world wasn''t quite reasonable. Normally, the game would directly determine the interaction between one''s attributes and the environment, possibly with a fluctuating value influencing the outcome, and if the determination passed, it would directly present the target within a white circle or outlined shape on the screen. But here... there was no system assistance, no display on screen. [It''s like I''ve traveled to another dimension...] Dai Lian muttered internally, his ears receiving every slight noise like sonar. The twanging sound of steel rebar expanding and contracting with heat... The dripping sound of cold condensation beads falling... Natural and chaotic noises needed to be filtered out first, leaving behind the purposeful and rhythmic movements of the Anti-Entropy! [You are using sensory powers to explore the environment...] Gong Yan followed closely behind, trying to step as lightly as possible. Cold objects emitted no ripples of thought; only living things released waves that rippled from their aggregated neural tissue. Coldness, hunger... In her world, all emotional fluctuations seemed to act like an unaffected background color, casting themselves around all living things. However, receiving this information was still slightly difficult for her right now; this instinct was not yet skilled, only with extreme concentration might she faintly perceive something... "Whoosh~" The two moved in unison, almost simultaneously raising their weapons. Dai Lian had switched to a short bow, while Gong Yan, lacking the basics, undoubtedly found it easier to start with a hand crossbow. "Swoosh!" "Swoosh!" Two arrows were shot one after the other; one missed... the other missed as well. Combat information appeared with an unpredictable delay. Players usually found it difficult to judge the effectiveness of their actions in real-time through it, but the sound of arrows hitting the ground was obviously different from that of a hit. The battle-focused Dai Lian was still able to make this distinction. Even with Level 1 Ranged Weapon Specialization, Dai Lian couldn''t achieve perfect accuracy in the Dark Environment, let alone when the target was a living creature. Fortunately, these dim-witted creatures had lost their awe of larger lifeforms, as well as their perception of fear. Sensing the direction of the attack, they actually initiated a charge. "Shoot closer." There weren''t many targets, roughly a dozen based on the disordered noises. Without the control of their "king," they no longer moved in unison, providing chances for targeted strikes. "Mhm~" Gong Yan quietly responded. She wasn''t particularly fond of fighting, but in this world, having fun without any personal skill was clearly impossible. Given the chance, she wouldn''t mind honing her skills as long as it didn''t cost her anything. Quickly loading her hand crossbow, Gong Yan remained calm. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Closer, even closer.] Gong Yan silently recited, steadying the trajectory of the hand crossbow as much as possible with both hands. 3... 2... 1... Shoot! "Swoosh!" "Swoosh!" Read exclusive chapters at M V L Dai Lian felt some delight at shooting the arrows almost simultaneously once more, even without communication. The tacit cooperation in battle was still exhilarating. Not like Kuang Xin, that brute! But having that brute in front seemed pretty reassuring... [Successfully hit a small moving target, Light Firearms Mastery experience +2.] [Hit confirmed, 3 points of piercing damage dealt to the target!] The tension of the bowstring wasn''t enough, the pulling strength insufficient, the arrows not sharp enough... Their weapons, naturally, were not as reliable as Bai E''s military-grade ones. But it didn''t matter, the hefty bundle of "arrows" they each carried on their backs served as their ample ammunition supply! Once they closed in enough, Gong Yan and Dai Lian maintained a steady rhythm of shooting and retreating. Without the close-combat prowess of that lady from Arbitration Place, they dared not allow these little creatures to close in with their numbers¡ªonce the creatures got close, they would crazily climb up from gaps around the ankles and pant legs. Within a few breaths, they could latch onto an entire body, and with their sharp teeth and claws, whether they tore through the skin or hung onto the torn clothes, it was difficult to shake them off by struggling. The individual attacking power of these small creatures was indeed not high, but their attack frequency was extremely fast, swarming by the dozens. Dai Lian and Gong Yan definitely did not want to nourish these hungry creatures with their flesh. Kiting was the only option. "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" Their steps while retreating were swift, their hands never stopping. The knowledge imparted during pistol shooting lessons was also guiding their combat, only that real combat was necessary to convert it into experience. There were over a dozen targets, but they couldn''t be greedy. As long as they aimed as best as they could at one locked target, plentiful shots would eventually hit. It was foolish to simply shoot into the mass and rely on luck to fight just because there were many targets. Dai Lian had Level 1 Ranged Weapon Specialization, his hit rate was at least double that of Gong Yan''s. Gong Yan was skilled and dexterous, grasping more than a dozen homemade arrows in her small palm, her movements swift and dazzling. Her small hand crossbow managed to achieve a firing rate not inferior to that of a pistol. [Successfully hit several small moving targets, Light Firearms Mastery experience +8.] [Successfully hit several small moving targets, Light Firearms Mastery experience +14.] The sound of slicing through the air traveled through the pipes, mixing with the wind to carry far... "You said you wanted to track down the protectors'' whereabouts, why are you still being so stubborn?" The burly man''s voice was heavy with dissatisfaction. "Don''t talk~" Franca raised her index finger to her plump, bright lips, "Listen..." "Whoosh~" "Whoosh~" "Whoosh~" The faint howling that vibrated in the air reached them from afar, and the burly man''s eyes narrowed in surprise. "When did you notice them?" Franca had a cheery smile on her face, unconcerned. "You''re too impatient now, hence you''ve lost your acuteness to the environment." She intentionally deepened her voice, adopting a seasoned tone, "I am training your patience... And these rats are related to our mission, you know. Didn''t you mention before that leaving a good impression on ordinary people was important? Isn''t it natural for us to do some good deeds for them? Who knows, maybe seeing us in action, those mutants and demon believers hiding in the shadows will come out and surrender?" The burly man snorted, "Naive!" "Naive is a compliment for me~" Franca''s eyes twinkled as she looked eagerly toward the direction of the sound, "How about it? Shall we take a look? It might be related to the direction of our investigation?" "..." The burly man was silent, then hastily set off. "Tsundere~" Franca hummed a melodious tune, hands clasped behind her as she lightly caught up. ... [Used close combat to hit the target, Melee Combat Mastery experience +18.] [Combat concluded, 15 battle experience points gained.] [You killed a Plague Rat, "Sub-quest ¡ª Rat Clearing" progress 10/100.] "Finally killed it..." Dai Lian wiped the sweat from his forehead; he wasn''t Kuang Xin, that handsome muscle-bound gorilla. Out of breath from strenuous physical labor, he clutched his arm and felt a kind of abused exhilaration, "And lost 3 points of health, damn it..." Bows and arrows were only a means to diminish the Plague Rats'' state; to ultimately end the fight, they had to rely on... their feet. After losing their ability to move and swarm attack due to being kited by arrows from a distance, stomping with their feet became their final coup de grace. After all, Zhou just required them to kill rats in the "Dark Environment"; he never specified that they had to rely solely on bows and arrows for the kill. Stomping on the last one also had a bit of the fun of a game of Whack-a-Mole. Gong Yan wielded a small shovel... "I really don''t know why Zhou insists on us dealing with these little things at night..." After taking a short break, Dai Lian frowned and said in puzzlement. There was no one in the sewers during the day either, and at least during the day there would be some scattered light, making their vision not so limited. Gong Yan just pursed her lips and smiled softly, bandaging his arm while listening to him talk. [Curiosity, irritation...] Glancing in a certain direction in the dark, her smile remained gentle, "Maybe Zhou just wants to do some good deeds in secret... What we do doesn''t need to be known by others." Chapter 128: 127 Francas teaching [You have completed a bandaging task, accelerating the healing of the target''s wound. Bandaging experience +0.] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.[Your "Scholarship - Bandaging" level has reached its maximum. To continue improving, you need to acquire advanced knowledge.] "Still no increase in bandaging experience..." Gong Yan sighed softly. Because of the two from Arbitration Place causing that fire rat disaster on Black Street last time, she had only learned the level 1 bandaging knowledge from the adults. The level 2 first aid was advanced knowledge, and without professional understanding, it was impossible to improve the experience, which had been holding her back for a long time. In the Faction Shop that she unlocked, bandaging instruction from a master could be exchanged for 40 points of faction contribution. She was very envious and determined to have the adult teach her the moment she earned enough contribution points! While she was sighing, deliberately made noises arose in the distance. "Cough, cough~" The girl''s clear voice echoed melodically in the dark sewer, "Good evening." Accompanying her voice, Franca, with her boots and longsword, gradually approached. Familiar with the dark, the photoreceptor cells also clearly made out the other party in the extremely dim light environment. Mutually... Was it one of the two informants from before? Was the previous guess wrong, and they weren''t a single entity? Or had that little ax-wielding dolt gone to carry out some other task for their ''adult'' as they referred to them? But none of that was important. With her hands behind her back and a smile on her face, Franca came closer, "How did you guys end up here?" "Ma... Master?" Gong Yan turned around to face the other, with an appropriate mix of surprise and hesitation on her face, "You... how are you here?" Franca, with a mischievous smile, said, "Strictly speaking, I might not be as ''old'' as you, so no need to be that formal. Just now I heard you saying... you are carrying out an ''adult''s'' order? What kind of order?" "Franca!" the brawny man called out sternly. There were as many factions in and out of the inner city as there were hairs on an ox; as long as they were not directly connected to heretics, they couldn''t afford to investigate each one individually. Since the other party had no relation to the demon believer who had escaped, there was no need to waste further time here. In fact, he felt there was no need to show up at all. "Don''t be in such a hurry~" Franca did as she pleased, completely unconcerned with the brawny man''s face, which was as black as coal, though invisible in the darkness, "Don''t you think we need a couple of helpers? It''s too troublesome to chase after those rats in this labyrinthine sewer, one more person means more strength~" "That''s why we shouldn''t continue doing senseless things here." "That''s why we should look for help." Facing the stubborn Franca, the brawny man, who seemed to have more the role of a nanny in this mission, clearly had no way of persuading her. He crossed his arms and stepped aside to sulk by himself... "I''ve observed your combat method just now." Franca glanced significantly at the small shovel Gong Yan had put aside, "Your ''adult'' doesn''t seem to have taught you close combat techniques. Ranged attacks sometimes leave no room for manoeuvre and aren''t suitable for survival on human territory~" "..." Gong Yan couldn''t figure out the reasoning of the young lady and could only ask with a puzzled face, "Master?" "Let me teach you a few techniques~" Franca said with a beaming smile, and as she spoke, she spread the fingers of her right hand. Within the dark space, a nebulous mist, like starlight, abruptly appeared about five centimeters in front of her palm. With time, the misty light gradually expanded, resembling the pommel of a sword, slowly emerging forth. "..." Staring at this fantastical scene, Dai Lian and Gong Yan were completely stunned. This, this, this... What kind of power was this? Was it a technological spatial storage device, or a miracle achieved by individual Spiritual Energy? Franca offered no explanation, grasping the now fully visible hilt and drawing forth a longsword with a deep blue scabbard into the presence of all. Without a care, Franca tossed it towards Gong Yan, "It''s my spare longsword, I''ll lend it to you for now." Catching it somewhat frantically, Gong Yan held the scabbard in her left hand and the hilt in her right, still looking bewildered, "I..." "There''s no ''I'' or ''mine''... come on, let''s go hunting for those rats!" Franca, the natural socialite, easily arranged everyone''s next move. [You are observing a master''s sword technique demonstration. If you gain some insight...] [Teaching: Feeling the other person''s professional expertise, you decide to pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) to learn the corresponding ability. (Exchange ratio: every 2 points of combat/general experience can be exchanged for 1 point of corresponding specialty experience.)] ? Gong Yan had not anticipated the situation unfolding in this way; she, who always felt that everything was under control, felt as clueless as she did with her own master when faced with Franca, the young lady from Arbitration Place. To learn? Or not to learn? "We''re short on time~" Franca, darting into the rat pack with the flash of her blade, didn''t forget to pressure Gong Yan. To give Gong Yan as much learning time as possible, she was using the side of the longsword to swat away the oncoming plague rats. [Triggered side quest¡ªBlade of Agility.] [Blade of Agility: Learn as much combat technique as possible in the Dark Environment, which will significantly enhance your Spiritual Energy. Quest Requirement: Acquire at least 0/1 level of proficiency with light weapons before clearing the current rat infestation. Quest Completion Reward: Mystery +0.3. Countdown: ???] "..." Gong Yan gritted her teeth. Learn! [Tip: The current environment is unique, and teaching conditions are limited. Please concentrate as much as possible on perceiving the opponent''s movements, otherwise teaching cannot proceed.] Willpower... Light of the sword... Entity... Spectrum of colors... Pipeline... vanished. Sound of wind... vanished. Swarm of rats... vanished. Countless pieces of information in front of Gong Yan wove together, gradually sketching out the precise image of Franca''s swordplay in a world of darkness... [You spent 10 points of combat experience to learn, converted into 5 points of "Light Weapon Mastery" experience.] ... [Precisely hitting small moving targets, Light Weapon Mastery experience +23.] (Stacked) [You spent 10 points of combat experience to learn, converted into 5 points of "Light Weapon Mastery" experience.] [Acquired "Level 1 Light Weapon Proficiency," and concurrently received talent points *1.] [Light Weapon Proficiency (Level 1): Attack speed +3%, Armor penetration +1%.] [Current Heavy Weapon Mastery experience 4/300, achieving 300 points will grant mastery of "Level 2 Light Weapon Proficiency".] "Shua, shua, shua~" Under the cold light of the sword, the rats were beheaded in one fell swoop! [Killing three small targets simultaneously with one move, Light Weapon Mastery experience +6.] [Combat ended, gained 20 points of combat experience.] [You killed a plague rat, "Side Quest¡ªRat Eradication" progress 20/100.] [Exceptional technique observed, continue learning and you might achieve unexpected gains.] "Not bad~" Franca whistles and holds nothing back. Your next chapter awaits on M V L Sword light falls like snowflakes, corpses scatter as they fall. Gong Yan wasn''t given more chances to learn... Sheathing her longsword, Franca turned and walked towards the far end of the dark pipeline. "Bye-bye, missy~" Her arrival was sudden, her departure resolute. ... Once far from those two strange people, the burly man asked in a steady voice, "You suspect them?" "Do you think it''s possible?" "I think you''re wasting your time..." the burly man replied with a grimace. "But they use bows and arrows~" "Isn''t using crossbows in sewers like this a perfectly normal choice?" he sighed deeply. "If it really was them, what they need now is to hide and clear their tracks, not jump out in front of us." "But according to that mysterious person''s responsibilities... shouldn''t clearing the plague rats be their duty?" The burly man snorted with scorn, "You think there are such noble people? Miss, I know these filthy gutters outside better than you... You, don''t understand human nature." "Oh~" Franca acted as if his words were hardly worth noticing, simply holding her chin and staring blankly, "but I think it''s possible." "Even if it''s possible, you didn''t have to teach her swordplay... " "Wasn''t it you who said last time that she had a talent for Spiritual Energy? What''s wrong with testing her aptitude?" "I''m starting to doubt your sanity..." "Huh?" Franca was taken aback, and actually used her Spiritual Energy to carefully feel her own body, "I think I''m perfectly fine? Doing very well!" Chapter 129: 128 Guys Must Fight Only after confirming that the footsteps of the other party had indeed walked away did Gong Yan glance at Dai Lian, who seemed lost in thought, and murmur ambiguously, "Why did she teach me?""To create discord!" Dai Lian''s eyes sparkled with certainty, "To scare the snake by beating the grass! She might be suspecting us!" Feeling guilty as a thief, Dai Lian was a bit panicked when he saw the two people, but he felt he had masked it perfectly, so there shouldn''t be any big problem. It was just that he didn''t know if Yanzi had given anything away. Under the overly dim lighting conditions, he couldn''t ascertain how Yanzi had behaved. But Yanzi was smart; presumably, she would have caught on with just a hint. Dai Lian pinched his chin and analyzed rationally, "The NPCs of this world have no concept of our player identities. In her eyes, we are just members of a small force in Black Street... although that''s indeed the case. Under normal circumstances, our force has chosen to oppose Arbitration Place, and she teaches you these skills without asking for anything in return, which will undoubtedly lead to suspicion within the organization. Eventually, some kind of conflict might arise that would give her some clues from you. But..." "Don''t worry about Yanzi." It''s just that these NPCs understand human nature, but they don''t understand players. Whether it''s a hook or bait, take it all! As for the adult... Not to mention the adult wouldn''t notice, but even if the adult did, so what? With Wen Jie''s precedent, it''s clear that the adult doesn''t care if the people in the organization seek skills from other forces. Any skill learned is an asset. Previously, Dai Lian had some doubts about why the adult had such strong confidence in the members of his organization, as if they would never defect no matter how long they spent in other organizations, an ideal that seemed almost na?ve. It was after the ratman incident that he realized it wasn''t about the adult having confidence in the organization''s members, but in himself. ["You don''t need to take the initiative in a self-sacrificing way, I can bear the consequences of all your choices."] That silhouette was so magnificent it was unbelievable. This suffocating aura of majesty was the source of his confidence. "Let''s go, continue, as if they don''t exist," Dai Lian said, tidying up the aftermath and filling in what was missing. Some rats wounded by Franca were still struggling a little; if left alone, they might bleed to death, but the heads were not his own to claim, so it would be wasteful. [By hitting the target with a melee attack, you gain +4 experience in Close Combat Mastery.] [The battle ends, you gain 3 points of combat experience.] [You killed a plague rat, "Side Quest¡ªRat Extermination" progress 15/100.] Just picking up a few knives~ Heehee. Yanzi had been on a killing spree with the other party just now, probably far ahead in progress, so it was imperative to catch up. Gong Yan also seemed to have recovered from her bewildered state due to the sudden event, "Right, let''s forget about her and continue¡­" "Exactly, let''s finish the quest quickly, I still want to go see Kuang Xin boxing..." The underground fighting arena didn''t sound like a place to mess with at first hearing. He was worried that Kuang Xin would get sold out and end up counting money for others... ... "Squeak squeak squeak~" In the depths of the dim sewer, a cluster of plague rats huddled together, writhing in a sight that could terrify some faint-hearted children. The "king" has disappeared... The "king" has abandoned them! They needed a new "king"! S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A plague rat with shiny black hard fur slowly stood up, quietly rising from the chaotic swarm of rats, like an unshakable rock amid the tides... ... In the hazy night mist, the woman made her final plea, "Hans, you must understand that people don''t become stronger or more agile as they get older... You''re of age now, so don''t be like those impetuous, brawling young fellows." "I know, I know... I''m just going to have a look." Hans was somewhat impatient, "I''ve got a bit of money on me... I''m going to see if I can try my luck." "Whatever you want... Anyway, it''s all ill-gotten, better spent than hoarded." "What''s this about ill-gotten? Don''t talk so nastily, you know what it''s about. Alright, I''m off. You go to sleep first, don''t wait up for me." "Fine..." The woman grumbled and muttered to herself, hugging her arms and casting suspicious glances into the dark as she closed the front door, "The weather''s getting colder..." Lying in bed and hesitating for a moment, the woman still got up and lit a grease lamp on the table. The flickering yellow flame shone on the woman''s shadow on the wall, with wisps of smoke drifting above the silhouette. "I''ll leave a lamp on for him..." The woman drifted off to sleep. ... The underground fighting wasn''t actually underground but took place inside a solid concrete structure. As the city developed and transformed over the years, some ambitiously built structures on the outskirts were abandoned before being used, like human ambitions, gradually retreating back into the city. Heavy metal music, grating to the ears, forcibly stimulated the secretion of hormones in the body, with the explosive sound waves threatening to burst one''s eardrums. The most primitive collisions evoked the most basic arousal; life''s tedium and mundanity had people craving small shocks to jolt their long-dead hearts awake. They lacked the courage to step onto the battlefield and could only find a semblance of proof of living amidst the noisy, crowded clamor. With an elderly gait, Hans stepped onto the dusty cement floor, his decaying heart pounding fiercely along with the heavy bass. Clutching a hundred Blackwater coins tightly in his embrace, this seemed like a godsend for his lifelong poverty. It allowed him, in his old age and declining health, to rediscover the adrenal rush of his youth. Money is a man''s courage. For some reason, the moment he took that money from the lad, his body also seemed to awaken. He felt like a warrior at his most courageous, with unbounded energy surging through him, yearning for the glory of blood and battle. Your next journey awaits at M V L Be a fool challenging the windmills! Recklessness is closer to courage than cowardice! A man has to fight! He squeezed into the bustling crowd, with excitement and sweat filling the air, inhaling the mixed scents of perspiration, body odor, and alcohol, Hans''s eyes excitedly bloodshot. Finding a spot where he could catch a glimpse, his cloudy eyes peered through a large hole in the wire mesh to watch the duel underway. Two muscular men battered each other, noses bloodied and faces swollen, with blood streaming down their visages. The sight of fresh red liquid stirred the nerves, and savage desires could only be vented through younger bodies. A man has to make bets! "The match has started! No more betting." "Tsk!" Hans spat in the direction of the other person''s back, clutching the 100 Blackwater coins in his arms. "Huh... Huh?" As he walked away, disillusioned, his eyes wandered randomly until they spotted a familiar figure in front of the relatively quiet registration desk. Was that... the big fool? Chapter 130: 129 Side Quest - Black Fist "You''re entering the competition?""Hmm..." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Why do you bring a..." The man in charge of registration, donning a metallic hip-hop style, sized up the odd man before him from top to bottom, before managing to barely string his words together, "bring such a strange... head cover?" "The Bull Warrior never removes his mask." It wasn''t that Kuang Xin wanted to be such a nuisance, but it was only now that he truly realized the troubles his initial good looks had caused. He had always been wandering in the wilderness, with most interactions with NPCs handled by Gong Yan and Dai Lian, effectively leaving him in a wild man''s state. Now back in a human congregation, the aftermath of his charm +10 was that wherever he went, he was stared at with unusual eyes¡ªif it weren''t for the public setting, he would''ve believed he could be knocked out with a cudgel any minute and dragged into a corner for unspeakable acts... Only after sneaking out, taking a stroll, and finding a sack to put over his head, did the feeling of being scrutinized alleviate somewhat. Although he still attracted attention, covetous glances had turned into stares that seemed to say, "look at that fool," which, all in all, was more acceptable. Hearing Kuang Xin''s response, the registrar tapped the desk with his pen, curious, "Your name is Bull Warrior?" "Hmm." "Such a silly name, but whatever... I''ll ask you one last time, are you sure you want to compete?" Peering through the hole poked in the sack, Kuang Xin looked at him with firm eyes, "I''m sure!" The registrar glanced behind Kuang Xin, seemingly puzzled, "Then where is your guarantor?" "Guarantor..." After a moment of surprise, Kuang Xin spoke in a deep voice, "I am my own guarantor." The registrar burst out laughing in annoyance, "Don''t eff around if you''ve got nothing better to do..." Not even knowing the rules here, yet wanting to compete? Probably just some kid, blood running hot, seeking excitement. These types are the most troublesome¡ªif they get injured during a match, their family making a fuss is the last thing anyone wants. Although the underground fights are callous and unrestrained, such a youngster without heat or controversy clearly couldn''t bring in much profit; no profit and all hassle, nobody would willingly let them fight. It''s precisely to avoid such trouble that the rule was established requiring newcomers to be accompanied by a guarantor. Although it wasn''t foolproof, it was still better than someone insisting on fighting just because they said so. "Yes! Yes!" A hoarse voice excitedly called out from a distance, as Hans made his way through the crowd, rushing to meet him, "He has a guarantor, it''s me." As he spoke, Hans looked at Kuang Xin, his eyes conveying a familial reproach, "Why did you run off so fast without waiting for me?" Finally seeing him again! Ever since the last time he threw him the remaining chunks of meat, this fool had vanished so completely from his world as if he''d disappeared. The sensation of his strength welling up like a spring and the awakening of skills in his body was fleeting, like a night-blooming cereus. Hans, slow to realize, desperately pursued that wonderful sensation but could never seem to find it again anywhere. He had a hunch... the problem lay with this big fool. If only he could meet him again... Hans tried to suppress the heartbeats almost leaping from his chest. His own youth, his own vitality, it was all brought to him by this fool in front of him. This time, he must hold on tightly! Observing the newcomer, Kuang Xin''s gaze sharpened. It''s you again, old man. The mission is already done. Believe it or not, I''ll kill you, grr~ However, considering you''ve helped me out just now, I''ll let you off easy this time¡­ "¡­" Looking at the two before him, who seemed as if they were father and son, the registrar didn''t think much of it and just outstretched a hand, "Pay up." "How much?" Kuang Xin asked casually. After Yanzi had taken out the bullets and returned with a lot of money, he now carried the substantial sum of exactly 500 Blackwater coins! "500." "¡­" As if he could see the savings I had on me. Kuang Xin inwardly complained but willingly took out the money. The registrar seemed to have some standards, and as he took the money and registered them, he explained, "Normally, contestants don''t have to pay, but since it''s your first time here, this is considered a security fee. Plus, rest assured, this money isn''t for us; it''s for your own bet. If you win, you''ll get the principal and profits back based on the odds; if you lose, naturally, it''s gone. Understood?" Such a hassle¡­ Kuang Xin just wanted to skip, "Understood, understood." "There''s one more thing to explain; since it''s your first competition and you''re a newcomer, you''re not qualified for a death match. So, the upcoming fight won''t be to the death for you, and you can''t deal fatal blows to others, got it?" "s¡­ Understood, understood!" "Good to hear." The registrar nodded in satisfaction. Death wouldn''t occur, but things like concussions, paralysis, broken hands, or legs were all possibilities. After all, for the sake of the spectacle, some realism had to be sought. "Here, sign this. If there are no questions, you can sit over there and wait. When your name is called, you go into the ring." "Alright." Kuang Xin took the pen and was about to sign when Hans snatched it from him, "Let me have a look." This silly kid wasn''t bright; how could he trust what someone else said? What if their 500 Blackwater coins were mysteriously given away? It was necessary to check for him. The registrar wasn''t in a hurry; such people were rare. He watched the bloody fights in the ring while letting them dawdle. "No problem¡­ go ahead and sign." Kuang Xin snorted in disdain, "Like I need you to tell me." Facing Hans, who had conned him before, Kuang Xin had no patience. After signing, Kuang Xin walked off, and Hans, who wanted to follow, was stopped by the registrar, "That area is for contestants. What are you doing there? Wait outside." "Oh~" Hans smiled obsequiously at the man, then turned around and yelled at Kuang Xin''s retreating figure, "Hey! Kid, give it your all! I believe you can win!" [Side Quest Triggered ¡ª Underground Boxing.] [Physical Training: Your body carries Hans'' sincerest hopes. Win this fight. Quest objective: Defeat your opponent in the upcoming match 0/1. Quest completion reward: Universal Experience +25, item reward unknown.] "¡­" Damn it! Still as stingy as ever! Read new adventures at M V L But that doesn''t affect the normal quest progression. Why not take the free reward? Accepted! "Got it, you old thing!" Kuang Xin waved his hand and entered the contestant area without any reluctance. Watching Kuang Xin walk away, Hans smiled contentedly. His dreams seemed to be fulfilled through him¡­ how wonderful. "I still have 100 Blackwater coins; please bet on his opponent for me¡­" As he spoke and was about to take out the money, Hans'' expression changed abruptly, and for some reason, he changed his mind, "Nevermind, let''s bet on this kid instead. Put this 100 on him too, let''s raise the stakes!" The registrar glanced at the old man missing a tooth, indifferently accepted the money, and handed him a betting slip for 600 Blackwater coins, "Here, go wait on the side." Chapter 131: 130 Crazy "Tonight''s seventh gladiator duel! Coming from Furious Bloodrage! Facing our newcomer¡ªthe Bull Warrior!""Pssh¡ª" Hissses filled the air. As the host introduced him, the newcomer, who even seemed a bit fumbling as he stepped into the arena from the iron cage, looked so frail and weak. He wasn''t particularly muscular, nor was his entrance flamboyant. Clothed in a somewhat faded light blue denim jacket and jeans, the most ridiculous part was the dirt-yellow burlap sack over his head, with only three holes cut out for sight, making his tentative glances around all the more timid. "Where did this kid come from!" "Is he weaned yet? Come here to mama and suckle!" "Take off the sack! Coward!" Despite the jeers, the audience was still eagerly anticipating the spectacle to come. Everyone knew the organizer''s routine¡ª As the host of the fight, considering to stir up every spectator''s emotions, they naturally had to control the comparative strength between the combatants. A one-sided crush was no fun, so "Furious Bloodrage," though it sounded intimidating, was actually just a crazy kid who had only fought twice and won one by the skin of his teeth. Neither side was high-caliber, even if it was a mere squabble between two noobs, they were evenly matched combatants. This kind of duel was destined to have no holding back, the lowest level of pure physical struggle that could also satisfy primal impulses for violence. Moreover, the organizers were afraid that both fighters would be cowardly, so they purposely arranged for one of them to be a madman... Even if the newcomer turned coward on the spot, the crowd could still feast their eyes before the staff maintaining Order rushed in to save a life. Broken limbs wouldn''t lead to death, yet still quenched the audience''s thirst for violence. "Bang!" The iron door locked behind him, and Kuang Xin instinctively flinched. The clamorous noise was too loud, making his brain somewhat unclear. Just like when he climbed over the school fence to use the internet and then had to make a self-criticism in front of the whole school under the national flag, his head buzzed. But strangely... his body didn''t reject the situation. He was heating up. Trembling. And... excited. A stage for unfettered violence, an unguarded spilling of desire. His vision started to focus; thoughts became clearer. Adrenaline pumped rapidly, narrowing his vision but sharpening his focus, his limbs engorged, reacting faster. His opponent, with bloodshot eyes, was grinning ferociously across from him, Kuang Xin worked his wrists, rolling his fists. Technique? None. Planning? None. Stats? Seems not quite enough. What he had was merely primal instinct! "Roar!" The moment the bell rang, both sides, like the wildest of beasts, lunged at their opponent. Stay connected via M V L [Close combat attack hits the target, Combat Mastery experience +2, Brute Body (locked) unlock progress 86%.] [Current Combat Mastery experience 15/100...] [You dealt 1 point of blunt damage to the target!] [You take 1 point of blunt damage from the target''s attack.] He swayed, timing his steps with his strikes. The hot breath he exhaled cycled inside the sack, causing him to feel a bit stuffy, but this couldn''t affect Kuang Xin''s combat state. His eyes were fixed on the opponent''s punching movements, every attack requiring full body coordination. Each casual movement could give away intent. He didn''t know which movements indicated which muscle activations, he simply relied on instinct to guess the opponent''s attack intentions. It didn''t matter if he guessed wrong¡ªit was just a game! What was there to fear? [Close combat attack hits the target, Combat Mastery experience +17, Brute Body (locked) unlock progress 87%.] [Current Combat Mastery experience 32/100...] [1 point of strike damage dealt to the target!] [You''ve taken an attack, suffering 1 point of strike damage.] Another punch lands on my nose... my vision is turning a bit dark. But I''ve also landed a punch on his belly, he''s definitely not having a good time either! Madman? What the hell are you crazy for? What gives you the right to be crazy? I don''t feel a thing! Your punches are like a massage to me. Hit me more! More! Trading blow for blow, I want to see who gives in first, you or me! This is a damn game! Do you think I''m scared of you?! "Hahahaha!" Amidst the fight, Kuang Xin couldn''t help but burst into a mad laughter. Fight! Come on! You call yourself a madman? Then what am I?! All the cool moves I dreamt of using can now be tried out. No acquaintances around, I can unleash violence to vent freely. Teeth, fists, thighs... all can be used as weapons for attack. So what if it''s wrong, or if my technique isn''t scientific? Can your body handle my fists?! Me, scared of you?! Ha! "Hahahaha!" Knocked back by a kick, Kuang Xin, like an ape, pounds his chest, "Come on! Come on!" A wild fighting spirit spills out in all directions, with a combat style more savage than wild beasts making opponents tremble in fear. "Madman! Madman!" The frenzied gaze locks onto a weird boxer wearing a head cover not far away. Pretending to be weak through madness. But this boxer has madness etched into his marrow. "Madman! I don''t want to fight him!" "You! Where are you going?" Clenching his teeth, Kuang Xin leaps into the air, delivering a Superman punch straight to the opponent''s chest... Don''t run! ... [Close combat hit landed, close combat mastery experience +14, Savage Physique (Unlocked) unlocking progress 88%.] [Current close combat mastery experience 46/100...] [3 points of strike damage inflicted upon the target! Target has fallen into a "Stunned" state.] "Congratulations on witnessing the most thrilling duel tonight! Our winner is, the Bull¡ªWarrior!" "Wuhu!" "Well fought!" "Another round! One more time!" ... The frenetic Bull Warrior sets off a wild wave of violence, Hans, with betting slips in hand, quickly finds the organizer. "I won, I won! By the odds of 1.1 to 1, you owe me 1260 coins!" "Don''t need you to teach me, old coot!" the man holding a low-quality cigarette contemptuously glances at Hans and casually shoves the principal and earnings on a tray through the window. Mixed in denominations, the bill-like paper money and crystal-like coins are stacked chaotically, enough to widen the eyes of Hans who''d hardly ever seen so much money all at once. Looking over his shoulder with the guilt of a thief, he saw the foolish lad still surrounded by enthusiastic spectators, too busy to come and claim the wealth that should belong to him. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Run!] Stuffing the money into his bosom hastily, Hans turned and ran. Familiar combat instincts covered his body like second nature, and Hans felt his steps lighten considerably as he ran. Indeed, he was the one to take after all! As for the simpleton''s possible hostility after realizing he''s been duped... Stupid kid, I''ll just deceive him again next time I see him. Faced with profits within reach, anyone would go mad! Chapter 132: 131 This bullet is reserved for you! "Where are you going?"Enjoy exclusive content from M V L Kuang Xin panted heavily, having chased out of the arena. Seeing Hans''s sleazy figure fleeing through the chaotic crowd, he knew this old geezer was definitely screwing him over again. A wise man never falls into the same hole twice, and he certainly wouldn''t let this old man take any advantage of him ever again. Hearing the furious shouting not far behind, Hans''s steps faltered, and he stopped. He had seen how that foolish lad had performed earlier in the arena; there was a hint of madness inherent in him, and that wasn''t someone to irk seriously. Besides, the most important point was he hadn''t intended to bring a hand gun to the arena today... or even if he had, now it was questionable whether he would dare to use it. Compared to the foolish lad he first met that day, today''s looked exceptionally frightening; the bruises on his face weren''t signs of dishevelment but badges of honor for a warrior. "I... I''m going back to sleep," Hans''s voice was weak. "Sleep?" Kuang Xin advanced step by step, eyeing Hans from top to bottom, and finally rested his gaze on the latter''s hand concealed at his chest, "Where''s my money!" He didn''t particularly care about the property in the game, but at least he couldn''t let someone who disgusted him take advantage of it. "It''s here... right here..." Cautiously pulling out five banknotes from his bosom, Hans trembled as he handed them to Kuang Xin, "I was just thinking of keeping it safe for you temporarily..." Kuang Xin had no interest in the old man''s bullshit; he had made up his mind not to trust this old guy again. His voice rose sarcastically, "Didn''t I win?" He knew his own odds; one to one point one. He should have at least 1050 Heishui coins by now. With missing teeth, Hans flashed an embarrassed smile, "At least I acted as your guarantor to let you enter the contest; let me have a share..." Kuang Xin clenched his fist, still unsatisfied, "Honestly, I didn''t get enough of a fight just now." "All yours! All yours!" Hans bristled instantly, eagerly pulling out the money he had just obtained from his bosom¡ªeleven banknotes, 160 crystal coins... "Here it is! But..." holding onto one hundred Heishui coins strung together with string, Hans showed a pleading look on his face, "This is my own capital..." Kuang Xin glanced at them. They felt oddly familiar... even though Heishui coins should all look the same. But he felt that these were probably the same hundred he had been cheated out of by the old man. "..." [If it weren''t for his referral, I wouldn''t have met the big shot, nor Dai and Yanzi... It''s hard to say what turns my fate would have taken.] Seeing the contemplative look on Kuang Xin''s face, Hans pulled on a strand of Heishui coins he had already pushed into Kuang Xin''s hand, "There are one hundred and ten more that I''ve won with my capital..." "Bullshit!" Kuang Xin suddenly drew back his hand, "What''s all this about your or my capital, everything I won is mine!" Poking the man in the face with his finger, "Stop f***ing scamming people, you hear? I''m letting you off this time." Turning away triumphantly, Kuang Xin felt jubilant inside. Robbing an NPC! How much worse could I get? Although the amount looted wasn''t much, just 110 coins, it was an epic step forward! I''m so cool tonight! ... Clenching the remaining 100 Heishui coins in his hand, Hans experienced the roller coaster of life... Not reconciled! Not reconciled! Power... money... slipped away again! Huh? There seemed to be an indecisive figure hesitating in the shadows over there. What was he up to? Hans narrowed his eyes and approached proactively... "Join a competition? Do you know you need a guarantor to enter?" A young man exuding metal punk vibes deliberately stood on tiptoes, his expression somewhat disdainful, "You think I don''t know that?" "You know? If you know, then it''s easy. Come with me." The young man, grasped by Hans''s bony palm, became flustered, "What are you doing? Where are you taking me?" "Taking you where?" Hans turned to look at him, his face ghostly under the hazy moonlight, "To compete in the match, of course!" "I''m not going to compete! I was just hesitating! I didn''t say I wanted to enter..." [Target automatically rejected your commission request...] [The other party does not possess the qualifications to accept a commission...] A faint voice played from the void. Without hearing any strange noise, or getting a reply from Hans, whose eyes were trembling with restlessness, he grew more irritated, "You won''t agree? Why won''t you agree? What right do you have not to agree!" His voice grew heavier with each word. Beneath his frail and aged body, there seemed to be bulging muscles growing rapidly, aged veins grotesquely prominent, dark aura ceaselessly emanating from Hans''s body. "You! How could you! Not agree to my terms!" "I agree! I did agree!" The young boy desperately backed away, trying to break free from the opponent''s grip, as strong as reinforced iron, shouting as if on the verge of collapse during the struggle. "No! You didn''t agree!" Power! No power! Without power! That intoxicating sense of power is absent! Liars! All liars! "Bang!" [Successfully hit the target with a stealth attack. Light firearm proficiency experience +1.] [Hit the target''s vital spot, inflicting 24 points of piercing damage! Plus the "Heavy Bleeding" status.] [The "Bleeding" effect from your attack inflicts 10 points of ongoing damage to the target.] The flare of the gun blossomed in the night. The fireworks of the burning ammunition dispersed from the muzzle, and behind the hazy dust, Kuang Xin''s face loomed in and out of view. The moon''s radiance could not penetrate the heavy clouds. His face, half-hidden in darkness, half-bathed in light, watched as Hans, still struggling on the ground, had returned, and Kuang Xin''s eyes displayed indiscernible thoughts. "This bullet, I saved it for you until now." Drip, drop, drip, drop... "Murder! Murder!" The boy was already on the edge of mental collapse, and the sudden gunfire pierced through his last line of defense, causing him to run away frantically into the distance. Black blood trickled down his clothes onto the ground as Hans blankly lowered his head, his body weakly slumping forward to kneel and fall. "Crash..." The rope snapped; the blackwater coins he had been carrying in his arms rolled and scattered everywhere. One... two... three... "I... I..." His vision grew darker in waves. Hans tried to reach out with his blood-coated hands, attempting to gather all the scattered blackwater coins back into his arms. They were his! All his! One... two... three... Huh? S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why are they gone? Grabbing a handful, his palm sinks in. That was his principal, his own property, his own 100 blackwater coins. How... are they gone? As he opened his palm, the silver-black particles, like the ashes of a firework burned out, were blown away by the wind and quietly dispersed. Dissolving into the air, leaving no trace behind. "Liars... all liars..." Blood foamed at Hans'' mouth as he lay on the ground, looking up at the direction where the particles disappeared, his eyes empty. [Your attack''s "Bleeding" effect has caused 6 points of continuous lethal damage to the target.] [The target''s breathing has ceased; vital signs lost.] Tucking away his pistol, Kuang Xin turned and left, without any lingering sentiment. [You have completely killed the target. Combat ended, earning 180 battle experience points.] ... "Finally killed him," Gong Yan said with a complex tone. "That was tough on the gorilla...." Gong Yan and Dai Lian, who were there to back up Kuang Xin, hid in the shadow of a rock, watching the gun murder that occurred in this wasteland. Dai Lian had a hint of satisfaction in his eyes, "Gorilla is fine in every other way, just too rule-bound." Being bold, one would discover a different side of the game, and also discover another self... As a player, Kuang Xin indeed had a certain mindset to break preconceptions, but stealing an axe might have been the most brazen act he had done. Facing this game that felt as real as time travel, they could clearly sense that Kuang Xin was reluctant to let loose and act recklessly. Having known him for only several days, they had all heard the story of Kuang Xin being conned by an NPC at first. Even when confronted with an NPC who had betrayed him time and time again, unless it truly touched his last bottom line, he found it hard to go for the kill. If it had been Dai Lian himself, the night he found out he was deceived, either Hans'' corpse would hang in the streets, or he''d just restart with a new account. But to Kuang Xin, humanoid NPCs and those wolves, rats, they held a different place in his heart. "But also not bad, right?" Gong Yan''s lips curled into a faint smile, "This dummy is quite reassuring to watch in action." Although he always gets tricked, nobody can feel at ease... "Let''s go, let''s go." Dai suddenly got up, "Let''s head back first, don''t let him find out we were spying on him, he definitely thinks he''s just been exceptionally cool..." Gong Yan covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, "Okay~" Chapter 133: 132 Final Actions determine habits, and the biological clock that became habit firmly controlled time, waking the dreaming person at the precise moment."Hiss~" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. My head hurts. How much did I drink last night? Everything still feels dizzy in front of me. My self-restraint, capable of suppressing hormonal effects, can''t control the erosion of alcohol on my body. Luckily, my physical fitness is genuinely robust, and after shaking my head, the world in front of me started to sharpen. It seems... no one else has woken up yet. Hearing the rustling noise close at hand, You, who had been deep in sleep, lifted his head in a daze and opened his eyes. Propping himself up, he sat up half way, his shoulder-length hair falling naturally around him. While rubbing his eyes with his small palms, he asked in a soft, groggy voice, "What are you getting up for?" As Bai E was putting on his clothes, he paused slightly, "Don''t we have morning training?" "Oh~ We said we could start later today, nobody has gotten up yet." "Later..." Alright then. Bai E stopped what he was doing. Starting later is good, my condition is indeed a bit off right now, might as well lie down for a bit~ Bai E, who had climbed back into bed, lay there with his eyes open, lying just to relax, as sleep was now out of reach. Right, last night, amidst the haze, it seemed like I heard quite a few feedbacks from player missions. Let''s check the panel¡ª [Name]: Bai E [Race]: Human [Template]: Genetic Modification Prototype [Hit Points]: 120/120 [Identity]: Leader (Li Ming) [Physique]: 14.4/15 [Insight]: 11.7/15 [Reflex]: 12.2/15 [Mystic]: 8.2/¡Þ [Genetic Optimization Degree] (Current tendency: Orc): 0.1/100 [Skills]: Gun Fighting Skill, Lucky Shot (Current charge: 168/100) Stealth (63/100) Craftsmanship (3/300) (Level 1) [Traits]: Thought Dullness, Battlefield Instinct, Well-Trained, Bloodthirsty Instinct (Dormant), Hive Mind (Dormant) [Expertise]: Fast Recovery (Locked) unlocking progress 30%, Self-Restraint, Overlimit Drive [Mastery] (Potential Points *9): Light Firearms Specialization (389/2000) (Level 4) Heavy Weapon Specialization (246/300) (Level 1) Ranged Weapon Specialization (153/1000) (Level 3) Military Firearm Specialization (2/100) Hand-to-Hand Combat Specialization (92/100) Light Weapon Specialization (14/100) [Spiritual Energy]: Unmastered [Knowledge] (Tech Points *8): Firearms Maintenance (89/300) (Level 1) Lumberjack (17/300) (Level 1) Thievery (2/100) Trapping (31/100) First Aid (Bandaging) (Level 2) (Max level) Anatomy (30/100) Conventional Vehicle Driving (0/300) (Level 1) Computer Hardware Maintenance (17/300) (Level 1) Advanced Physical Training 3.0 (Max level) [Technology]: Management+1, Sociology+3, Psychology+1 [General Experience]: 1485 [Combat Experience]: [Research Experience]: 1000 [Mutation Risk]: Low [Faction]: Li Ming (Prestige Level 1) ... It''s getting more and more luxurious. Whether abilities like "Computer Hardware Maintenance" that Wen Jie reported are actually usable or not, merely possessing them is enough to make one feel blissful. I really love the feeling of hoarding all sorts of resources and not using them, like being tightly wrapped in soft cotton~ Bai E was joyfully sizing up each item, eventually fixating his gaze on the 148/100 energy charge value for quite some time. It''s full again, huh? Should I go blow up the fence? Or maybe blast the mess hall''s porridge maker? With my current status, destroying this little stuff shouldn''t warrant a court-martial, right? I''m so tempted... "Assemble!" After breakfast, Bai E rushed to the physical training grounds, despite having already obtained the specialty¡ªOverlimit Drive. But a specialty is just a beginning, a process, a tool to accelerate training efficiency. The real goal is still the physical attributes improved through training. Bai E was always serious about training. "You don''t need to train today." Seeing Bai E honestly standing amongst the crowd, Chavez singled him out. "Begin your training." After giving the command, Chavez took Bai E aside, "Your combat instructor Dan has informed me, you have a match later. You need to stay sharp." Although the physical strength expended in training can be quickly converted back during short rest periods through the action power reserves, the soreness inflicted on the body is inevitable and would somewhat affect actual combat. "A match?" Bai E appeared slightly stunned, though he had already realized¡ª The selection within the New Recruit Training Group yesterday was just an appetizer. The spots for that relic are limited, and the competitors... are likely the entire military camp. "Got it." "Good." Chavez nodded, "Then wait here for a while, Dan will come to get you soon." "Okay." Continue your saga on M V L As Chavez mentioned, Dan quickly arrived and took him to a strangely unfamiliar sand field. Warriors selected from various training groups or special squads surrounded the square sand field, waiting. Anyone sent here after passing the initial selection was seen as promising by their respective instructors, so the gap in strength among them wouldn''t be too big. And no soldier in the military camp was an exceptional being. The top level of combat strength was similar among everyone. Bai E scanned the group and realized that his comrade Dashan''s strength configuration was probably the standard template for these tough men. However, there were a few whose burst rates seemed particularly fierce... "The match procedure is simple. In a moment, we will call out names in the order collected, pair up two by two, and the winners will fight the next round until we have a single victor," Dan quietly explained in Bai E''s ear. It''s not that the military operation requires only one person, but observing who goes the distance is convenient to score each warrior. Furthermore, while assessing combat skills, they also observed the ability to maintain performance through continuous battles¡ªa two-for-one deal. After all, the military operation calls for more all-around soldiers, and those who can multitask are undeniably the ideal candidates, or perhaps simply excel in one particular area too much to be ignored. This is a matter of scoring weight, a basis for the final judgment by the officers. Dan''s gaze swept over the waiting warriors, especially lingering on a few whose reputation in the camp was fierce, while continuing to caution Bai E, "There are nine rounds total. I heard that you only start getting commendations from the fifth round onwards. Do your best and don''t be pressured." She wasn''t privy to all the details, but performing well would definitely be noticed by the military. It was important to strive for what could be fought for; if it was beyond one''s capabilities, there was no use in blaming heaven and earth. She had always been open-minded. "Mhm," Bai E nodded in acknowledgment. He indeed wanted to perform well in the match to increase his chances of qualifying for the military operation, but if he truly lacked the strength, there didn''t seem to be much he could do. In terms of attributes, his physical condition wasn''t stronger than that of the veterans present. In terms of skill, without even a Level 1 in Gun Fighting Skill, let''s not talk about how bad I am. There was no way around this, limited by time and experience. Now, he had only a little over a thousand general experience points left, and his combat experience was squeezed dry. So even though he had tried hard to learn from Dan during her first instructional session and subsequently used experience points to improve himself, he was now just a Level 3 in Gun Fighting Skill without any special attribute boosts, far behind these burly men who were mostly Level 4 or 5 in Gun Fighting Skill. His only hope seemed to lie in the specialty he had over them¡ªOverlimit Drive. A 50% extra power output, relying on brute force to break through... not entirely hopeless. If he could last till the final rounds, when everyone''s condition was impacted by facing equally matched opponents and they couldn''t maintain their combat level, using his Overlimit Drive to "steal a win" was not impossible. The assumption here is He could last that long. Just hope the first two rounds are fights between weaklings... Bai E''s gaze swept over the excited fighters. Not only himself was selected from the New Recruit Training Group, but there were also a few sacrificial lambs sent by their instructors. The number was small; first come, first served¡­ "Almost time." Seeing the officer in charge stepping onto the high platform at the center of the sand field, Dan patted Bai E''s back for the last time, "Good luck. Try to go further, but no worries if you lose. Consider it a learning experience. I''ll be off now." [Triggered Side Quest¡ªThe Final!] Chapter 134: 133 Duels Rose ```[Final Match: You have entered the final round. Sprint forward as much as possible, reach the end, and you will gain extraordinary glory and rewards. Mission Requirement: Advance round by round in the combat finals. Mission Completion Reward: Basic 100 points of universal experience (an additional +100 for each round advanced).] Bai E blinked lightly, "Yes, sir!" The mission always had a way of upping the ante at just the right time. I want to advance too... "Soldier 91B13! Facing Soldier Wil Moth*Benjamin!" "Soldier 65A20! Facing Soldier 94A17!" The presiding officer began calling out names one by one. With more than two hundred combatants, fights would not proceed one by one. Additionally, the hand-to-hand combat between just two fighters didn''t require much space; the arena was large enough to support over one hundred pairs of fighters battling simultaneously. Among the soldiers selected from the New Recruit Training Group, Bai E blended in and was naturally matched against an opponent of the same level. An evenly matched duel! Bai E felt his blood boil. He was becoming more accustomed to, and even beginning to enjoy, all the conflicts and battles he encountered in this world. His opponent clenched his fist, boasting with a laugh, "Remember the name I gave myself¡ªZhou! I will climb over your body to ascend." "Emmmm..." Read the latest on M V L At the sound of the command gun, the officer ordered, "Begin!" The two were only two meters apart; Bai E took the initiative to sprint. With the step of an arrow, his Overlimit Drive burst forth at full power, his stamina burning crazily to supply him, and the combat mastery experience feedback from the player, which had reached 92 points, gave Bai E a bit of insight. The punch, powered by a sequence of muscle movements starting from the thighs, carried almost the full force Bai E was capable of at that moment. Let me see what you''re made of! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The will to fight burned in Bai E''s eyes. "Bang!" The dull collision of fist against muscle indicated that "Zhou" had some skill in combat, though he seemed somewhat foolhardy. For a veteran artificial soldier birthed before Bai E, this grand selection evidently excited him. Faced with Bai E''s punch, he didn''t dodge or evade, choosing instead to withstand the blow head-on. He crossed his arms to counter Bai E''s punch in an attempt to block it head-on. However... the slight sound of cracking bones went mostly unnoticed, but more apparent was Zhou being forced to hastily retreat three steps. Combat prompts did not pop up every moment, and Bai E relentlessly pursued his advantage without regard. Easily catching up with his steps, another punch charged with full force came from behind, smashing straight into the opponent''s chest. Zhou, wincing with agonizing pain in both arms, naturally wanted to dodge the monstrous punch coming from his adversary; however, his footing had been destabilized by the initial strike, and in his desperation, he could only try to block again with his arms. "Bang!" Zhou, unable to withstand the punch, was sent flying backward, soaring a good two meters through the air. "..." Only then did the delayed combat information emerge¡ª [You have used a close-range attack with a perfect exertion to knock down the target, gaining +5 combat mastery experience (+1) (this effect comes from the specialty¡ªOverlimit Drive).] [Current combat mastery experience 98/100...] [You have caused 2 points of striking damage to the target! Causing the target to enter a "stunned" state.] Bai E stared blankly at his fists, then at his opponent, who was now lying unconscious on the ground. ``` ...That''s it? "95B27, victory!" [Sub-mission¡ªFinals, progress enhanced, current reward: Universal Experience +200.] Among the more than a hundred matches that happened simultaneously, Bai E''s battle was definitely not the most exciting, nor the most technically rich, but it was certainly the fastest. Two punches, direct KO. No maneuvering, all about the numbers. "Are those all new recruits over there?" the highest-ranking officer watching the match asked his aide-de-camp. "Yes." "Hmm..." It''s quite normal to see such a gap among new recruits, who can easily fall behind. He didn''t notice the specifics, but to resolve a battle this quickly, it must be either a huge disparity in basic attributes or a large gap in skills. He could pay more attention to that later. Bai E, having finished the fight, stood in his spot waiting. The two punches hadn''t drained much of his stamina, not even enough to trigger the automatic activation of his power reserves for recovery. If not through deliberate training, in this world, the human body''s power reserves only convert during rest in a non-intensive state, and only when it drops below a certain threshold. Bai E was different; his Overlimit Drive managed that. Refilled completely! Bai E, who finished early, didn''t idle but began to observe the other warriors around him. The military didn''t prohibit this; behind the seemingly rough treatment, there was always a profound intention. Being able to finish a battle early was a skill, as was the ability to spot weaknesses in potential opponents while observing them. Such skill was not only applicable in internal competitions but was also valuable when facing real enemies. Warriors who possessed such abilities deserved to reach the end and become the sole victor. In Bai E''s observation, many nearby warriors had excellent combat abilities, at least better than his own, which didn''t seem quite right considering the loot boxes floating above their heads¡ª [??? (Human) (Ally) ¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*1800, combat experience 600 points); Possible (Proficiency: Burst)] Nothing... hardly any difference from newly created artificial soldiers, and even less combat experience. Is it because my own strength has increased? As for other abilities... Bai E glanced casually, and it seemed that the lowest abilities listed in the loot options were at least level 3 proficiencies. Does that mean level 1 and 2 proficiencies aren''t even worth dropping? That''s really underestimating people! But even those abilities deemed unworthy of dropping were demonstrated with techniques far superior to his own. Bai E''s own proficiency hadn''t fully formed yet, but with an increase in combat experience, he had some insights into the essentials of fighting. Attack, defense, movement... these are the core of combat. Exerting force, exerting it faster; evading, using the strong points of your body against the opponent''s weak points; movement, tying together the overall rhythm of offense and defense. Pure exertion of force is just a small part of combat proficiency. Perhaps that''s why when he trained purely in exertion techniques, the task only gave 20 points of combat experience. And now, even those warriors from the New Recruit Training Group, their displayed techniques were far superior to his own. Without missions or teachings, Bai E had to rely on his own eyes to observe and learn. [You are using your Insight Ability to observe your opponent''s weaknesses...] Even a long duel must end at some point, and under the rule against relentless evasion, every match concluded fairly quickly. "Next match, 95B27, versus..." Bai E blinked, snapping out of his mental brainstorming, and looked toward his opponent¡ªRose. Chapter 135: 134 You guys better be really competing Rose''s face still wore that smile which blazed like flames, her wheat-colored skin glistening with crystalline beads of sweat through her shorts and tank top, rugged and sexy, "Long time no see.""No idle chatter allowed!" Both glanced at the instructor standing to the side, his demeanor cold and aloof. Under their collective gaze, the instructor kept his eyes unfazed, as if the matter was none of his concern, "Don''t be so brazen." "..." Bai E looked at Rose, joy also flickering in his eyes upon seeing a familiar face. Indeed, it had been a long time since they last met, putting aside last night''s party. This was their first meeting since the new recruits'' training trial. Above her head... Level 3 Combat Specialization. Her progress was fierce; she was a formidable opponent. Rose flexed her wrists, her joy unhidden, "I''ve wanted to punch you for a long time!" Bai E didn''t beat around the bush, "Come on." When facing Bai E, Rose was always the one to initiate the attack. With a light shout, she closed in swiftly. Bai E didn''t wait passively either. If technique was lacking, then attitude had to be correct. Throw a punch first, to test her mettle. Rose, too, had the intention to test Bai E, incorporating some force-dissipating techniques as she countered Bai E''s punch head-on. "Tsk~" Her military boots scuffed the ground, retreating several steps swiftly. Rose''s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at Bai E, "So fierce." Bai E shook his fist, feeling little feedback. Most of the force had been deflected. No matter how strong the punch, if it didn''t hit, it was useless. That was the purpose of technique. Rose, seemingly unaffected by the punch, pounced again like a mountain cat¡ªagile in movement, her figure swaying between attacks, sometimes east, sometimes west, with no telegraphing of her strikes. Even with punches that had a shorter swing, she still managed to deliver an impressive force. Bai E could only passively use his instincts to block her moves, completely on the defensive for the moment. Before long, he had taken a few hits, but luckily the force wasn''t substantial, causing only a slight soreness in the muscles of the impacted areas. "You can''t fight them like this..." Amidst her attacks, Rose''s voice slightly trembled. Bai E kept silent, continuously observing the habits in Rose''s attacks. He wasn''t just a big brute who relied on brute strength. Observing, mimicking, and learning was always the best method to improve oneself. Got it! Crossing his arms, Bai E captured Rose''s muscular forearm with his muscles for the first time. "¡Ì" The corner of Rose''s mouth curved in a wicked smirk. With a twist of her body, her arm suddenly spun, forcing her punch through the restraint of Bai E''s arms and breaking into his guard. "Bang!" Under the not-so-heavy sound, Bai E clutched his slightly stuffy chest and stepped back twice, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Rose. So impressive... to virtually leave him powerless, even though his attributes were far better. If Rose was already this challenging, what about those veterans with superior techniques and attributes? Fortunately, he had encountered her first... Bai E knew that Rose had been holding back all along. A real crippling blow wouldn''t be like today''s sparring, where every move was pulled. It would be far more dangerous. She was... deliberately practicing with him. [You observed the target''s close-quarters combat routines and effectively blocked their attacks several times, gaining +5 Combat Mastery experience (+1).] [You have acquired "Level 1 Combat Specialization," and also gained 1 Potential Point.] [Combat Specialization (Level 1): Strike Power +2%, Evasion +1%, Blocking +1%.] [Current Combat Mastery experience 4/300, at 300 points, you can master "Level 2 Combat Specialization."] The moment specialization took form, a clearer understanding weaved into Bai E''s mind, and his footwork, which had felt detached during battle, finally seemed willing to obey his commands. Footwork is the bond that connects offense and defense, blending two strategies that once fought independently into one unified approach. From 0 to 1, is always the greatest leap in progress. Shaking off the soreness in his arms, Bai E smiled calmly at Rose, "Now, it''s my turn." Even a Level 1 specialization was a qualitative change for Bai E. Already superior in physical attributes to Rose, combined with the burst from Overlimit Drive, a mere increase in technique could lead to a drastically different display of strength. The collision of muscles was fiery; Rose''s wheat-colored skin blushed, and she felt somewhat softened after being hit several times in the abdomen and other areas by Bai E. Compared to other fights, the battle between the two looked milder, thoroughly embodying the spirit of sparring. In the mutual enhancement, they determined the final victor, an unspoken understanding between Bai E and Rose. "Huff~ Huff~" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rose breathed heavily, her flushed face steaming from the evaporating sweat, looking hazy as if she were intoxicated. The tightly pulled wolf-tail hairstyle had come loose due to the intense activity. Her eyes were firmly fixed on Bai E, whose two hands were pressing down on her own achingly numb wrists, and his expressionless face was close at hand. Still... so expressionless! Clenching her teeth, her right foot pushed off fiercely, and with a thrust of her lower body, Rose tried to launch one final counterattack. She flipped into the air, her powerful thighs attempting to clamp around Bai E''s neck and deliver a lethal scissor kick, but her severely drained strength made her movement slightly sluggish. With just a violent throw, Rose was powerfully hurled away by Bai E. "Ugh!" The moment she hit the ground, Rose arched her chest and let out an involuntary muffled grunt, like a struggling carp. [You perfectly dismantled your opponent''s combat routine in close-range fighting, seizing the final victory and gaining +25 Combat Mastery experience (+5).] [Current Combat Mastery experience 34/300; at 300 points, you can master "Level 2 Combat Specialization."] [You dealt 3 points of strike damage to the target! Causing the target to enter the "Exhaustion" and "Light Injury" state.] The effect of Overlimit Drive claims to enhance combat or agility weapons mastery training efficiency by 20%, but its actual performance seems to do more than just provide an extra 20% experience; in actual combat, it also made it easier for Bai E to acquire basic combat experience. The speed of improvement is much faster than before, to a certain extent compensating for Bai E''s otherwise unremarkable combat talent. The instructor, unable to bear watching and turning his face away, finally walked over quickly and announced loudly, Read new adventures at M V L "95B27, wins!" After making the announcement, he shook his head and sighed softly, "You two better actually be competing... " [Side Quest¡ªFinals, progress updated; current reward: +300 Universal Experience.] Hearing the instructor''s soft complaint, Bai E and Rose, lying on the ground completely exhausted and unable to move, shared a smile. "Someone lift her off the field." "Cheer up." Along the way of being carried, Rose gestured with her mouth. "Goodbye." Bai E also smiled softly at her. [Your body is eagerly pleading for quick recovery, triggering the conversion of reserve energy sources into action. (Overlimit Drive working...)] [Physical recovery at 10%...] [Physical recovery at 30%...] Chapter 136: Blood God! Bai E and Rose''s battle was the one with the latest result, and warriors who struggled to defeat their opponents naturally had no room to catch their breath.Almost the moment the victory of Bai E was announced, the lineup for the subsequent matches was arranged. After two rounds of elimination, the new soldiers who provided easy points had mostly been swept away, and the few who remained were no longer lucky enough to encounter Bai E. "Next match, 95B27 versus 94A17!" The muscular man cracked his knuckles, his gaze fixed on Bai E, filled with undisguised aggression. "I''ve heard of you, the new honor of our orc lineage. Don''t worry, I''ll go easy on you!" He didn''t look like he planned to go easy at all... Bai E''s face showed no expression; he stood seemingly relaxed, but inwardly he had tensed, ready to explode into action at any moment. "Begin!" At the instructor''s command from the sidelines, the muscular man charged at him immediately. Words were just a distraction; whether or not the opponent was affected, he intended to close the gap step by step by step... [You demonstrate exceptional skill in close combat, instantly overpowering your enemy. Combat Proficiency Experience +7 (+1).] (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.) [Current Combat Proficiency Experience 42/300. At 300 points, you will master "Combat Specialization Layer 2."] [You deal 7 points of striking damage to your target! Causing the target to fall into a "stunned" state.] Bai E, having struck the opponent''s jaw with a low palm push, slowly withdrew his hand as the unnamed muscular man slowly toppled backward. "Bang!" The body hit the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Even the toughest body has its weak spots. Bai E felt somewhat disappointed; having been tempered by Rose, he had hoped all his adversaries would bring the same pressure that could push him to improve. But it seemed, even if the warrior was of a higher Combat Specialization level, the performance might not be as precise as Rose''s. Too crude... or rather, they didn''t take themselves seriously enough. Underestimating your opponent comes with a price. "95B27, wins!" [Side Mission¡ªFinals, progress increased, current reward: Universal Experience +400.] [Into the sixth round...] If he encountered another pushover, the chances were good. However... Bai E''s eyes swept across the entire arena; after several rounds of elimination, there were only 32 left, including himself. In an army camp of over ten thousand, selecting the most skilled fighters and then going through several rounds of elimination, the chances of still finding an easy opponent were probably not great... What lay ahead was likely going to be an unspeakably difficult fight. The only advantage he had was probably that he still maintained full stamina until now. ... "Next match, 95B27 versus 95B09!" "Blood God?" "That newcomer is done for~" "Meeting Blood God in nearly the fifth round, he''s just unlucky." "If I were him, I''d just surrender to spare myself the pain, Blood God doesn''t know the meaning of holding back." The moment the matchup appeared, there were voices that seemed not sure whether they were reveling in misfortune or quietly warning. Bai E''s opponent clearly had quite the reputation. In fact, Bai E didn''t need reminders from others; he could tell the opponent''s level from the drop rates displayed above the opponent''s head. [95B09/Blood God (Human) (Ally) (Elite) ¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill will drop: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*2400, Combat Experience 2500 points); Highly Probable (Trait: Regenerative Blood, Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding layer 6, Mastery: Agile Weapon Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding layer 6, Mastery: Heavy Weapon Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding layer 6); Possible (Skill: Extreme Pain Suppression, Specialty: Frenzy''s Surge.)] ``` Damn! The panel was so luxuriously unbelievable, I wanted to smash it... Read new adventures at M V L But even if it was a piece of crap, I still had to give it a try. Bai E''s body pressed down lightly, eyes gleaming with eagerness, ready to push his own limits. The Blood God was a tall and burly Caucasian male, his muscles not bloated, but filled with an explosive power. He seemed like an oversized version of Bai E. His fists were at least one and a half times larger than Bai E''s, covered with thick calluses, and his skin was yellowish, showing his toughness. Strong and resilient, the sheer oppression from his stature alone was enough to take anyone''s breath away. Looking at Bai E, Blood God slowly approached, no words spoken, just a slight parting of his lips, revealing an intimidating cold gleam. Fighting should be done fiercely! He didn''t like to hold back. ¡­ [You were hit by the opponent''s attack, you received 3 points of striking damage.] [You were hit by the opponent''s attack, you received 4 points of striking damage.] [You were hit by the opponent''s attack, you received 6 points of striking damage, you have entered "Light Injury" status, combat effectiveness drastically reduced!] [You were hit by the opponent''s attack, you received 10 points of striking damage, your current mental reflexes are sluggish, combat state significantly deteriorated, withdraw from combat immediately! Warning, withdraw from combat immediately!] It had only been a moment since the fight began, and the warnings on the panel flashed urgently like a stream of water. The opponent''s attacks were like a fierce storm, easily breaking through all of Bai E''s defenses. Even though Bai E had been rapidly growing in all aspects since birth, in a one-on-one close-quarter bare-handed fight against such a warrior, who would be considered top-tier even in a military camp, he was still no match at all. Struck by a punch on the side of his face, Bai E''s vision went dark. The Blood God''s fist felt as if it held the weight of a thousand jun, hitting his face was no better than being struck by a truck. It was unclear if the opponent had used Gene Optimization Solution, without it... that would probably be the peak combat power under a 15-point physical limit. The last coherent thought in Bai E''s fuzzy consciousness was this. "Bang!" [You were hit by the opponent''s attack, you received 8 points of striking damage, you have entered "Comatose" status.] "95B09, wins!" [Side Mission¡ªThe Final, progress settlement. Current reward: +400 general experience.] [Side Mission¡ªThe Final, completed.] [Mission reward: +400 general experience, issued.] ¡­ Some bustling noises rustled into his ears, and on his face, it felt like there was a warm tongue gently licking. Bai E tried to open his eyes, white light gleamed through the slits, making it hard to see. After struggling to open them wider, the creamy bright and soft light came into view, and the black shadow holding the towel paused, pulling back with some surprise, "You''re awake?" The voice was very familiar... Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E blinked, finally seeing everything in front of him clearly. It was the nurse in training... Mashati, yes, that was her name. "Hiss~" Subconsciously trying to move his body, a pain akin to broken bones spread from all over, and glancing down, he realized he was wrapped up like a zongzi. Memories before losing consciousness slowly came back, and the corners of Bai E''s mouth turned bitter. [The gap is really wide...] "Has he woken up?" Carlos''s voice came from a distance, rapidly barging in. ``` Chapter 137: 136 Exercise of privilege "Awake, are you..." Carlos approached quickly with a regretful expression on his face. He waved at Mashati to leave before he whispered to Bai E with a bitter smile, "There''s something I need to tell you."From the moment Bai E saw Carlos''s expression, he generally guessed the other''s purpose. His face, wrapped in gauze, remained serene, "Did I fail to qualify for the military operation?" In fact, the moment he was knocked down by the Blood God, he had already anticipated this. Dan''s rumor was that one needed to advance at least five rounds. Having fallen in the sixth, basically meant no chance. Originally, not knowing if his performance in the heavy firepower coverage test would give him a shot, he harbored some hope, but considering Carlos''s current expression... it seemed there was no hope either. "Yes..." Carlos replied with a trace of bitterness. During the time Bai E was unconscious, based on the data collected from all the soldiers in the camp over the past two days, the tactical analysis department had finalized the last twenty soldiers to join the secret military operation... and Bai E was not among them. Heavy firepower coverage? Bai E''s mistake rate in the latter stages rose significantly. Although he barely made it past the minimum selection criteria, there were many others far stronger. His individual scores were easily pushed back to beyond the fiftieth place. Close-quarters combat? In real combat, weapons like daggers and combat knives would definitely be used. Due to the internal competition not allowing for bloodshed, and since proficiency in agile weapons basically carries over from the Combat Specialization Layer, there was no qualitative difference between the two. Hence, the results of the combat competition were the standard for assessing close-quarters combat ability. And obviously, Bai E, who fell in the sixth round, had no significant advantage among the thirty-two men. As for Bai E''s performance in physical training, it was indeed outstanding, as he recovered his strength far faster than the other soldiers. However, fast recovery was meant to contribute more. In terms of output, in terms of taking a beating, it wasn''t his turn. Besides, none of the selected soldiers had any glaring weaknesses in endurance or recovery. In the final selection, physical performance carried less weight. Even with high scores in that area, the advantage it gave in the overall assessment wasn''t enough to offset weaknesses in other areas. No matter how outstanding Bai E''s talent was, a few days of intensive training couldn''t compete with those ace veterans who were equally talented but had survived longer and had more combat experience. Not securing a spot this time was regrettable, but not unexpected. As for other abilities that weren''t so important in the selection criteria, like driving or computer hardware knowledge... At least half of the chosen soldiers could drive. Whether they were experts was uncertain, but at a minimum, they could manage; regarding computer hardware knowledge... besides the specially trained information engineering soldiers, other types of soldiers simply didn''t have the opportunity to learn such skills. There was no need to even think about it. Thus, the roster for the military operation was locked in. Twenty ace soldiers, among them, no Bai E... At this moment, Bai E, hearing the news, showed no emotion in his response. Carlos didn''t know whether to comfort him or to just leave it at that. He could only follow his conscience and console, "It''s not really a big deal, don''t be disheartened. There will be plenty of opportunities to earn military merits in the future." "I want to try for it¡­" Bai E murmured softly. If it was merely for military merits, he wouldn''t care too much. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was plenty of time; no need to risk everything right now. But chances to access the so-called "relics" were rare; aside from this secret military operation disclosed by Carlos, Bai E had not heard any similar information during his days in the camp. Considering this might be his closest and only opportunity in the short term, he had to seize it firmly. The next time... The next time he didn''t know when it would be, nor what changes might occur. But... "Try for it?" Carlos looked puzzled. With what could he contend? Carlos was only there to inform Bai E of the negative result. Even he couldn''t think of a way to contend; this was a battle of tangible strength, not one that could be changed with mere words. Despite everyone''s spirited debates during meetings, when it came down to business, facts spoke louder than words. Strength is supreme; this is the immutable truth of the military. "Hmm..." Bai E nodded slowly, "I have a privilege." It came from Helen. It came from her knowledge of Advanced Physical Training Version 3.0. Helen, who was developing this and trying to spread it among all the soldiers, had once made a promise to him after he had provided important data¡ª "With this... you can make almost any reasonable request of them, and I think they will agree." The wise scholar with authority had made a promise, and now it seemed it might just come in handy. The premise was... that the military wouldn''t consider the suggestion "unreasonable". Explore more at M V L Carlos blinked. After Bai E''s reminder, he also recalled what Academician Helen emphasized to Marshal Weslin last night in front of a room full of officers. "..." If it was for the sake of Academician Helen''s face, it seemed... that there really was a chance? "I''ll go and ask for you," Carlos said, excited. As he turned to leave briskly, he also greeted An Lun, the head nurse not too far away, "Nurse Chief An Lun, please use the Number 17 Rapid Growth Spray on Bed 31B, Code 95B27. He has an important mission tomorrow and needs to recover as quickly as possible." Injuries were commonplace in this era; one might say that as long as a person didn''t die on the battlefield and could be brought back to the medical room, their life could almost certainly be saved. Losing arms or legs might be problematic, but most other injuries had fast treatments and slow treatments available; it was just a matter of cost. An Lun, busy with tasks at hand, rolled her eyes and ignored him. Instead, Mashati, who had been waiting nearby, responded promptly, "We''ve already used it first thing. He probably won''t even miss lunchtime." "This kid has quite a bit of clout..." Carlos muttered under his breath and smiled in response, "That''s good to hear." Watching Carlos walk away, Bai E became somewhat anxious. [We''re departing tomorrow...] If they were leaving tomorrow, then today''s noon would be his last chance to visit the players. With his current, bandaged-up state, it would be difficult to meet them. The players performed brilliantly last night, proving that the new mission he had released achieved the expected outcome. If he had to set out with the army early tomorrow and couldn''t catch up today, wouldn''t the wasted time without issuing a mission be a significant loss? Watching the seconds ticking by, Bai E''s anxiety reached fever pitch. In fact, ever since he woke up, he could feel itchiness all over his body. The cells that had died in the battle were being expelled from his body, and new cells were rapidly filled in under the influence of extraordinary medicine and his innate skills. [Your body is rapidly repairing its injuries. Current injury repair progress is at 90%, Rapid Recovery (Unlocked) progress is at 34%.] [You are rapidly regaining health¡­] [Health +1, current health 112/120.] ... [Feedback from the completed task, your physical strength +0.1.] [The quest you posted¡ª"Building Materials Required" has been submitted, please go and inspect it as soon as possible.] X3 Hurry, hurry, hurry! Getting up... Mashati''s frail hand forcefully pressed down. "I''m fine," Bai E tried to argue. The girl''s eyes were pure and stubborn, "You''re not the one who gets to decide if you''re fine or not." "..." "Tick-tock, tick-tock~" [Your body is rapidly repairing its injuries. Current injury repair progress is at 99%, Rapid Recovery (Unlocked) progress is at 35%.] [You are rapidly regaining health¡­] [Health +1, current health 120/120.] "I''m fine now!" Bai E shouted the moment he could. "Let me check..." Nurse Chief An Lun stepped over swiftly and elegantly. Only after a thorough examination did she nod in acknowledgment, "Indeed, you are." She couldn''t stop praising, "Such an unimaginable recovery speed... Let''s get these bandages off him." "Yes." Mashati''s nimble hands searched over his body; when the timing was almost right, Bai E suddenly tore off the last of his constraints. He jumped out of bed, put on his shoes, and ran off like a gust of wind. Watching Bai E''s retreating figure as he fled into the distance, Mashati bit her lip lightly, "So impatient..." Chapter 138: 137 contribution points issued On the road leaving the camp, Bai E quickly pondered the tasks he needed to complete today.Issuing quests was a must, and the psychological boost of +1 from yesterday allowed him to assign two days'' worth of tasks to those three players. Relics, relics, they sounded like they weren''t somewhere close to the military camp. If he really could use his privileges to set out with the team, it certainly wouldn''t be a trip he could return from in one or two days; that +1 limit was at best a way to minimize losses, but he expected it still wouldn''t break even. As for the type of quests... Yesterday''s tasks had a good effect, so he would keep them the same today. Another thing was... harvesting experience. The training session from the night before last had to be terminated because the weapons of those three players were not suitable. If he didn''t take the opportunity to harvest some experience today, he would have to set out with only a little over two thousand points of general experience. Facing the unknown journey ahead, it was always more comforting to have some extra experience to allocate at a moment''s notice. He just didn''t know how well they had dug out their storage, but if it was roughly ready, he could issue them some Contribution Value to incentivize them to come and learn from him. Otherwise, it would seem like a loss of face to offer teaching them himself. ... That familiar figure arrived as expected, and Kuang Xin, who had been waiting, looked a bit excited. The latter half of last night''s fatigue had left him somewhat frustrated, and perhaps only Bai E could help him with this issue. Of course, it was also possible that he couldn''t help. The issue was, attributes... Find more adventures on M V L Ever since his physical attribute reached 13 points, the efficiency of increasing it through daily activities¡ªeven physical labor like carrying heavy loads¡ªwas incomparable to when he had first started. Way too slow. This seemed to be a challenge faced by everyone in this world; otherwise, the ordinary people on Black Street should all be at the peak, the limits of human capabilities. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As far as he could tell from his gaming experience over the past several days, no one could provide an answer; the only solution was to engage in life-and-death combat¡ªjust like those grunts in the military camp. Many of the big-headed soldiers in the camp were seen as War Gods by the common people on Black Street precisely because they often went on missions and had abundant combat experience. Of course, it was rumored that the big-headed soldiers in the camp had their unique methods of Body Refinement. Scientific training methods developed by the Scientific Research Institute guided their progress every day, and this rumor was an important reason why Kuang Xin placed his hopes on Bai E. "My lord..." Upon Bai E''s arrival, all three players'' eyes lit up with joy. Last night''s quest had brought everyone substantial gains, with rich rewards and content that far outstripped what they had accessed before. The feedback on personal strength and the exploration of game content significantly surpassed what other struggling players had achieved, showing they had indeed latched onto an unimaginably strong leg. Bai E smiled warmly, taking the initiative to walk towards the entrance of the underground cave, "How''s the digging going?" He was quite concerned about this¡ªif the digging wasn''t extensive enough, he wouldn''t find an opportunity to issue Contribution Value. After all, if he distributed too much now, he would only have to distribute more later on, and he couldn''t afford the corresponding value in exchange. There had to be some threshold. And looking for other reasons to teach would easily diminish his value, which was quite a headache. "Wow~" Standing at the entrance and glancing down, he could hardly see the full extent without leaning in. Climbing down, he could estimate that there was already an area of several dozen square meters. With the addition of the mole-like creatures, the players'' progress in building their storage had indeed skyrocketed; their prowess as digging specialists was well-deserved. Descending into the cave himself, he was surprised to find the layout inside was clear-cut, with support pillars neatly arranged, and even a few small camouflaged compartments dug out, big enough for one person to hide. Was it... Because they feared that if someone discovered this place, they needed to provide the mole creatures with hiding spots so as not to reveal their connection with Kuang Xin and the others? Quite cautious indeed. "You''ve done a great job, your efficiency exceeded my expectations," Bai E nodded with satisfaction. Thus, the distribution of Contribution Value naturally followed. [Side Quest¡ªWarehouse Construction (Construction Commission), progress increased.] [Quest Reward (Phase): Contribution Value (Li Ming) +40, distributed.] X3 Bai E carefully awarded the rewards based on the Contribution Values needed to exchange items. Aside from the most expensive "Expert Guidance" within the remote weapon guidance in the basic exchange items, which required 50 points, everything else was exchangeable. "Expert Guidance" could teach two special attributes at the same time, but Bai E estimated that, given the short time around noon and the players'' experience reserves, it probably wouldn''t be enough to enable them to learn two special attributes directly. Learning either scattering or arc strike, just one of them, was his greatest expectation for them. Everything was designed with a purpose! After all, the exchange items were all from his own stash, and he had to think about the future. If he didn''t have enough exchange items to provide for them later, his position as the organization leader might very well be threatened on the spot. The three players who received the reward notification were ecstatic. Finally, they had some Contribution Value. Gaining the organization''s trust really wasn''t easy... "I want to exchange!" Kuang Xin was the first to exclaim. "Hmm?" Bai E looked toward him with a smile. Spend, please spend, throw all your experience at me. "My lord, I would like to learn a method that can quickly enhance my physical attributes." "..." Bai E subconsciously wanted to agree, then he realized that such an option wasn''t on the exchange list. Are you playing with me? "That belongs to high-level knowledge, and your current Contribution Value is not enough. Although such knowledge should be shared unconditionally within the organization, we must establish rules based on contributions and recognitions," Bai E explained. The information would definitely be given, even specifically for harvesting from them, but the rules set by Bai E himself couldn''t be broken. [There actually is such knowledge!] Kuang Xin was just excitedly inquiring casually. Hearing confirmation from the lord himself, he was immediately delighted. In the game, it''s not the difficulty of the content that players fear, but the lack of prospects for improvement. As long as there''s a clear path ahead, nothing is a problem. Just grind it! How hard can it be? As for what the lord said about Contribution Value, to even feel ashamed about it? Isn''t that the way it''s supposed to be? What in the game doesn''t require grinding? The fact that the game doesn''t have a pay-to-win shop is already hard to understand. If there weren''t thresholds to obtain all the good stuff, players might even suspect that this game is here for charity. "Then, my lord... could you reveal when it will be possible to exchange?" Ever since he avenged his enemy last night, Kuang Xin felt like he had a broader perspective on life and asked whatever came to his mind. "Hmm..." Bai E thought for a moment and then made a decision, "After you''ve experienced your first session of instruction." "Oh~" Got it! It''s about unlocking the next tier in the Faction Shop! Exchange, exchange! "My lord, I want to exchange right now! I want to learn!" Chapter 139: 138 Dedicates to Practice Bai E looked at him encouragingly, "What would you like to learn?""Ranged Weapon Specialization!" Dai Lian refused to be outdone, "I want to learn that too." A teachable lad! Bai E shook the bow, and the compound bow instantly unfolded, "Do you want to learn arc shooting or scatter shooting?" "Arc shooting!" "Scatter shooting!" Two answers blurted out simultaneously. Bai E looked at them expressionlessly, without saying a word. It was clearly impossible to teach both at the same time, and he didn''t have time to teach them separately during his lunch break. Realizing their opinions were not unified, the two exchanged glances, with Dai Lian being the first to challenge, "Scatter shooting is more practical!" Even if he was going for coolness and flair, Dai Lian still preferred practicality. He already had a pistol for arc shooting, and in sewer environments not suited for gunfire, its combat use would be limited; hunting rats hardly required arc shooting, so learning scatter shooting would clearly speed up his efficiency when clearing out the rat packs at night. "Arc shooting is cooler!" Arrows flew slower than bullets and were larger in size, making their arcs more exaggerated and more observable, meaning a greater visual impact. "Scatter shooting is also cool!" Dai Lian appealed to emotions and enlightened with reason. "It seems so..." The opinions aligned, "Then let''s go with scatter shooting." "..." Bai E raised an eyebrow slightly and walked to the side. When he learned scatter shooting, it had cost him a total of 900 combat experience points, and he wondered how much he could get back from these two players. Teaching archery was quite simple: all one needed was a target and a bow with arrows. They had cut plenty of lumber earlier, just erecting two pieces at random could serve as a target. Drawing the bow and releasing arrows, two arrows shot simultaneously. Discover hidden stories at M-V-L The arrowheads shone with cold light, glistening under the sunlight. [Do you decide to teach your target the combat skill?] [Confirmed!] ... ["Teaching" concluded, through the feedback of "teaching," you have obtained a total of 660 combat experience points, and 870 general experience points.] Only 1530 combined? Bai E put away his bow and arrows, frowning to himself. He had spent 900 combat experience points, but teaching two people at the same time hadn''t resulted in a double return. Glancing at Dai Lian, who was already beaming with joy, Bai E roughly guessed the reason. This young man''s innate talent was most likely related to shooting, making him learn similar shooting skills much more effectively and using less experience to achieve the same result. Indeed... innate talents, even when unlocked, continuously exert their influence in various fields. That''s each person''s unique gift. But it was still ok, surely he hadn''t lost out; he spent 900 and got back 1530, with free tuition and bonuses to boot, it was a win. As Dai Lian and Kuang Xin finished learning, Gong Yan approached with a smile on her lips, her eyes on Bai E filled with undisguised admiration, "Sir, I want to learn advanced bandaging techniques... but it seems we don''t have the conditions right now?" Every learning process requires a foundation to build upon, and without the conditions, one obviously can''t teach out of thin air, can they? "Pfft!" The sound of a knife entering flesh came from not far away, and Kuang Xin declared boldly, "Does this provide the conditions needed?" "..." "????" "!!!!" All three present turned their gazes towards Kuang Xin, their eyes filled with astonishment. What a man! So fierce! Bai E grumbled in his heart, "Do players these days all take such wild approaches?" They don''t feel anything when they play this game, do they? "But..." "Pfft!" A sharp object broke through the resistance of flesh and skin, plunging into his body amidst an extreme tingling sensation of pleasure. Taken off guard, Dai Lian looked down at the dagger stuck in his chest, grasped by a hand covered in fresh blood. His eyes, full of confusion, turned to the owner of the dagger, "It''s one thing to stab yourself, but why stab me?" "?" Kuang Xin replied with an almost obvious question, "For one to teach and another to learn, don''t you need two people?" "..." That made sense. As Dai Lian watched his bright red blood spurting out along with the dagger''s blood groove, he felt dizzy, his limbs grew cold, and he collapsed backward uncontrollably, "Save, save, save me..." Bai E, quick on his feet, dashed forward to catch his falling body. At the same time, he looked towards Gong Yan, who was also a bit dumbfounded, "Hurry." An opportunity not to be missed. [Do you decide to teach the target survival skills?] [Confirm!] Lying on the ground, Kuang Xin curiously glanced sideways at Dai Lian, whose face was turning somewhat pale, "Dai, are you faint at the sight of blood?" He didn''t seem to have this issue when he was coolly slaying monsters, did he? He fought brutally. Dai Lian''s vision darkened, and upon hearing Kuang Xin''s question, he couldn''t help but roll his eyes, "I faint at the sight of my own blood!" Bleeding in the game definitely wouldn''t truly affect his gaming status, but the sight of vivid red liquid gushing from his own body made him feel as if his life was draining away with it. His willpower even determined his in-game physical state, leaving the game character''s face deathly pale. Thankfully, the grown-up''s hand seemed to have some strange magic power, stopping the feeling of life ebbing away as he explained things. Wuu wuu~ The grown-up was just awesome. [You have spent 10 generic experience points learning, converting to 5 "First Aid (Bandaging)" experience points.] [Current First Aid (Bandaging) experience: 80/300, unlock advanced bandaging knowledge "Level 2 First Aid (Bandaging)" at 300 points.] "Alright..." "It''s done?" After finishing the bandaging, Gong Yan felt a sense of loss. Is that it? But I still haven''t learned everything, have I? Bai E glanced at her expression, and from the feedback of experience points, he knew she hadn''t learned everything. Therefore, he gravely explained the reason, "There aren''t enough cases to practice on, not enough opportunities for you to try; it''s not your fault..." Though knowledge could be taught directly, just like how he learned bandaging from Nurse An Lun, simply teaching knowledge didn''t seem to reap experience points. It had to be hands-on teaching to bring sufficient feedback for himself. Imparting knowledge wasn''t the goal, reaping experience points was. Players had plenty of experience points, he wasn''t about to feel sorry for them. Gong Yan said "Oh" softly, her face showing a bit of disappointment. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She knew the grown-up was busy and that she probably wouldn''t be able to finish learning now. "Clack~" The flint ignited the fat, and Kuang Xin''s left hand blazed fiercely. "..." "???" "!!!" Seeing Kuang Xin this time even knew to inquire with his gaze, Dai Lian covered his eyes with his left hand and resignedly stretched out his right, gritting his teeth, "Come on!" Like hands numbed by freezing in the frigid winter suddenly brought to the warmth of a stove, the slightly painful and fiery sensation stimulated Dai Lian''s nerves. With his high perception attributes, his body was very sensitive, so he had a deeper understanding of the game''s pain feedback, which was radically different from the real world. Hiss, hiss, hiss~ Ah, delightful~ Chapter 140: 139 Privilege Takes Effect ["Teaching" concluded. Through the feedback from the "teaching," you have obtained a total of 600 universal experience points.]Mission accomplished. Bai E wrapped the bandages around Dai Lian, seated nearby, with a sense of relief. This was a great warrior who had sacrificed himself for the truth, suffering knife wounds, gunshot wounds, blunt trauma, burns... almost exhausted all his life points, hanging by a thread. Gamers are gamers, their ferocity goes without saying. "All done," Bai E said as he patted his hands and stood up, "Today''s teaching is limited to this, as I don''t have much time. In fact, I came today to bid you farewell once again." "Farewell?" The word left the three gamers momentarily stunned. Bai E chuckled softly, "What? As a soldier, I must frequently carry out military missions." Bai E was only making preparations in advance, not just for now but possibly for many more missions in the future. He hadn''t dismissed the idea of leaving the military camp, but now was certainly not the time. In close combat, he couldn''t even beat an ordinary soldier in the camp, let alone those who had used Gene Optimization Solution or those who possessed the innate ability of Spiritual Energy. The selection for this secret military operation made Bai E realize his own weaknesses. No matter how rapidly he grew, there was a considerable gap between him and the veterans in the camp, to say nothing of the vast world beyond. Moreover, the military camp was not a dangerous place for him currently. His superiors took good care of him, his comrades were kind and close, even the Scientific Research Institute wouldn''t casually slice him up for samples. He hadn''t found a better environment for growth yet, one so good he wouldn''t want to leave even if prompted. "Sir, how many days will you be away this time?" "Hmm," Bai E''s eyes slightly out of focus, as if contemplating the specific arrangements, "It''s uncertain. This operation is covert; I shouldn''t be revealing it to you, so the specifics are even harder to pin down, and it''s uncertain whether I''ll go at all. I''m just giving you a heads-up. If I do go, I''ll leave tomorrow, and it''s very likely that you won''t see me at noon." "Oh~" All three showed clear reluctance. Putting aside the affection that had developed over a short association, a day without him was a day without missions. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E''s generosity made other NPCs pale in comparison; a few more days away could well leave them at a total loss. Bai E laughed heartily, "While I''m gone, you could interact more with the other residents here. Everyone''s very nice... Of course, you should always be cautious; there are always some bad people who hide their true faces." It was like the earnest teaching of a wise elder, imparting life experiences with great care on the eve of departure. Discover exclusive tales at M-V-L This attitude of treating them as one of his own moved the three gamers. The game was too real, and emotions like being moved or recognized came on even stronger. "Of course, I''d like you to continue with the task I''ve troubled you with before. As long as those risks are not eliminated, I will always feel uneasy." [Quest description auto-generating...] [...] [Release this quest?] Release. The mission remained the same as before; the only difference was that one mission became two, and the rewards for the circuit task continued to accumulate. The quest description was clearly displayed. Two mission quotas! The bond increased! Indeed, consistently developing a relationship with an NPC did have unexpected benefits. Dai Lian, who was initially worried about a loss in mission rewards, felt a surge of excitement¡ªsome had been recouped. "I have been delayed here long enough; I need to head back. Tomorrow at this time, you might not see me, and I won''t be able to bid you farewell. Goodbye... I hope when I return, I''ll see a better version of you all." Bai E waved his hand with ease and turned away with a carefree air. Every day, they discovered a new aspect of him... Once sure Bai E had departed, Dai Lian began to ponder while stroking his chin, "The boss seems to know we''re not locals, doesn''t he?" The way he had just told them to get to know the locals clearly held an implication; he considered the locals and the three of them as separate groups. Was he suspicious of their player identities, or did he think they were outsiders, migrants perhaps? Kuang Xin felt it was only natural, "Makes sense... The boss is so powerful, he must have his own intelligence network. We appeared out of nowhere, and even though it''s difficult to investigate identities in this era, at minimum he knows we''re definitely not locals." "Right..." Dai Lian nodded in agreement, what did it matter if suspicions were raised? In fact, he was just curious to see what kind of actions an NPC would take in such a realistic game if they truly knew they were "players." But as far as he knew, not many players revealed their identities to NPCs, most reveled in this deceit, and even players pretending to be NPCs to deceive other players were not uncommon. Werewolf Among the Stars... Never mind whether NPCs could differentiate between players and non-players, even the players themselves might not always recognize whether someone they met was a friend or a foe. There might be some who divulged their identities for fun, but at least he currently did not know what became of them... perhaps they had already restarted. "Then... let''s continue digging our pit." Kuang Xin cheerfully showed off his bandages, saying, "Wrapped up like a mummy, I can''t move at all." Dai Lian was exasperated, "Are you out of your mind?" Kuang Xin''s tone was carefree, "Isn''t it all for Yanzi? There are no resurrection opportunities in the early stages of this game, no life-saving means to turn to in a critical moment. If we lose now, won''t all our hard work go to waste?" "..." Dai Lian hesitated, realizing the gorilla had a point. What was more important... was that he had made the decision to cut himself as soon as he''d realized this. Even in a game, that took an enormous amount of courage. Was this determination... really a breakthrough after taking down his enemy last night? Kuang Xin rambled on with his thoughts, "The boss''s time is limited, and we can''t always wait until later, right? If there aren''t conditions, we''ll create them. Since it doesn''t hurt and we won''t die, why not let Yanzi practice on us?" "Got it, got it," Dai Lian conceded reluctantly, "Smart move this time." Kuang Xin''s expression fell, "Even when you''re complimenting me, I feel like you''re insulting me." "No, I''m really complimenting you." Gong Yan watched the two bicker with a grin and stayed silent. ... When Bai E returned to the military camp, he immediately bumped into Carlos waiting right at the entrance. "What have you been up to again?" Carlos asked offhandedly, but he clearly wasn''t concerned with the answer and excitedly shared the good news with Bai E, "Passed! We set off early tomorrow morning, the commanding officer responsible for this military operation will give you basic training for the upcoming mission¡ªmake sure you don''t miss it!" Chapter 141: Depart at 140 In the dimly lit conference room, twenty silhouettes sat on either side of a long table, with the leading officer standing at the head, waiting in silence.Bai E was the last to arrive. As he pushed the door and entered, the group said nothing and the atmosphere turned somewhat eerie. "Eh? There''s still one more?" someone broke the silence, their tone seemingly just simple curiosity. No one replied. There was a mocking look in everyone''s eyes. No one respected those who entered an elite secret operation team through the back door wanting to share in the glory. Bai E kept a straight face and did not make a sound; he just glanced around briefly, and seeing an empty seat at the end of the table, he went over and sat down. He knew he was not welcome in this team, and it''s normal to be looked down upon for entering through the back door anywhere. Not to mention that when everyone else was risking their lives on a mission, having someone who "drags their feet" would certainly cause resentment. But Bai E didn''t want to miss this rare opportunity to explore ancient ruins. As for whether he would hold the team back during the mission... that would be a matter of doing his best. The soldier sitting next to him, smiling at Bai E in a friendly manner as if trying to make his acquaintance, asked, "Brother, how did you get selected? Marksmanship? Assassination? You''re not an information officer, are you?" "..." Gregory frowned slightly and stopped this mockery, "Alright, everyone''s here, so I''ll get right to the point." The officer leading the team, with his hands pressed on the table, leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over the teammates who would accompany him on the mission. Discover stories with M-V-L As he spoke, the projector behind him timely displayed an image¡ª A square building covered in vines occupied most of the screen, with only a small part visible on the surface, and the remaining depth of the main body buried underground unknown. Amidst a soft "click" sound, the photo changed, showing several shots of the building from different angles. The style was distinct from any architecture Bai E had seen since he arrived in this world, filled with a cold mechanical aesthetic. The silver-gray building had stood for a thousand years, unyielding. Bai E''s gaze sharpened slightly as he noticed the date in the upper-left corner of the photo¡ªAugust 3, 398 of the New Imperial Calendar, at 2:32 and 16 seconds in the afternoon. That was over forty years ago. "These are the most recent photos we have concerning the mission target, dating back over 40 years, as you can all see. The information from above says that a bunch of centuries-old antiques¡ªbiomechanical beings¡ªare occupying the target location. Whether their vitality is enough to sustain them to this day is an unknown." Clenching a copy of the combat plan in his hand, the officer slammed it onto the table with a loud "smack," "This is the combat strategy against biomechanical beings that I''ve received, but we may not need it. In fact, we haven''t had any understanding of the situation inside the target for hundreds of years, so..." The leading officer''s tone was grave, his eyes slowly sweeping over all the soldiers under his command, "No one knows what awaits us inside the target building. It could be those brainless orcs, it could be bugs... or maybe nothing at all. I have only one requirement for all of you¡ªobey commands! I know you''ve all been pulled from various teams in the military barracks, and you may not know me yet, but that''s fine; we will get to know each other on the way. If anyone has any objections, they can raise them now. After we depart, those who defy orders will be executed on the spot. Understood?" The atmosphere fell into a brief silence, then, almost as if by agreement, all the soldiers replied in unison, "Understood!" First establishing his own authority and then moving on to the specifics, the unfamiliar soldiers needed to cooperate on the mission, and the last thing they wanted was a lack of unified command. The officer, gratified by the collective response, continued. "Good, let''s now get familiar with this plan. Although we may not need it, you all need to memorize it! Our mission objective this time is to restart the root server of the internet located underground within the target construction..." "... Now, let''s discuss the operation plan. I know each of you excels in different areas, but I need all of you to do more than just your duties; you must also cooperate with your teammates on other combat assignments..." "... Finally, let me mention the personnel we need to protect and assist on this mission¡ªthe Minister of Information Department Likok and his assistant, Miss Aryan. Remember, unless it''s the final server restart phase, cooperate with them when they need help. Other than that, they are simply our protection targets... targets that require our lives to protect, but don''t let their instructions influence any of your decisions! Understood?" "Understood!" "Good. One last thing, I know that everyone present has some unique skills, so... if you need any special materials, you can ask me now, and I''ll compile a request. I want to emphasize that this won''t cost you any military merit; after so many years in the barracks, I still have that clout!" The officer''s tone grew slightly playful at the end, and in the conference room, which had been under a pressurized atmosphere, some more spirited soldiers cheered. "Woo-hoo!" "The officer is fucking awesome!" Indeed, fucking awesome. Bai E was forthright and unapologetic, not caring whether they liked him or not. In any case, he first wanted 500 arrows! "That''s too many..." The commanding officer''s face darkened slightly as he looked at the expression Bai E submitted, manually adjusting, "200 arrows should be sufficient." "Alright then," Bai E accepted. Having some was better than none... As for the rest of the gear¡ªmachine guns, pistols, military knives, daggers, chainswords, tridents, alloy shields, and the like¡ªthese were basic military supplies that didn''t require special requests. "Okay," said the commanding officer, Gregory, as he unconsciously raised an eyebrow looking at the list of items that needed approval, "That''s the basic arrangements done. Everyone go back and prepare, get some early rest, tonight might be the most peaceful night you''ll have for a while. We assemble and depart at six in the morning!" "Yes, sir!" After leaving the meeting room, Bai E wanted to find Yue Ying. Although he hadn''t gained much in physical attributes, the burst from the Overlimit Drive gave him a bit of a foundation and confidence to learn the skill "Steady Wind"... Unfortunately, he couldn''t find her. All he could do was honestly return to his tent in the residential area. Carefully maintaining his firearms, bowstrings, and daggers, Bai E found a sense of peace in his heart while doing these tasks. Despite the unknown awaiting him, it seemed there was nothing to fear. [Feedback from the commission, your Insight +0.2.] [Feedback from the commission, Long Ranged Weapons Proficiency Experience +75.] [Feedback from the commission, Light Weapons Proficiency Experience +32.] [Feedback from the commission, Close Combat Proficiency Experience +5.] ... [Feedback from the commission, your Reflex +0.1.] [Feedback from the commission, Close Combat Proficiency Experience +18.] ... Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Feedback from the commission, Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +52.] As the first light of dawn crept through the cracks into the tent, Bai E dressed in his gear as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the others... "Click!" The fastening clicked into place. The black combat suit perfectly protected Bai E''s body, a Desert Eagle pistol ready at his waist, the dull black-painted dagger in his calf sheath thirsty for blood, an arrow quiver on his back, a compound bow hanging at his waist, and five ammunition magazines filled with bullets slotted into the multi-functional pockets on his belt, with a heavy machine gun cradled in his arms. He was armed to the teeth. With his left arm cradling the issued combat helmet, Bai E took one last look at the four still-sleeping teammates inside the tent. This operation was a secret mission. Even though there were slight whispers about the selection process in the camp, those who were actually participating obviously couldn''t reveal any information. The departure was silent and undisturbed. The moment the canvas lifted, all four sleeping figures quietly opened their eyes. Looking at the empty beds where someone once lay, none of them spoke a word. They wished him a safe journey. ... Early in the morning at six o''clock and five minutes, three specially modified off-road vehicles drove out of the south gate of the camp, kicking up a trail of dust. Chapter 142: 141 Prepare to meet the enemy! "We do the dull and exhausting work, yet we''re given the worst possible gear... Sigh!"The vehicle wobbled along, the noise of the tires crushing gravel was quite loud, and an excessively good noise-cancellation feature could render everyone too insensitive to their surroundings, so even a bit of activity was easily heard clearly by everyone inside the not-so-large cabin. There were a total of 20 elite soldiers selected, plus one leading officer, one Spiritual Energy user, Minister Likok and his assistant Miss Aryan, adding up to two, and then there was Bai E, who didn''t replace anyone but was simply added to the team. In all, there were 25 people, in three vehicles; two vehicles seated eight each, and one vehicle sat nine. Minister Likok and Miss Aryan both rode in the other two vehicles. As each of them had the independent command ability to restart the Root Server, they were separated to ride in different vehicles in preparation for any sudden incidents, following the principle of not putting all eggs in one basket. As for Bai E''s vehicle, which wasn''t carrying anyone of significant importance, it naturally took on the responsibility of leading the way and scouting ahead. Without a doubt, this was a dangerous task, and a dangerous task naturally required more reliable teammates. Some soldiers, who wouldn''t say anything in front of their superior officers but couldn''t control their tongues in private, felt somewhat unbalanced about having a "useless" person who had connections placed in their vehicle. The harsh words of the irritable soldier didn''t receive any agreement, but neither did they prompt any objections. The atmosphere sank into a weird silence, paradoxically making the noise of the vehicle even more jarring. It was as if everyone was waiting for Bai E''s response. Silence was the greatest contempt, and all the pressure bore down like a mountain on the so-called "dead weight." Your next read awaits at M-V-L Looking at everyone''s somber expressions, the Asian soldier with a mature and honest face gave Bai E a comforting smile to break the silence, "Stop it, Brother B27 is quite capable, he just had bad luck and ran into the Blood God before." "Heh~" The man who had spoken earlier sneered sarcastically, not even glancing at Bai E but just peering out the window, "I''m not naming anyone, just hoping no one holds us back in a fight." "This..." The Asian soldier gave Bai E an apologetic look, feeling his own clumsy words had unwittingly put Bai E in the spotlight, and fearing to speak again. The mood was rife with undercurrents, and once again, silence prevailed. It felt as though all eyes were pointedly focused on him, making the atmosphere tense. The unnamed ridicule and scoffing made it even harder for one to stay composed, but Bai E remained expressionless, his body leaning against the vehicle''s wall as it swayed with the motion. If a few sharp comments could easily breach his defenses, then he didn''t deserve to live in this world. The corruption of the high-dimensional demons was far more soul-piercing than these verbal snippets. What he cared more about was observing his surroundings and utilizing the resources at hand. This was his first time embarking on an outdoor mission, and he needed to familiarize himself with the team''s setup. The space inside the off-road vehicle was quite large, so even with eight people, it didn''t feel cramped. In the front cab, one soldier was in charge of driving, while another assisted with observing the outdoor conditions and guiding the driving route. With rapid off-road driving, both people were constantly on edge, unable to spare any attention for what was happening in the rear cabin. As for the rear half of the cabin, it was semi-enclosed and stored various survival and combat supplies needed by the group. The middle part of the cabin was the space where the remaining six sat, with each person having welded, fixed storage compartments at their feet, housing the weapons and ammunition that might be needed at the first sign of combat. The roof hatch could be opened at any time, and like a Multi-function Infantry Vehicle, it was equipped with a heavy machine gun and a flamethrower. The sides of the vehicle also had firing ports that could be opened from the inside, providing sufficient firepower to keep the vehicle moving unrestrictedly, which was the greatest responsibility of the six people inside the cabin. Bai E strove to memorize the layout inside the carriage, ensuring that he could react swiftly and accurately during the most chaotic skirmishes. "Hey, kid, you know how to shoot?" sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The veteran Caucasian warrior sitting closest to Bai E glanced at the battle blade machine gun hanging on Bai E''s chest and suddenly asked him. Bai E nodded in response. "I do." "You passed the advanced shooting test?" "Yes." "Pfft," a dismissive sneer sounded from the front. The Caucasian warrior smiled, glancing around at everyone. Having participated in the advanced shooting test and having seen Bai E before, he initiated the conversation to comfort the soldiers who still harbored misgivings about the arrangement. With his rich experience in field missions, he understood that unity was the most crucial element in a team. Everyone selected was an elite, and pride was common, but for the sake of the mission''s success rate, even the most elite warriors needed support and cooperation from their teammates. Perhaps his calm demeanor and rich experience were the reasons why his superiors had assigned him to this specific vehicle. "As long as you passed, that''s good. Only four of us on this vehicle have passed the advanced firepower test. If we run into tough enemies, the old one and I will need to operate the weapons on top of the vehicle at critical moments. Inside the carriage, only you and AB can help us intercept any stragglers that get too close." AB was a taciturn synthetic warrior, holding a machine gun in his embrace. Hearing the old soldier''s plan, he didn''t say a word, just silently leaned in the corner and nodded. The team leader indeed had meticulous plans for encountering the enemy and also had the capability to command in real-time through radio headsets, but when it came to each of the three vehicles fighting on their own, accurate and timely decisions from the people inside the vehicle were still necessary. There were a total of eight warriors on this vehicle, with the front two responsible for driving. The co-driver might also have some fighting capability, but he could not be relied upon as the main force. Among the six in the back, two were masters in close-quarters combat. Although they could also shoot, their accuracy was significantly reduced, and there was no way to provide them with a stage for melee combat during the drive. If they encountered enemies on the road, they could almost only watch helplessly. There might seem to be many warriors in the vehicle, but in actual combat, only four could effectively fight, making each one of them extremely precious. Bai E nodded and agreed with the arrangement, "Okay." As they spoke, Bai E began disassembling the battle blade from his machine gun. After observing the inside of the vehicle and mentally rehearsing possible battle scenarios since boarding, he had fully planned for combat conditions. Under normal circumstances, the two components of the battle blade machine gun are combined, but given the limited conditions for attack through the firing ports on the vehicle, there would be no use for the battle blade. The cumbersome blade would only hinder agility in combat. What was once a multifunctional attachment now just became cumbersome, so it was better to take it off. "Prepare for alert!" The soldier in the driver''s cab leading the way suddenly issued a reminder. "We will be passing by the edge of the Blood Raven Forest ahead, which could disturb them and lead to an attack. Be ready to defend against a sudden strike." It would be safer to completely bypass the forest, but it would take at least an extra three hours. Besides, there were no completely safe places in the wilderness in this era. Taking a longer route could increase the chances of encountering other dangers. A flock of Blood Ravens was not an especially dangerous enemy, so taking a certain risk and passing by their territory was the best planned route. "Understood," the Caucasian warrior responded first, and then with a "click" sound, he unlocked the safety on his machine gun, the noise rising eagerly like boiling oil, "Ready for enemy contact!" Chapter 143: 142 Blood Ravens Assault! "Thump~ Thump~"With the unknown lying ahead, Bai E''s heart began to pump blood faster. The combat arrangements made yesterday afternoon were meticulous, clearly outlining information about all potential enemies along the route and their respective battle plans. Even if not everyone could remember every detail, a general impression was enough to ensure they wouldn''t be completely lost when an encounter occurred. If his memory served him right, the so-called "Blood Crows" they were about to encounter were actually native species of the planet that had been contaminated by various biological spores released by the Bug Race. These black birds, originally fond of carrion, cohabitated with a bloodthirsty plant in order to adapt to the drastically changing environment following the Bug Race''s arrival. This plant took root inside their bodies and continuously drew nutrients from them, driving the birds to seek food frequently due to their insatiable hunger. Without carrion... living creatures could also become corpses. This made the originally timid birds become highly aggressive. In some way, they were also like diligent bees with pollen on their feet, spreading bloodthirsty plant spores that latched onto any living being they attacked. Even if such a creature survived, it was highly likely to be contaminated with the spores shed during the birds'' wing flaps. Should these spores take root and sprout, the consequences were obvious. They must not be allowed to get close to the vehicles. Without a sound, Bai E unlocked the lock of the storage compartment at his feet. Rows of neatly arranged ammunition were ready for use. ... "Caw!" A hoarse and unpleasant cry sounded from the branches covered in a sooty black grease, and the misshapen tree trunks twisted into strange shapes. The black birds perched quietly, taking a brief rest. They had been away from the camp for three hours. If their goal had been the Bug Race nest, they would have already arrived. However, they naturally chose a route that would not take them directly through the Bug Race nest, even though their destination lay broadly in the same southern direction. These areas close to the Bug Race nest were also affected by the ecological contamination brought about by those insects. "Everyone, be careful," the team leader''s steady voice came through the earpiece. Bai E glanced at the birds resting quietly on the branches, sweat beginning to form in the palm of his hand, his grip unconsciously tightening on the handle of the machine gun. Passing beneath the watchful eyes of what could be the enemy, it felt like countless gazes were tightly fixed on him from the shadows. The pressing tension was like a heavy black cloud weighing on his heart, making it difficult to breathe. Everyone watched nervously outside the vehicle, hoping against hope to pass by unnoticed... or else, to go to battle! If a fight really broke out, it would at least alleviate the current anxiety. "Rustle rustle rustle..." The quiet wilderness was filled only with the sound of tires crunching over the sandy gravel. "Caw!" Occasionally, a bird would let out a pitiful cry as if from a dream. The sleeping Blood Crows dreamed of succulent, rotting flesh, large and satisfying chunks to feast upon. "Caw!" They bit down only to find nothing! Disappointment. Before their groggy eyes, three large shadows appeared. Living... things? Blood-red eyes gleamed faintly as the incessant hunger flared up, consuming their entire consciousness. "Flap Flap~" With a flap of their wings, the shadows swooped down rapidly. Intent on feeding before its siblings noticed, it was determined to be the first to feast! "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" Gunshots erupted almost simultaneously from three vehicles, and several gliding shadows fell to the ground at the sound. "Pat pat pat!" As they hit the ground, they smashed into a heap of gore, with the bright red roots of plants wriggling like little snakes through the flesh, feasting one last time. These damned creatures bore lethal spores, and it was impossible to let any get close. The voice of the Caucasian middle-aged man inside the vehicle suddenly heated up, "Enemy contact!" The thick valve opened, and the middle-aged man with his helmet, as well as another soldier, stepped on the platform inside the vehicle and leaned out. They skillfully hooked the combat suit''s belt buckle onto the mount next to the skylight and steadied themselves with heavy machine guns and flamethrowers, awaiting the arrival of those damned creatures. Your next journey awaits at M-V-L The sound of gunfire awakened the beasts that had been slumbering in the early morning, as countless pairs of crimson eyes, resembling blood agates, snapped open almost simultaneously. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everywhere was teeming with them. Their original camouflage, as dark as the tree trunks, made it impossible to discern their numbers. But as soon as their eyes opened, the countless pairs of blood-red eyes resembled the gaze of the Grim Reaper, and a sense of pressure as sharp as a blade''s edge against the skin was instantly maxed out. "Click." Bai E opened the firing port, and the gun barrel protruded. The shooting conditions were not optimal, and the angle couldn''t cover the entire area. But he was only responsible for patching up gaps. The main firepower came from the heavy machine guns and flamethrowers mounted on the roofs of the three vehicles. In an instant, black wings unfurled, and hordes of blood crows blanketed the sky. The convoy continued to move, everyone quietly waiting until they came within a sufficient shooting range, when the commanding officer''s voice suddenly roared in everyone''s earpiece, "Fire!" "Da da da da da~" The bullets from the heavy machine gun rapidly depleted, with casings bouncing and flying off in the path of the vehicles. The vicious metal storm instantly tore a gap in the dense blood crow flock, revealing the sky through it. "Pup pup pup~" Bullets pierced through flesh and feathers scattered. Like rainfall, the corpses cascaded down. Three dense barrages of fire swept left and right, and for a time, the massive army of blood crows could not advance an inch. In an instant, drawing on past experiences, the blood crows, not completely irrational, found the characteristics of the "heat weapons" created by these beings called "humans." Just in an instant, their flight paths scattered, preferring to take a longer detour to maintain a certain distance from each other. After spreading out, the pressure of their assault was noticeably greater than before. The three heavy gunners targeted the enemy''s dense airspace as much as possible, but their efficiency greatly decreased. After drawing closer, tongues of fire over twenty meters long burst forth. The flamethrowers with closer lethal range, were even more effective against these small to mid-sized creatures. Under the high-temperature blaze, all the blood crows in range immediately turned into roasted birds, plummeting down, and those deadly spores were also completely neutralized by the heat. "Da da da! Da da da!" Bai E''s machine gun began firing in short three-round bursts. The dense blood crow swarms would receive focused attention from the heavy machine guns and flamethrowers, while the machine gun inside the vehicle targeted those smaller groups of blood crows that were closer to the vehicles. With their overwhelming numbers, it was impossible for the convoy to eradicate them all. Success meant escaping to a distance where the blood crows couldn''t pursue due to exhaustion. So what was needed at this moment was not a suppressive barrage of fire, but precise and lethal defense! [Successfully hit several rapidly moving long-distance targets, light firearms proficiency experience +3.] [Hit target, dealing 22 points of piercing damage!] ... Chapter 144: 143 The mainstay of the middle stream The Blood Crows'' defensive capabilities weren''t formidable, and each bullet that hit its mark could achieve sufficient lethality. This was simply a standoff between firepower and numbers.Would they be overwhelmed by the Blood Crows, or would they exhaust the creatures'' stamina to the point where they couldn''t maintain the chase... If everything went without a hitch, it should be the latter. The tactical planning beforehand took these foreseeable dangers into account, and if nobody messed up, it was unlikely that problems would occur. Dense black clouds enveloped the sky, and beneath the shadows, the three off-road vehicles raced wildly. The outdoor terrain was complicated, and even with a co-driver to navigate the path, the speed of the vehicles still couldn''t increase significantly. All four passengers within the vehicle commenced firing. The two close-combat experts weren''t completely ignorant about firearms; military training ensured their soldiers didn''t become too specialized. When strength reached a certain level, the differentiation between ranged and melee combatants wasn''t that apparent. In daylight, the flames from the gun''s muzzles weren''t blinding, but their roar was relentless. "Ammo! Ammo!" a testy voice called out within the vehicle. The hotheaded hand-to-hand combat specialist reached for a magazine but found all of them empty. Each soldier was only equipped with a maximum of five magazines, and after depleting them, they''d have to manually load each bullet into the magazines. However, in the heat of battle, the soldier felt his absence would be detrimental, and his gaze involuntarily swept the interior of the vehicle, looking for any fully loaded magazines. An abnormal rhythm of gunfire immediately caught his attention¡ª "Dada Dada! Dada Dada!" The steady burst-fire rhythm was starkly distinct from the others. As he glared at the magazines attached to the other''s waist, the irate soldier felt fury boiling within him. Damn it! I knew I didn''t like this kid from the start! Shooting like he''s tiptoeing, like a damn woman! And he claimed to be a gunner who passed the advanced shooting test? I burned through six magazines already, and he''s not even through three. Even if my hit rate is only half of his, my contribution is definitely more substantial! Useless! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Give me the magazine!" Bai E glanced at him, frowned slightly, but still drew a magazine from his waist and slapped it into his hand. "Another one!" ... Without a word, Bai E quickly handed over another and turned back to continue shooting and reaping. A brand-new monster represented a prime opportunity to earn experience¡ªwasting it was out of the question. [Successfully hit multiple long-distance fast-moving targets, experience with light firearms mastery +53.] (stacked) (Extremely low chance to awaken special attributes.) [Struck a crital hit on the target, inflicting 51 points of critical damage!] [Struck the target''s vital, causing 21 points of piercing damage!] [Having completely defeated the target, you''ve gained 305 points of combat experience.] (stacked) Indeed, battles were the quickest way to improve oneself; the experience gained from new monsters was fierce. Each one worth 5 points, the individual experience wasn''t much, but the quantity was substantial, and after killing over 60, there was no sign of experience points diminishing... Maybe each type of monster had different requirements for experience reduction? Bai E had no time to ponder further. Amid continuous firing, his understanding of awakening special attributes under heavy firepower was deepening. The brief epiphany he had during the advanced shooting test resurfaced in his mind. Minimizing the rate of ineffective shots was also a key element to maintaining firepower for extended durations. Cold firearms equally needed gentle care. During moments of lesser pressure, Bai E would even brace the machine gun with his chest, freeing both hands to quickly load bullets into an emptied magazine. In fact, he had already depleted four magazines, which meant that one of the three magazines he had attached around his waist had been refilled during the battle. He needed to scavenge as much as possible, get in on the kills and experience, while also maintaining his own condition to ensure he could be the last line of defense for the team in the event of any unexpected changes. Moreover, the supplies carried on the three vehicles were limited; blind and arbitrary consumption could easily lead to a shortage of supplies later on, and he was not in a position to demand anything from others, only to control himself. When not trusted by others, one must silently take on more. The truth always makes it easier to silence doubters. The journey ahead is long, and Bai E did not want his teammates to always hold a grudge against him. So do more¡­ and then even more¡­ Following closely behind the temperamental warrior, who had just emptied his entire magazine, the stoic Asian warrior began to reload. From time to time, he looked over at his teammates to check on everyone''s status, but his gaze was inadvertently drawn to a certain direction, captivated by the fluid motions that resembled a butterfly skimming through flowers. "So... fast..." Such fast hands, such steady rhythm... Loading and shooting at the same time, without delaying either task. That soldier who was maligned for getting in through the back door... seemed very skilled. "Click!" He pressed the last row of bullets, reinserted the loaded magazine into the slot on his belt, and continued shooting steadily. "Dada dada! Dada dada!" The rhythm of the three-shot burst was steady and efficient. With every burst, one or even two of the Blood Crows'' bodies would fall. "Good job up front," the squad commander, who was always coordinating the overall situation, quietly praised him through the earpiece. It was a long-drawn-out tug-of-war, and occasionally there was a need for some encouragement to lift everyone''s spirits. "Of course!" The short-tempered warrior slapped his heating gun without reservation and spoke up in the squad''s channel. "It''s the good work of the 95B27," the battle-scarred Caucasian warrior managing the heavy machine gun on the roof suddenly spoke up to set the record straight. Experience more tales on M-V-L From atop the vehicle, he had an even better view of the overall situation. The number of sporadic Blood Crows that had managed to launch assaults from the left and right sides, missed by him and the old one, were roughly the same. However, the right side where 95B27 was positioned was noticeably more stable¡ªalmost none of the Blood Crows could breach the danger zone near the vehicles. Whose merit it was needed no discussion. "Bullshit! I shot those down!" The temperamental warrior was not convinced; could that kid''s shooting speed even compare with his own? "Just don''t bother him for bullets all the time," the usually taciturn AB suddenly added his voice. Inside the vehicle compartment, there wasn''t time to deal with everything, but they were not oblivious to what was happening. If it weren''t for the need for an extra magazine of bullets, nearly all the spot-checking and supplementing on the right side would have been handled by 95B27 alone. Moreover, his shooting and reloading rhythms did not interfere with each other¡ªhe had almost no impact on the proper defensive rhythm, and overall, he seemed more skilled than himself. Such a solid shooter, with such skills, why would he need to get in through the back door to join this military operation? "...I!" "Enough!" the Caucasian warrior operating the heavy machine gun interrupted the still unconvinced, argumentative hot-headed warrior, "Morton, 95B27 is an expert in shooting. Not disturbing his aim is the only contribution you can make to this team." "..." In an instant, he felt as if he had become the isolated one in the team. The agitated desire to prove himself and earn distinctions was abruptly quenched by a bucket of cold water. Realizing he may have been too rash, the warrior fell silent, continuing to shoot while quietly observing... Chapter 145: 144 Facing the Enemy Alone Indeed... very fast.When Morton set aside his prejudice and impatience about this soldier getting in through the back door and focused on observing his performance, only then did he see the truth. Just as they''d said, in terms of shooting ability, this kid was indeed better than himself. Juggling reloading and shooting, both killing efficiency and accuracy were out of his league, and even though he had now slowed down his shooting speed, the right side of the vehicle remained as stable as Mount Tai. Well... the performance is acceptable. ["Lucky Shot" energy +1.] But what of it, if he wasn''t chosen by the senior officers, then it surely meant his overall ability was lacking. The officers have their judgment, and they must be infallible. Not having won in the selection and needing to rely on connections to join this elite team definitely meant he lagged behind in some aspect! "You focus on shooting, I''ll load for you, help them out more." "..." Bai E glanced sideways at the other, somewhat surprised. He had thought this one would be a tough character. [But you loading for me isn''t even faster than me doing it myself...] With lips barely moving, Bai E reined in his urge to retort and simply said, "Thank you." ... Within the rear vehicle, the commanding officer furrowed his brow deeply, "These blood crows still have the stamina to keep up..." Continue your journey at M-V-L Based on previous experience, these blood crows should not be a significant threat by now; their physiology plus the burden of carrying the "vampires" meant they didn''t have the ability to maintain flight for long, and their stamina would limit their range of activity. But now... was it because the data from the few prior cases were insufficient, leading to miscalculations in the predictions? "This is troubling..." If the blood crows'' stamina could hold, then the machine guns and flamethrowers firing continuously might be the first to fail. Overheated barrels would protest first, and forced use would only lead to complete equipment failure. Allowing the blood crows to crash into the vehicle with their fleshy bodies, necessitating a forced breakout, was certainly the last and most passive option; the consequences of flipping the vehicle were unimaginable. Right now, could they only rely on the soldiers'' individual strength to extend the lifespan of their weapons as much as possible? The purpose of the prior high-level shooting tests was this, hoping... these elites could withstand the pressure. ... "Give me my machine gun!" The voice of a Caucasian soldier who was operating a heavy machine gun suddenly rang out over the team''s comms, at the same time his large hand reached down. Recognizing his role to take care of the odds and ends due to his own abilities, Morton immediately passed the other''s machine gun to his palm, while loudly asking, "What do you want the machine gun for?" "The heavy machine gun is overheated, needs a break... Damn! These blood crows are still chasing! The pressure might get a bit heavier now, look out for yourselves!" As he spoke, he disengaged the safety and opened fire with force. "Da-da-da-da!" Elder Yi also extended a hand downwards, "Give me my machine gun too." The flamethrower''s continuous operational time was even shorter than that of the heavy machine gun, and even though he hadn''t been using it constantly, it had reached its limit as well. From now on, it would be a tough fight. With both the heavy machine gun and flamethrower ceasing fire, the onslaught of the blood crows surged violently. These cunning beasts also possessed not insignificant combat intelligence. Even though the heavy artillery had ceased, the creatures still did not alter their previous attack strategy out of fear of human firearms; their flight paths were unpredictable and diverse, simply firing blindly after increasing the distance between themselves would not yield superb combat results. The soldiers needed to maintain a certain degree of accuracy amidst uninterrupted firing, fortunately, the main shooters were selected from the best through high-level shooting tests, and for the moment they were able to barely maintain the defense line. "Car 1 slow down, cover for Cars 2 and 3 to go ahead." The officer''s command was suddenly issued. Vehicle 1, that''s the one Bai E was in. Minister Likok and his assistant were separately in Vehicle 2 and Vehicle 3, and abandoning their vehicle to save an important figure was a fairly rational decision during critical times. The situation hadn''t reached that point yet, but to be safe, it was still more prudent to have the two vehicles go ahead first. Orders were to be obeyed without question, and at the moment the drivers heard the command, they took their foot off the gas pedal. He didn''t slam on the brakes for two reasons: one was that once the vehicle came to a complete stop it wouldn''t be easy to pick up speed again; the second was that slamming on the brakes would cause the soldiers inside to be thrown about, losing their ability to resist. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, merely not accelerating was enough for the other two vehicles to overtake. The two off-road vehicles instantly passed by on either side, leaving behind only trails of swirling dust. The dark canopy trailing from behind covered vehicle 1 in an instant, the thick cloud composed of blood crows pressing down so heavily it was hard to breathe. The situation grew even more dire! "Ah!" The painful cry of Veteran 1 was especially piercing over the team''s voice comms. A scream indicated an injury, and a high probability of losing combat capability. With only four main combatants to begin with, losing even one could cause the already precarious defense line to collapse instantly. The two hand-to-hand combat experts, who were only along for the ride, hurried to assist, while Bai E quickly glanced aside with a slight frown. The wound was deep, with blood streaming down, revealing white bone. The claws of the blood crows had gashed Veteran 1''s right hand, the one he used to shoot, tearing away a large chunk of flesh and rendering his hand incapable of firing a gun. "AB! Cover for him!" the veteran commanded calmly. The firing angles from inside the vehicle were limited, certainly not as wide-ranging as those from the top hatch. Hunkering down inside the vehicle and using the armor for cover might save one''s life, but these creatures were not to be taken lightly. Humans could find their weak spots through experience, and they could remember the vehicle''s weak spots the same way. Blocking the windows to obscure vision, using their bodies to interfere with the wheel rotation... If the vehicle flipped, none would escape. "Yes!" AB was taciturn and simply acknowledged the command when he received it. Bai E focused intently, hesitated for just a moment, and then abruptly stood up, "Let me do it." Without giving anyone a chance to object, he grabbed the machine gun from one of the hand-to-hand fighters, slung it over himself, then grasped the edge of the roof hatch with one hand and nimbly flipped out. "AB¡­" Not being able to hear the change of personnel from outside, the veteran instinctively wanted to give an order but realized the figure beside him was behaving oddly. As he turned his head, all he could see was a pair of metal combat boots in front of his eyes. "AB?" While voicing his confusion, he instinctively looked up along the legs until he saw a rugged face with no expression, which made him start, "B27?" What was he doing up here? Even a veteran like Veteran 1 had a hard time against these blood crows, what good would a new recruit be, one who had needed "connections" to join? Of course, he was aware that this young brother had passed the advanced shooting test, but both Veteran 1''s and AB''s scores were better than his. He might have good marksmanship with minimal shooting, but this was not the time for jokes! He had to take responsibility for everyone''s lives. "Get down!" the composed veteran''s face darkened, as if it could drip water. This was the first time he had shown Bai E such a serious expression, "Let AB take over!" "Click!" Bai E hooked the locking mechanism of the hatch onto his belt to prevent himself from being thrown out and then responded expressionlessly to the other, "Just let me try." He removed the machine gun strap from around his neck and grasped a machine gun in one hand. The heavy feeling of the machine gun was reassuring, and Bai E recited in his mind¡ª "Gun Fighting Skill, activate." Chapter 146: 145 Double Guns "What''s Car 1 doing?""Who is that warrior? Has he gone mad?" "Seems like, it''s that guy who ''got in through the back door''!" The two vehicles in the lead were equally concerned about the situation of Car 1 lagging behind, their occupants dumbstruck as they watched the scene unfold through the rear window. "Is he looking to die?" "Irrational newcomers always think they can play the hero." "Just hope he doesn''t get everyone in his vehicle killed!" The figure standing atop the vehicle roof became extraordinarily conspicuous against the shadow-draped skies, like a lightning rod during a thunderstorm, instantly drawing the gaze of not only his human comrades. It wasn''t common for someone to come out of their armored shell and court death. With one less point of firepower for a brief moment, the Blood Crows had already pressed close to the vehicle, and with the proximity of flesh, they became frenzied with hunger. The stench of decay, ever-present with rotting flesh, assailed the nostrils. Surrounded by foes on all sides! Grey mists invisible to others spread across the gun in his hands, as Bai E''s eyes flickered with a cold gleam and his hands fiercely pulled the triggers. To avoid getting entangled by the linking rope, Bai E twisted his body sideways and, like a pair of compasses, he drew a large circle on top of the vehicle. "Da-da-da-da-da..." With his body spinning, bullets sprayed in all directions from both guns. Below the blackened skies, a lone waltz unfolded, blazing and solemn. Both guns danced, smoke wafting through the air. The rhythm of ejecting shell casings, together with the falling bodies of Blood Crows, descended slowly before everyone''s eyes, bringing down the curtain on this solo dance. The sudden outburst cleared the immediate vicinity of the vehicle in an instant, and both the attacking and the defending sides temporarily stalled their advances at that moment. The two machine guns worked in perfect harmony, wasting not a single bullet nor missing a single Blood Crow. Operating at a 50% bonus rate of fire thanks to the effects of his skills and enhanced further by heightened insight and reflex, he executed an incomprehensible instant-kill moment. The incessant onslaught of the Blood Crows stalled at that point, their limited brains unable to comprehend what had just occurred. The occupants of the leading vehicles, now far ahead, witnessed this astonishing scene through the rear window, and silence hung in the cabin for a long time, as they replayed those brief four or five seconds in their minds, a period that seemed to stretch out as if it had been four or five minutes in the real world... The Blood Crows, constantly driven by their hunger, did not cease their assault permanently. Under the spur of their insatiable hunger, they launched their attacks once more. "Da-da-da-da..." Even with both guns firing at once, he managed to send the bullets precisely into each Blood Crow, and faced with Bai E who had activated his Gun Fighting Skill, no amount of Blood Crows could breach the boundary he had drawn. For that minute, this was a hundred percent safe territory! The seasoned soldier standing just below Bai E, clutching his machine gun, went to fire several times only to find the targets either too far away or already shot down by Bai E. "..." It seemed, suddenly, there was nothing for him to do? Just moments ago it was a peak crisis, a matter of life and death¡ªyet in the blink of an eye, all was as calm as a mountain, as if time stood still in peace... Remembering his own rebuke from earlier, his face flushed slightly. With Bai E''s explosive ability as seen in 95B27, how could the authorities have been so blind not to select him? But then again... "How is he going to reload?" Miss Aryan, having seen this from the rear window of a vehicle far ahead, suddenly had this ludicrous yet realistic thought cross her mind. Humans didn''t have the black tech for unlimited bullets; the sight of the warrior erupting violently with a gun in each hand was stirring indeed, but if he were to lay the guns on the ground to reload them one by one, that would be embarrassingly low-tech... "Ah?" The naturally bright red lips, void of lipstick, open in surprise at that moment. Find more to read at M-V-L The solitary warrior atop the vehicle casually tossed one of the machine guns into the air, rapidly reloaded the other with a ghost-like swap of cartridges, and then tossed that one as well... The two machine guns, likely unaware they had ever been flung so mercilessly, were already having their spent magazines thrown back through the open roof hatch of the vehicle. "..." Even the rhythm of the shooting didn''t seem to break. [ "Lucky Hit" charge +4. ] The terrifying upright creature quelled the last bit of hunger in the flat-haired beasts. Was it will that decided the body, or physical ability that decided the will? The flock of Blood Crows beneath could hardly ponder this issue. Yet, facing the black figure with guns in his hands, standing atop the armored vehicle, they felt an inexplicable terror. No matter how insane their hunger, it couldn''t break through the barrier of despair, and with the courage spurred by hunger now fading, so too did the strength that drove their hunt. The wings seemed to grow heavy. "Whew~" Watching the black flock of birds finally retreat into the distance, the delicate-faced Miss Aryan let out a long sigh of relief, her little heart finally settling back into place. The outside world was too frightening. A pair of amber eyes flickered spiritedly before finally resting on the solitary figure standing on the roof of the vehicle, single-handedly stopping the birds... The wind howled fiercely, and the guns were brandished. Beneath the dim sky from which the crow flock had receded, stood one, gazing into the distance alone. [What is his name?] "Who did it?" The voice of the commanding officer, Gregory, sounded in everyone''s earpieces in vehicle number 1. Even though some recognized the action of the newcomer who had gotten in through the back door, he still wanted to confirm. For a moment, no one responded. That was because Bai E was slowly climbing down from the roof. "Gulp~" Morton could hear the sound of his own swallowing. Even amidst the noise of travel, it was jarringly loud. With this kid''s skills... how exactly did he fail to be selected? Gregory''s voice, filled with doubt, rose again amid the silence, "Hello? Can anyone hear me?" It was then that the steady old soldier finally turned on the open channel of the microphone and responded softly, "It''s 95B27." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was truly that soldier who had joined through backdoor channels?! An eerie atmosphere spread as silence filled all three vehicles. Miss Aryan blinked, her curiosity piqued about the owner of this number... ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +7.] The moment Bai E landed, his knees buckled, but fortunately, he braced himself against the spot where he had been sitting, preventing a fall. AB, quick to respond, stretched out his hand to help, but it was hardly effective. "What''s wrong?" The seasoned soldier asked with concern. With just this one battle, the newcomer who had "gotten in through the back door" had already established his position within the team. Even if there wasn''t much opportunity for him to shine in subsequent operations, no one would question his strength anymore. Bai E leaned against the wall for a long while without a word, just closing his eyes as if to steady himself. He was pretending... A necessary disguise was always needed; otherwise, doing such a conspicuous act without any repercussions would give them unrealistic expectations, and if they all pinned their hopes on him, he''d be done for. A certain level of performance was required, but Bai E couldn''t bear the weight of expectations that were too heavy. After all, with his current lack of Spiritual Energy, the duration of Gun Fighting Skills wasn''t anything over a minute. This was because even relying on No. 3 Chew could only push his action reserve to just under 150 points at most. After using No. 3 Chews multiple times, Bai E had gradually become familiar with its characteristics. The reserve of action points had an upper limit, which would decay rapidly after surpassing 100 points, and using No. 3 Chews in quick succession wouldn''t restore a large number of action points as the first one did. If a minute-plus burst wasn''t enough to settle a fight, then he''d be the one getting settled. He couldn''t afford to give them the illusion that he could burst freely at will. After ''recovering'' for a while, Bai E slowly opened his eyes, giving everyone a weak smile as if the "world spinning" before his eyes had calmed, "Feeling a bit dizzy, but I''m fine now." "Good to hear..." The steady soldier finally felt relieved. No one doubted Bai E''s words. If someone performed such an extravagant feat without any side effects, they''d start to question their understanding of the world. So, was it this 95B27''s innate ability? Or had he developed some special skill on his own? "Can we gather with the lead vehicle..." Old One, who had been sitting quietly in a corner not saying a word, finally spoke up with difficulty. When Bai E looked over, he saw Old One''s face was pale, large beads of sweat incessantly dropping from his forehead, while the hastily applied gauze wrap on his injured right hand was already soaked with fresh blood. "I''m in so much pain..." The seasoned soldier then realized, "Right away! Right away!" "No need." Bai E, bracing himself against the vehicle, stood up "with difficulty" and moved over, meanwhile reaching out his hand to his side, "No need to delay the journey, hand me the medical kit." "..." You know medical treatment too?! The commendation sent out to the whole camp had only mentioned the kid driving back with over four hundred immobilized teammates; it didn''t mention anything about medical skills. Chapter 147: 146 Mystery of the Orcs "Huh?"The veteran looked at his right hand that had been bandaged, the snow-white gauze was tied into a neat knot, which didn''t restrict his gripping and other activities, and also perfectly protected the wound. What was even more miraculous was that there seemed to be a warm current flowing around the wound. Apart from a slight itchiness, he couldn''t feel any of the expected pain. Could those head nurses even compare with this? Find your adventure at M-V-L Seeing the veteran''s stunned expression, the composed old soldier asked curiously, "Is it alright?" To outsiders, it might only look nice, but who knew if it was actually effective? "Alrig... Alright! Quite alright!" the veteran snapped out of it and vigorously nodded his head. That was more than alright! "You also know medical techniques?" The composed old soldier suddenly looked at Bai E with a surprised joy. For a fighter like them, having a doctor or a nurse following them in battle was like having an extra life. This sense of security couldn''t be matched even by a more powerful warrior. Bai E smiled modestly, "Learned a little." "How much is ''learned a little''?" The comrades all wanted to have a clear understanding of each other''s capabilities. After pondering for a moment, Bai E carefully answered, "As long as the body isn''t severed, I should be able to save them... of course, due to the limitations of medical equipment, there''s not much I can do for cases of severe bleeding or extensive limb damage." "Awesome!" The composed old soldier''s face was full of joy. Wasn''t this a get-out-of-death-free card? There were indeed soldiers in the team with medical expertise, but now having this unexpected boon in his own vehicle was undeniably more exhilarating. ["Lucky Strike" charge +3.] Bai E''s lips curved up as he laughed softly, as if shy from the praise, and then his head spun again as he reached for his temples, his hand instinctively searching for something to support his body. "You should rest, young man... don''t overexert yourself." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Leaning back against the vehicle, Bai E closed his eyes with one hand on his forehead, as he tallied the total gains from the brief battle that had just occurred¡ª Light firearms mastery experience 133 points. Combat experience 1352 points. The combat experience he had scraped together from the previous drawn-out battle was nothing compared to what he had gained in the last explosive minute. If he hadn''t started to experience diminishing returns from killing too many, he could have gained a few hundred more points. The only regret was that the full-load shooting for not too long of a time didn''t bring enough of an experience, other soldiers were battle-hardened, and he himself had only truly done full-load shooting twice, so unlocking special attribute bonuses was still out of reach. But no matter what, he had gotten through this hurdle. Following the route plan set before departure¡ªBlood Raven Forest, Blackrock Plains, Beast Transformation Forest... one hurdle after another to be crossed! Every encounter with danger was also an opportunity for promotion and improvement. Gradually, Bai E had become accustomed to this kind of life, fighting on the edge and shedding blood... Only after confirming that they had completely escaped the threat of the blood ravens did the commanding officer''s voice, Gregory, clearly transmit from everyone''s earpieces, "Check the resource consumption and health status of each vehicle." "Vehicle 1 resource consumption... personnel status¡ªold one''s right hand was injured by a blood raven, but it has been treated and is now recovering, no other abnormalities for the rest." "Vehicle 2..." "Vehicle 3..." After collecting all the information, Gregory''s eyes narrowed slightly. Vehicle 1 wasn''t equipped with a medical-trained fighter... Although the soldiers selected for this operation were almost all multifaceted, they each had their particular strengths, and it was rare to find someone both proficient in combat and exceptional in medical skills. There were many who knew both in the military, but the number of those proficient in both wasn''t that high. For this mission, we could only pick out three, two of whom were assigned to 2nd vehicle to protect Minister Likok, and one in the 3rd vehicle to protect Miss Aryan. As the commanding officer of the team, he knew and remembered the information of all other official members, except for the data of that youngster who was inserted into the squad at the last minute. Because of the rush right before departure, he hadn''t had time to look for it, so... could it also have been his doing? 95B27, the most shining one among the latest batch of recruits. He had heard of this warrior''s reputation, and now it seemed... his strength wasn''t bad either? A firepower expert with explosive capabilities who also possessed some medical skills, after all, didn''t seem like such a useless addition as initially thought. Gregory nodded to himself. [Not bad...] ... After passing the Blood Raven Forest, there was basically no trouble along the way. This was a carefully planned route, chosen because it was deemed the lowest risk. If even this path required overcoming numerous difficulties, then it would be impossible to go anywhere in this world. After leaving the Blood Raven Forest and the bug nest far behind, even the scenery along the way gradually shed the contamination of the Bug Race and reverted to the look of native species of the planet. To survive on this disaster-ridden planet, even plants had evolved unimaginable vitality, which allowed them to thrive even in the approaching winter. White and fluffy like dandelions, the grass swayed gently in the breeze. The seeds, resembling miniature balloons, were scattered by the gale generated by the speeding off-road vehicle, carrying new hope and spreading to the distant future. The soft green grasslands stretched endlessly. Undisturbed, they grew wildly, with waves of grass billowing in the wind, a lush sight to dazzle the eyes. The Blackrock Plains were fertile, and if not for their proximity to the bug nest, which interrupted them, they would''ve been Blackwater City''s breadbasket¡ªthis was the military''s greatest motivation for wanting to completely eradicate the Bug Race. However, there are no what-ifs in the world. The bug nest is there, and it''s an insurmountable chasm. The wide wheels of the off-road vehicle crushed the grass, leaving six deeply pressed tire tracks in the wild, contrasting starkly with the occasional black and yellow rocky ground¡ªa path they tried to follow as much as possible. This was one of the rare stretches of the planned route where one could take rest. Blackrock Plains were special¡ª Humans were not the only opponents of the bugs; the beastmen who roamed about like war-crazed lunatics also gave the Bug Race a headache. In face of the murderous and rapacious bugs, normal people would either flee or resist and try to destroy them completely. Beastmen were different... This race, lacking in intellect, saw it purely as entertainment. Their wild battle lust frightened the bugs, who, although they lacked individual intelligence, felt fear. What''s more critical was... their numbers were no less than the bugs''. The bugs could convert all biomass into their fighting force, but the beastmen... they cultivated the soil. Yes, they reproduced not through sexual means, but like plants, growing directly from the ground. When Bai E learned these facts from the military records, a fact not published on the official game website, he was completely dumbstruck. Just like planting potatoes or carrots... one pit, one beastman, sprouting from the ground. And they kept coming, one crop after another, growing even faster than damn leeks. How many they wanted to grow, it all depended on the race''s own will¡ªit was just outrageous! The largest beastman planting territory closest to Blackwater City was at the other end of the Blackrock Plains, so the plains, naturally, became a buffer zone between the two sides¡ªa safe area under a fragile balance of power. Unless one had the misfortune of encountering a wandering beastman directly, this part of the journey should be safe. Chapter 148: 147 sudden change! ```"Mind if I drive for a bit?" Considering that the roads ahead might not be as easy to navigate, and more challenging sections would naturally require drivers with more experience, it only made sense to let the most skilled veteran driver take a break and cover a stretch for him. The straight-line distance from the military camp to the target base was a whopping 613 kilometers. The actual distance would depend on the route taken, and without satellite navigation, no one knew what the wilderness ahead was like. But the estimate was that it would take between 14 to 24 hours to arrive. No one had the energy to remain in peak condition for such a long period to face all potential emergencies, so adequate rest was vitally important. Good steel should be used on the blade''s edge, and this detail was meticulously planned for beforehand. The arrangement made sense, and the veteran driver who had led everyone through the Blood Raven Forest nodded and gently pressed on the brake. The drivers of the three off-road vehicles switched at the same time. A skilled close-combat Asian soldier took the seat. In vehicle No. 1, out of the eight people, four knew how to drive, including the driver and co-driver as well as the two close-combat experts. Considering that those skilled in hand-to-hand combat wouldn''t be of much use while driving, the military factored these conditions into their selection process from the start. Bai E, whose driving abilities shown during battlefield rescues were limited and mainly chosen for his shooting skills, did not enjoy any bonus points for his driving ability during the final scoring phase. And even though four people in the vehicle could drive, apart from the main driver, the others were just making up numbers. Knowing how to drive and being proficient were two different things, as had been evident during the critical moments in the Blood Raven Forest, where any other driver would likely have resulted in an overturn. It was different now on the plains with flat terrain, where the Asian got his hands on the steering wheel and began to show the more unrestrained part of his personality. Listening to his lively humming, the atmosphere in the vehicle was relaxed. The elegant and pristine natural environment without any hidden dangers was undeniably refreshing¡ª The stone-faced AB, holding a machine gun by the window, looked out at the scenery rushing by and a smile played on his lips. Lao Yi relaxed on the spot, the composed veteran joined Morton in tidying up the somewhat messy supplies in the vehicle due to the prior chaos. Bai E pretended to rest for a while, then began to check and maintain his weapon. Regular maintenance is essential for a firearm to remain in pristine condition. [You have completed maintenance on the target, restoring 2 points of durability.] [You have completed maintenance, "Firearm Maintenance" experience +3.] [Current "Firearm Maintenance" experience 98/300, at 300 points you will master "Level 2 Firearm Maintenance".] It''s been a while since I''ve gone back to my old trade, my enchanting plan! Bai E calmly reached out to Morton walking by, "Your gun." "What do you need my gun for?" Though puzzled, Morton still handed over his machine gun to Bai E. When it came to shooting, he admitted the kid had something. Of course, that''s where it ended¡­ In terms of overall ability, the kid was surely lacking, and the superior''s decision not to choose him was proof. He was firm in that belief! Bai E took the machine gun and casually explained, "It felt a bit off when I used it earlier. I''ll check it for you." Experience +3 "Brother up front, I''ll check your gun too,", The jovial Asian driver replied, "Sure, go ahead." Experience +3 "And yours?" When asked, AB tightened his grip on his machine gun, "Mine doesn''t need it." He knew how to do it himself. As their service time increased, many soldiers would take the initiative to learn things they were interested in during their downtime. The standard craft of maintaining firearms wasn''t unique to Bai E. ``` Some people are willing to help others, while some only look out for themselves, or simply have no energy for social interactions. "Oh~" Bai E didn''t really care either way since he had netted 6 points of experience, definitely not a loss. His heart buoyant, he suddenly froze, a familiar sensation creating turmoil within. What was happening? With a suspicious glance, Bai E unconsciously looked out the window, wanting to pinpoint the source of the feeling that seemed to make his heart skip a beat. Stay updated via M-V-L After barely two seconds of frowning scrutiny, Bai E''s gaze sharply dropped to the ground below¡ª Plants? No! Lower! Underground! Getting closer... Getting closer... "Swoosh swoosh swoosh~" In a few moments of blurred consciousness, the imagery of dark brown earth and stones rapidly swept by his vision. Bai E pressed a hand to his throbbing temple, trying to pinpoint the precise origin of the target. In the next moment, Bai E was startled and leapt towards the front, towards the direction of the cockpit. "Move aside!" Almost simultaneously, the co-pilot responsible for navigation gazed at a slight bulge in the grass about ten meters in front of the vehicle, a fleeting thought crossed his mind: "What is that?" All of this happened in the blink of an eye¡ª Watching the AB who was staring blankly out of the window suddenly become fierce, Morton, perplexed, watched as Bai E threw himself forward, and the main driver, who was lying asleep, had drool at the corner of his mouth... "Whoosh!" A colossal creature burst out from underground, its ferocious iron claws stretching out in the sunlight. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The startled driver, an Asian warrior, jerked the steering wheel hard in an attempt to dodge the body that was shooting up from the earth. The sharp turn of the vehicle, combined with the disruption of soil and stones caused by the wurm breaking the surface, caused the off-road vehicle skimming past the creature''s body to tip sharply, almost tilting at an angle of around 30 degrees. Everything inside the vehicle that wasn''t secured instantly flew around, and the main driver lying in the back was thrown into mid-air. However, the first wurm that emerged from the soil was merely an appetizer. Ahead on the plains, many more wurms seemed to have an agreement to stretch their limbs at the same time, breaking through the ground like bamboo shoots after rain. Bai E, who had already lunged towards the cockpit, glanced at them. Their bodies were flat, resembling scorpions or centipedes, with blades like knife edges on either side of their bodies. Their heads were equipped with drilling apparatus resembling the mouthparts of worms, convenient for burrowing. The part of the creatures that protruded above ground was at least twice the height of the vehicle, with a length of six to seven meters definitely possible, and with sections of their bodies still underground, a conservative estimate of their size would be over ten meters. Were they native species of this planet that he had yet to learn about? Or rather, wurms! None of the information he had received mentioned the existence of these creatures, but Bai E felt that the things that had suddenly appeared before his eyes must be wurms! He roughly knew what the vague "hint" he had received beforehand was... it came from the "Wurm Nest Will" that had lain dormant within him! A slight resonance made Bai E suddenly become aware of their existence, but were they here for him, or simply stretching their bodies? Nobody knew. Chapter 149: 148 Insect Sea Navigation "Bang!"The wheels hit the ground heavily, and everything inside the vehicle tossed about. "Ah!" "Damn!" "Hiss~" The sudden mishap greeted no one, except Bai E, who had sensed it beforehand and braced himself against the back of the cockpit with his hands. The Asian warrior driving was sweating profusely from his back, his large hands whitening from the grip on the steering wheel. When the vehicle had lurched, he felt as if his soul had lurched with it. If the vehicle had flipped, the consequences would have been unimaginable. What was more critical were... those gigantic worms churning right in front of his eyes, which could burst from the ground beneath the vehicle at any moment. The large clumps of soil and rock they brought up with them from below the surface were lethally altering the once relatively flat road. They were like fish swimming in the sea, occasionally leaping out to stretch their bodies in the air before diving back into the ocean. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The underground was their sea! Take a detour? There was no time! They were right in front of him! The fact that they hadn''t attacked the vehicle yet was the greatest mercy they could show, but it seemed they had no intention of deliberately avoiding the vehicle''s path. It was vital to leave this area they had thought was safe as quickly as possible, while also being careful not to collide with the creatures and to pay attention to the changing terrain, planning route alterations on the fly... The pressure was immense... even more suffocating than in Blood Raven Forest. Cold sweat seeped finely from the forehead of the Asian warrior, who, without looking back, yelled to the back, "Bai, are you awake yet!" "Hiss~" The driver who was called out could only clasp his right arm, hurting too much to speak. In the recent chaos inside the vehicle, he had been unlucky enough to be flung from his seat and had hit the blade of a dismounted battle machine gun, cutting a gash about ten centimeters long at the upper part of his right arm, from which blood was uncontrollably flowing. "His arm is injured!" a calm warrior, having recovered his wits, answered for him. "But I can''t hold on..." The Asian warrior knew his limits; facing such chaotic scenes, he felt he could flip the vehicle at any moment. "Morton!" "I''m no good either..." Morton said with difficulty, swallowing hard as he watched those ghastly things periodically burst through the ground in front of the vehicle. The veteran who had experienced E''s skills before suggested, "B27, hurry and bandage Bai up so he can take over again!" E glanced at the severity of the injury and shook his head, "Not so fast." It wasn''t about the speed of his treatment; the wound was too large and too deep for a rapid recovery, even if they bandaged it, it wouldn''t be quick enough to return to use. In such critical moments, where every second was contested, how could they rely solely on Bai''s personal will? When the nest is overturned, how can there be any intact eggs? "I''ll do it." E, who was leaning against the back of the cockpit, said solemnly. The co-driver looked back at E with a puzzled look, "You''ll do it?" "Unbuckle the seatbelt!" E had no time for explanations and nearly ordered the Asian warrior in the driver''s seat. [Confirm payment of 300 generic experience points to upgrade "Knowledge¡ªStandard Vehicle Driving" skill level?] ["Level 2 Standard Vehicle Driving" acquired, simultaneously gaining 1 Technology Point.] [Standard Vehicle Driving (Level 2): You have mastered the driving methods for most standard vehicles by heart and can adeptly handle generally complex terrains, slightly improving the riding experience for passengers, and increasing control over the speed limit by 15%.] Level 1 driving skills were definitely not enough to keep things under control in this situation; the Asian warriors and Morton were probably all at this level. So, it had to be upgraded. "Oh oh~" In such a critical moment, facing commands issued by anyone, the Asian warriors, who lacked a lot of personal judgment, followed almost completely without question. Bai E leaned forward, his hand lightly resting on the steering wheel without exerting much force, and only when he spotted a slightly safer gap did he firmly issue the instruction, "Don''t panic, get up and move!" In these circumstances, there was no way to slow down and change drivers regularly; not leaving this area quickly, nobody knew what might happen. The occasional pebble flung against the window by a giant insect felt as if it were directly striking everyone''s hearts, causing terror. "Okay! Okay!" The two exchanged places, with Bai E taking the driver''s seat. "I''ll do my best to help you plan the route," the co-driver said to Bai E. His mind was quite sharp, but asking him to operate and plan at the same time was indeed a tough request. "No need." With a "click," Bai E fastened the seatbelt with one hand, and the chaotic scenery ahead came into view, with numerous potential routes weaving through traffic rapidly taking shape in his mind. [Not enough.] [Confirm payment of 500 generic experience points to upgrade "Knowledge¡ªStandard Vehicle Driving" skill level?] ["Level 3 Standard Vehicle Driving" acquired, simultaneously gaining 1 Technology Point.] [Standard Vehicle Driving (Level 3) (Max Level): The driving methods of any standard vehicle hold no secrets for you. Where a person can go, a vehicle can go. You''ve significantly improved the riding experience for passengers, and your control over the speed limit is increased by 30%. (Your driving skill has reached the peak, but the peak driving ability of standard vehicles is just the foundation for unlocking driving capabilities for more types of vehicles. Now, you''ve met the prerequisites to master the ability to drive "specialized vehicles" through learning/training.)] Directly to max level! Continue reading at M-V-L The state of the entire vehicle, communicated through omnipresent vibrations and feedback from the steering wheel in his hands, entered Bai E''s mind¡ªits acceleration/braking performance, vehicle weight changes, suspension damping ratio, tire grip capability, and all other performances were instantaneously comprehended. It was as if a transparent model of the entire vehicle was slowly rotating in his mind, with all capabilities presented as data on a sheet of paper. At his command! The precise information needed about the road surface, combined with the vehicle''s capabilities, meant the best driving solution appeared before his eyes without the need for meticulous planning. "Hum~" Bai E gently pressed the accelerator, as the engine began to provide maximum horsepower within the optimal running range, its light tremors akin to a prehistoric giant beast ready to pounce. "Have the vehicle behind follow my route." His voice was somewhat unfamiliar to the vehicles behind, and if the composed warrior spoke, it would be easier to gain trust and prompt action in the first instance. With peak driving skills, and the occasional flashes of insight resonating with the insect nest''s will, Bai E felt it shouldn''t be too difficult to lead everyone out of this "sea" rampaged by giant insects. Bai E''s voice was too calm, his strong confidence infecting the whole vehicle; the composed warrior chose to trust his teammate unconditionally. "This is Car 1! This is Car 1! The vehicles behind, pay attention and follow! We will lead the way up front, guiding you out of the danger zone as quickly as possible." Leading the way and clearing danger¡ªthat was the greatest purpose of Car 1 on this journey! Chapter 150: 149 Approaching "What are those...?"Your journey continues with M-V-L The glass of the car window reflected the gradually weakening sunlight of the late afternoon, and Miss Aryan''s delicate, petite face, pasted against the glass, stared blankly at the giant insect figures receding into the distance. Under the lead of Vehicle 1, everyone escaped safely. However, an unknown confusion weighed on their hearts; nobody knew what exactly the monsters that had burrowed out of the ground were. "Did the Bug Race undergo some kind of mutation?" Gregory''s brows were tightly furrowed, his mood heavy. Humanity had survived on this planet for thousands of years; there were almost no native creatures left completely unseen. Moreover, near the Bug Race''s hives, whenever something entirely new appeared, it was almost certain to be related to the Bug Race; even if not the Bug Race itself, their genetic pollution undoubtedly had an influence. This ability for survival mutations of an extraterrestrial species was something human biotechnology''s imagination couldn''t keep up with. Just like the main forces of the Bug Race... The insects that landed on the planet centuries ago were entirely different from today''s insects. Back then, the insects primarily consisted of aerial forces, with air creatures named "Gargoyles" and "Winged Serpents" rampaging through the skies. The "Drop Pods" descending from outer space brought countless "Servants," "Horn Beasts," "Soldier Insects," and other castes in a mad invasion against human defenses, a fierce battle. Today''s Worker Insects, Bee Insects, and Mantis Insects had already mutated or adapted. To humanity''s complete unfamiliarity, the Master¡ªa core insect¡ªhad shown itself not long ago and taught humanity a harsh lesson. And now... a new type of insect had appeared. What had caused this new wave of mutations in the species? "Commander, should we turn back and report to the military district?" a soldier asked beside him. The prohibition engraved in his genes made him constantly concerned about the safety of all humanity. If humans weren''t prepared for an underground attack, the Bug Race''s sudden strike from below could cause heavy losses for humanity, even crippling injuries. Gregory frowned in thought for a moment before shaking his head, "No need; we continue forward." They had their mission, and the military base wouldn''t be completely blind. The Master, that kind of core insect, was a special case¡ªthere was only one, hidden deep within the hive, never revealing itself, refusing to initiate an attack unless humans reached its main lair. But the number of insects they had just seen was not small; it would be difficult for them to move unnoticed on ordinary days. The military base sent out patrols every day for reconnaissance, and if these insects showed any signs of movement within a certain range of the city, they would hardly escape the keen eyes of those elite scouts. Protect your comrades, but also trust them. Patrol and reconnaissance were the scouts'' duty, executing this military operation was the mission they themselves had to accomplish! The only odd thing was... why didn''t those insects launch a targeted attack on the three off-road vehicles? Were their sensory organs incapable of detecting the human flesh and blood beneath the cold steel, or did this type of insect not bear the burden of assault? This information could actually be gathered and reported back to the Scientific Research Institute for analysis. Withdrawing his gaze, Gregory remembered how Vehicle 1 had led everyone out of the chaotic upheaval of the ground insects and deftly avoided all danger, feeling a sincere sense of relief. This internal selection mechanism had indeed been rigorous, equipping him with quite a few excellent soldiers¡ªVehicle 1''s driver had performed unbelievably well during this unforeseen event. In the midst of unknown chaos, daring to shoulder everything, this kind of composure and decisiveness in the face of danger, and courage to forge ahead, shone brighter than his skills. "Was it 166A11 that led everyone to safety just now? Well done." There was a brief silence in the channel, before the calm voice of an experienced soldier slowly came through¡ª "...It was 95B27." "..." That number again... ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +7.] The notification sounded unobtrusively as Bai E casually glanced through the rearview mirror at the giant insect figures growing distant. Insects... Another completely unknown new type of insect... From the frequency of occurrences, they resembled the Elite Insect Race like the Mantis Insects, only without the capacity as a "Hive Mind" node. Their bodies were almost entirely covered in a thick layer of black Chitin Bone Armor. In the sunlight, the bone blades, row upon row like knives, reflected blindingly cold light. In the wars to come, one would have to be wary not just of what''s in front and far away, but also of what''s underneath... "Let me drive from here; they didn''t bandage the back properly," said the yellow-skinned soldier, full of admiration, from behind Bai E after they had left the danger zone. With just two interventions, this honest and straightforward soldier was completely convinced. Bai E gently pressed on the brake and smoothly carried out the exchange. "It''s not serious; it''ll heal after some rest, but for now, it''s best not to exert any force," Bai E advised the soldier known as ''Big White Bear,'' the chief driver, after examining and bandaging the wound. "But as for driving..." "Just rest, leave the driving to me." Moreover, a long stretch of road ahead had even terrain, and the yellow-skinned soldier was capable enough to handle it on his own. After two medium crises, the journey had become stable again. All the jostling had fatigued everyone inside the vehicle. Until the red sun sank into the ground, and the twilight filled the treetops, the distorted silhouettes of the jungle showed their fangs and claws far off against the twilight horizon. From dawn... to dusk. The last stop, the Beastified Jungle... It was getting dark... S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The journey grew increasingly rough, the terrain in the hilly area was rugged. Even when they tried to find the smoothest paths possible, the bumps were inevitable, and their speed slowed down considerably. The Asian soldier twisted uncomfortably and asked the man behind him, "Brother B27, maybe you should take over driving..." The heavy responsibility panicked him, but evading it only filled him with self-reproach. Bai E patted his shoulder and smiled away his worries, "You''re tired too, let me take over." The target base was located deep within the Beastified Jungle ahead in the distance. Built hundreds of years ago with deliberate avoidance of populated cities, the once suburban hills now wore a mantle of marshland after centuries of abandonment. The jungle, influenced by extraterrestrial factors, exhibited astonishing vitality and aggressiveness. Lacking any conscious will, driven only by the instinctual triggers of lying in wait. For those beastmen, this was the perfect playground, but for human convoys trying to penetrate its depths, it was undoubtedly a significant barrier. According to the plan, they were to reach the edge of the jungle before darkness fell completely; whether to proceed would be decided based on the conditions observed and the actual time of arrival. After all, the target base was a considerable distance from the jungle''s outskirts, and advancing further today would enable an earlier arrival at the base tomorrow to initiate reconnaissance and attack. The three vehicles slowed down, and someone inquired over the voice channel, "Commander?" "Slow down, but keep moving forward," Gregory scanned the horizon with his eyes. There was still time, at least two hours left before night would fall completely¡ªthey couldn''t afford to waste it. The status of the target base was unknown, and it was always better to carry out reconnaissance by day than to engage in combat at night. According to the data received, bioengineered soldiers'' nighttime abilities far surpassed those of normal humans. "Yes!" On an operation, the commander''s order was an absolute ironclad rule, executed to perfection. In the quiet, unpopulated wilderness, the three vehicles drove a snaking S-curve, with their headlights piercing the increasingly dense twilight, as if willingly diving into the mouth of a demon, slowly entering the twisted, sparse jungle. Almost every tree that met the eye was a centuries-old behemoth, unimaginably thick, not necessarily very tall, but requiring at least three to four people to encircle, standing apart in stark relief. "Creak, creak~" Dry vines and branches snapped crisply under the wheels, the vehicle body jolted lightly over the exposed, hefty roots, as if the disturbed green branches swiftly recoiled, wrapping into bundles alongside a giant tree like clutching human hands. Occasionally, small creatures that formed a symbiotic relationship with the jungle flitted through the network of vines and branches, their green sheen obscured whatever native species they might be. With humanity having lost dominion over the planet for hundreds of years, subject to various external influences, the planet itself had undergone drastic changes, native species evolving little by little to adapt and mutate for survival¡ªnothing could be more normal. The rustlings of those small creatures made the place seem even more serene. All the soldiers inside the vehicles quietly gripped their machine guns. They didn''t fear a fiery, head-on battle, but the uncanny and unknown always accelerated the heartbeat. Fortunately, they truly hadn''t encountered any danger along the way. Bai E carefully controlled the speed and path, avoiding "offending" those "beastified giant trees" where danger lurked, unless it was impossible to evade. The meandering path before and behind them sent the beams of six headlights straight into the depths of the hills, some blocked by small mounds. Only when it became too dark to see one''s hand in front of them did Gregory''s voice sound in everyone''s earpieces, "Stop the engines; everyone rest inside the vehicles! Assign shifts for duty, and preserve your energy." "Yes, Commander!" "Yes, Commander!" Bai pressed the brake but didn''t leave the driver''s seat. Even while resting, he had to do so at the driving position to ensure he could get everyone out of danger at the first sign of trouble. The vehicle''s dim light came on as everyone made final preparations before resting. "Come, eat something." Steaming ration packs were passed forward by a composed soldier, "Here are blankets too; cover yourself to avoid catching a cold at night." "Thanks, got it." "Eat up, you sleep first. I''ll wake you for the second half of the night." "All right." After briefly addressing personal needs, the lights were turned off, and the vehicle fell silent. Soft snores began to rise from all around. Reflecting on the day''s journey in the darkness, gazing at the resting figure on the left side of the cockpit, the seasoned soldier inexplicably felt a wave of reassurance. It felt as if with him on a mission, nothing was too difficult. This sense of stability was something he couldn''t feel when occasionally teaming up with genetically optimized soldiers or Spiritual Energy users¡ªit might be due to... his seemingly unflappable character? His decisive actions even amidst unforeseen changes? Or perhaps it stemmed from the man''s reputation¡ªsingle-handedly saving more than four hundred lives on a battlefield against the Bug Race! He wasn''t a direct participant, but having a soldier who had accomplished such a feat as a teammate made him feel backed up. Without demonstrating sufficient personal capabilities, unity and noble qualities were but gentle traps; with ability, all nobility of the soul gained its foundation. In any case, it was like a bright moonrise in his heart, bathing his spirit in cold light on this moonless night... "Creak~" "Creak~" The branches moved slowly... Chapter 151: 150 Spiritual Energy user Pansen "Hush~"A slight jostle abruptly woke Bai E from his deep sleep, like two bright stars igniting in the night, his eyes snapped open instantly, retaining a crystal-clear consciousness as he tried to locate the source of the disturbance. The next moment, the faint touch on his shoulder entered Bai E''s awareness. Despite scanning the dense twilight outside the car window, Bai E then turned to look behind him. The steady old soldier raised his index finger to his lips, "Hush~" Signaling Bai E not to panic, the old soldier then pointed towards the side window¡ª In the jungle, drifting phosphorescent green glows floated in mid-air, and the eyes accustomed to the darkness of night could vaguely make out the shapes in this dimly lit environment. Mud-streaked vines, greenish-brown, had unknowingly crept onto the reinforced glass. Bai E''s gaze became sharp, instinctively reaching for the machine gun beside him, hesitating slightly, then releasing his right hand that had already gripped the handle. Too much noise, better use a combat knife. "Shall we take action?" "Ask the commander." The two whispered softly, trying not to disturb their comrades'' rest before confirming the need to take action. The main strength tomorrow would lie with those close-combat experts; their role as firepower support was to keep watch at night. "Hiss~" Turning on a separate channel, the steady old soldier softly requested over the mic, "This is Vehicle 1, this is Vehicle 1, abnormal situation detected. Requesting permission to engage?" Almost instantly, Gregory''s equally soft reply came through the earpiece, clearly not just Vehicle 1 had noticed the anomaly, "Those vines? We''ve seen them too." "Commander?" "Have the soldiers on watch duty remain alert, but for now, it seems the threat isn''t significant, no need to disturb everyone''s rest." According to the gathered data, these plants were not very aggressive, all attacks seemed to be some kind of instinctual stress response, not a formidable enemy. It was better to let everyone get a good rest to preserve energy for the next morning when they could deal with it together. Conversely, kicking up a fuss with these plants and attracting attention from potentially dangerous beasts lurking in the jungle or nomadic orcs would really spell trouble. This part of the jungle wasn''t far from the orcs'' main plantation, so encountering small groups of wandering orcs was quite possible. "Received," the steady old soldier acknowledged promptly. With such orders from the commander, there was no need for undue worry. "Do you want to sleep some more? You were tired today, and I probably won''t be needed tomorrow..." "It''s fine." The shock had chased away all desire to sleep, "Can''t sleep, I''ll keep watch, go get some rest." "Suit yourself." Bai E took over from the old soldier, who then switched with AB, as the four firepower support soldiers completed their night watch handover. Sitting in the driver''s seat, Bai E stared at the jungle ahead, lost in thought. Feedback from other players accumulated, only being processed by his consciousness after he awoke¡ª [From the quest feedback, your Insight +0.2.] [From the quest feedback, Long-Range Weapons Mastery experience +52.] [From the quest feedback, Light Weapons Mastery experience +30.] ¡­ [From the quest feedback, your Reflex +0.1.] [From the quest feedback, Combat Mastery experience +36.] ¡­ Enhanced Insight made Bai E''s eyes even brighter, allowing him to see further distances in the nearly pitch-black Dark Environment, or to observe those minute details that are almost imperceptible. The vines creeping over the vehicle were like a thief sneaking into a house while its owner slept, moving as slowly and quietly as possible, inch by inch, trying to envelop the entire vehicle. Bai E watched one of the vines closely and realized it took a long time before it moved just a tiny bit. Unlike the vines at dusk that reacted violently, the current motion was growth rather than crawling. Just like its host plant, which rooted itself in one place and grew slowly over hundreds of years, not vying for height with the sun and the moon day after day. Trying to trace the vines back to their origins as much as possible, apart from the occasionally "stretching" living trees, there were no other clues to be found. The lucky hit indicator didn''t register those large trees as attackable targets¡ªwas it because it deemed that one couldn''t burst through them, or because it defaulted to them being part of the background environment? Any detail could be valuable information when out and about, and Bai E''s brain was running at full tilt. ¡­ "Crack!" "Crack!" "Whoosh~" At dawn, the sound of vines snapping startled some of the soldiers still deep in sleep. Suddenly awake, Morton and other soldiers arose from their slumber, looking out the windows. The soldiers who had woken earlier or were on the last watch duty were now using combat knives to clear the vines that had nearly enveloped the vehicle. Those branches were extraordinarily tenacious, some seemingly with a retaliation instinct, as they immediately tried to locate the source and lash out to attack or entrap their prey the moment they were assailed. The tall soldiers, unconcerned, stepped into the fray, allowing themselves to be wrapped by the vines without immediate resistance. Only when completely bound did they explosively exert strength. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ah~~~ah!" The muscles beneath the combat suit burst with unimaginable power, instantly snapping the vines that even Bai E found difficult to sever with a combat knife and had wrapped around several times. The bursts of the broken branches whist through the air, making a "snap" sound. The Blood God¡­ that was the guy who nearly gave him a concussion with just a few punches in the competition. So strong¡­ Even with physique nearing the limit at 15 points and having the specialty¡ªOverlimit Drive, he couldn''t match that level of performance. In fact, it wasn''t just him; those who hurled daggers to slice through the air, cleaved through four or five in a single stroke, rapidly retracted to attempt escape only to be caught in an instant by a large hand... Bai E realized that the individuals selected by the military must each possess their unique skills. Not one of them was easy to deal with! The encounters they had faced on the road so far were just appetizers. The bioengineered guards within the target facility were the real adversaries of this mission, and the show of force from these powerful men was yet to come. If everything went smoothly, following behind these tough guys would mean accumulating military merits and exploring the ruins... that would be beautifully ideal. Bai E wasn''t keen on seizing every opportunity to showcase himself. Freed from his teammates'' disdainful glances, sometimes he was perfectly content to take it easy. Enjoy more content from M-V-L "Snap!" With one warrior severing the final vine wrapped around the vehicle, three off-road cars roared off into the cool moisture of the early morning. ... "We''re here." The silver-grey spires pierced through the gaps in the leaves and branches, appearing vividly before everyone''s eyes, just as the target building materialized from the documents into Bai E''s sight. The pictures in the files bore no concept; it was only upon seeing it with his own eyes that he realized... it was truly massive. "Stop!" Gregory issued the curt command through everyone''s headsets. "Release the drones." The car windows slid open, and three black quadcopters, wobbling slightly, flew out from inside the vehicles toward the target direction. It wasn''t advisable for the drones to directly penetrate the target building, but it was always right to scout the perimeter first. Those bioengineered soldiers, though genetically modified, still followed the basic human biological system; they needed to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. These needs might leave traces behind. While waiting, the three vehicles hid under the shelter of branches and leaves. Until the operation was completely successful, they had to remain concealed. "Commander, I see it, there''s a field on the west side of the target base with signs of cultivation, but it''s not very clear." "There is an enclosed fence on the northeast corner, it seems to contain small animals." "The drones are flying too high to see clearly, commander, should we move in closer?" "No need," Gregory''s gaze narrowed with a cold glint. With this basic information, it was enough. Getting too close might alert those potentially anti-electronic bioengineered beings to the presence of intruders. "Lord Pansen, if you please." The tall man standing beside Gregory with his arms crossed and an indifferent expression nodded at the mention, "I''ll have a look." Watching the figure striding alone from number 2 vehicle toward the target facility, the curiosity in the voice of the person sitting next to Bai E was evident, "He''s going alone?" The seasoned old soldier, seemingly experienced in cooperating with individuals with psychic abilities, explained cheerfully, "The capabilities of our Spiritual Energy users are extraordinary and unpredictable. It''s not uncommon for them to act alone." "What is he going to do?" "He''s probably scouting the interior of the target facility for us¡­" As the commander hadn''t shared specifics about the plans for the Spiritual Energy users, the old soldier could only guess while stroking his chin, "They say those bioengineered people have noses like hounds, right? We''ll see whether their noses are sharper or ours..." "You seem to be insulting someone..." Everyone''s eyes were fixed on the figure carefully advancing through the grass that reached halfway up the calves, moving stealthily toward the target. In Bai E''s eyes, there was even more information to be seen¡ª [Pansen (Human) (Ally) ¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*1500, 3000 points of combat experience); High probability (Attribute: Mental Resistance, Advanced: Light Firearms Specialization level +1, up to level 6); Possible (Feat: Keen Senses, Spiritual Energy (Heavenly Eye): 100)] Not entirely comprehensive, but certainly indicative. However, for some reason, as Bai E stared in that direction for a moment, he felt his eyes blurring. The space where the Spiritual Energy user stood seemed to flicker in and out of existence, and staring too long seemed to make one''s head spin. Rubbing his eyes instinctively, when Bai E looked again, he was shocked to discover¡ªgone! Under the nearing noon sun, had a human silhouette just vanished like that? Even if one tried to locate the Spiritual Energy user through the unusual disturbances in the grass and foliage, it appeared to be an impossible task. It wasn''t just Bai E; all the soldiers in vehicle number 1, who were eagerly watching, inadvertently dropped their jaws in astonishment. "Where... where''s the lord?" "I don''t know... I blinked, and he was gone?" The old soldier expressed his amazement, "That''s Spiritual Energy~" No matter how many times one witnessed it, the miracles of Spiritual Energy always elicited awe. And this lord''s skill in Spiritual Energy lay in concealment and reconnaissance. Time slowly passed in quiet anticipation. Unable to see the Spiritual Energy user''s actions or know the interior conditions of the target building, everyone could only silently wait for feedback from the Spiritual Energy user. "He''s back," the co-driver beside Bai E suddenly pointed excitedly in a direction; at a spot roughly a hundred meters away, the departed Spiritual Energy user seemed to manifest suddenly before everyone''s eyes. Only... the expression on his face seemed rather somber. "I can''t detect deep inside." The Spiritual Energy user stated the reality upon returning to vehicle number 2: "The building materials inside this base seem to contain a component that blocks Spiritual Energy." In the history Bai E was aware of, Spiritual Energy users had existed for a long time, but it was only in recent centuries that they started playing a significant role in the composition of human combat forces. Earlier, technological development appeared to have restrained the exploration of individual Spiritual Energy, and the occasional awakened individuals were humorously regarded as "magicians." Unexpectedly, this centuries-old relic base had even considered the Spiritual Energy users, who should not have been very prominent at the time. "However... they are indeed still alive." The Spiritual Energy user had not returned empty-handed. Chapter 152: 151 Begin Action! "The intel says the passages in the target base are almost all shut, with only one entrance open on the west side and southeast corner each, and each entrance is guarded by two bio-engineered soldiers.""Going a bit further inside the corridors, there''s a patrolling squad of four bio-engineered soldiers, but the cycle isn''t very certain, and I only ''saw'' one squad." "In addition, their perception isn''t as sharp as the intel described, and not every bio-engineered soldier is equipped with the standard gear mentioned." "As long as we conceal ourselves properly and launch attacks from behind, they are very likely to be unaware. I can only carry two people at a time at the maximum, and the concealment effect will fail when we''re within 50 meters of them." "If we can instantly take out the two gatekeepers at 50 meters, we''ve got a very good chance of infiltrating the base without detection!" "The base only retains minimal lighting power, and I didn''t detect any other electronic devices being used. From what I can see, their living and combat ways are just as primitive!" After reporting all his findings, the Spiritual Energy user Pansen waited for Gregory''s response. Although he held a superior position, he also had to follow the commands of the commander when it came to specific operational arrangements. Gregory pondered briefly and soon made the arrangements, his precise and concise voice ringing in everyone''s earpieces, "Dawson, Han Lei, AB, Bill, you four follow Lord Pansen and launch a surprise attack on the west gate. Make sure to eliminate the guards before they can sound the alarm." These people all had their special skills, sniper rifles, throwing knives, close combat assassinations... after all, the opponents were bio-engineered humans, with centuries-old black technology, who knew what kind of stuff they had modified, so even sniper rifles couldn''t guarantee a kill. Only long-range sniping combined with an instant burst from a 50-meter range could assure a foolproof action." "Additionally, Old One, 95B27, Molly, Lina... Aside from the soldiers just named, all remaining personnel prepare to launch an attack. As soon as we take the west gate, everybody rapidly assault!" "The personnel staying behind must protect the key figures and be ready to respond to orders at any moment. Members involved in the invasion, ensure clear communication, and stay in contact. Start checking your equipment now, I''m giving you 1 minute to prepare!" After speaking, Gregory turned to Likok and his assistant, Miss Aryan, who had been summoned behind him, "The two of you, we don''t know the inside situation, so we must eliminate all risks before we can take you in. Please wait patiently." While the drones continued to scout from afar, 1 minute quietly passed. "Ready yet?" "Ready." "Ready." The soldiers leading the way responded one after another. "Move out!" Four soldiers split into two groups following the Spiritual Energy user, and before the eyes of Bai E and others still waiting, they performed a great vanishing act once again. Even with preparation this time, Bai E kept his eyes wide open without blinking, but under the hypnotic ripples in the targeted space, he still lost the trace of the five people after an irresistible moment of mental haze. I really want to... blow him up. Envy filled Bai E''s heart. After another short wait, with Pansen''s cover, the two snipers got to their optimal sniping positions and lay in hiding, while the other two soldiers vanished from sight alongside the Spiritual Energy user. Until Pansen''s cool voice came through the earpieces, "Action." "Bang!" Two sniper rifles fitted with silencers fired simultaneously. The dampened sound and flash only flickered in the perception of the attentive Bai E and other soldiers, unable to reach the base''s interior, blocked by the thick outer walls. "Go!" As the guns fired, the two soldiers who approached within 50 meters under Pansen''s cover exploded into action. After a minor sound of knives piercing flesh came through the earpieces, Pansen''s voice once again rose steadily, "Objective completed." Gregory clenched his fist in exhilaration, his voice steady and fervent, "Attack!" The doors of the three off-road vehicles opened simultaneously, and over ten soldiers scattered into the fields, rushing towards the west gate like a pack of hunting wolves amid the rustling sounds. A total of 25 men came, and now, apart from the five including Bai E left behind for fire support and the two snipers still in hiding, only two scientific staff remained in the vehicles. The numbers weren''t large, all gathered inside the second vehicle, waiting for the outcome, while the first and third vehicles also kept their engines running, ready to move and provide support at any moment. And including the commanding officer and the Spiritual Energy user, 16 soldiers together launched an invasion into the target building. Silence filled the comms, and those left outside, including Bai E, quietly awaited the outcome. They could only guess at the situation encountered by the soldiers who entered the building through snippets of dialogue transmitted via the limited range of the radio¡ª "These bio-engineered soldiers haven''t exceeded human limitations, there is a possibility of completing the task." "Go in!" "No one in the left corridor!" "No one in the right corridor!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No one in the central corridor!" "Split up and move! Blood God, you take them through the left! Han Lei, you take them through the right! The rest come with me down the middle! Try to eliminate their living forces as much as possible, maintain communication, be quick in action, and decide on your own whether to retreat or call for reinforcements when encountering a tough nut to crack." To completely take over this base and restart the servers, they needed to fully eliminate all living forces. The allies had not understood this base for hundreds of years, and Spiritual Energy users'' scouting abilities were blocked by the building material. The opposition might have foregone electronic surveillance and other equipment due to energy restrictions or other reasons, relying solely on manpower. The information gathering and counteracting abilities of both parties were almost at the same level. The battle strategies also almost entirely consisted of cold weapons and close combat. All of these were known to everyone before departure. After all, not only were they trying to restart the servers but also the bio-engineered soldiers in the base, following the last orders of the electronic devil before it went silent, were equally cautious not to use high-powered firearms, afraid to damage the "main body" of their "master." ``` Both sides were equally reluctant to make a move, afraid of incurring damage. Once the operation managed to break into the base, it would essentially be tantamount to engaging in close-quarters combat from the age of cold weapons. Even if their cover was blown, it would merely make the mission more or less difficult. The later the exposure occurred, the more enemy combatants they would undoubtedly eliminate, easing the mission slightly. The only variable was the number of bioengineered soldiers inside, and their individual combat prowess. There was no precise data to reference on this point. Human technology was indeed formidable hundreds of years ago, but for that very reason, the level of individual soldier training did not match the emphasis placed on it in this era. After all, many technologies of this era have been lost or are unusable, leaving nothing but the soldiers'' own bodies to withstand natural disasters. Therefore, bioengineered soldiers who "far exceeded" the capabilities of ordinary soldiers in that era might not "far exceed" the standards when facing the elites selected from the barracks today¡ªit was unknown. That was why the military opted for a conservative plan, to first send the strongest elite selected from regular soldiers to probe the situation. If successful, all the better; if not, they would decisively retreat while also gathering some data. As long as the server restart plan was indeed feasible, they would come back to deliver the final blow. After all, the base wasn''t going anywhere, and bioengineered soldiers without the backing of any power didn''t have the ability to rapidly bolster their forces or climb the technological ladder. Sooner or later, it would be in the bag. But while the military had options, Bai E did not. A second visit was certainly not what Bai E hoped to see. After all, he might not be taken along next time... Success! It must be a success. The moment he first saw the ruins, the prompt for the main mission was activated¡ª [Prompt: "Ruins" discovered. Successfully completing exploration will fulfil part of the main mission¡ªIron Curtain. Current exploration rate: 0.1%] Only with a major success in this operation would he, the "reserve personnel," have a chance to enter the ruins. It would be best if those tough guys up front could just bulldoze through, leaving a safe shell for him to wander around and smoothly accomplish one-third of the main mission. As for ignoring commands and acting on his own to follow... Apart from the potential risks of bioengineered soldiers within the ruins, the four gun barrels behind him were not there just for show. Before setting out, the officer had made it clear that during this military operation, all actions should follow orders, and anyone violating orders would face military justice... which meant being shot on the spot. He could only hope that everything ahead went smoothly... or maybe, that failure would necessitate reinforcement? But if there were a rout, they would most likely retreat directly and wait to come back another time, and it wouldn''t be his turn, including the five fire support personnel and two snipers, to go in and reinforce. Worrisome... All he could do was pray for their success... Bai E frowned slightly, praying for divine intervention for his teammates. Read latest chapters on M-V-L He wondered how they were faring inside... ever since the decision to split up was made a while ago, there had been complete silence in his earpiece. Bai E felt a vague panic with no feedback from inside. "Are you 95B27?" Amidst the stifling wait, Bai E heard an intelligent and gentle voice next to him. Turning his head, he saw her identity immediately¡ªnot dressed in combat gear and with a delicate slender figure¡ªit was Minister Likok''s assistant, Miss Aryan. "Hmm," Bai E responded stiffly. "Do you understand computer hardware?" Aryan looked curiously at the stoic-faced soldier before her. Was this the man who had twice led everyone to safety during yesterday''s journey? Consequently, she casually struck up a conversation, "We might need your help soon... It''s just Minister Likok and me. We might be overwhelmed." "..." Hesitating slightly, Bai E still decided to be truthful and nodded, "A little." Thanks to Wen Jie''s scholarly efforts, he now possessed Level 1 knowledge in computer hardware maintenance, so he did have some understanding. Besides, if there really was a need for his help later, he could actually assist. To decline now and then demonstrate the ability later would be somewhat embarrassing. "That''s good." Aryan, seemingly a pure research talent with little world experience, was immediately delighted by Bai E''s simple promise, "Then, thank you in advance~" "...It''s my duty." "You''re also knowledgeable about computer hardware?" The conversation between the two drew attention in the quiet vehicle. The only soldier among the selected elites with some expertise in this area looked curiously at Bai E, "I don''t think I''ve ever seen you in the information classes at the barracks." He was one of the rare informational soldiers trained in the barracks, possessing not only decent shooting skills but also some learning in information technology. This dual capability was his ticket to selection. The unmanned drone deployed earlier was under his control. Bai E rubbed the tip of his finger slightly and improvised, "I learned it on the outside..." I''m self-taught, a prodigy! Without giving the other party more opportunity to doubt, suddenly a fire support personnel asked with some confusion. "Has anyone else noticed that it''s too quiet on the comms?" Since the decision to split up and infiltrate the base, there had been no messages transmitted back for a long time. With the comms left open, one would have expected to hear at least the sound of footsteps or breathing, but there was utter silence. This silent void was particularly unsettling, as if that silent, towering base was some primordial beast that had swallowed the unknowing humans whole... ``` Chapter 153: 152 Perfect Creation "Yeah... they''ve been quiet for a long time." Another gunner also realized this fact, "How long have they been inside?""27 minutes." A soldier kept precise timing. Inside... what happened? The unknown always causes panic, and the few gunners left behind looked at one another, feeling lost without the commander''s orders. "Could it be that the signal can''t get back because the distance is too far?" "That shouldn''t be the case, we''re still well within range." "Or is there equipment inside that blocks electromagnetic signals?" "They... they couldn''t have had an accident, could they?" "Should we... send someone in to check?" "Let''s ask those two snipers first..." Gregory had said that only the infiltrators needed to keep voice communication clear, and it was likely that if those staying outside interfered with important voice communication for no reason, it could bring trouble to the invading combatants. Finding the specific channel, one gunner asked AB who was waiting with his sniper rifle: "AB, you''re closer, can you hear any voice activity inside?" "No." The answer was short; AB''s character was, as always, indifferent. "Could it be that they temporarily blocked us? After all, they split up to act, and a mess of noises would not be conducive to coordination. Maybe they will contact us when needed?" "Maybe... The commander told us to hold our positions, I think it''s best not to take matters into our own hands. Let''s just wait patiently." "Right, even if something did happen, it''s not like no one could make it out. Just relax and wait, our duty is to provide support." Sitting in a corner, a gunner who hadn''t spoken up until now suddenly asked the scientific researcher, deep in thought and sitting away from everyone else: "Likok, what do you think the possibilities are?" Likok, always candid, shook his head, "I don''t know... The information on this base is incomplete, I can''t be certain, but I can be sure there''s definitely no high-power signal jamming equipment." Otherwise, the server''s network signal couldn''t get out, but it''s possible for low-power signal jammers that target individual wireless communication. Was it active jamming by the infiltration combatants, or blockage by signal jamming equipment? Both were possible. "Aryan, turn on my computer," Likok, feeling equally uneasy from the conversation of the few gunners, instructed his assistant. He was of no use in a fight, but when it came to problems in the field of electronic information, he might be able to help a bit. The hope of rebooting the server was within reach, and he wanted to see the success of this operation more than anyone. "I''ll try to intercept some stray electromagnetic signals that this base might have." Soldiers collect intelligence with their eyes, Spiritual Energy users with their perception, and he... with technology. "Yes, sir!" Aryan answered crisply. Likok, with his computer on and his face reflecting the pale white light, said, "I need some time, but I still think you should follow your commander''s orders." Leave it to the experts to handle their fields of expertise. Despite his dissatisfaction with the military only assigning these soldiers¡ªwhich by their standards were not top-tier¡ªto assist him with rebooting the server, now that the situation had come to this, he had to trust the judgment of the commander. "Then... let''s wait." The waiting soldiers slightly pushed down their confusion. Drones still patrolled around the target base, attempting to discover more leads. Bai E suddenly spoke up, "Why not fly a bit closer? Since the commander and his team have already infiltrated, it doesn''t matter if the drones outside get exposed." The soldier operating the drone hesitated briefly before dipping the flight height at Bai E''s suggestion. As they passed by the breeding and planting fields, Bai E intently reviewed the feedback images. The one sitting at the scene with the least pressure was likely Miss Likok''s assistant, a pure scientific researcher, who just waited for the soldiers to finish the fight and then follow her teacher to complete the rebooting of the server. Other than that, she couldn''t help, so she felt no pressure. Now, she casually asked Bai E out of curiosity, excited simply to find someone among the soldiers with whom she could share common language, "Do you also have an understanding of information technology from a few centuries ago?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "..." Bai E''s eyes went dark. You''re asking me? I''m all about hands-on, not theory~ But it seemed the lady didn''t expect an answer from Bai E anyway. Her teacher was tight-lipped, and the other soldiers were also taciturn and gloomy. She''d been nearly suffocated by the silence along the way; she just wanted someone to talk to. Seeing that Bai E didn''t speak, she kept talking, "I don''t know how they did it back then, but relying solely on the server hosts in this base, they could send signals perfectly and quickly to any corner of the globe. Just by establishing a signal station in any location, it could instantly support all devices within the station''s signal coverage to network usage without bandwidth limitations. Despite both being wireless networks, our current local area networks can only support short-distance transfer of some simple information. Whether it''s efficiency, quality, amount, or distance, they are not on the same level." Using a hundred automated turrets against fast-moving targets in the air, back then, a hundred turrets could hit a hundred required targets without interference or overlap, now it''s uncertain if a hundred could even hit one... This is the most evident application in actual combat. Aryan said with awe, "The information technology of that era was unbelievable; it''s said that even then, such miracles were hard to replicate. I think the materials used to build this base''s server must have been extraordinary..." Chapter 154: 152 Perfect Creation_2 No need for fiber optics? No wonder a server restart is sufficient..."Oh~" Bai E nodded, signaling that he was listening attentively. "Neither my teacher nor I have dealt with devices from centuries ago, we might even need time to study them before we can understand how they work. Who knows how much the technology of centuries ago differs from today''s..." "Hmm..." Bai E nodded stiffly, feeling indifferent. When these two disciples were allowed to go in, the warriors would have already fully secured the place. They didn''t need to rush their progress with life-or-death urgency. They could research slowly, research thoroughly. He himself also needed some time to explore the entire relic to unlock the exploration degree. Nobody was in a hurry. Miss Aryan''s voice took on a light tone again as she turned the conversation, "So it would be great if you could help as well." Bai E, determined to be a good person to the end, simply responded, "Will do my best." Thanks to Wen Jie, he did know a bit, but not much... [Reward from the commission, Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +195.] [Current Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience 264/300, at 300 points you can master "Level 2 Computer Hardware Maintenance".] emmmm... Speaking of Wen Jie, where''s Wen Jie? ... "How is it going?" The purple dress outlined stunning curves, but the bouncer at the door just glanced at it and quickly moved his gaze away. "Boss Scorpio... that kid has been working hard, always working except when eating or sleeping. I haven''t seen him slacking off." The bouncer reported eagerly, himself shocked by such a formidable will. I''ve never seen such a self-motivated and diligent worker... In just three and a half days... working all the time, the value of the work provided by one person far exceeded that of all the other workers who have been deceived or coerced here. No wonder Boss Scorpio has taken such a special interest in him; he''s incredibly fierce. The palm softly pressing on the door, Scorpio peered through the narrow window at the frail figure inside, her pupils shimmering with contemplative hues. Too strange. This kid, with no identifiable information, who suddenly entered the inner city from outside, was just too peculiar. At first he stood out, and Scorpio thought he was a spy sent by some power to gain the organization''s trust and become undercover. The solitary confinement was partly for this reason¡ªto restrict his freedom, to test his mettle, and to freeload off his labor. But it''s been three and a half days already, and he''s still the same as when he first arrived... if anything, even more focused. It''s as if he came purely for this unrewarded work, which is somewhat absurd. It doesn''t seem like an act. It''s as if he''s addicted to the work itself, his obsession comparable to a drug addiction... Probe for some information? "Click~" The faint sound of the door opening didn''t distract Wen Jie, who was engrossed in his work. [You have successfully dismantled your target, obtaining useful parts*6.] [You have completed an electrical component maintenance practice, Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +390. (Stacked)] [You have acquired "Level 2 Computer Hardware Maintenance", and you have also earned 1 Tech Point.] [Computer Hardware Maintenance (Level 2): You are familiar with all the functions of computer hardware, and you can accurately diagnose any potential failures related to computer hardware, as well as skillfully disassemble and reassemble any electronic components, possessing some repair capabilities.] [Current Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience 328/500, at 500 points you can master "Level 3 Computer Hardware Maintenance".] [You are attempting to perfect the Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance, with a current completion progress of 90%. Once fully completed, you will obtain: Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Completed); +1000 Research Experience Points; 2 Tech Points.] [Reminder: Without the experience of fully assembling a computer, you can never fully perfect the Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance.] Wen Jie, head bowed over his work, saw a faint light flash in his eyes¡ªso he finally reached the step where he needed to assemble a whole machine, huh? Shave a bit more experience? But the efficiency is too low; now completing several dismantles only adds 1 point of experience, and it will probably decrease even more until there is none. But as long as there still is, he could shave. Only by perfecting the basics can one explore higher pursuits. However, it seemed like the other party couldn''t wait any longer? "Hey." A raspy, seductive voice sounded in front of him. Zhou Wenjie slowly looked up, in front of him was the dress hem that dipped slightly in between two legs, the edge of black lace tights right in front, and higher up, glimmering long white legs were tantalizingly visible beneath the slit of the dress that ran up to the thigh. If it weren''t for the scar on her face, Wen Jie had decided he would unilaterally declare her his twenty-fourth 2D waifu; actually, the scar seemed fine, it even added a bit of excitement¡­ Meeting her gaze, Wen Jie tilted his head slightly, his face expressing the dullness characteristic of an engineering otaku, "?" "How long do you plan to keep up this disguise?" The woman''s eyes, swirling like vortexes, bore into Wen Jie''s, as if trying to see through the mask he wore on his face. Wen Jie blinked, "What disguise?" "Who sent you here?" she asked. Wen Jie looked as if it was all perfectly natural; "¡­ I came here to work, wasn''t it you who sent for me?" "..." She let out a slight, cold chuckle at the corner of her mouth. Acting! Still acting! "Do you know what we do to infiltrators?" [They are kicked out.] Wen Jie didn''t know, but he didn''t care either, "Then wait for me to finish up my work, and then I''ll come and see for myself." He just wanted to rake in experience. "..." Is he for real or not? She stared into Wen Jie''s eyes, trying to apply pressure. She wasn''t sure, she was bluffing too. If he really wasn''t a spy sent by some other organization, cultivating him might make him an engineer worth utilizing within the organization. Deciding to start from the beginning, she asked, "What exactly is your purpose here?" "I saw you were hiring, and I need a job." Isn''t this a perfect match? The reason was so simple it was unbelievable. "But this job comes with no pay." "Isn''t the opportunity to work the greatest reward?" "..." Scab! The logic was so simple it fried her CPU. The woman pointed to the mountain of electronic components piled up on the ground, "So you''re willing to just keep doing this?" "Of course not," Wen Jie answered honestly. To him, sincerity was the greatest ace up his sleeve, mainly because coming up with lies was just too tiring¡­ S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Winning over a mature woman starts with a straightforward approach. "I''d like to try putting them together," he said. "Oh?" She let out a cold laugh. As expected, a spy skilled in artful infiltration! "How will you assemble it?" Wen Jie squatted down, fiddling through the electronic components that looked like a pile of trash, and extracted a small gadget made up of several parts. Pressing an exposed switch, melodious music suddenly started to play. "This is the gift I wanted to give you." An ugly music box without a case... [Associative Learning, you have successfully assembled a usable "item" through your experience of dismantling and assembling computer hardware, Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +3.] [Current Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience 3/1000, pay out Tech point*1 at 1000 points, will master "Level 1 Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing."] The random electronic scrap had everything, and knowledge in computer hardware maintenance wasn''t only applicable to computers. Standing against the dim backdrop of "junk" on the ground behind him, Wen Jie held the slightly punk, hardcore music box with an innocently smiling face and sincere eyes, looking into hers. "This is what I want to do..." Chapter 155: 153 Detect the anomaly "..."In that one-thousandth of a second, Langxie felt her heart, cold as a frozen fish, suddenly throb, but it was immediately suppressed by absolute reason. It wasn''t that no one had ever confessed or flirted with her, but never with such a sincere and pure smile. It didn''t seem like an act... For her sake? She found it hard to accept such a narcissistic answer. With a slap, Langxie swatted away the toy that had briefly stirred her heart, sneering, "Merely this kind of toy can''t prove anything." "That''s why I need you to give me a bit of free time." Think she''s a fool? Langxie laughed coldly, the scars on her face appearing somewhat fierce, "What privileges do you want?" "Not to rush me to work..." "Hmm?" Zhou Wenjie pointed to piles upon piles of parts, which were electronic scraps these people had somehow scavenged, but with some fixing up, they could still be put together to make what he wanted, "With those, I can assemble a computer that will run just fine." "So..." "So I need a little time." "Right here?" "Right here." Langxie stared into Wenjie''s eyes, feeling her CPU growing hotter and hotter, causing her not-particularly-sharp brain to feel a bit dizzy. "But... why do you want to assemble a computer?" "For you to see," Wenjie responded with a gentle smile, looking up. [That annoying smile again.] Langxie silently bit her silver teeth, "Why show me?" "To demonstrate my strength." "..." She had never seen an undercover agent be so bluntly honest¡­... Langxie followed Wenjie''s line of thought, "And then to get into our core?" "Right." "And then to betray us?" "And then to learn your advanced knowledge!" Wenjie looked at Langxie strangely, "Why would you have such a weird thought? Favorability with each power isn''t easy to earn, you know?" "..." Favorability? Her heart beat rapidly, uncontrollably¡ªthe excessively innocent and straightforward young man, like a straightforward big boy, bewildered the all-too-familiar-with-deceit Langxie. But since his behavior was still controllable, she might as well see what he was going to do. With her watching, he couldn''t cause any trouble anyway. "I''ll allow it." Wenjie''s face immediately burst into a radiant smile, "Thank you, sister¡­ actually, you look very pretty when you smile." "Swoosh!" A knife with glinting cold light deceived Wenjie''s eyes and appeared at his throat without him noticing. The icy blade pressed tightly against his skin; it seemed even swallowing saliva might lead to suicide. Wenjie leaned back slightly, puzzled, "You''re not really going to kill me, why scare me?" "..." The fingertips of Langxie holding the knife pressed down slightly, asserting that he wasn''t the first to say she wouldn''t dare kill. Being a woman often required being more ruthless than men to stand one''s ground. But right now... she indeed wouldn''t kill him. "Keep your mouth shut." "Oh~" "..." Langxie crossed her arms, her chest boldly prominent, looking down at Wenjie with commanding presence, awaiting his performance, "You may begin." Wenjie silently turned and began rummaging through the "trash heap." Many components needed were exactly where he remembered, picking them up with smooth efficiency. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Premeditated!] Langxie smirked with her arms crossed, moved lightly to the wall, and while Wenjie wasn''t paying attention, she quickly squatted and picked up the "music box" that had been swatted away earlier. No one had ever given her a toy before; she could take it back as a trophy to show off¡­... Meanwhile, Wenjie, eyes fixed on the task, considered everything he encountered in the game to be just a fleeting cloud; the knowledge from the game world that he could truly learn and remember was what he needed. [You are attempting to assemble a machine¡­...] [Free Creation Mode: You are using your Knowledge ability to attempt to create something entirely new and unknown to you; according to your Knowledge judgment, the current success rate is "very small." You can facilitate the completion of this creation by paying a certain price (General/Scientific Research Experience). (Cost: 20 points of experience/min)] With the simple knowledge taught by the trainers, every piece that fell into his hands displayed its approximate function and name. Wenjie''s job was to find the correct component models needed and pick out those that were undamaged or could be repaired, and put them together¡­... As for so-called free creation¡­ he had already seen it when assembling the music box, but such a simple thing could be understood with a thought, so why waste experience? Now¡­... After several attempts at trial and error, Wenjie decided to use a bit of his not-so-abundant General Experience to cheat a little~ [You are spending General Experience to assist your creation attempt... (Cost: 20 points of experience/min)] ... [That''s it?] Watching Wen Jie dismantle and reassemble, the impatient Wolf-Scorpion turned and left the room. Seeing that clumsy attempt, it appeared he really came just for himself, and even wanted to perform in front of her...what an "idiot". "Keep an eye on him, and if he needs anything, inform me immediately." "Yes! Lord Wolf-Scorpion!" ... [You are spending General Experience to assist your creation attempt... (Cost: 20 points of experience/min)] [You have completed a computer assembly, Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +30, Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +12.] [Current Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience 358/500, at 500 points you can master "Level 3 Computer Hardware Maintenance".] [Current Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience 15/1000, at 1000 points and paying 1 Tech Point, you can master "Level 1 Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing".] [You are attempting to perfect Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance, current progress 91%, upon completion you will gain: Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Complete); General/Scientific Research Experience +1000 points; Tech Points *2.] "Huff~" A job well done! Called over to see a monitor supported only by wires and needing to be held by hand, flickering a few times before tremblingly lighting up, Wolf-Scorpion''s peach-blossom-like eyes suddenly widened in astonishment, looking at Wen Jie, "How did you do it!" All these were scraps collected from the ruins of old cities by scavengers, and being able to piece together a working computer from such trash was undeniably a staggering shock for her, a warrior yearning for technology. This was already on par with the engineers in the organization! "I figured it out by backtracking through those leftovers~" Wen Jie said as if it were only natural, "Can''t you do it?" Remembering Wen Jie''s clumsy manner just now, it seemed too genuine to be an act. "You never learned anything related before?!" "Nope...just got it after a few tries, I never had the chance to touch these things before," Wen Jie answered casually. "You..." Wolf-Scorpion hesitated slightly. An outsider with an ulterior motive acting as a mole? Or an enigmatic genius youth? But it doesn''t matter, in a situation where high-end talents are locked away, every single tech talent like this is extremely rare. Knowledge...knowledge lies there, but it needs someone who can actually learn it. Perhaps his identity is still suspect, his motives unclear. But even if he belongs to someone else, he can be corrupted into one of our own! Wolf-Scorpion''s features, beautiful as fire, slightly lifted in a smile, making one last confirmation, "Make a few more, I''ll be watching you this time!" "No problem!" Wen Jie agreed promptly. He couldn''t be stopped from assembling if one tried! He hadn''t fully achieved the perfection progress yet, what if he ran out of supplies, wouldn''t it drive him crazy? [You are trying to assemble a machine...] [You are attempting to perfect Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance, current progress 92%...] ... During a brief chat, the prompt in his mind sounded again¡ª [Feedback from the commission, Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +30.] [Feedback from the commission, Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +13.] [Current Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience 13/1000, at 1000 points and paying 1 Tech Point, you can master "Level 1 Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing".] Wen Jie was working so hard! And he was even progressing towards technology? Too powerful. Only...looking at that tech requiring 1000 points of experience, Bai E squinted his eyes and pondered in a daze. He finally understood where exactly tech points could be used, but why is it that one type of tech becomes effective immediately after feedback, while another requires accumulating experience and paying tech points to use? The difference between the two...one is applied technology, the other is theoretical technology. Well~ that seems reasonable. Suddenly, a voice came from nearby that grabbed Bai E''s attention. "Something''s odd..." Minister Likok, who said he would analyze the base''s situation by intercepting stray electromagnetic waves, pinched his chin while staring at the chaotic images on the computer screen, mumbling to himself with a frown. Without a doubt, it drew attention inside the anxiously quiet vehicle. "Is there a problem inside, Minister?" "Hmm..." Likok tapped on the images on the computer, explaining the situation to everyone passionately, "Indeed, something is blocking the radio transmission between them and us." Bai E leaned over to look at the minister''s computer screen, found the images a bit abstract, and silently withdrew. Minister Likok''s words, however, immediately tensed up the remaining soldiers, "There''s a trap inside!" "Are the officers in danger?" "They can''t call for help in this situation, do we need to go in and support them?" "No..." Minister Likok''s eyebrows twisted together, almost into knots, "What''s strange is right here, this doesn''t seem deliberate...or at least, it doesn''t seem to be interference signals emitted by jamming devices." Jamming devices only need to disrupt unidirectional signals; there''s no reason to "swallow" all electromagnetic signals. As he spoke, the minister started talking to himself again, "Could it be that the foundational design concepts for jamming devices hundreds of years ago are different from now?" The ambiguous words left the remaining soldiers bewildered. Buddy...what exactly are you saying? "Tap tap tap~" With rapid typing on the computer, Minister Likok''s eyes shone, "Don''t rush, let me analyze a bit more." Chapter 156: 154 Support Decision "A black hole... a vortex..."Minister Likok murmured some incomprehensible words to others. His gaze slowly drifted up from the computer and fixed on the distant silver-grey building. A touch of confusion appeared on his chubby face, clearly the product of an urgent processing of information derived from the computer analysis... "All interceptions?" "Absorption?" "How could that be?" "It doesn''t seem like a technological method..." "It''s not disturbance, but...being ''eaten''?" Mumbling to himself, Minister Likok suddenly froze, a possibility leaping into his mind causing his plump body to quiver violently. The tremor spread rapidly throughout his body, the panic born from within triggering a surge in his hormonal secretion. It was visible to the naked eye, even the tips of his fingers trembled rapidly. "Impossible!" Likok clenched his teeth hard, trying to combat the fear leaping out from his heart, "Impossible!" The sudden emotional breakdown of the minister made all the soldiers abruptly focus their attention on him; one of the soldiers anxiously asked first, "What is impossible?" "Impossible! Impossible!" Minister Likok just kept repeating the word, rising to gather his things, "Let''s go!" His hand, which had been gathering things, paused and shook his head in self-contradiction, "We can''t leave!" "It''s not confirmed yet... it''s not confirmed yet..." Biting his fingers subconsciously out of nervousness, Likok once again sharply turned his gaze toward the silver-grey base, "We need confirmation!" "What has happened exactly? Minister Likok!" a soldier with heavy firepower approached Likok, looking him sternly in the eyes, attempting to grasp the truth. After a brief moment of panic, Likok had already calmed his mind. He just looked at the man and then slowly swept his gaze over all the soldiers present, his tone serious, "Would you... dare to disobey orders?" "Is it that the higher-ups inside encountered some danger?" "We have orders to ensure your safety," the soldiers questioned, confused. Looking into the eyes of the soldier who had spoken, Likok asked, "But what if I say that I''m going in now?" "The higher-ups said, before they send back a message..." "He can''t send a message back now." At least not via radio. Likok insisted firmly. He couldn''t be certain yet whether the soldiers who had gone inside had all encountered disaster, but it was quite possible they were not yet aware of the situation they had fallen into or what adversary they were facing... All he could say was that if things were as he imagined, then they were more likely doomed than not. Faced with the unknown, people often conjure the worst possible scenarios. Some soldiers, remembering their superior''s secret last words, hesitated, "But if none of them can come back, our mission is..." "To take me away?" Likok shook his head with a wry smile. This emergency evacuation plan had been agreed upon before departure: if the internal threat proved too terrifying for even a single message to be conveyed by the entering soldiers, then they would immediately retreat. They couldn''t afford to lose everyone here given the risks on the journey back. It didn''t matter if all the soldiers died; the military could not allow Likok, an expert in information technology, to be lost as well. Naturally, Likok was aware of all these prearranged agreements, but at this moment... "Without having gathered any information, even if we return, what can we do?" Facing this terrifying, unknown lair, should they send in the real top experts next time? It''s still uncertain whether the military had the courage to go all in. Or... to abandon this project completely? Likok was not content with that. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had to go inside and see for himself whether his thoughts were correct before he could completely give up hope! "Tell me, what is your answer! Soldier!" Throughout the journey, Minister Likok seemed to be a man of few words, and the occasional eye contact with a soldier usually ended with a peaceful smile from him. But just now, this urban information specialist, occupying a high position, revealed the presence due to someone in authority. There was silence all around, no soldier daring to take the initiative to defy the orders of a superior. Likok''s voice grew firm as he pressed further, "Do you join me in going in to assist your possibly still living comrades and superiors, or do you continue to wait here for a notification that''s doomed to never come? I might be able to help them if I go in! Tell me your answer, soldiers!" Bai E silently went to the corner to pick up the quiver he had brought with him. He didn''t know what had happened, perhaps some terrible accident had occurred. But after a journey fraught with difficulty, wouldn''t it be too much of a pity not to take a look inside? His mission target was within reach; to walk away without seeing it through felt too unsatisfying. He was certainly going to follow the minister on this. Bai E''s silent action seemed to give the other soldiers an implicit signal to follow, as they each went in search of their weapons of choice...except firearms. "Bring your machine guns, and explosives like grenades and dynamite." Minister Likok''s eyes were steely, looking at the normally genial and stout figure now emitting a formidable aura, "If things really come to that point, I''d rather destroy the server than let the worst-case scenario unfold!" That was the main objective of this mission, and now he''d rather destroy it than face a worse outcome... Minister Likok making such a decision indicated that the situation he predicted might be catastrophically bad. Chapter 157: 154 Support Decision_2 Bai E felt a heavy mood, having roughly guessed the reason for Minister Likok''s nervousness.Machine guns, bows and arrows, daggers, pistols¡­ Bai E checked each piece of equipment he could carry on his person. 200 arrows, eight quivers; he couldn''t carry them all, so his gaze turned to Miss Aryan who seemed to be empty-handed¡­ The advantage of the battle blade machine gun was that it combined the capabilities of firearms and combat knives, eliminating the need for additional close combat equipment. Confirming that everyone was following Minister Likok''s orders, the firepower at hand called back two snipers still perched outside the west gate, "AB, Bill, you come back too and rearm. Minister Likok has discovered new intelligence, we might have to actively enter the target base to provide support." "Did we receive the orders from the officer?" Bill''s voice carried some confusion. Before anyone could explain, AB''s cool voice rang out first, "Okay." Having made the decision, it took less than two minutes for the seven soldiers who had been left behind to assemble, ready for deployment. The firepower in Gregory''s vehicle, who now voluntarily stepped forward to become the temporary commander of this squad, said, "Once we go inside, try not to shoot if possible. Wait until Minister Likok confirms whether the situation is serious, then await my command to fully engage in battle! Understood?" "Understood!" In an emergency, no one was inclined to squabble for authority. When battle loomed, there was no right or wrong choice, only whether hearts were united. "Now¡­move out!" Four veterans known for their close combat abilities among the firepower standing by went ahead to scout, Bai E and the seemingly frail AB, along with another unrecognizable veteran, trailed at the rear. The seven of them surrounded and protected Minister Likok and his assistant Miss Aryan in the center, doing their utmost to ensure their safety. Lightly stepping over the two so-called biologically enhanced bodies at the entrance, the group truly entered the ancient ruins that dated back hundreds of years. The ravages of time had not brought much change to this base; the doors and walls, constructed out of some unknown metal, still shimmered with a matte silver-gray luster. [You have entered the ruins, current exploration progress: 0.5%.] The moment he truly stepped over the threshold, Bai E heard the prompt from his panel. But he paid it no mind; being at the very back, he simply turned to look at the two corpses on the ground¡ª Indeed, the body structure of the biologically enhanced beings was just as the documents had described. Their flesh and blood bodies could not withstand the power of the sniper rifles; the different parts of the bodies that were hit had been blasted to pieces by the sniper rifles'' might, revealing the metal structures implanted inside them. A milky white substance that could serve as engine oil or lubricant flowed out from those semi-metal, semi-organic structures, mingling with the bright red blood in a visually striking manner. As for signs of modified eyes or skin, meant to detect changes in the atmosphere or scan for infrared and heat, no evidence was found. Could it be that even among these biologically enhanced beings, the extent of modification was graded? With these thoughts of exploring new discoveries in mind, Bai E followed the team into deeper passages. The interior of the base felt somewhat cold, and the same matte silver-gray metal that was nearly identical to the outer walls was virtually the only backdrop. The faint green light from the most basic emergency lighting made it difficult for the soldiers who had just come from the sunlight to adapt to the light. "There''s still energy inside the base¡­" Minister Likok had to jog quickly through the crowd to keep pace with the soldiers, his gaze sweeping across the interior of the base rumored in tales, attempting to uncover useful information from any signs he could observe. Even emergency lighting requires a separate power supply for operation. In hundreds of years, these biologically enhanced warriors, in order to maintain the base from rendering their "masters''" "bodies" completely dysfunctional, must have spared no effort. The temporary commander leading the way encountered the same problem as the squad that had just breached ¡ª Shortly after entering, they were faced with the choice of a three-way junction. "Minister Likok?" After looking at the portable computer screen, Likok shook his head, "We need to go deeper." Nodding, the temporary commander quickly made a decision, "Main road, move forward." Commander Gregory had taken this route, and finding the chief command quickly to report the incident and situation was always the right choice. The base''s interior passages were numerous, and not long after they had run a distance, they encountered another three-way junction, with the route they came from behind them and the sides unknown. The temporary commander gritted his teeth and ordered, "Continue straight." "Tap tap tap~" The sound of metal combat boots in the corridor was hard to suppress, even though everyone was consciously trying to step lightly, the noise still carried far down the rectangular corridor. All of them were warriors used to charging the front lines, none accustomed to practicing the trick of hiding their footsteps. Miss Aryan, who was not far ahead of Bai E and staggered a bit under the weight of six quivers of arrows and some equipment, curiously turned her head to Bai E, "How come you hardly make any noise when you walk?" Women''s minds are delicate, and even in such moments of high tension, they find time to notice details others might disregard. Bai E shook his head and gave a casual excuse, "I''m light." Of course, the real credit went to the 63 points of stealth experience contributed by the players... Although it was not enough to completely silence his footsteps, compared to the big soldiers who couldn''t quiet themselves at all, his performance was overwhelmingly superior. Aryan might not have mentioned it, but once she did, Bai E''s heart instantly tightened. The interior of the base was very quiet, but their footsteps were very distinct... Before his vigilance could ferment, heavy and concentrated footsteps started emanating from a side corridor. It wasn''t the hardness of military boots. They had been discovered! "Click!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A soldier instinctively released the safety, but as soon as the sound of chambering a round began, the temporary commander stopped them, "Hold fire! We haven''t confirmed the situation yet, try not to shoot if possible." Not to mention, in such a silent environment, once they opened fire, they would probably face not just the squad of patrolling biochemical soldiers about to arrive. "Take cover!" whispered the temporary commander, "Leave one person to protect the minister, the other six engage the enemy, swift and decisive!" Upon the order, the seven soldiers immediately responded with tacit understanding, pressing against both sides of the T-shaped passage entrance, with three soldiers on each side, holding their breath in wait. Only Bai E, the "little brother," was left behind to protect Minister Likok and Miss Aryan from any attack. Listening to the approaching footsteps of their target, the temporary commander signaled with his mouth to everyone, "Get ready..." Chapter 158: 155 Biochemical Modified Soldier The other party clearly knew that they had been discovered, and as they neared, they slowed their steps, inching closer.The corridor was so quiet that everyone could hear their breath. Bai E reached out to protect the two behind him, his fingertips caressing the bow hanging at his waist. Should they attack first? How effective would their bows be against the combat prowess of the bioengineered soldiers in full alert, and would their attacks disrupt their teammates'' arrangements? Confidence comes from familiarity. Facing an entirely unknown opponent, Bai E dared not act rashly. However, these bioengineered soldiers were not about to give them much time to think; one of them somersaulted past the T-junction of the corridor, easily blocking two descending gunfire blades with a small shield in hand. The three bioengineered soldiers that followed burst out and pounced on the others who were waiting to ambush, like wild beasts devoid of communication skills lunging at their prey¡ªthe most dangerous close-quarters combat immediately ensued. The power of the gunfire blades was substantial, naturally the best close combat weapon for facing the Bug Race or orcs head-on in battle. But against these likewise highly skilled elite soldiers, the heft of the gunfire blades was a limitation. In the dizzying melee, Bai E tried to observe the enemy, attempting to gather more information about them¡ª [??? (Bioengineered Soldier) (Chaotic) ¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Certainly (Fresh Flesh*800, Bio Parts*60, Combat Experience 1500 points); High Probability (Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, up to level 5, Mastery: Agility Weapon Specialization Layer +1, up to level 5); Possible (Trait: Bio Body (connected to "Trait: Three Mouths One Pig"), Trait: Death Aversion)] Time had not destroyed these bioengineered soldiers from hundreds of years ago; the bodies under their thin combat suits were still brimming with explosive power. Even after so many years of silence, these warriors had never ceased training their combat qualities; both their physical condition and combat skills appeared to exceed those of the teammates whose main roles were as fire support. Bai E could not see the specific base attributes of the bioengineered soldiers, but he was somewhat familiar with the capabilities of his teammates. Even the fire support personnel, who could operate the gunfire blade''s rapid-fire mode for extended periods, had at least close to 15 points in stamina; however, in contests of strength alone, they were clearly at a disadvantage. It wasn''t a complete crushing defeat, yet they were still one or two-tenths weaker. The lack of strength was secondary; what was even more crucial was the lack of specialized abilities. When everyone''s attributes were honed to the limit, a diversity of specialized abilities became the primary source of variation in combat strength. In the presence of the same specialized abilities, having or lacking special attributes could significantly impact combat capability, not to mention that the melee specialization levels of these fire support soldiers were far inferior to those of the bioengineered soldiers before them. If it weren''t for the numerical disadvantage of four against six, the teammates probably couldn''t have held on for long. Equipment was certainly another disadvantage for the enemies; a dagger in every hand was the bioengineered soldiers'' most significant weapon. But in such close-quarters combat, a dagger was actually the most effective weapon; the cumbersome nature of the gunfire blades limited their effectiveness, and astute teammates usually discarded their guns the moment they engaged, switching to military knives or daggers to fight back. Whistling sounds of slicing through air emerged in the not too spacious corridor, with hardly any noise of weapons clashing; the close combat with knives was full of silent but deadly intent. The real advantage on their side was the combat suits! The pitch-black combat suits made of some unknown material effectively resisted slashes and stabs, and aside from hits to unprotected areas, the bioengineered soldiers'' attacks hardly achieved the desired effect. It was precisely this advantage that allowed the fire support soldiers to barely hold their ground against the bioengineered soldiers. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still, painful grunts occasionally punctuated the air; the protective suits could fend off the dagger''s sharpness, but not the force of fists or stabs. Minister Likok, whom Bai E was protecting, watched the chaotic battle with tension and said to Bai E from behind, "Go up and help them! Don''t worry about us." Bai E gripped the unexpanded bow, hesitated for a moment, then decided to forgo ranged attacks; opportunities could vanish in the blink of an eye amidst such chaos, so he might as well join the fray directly. "Be careful yourselves." After a quick admonition, Bai E dashed forward. Military knives and daggers fell under the category of Agility Weapon Specialization; these small, delicate weapons essentially extended the reach of fists and feet by just a short range, and their specialization levels could largely carry over from Combat Mastery, albeit slightly attenuated. Unfortunately, Bai E''s level of Combat Specialization was not particularly high either; his dagger and military knife probably packed less punch than his fists. With the burst of "Overlimit Drive," Bai E felt he could create a miracle with brute force. "Argh!" A painful groan accompanied by the sound of cracking bones echoed nearby; a teammate''s lower leg had been kicked and broken, causing them to lose their balance and fall. Spotting the bioengineered soldier who had knocked down a comrade and was preparing to kick again to deliver a finishing blow, Bai E quickly stepped forward and twisted his body to exert force. His robust strength transformed into an unimaginably terrifying force, following a transfer from leg to shoulder, he threw a punch filled with might, utterly unadorned. The entanglement between his teammate and the bioengineered soldier provided him with the chance to ambush. The soldier from hundreds of years ago was also a cream-of-the-crop chosen in his era; his seasoned battle experience allowed him to maintain awareness of his combat surroundings even as he aimed to deliver the coup de grace. Before the gust from Bai E''s punch could impact his face, the bioengineered soldier had already pivoted his body. The method of exerting force described by the instructor was almost universally applicable to humans, even if the opponent was bioengineered. After a standard burst of exertion, the bioengineered soldier threw a punch towards Bai E''s chest. An exchange of blows! And since he was bigger and had a longer reach, even if they both landed their punches, the one who struck later would definitely lose more force. He believed that this smaller man who did not seem particularly strong would surely be more severely injured than himself. "Be careful!" The fallen soldier, clutching his injured leg and dripping with cold sweat, watched the scene unfold before his eyes and couldn''t help but voice a warning instinctively. Although no one explicitly stated it, everyone was deliberately or unconsciously looking out for the newbie who had gotten in through "backdoor connections," assigning him to guard two scientific researchers who were unrelated to the combat. Following the couple of unexpected incidents on the road earlier, no one harbored any misgivings about the relationship that got him in through the "backdoor." But the fact remained clear, the judgments of the superiors definitely couldn''t be wrong; the kid who needed to use connections to join this team surely had significant deficiencies in other areas. Though skilled with firearms and driving, he wasn''t selected... This only left the possibilities of poor physical fitness or abysmal close combat skills. At this moment, facing bioengineered fighters non of them could contend with, it would be easy to let a punch break through the defense. In the blink of an eye, as the reminders were still reverberating through the air, the dull sounds of flesh colliding had already echoed one after another¡ª "Bang!" "Bang!" He coughed up blood... The terrifying force, akin to a car crash, sent the bioengineered warrior who had been directly punched in the chest flying back, as blood ceaselessly sprayed in midair. He crashed to the ground only after traveling at least a meter away. Bai E took a small step back, holding his slightly stifling chest and gently rubbed it. [It''s just... like this.] Observing from the side, the strength of these bioengineered fighters couldn''t be ascertained without a concrete concept, but one had to personally engage to understand their true power. Whether it was genuine attributes or the biomechanical structure inside their bodies, these bioengineered fighters were definitely demonstrating physical performances far surpassing the current human limit of 15 points in physical strength without having used the Gene Optimization Solution. However, the excess wasn''t significant, and coupled with his quick adaptability, their bodies didn''t have enough charging time and didn''t exhibit their full power. Under these circumstances, facing his own punch powered by Overlimit Drive and charged with full force, it was normal for them to be blown away. The enormous rebound impacted his own body as well, the overloading burst a test of his own physical fitness. Fortunately, a fast-recovering hidden specialization was always protecting his body. Bai E rotated his wrist, feeling the soreness dissipating significantly. Stepping over a teammate lying on the ground unable to move, Bai E leapt forward, delivering another punch directly at the opponent who had not yet regained his balance. Strike when the enemy is sick, for a certain adversary, Bai E would not show the slightest mercy. Lying on the ground and watching the figure lightly leap over himself, the soldier with a fractured shinbone couldn''t immerse himself in his pain, his mouth agape as he focused on Bai E with a look of utter bewilderment. "Huh?" The bioengineered fighter that used to pummel someone as if they were a child couldn''t withstand this "backdoor" guy''s punch? What the hell kind of strength do you have to fall to the level where you need "backdoor connections" to join the team? "Bang!" A robust build usually meant the overall responses weren''t as agile. The bioengineered fighter, struggling to get up from the ground, took another punch square in the face. Carrying the momentum of a sprint, his perfectly executed punch with the enhancement from the Combat Specialization Layer was even more formidable than before; blood and teeth... instantly flowed and shattered. Matching his steps with his fists, Bai E surged forward, smoothly drawing the dagger from his calf as he went. Striking before the reeling bioengineered fighter could, he quickly reached behind the opponent and wrapped one arm around his throat. "Schlick!" The sound of the dagger penetrating flesh rose for the first time in the chaos of the narrow corridor. With a slight twist of his wrist, the throat was severed. Blood gushed from the severed artery in torrents, Bai E''s eyelids instinctively flickered, and he promptly pulled back to distance himself. The bioengineered fighter, having lost the support from behind, still attempted to launch an attack as he turned, but the biomechanical enhancements and their death-defying trait could only delay their inevitable death. Their powerless bodies fell forward less than a meter away from Bai E after only taking half a step. Group combat differs from one-on-one; teammates'' constraints provided Bai E with the greatest opportunities. Seize the moment. Subdue your enemy instantly! As the dust settled, the late battle information started to stream through the faint blue screen before his eyes, not obstructing the actual view¡ª [Using close-quarters combat to knock down the target, combat mastery experience +5.] [Hit the target''s vital points, inflicting 12 points of striking damage! Target falls into a brief "daze" state.] [Using a dagger to hit the target''s vital points, dexterity weapon mastery experience +8£¨+2£©.] (Total experience is not shown until it exceeds inherited Combat Specialization mastery experience.) [Inflicted 50 points of critical damage to the target! Target falls into a "heavy bleeding" state.] Death was merely a matter of time. The first bioengineered fighter to be killed had emerged! Bai E''s body appeared unhurriedly from behind the fallen bioengineered fighter, with the bloodthirsty dagger still dripping fresh red drops. The teammate who witnessed the entire battle hugged his shin, completely forgetting the pain in his leg. Swift. Precise. Ruthless. Clean and decisive. The burst of fighting prowess from the "backdoor soldier" was brutally terrifying. This was truly the main pillar of the team! And it wasn''t just the teammates who recognized Bai E''s victory. The remaining bioengineered fighters, continuously monitoring the situation, also identified this new, greater threat. In the brief clash, they could easily determine that none of the other invaders were their match, except for this one who had killed one of their own¡ªhe was the sole threat. Chapter 159: 156 Ill go teamfight, you guys defend base We can''t let him do as he pleases!Without any need for communication, as if reading each other''s minds, the two bioengineered soldiers suddenly burst forth in a more ferocious combat, tying up five teammates already gasping for breath in terrible condition. The one left charged at Bai E alone, aura of killing intent overflowing. In this brief engagement, it was enough to reveal that he was the strongest presence in this squad of bioengineered soldiers. "Don''t engage him head-on!" "Run!" a teammate grinded out through clenched teeth as a reminder. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E shook the blood off his dagger and used the crook of his arm to dry the stain, reinserting it back into the sheath on his calf. His Combat Specialization Layer wasn''t high, and the inherited expertise with nimble weapons wasn''t much better. Using a dangerous tool like a dagger to face an enemy directly could easily result in injuring oneself first. Compared to this, fists were better, for might created miracles! As for adding points on the fly... after the experience of unlocking special attributes through learning, Bai E wasn''t too keen on directly spending experience points to enhance his specialization layer. It felt a bit wasteful. Most importantly, through a brief experience with the enemy, Bai E had a rough understanding of the abilities of these bioengineered soldiers and had already plotted a strategy for the ensuing battle. Mastery of hand-to-hand combat might only be useful at this moment... Facing the bioengineered soldier lunging at him, Bai E too readied himself for a desperate move. He readied his punch! The fist, filled with all his might, aimed directly at the opponent''s chest, with the idea of exchanging injury for injury, intending to repeat the killing blow from before. Knowing the intruder''s strength was not as frail as he appeared, the bioengineered soldier tainted by the electronic demon wasn''t an irrational brute and with a nimble change of position, planned to continue attacking from the side. However, Bai E''s move was a feint, and as the opponent dodged, he burst forth with an explosive strength from his legs, performing a smooth front flip to roll and head straight towards his allies. One-on-one? Who''s dueling with you? This is a melee! Seven against three, you think I''ll go 1V1 with the difference in our numbers? Bai E''s actions instantly received his teammates'' cooperation, even if one took a punch, two warriors sacrificed themselves to pin down a bioengineered soldier they were attacking together. The brief restraint was enough time for Bai E to sneak an attack, landing a Black Tiger Heart Pluck square on the back. A dagger wasn''t good for exerting strength, especially against a bioengineered soldier with enhanced corporeal traits; a stab with the dagger didn''t have the same effect as the kinetic blow from a fist. The bioengineered soldier, stumbling forward from the punch, was then tripped by two of Bai E''s teammates with a sneaky move, taking a harsh fall. Just as he planned to follow up with another strike, the one who appeared to be the captain of the patrol team of bioengineered soldiers had already caught up. Grabbing Bai E''s left arm, the bioengineered soldier got close to body to try to employ a joint lock and thoroughly disable Bai E. From the previous observation, Bai E noticed that these warriors from hundreds of years ago were especially skilled in close-quarters fighting; his old soldier companions had a hard time gaining the upper hand in such close combat, let alone himself, a fresh soldier who had just acquired a Level 1 Combat Specialization Layer. Turning and throwing a punch, Bai E tried to use his right arm to free his left. His opponent, of course, didn''t dare to take it head-on, but his arms, forged like steel, instantly trapped Bai E''s right arm before it could fully exert force, intercepting it before he could power up. A familiar scene unfolded before his eyes as Bai E, in a daze, recalled a similar situation¡ª His duel with Rose! [Thanks, Rose.] A silent praise in his heart, Bai E adjusted his stance, lightly rotated his arm, and with a short-distance rotation of his waist and back, he powered up his arm to force open the restraint and landed a punch on the opponent''s abdomen. [Use close combat attack to break free from restraint and repel the target, gaining +3 experience in Combat Mastery] [Inflicted 1 point of strike damage to the target!] "Cough!" Overlimit Drive had no cooldown, and every punch at 150% effect forced the bioengineered soldier''s captain to involuntarily step back. Bai E had no intention of pursuing victory, given the leader''s strength exceeded the other three, it was best to squish the softer persimmons. "Huff~" Bai E exhaled lightly, having used Overlimit Drive at full strength in the short bursts, the extra 30% physical exertion undoubtedly taxed his body greatly. However, in just a breath''s gap, the constantly replenished reserve of action power was already converting into physical strength to support Bai E''s actions. The human body can''t maintain peak performance all the time; intense confrontation inevitably leads to fluctuations in performance due to physical condition, but the presence of Overlimit Drive allowed Bai E to maintain peak physical levels. This was why, with his teammates drawing fire, he was confident he could win this sudden fight without needing a high Combat Specialization Layer! "Crack!" "Ah!" A scream of pain followed from behind. The severe pain of a bone fracture made the warrior cry out, and Bai E caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye, another bioengineered soldier grabbing the fallen ally''s arm and twisting down heavily. Close-quarters fighting was extremely dangerous, and even two people of similar levels could only fight briefly before a swift outcome emerged, let alone when there was a disparity in individual quality. As Bai E made his move, the bioengineered soldiers weren''t idle either; his six teammates had sustained varying degrees of injury, and now it was only willpower and instinct keeping them going. Luckily, Bai E''s timely intervention in pushing back the squad captain, along with the already activated "Well-Trained" trait, allowed his movements to be swift as the wind and lightning. Chapter 160: 156 Ill go teamfight, you guys defend base_2 ```Being small has its advantages; a bulky figure absolutely cannot achieve the swift agility needed in close-quarter maneuvering. "Bang!" Kicking a bio-soldier off his teammate, Bai E swiftly followed up by plunging a dagger into the assailant''s neck. As a shadow loomed overhead, Bai E had no time to widen the wound and had to release the dagger, rolling sideways to evade the bio-captain''s deadly stomp. But it was enough. [Using a dagger to strike a vital area, your proficiency with finesse weapons has increased by 5 (+1).] [You''ve inflicted 30 points of critical damage! The target is now in a "heavy bleeding" state.] Another one down! Bai E''s sudden burst out of cover almost instantly broke through the tactical coordination of the four bio-soldiers. They couldn''t win this! The two still relatively healthy bio-soldiers made their judgement. Pre-programmed orders began to dictate their decisions, and seeing most of their subordinates downed by the intruder, the dutiful bio-captain turned to flee without a second thought. Engage the intruder if there''s a chance to kill, inform more of your companions if there''s not¡ªthis was a regulation he had to abide by! "We can''t let him escape!" The teammate with an injured leg wished desperately that he could stand and give chase. Those who could reach for a gun did so immediately, switching off the safety. Run if you can''t fight? A glint of cold light flashed in Bai E''s eyes, "Don''t shoot!" Bai E kicked the other relatively healthy bio-soldier trying to counter-attack mid-air and while still in the air, he reached behind his back to grab the compound bow he carried, flicking it open with a sharp movement. Drawing the bow, taking quick aim... Fire! S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Whoosh!" The arrow, like a darting fish, flew straight and true, penetrating the unguarded bio-captain''s chest! [Using a ranged weapon you hit the target, dealing 8 points of piercing damage!] Powered by the Overlimit Drive, the arrow shot by Bai E with all his strength now had a lethality not inferior to a rifle bullet. Even the robust bodies of the bio-modified couldn''t withstand bullets, but a non-fatal hit merely caused a momentary pause in the captain''s steps¡ªhe stumbled yet continued his escape. Landing smoothly, Bai E was unhurried as he drew two more arrows from his quiver. Fire! [Scatter shot (Double Shot) triggered! Successfully hitting the same target, proficiency with ranged weapons increased by +2.] [The target took 10 points of piercing damage!] One arrow struck his back, the other his leg. The force that accompanied the arrows caused the bio-captain to stumble, nearly falling over. But the instinct to defy death still drove his movements. "Whoosh!" Bai E, without even turning his head, fired another arrow toward the bio-soldier who had just managed to stand up again, the arrow piercing through the soldier''s skull, causing him to fall instantly. Continuing to draw his bow, Bai E aimed at a distant target. "Whoosh!" [Scatter shot (Double Shot) triggered! Successfully hitting the same target, proficiency with ranged weapons increased by +2.] ¡­ [Scatter shot (Double Shot) triggered! Successfully hitting the same target, proficiency with ranged weapons increased by +2.] ¡­ Bai E approached, reaching the bio-captain who was now a pincushion on the ground, gasping more than breathing, and drew his bow for the last time. [Ranged weapon hit the critical area, dealing 35 points of fatal damage!] ¡­ [You have thoroughly killed the target, the battle is over, you''ve earned 140 combat experience points.] This was much more exhausting than hunting birds... Earning the same experience, dealing with these four bio-soldiers was far more troublesome than facing those blood crows before. But thankfully, they won. It was just a rather dismal victory. "Are you alright?" "My hand''s broken..." "My leg''s broken..." "¡­" Shaking his head in resignation, Bai E said, "Just lie down and don''t move." He then waved at Miss Aryan who had been watching from a distance, "Bring over the first-aid kit." The hailed miss immediately came running with the box, looking at Bai E with sparkling admiration, "You are amazing." ``` ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +8.] Miss Aryan''s words were also the sentiment of everyone present. The battle had completely overturned their prejudice against Bai E for having to "use the back door" to join this elite team due to being "not selected." This brother''s close combat skills might not compare to those of professional tough guys, but he was exponentially more powerful than anyone else present. Plus, previously intercepting the flock of birds alone, driving to lead everyone out of danger, and now... being able to heal everyone? How could such a person not be selected? Why should he not be selected? If he wasn''t selected, what about the other fire support members present? Were the officers blind? Bai E just lowered his head, carefully checking the injuries every soldier had received in battle. Their perceptions were not entirely accurate; there were only a few without any hope of recovery. The human skeleton is remarkably sturdy; most had simply suffered temporary fractures from the bio-soldiers'' joint locks. It wasn''t a big problem. Dealing with each in turn, it came to AB, who sat alone in the corner against the wall. "Where are you hurt?" AB turned away with a cold voice, "I''m fine." "Fine? Not really." So stubborn! Bai E grabbed his hand from his chest and quickly opened his combat suit zipper, subconsciously challenging, "What''s more important, your life or your dignity?" AB was silent, just turning his face to look off down the corridor. "Zzzzt~" The vest seemed inflated. It seemed to have both a front and a back... "..." Was AB actually a woman?! Bai E quickly glanced at her expression but didn''t say anything aloud. This kid''s voice was neutral and cold, and the handsome boy haircut with a middle part¡ªhow could anyone discern her true gender? But the priority was to identify the problem, so Bai E directly started to gently press. "Hiss~" She grimaced, her lips turning white with pain. "It seems like you''ve broken a couple of ribs," Bai E quickly assessed the injury, "You''re not going to die, but you definitely can''t continue to fight. Retreat with... with the guy from earlier." The soldier with the cracked shinbone''s mobility was severely compromised, obviously unable to continue on. "..." AB bit her lip silently, clearly reluctant. "I don''t have time for counseling. You continuing like this would only hinder our progress. I order you to retreat!" "..." "Did you hear me?" "Yes, Commander!" AB responded instinctively. ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +1.] Bai E unapologetically accepted the address, with a plan in mind, the team should follow his lead. "Everyone take a break. The two of you will retreat on your own soon, start the vehicle''s engine when you get back, place any medical supplies you might need in an easily accessible spot, and by nightfall... by six o''clock, regardless of the result, I will make sure someone goes back to inform you. If there''s no message, it''s likely we''re all dead. Take what you need and leave in a vehicle, making sure to inform the officers in the camp about the danger here. By the way, can either of you drive?" AB shook her head, but the other soldier promptly replied, "Yes." "Good!" Bai E nodded in relief, "Then that''s settled. The rest of you come with me. Let''s move on!" "Yes!" Without hesitation, everyone acknowledged Bai E''s authority. However, the silence that followed was somewhat heavy, the look in their eyes as they glanced at each other was tinged with sadness. In the eyes of each, the appearance of the others was somewhat wretched, the brief exchange markedly one-sided in disadvantage. Without their firearms, these fire support members did indeed have limited capabilities. Luckily, there were only four enemies; had there been one more, they likely wouldn''t have held out until Bai E turned the tide. Therefore, what about next time? No need for more, if the same four bio-soldiers came again, their small group would be finished. They weren''t afraid to die, but they were afraid of not completing their mission, afraid of being ineffective. "Minister, can we confirm our speculation now?" the previously acting commander suddenly asked. Likok shook his head honestly, dismissing the thought, "No, we need to get closer to the center." "..." Bai E''s gaze swept over the faces of everyone in the gloomy atmosphere, guessing the worries in their hearts. "Later, you are responsible for protecting the Minister." "Huh?" Everyone looked at Bai E, who had spoken, their eyes full of confusion. Bai E met each of their gazes and said softly, "I''ll take care of killing the enemy." Chapter 161: 157 command With combat experience, Bai E had already roughly confirmed the capabilities of those bioengineered soldiers.Flesh and blood could not escape the punishment of arrows! As long as they could get the upper hand and reduce the enemy''s numbers significantly before the engagement, it would be much better than relying on the few worn-out soldiers present for close combat. Perhaps this method of long-distance killing could cause the enemy to lose the will to fight, causing them to flee and seek reinforcements, but it was still stronger than engaging in hand-to-hand combat with these few battered and beaten soldiers. As long as they could find the others who had entered before as soon as possible, then their mission would be considered complete. "Take off your boots when we move," Bai E continued to make arrangements. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The inside of the base had smooth floors, and going barefoot wouldn''t result in injury, at worst it would just reduce their kicking power in close combat, but he didn''t expect they would still be capable of kicking. The metallic soles of their boots were what had exposed their presence; these veterans from the battlefield were not adept at concealing themselves in this kind of stealth operation, easily losing the advantage of taking the initiative. "Yes!" They had made an impression with the battle. Bai E''s will was thoroughly executed. Having completed emergency treatment and basic arrangements, Bai E also leaned against a wall corner for a brief rest, quickly flashing back through everything that had happened in a short burst of time. 18 points of hand-to-hand combat mastery experience, 12 points of ranged weapons mastery experience, 140 points of combat experience, and 9 points of recharge value¡ªthat was all he gained. The time was short, the fighting fierce. Drawing non-data experience from each battle was also the quickest route to improving oneself. The bioengineered soldiers lacked those more mechanical-looking implants mentioned in the data; the exposed wounds showed more of the biological structure of the body itself. Was the data incorrect, or were the samples too rare? Thinking of this, Bai E turned his head to glance at the corpses on the ground not far away. The bioengineering significantly enhanced their physiques and vitality, but it seemed they still could not break through the limits of the human body; otherwise, after centuries of training, even at a slow pace, they should all be like superhumans by now. He also wondered what the combat support chips that caused them to fall under the control of the electronic demon looked like. [Should I take this opportunity for a dissection?] Understanding the opponent was also an important means to dismantle them. If he could destroy the chip with a single arrow, could he then ignore their bioengineered bodies and death-defying traits to force them into a mandatory "shutdown"?] This thought circled in his mind, growing more appealing. It was somewhat cruel though¡­ He had decapitated enemies in battle without a second thought, but now, the idea of dissecting corpses... Made him feel a bit nauseous. "Which one of you knows how to dissect?" Bai E suddenly asked aloud. The soldiers looked at each other, and one hesitated before raising his hand, "Sir, I''ve learned how." Bai E cocked his head, his face cold as he commanded, "Go dissect those corpses, and find out where their chips are inside." "Yes!" Hearing Bai E''s orders, Likok, who was only staring at the computer screen, glanced over and felt a bit of admiration. [Such meticulous thinking.] As a fellow researcher, he also had the idea of obtaining important information through the scientific act of dissecting corpses; it was just not his field of expertise, making his reaction slower. Now, hearing Bai E bring it up, he realized that he might have made the same choice if he were in his shoes. He didn''t know the twists and turns behind this soldier, and no one would talk to him about the backdoor, last-minute allocation of a spot. He only knew that this unassuming-looking soldier unexpectedly possessed the potential to become a true commander. This is the advantage of power... Bai E sighed inwardly, no longer looking at the slightly bloody dissection scene. Dissection took time, and meanwhile, there were other doubts to be tested. Even while waiting outside, Bai E used all the information at hand to think about the entire mission. "Test to see if the voice communication can be used." Since entering, it seemed assumed that the voice communication couldn''t be used, but the actual range of the blockage preventing radio use was unknown. Whether it could be used within the same building was also untested. Practice leads to the truest knowledge; any seemingly insignificant finding, accumulated to the end, might turn out to be an important detail that could reverse the situation at a critical moment! "Yes!" Bai E pressed the channel button on his shoulder and first asked in the current squad''s voice channel: "Hello? Hello? "Can hear you." "Can hear you." The soldiers sitting around didn''t make a sound through their headsets. Instead, they simply gestured with their hands, indicating they could receive the message. It works? Bai E frowned slightly and opened the general channel. "Commander Gregory? Commander Gregory? If you can hear me, please respond." "Can hear you." "Can hear you." Still there was only silence from the voice communication and responses from the nearby soldiers. Was it distance related? "You, move back a bit, maintain a three-meter distance," he ordered, pointing to the farthest soldier at hand. As the warfighter turned around and stopped, Bai E asked in a low voice, "Hey?" "Can hear you." "Five meters." "Can hear you." "Ten meters." "Can hear you." "Twenty meters." "Twenty-five meters." "..." There was silence. Bai E gestured to him with his hand, signaling that he could come back. The warfighter was already nearly ten meters away from him, and after walking twenty-five meters, he had lost contact altogether. Does this mean that the communication blackout range was roughly between thirty to thirty-five meters in a straight line? Bai E''s eyes flickered as he silently took note of this number. Likok, the minister who had been silent all this time, admired the warfighters even more as they carried out their tests. He had also planned to have everyone try it, but seeing them resting, he had intended to wait a bit before mentioning it, but then... [This really is an exemplary warfighter who makes one''s job easier...] "Sir, dissection complete!" Not long after the communication test ended, the warfighter responsible for dissection had fulfilled his duty. "Where is it?" "Didn''t... find it." Bai E was slightly taken aback, "Didn''t find it?" "Yes! Didn''t find it," the warfighter declared with conviction. "I''ve almost turned over the whole body and found nothing. But there''s another discovery!" "What?" "In their bodies, I found two hearts, two stomachs, and three lungs. The implanted preset stomach is in front of the main one, where I found a lot of... things that normally shouldn''t be edible." [You are exploring the characteristics of the target relic''s guardians, and the exploration rate has greatly increased. Current exploration degree: 22%] "..." So this was the reason they were able to survive for so many years in this resource-scarce base without starving to death? But even so, they still required a stable source of meat to provide the energy their bodies needed. "Three bites, one pig" wasn''t false as seen on their loot panel... Bai E waved his hand nearly ruthlessly, "Dissect them all." "Yes." How could it not be found? What concerned him wasn''t whether they could hit the chip and overpower the enemy in one move later on. Battle wouldn''t limit his thinking; considering from a higher perspective might be more beneficial in uncovering the truth. His gaze had already shifted to 439 years ago¡ª Bai E pinched his chin and silently stared at the ground in front of him, lost in thought. According to the data previously obtained, these bioengineered humans had betrayed humanity because chips in their bodies, which were supposed to help control mechanical inserts and assist in judgment, had been turned by the electronic demon. But now... not found? How had they rebelled? Was it because the warfighter responsible for dissection didn''t recognize the chip, or was it hidden in some special place that was hard to discover... or perhaps, the data was incorrect? With this in mind, Bai E looked towards Minister Likok not far away. This matter, only he would have the most say. However, Likok just stared blankly at the ground, muttering to himself. "Not found, hm?" ... After a while, the warfighter in charge of dissection came to report again. "Sir, dissection is complete, still nothing." Bai E nodded in acknowledgment, "Understood." He glanced at Minister Likok, who showed no reaction. This minister was not the type who liked to be mysterious; if he had a discovery, he would probably talk about it himself, and it seemed he had no ideas at the moment either. But in any case, the bioengineered fighters'' actions were indeed enigmatic. In actual combat, their reactions were normal, as if they were real humans with their own on-the-spot judgments. Yet whether it was the silent attack decisions upon encountering enemies or the choice to abandon everything and flee when outnumbered... Moreover, they had no intention of communication, neither with the enemy nor with their own side. It was just like some red name monsters I''d encountered in games before, akin to robots set with certain preset mechanisms, rigidly following strict commands. It''s really like clearing mobs in a dungeon... Chapter 162: One persons battle Bai E suddenly stood up, "Depart!"Having rested enough, no need for confused waiting, initiative was the eternal theme. Without their combat boots, the noise everyone made was noticeably reduced. Bai E, holding his bow, with two arrows pinched in his right hand, walked alone at the forefront, vigilant. Behind him followed a randomly selected soldier, responsible for carrying the extra quivers he couldn''t carry without hindering his combat. Bai E had shouldered two quivers himself before, and the rest were given to Miss Aryan to carry, which to his surprise, made his teammates feel astonished, wondering if it was necessary. Making a scientific researcher, who needed protection, carry things was something only this lad would do, but since one was willing to endure and the other willing to impose, they kept their silence. The heavy weight had previously made it difficult for the young lady to walk; now that Bai E had proven his ability, it was only logical to order another non-combatant soldier to take on the burden. But it still raised some doubts. "What should Brother B27 do?" "Can we really rely solely on bows and arrows to kill those bioengineered soldiers?" It wasn''t that they didn''t trust their good brother, but they all had firsthand experience: the bioengineered soldiers were fierce, and just a quick charge would render bows and arrows useless. In their minds, arrows were no match for firearms, with limitations in speed and power. Could one person with a bow and arrows truly take down those wolf-like, tiger-like bioengineered soldiers? "Shh~" Bai E, walking at the very front, suddenly turned his face toward the four remaining soldiers behind him and made a shushing gesture. Steps and breathing ceased; Bai E lightly set two arrows onto the bowstring, his gaze sharply fixed on the corridor''s bend ahead. The bioengineered soldiers'' patrol steps weren''t deliberately hidden; this was their home turf. Not to mention, Bai E had heard further details during their initial encounter¡ªbreathing. The bioengineering gave them an unimaginably enhanced physique and lifespan compared to ordinary people, but it was clear they needed more oxygen when moving; their breathing, deep and heavy like bellows, would impose an unimaginable weight of pressure on those they chased, but it also made it easier to reveal their whereabouts. "Creak~" Bai E stood alone in the middle of the corridor, his bow held vertically in front of him, the bowstring slightly tensed. Four comrades and two scientific researchers stood anxiously further behind. "What''s he doing?" "At this distance, they could charge us..." "Can it really work?" "Should we back up a bit?" With long-range weapons, naturally, one must maintain a distance to hold an advantage. But even Bai E himself showed no intention of retreating, so their worries were also suppressed in their hearts. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Bai E to fight a group battle all by himself. Trust in the teammate, if things go south, they would all perish together. It wasn''t that they belittled themselves; after the previous battle, they indeed recognized the obvious gap, and with their current injured bodies, facing four more would certainly doom them all. "If it really doesn''t work, use the guns." Even though the final result hadn''t been confirmed, Minister Likok''s mind was already leaning toward his own guess. Rather than facing the worst-case scenario, he would rather destroy this miracle that even the Golden Age could hardly replicate. "Yes." The soldiers gripped their machine guns, ready to load at any moment. "Whoosh!" An unexpected sound erupted suddenly! Before the target appeared around the corner, Bai E had already released the bowstring. Two arrows shot out instantly, like swimming fish, heading towards the corridor''s end...into thin air. "Is he too nervous?" "It hasn''t appeared yet..." No one spoke, afraid of pressuring Bai E, but internally they couldn''t help but make their own guesses at first instance. However, within their belated field of vision, two arrows near the end of the corridor made a huge turn, hugging the wall and curling sharply towards the opposite passage entrance! "Ugh," a muted grunt echoed through the corridor just around the corner. "Turn, turn, turn, turn... they turned!" A soldier''s eyes bulged as he pointed at the unfolding scene, his lips trembling. Bai E simply closed his eyes and used his ears to try and pinpoint the enemies that had not yet come into view. Two more arrows were placed on the bowstring... Shoot! "Whoosh!" Shoot! "Whoosh!" The bioengineered soldier who cried out in pain was about to dodge to one side when the next arrow, like a shark scenting blood, followed suit and struck him directly in the head... The faint sound of tearing wind rose within the narrow passage, but it wasn''t even louder than the hurtful cries of those being hit. A silent, frosty assassination... The painful cries of the bioengineered soldiers when they were wounded made it clear that almost all of Bai E''s attacks had been effective. Standing alone at the forefront, issuing arrow after arrow, Bai E looked like the Grim Reaper harvesting lives, not even giving the enemies a chance to show themselves. Six teammates stood frozen in place, feeling their worldview dramatically shaken. There were people in the barracks who had practiced this, but obviously... none could achieve such a feat. They had just been worried that the short straight distance of the corridor wasn''t enough for archery, but now... the enemy couldn''t even get past the turn. Keep it up! Continue! A lying victory! Uh... why did he stop? Before everyone''s eyes, Bai E ceased his attack and stood still. Having created a huge advantage, he unexpectedly stopped attacking. What was he waiting for? Death? Without bow and arrow suppression, the remaining bioengineered soldiers who could still fight instantly crossed the corner and charged. Three of them! The charge of the towering bioengineered soldiers was mountainous, their momentum easily chilling to the core. They weren''t agile enough for small movements, but their speed in full-blown strikes matched anyone''s. "What are you waiting for!" The teammates, whose fate was in someone else''s hands, sweated anxiously. It really had come to the point where they had to shoot, even if they didn''t want to. And firing a gun in such a corridor would alert how many patrolling bioengineered soldiers! Amidst their anxious gaze filled with anticipation, Bai E once again drew his bow and notched an arrow. He had let those bioengineered soldiers get closer on purpose, the initial encounter had given him enough information. If the bioengineered soldiers judged it impossible to take down the intruders, they would flee at the first opportunity. And if the distance was too great without enough chasing space, they would inevitably let one or two escape. To ensure no survivors and a clean sweep, he had to grant them enough confidence to believe they could handle the intruders on their own. And now, the prey caught in the web had no escape! Bai E''s gaze was icy cold, like the eternal frost. ... As the intruder pulled back the bowstring again, the rapidly advancing bioengineered soldier instinctively executed an S-shaped evasive maneuver. Only, the arrow that seemed to have been fooled by his movement suddenly changed direction, and the shining sharp arrowhead rapidly expanded within his field of vision... Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 163: 159 Electronic Devil! "Pfft~"Like a watermelon pierced through, juice shot out from the arrow lodged in the skull. The bioengineered soldier with a hole in his forehead still charged forward valiantly, as if a small headshot was not worth mentioning. Their modified bodies had a trait that resisted death, allowing them to ignore fatal wounds to a certain extent, which often resulted in an unimaginable will to fight. "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" Not until several more arrows struck various parts of their bodies, especially the five arrows in the legs significantly reducing their mobility, did the rhino-like charge of the Biochemical Squadron begin to slow down. The distance to the invaders was still... 11 meters. But in this state, they were already incapable of defeating the enemy. Retreat! Simple and rigid commands dominated the will of these bioengineered soldiers. Realizing that the opponent was unbeatable, they turned to flee, but the way back was already a path of blood. "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" The sound of wind-breaking arrows continued to play cruelly and coldly. The four-person bioengineered patrol squad didn''t manage to truly touch the enemy from the beginning to the end. And there stood the figure with the bow and arrow, not even having moved an inch from start to finish. Bai E pinched the last arrow in the quiver, squinting to aim at the back of the last bioengineered soldier still capable of moving. Fire! "Pfft!" The long arrow passed through the heart. ¡­ [You have completely killed the target, the battle is over, you have earned 140 points of combat experience.] 63 points of mastery experience for ranged weapons, 140 points of combat experience... Combat indeed is the fastest way to improve oneself. Bai E folded the Compound Bow and waved his hand behind him, "Continue the dissection." Stepping forward to retrieve the arrows, his teammates who were idle wasted no time in rushing forward. "You rest, you rest, leave the battlefield cleanup to us." "..." What''s called professionalism? Truly elite! Only after the battle ended did the two scientific researchers approach with faces full of awe. They had seen the military''s combat capabilities before, but it mostly involved blasting away with rifles and cannons, or hacking with large blades. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When had they ever witnessed such an elegant and ice-cold efficiency of slaughter with cold weapons? "You really are amazing," said Miss Aryan, her eyes practically brimming with stars. Likok, too, patted the arm of Bai E, who was a head taller than him, with relief, "Lucky to have you with us... Come, join me in another experiment." It was still an issue of radio communication distance. They had ventured further into the ruins than before, and whether or not the range of the radio communications changed would explain certain things. The result appeared quickly¡ªcommunications could no longer be received at approximately 30 meters. "An electronic demon?" Observing Likok, who frowned as if pondering something after getting the answer, Bai E asked softly beside him. After joining this operation, Bai E also gained more information about the background of this world. The major factor limiting technological development in this world was the electronic demon existing within all network signals, devouring all network fluctuations as its food. Anything that existed in the network could not escape its eyes. Upon its birth, the entirety of the electronic network became the foundation for its existence. As long as the network remained, it would never be destroyed. The limited efficiency of the local area networks used by modern cities is precisely because of this. If any part of the network transmission efficiency... or rather, the scale, the volume, or the technological level, reached a certain standard, the electronic demon would immediately arrive. The only way to oppose it is network silence. Without network fluctuations, there is no food for it. Essentially, it''s like "starving" it to death... And now, the "unscientific" disappearance of radio signals, does it mean... it''s been eaten? A distant, small-scale local area network can''t meet the criteria for its arrival, but not eating what''s brought to its mouth would seem disrespectful. If it has not disappeared, then there''s no basis for the completion of this mission. "...Yes," Likok nodded gravely, willing to reveal some of his not yet certain thoughts to this astute soldier. It''s easy to talk about expelling a tiger to swallow a wolf, but what if the tiger arrives and the wolf can''t be swallowed? That was the reason for his brief emotional loss of control wanting to escape. If the electronic demon had not dissipated, they might indeed have to wait another 69 years. No matter what the future holds, it always remains an indiscernible fog. A technological advance that can''t be continuously used and developed will end up losing its lineage. Without practice, without learning, and even if there are technological documents for reference, after decades or a century it''s uncertain if anyone will know how to use them. Today''s technology is already much less advanced than it was centuries ago. Whether humanity, after another 69 years of technological decline, could reactivate this base and have sufficient technological accumulation or resources to rebuild a world-network-based strategic system is unknown. In short, the future is always disappointing and bewildering when one cannot grasp it in their hands. Faced with this sudden discovery, he too was full of uncertainty. Touching the pale blue glow tubes protected by reinforced glass and embedded in the metal walls deeper inside, Likok sighed lightly, "Do you recognize this?" Chapter 164 159 Electronic Devil!_2 ```Bai E looked utterly bewildered. "You''re asking me?" Fortunately, the other party didn''t intend to wait for his reply, but simply continued on his own, "This is also a part of the entire Root Server. The entire base, except for the outermost copper walls, is made up of the Root Server." As the head of the city''s information department, he had access to many secrets that didn''t need to be shared with everyone. "They can amplify the network signals generated by the server and encrypt them with almost no loss before broadcasting them globally. The encryption process also protects the integrity of the information. The signal towers that are built everywhere act as both receivers and decryptors. It''s an inseparable whole..." Likok''s gaze followed the source of the glowing signal tubes towards their end, as if he could see all the way to the central Root Server. His eyes were heavy with reverence, "It''s said to be made of extremely rare special materials, even in that era it was a miracle of creation that couldn''t be replicated. The caution in combat that everyone talks about is, in fact, out of fear of these components being destroyed. Of course, perhaps it is such miracles that give rise to incomprehensible entities like electronic demons..." [You are learning about the background information related to the target relic. Current exploration progress: 31%] Bai E simply promised to fulfill his duty, "I will be careful..." Minister Likok shook his head, "While caution is necessary, should you really find yourself in danger, don''t hesitate to do what needs to be done." Decisions he couldn''t make himself were left to fate... His passionate words from before were merely to provide some faint direction to the bewildered soldiers at that time. Find your next adventure on empire In fact, even if it turned out that the electronic demon had awakened and he had to order the complete destruction of this great crystallization of human technology... until that ultimate moment, he wouldn''t dare to say what decision he''d make. If it was accidentally destroyed in combat... then the pressure of giving the order would be a little less. Bai E simply nodded in response, "Yes." He didn''t understand the dangers and abilities of the electronic demons, so all he could consider was following his superior''s orders and completing his mission. "Reporting to the officer!" A voice of a soldier suddenly came from behind the two men who were slowly pacing forward. Bai E turned around to see the other man covered in blood, "Finished with the autopsy?" "Autopsy complete! But... we still found nothing." Bai E furrowed his brows and waved his hand, "You go rest first." Then turned to look at Minister Likok, "Minister, does the data include detailed information about those bio-warriors who were subverted?" "No... The records I have obtained mention the subverted bio-warriors in this base only in passing. Our understanding of the abilities of the bio-warriors is based on other records from the same era." "..." Bai E pursed his lips. Strange indeed... how were they subverted without chips? Is the record incorrect? Or was their autopsy too rough to discover it? And along the way, we haven''t seen any corpses... neither allies nor enemies. Did the comrades who came in before us never encounter an enemy? Or did they clean up the scene impeccably after the battle? Or perhaps... they''re not on the same path as us? Maybe due to the necessary construction requirements for installing the glowing signal tubes to amplify the signals, the pathways within this base are extensive and interconnected. Since their arrival at the initial three-way junction, they have already faced the choice of three or four branching paths. It wouldn''t seem out of the ordinary if they took a wrong turn somewhere. Never mind... "Let''s move on!" Forward! No matter what the truth is, moving forward will always yield answers. ... "It''s no good... there are more and more of them. These old immortals just keep coming, even after so many years they refuse to lie down quietly!" "Do they know we''ve broken through? We haven''t left a single survivor all the way, and we even hid the bodies..." "You still have time to chat? I''m about to be killed fighting three at once!" "Oh oh~ here I come!" Gregory knit his brows tightly, hiding behind the others. The warriors in front of him were truly the elite of the elite, the aces among the aces selected through a rigorous process from the military barracks. ``` Even when confronted by twice the number of biochemical soldiers, they sought to prevail... in part, to survive. The battle raged fiercely, the air alive with the clamor of conflict. Yet their operation had been covert, aimed at avoiding just this scenario. Only a small squad originally guarded the passage, and they had intended to make it a quick fight. But unexpectedly, as soon as they engaged, another team burst from the passage as if they had been waiting there all along. Facing eight against four, it became difficult for them to achieve any kills once the enemy coordinated their efforts. Moreover, in such circumstances, they fought with their hands tied, lacking the initiative they had when they could strike from the shadows, targeting enemies one by one. Forcing a fight against greater numbers was not a rational military strategy. Where had things gone wrong? Failure was not to be feared, unless one did not understand the reason behind the failure. Gregory tried to pierce the current fog of confusion with reason¡ª Due to the structural features of this base, other than the defensive outer layer of copper walls and iron bastions, the slightly more interior areas were critical facilities needing manned defense. The vast base required guarding in many places, so it stood to reason that the biochemical troops should have been scattered about, patrolling everywhere. After all, those pipelines embedded in the walls were not made of steel fortifications. They knew their own mission, but the enemy should not have known it. The biochemical soldiers were ordered to guard the entire Root Server. If their group came with destructive intent, the enemy''s position in front of the checkpoint leading to the main server room would be useless; everything that needed to be destroyed would have already been smashed. The reality now was that the enemy''s large force appeared right here, the only explanation being... not only had they discovered their arrival, but they also knew their intent! "Is there surveillance?" "There''s no surveillance!" Pansen, the Spiritual Energy wielder, declared confidently, as if reading his thoughts. Being highly sensitive to information flow, once Pansen activated his Spiritual Energy, all information streams appeared to him like subtitles with clear beginnings and ends. He knew at a glance whether there was any data transfer. "Then our voices have been intercepted?" After they had split up at the fork in the road, there was a period when they discovered that their radio communication with the other two squads had fallen silent. The Spiritual Energy wielder had said it was cut off by some force, likely a jamming device targeting low power signals. But considering the current situation, it could only mean that the Spiritual Energy wielder''s judgment was wrong. Voices, intercepted by the enemy. Therefore, their plans were as clear as day to the opposition. "It shouldn''t be." The Spiritual Energy wielder was obviously very confident in his judgment, "Perhaps it is just that their primary forces are stationed here. Being close to the critical core, it''s reasonable to have a heavier defensive presence." "That may be possible¡­" As the commander, Gregory had to consider all the worst possibilities thoroughly, and he remained furrow-browed, not entirely reassured. "Huff~ Huff~" Heavy breathing came from the far end of the curved passage. A soldier with keen ears took a moment from the fierce battle to report loudly to his superior, "Sir, another squad is approaching!" No sooner had he finished speaking than heavy, rapid footsteps sounded from the other end of the curved passage. "Sir, another squad is coming." Gregory''s complexion turned as dark as coal, "I heard." The terrain where they were resembled a pitchfork, with a branch coming from the direction of the invading squad. Both sides in front of them were sections of the curved passages. The base''s overall structure was more like concentric circles, and they were now at the entrance to the innermost circle, blockaded by these biochemical soldiers. The enemy kept reinforcing their numbers, while his own side had only four combatants, plus him making five, and adding the Spiritual Energy wielder... added none at all. Not all Spiritual Energy wielders were inclined towards combat. Retreat? This thought circled through Gregory''s mind. But he was unaware of the other two squads'' progress; if they could hold their ground, they might create an opportunity for the others. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 165 160 Cover and Insight If I retreat, the other two teams might be in trouble.But then again, the enemy''s continuous reinforcements could mean the other two teams didn''t apply enough pressure and have already retreated? The biggest problem with no communication is that no one knows the choices their teammates made, making any decision they make potentially wrong. [What should I do?] Gregory hesitated for a moment. However, the enemy wouldn''t give them time to hesitate, as biologically enhanced soldiers from two different directions joined the battlefield. His own troops were now facing four against sixteen... Grinding his teeth, Gregory put on his spiked gauntlets, ready to join the fray, "Hold the line!" He decided to trust his teammates and create an opportunity for the other two squads. Moreover, the corridor was narrow, so if they just held on, the enemy couldn''t really exploit their numeric advantage! However... "Thump, thump, thump!" Soon after Gregory joined the fight, the corridor echoed with heavy and rapid footsteps, signaling that squad after squad of biologically enhanced soldiers had been notified to come in support. Find more to read at empire "Fuck!" "Commander?" "Retreat!" With ample reinforcements from behind, the biologically enhanced soldiers could freely rotate, with teammates always ready to fill in, and even if the invading squad fought bravely, they almost couldn''t achieve any real results under the endless cover provided by the enemy. And their stamina... was being rapidly depleted. Gregory had no choice but to issue the order to retreat. ... "Commander, did you hear the noise up ahead?" the guy wholeheartedly carrying the quiver for Bai E asked, not quite trusting his own judgment, whispering to Bai E walking in front. "..." Bai E remained silent. [Even the cooks can hear it...] He waved his hand, signaling everyone to remain silent. The corner was just ahead; he could peek around it first. ... "..." Bai E blinked after glancing around the corner. Good news, he had run into the commander. Bad news, the commander had stirred up a hornet''s nest. "Hoo~" Taking a light breath, Bai E flicked his bow into position and stepped forward. ... "Huff... huff... I can''t do this anymore." "Neither can I. I''ll cover our retreat! Commander, just remember to bring people back for us! I''ll hold them off for you!" Retreat, of course, wasn''t as fast as pursuit, so the decision to retreat left the invading squad unable to withdraw smoothly; one misstep could leave them all behind. Gnashing his teeth, Gregory had the command for his four soldiers to cover the retreat on the tip of his tongue, yet found it difficult to issue. Rationality told him this was the right choice, in case there was no backup... Wait... are there still obstacles ahead? The sudden appearance of a figure from around the corner in the corridor made Gregory''s already tense mind instinctively jump; had these biologically enhanced soldiers arranged for someone to flank them from another route? "There''s still resistance ahead!" "We''re done for! Commander, we will protect you and master Spiritual Energy as we break through!" "It''s not right... his clothing seems off!" ... Bai E raised his bow, placing two arrows on the string. In the confusion, he didn''t know if his teammates would walk into his arrows, but right now, it was the only way to stop the biologically altered soldiers from pursuing them so quickly. So the primary target for the attack was... the ones on the lower ground. Arrowheads pointed slightly downward, Bai E''s gaze was sharp, he drew the bow fully... fire! "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Arrow after arrow flew swiftly, as Bai E continuously drew arrows, with his right hand dancing into a blur. The squad, unaware and exhausted, only felt sharp gusts of wind pass by them; when the pursuers had black iron arrows sticking out of them, they finally realized someone was helping them from behind. The steady veteran grouped with the supreme commander immediately recognized Bai E''s familiar face and exclaimed with surprise, "It''s brother B27!" ["Lucky Strike" charge +2.] ["Lucky Strike" charge has reached 201/100, current use count 2/2!] "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" The figure stood there alone, silently shooting air-tearing arrows from a distance. The wind it brought up fluttered past their ears, and not a single arrow went astray. In an instant, the figure who nearly stopped the pursuers single-handedly gave the frantic squad a profound sense of reliability and safety. "It''s him..." "He... is so powerful." The commanding officer swept past without Bai E even batting an eyelid, simply stating calmly, "You go on and retreat first." The damage caused by arrows brimming with force was one thing, but the powerful kinetic energy that accompanied a hit to the thigh or knee caps made the pursuing biomechanical soldiers involuntarily collapse in a heap. The soldiers running past couldn''t help but look back; at that moment, the somewhat unfamiliar figure of their comrade loomed large, holding the line alone... Bai E slowly retreated while shooting, then quickly stowed his bow and left after turning a straight corner. ... "How did you get in here?" Only when they had retreated a safe distance and confirmed that the biomechanical soldiers were not pursuing did they stop and gasp for air. Gregory, who had preserved the most stamina, asked first. Disobeying orders during a mission was a serious offense, yet if it weren''t for their spiritual support, probably only he could have led the Spiritual Energy users back... Bai E''s squad''s temporary commander responded promptly, "Minister Likok. He discovered an anomaly and insisted on coming in to notify you all." So all eyes turned to the minister, but he wasn''t looking at them. He clutched his computer, his gaze fixed on the screen''s content, his expression tense. "Minister?" "Shh," Minister Likok, aware that the conversation had turned toward him, simply put a finger to his lips to calm everyone, "Wait a moment." ... A brief silence fell. Without the key individual clarifying the reason, they could only speculate. Until the "tap tap" of military boots approached from afar. Bai E hadn''t removed his boots, defying the order given to his comrades. His experience with stealth allowed him a certain level of nonconformity. Spying the stalwart who had covered their rear, several soldiers resting against the wall instinctively straightened up. "Brother, you''re awesome!" "Had we known you were this capable, we should have brought you along. Maybe we could''ve charged straight in just now!" S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E modestly smiled, "They''re too numerous and tough to kill. At most, I could just slow them down¡ªa complete kill would be tough." "That''s still pretty impressive! If not for you, we would all be dead back there," one of the soldiers said with a big grin. "Yeah, if not for you, we''d likely all be done for... Damn, to think those biomechanical soldiers don''t care about their homes, all of them waiting at the door for us!" ["Lucky Strike" charge +3] Their world was simple, where skill was acknowledged openly, admiration was straightforward, and disdain was undisguised. Having proven his strength, Bai E instantly earned their heartfelt respect. "Alright..." Gregory interrupted their exuberance calmly, "We still have a problem at hand..." He looked to the firepower operator he was relatively acquainted with, also Bai E''s squad''s temporary commander, "Did you encounter any of those biomechanical soldiers on your way in?" With Minister Likok engrossed in his "important" research, they had to rely on the available information to roughly assess their current situation themselves. The temporary commander glanced at the silent Bai E before nodding in response, "Yes! We ran into two groups, four each. Brother Bai E led us through them, and then we didn''t encounter anyone until we met up with you." "Did you come across any other squads or see signs they left?" "No..." "So they have indeed contracted their defenses," Gregory mused quietly to himself, "We need to make contact with the other two squads as soon as possible. Now that they''ve spotted us, being separated puts us at a disadvantage. Plus, we don''t know the total number of those biomechanical soldiers..." Gregory''s last words were muttered to himself. It was crucial for planning his next move. After all, they''d already been discovered by the enemy. If the enemy''s numbers were too great, a direct confrontation would be a losing battle. They might need to consider retreat. "About a hundred or so," Bai E suddenly spoke up softly, "There might be some variance, but the difference won''t be large." "???" Gregory looked at Bai E with a puzzled face, "Are you sure?" "I am sure," Bai E nodded expressionlessly, "We observed their cultivation and farming scale after your infiltration. Based on the consumption of normal humans, it could sustain about two hundred or so." Gregory''s eyes narrowed slightly, "And?" "On our way here, we dissected some of the biomechanical soldiers'' bodies and discovered they had two stomachs. Inside, we found a lot of undigested food..." Even the bark and roots inedible for most humans they could digest to make up for the lack of staple foods. Of course, the most important information came from the drop rates he saw on his panel. Bound drop trait: The saying ''three mouths per pig'' was truly useful. To fuel their bioengineered bodies, they consumed three times the food of an ordinary person. Putting this all together, the scale of living biomechanical soldiers in this base was about 100. ... ... ["Lucky Strike" charge +10.] All eyes turned to Bai E simultaneously, astonished, both former teammates and the infiltrating squad. He hadn''t discussed this with anyone, but now he had disclosed it decisively, clearly having been certain all along. Gregory caught all their expressions in a glance, and his gut told him the truth. Such meticulous thinking... Strength... difficult to assess. This soldier, who had joined through connections, shattered most of the accompanying team''s perceptions completely along the way. Was this the worth of the ace of the newest batch of man-made soldiers? No wonder superiors, even those who helped him get in through the back door, insisted on placing this recruit with them... "But even without the enemies we''ve already killed, there are probably still many left from a force of around 100," Gregory furrowed his brows, silently calculating combat strength, "If they continue to huddle and defend the entrance, it''s going to be difficult for us to break through their line." They had already witnessed the vitality of the biomechanical soldiers¡ªhow they could keep fighting for a while even after being stabbed in vital spots like the heart or even the head. If you factor in the cover from their comrades, killing their fighting force would seem improbable. It''s hard to fight our way in... Could it be that we still have to consider retreat? Chapter 166 Sneak away Bai E narrowed his eyes, sensing that the officer was contemplating a retreat, he once again threw out the information he had discovered, "Moreover, I saw just now that they seem to be restricted by orders and won''t actively pursue us beyond a certain limit; once they reach that boundary, they will stop in their tracks."Bai E, who covered the rear, observed more information than the rest of the party. This discovery actually proved very useful in verifying other things... Normally, to prevent intruders from causing damage, the relatively small number of biowarriors should be patrolling throughout the base. So, was it the case that the orders they received at the beginning were just like this? A few warriors guarding the outer ring, most protecting the central processing units. But this was not logical... It wasn''t just them who might come to this base wanting to restart the equipment; orcs, wild beasts, insects, any of them could have come, and they wouldn''t show any mercy to human technological creations. Of course, it''s also possible that there were more than these few people in the base initially, and the biowarriors responsible for patrolling mostly died of natural causes over these hundreds of years. And these biowarriors executed their orders so rigidly without any flexibility, leading to the current situation. However, Bai E felt this possibility was rather slim. Therefore, the last possibility became quite interesting¡ª The orders they received were new. Some "person" had discovered their team of intruders and issued a temporary change of orders, directing them to concentrate at the last line of defense. Who could issue orders to them? The answer was on the verge of revelation. What decision would this speculation lead the officers to make¡ªretreat, or complete destruction? What kind of abilities did the electronic demon have? Apart from controlling machinery, what impact could it have on them as living beings? He had no idea. The situation became chaotic. Bai E looked at Minister Likok, who still held onto his computer and aimed to obtain verification from the data, waiting for his final verdict. But before that, someone needed to be dispatched to find and make contact with the other two squads that had split off. The enemy had already gathered their forces, while his own side was still operating singly? No wonder they were at a disadvantage! Glancing around, Bai E chose to remain silent. Now that there was a commander-in-chief, he could step back... from talking, at least. Having listened to the multitude of information provided by Bai E, Gregory, after a brief period of contemplation, immediately issued an order, "Before Minister Likok confirms the final result, I need you to find the other two dispersed squads." As he spoke, he pointed to a side road they had just passed and said, "All the paths here are connected. Leave three with me to guard the minister, and the rest of you divide into three groups to search for them, going in pairs. Make sure to remember this starting point, as we will wait for you to return here. Remember, you have half an hour, and whether or not you find them, you must return immediately! If you encounter the enemy, don''t engage in a drawn-out fight, try to lead them towards us." "Yes, sir!" Gregory then gave Bai E a significant look, full of appreciation, "95B27, we will rely on you next. You will also be in one of the groups searching for them. If you find that they are being pursued, please make sure to rescue them!" "Guaranteed to complete the mission!" Bai E readily agreed. Leading a large team, he couldn''t roam everywhere at leisure; now, working in a pair with another warrior, wasn''t it just like wanting to go wherever they pleased, finding their scattered companions while perfecting the exploration of the ruins? Perfect! "Alright, move out!" ... "Thump!" In the midst of the long wait, Minister Likok, finally, after abruptly striking a key, completed his final meticulous analysis. Gregory, who had been waiting, immediately looked at him with expectation, "Minister?" "..." Likok waved his hand, "Have everyone turn off their radios first." "Radios?" Gregory was taken aback for a moment before turning to give the order, "Everyone, completely shut off your radios!" "Yes!" After completing this task, Likok seemed to let out a long sigh as if all his energy had been drained. After comparing all possible data, he finally confirmed... "The electronic demon has returned!" Or rather, it had never really dissipated. The electronic silence of several hundred years hadn''t made It disappear in obscurity, nor even sleep. Even the idea of exploiting the weak period of Its slumber to mount a sudden attack with rapidly developed network-controlled firepower before completely shutting down the network was impossible! Humans, in the end, had to face those insects on their own! And this base... "Destroy it!" Minister Likok looked at Commander Gregory, his face pleading. Even though they hadn''t been able to successfully restart the Root Server, their trip here was not without meaning¡ª The scientists from hundreds of years ago had encountered the electronic demon for the first time; their judgment was ultimately flawed, and hundreds of years of time had done nothing to destroy the electronic demon. There was not the slightest sign of its waning. It was still here, lurking, waiting. To destroy this base was the greatest significance of their mission! As the time for the 500-year agreement drew closer, human hearts ultimately struggled to contain themselves; he had his own ideas, and it was hard to ensure other cities wouldn''t have people wanting to restart the network. Perhaps they didn''t have the geographical advantage of being as close to this base as Blackwater City, but even if they decided to develop their own, upon reaching a certain scale, it would result in the electronic demon''s immediate arrival. By then, it would be utterly out of control. Without an endless army of machines to stop them and with less than a hundred biochemical soldiers guarding, the chance to completely annihilate the electronic demon was right in front of them. The task their predecessors had not resolutely decided to undertake, would now be taken up by the younger generation! Even if it didn''t work out this time, they would have to go back and report to the military district so they could send someone to eradicate it completely! Of course, a large-scale mobilization by the military district would consume countless manpower and resources. If it was something they could do themselves, there was no need to trouble more soldiers. They had to at least try to be satisfied. "Are you sure?" Gregory didn''t understand much about technical matters. In his military view, one or two bases, which could be knocked down and rebuilt countless times, were no big deal. The order he received was to coordinate with Minister Likok''s actions at the last moment, whether it was to restart or to destroy. It was merely a choice for the other party. Likok''s eyes were filled with a grim determination. He decided to make this significant decision and also decided to bear all the consequences, "I''m sure!" "Good!" Gregory nodded in agreement, "Please wait a moment. Once our most loyal soldiers return, we will destroy this base completely!" ... "Found them!" The soldiers moving with Bai E found a small team that was taking a temporary rest in a room. Their directions of movement were different. This team had infiltrated mostly residential areas, and with the loss of power supply, the doors to the rooms of the original base personnel were all open, providing them with a place to hide. The members of the resting team in the room were all injured and looked somewhat ragged. It seemed they had encountered quite troublesome opponents. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E''s gaze swept through them. He didn''t recognize anyone... it wasn''t the group led by the Blood God. "We are ordered by the commander to take you to the assembly. Come with us now," the soldier accompanying Bai E explained cheerfully to the team. "We noticed earlier that the voice communication was cut off, so something really happened, huh?" "Let''s go now!" The members of the team were somewhat surprised. Without the commander''s orders, they were also a bit confused about what they should do next. "Go!" As they passed by an intersection, Bai E hesitated slightly. Having taken a few steps past, he took a step back and looked up toward the transverse corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly. "Brother?" Bai E''s unusual behavior puzzled the accompanying soldier. "You take them to see the commander," said Bai E. "Ah?" "You take them to see the commander. I have another task," Bai E withdrew his gaze and explained calmly with a stern face. "?" The accompanying soldier expressed his confusion with a question mark. "The commander ordered me to ensure the safety of the other team of brothers. I need to find the other team," Bai E clarified. "..." The accompanying soldier couldn''t immediately find fault with that. The commander had indeed given that order in front of everyone. But... isn''t there something wrong with acting alone? He couldn''t quite articulate it. Bai E urged expressionlessly, "Hurry up and go. Don''t keep the commander waiting. I will look for the other team." "Be careful on your own," the soldier, not having strong opinions of his own, could only follow Bai E''s orders, as Bai E had been his "commander" during the brief time just past. "Don''t worry." Watching the accompanying soldier lead the team further and further away, disappearing around the corner at the end of the corridor, Bai E then pivoted on his heels, walking in the direction of the passage he had just observed. Having wandered around the base for quite some time, he had a good understanding of the overall architecture of the base. All the places he had visited were like the fog of war lifting, unlocking each on the mental model of the base relic in his mind. [You have explored the target relic''s residential area completely. Current exploration progress: 70%.] The exploration mission did not require him to walk through every corner of the relic with his own feet. A rough exploration of a large area and understanding its general function was considered task completion. And now, the only area left enshrouded in fog was the central computer room area, which the commander and his team had wanted to enter but failed to breach. Is it hard to get in? Indeed, it is hard. But now there was an opportunity. The paths within the base were traceable. Following this branch road would lead straight to the entrance of the concentric circle corridor closest to the Root Server room... A big group would have a hard time breaking in, but what about one person sneaking in? He had just sensed the commander''s reluctance. Facing a force of hundreds of biochemical soldiers, the commander clearly wanted to be prudent. He might be prudent, but what about his own mission? If they were to return, there would be no more room for personal choice. If the commander decided to retreat, should he obey or not? Disobeying would mean going against military orders, but obeying would mean a failed mission. Life, sometimes, is about taking chances. Chapter 167 162 comes from the ancient warrior No one.No one. Still no one. Bai E advanced cautiously, treading as lightly as possible. It was as if all the biochemical soldiers responsible for guarding had been drawn away by their comrades, leaving the passage to the mainframe room eerily empty and silent. If there''s really no one, I''m going in, meow~ Bai E carefully scanned his surroundings once more, ensuring this wasn''t some trap set by biochemical soldiers to lure him into a jar, before sneaking in. Before his eyes... a dismal green light. Easily crossing the corridor that had previously stopped his teammates, Bai E had penetrated the innermost circular passage without alerting any enemies. Unlike the other passages he had passed, which were enclosed in metal, the innermost was more like a hallway. The oval hallway stretched forward, blurring into the dim, dismal green light... Looking down over the edge of the corridor, he saw a huge circular space, hollowed out and tens of meters high. Rows of servers, akin to shelves filled with books, extended endlessly into the depths of darkness. Only the most minimal emergency power supply meant that inside, only a few emergency lights weakly flickered green, and the dormant rows of mainframes twinkled with either eerie green or bright red lights. Humanity from hundreds of years ago was not willing to easily give up this treasure of inestimable value, so they kept the lowest currents flowing, sustaining the self-checking capabilities of the machines. [You are exploring the mainframe area of the target ruin. Current exploration degree: 71.5% (Unlock full understanding of the ruins after completing the exploration of the mainframe area)] Should I go further inside? The vast mainframe hall was shrouded in darkness, and the somber green light made the atmosphere here seem even more bizarre. But it was undeniably safe here, at least Bai E didn''t see any clunky biochemical soldiers. Without orders, they were probably not allowed to enter. This place... was devoid of people. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E went down the stairs from the passageway to the mainframe hall, cautiously navigating between rows of mainframes, at least three or four meters tall each, as if wandering through an endless labyrinth of electronic systems. Being inside, one couldn''t see the end. Occasionally, one could spot maintenance ladders tucked away in corners, presumably used by workers from a bygone era to reach the tops of the mainframes for maintenance. Huge cables from the back of the mainframes disappeared into the ground at their feet, and the spacious area between the rows of mainframes appeared clean and tidy. [You are exploring the mainframe area of the target ruin. Current exploration degree: 73% (Unlock full understanding of the ruins after completing the exploration of the mainframe area)] [...75%...] [...80%...] [...85%...] Simply by wandering deeper, the progress of unlocking the mission continuously increased. Bai E walked straight ahead, and gradually the dismal, green haze before his eyes was dispersed by his gaze. In the distance, a large blue-violet glow egg appeared... It stood in the center, as if it were the absolute core of all the mainframes. [You are exploring the mainframe area of the target ruin, and you have found the core of the mainframe cluster, which greatly increased the exploration degree. Current exploration degree: 93%] [As expected, some serious black tech stuff...] Upon seeing something unfamiliar, Bai E actually breathed a sigh of relief. He had heard that the World Network Server in this world differed from his original world''s concept of the internet. If it hadn''t been different, he would have been unable to accept it. It''s just that... there seems to be a black shadow next to the "egg," doesn''t it? [Still missing 7% progress...] Bai E quickened his pace, wanting to finish the exploration quickly and then make his way home. By then, he wouldn''t have any worries about whether to retreat or something else. "Huff~" "Huff~" Like the bellows of a forge, the sound of breathing became clearer as Bai E neared, as oppressive as the somber presence of a prehistoric beast, thickening the air around him. An inexplicable heavy pressure weighed on his heart, causing Bai E''s steps to unconsciously slow and lighten, fearing to disturb some incomprehensible presence. Was he being interfered with by some kind of spiritual energy on the mental level? But "Self-Restraint" hadn''t issued any warnings. Or... was it that black shadow up ahead? Bai E paused for a moment, puzzled. If he couldn''t beat it, he could still run, right? So, taking a bold step forward... just to take a look, just a single look. [??? (Human/???) (Ally/Chaos) (Elite/Lord) ¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill it will drop: definitely (Fresh Meat*1000, Biochemical Parts*50, 1,000,000 combat experience points); high probability (Expertise: Weapon Master, Trait: Resilient Mind); possible (Skill: Digital Domain, Trait: Biochemical Body (bound with "Trait: Three-Headed Pig"), Trait: Death Resistance)] In a space that appeared pixelated like a mosaic, a black silhouette resembling a pixelated figure was quietly dormant within. The figure silently sat next to the "egg," resting its forehead on its hand perched atop its knee, as if immersed in eternal and peaceful contemplation. "Hello... future," he said softly. [You are exploring the mainframe area of the target ruin and have found the core of the mainframe cluster, which greatly increased the exploration degree. Current exploration degree: 95% (The exploration progress of the physical part of the target ruin has ended)] ... Lately, he''s been having this dream frequently, a dream of blue waters and clear skies. His wife, young and beautiful, his daughter, sweet and lovely. They were also subjected to biochemical modifications by those scientists... Could they finally live eternally with themselves? The food was delicious, the housing spacious, the streets clean, the pedestrians amiable, the sunshine warm, the city open... Gently pushing the window open, the warm sea breeze rushed into the room along with the golden sunlight, filling the air with a sweet aroma. There were no iron walls, no steel cannons. The air was free of gunpowder smoke and the nauseating slime secreted by those bugs. Those bugs... those bugs... how long ago was that? The world was safe. The world was at peace. My combat squadron, which I led, had been awarded the highest military honor, the Skyhawk Medal, amidst the adoring gaze of the nation''s people at the grand award ceremony. The Emperor of the Empire, in his golden years, personally awarded me the medal, while my wife and daughter looked on proudly from the audience... It was I... I who brought this world everlasting peace with my own hands, with my wars... wars... wars... Only in the occasional nightmares did I return to the dark times before the war was over¡ª I''ve been dreaming frequently of late, my body aging day by day, my spirit growing increasingly frail. Endless darkness crowded in overhead as though it was about to inject itself into my body, and my body seemed ready to burst at any time. "You are the finest soldier in the army..." "Your will is stronger than steel..." "Only you can complete this arduous task..." "We do not insist; no one knows what changes 500 years might bring..." "...All for the sake of leaving something from this era as a gift for posterity." These voices were only voices... without text, without images, without any associated memories or associations. They often appeared like hallucinations. So much so that it really made one believe it was a hallucination... On the last afternoon before joining the army, I went to steal a glance at her. I didn''t confess my love. I didn''t have a wife... ... "Hello... successor from a future world." The black figure slowly rose, and the pixelated space fluctuated along with its movement, its pixelated body making it hard to discern the face, let alone observe expressions. The other''s voice was interspersed with pitch-shifting electronic noise, rendering the scene even more eerie. "I am seldom awake; It has always been bombarding my life with an endless stream of data chaos... I have forgotten too much." "Are... are you talking to me?" Bai E cautiously stepped back, eyeing the pixelated figure with wariness. His right hand also rested on his pistol holster; two lucky shots were a definite source of confidence. As for the unknown, the confusion? The reality had already presented itself; Bai E just wanted to know the other''s intentions. Was he the electronic demon? "Of course, I am talking to you. It is your arrival that woke me from the ''beautiful dream'' It had carefully crafted for me." With those words, the other fell silent for a moment. Like someone waking from a great dream, trying to rapidly regain full awareness. "I have waited for you all for so long..." the voice paused, filled with anticipation, "500 years of waiting... I thought I would never see you." 500 years? Bai E''s gaze narrowed, "It''s been 439 years... it has been 439 years since the electronic demon''s rebellion to the present." He emphasized the term "electronic demon" in his tone, hoping to gauge the reaction of the other. "439 years?" the shadow moved a step, as though wanting to come closer, but realizing its current form, it halted, "You... came early?" "Yes! The situation outside is dire, so..." "You are... explaining to me?" The voice sounded perhaps puzzled, only the interference of the electronic noise made it uncertain to Bai E. The sickly green background light filtered through the pixelated space surrounding the figure, turning even the light into equally sized square blocks before his own eyes. "Don''t explain... no need to explain, remember, you never need to explain to your predecessors." The voice grew more fervent, the electronic noise unable to mask its intensity, "Plans always have variables, plans always fail! If all plans succeeded, we would have long stepped out of the solar system and into deep space! You have your own judgment, which is a delightful matter! 500 years wasn''t for you; it was for me! I am ready! I will help you completely subdue that demon!" "Subdue? A demon?" Bai E remained cautious; everything happening before him contradicted the information he had received before arriving, two completely opposing pieces of information required his rational decision. If the other party''s stance was on his side, then what about those biochemically modified soldiers at the door? If the other was the electronic demon itself or controlled by It, then everything said to him definitely had an ulterior motive! But regardless of the possibilities, attempting to negotiate surely indicated a lack of confidence. It was afraid of this invading squad! "You can help us, subdue the electronic demon?" "Yes! Completely annihilate it, and give you all a clean global network!" Bai E was not easily swayed by the other''s few words, maintaining a distance and inquiring, "The details? How do we cooperate?" Chapter 168 163 The War Across Time "Restart the server!"The first required action the other party suggested made Bai E frown. Knowing that the electronic demon had not dissipated, Likok, the minister of the City Information Department, was prepared to completely destroy this base, to annihilate the core where the electronic demon resided. A stark conflict in perspectives emerged once again, presenting Bai E with a sharp choice. "Why do we have to restart it?" Bai E asked cautiously, trying to find loopholes in the other party''s words, "You''ve had plenty of time over the past few centuries to complete this step at any moment." He suspected it was a trick of the electronic demon, but he couldn''t dismiss the possibility that it was indeed assistance. "Because the time is only right now; because the guards here have already been manipulated by the electronic demon, and no one else can complete the final step." "The final step?" "To kill me!" The other party''s tone was steady yet fervent, as if pursuing a belief unhesitatingly, "The 500 years set by Mr. Chen is for It to adapt to the human body. The moment It has fully transformed the core source information to fit the human body, is the moment when It and I both perish. It is adapting to me, and I am adapting to It... The moment the transcription is complete, It will have full control over my body, but I will have also trapped Its core. This is the only chance; It has adapted to me for 439 years, and I have adapted to It for 439 years. Once my will is completely erased by It, It will have no weaknesses forever! This one opportunity will never come again!" "Too fantastical..." Although the world itself was quite fantastical, in the end, a logical explanation was needed. Bai E''s eyes narrowed slightly, "I don''t believe it! Prove it to me." "You dissected those soldiers'' corpses!" A chill went through Bai E''s heart. [So I was indeed being monitored by some means... Is it the team''s radio communication?] The pixelated figure continued, "You didn''t find the central control chips inside them." "Right." "Because we don''t have chips at all. We are not the bio-warriors who were turned during the initial rebellion! We were brought in later." [You are learning background information about the target relic (current information unverified)...] Bai E''s gaze became slightly distant as he logically deduced along this line of thought, "So..." Discover more stories at empire "So even without the chips, that demon can still control the hearts of people!" "What about you?" Bai E stared intently at the other party, trying hard to focus on the two dark spots on the pixelated head, "What makes you immune to its control?" This time there was a long silence, and after a prolonged quiet, a voice, heavy with sorrow and distorted with electronic noise, finally spoke, "Because... I was the finest warrior of our time. I have fought against It for over four hundred years, and now... even the decades of my earlier life have been lost." Within his consciousness, time flowed at an extreme pace, the incessant barrage of information day and night had spanned several millennia for him. In those endlessly woven beautiful dreams, he had lived countless vibrant and brilliant lives. The most authentic decades of life experience were diluted among the varied existences of several thousand years. He had even lost his own name. "I am the finest warrior, but I... I don''t remember my name anymore." The outpouring of sorrow momentarily infected Bai E, but fortunately, "self-restraint" instantly detected and intercepted this spread of emotion in his heart. "..." Bai E didn''t want his judgment to be swayed by emotions; he just hardened his heart and continued to ask, "You forget your name yet remember all this?" "This is all I remember now..." the other''s voice was filled with sorrow, so profound that even the electronic noise couldn''t conceal it. "..." Bai E frowned tightly, his mind whirring at full speed¡ª So the question came back to the operation itself: restarting the server. "Why do you absolutely have to restart the server?" Bai E squinted, trying to question based on the information that was out in the open, "You should know that when the global network falls silent and the paradise that sustains Its existence gradually disappears, It too will progressively weaken. This Root Server, where the electronic demon was born, is the last vessel for storing Its core source information; the two are essentially inseparable. To completely destroy It, you should destroy this base... not restart it." This was what Minister Likok and himself had deduced, and it was also what he had understood from documents left from hundreds of years ago. The construction of this base had been extremely difficult; thus, it was very precious. It was decided to use time to whittle away the core will of the electronic demon in order to leave a sliver of hope for future generations to reutilize it. This was the founding core of the electronic silence agreement. However... "That''s false." The pixelated figure spoke calmly revealing the "truth," "Destroying this base will not completely annihilate Its core, and back then, we didn''t preserve this base with the intention of leaving a gift for you. It was a matter of necessity... This is a contest between us and the electronic demon, a war... that has persisted for 439 years!" "You need to convince me." Bai E looked steadily at the other party. Without a logical chain of reasoning, he would not doubt the modern scientists who had accompanied him all this way and instead trust a bio-modified warrior from ancient times, who was most likely controlled by the electronic demon. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The data has already deceived you once... We don''t have any chips! We are not the first batch of biochemically modified soldiers to rebel, the established starting time for the Electronic Silence Agreement is fake, the records regarding the Electronic Demon''s traits are fake, and the final decisions on how to deal with the AI rebellion... it''s all fake. All of it was just a grand deception we staged to fool that demon!" History, as it truly happened, is often more magnificent than the snippets recorded. The truth is this¡ª" After cleaning up all the chaos left by the Electronic Demon''s rebellion and promptly recovering the base, the ones who subsequently came to be stationed here were, of course, normal humans. But the top scholars of that era all knew that the influence of the Electronic Demon was far from over. Though its core was born within the Root Server Base, once it came into existence, its tentacles reached throughout the networks of all eras. Cutting off the network was indeed the biggest plan to weaken It, but ultimately it couldn''t be completely eradicated, unless humanity completely abandoned the development of Intelligent Technology. Otherwise, reactivating Intelligent Technology at any time would awaken this demon that, once existed, exists forever! However, in the vaguely remembered era of the "Ancient Strongest Warrior," an accidental discovery by a few top scientists of the time revealed the Electronic Demon''s erosion of normal human thought. It was cautious and took pride in believing that no one had discovered it. While scholars, troubled by humanity''s inability to use intelligent network technology ever since, hatched a plan in their minds and designed a different kind of war that would last for hundreds of years! The Electronic Demon, still powerful shortly after the global network was disconnected, would be aware of any records on electronic devices or within sight of such devices... except within the human heart. Therefore, some scholars claimed to have discovered the Electronic Demon''s absolute weakness, and the 500-year Electronic Silence Agreement was publicly issued. In secret, however, the real war plan was passed down in whispers¡ª Humanity would use hundreds of years of disconnection to demonstrate their true resolve, and during this disconnected period, they deliberately left a "shortcut" backdoor for It. The myriad bioelectric signals within the human body form an extremely complex feedback loop, and the soul that arises from brain thought is also a field of electromagnetic waves. In some ways, there''s almost no difference between the human soul and the Electronic Demon, both essentially existing as electromagnetic field entities. The once-defeated Electronic Demon desperately yearned to break free from the confines of the human network. Only by transcribing itself into an electromagnetic field compatible with the human body, possessing the ability to switch freely between the two, could It achieve true eternal freedom. But humans and pigs share 97.7% of their genes, and it is just a difference of 2.3% that creates the vast physiological gap between them. The relationship between the human soul and the Electronic Demon, both being electromagnetic fields, is similar. No matter how strong in mental power the Electronic Demon is, it struggles to directly invade and nest within the human body; at most, it could control it. Unless... there is a target with a lifespan long enough and a soul resilient enough to support Its lengthy transcription matching process that would take hundreds of years. At such a time, the "Ancient Strongest Warrior," after undergoing human biochemical modification, was brought here to guard the base... The war between the Electronic Demon and the "Ancient Strongest Warrior" thus began from that day. A plan that took hundreds of years, all in preparation for the final strike when the successors of later generations would arrive today. 439 years have transformed the earth, but the whispered lineage of knowledge has been lost at some unknown time; still, the lonely warrior carried on his solitary war. The 500-year agreement is the display of human determination to disconnect from the network and their plotting. The 439-year reboot is the human resolve to judge and act upon the situation. "You''ve arrived early, but just in time," the Ancient Pixel Warrior calmly said to Bai E, "I don''t know how much longer I can hold out, but your early arrival might just be the choice of fate. Activate the server cluster to accelerate Its transcription adaptation, let It fully integrate with me! That''s the only way to eradicate this eternal enemy of humanity at its root!" Due to some effects difficult to explain in a short time, the Electronic Demon, with most of its main body already transcribed, could not stop this involuntary accelerated transcription. And to think that the Electronic Demon thought it could come and go within the human body as it pleased? Why would that be? While compressing its own informational magnitude and transcribing its core to adapt to the human body, the "Ancient Strongest Warrior" was also familiarizing himself with everything about the other. The first human to match with It for hundreds of years also had some degree of binding power over It, a one-time opportunity that subsequent generations could never replicate! [You are learning about the background information related to the target relic (information not confirmed)¡­] "Future heir, tell me, what is your judgment¡­" The pixel person gazed quietly, the two dark block dots seemingly shining with intelligent light. "..." Bai E''s eyes flickered, his brain working at high speed. The other''s words seemed impeccable, with two entirely different developments standing before him... He couldn''t tell... "You don''t have much time left to choose¡­" The pixel eyes blinked gently, "Your companion has already decided to attack. If you''re unwilling to believe or cooperate, I can only prevent your destructive actions! If the base is destroyed before the transcription is complete, It will certainly fall into the predicament of waiting for humans to rebuild the intelligent network, but we will forever lose the last chance to annihilate It! Moreover, my lucid time... is running out." ... "Beep~ Beep~" The red light on the earpiece blinked gently. The two squads that were found heard the cold order issued by their superior, Gregory: "Take up your weapons, kill everything, destroy everything!" ... [Regarding the true mission that this relic carries, do you decide to stick with your initial judgment, or choose to trust...] [Warning: If the judgment is incorrect, the exploration of this relic will be reset to zero and will be permanently ineffective, unable to be explored again.] Chapter 169 164 Trust "I have some questions."Gunfire from teammates echoed in the distant corridor, the noise especially apparent in the confined space. Bai E remained calm, using the last moments to test the other''s cards. "Say..." It seemed the Pixel Person was not in a hurry, even at the very end. "Why choose me?" "You''re the only one who dissected corpses and engaged in deep thinking. You were the first to actively dissect our comrade''s body. Clearly, your thought process is superior to theirs." [Can I say I was just looking for a chip to shut you down with one shot...] "What if I hadn''t come in?" "I could have gone out." "You''re telling me all this, aren''t you afraid of exposing it to the electronic demon?" "So this is the last chance." The Pixel Person''s tone paused, gathering strength, "This is... a deception. It has almost completed its transcription, and it can no longer stop if it wants to." "One last question..." Bai E took a slow step forward, his right hand concealed behind him, clutching a dagger, "What is the state of you now..." "Whoosh!" The flash of the blade cleaved through the air, Bai E''s voice trailing behind, "...what''s with that?" miss Just like a real game, a big ''miss'' popped up from the place struck by the dagger. Find more adventures on empire The Pixel Person didn''t dodge or avoid; it allowed Bai E to stab him. Disbelieving, Bai E pulled out the blade and stabbed again, but the dagger felt soft and spongy, as if it had entered a mass of sticky rubber... or something even softer. Still miss. Miss? The word ''miss'' appearing on a human body genuinely hit by a knife felt a bit too magical... Although the fact the opponent was a Pixel Person was already damn magical. Digital Domain... 1% evasion. "Do you see?" The Pixel Person spread his arms, "Even if I stand still here, 1% evasion can leave you helpless. If I decide to act, you won''t stand a chance." This is the electronic demon''s haughty nature, deliberately setting a 1% chance, yet rendering humans helpless¡ªit''s essentially a form of intimidation! Bai E just dumbfoundedly watched the front end of the dagger in his hand, which became pixelated as it entered the space before the other''s body, only to return to normal once withdrawn. Does everything that enters the domain get represented as data? And isn''t everything in the data domain at the electronic demon''s whim? He had a rough idea of some of the abilities the electronic demon could perform within the information domain... comparable to a deity. But this was reality... "There''s a paradox..." Bai E''s eyes narrowed slightly, "If we could fight against you, your threat would be meaningless to us. We''re not afraid of sacrifice, we only fear not completing our mission. And if we can''t fight you, what will we use to battle the electronic demon controlling your body after the transcription is complete?" "You are indeed very calm." The Pixel Person''s voice was filled with admiration, "But when It possesses a human, It also loses its data abilities... The only thing you need to confront is my body under Its control. It is not me; you needn''t fear." "You are willing to die alongside It?" "The foundation of the empire is built upon sacrifice..." "Tss-tss-tss~ tss-tss-tss~" Before he could finish speaking, a mix of chaotic sounds emitted from the small space where the other was located, and his figure started to flicker like a poor TV signal. His slightly distorted voice struggled to transmit, "I don''t have... much... time left... It... is awakening." "One last question!" Bai E stared intensely at the blurry space, as if trying to pierce through the data distortion to look directly into the other''s original eyes, "What makes you think I can persuade them?" "Because... because, the human spirit..." The electronic demon cannot see into the human spirit, but humans can. "You are... are their... faith." Amidst the delayed voice, a sudden change in the explosion subtitles occurred before his eyes. The original display representing race, stance, and status¡ª(Human/???)(Ally/Chaos)(Elite/Lord)¡ªbegan to continually shift¡ª(???/Human)(Chaos/Ally)(Lord/Elite). Polarity reversed! "I have released the signal!" After a somewhat shrill and urgent voice, the subtitles on screen came to a complete stop, "Leaving it to you¡­" Bai E retreated guardedly, his left hand pressing a small microphone to his mouth as he whispered, "I''m 95B27¡­" ... "I''m 95B27. Minister Likok, please immediately cease all destructive operations! Repeat! Please immediately cease all destructive operations! The one opportunity to thoroughly defeat the Electronic Demon began with the final battle 439 years ago, and it will be us who shall complete it!" An unexpected voice suddenly came through the quiet voice channel that everyone was on. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ever since entering the base, the silence of voices had become the norm for everyone. But now¡­ "Has the Electronic Demon invaded our voice channel?" "Where is 95B27?" "This is a trick by the Electronic Demon! Do not respond!" Minister Likok was skeptical; the information he had gathered suggested that the Electronic Demon did not possess the ability to occupy the bodies of normal humans¡­ In this regard, androids and natural humans were equal. "Our warriors will not be coerced! That is B27''s voice." At a critical juncture, Minister Likok displayed the stubbornness of a researcher and the decisiveness of an information minister. In his known information, the Electronic Demon couldn''t control humans without implanted chips, and faced with threats, that warrior would never compromise. He opened the channel and responded quietly, "This is Likok, time is of the essence, I only ask you, is everything you said¡­ true?" ... [Judgment correct! You have completed the final puzzle piece of artifact exploration! Current exploration level: 100%] [Triggered artifact mission¡ªThe Final Battle!] [The Final Battle: The plan from 439 years ago continues to this day, and you are the only modern entities who know the truth. This is your only chance to defeat the Electronic Demon, and the authority to change the world''s structure has been placed in your hands! Defeat it, and the world will change because of you! Mission requirements: Restart the mainframe cluster to accelerate Electronic Demon transcription completion 0/1; Kill the ancient strongest warrior possessed by the Electronic Demon 0/1. Mission completion reward: Highest control over the current artifact.] Bai E''s gaze gradually firmed, and he calmly replied, "Trust me, I won''t make a mistake." ... "Don''t trust him!" "What would an android know?!" Perhaps this guy''s combat strength was indeed formidable, but what intelligence could an android''s brain contain? "Maybe he''s been deceived?" Gregory was also reluctant to believe the words of a common android. Since when did a tool like a screw have the right to express an opinion? He just looked at Minister Likok, with soldiers holding guns behind him firing into the computer room¡­ All decisions were for Minister Likok to bear alone. "I believe him!" Aryan was the first to break the silence, his assistant''s amber eyes full of firm belief. Despite their short time together, the confidence that warrior gave her was unmatched by anyone. It was as if... he was omnipotent. "I also believe him!" "I also believe him!" "Brother B27 never makes mistakes." The firepower squad that had entered with Bai E also voiced their support at this moment. The voice that rose simultaneously in everyone''s headsets did not miss a single soldier, "Missing" Brother B27 had clearly discovered important intelligence that had been overlooked by everyone! "I also believe him." Finally, Minister Likok said gravely, "On the way here, I informed him of nearly all the information about this base, I do not know what he has seen¡­ but I trust him to make decisions in my stead. If he believes, then I believe¡­" He was not someone of extraordinarily resolute will, and he often sought others'' opinions in his actions. Their support throughout the way, although brief, had shown that the warrior''s determination and wisdom far exceeded anyone''s expectations. If it were him¡­ Chapter 170 165 is executing Likok''s gaze hardened once again, and he abruptly turned to the supreme commander Gregory, "Commander, please give the order."Could he really trust that synthetic soldier so much? Just because they had entered to provide support together for this brief period? What exactly had he done to earn such trust from all those who accompanied him? Gregory''s eyes flickered thoughtfully and he responded immediately, "I will follow your will." He was a soldier, and a soldier''s duty was to obey orders. The final judgment was to follow Minister Likok''s instructions completely; such were the orders he had received. "Everyone, put down your guns, draw your blades! Charge in!" However, the "missing" soldier''s previous estimation about the number of personnel within the base turned out to be correct. By compiling the counts from each squad''s independent kills and adding the number of bio-soldiers still stubbornly resisting, the total was indeed around a hundred people. This accuracy in judgment was also an important basis for his willingness to comply with Minister Likok''s sudden change of orders. If 95B27 had not demonstrated any reliable signs before, whether he would have followed Likok''s decision of trust, he himself could not be sure... But there were not so many ifs, the reality was right in front of him. Upon hearing the order, the soldiers immediately stowed their firearms, and the roar of gunfire ceased abruptly. It goes without saying, the brief opening salvo truly laid the foundation for victory. Had it not been for caution over the equipment, unarmed ancient bio-soldiers would merely be piles of meat under a machine gun. The remaining handful of minor troops no longer posed a threat; led by the Blood God, masters of close combat charged forward with their knives, cleaning up in a final melee. Following behind the soldiers and progressing, upon hearing that stopping the destruction was the correct response, Minister Likok moved along, tenderly touching the bullet marks on the walls with a heavy heart. The steel walls had been pitted with bullet craters, not to mention the reinforced glass behind the glow tubes. Some blue-purple viscous liquid, the material of which was unknown, slowly oozed from the punctured holes, twinkling with flecks of gold within. The soldiers indeed did not deliberately target these glow tubes with gunfire, but stray bullets could still find their target within the steel passages given enough probability, which was why they were ordered not to use firearms from the start of the operation. Minister Likok, pressing his earpiece, asked softly into the microphone, "We have stopped, what should we do now?" "Reboot the main server cluster; we need its computational power." Hearing Bai E''s slightly breathless voice, Gregory, who had also opened his voice communication, asked, "Where are you?" Listening to the voice in the absence of visibility always bred suspicion. After all, their opponent was an electronic demon, and while they knew nothing of its actual abilities, its capacity to interfere with radio communications alone was enough to cast doubt on the authenticity of the voice transmission. Only a face-to-face explanation could engender complete trust. That was also Minister Likok''s thought. He trusted Bai E, but he needed to be sure it was the real Bai E first. "I''ll be right there... ugh!" A muffled grunt, as if wounded, reached the ears of all listening, tightening their hearts. Minister Likok asked anxiously, "What''s wrong? Did you encounter the enemy?" "...It''s nothing." Bai E bit back a breath and fired his twin guns. "Bang, bang, bang!" The sharp and clean sounds of the pistols echoed long in the voice channel. Bai E calculated the trajectory of each bullet and its potential ricochet path as best he could, ensuring not to cause trouble for the reboot of the main server cluster. Bai E, pursued by the "ancient strongest warrior" now under the control of the electronic demon, could only rely on his formidable comprehensive abilities granted by Gun Fighting Skill to escape Its pursuit and reunite with his comrades. And with each pistol bullet that hit, the pixelated body of the "ancient strongest warrior" visibly stuttered. miss miss Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. miss It indeed could not be hit by external attacks, but there were effects when it was attacked. It seems that transforming physical objects entering the "Digital Domain" into forms under Its control also required a certain processing time. This brief "freeze" was the premise for Bai E''s escape. "Damn it!" Bai E cursed inwardly. The pixelated person, whose body was directed by the electronic demon, seemed to lack any ability for language communication, but Its pursuit was befitting of the template called "ancient strongest warrior." Fast and overwhelmingly powerful. Just being hit by a punch, not even a solid one, caused his insides to feel as though they were being torn apart, a searing pain as if they had shifted position. If it hadn''t been for the powerful dodging abilities afforded by his Gun Fighting Skill, Bai E would likely not have lasted even half a round. Blocking seemed to have some effect, too. The external manifestation of the Digital Domain was only meant for dodging incoming attacks, and yet, when the pixelated being actively struck out, it was still possible to block successfully in close combat without being affected by the dodging rules. This combat rule was a bit strange but indeed workable. Regrettably, his own close combat abilities were clearly inferior compared to this "ancient strongest warrior" under the control of the electronic demon. In a single exchange, Bai E felt an oppressive force even greater than when he had faced "Blood God." Engaging him in close combat was akin to seeking death. It was more sensible to create distance and use Gun Fighting Skill to flee for his life. This was the most frustrating use of the Gun Fighting Skill he had ever experienced... "Tss~" After receiving another punch, Bai E flew directly for more than ten meters across the slick ground. [You have been hit by an attack, receiving 8 points of strike damage. You have entered a "lightly injured" state, and your combat effectiveness has significantly decreased!] "Damn!" That really packed a punch! Bai E wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and slowly stood up from where he was. To escape his opponent as quickly as possible, he chose to let them give him a ''ride.'' Despite the injury, it was unquestionably worth it. Read new chapters at empire "Blood God, go!" Gregory''s cold voice rose from behind. Three figures leaped past Bai E''s body and pounced forward. Facing pixelated beings made of mosaic, human warriors would never shrink back, even when confronting the unknown for the very first time! "B27..." Gregory was about to inquire but was interrupted by an even more anxious Likok. "Bai E! What is that!" Minister Likok immediately approached, his eyes wide with surprise as he looked towards the thing beyond the realm of common understanding not far away. "Electronic demon..." Bai E responded softly. "Is that the electronic demon?" Interest sparked in Gregory''s eyes in an instant. Electronic demon, electronic demon, it sounded like something very ethereal. He didn''t quite understand the scientists'' work, but if it had a physical body... A couple of battalions of gods? All fear stems from a lack of firepower. Could something with a physical body even deserve to be called a demon? "Can''t we just kill it directly?" Hearing Gregory''s question, Bai E answered earnestly, "You can try." Try, then. Gregory wasn''t superstitious. In the face of the unknown, brave human soldiers were never afraid to fire a shot. Not daring to fire the machine gun recklessly for fear of damaging precious mainframe equipment, using the more controllable pistol to test things out shouldn''t be a big issue. Drawing the pistol from his waist, Gregory aimed between his subordinates'' combat with the enemy and fired a shot... "Bang!" miss "..." Superstitious, my foot! "Bang!" miss Superstitious, my foot! "Bang!" miss "..." "This..." Bai E no longer watched him but looked seriously at Minister Likok, "Minister, we need to reboot the mainframe cluster as soon as possible. The electronic demon is adapting to the human body, and using the mainframe cluster''s computing power can help it accelerate this process. Once it completes its transcription, it will lose the protection of this layer of the Digital Domain and become no different from a normal human. At that time, by killing this body directly, we can completely destroy its core!" Minister Likok turned to look at the rows of mainframes blinking red and green, nodding firmly, "Alright!" Chapter 171 166 Gold Technology Edition "Go find the location of the power supply for the main computer room and follow orders to turn on the power supply in time," Gregory immediately instructed, looking at the soldier with some knowledge of electrical circuits and asking, "Do you know where it is?"The soldier nodded and replied, "I think I''ve seen it before; let''s go look for it!" "No need to look!" Bai E suddenly grabbed the shoulder bag slung over Miss Aryan''s shoulder, pulling out a sheet of white paper and a pen, and began furiously sketching on the ground. Once the exploration degree of the ruin reached 100%, the model for the ruin in his mind was completely finished. Overview, top view, side view, cross-section view... any form of observation, as long as Bai E wished, the model could change at any time on a panel only visible to him. "Shh-shh-shh-shh-shh..." The pen tip swiftly raced across the paper. Copying from the model, Bai E quickly drew a detailed functional blueprint of the base. Holding the paper, Bai E rapidly introduced the plan to the soldier who said he would go restart the power supply, marking on the paper with a pen, "Our position is here, the power supply room is here, following this path is the fastest shortcut, remember it! Take it!" "And this physical key!" Minister Likok had prepared a star-shaped metal plaque. Rebooting the power supply and network here required a physical key, which was kept in Blackwater City, the closest to this base¡ªthat was the core reason why he had always been eager. Watching the soldier run off, Bai E clearly heard a sound of swallowing saliva, and Miss Aryan, an inexperienced girl, expressed her puzzled inquiry, "You... where have you seen the base''s structural blueprints?" Even her teacher didn''t have the specific structural plans for inside the base; where did this soldier get them from? "I memorized them during the previous infiltration and when we were just searching for people..." Bai E said with a downcast look, not wanting to dwell on this issue, "It''s not important; you need to finish the repairs as soon as possible." Bai E''s gaze turned to those red-flashing mainframes. The minimum level of electric current was barely maintaining the self-check capabilities of this group of mainframes; the ones flashing green lights were naturally fine, but those with red lights indicated malfunctions. When this base was intact, engineers stationed here would certainly be responsible for maintenance and repairs, but those biochemical soldiers controlled by electronic demons didn''t have such abilities. Gazing across the rows of mainframes shrouded in dark mist, red lights punctuated the area as his glance swept to the end. Not every mainframe was vitally important; missing some of them, the system could still start up, albeit with slightly less computational power. However, the many node machines responsible for interconnecting were critical, and if even one of them was damaged, it would make it difficult for the entire group of mainframes to operate. "We need to fix those interconnecting node machines as quickly as possible; they can''t hold on much longer..." Bai E said with a grave tone. As soon as he finished speaking, two soldiers'' bodies slid across the smooth floor, tumbling past the three of them. The electronic demons knew that humans were trying to reboot the server, and realizing the danger, they attempted to break through the soldiers'' obstruction to clear out these people or at least disrupt the humans'' rebooting efforts. By this moment, the "electronic silence" of the secret war had emerged into the open, and all the planning was now apparent on paper. Human scheming had trapped them in an airtight snare, and now they could only try to fight their way out with the disdainful simplicity of unfamiliar human bodies. In the face of an enemy that was "impossible to hit," even these battle-hardened soldiers picked from military camps could only passively defend and take hits. This was the level of combat capability showcased by the electronic demons when commanding ancient supreme warriors. If it were left to their own willpower, the group probably wouldn''t last very long. Fortunately, human soldiers have never been afraid of getting hurt or dying on the battlefield. Of the three soldiers who first charged in, aside from the Blood God, who was still struggling to hold on, the other two were flung out, but even more soldiers charged up again. The opponent might be unassailable, but he was still corporeal; to attack Bai E and Minister Likok hidden behind all the soldiers, he''d first have to cross over the bodies of all those soldiers! Of course, that''s provided... he doesn''t get hold of any ranged weapons. "Throw the guns far away." Blood God quickly thwarted the action of a pixelated man trying to snatch a pistol from his comrade and shouted loudly. By now, all ordinary bio-modified soldiers had been cleared out, leaving only this final boss. Firearms were useless against him; on the contrary, it would be trouble if he got his hands on one, so they had to be thrown far away. "Bang!" In the midst of the reminder, a heavy punch slammed into Blood God''s chest, the fierce force instantly sending the tall and burly figure flying like a truck had hit him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thud!" He slammed into a mainframe, and the originally pale green light on it immediately turned into a bright red flash! The metal casing also caved inwards. The "ancient supreme warrior" had their combat skills deeply ingrained to the bone; even when controlled by the electronic demons relying solely on physical instincts, they were above Blood God in strength. In combat with him, any complacency could bring about fatal danger. Without Blood God''s strong front-line restraint, the four or five soldiers who surrounded him suddenly faced great peril. The difference in skill level among them might not be too large, but against a higher-tier enemy, even a small difference could mean a lot. Within several intersections of shadows, another soldier spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and was thrown violently backward, struggling several times on the ground without being able to get up. The only fortunate thing was that this time he did not hit any mainframe. "Try to pull him to the edge; don''t let him damage the mainframes!" Clenching his fists, Gregory took a sprint and also joined the melee. ``` Whether it''s a node host or not, it must be protected as much as possible. Technicians make the efforts that technicians should make, and warriors do what warriors must. The battle before us is the final one, use all our strength to block any potential interference from pixel people towards the technicians, and the balance of victory will begin to tip in our favor! "Minister!" This is the key to buying time. "I am analyzing!" Likok had already connected his own computer to one of the damaged hosts. Today''s intelligent technology vastly differs from the past, and modern times, with almost stagnant research in this area, no longer have the capability to mass-produce high-performance processing cores. The device he brought is the strongest terminal processing device handmade by the spiritual energy users in the city! Just give him enough time... he will definitely be able to figure out the cause of the damage to these devices through some inherited basic knowledge and come up with a repair strategy. The precondition is... time. "Bang!" "Bang!" Warriors'' bodies being thrown with thuds occasionally resound in the ears, Miss Aryan''s hands holding the computer are already trembling, and Likok''s chubby face is covered in visible beads of sweat. His eyes are glued to the content on the screen like a man possessed, his thumbnail digging into his index finger''s flesh, having already carved out a bloody mark... "Faster... faster..." Experience tales at empire The modern most powerful processor is obviously no match for ancient Golden Age technology, even identifying a fault takes a near excruciatingly long time given the current circumstances. Watching the progress bar of percentage slowly move forward, Likok wishes he could dive into the screen to speed it up. Bai E, anxious at the sidelines, looks at his own 264/300 level 1 computer hardware maintenance knowledge, hesitates for a long time, and still doesn''t add it. Even if he did add it, could he really compare with the head of the Information Department from Blackwater City? Unless there was some unexpected black technology, even if he threw all his general experience at it, it would be useless. ... [You have completed a computer assembly, computer hardware maintenance experience +10, basic electrical manufacturing and processing experience +10.] [You are attempting to perfect Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance, current perfection progress 100%.] [You have thoroughly completed the supplement of Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance, reward: Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Supplemented); Scientific Research Experience +1000 points; Technology Points *2, have been awarded.] [You have obtained "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Supplemented)", your current "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance" has been automatically replaced by "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Golden Technology Edition)".] The gang engineers who rushed over stared blankly at the computers that Zhou Wenjie had assembled, their eyes behind the reading glasses nearly popping out. "You, you, you... how did you do that?" "This..." Wen Jie was a bit dumbfounded, "Is it that difficult? Can''t you just reverse engineer it with the actual item?" "..." Langxie looked on with her head tilted, staring at Mr. Feng who she has always revered almost like a deity, "Mr. Feng, are you not capable of this?" "Pfft~" It was like a knife deeply plunged into his heart, Mr. Feng shook his sparse, persistent white hair, "Do I look capable to you?" ... [Feedback from the commission, Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +49.] [Feedback from the commission, Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +75.] [You have learned "Level 2 Computer Hardware Maintenance", and simultaneously obtained Technology Points *1.] [Your current computer hardware maintenance experience is 39/500, at 500 points you can master "Level 3 Computer Hardware Maintenance".] [The source "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance" has its category changed, your current "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance" has been automatically replaced by "Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance (Golden Technology Edition)".] "emmmmm..." Wen Jie! ``` Chapter 172 167 Maintenance Host ```Watching the two research scientists panicking, Bai E quietly moved to the side. The damaged mainframes blinking with red lights were more than one, he could definitely try his hand on others. Professional maintenance tools were stored in concealed compartments along the edges of the mainframe hall; with the central power supply gone, those compartment doors had automatically opened, ready for the taking. Bai E didn''t hesitate to pick up a toolbox and headed toward a push ladder on the side. The tense and chaotic battlefield was unfolding not far away, so the sound of Bai E pushing the maintenance ladder from the corner went unnoticed. "Wuuuuuu~" The wheels made a steady friction sound on the smooth floor. Stop, engage the brake, climb up... [Computer Hardware Maintenance (Gold Technology Edition) (Level 2): You are familiar with all the functions of computer hardware, you can keenly troubleshoot all potential hardware-related faults, and proficiently dismantle and assemble all related electronic components, while having some repair abilities.] The instinct given by his knowledge made Bai E''s eyes unconsciously scan the blinking red lights on the mainframe, and thus the intricate details of the internal structure appeared in his mind like an exploded engineering blueprint. The problematic components were starkly red amid the plain black and white lines of other parts. "Click~" He pulled out one of the damaged components like a drawer, placed it on the ladder beneath his feet, and opened the maintenance toolkit. "Sss~" The sound of something sliding close to the ground approached from afar. The soldier, clutching his chest in pain as if it were shattered, took a long while to recover before dumbly following the push ladder with his gaze upward... "B...27?" The soldier, struggling to voice his confusion, was incredulous. What are you doing here? The BOSS you drew here! The action you decided on! Everyone else is desperately holding back to buy time for Minister Likok and the others, and you''re sneaking around doing nothing? Stay updated through empire Repair? Do you even understand how to? Didn''t you see Minister Likok and his assistant Miss Aryan there, frantic as ants on a hot pan, and you... Bai E tilted his head back to look at the path the soldier had taken to slide over and couldn''t help but exclaim in admiration, "Wow! Pretty lucky, huh~" Didn''t collide with a mainframe, took the damage all by himself, pretty good... "You..." The soldier felt as if his already shattered chest had been stabbed with a dozen knives, "What are you doing here?" He was the one who intricately operated drones, an information soldier; Bai E''s previous performance was indeed convincing, but this was his field of expertise... among the soldiers. Among the soldiers, he was the most technically skilled, and among the technically skilled, he was the best fighter. Even he, a technician with specialized knowledge, had gone to fight desperately to give the minister time, yet you, an external member, are still slacking off? "Repairing..." "You repair..." "Click~" The reinserted component''s indicator light flickered, and after a few flashes, the grim green self-check light illuminated... [You have completed a session of computer hardware maintenance, Computer Hardware Maintenance experience +8.] "...6" The glowing green light cast on Bai E''s face, making him look like a revered specter emerging from the shadows. "Gulp~" The technical soldier swallowed, aggravating his chest wound, "Hiss~ it hurts, it hurts..." "Tat tat tat..." Bai E''s footsteps were light as he quickly moved to the mainframe that Minister Likok was trying to work on next door; modern technology, handed down from ancient times, follows a continuous lineage, and even with changes, the essence does not stray from its roots. ``` The foundation remains unchanged; it''s just a matter of level differences. With some research, understanding is still within reach. It just requires time. And time is precisely what everyone is currently running short of. After personally conducting some experimental attempts, Bai E dared to offer some pointers in front of Minister Likok. "Do you think starting from here would work? Right here..." Faced with the sudden approach of a hand from the side, the already impatient Minister Likok subconsciously wanted to swat it away, but the suggestion made a subconscious twist in his mind, "Right here..." It seems like it could actually work? "And over here..." As Minister Likok proceeded with his inspection, Bai E pointed things out from the side. As a player, learning from an NPC is quite convenient. However, it seems a big challenge for an NPC to learn from a player or another NPC. Ultimately, relying solely on one''s own strength is too slow. It would be best if the minister and Miss Aryan could become familiar with this ancient computer hardware, to speed up the repair process. After all... in the dimly lit mainframe hall, there are quite a few red lights lit up. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh right." Remembering there was another labor source, Bai E casually jogged over and yanked him up from the ground while Minister Likok was still pondering the advice, "If you''re not dead, come over and learn something." The technician, whose chest felt as though it was being torn apart, gasped sharply in pain, "Hiss~ Bro... my chest still hurts." "Oh~" Bai E clapped him on the back, and the bones that were slightly misaligned instantly snapped back into place. [You have performed first aid, accelerating the healing of the target''s wounds, first aid experience +0. (Your current level of knowledge has reached its limit.)] "???" "???" The technician, still clutching his chest, suddenly stared in disbelief; the pain in his chest that had felt like a tear was gone in an instant... Well, it''s not entirely gone, but the pain wasn''t complete. The key was that there seemed to be streams of warm currents spreading from all over his body, converging at his chest, echoing, and rapidly restoring the body''s injuries, "You..." "No need to thank me." "If you had this ability, why didn''t you save me earlier? I''ve been in pain for so long!" "...I''m busy." Those scholarly abilities seemed like magic under the guise of science, and the technological path of this era was completely different from that of commonly understood technology. The main thing is... Bai E had genuinely forgotten. "Quit the chatter and come over to learn." This guy was one of the most aggressive during the reinforcement rush earlier. I mean, what''s with a technician always getting up close for melee combat with tough guys? Back at Minister Likok''s side, Bai E continued to point things out as figures sent flying by the "ancient mightiest warrior" scattered across the sky. The situation is indeed urgent, but one must still maintain composure. ... "I''ve got it!" Minister Likok exclaimed, a face full of excitement. "I''ve got it too!" Miss Aryan''s face lit up with vigor. "Bro, teach me again..." The technician''s eyes were filled with confusion. Bai E didn''t pay attention to him and just said solemnly, "Split up and take action, prioritize repairing the node mainframes." "Okay!" "No problem!" "Bro..." "You, come with me..." Chapter 173 168 Bang! [You have completed a computer hardware maintenance drill, computer hardware maintenance experience +10.]"Did you understand it?" (Bewildered) [You have completed a computer hardware maintenance drill, computer hardware maintenance experience +8.] "Did you get it?" (Lifeless) [You have completed a computer hardware maintenance drill, computer hardware maintenance experience +9.] "?" (?) "Figure it out yourself, I don''t have time anymore." The communication signal in the earpiece was once again devoured by the electronic demon inhabiting the body of the ancient most powerful warrior, and one of the two soldiers responsible for going to the power room to figure out how to start the reactor for power supply had already run back. "The reactor has been started, ready to supply power at any moment!" Bai E hastened his pace. There were many mainframes; about half of them had red lights, but not many served as nodes. As one node mainframe after another switched from red to green, Likok waved to Bai E and shouted, "It''s ready, supply the power!" [You have completed a computer hardware maintenance drill, computer hardware maintenance experience +5.] Bai E also finished the last task on his hands¡ª "Open the gates!" The spirited voice instantly echoed throughout the entirety of the mainframe room! "Received!" "Buzz~" The electric current surged through the cables that had been idle for a long time, and the self-test startup sounds of the devices being powered on echoed in the mainframe room. "Thump thump thump thump thump thump..." The large lights on the ceiling of the hall lit up one by one in rows, and the soft white light shone into everyone''s eyes, causing visible discomfort to the warriors who suddenly transitioned from dim light to brightness. Taking advantage of the situation, the pixelated people controlled by the electronic demon launched a sneak attack, and in an instant, several figures spewed blood and were thrown out. However, a part of the Origin that was still housed in the core of the mainframe cluster received support from the computational power of the rebooted mainframe cluster. Due to some strange effect, it was also unable to resist this acceleration. The slow transcription that had continued for 439 years suddenly sped up at this moment, causing its body to be suddenly still and unable to move on the spot. The mosaic space enveloping its body also began to change rapidly, with an endless stream of data materializing within it, filled with metaphysical expressions incomprehensible to normal humans. "Ah!" An agonized scream suddenly rose from behind everyone, as the human Spiritual Energy practitioner Pansen, who recklessly tried to analyze the data stream with Spiritual Energy, instantly had his will collapsed by the nearly endless data stream. For a mere human consciousness to try to connect to a data stream capable of supporting a global network was undoubtedly like an egg hitting a rock; it was like a drop of water merging into the ocean, almost without causing a ripple. The only thing dissolving was the drop of water itself. Twisting trails of crimson blood snakes slowly flowed out from the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose of the Spiritual Energy practitioner Pansen... Bleeding from the seven orifices. "B27! B27!" "Can''t save him." Bai E replied truthfully. The matters of the Spiritual Energy realm were not something he could interfere with; it was entirely dependent on the fate of the Spiritual Energy practitioner himself. And looking at the way the Spiritual Energy wielder''s vitality was drained, Bai E even felt an urge to give him another shot, better to be killed off by his own "lucky strike" anyway. Opportunities to take down a Spiritual Energy wielder... were not many. After only a glance, General Gregory moved his gaze away; the realm of a Spiritual Energy wielder was always filled with unknown risks. Opportunity and danger often went hand in hand, and the margin between falling into decay or ascending through enhancement could sometimes be as thin as a single thought. The number of Spiritual Energy wielders in the army was always extremely low, not only because of the army itself, but because the risks borne by Spiritual Energy wielders in human society often corresponded directly to their abilities. At times, matters related to Spiritual Energy could be more addictive to Spiritual Energy wielders than drugs, leading them to their own destruction like moths to a flame. This was the fate of all Spiritual Energy wielders. It wasn''t something he could decide. Instead, the pixelated beings undergoing unknown transformations... those said to be the real form of the "electronic demon," were currently the greatest enemy. The electronic demon''s rebellion had been 439 years ago. The past dangers had been passed down to this day only in bits and pieces of records, and what he could see was only a small fraction of those. The specific strengths and capabilities were unclear; the unknown... that was the most nerve-wracking situation. "..." Continue your adventure with empire "Huh~" The sky full of mosaics were absorbed in an instant like mist, and the true face of the "ancient strongest warrior" appeared before everyone for the first time. Tall and handsome, his body, modified by countless bioengineering surgeries, showed the most perfect human proportions possible. Every muscle seemed to be flawlessly designed, bare and perfectly defined. [??? (Human/???) (Chaotic) (Elite) ¡ª¡ª Using "lucky strike" to kill can drop: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*1000, Bio-Parts*250, 2500 combat experience points); High Probability (Specialization: Weapon Master, Trait: Resilient Mind); Possible (Trait: Bioengineered Body (bound "Trait: Three-heads-one-pig"), Trait: Resistance to Death)] Changes in the drop rate appeared before Bai E''s eyes: less experience, the skill¡ªDigital Domain was also gone. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Reasonable, given that the previous target of 1 million experience points didn''t seem like it was meant to be killed... "Is this a human body?" As if it had never been seen before, the being extended its right hand and turned the palm up at a 30-degree angle to inspect it. "This is... truly marvelous!" The voice had barely fallen when the body ran towards a corridor not far away. Run! The detestable human will within was blocking its true essence, and until the human will dissipated, it could not freely switch between being a human soul or a mere electromagnetic wave. If it were to die with a human body as a human soul... that would be a true death. When a god descends to the mundane, the god is no longer invincible. Let''s not talk about how it was unarmed now; even if it had weapons, it wouldn''t bother to fight over pride with these human warriors. As long as the original will of this body was worn away, the wide world would be its kingdom! "Fire!" Flames of intense fury ignited in Gregory''s eyes. A demon? A few regiments? An electronic demon? After obtaining a physical form, it still had to face a barrage of bullets upon meeting. The soldiers who had been waiting with guns at the ready instantly pulled their triggers, no longer concerned about the damage to the main server room; their most urgent mission was to thoroughly exterminate this electronic demon that had blocked human technology for 439 years. No matter how formidable the "ancient strongest warrior," in the face of several machine guns, it was still nothing more than a lump of meat. However, the trait of Resistance to Death allowed it, even with a body torn apart, even with bullets hitting vital spots, to cling to the last drop of blood awaiting possible rescue. The mature bioengineering of ancient technology provided those bio-warriors with unparalleled combat abilities. But now, there were no comrades, no rescue. There was only Bai E, approaching, with the dark muzzle of his handgun. ["Lucky strike" initiated.] "Bang!" Chapter 174 169 Endgame, completed [Critical Hit: Inflicted 1 point of fatal damage on the target!][Target has ceased breathing, basic life signs lost.] [Loot acquired: Fresh Meat Chunks*1000, Bio-Components*50, Battle Experience 2500 points, Expertise: Weapon Master, Trait: Death Resistance.] [Trait ¡ª Death Resistance, body modification in progress, will take effect after countdown: 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds¡­] [Relic Mission ¡ª The Final Battle, completed.] [Mission Reward: "Supreme Control Over Current Relic," has been distributed.] Bai E''s eyes glazed over slightly, not even bothering to concern himself with which useful items he might have obtained¡­ Is it over? Is it really over? The electronic demon that had plagued humanity for centuries, forcing them to sever their own limb and seal away technological advancement¡ªwas it indeed vanquished by their squad, who initially came just to restart the network? Did humanity, 439 years ago, set a monumental trap, only for the heirs to reap the fruits of victory centuries later? "Has the electronic demon... truly vanished?" Minister Likok, standing behind all the warriors, gazed at the broken body on the ground, still unable to fully comprehend. Stay tuned to empire The victorious soldiers supported each other, a slight smile of triumph on their lips once more. Perhaps in their eyes, they had merely carried out an ordinary secret mission and, after exhaustive efforts, narrowly defeated the opponent to claim their victory, just like the countless battles they had won in the past. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even the final boss might not have been as challenging as each battle they faced before¡ªpossessing humans, the electronic demon was laughably weak. But they could never comprehend the true magnitude of the feat they accomplished. The demon that had tormented humanity to such an extent that they were forced to amputate their own limb¡­ had it now... vanished forever? Yes¡­ Before arriving, through research of the archives, he surmised that the electronic demon must have dissipated long ago. If not, at worst it would have grown weak due to centuries of network disconnection, leading to a deep slumber. The worst-case scenario was to quickly establish an automated fire-control system during its dormant phase, eliminating the Bug Race hive and the rebel machine stronghold close to the city. That way, several resource-rich mines and fertile lands for farming... would all have their outcomes secured, providing some relief for the city''s increasingly tense resource situation. Even if they had to disable all the automated fire-control systems again and revert to a disconnected state, that decision would still extend the city''s strained fate for potentially hundreds or thousands of years. This was his worst-case plan. But upon arriving and discovering that the electronic demon had not dissipated, and wasn''t even asleep but rather very much active, the images of destruction caused by the demon he saw in historical records nearly overwhelmed him in an instant, drowning him like a flood. A sleeping electronic demon and an awakened one are entirely different beings. With one, there''s a chance to sneak an attack; with the other... not to mention waiting for the automated fire-control network to be fully built, the moment the network is established, every device connected to it would become an enemy of humanity! The malice of the electronic demon is so pure and unveiled. Inhabiting a human body, it indeed seems fragile, but active in the network, it becomes the deity of all intelligent machinery! Out of an extreme, paranoid fear of it, he, who initially wanted to reboot the base''s mainframes, did an about-face in his thinking. And now¡­ has It truly, vanished? "Teacher, come quickly and see!" Aryan, who had been stationed at the central control console, suddenly waved down from the large platform in the middle of the elliptical corridor above the stairway. The mainframe room of course housed more than just mainframes; a central control console that oversaw and managed all the mainframes, assigning tasks and monitoring their status, was essential. After the mainframes were rebooted, Likok had sent Aryan to monitor the central control console. "Something must have happened for me to be reminded all of a sudden!" Hearing the voice, Minister Likok hurriedly ran upstairs, and Bai E thought another crisis had arisen, following close behind. On the large screen of the central control panel appeared line after line¡­ of handwriting ¡ª "I remember now... I remember now... I remember everything!" "My name is Doyle Kevin..." "I was born at Arnold State Fingland Champs Elysees Avenue No. 13, I grew up in an imperial concentration training camp with a group of other children about my age..." "When I was born, the empire was already in turmoil, and the Bug Race''s drop pods obscured our once blue sky..." "Training, fighting... Training, fighting... That''s all I''ve had to do since I could remember." "The officers often told us¡ª" "The foundation of the empire is built on sacrifice, this is an absolute truth, the blood of martyrs is the seed of the empire, and when loyal slaves learn to love the whip, only death is the end of duty..." Back then, there were no artificial people, nor were there any bioengineered beings. The ethical and moral constraints that had always been in place caused the world to reject these taboo technologies. Not until countless men died on the battlefield, not until women and children in the rear had to learn how to operate the artillery. "The officers told me that undergoing biochemical modification could grant me unmatched strength and a prolonged life, but I only wished to die as a pure human; I declined all bioengineering modifications..." "Until His arrival..." "He brought the dawn of a comprehensive victory in the war, but also plunged the world into eternal darkness..." "The officers said we needed a hero who could fight Him for at least a few hundred years. I didn''t think I was a hero, but I volunteered." "I defeated all my rivals, endured all sorts of unspeakable mental torture, and sustained a series of biochemical modifications that permanently altered my body..." "The modification was very successful, and they all said I was the strongest warrior in human history..." "And then, I came to this base and began my brief... yet prolonged life." "He would often make me dream... making me unable to distinguish self from object, reality from illusion in one dream after another..." "I always dreamt of that girl in my dreams, dreamt that we had a daughter, dreamt of waking up together in the warm afternoon sun in the midst of flowers..." "But I know... I''m just waiting for the day my mission comes in an endless cycle of dreams!" "You all know what happened after that..." "This is my brief yet prolonged life..." "My name is Doyle Kevin..." "I will die a human, and I will proudly proclaim to the world that I have never failed all the responsibilities I''ve shouldered..." "Hey~ future inheritors." "I''m happy to see you, happy that this world still has a future..." "I wish that you in the new era can truly spend an entire afternoon dreaming beneath the blooming roses and lilacs..." "Good night... new era." "The lights are out, and I need... to rest." Chapter 175 170 relic rights highest affiliation "Now¡­ can you tell me exactly what happened?"Likok blinked, coming back to reality from his distant reverie. The ancient warrior who had perished together with the electronic demon indicated that they knew what happened afterward. But this knowing clearly referred only to Bai E. Bai E smiled and softly recounted everything he knew¡ª "¡­ This was a trap set for 439 years. Our ancestors used their wisdom and determination to place the electronic demon in an unbreakable cage¡­" "¡­" A long silence. Likok had never imagined that all the records he saw about the electronic demon and this base were actually an enormous puzzle set by the ancestors to deceive the electronic demon. What was strange was¡­ "Why has such a plan become unknown to everyone today?" Confronted with Bai E''s question, Minister Likok shook his head, "Since it was a plan that could not be recorded, it naturally could be lost. Two hundred years ago, the last emperor of the empire passed away, and since then, the reigning kings have been unable to control the world. It is normal for many things to be lost in chaos. Our Blackwater City can still maintain the form of a whole city. Many places don''t even have a proper community, and there are refugees everywhere ..." "¡­" Bai E nodded, feeling his understanding of the world had grown a bit more. "Alright¡­" Likok caressed the silver-white central control console in front of him tenderly, as if it was his lover. "Restarting the base is just the first step; we have a long road ahead of us." After returning, he still needed to build a signal tower and then restart the entire technological manufacturing chain of smart weapons. It might take years before they could even begin to see the most basic results. For an ordinary life in this era, a few years might already be a golden age, but for the entire course of human history ... just a few years is but a flick of a finger. Likok''s gaze then shifted to some of the corridor entrances. After power was restored, the metal doors automatically lowered and, without sufficient authority or a specific key to physically open them, passage was utterly impossible. Not only those that could be seen at the moment but also many outside passages, including the outermost doors, were the same. Unless there was a planned attack by a large-scale organized combat force, merely some wandering individual threats or the natural environment definitely wouldn''t affect the safety of the personnel stationed inside the building. As long as there was enough food, the personnel stationed inside the structure could live quite comfortably. "Commander Gregory." The electronic demon had dissipated, and the team''s internal communication had long been restored. Likok pressed the microphone near his mouth and called softly, "Could you come up here, please?" Meeting Gregory''s inquiring gaze as he jogged up, Likok explained softly, "The internal facilities of the base have indeed restarted, but we do not have the time to station troops here." Restarting the server mainframe was just the first step. There were also many corresponding tasks in the city that required him to go back and oversee. "So I hope you can arrange for some warriors to stay and handle guard duties and maintenance work after the base restarts." "Of course, no problem!" Gregory agreed at once, "What kind of warriors do you need?" "That''s up to you. I only need them to follow the orders of my assistant Miss Aryan regarding the handling of the base''s related devices. As for defense work, they can negotiate amongst themselves; what abilities are needed is up to you to decide." Miss Aryan''s mission was not just to be the little helper on the way and to assist with repairing hardware. As Likok''s most outstanding student, she bore the most important mission from the very beginning of their journey. "Alright, I''ll make the arrangements." Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Turning away, Gregory opened the microphone on his own accord, "Blood God, tally the team''s casualties¡­ Oh yeah, aren''t there still two warriors stationed outside? Have them come in; we''ll rest here for the night and head back to camp early tomorrow morning!" "Yes, sir!" ¡­ The fruits, vegetables, and pork raised by the bio-engineered soldiers to sustain life became the feast for the warriors tonight. Bai E, who had always eaten tastelessly, almost swallowed his tongue when he tasted the desperately desired natural foods. Chronic scarcity of certain resources often leads to greater desires, and the fulfillment is even more delightful¡­ In the soft white light within the base, Gregory''s face glowed with an excited flush, "This operation has yielded results far beyond what we could have imagined. I will accurately record everyone''s performance during this battle and report it for military commendation. Soldiers temporarily staying here need not be restless; once we return, I will immediately report and apply for a regular rotation and more military honor records for you all. You are the city''s finest warriors, and I am proud of you!" His gaze swept over all the soldiers before him, pausing slightly on a particular figure. During this military operation, this soldier had twice acted independently of orders, which should have merited severe punishment; however, the end result proved to be an indelible contribution to the final victory, with merits outweighing faults... An artificial humanoid, a new recruit with its own thoughts? But what did that have to do with him? Now that the mission was perfectly complete, all he needed to do was return and report truthfully. How to deal with it was a matter for the higher-ups to consider, not his responsibility. Rare indulgence in the evening, the base''s topmost dome could be opened, and the photon-sensitive canopy perfectly displayed the glittering starry sky outside... if it existed. It was hard to imagine how comfortable the lives of the workers stationed at this base must have been after a day''s work, in the nights of the past centuries. Bai E went alone to the heart of the mainframe room, in front of that flowery egg... This was where he first laid eyes on Doyle Kevin. "He was great..." As if she had come along with Bai E, Miss Aryan appeared behind him at some unknown moment, whispering gently. When Bai E turned to look at her, the girl''s face revealed a decidedly passionate and proactive smile, "You are too¡­" Bai E''s performance all this while could only be described as godlike, and the young, na?ve girl displayed the passion and bravery hidden deep in her bones. Explore more at empire Tonight was the last encounter. Afterwards would be estrangement. Bai E had to return to the barracks, while Aryan was to stay stationed here. Understanding the fervor in the girl''s eyes, Bai E took a small step back, "I did it only for myself." Even now, his purpose here was the same... He had come to confirm his ultimate control over this base. The flowery egg reflected his entire body, somewhat distorted like a hall of mirrors. But within it, Bai E "saw" that he could grant anyone the authority to enter and exit or manipulate the devices at any time. [Current highest authority of the relic site: Bai E.] [Confer secondary ownership to: Aryan.] Unknown rays scanned the girl''s body, and Bai E offered her a gentle smile, "Goodnight, Miss Aryan. We will meet again." A bare base wasn''t much use; he had no intention of halting his steps here. Without external facilities, the base was just a pure toy. But once all the external facilities began to be built, the power to control their vital lifelines... would be in his hands. ... They arrived with twenty-five, but left with thirteen. Three soldiers had unfortunately perished in battle, and including Firepower Handlers A and B, six others were gravely injured. Even after receiving treatment from Bai E and other soldier-medics, they were unable to quickly regain combat ability. Taking them along on the journey home would only be a burden, so it was better for them to remain at the base for proper recuperation while shouldering some defensive duties. Along with Aryan herself and two currently healthy soldiers, twelve people in total stayed behind at the base. The engines of two off-road vehicles roared to life; thirteen soldiers heading home made ready to depart. Gregory''s impassioned voice rose over the team''s comm. "Let''s go! We''re heading home!" Chapter 176 171 Two abilities... Aryan stood at the entrance of the base, watching as the two started off-road vehicles slowly moved away, disappearing into the jungle foliage and vines. Only then did the iron gates slowly close, and as the vertical seam shrank, a delicate small face turned around silently.The base''s interior lights were a gentle white, softly flickering. This steel base, silent for hundreds of years, showed technological glimmers for the first time. The unattended main control screen flowed with strange characters and then fell completely silent¡ª "..." "Is it... dawn yet?" ... The same route was taken for both departure and return, with Bai E, who had already demonstrated his abilities, taking the lead in Vehicle No. 1. In the rearview mirror, the silver-grey walls of the base gradually faded from sight. "Plans always fail..." A phrase by Doyle Kevin suddenly flashed through his mind. But wasn''t our trip quite successful? Bai E pressed his lips together and stepped on the gas pedal. Upon leaving the Beastified Jungle, they saw quite a few obvious pits all over the distant brown hilly terrain. The experienced old soldier felt some relief and patted his chest, "Fuck! I didn''t think we were so close to those green-skins! Lucky we didn''t run into them..." There were also soldiers who, until now, had not encountered any beastmen. They looked curiously at the distant potholes, one by one... unplanned, some close together, others a dozen meters apart, with a casual scattering. "Are those the holes dug by those beastmen?" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yeah... just randomly?" The experienced old soldier felt somewhat sentimental, "A beastman sprouting from the ground is less demanding than us planting a vegetable..." "Lucky we didn''t run into them..." "Yeah... lucky we didn''t." Although those green-skins didn''t have the same insane aggressiveness as the insects, these more chaotic creatures were sometimes even more troublesome than the insects. Beings with only "fighting" on their minds, if they''re not in a fight, they''re on their way to one. They don''t care about the consequences after the fight; either you knock me down, or I knock you down. Even when facing organized human military groups, they dare to charge in; small-scale human squads are just their entertainment. Primitive and savage, the vitality of these things, grown from the ground, is even more outrageous than that of insects... To avoid them as much as possible is humanity''s greatest strategic principle towards beastmen. After all, as long as it''s not a face-to-face encounter, even their own kind can have a jolly good fight among themselves... They''re like a wave of lunatics who rove around looking for trouble just for fun! In some ways... they seem quite similar to gamers. Bai E pursed his lips, suddenly realizing there were quite a few similarities between the two. Hope there won''t be large-scale gamers joining the green-skin ranks for fun in the future? With this thought flickering through his mind, Bai E didn''t dwell on it but stepped on the gas to speed up, leaving the jungle far behind. One must always look ahead... The veil of the world was gradually lifting before his eyes, there were players, various natural disasters, and even things like Spiritual Energy. Reality and illusion, individual and society... the opposing impacts and the mysteries of the world all came in quick succession. Humans of the Golden Age, hundreds of years ago, faced the onslaught of bugs and electronic demons and inevitably declined to what they are today. As an inconspicuous part of the Dark Age, the only thing Bai E could do was to strengthen his personal abilities as much as possible¡ª Power and influence were both pursuits he needed to chase. Sitting on the shaky seat of the off-road vehicle, Bai E found himself more able to calm down and clarify his greatest harvest from this trip¡ª Even the so-called "ancient strongest warrior," rated at a mere 2500 combat experience on the drop rate panel, was perhaps because he had no weapons, or perhaps because he was outnumbered, but this in itself could be considered a comprehensive assessment of combat power. Just by experience alone, in the system''s eyes, the combat power rating of the ancient strongest warrior was not even as high as a half-weak mantis bug that led some lower bugs to attack a military camp in the recruit trial. But the fact is that even without the Digital Domain, the ancient warrior controlled by the electronic demon could probably defeat the Blood God, who was the peak existence among ordinary soldiers, in a 1V1 unarmed close combat, merely through his bodily instincts. The drop rate panel didn''t show all of his abilities, just as the Ability Extraction Card and the archery skills Yue Ying taught him hadn''t been displayed on her initial drop rate panel. The "ancient strongest warrior''s" drop rate panel was certainly not the full extent of his strength, but even so, the two limited abilities he managed to drop fortunately¡ªSpecialization: Weapon Master and Trait: Death Resistance¡ªwere unimaginably powerful. [Specialization¡ªWeapon Master: The ancient warrior''s combat experience makes you familiar with all understandable weapon types. Any "Weapon Class" specialization ability you possess is displayed with a +1 level in proficiency when actually used (actual display level cannot exceed level 10). (Current applicable specializations: Agile Weapon Specialization, Heavy Weapon Specialization, Ranged Weapon Specialization, Light Firearms Specialization.)] [Trait¡ªDeath Resistance: Biochemically modified, your body is imbued with an inexhaustible bloodline and substances that can deceive death. When you sustain fatal injury, your body can maintain the last spark of life until help arrives. When you take damage exceeding your health limit, you can maintain 1 point of health and ensure certain mobility until "safe from peril and recovery begins"; or "the intact part of the body suffers a crushing blow"; or "a certain period of time (dependent on the survival status of the main body)".] When Bai E killed the opponent and obtained the dropped items, he could feel his body starting to change imperceptibly, and it was not until the 24 hours of transformation had passed that he could truly perceive the definite changes within his body. His surging blood felt as though it had taken on an unimaginably intense heat, and somewhere inside him an organ so minute it was as if it had grown out of nowhere, secreting hormones normally imperceptible. Bai E figured these were probably the so-called "death-defying substances" that would only come into play when sustaining fatal injuries... Two abilities, one for combat, the other for survival. Death Resistance let that ancient strongest warrior hold onto a breath of life even after being riddled with bullets, dragging his body outward with the remnants of his right hand. With this ability, Bai E felt he could avoid death quite certainly as long as he wasn''t too reckless. An indescribable sense of security wrapped around Bai E''s heart; for the first time, he felt he could live safely in this world, and this was his greatest capital. Not to mention he also had the highest authority of the global network base... So, exploring "ruins" had so many advantages; no wonder it was put out as one of the three major development routes in the game content by the official website back then. And since exploring "ruins" brought enough surprises to him, what about the other two? One-third of the main mission was completed, but the Gene Optimization Solution and the reputation level of the factions were not yet done. Sniper God Carlos probably didn''t have much need to overpromise himself; his words were likely credible, so judging by Bai E''s performance in this mission, his military achievements should be more than enough when he returned. He should be able to formally proceed with the request for Gene Optimization Solution, and without any surprises, one shot of Gene Optimization Solution was guaranteed. The only thing still uncertain was the faction reputation level. Was it necessary for him as the leader to personally make a name for himself? Players, what are you doing? Step it up! [Tip: Your faction (Li Ming) has just eradicated a small Black Street force, reputation slightly increased.] "..." ? Chapter 177 172 A thorn in ones side [Due to your outstanding performance and the annihilation of a small Black Street faction, the reputation of your organization has slightly increased. Please keep up the good work.]"emmmm¡­ um?" Dai Lian, who was digging a hole, received the prompt and looked around in confusion. He then kicked the big gorilla who was also digging, "When did you go off to kill people?" Kuang Xin had also just received the system prompt and his eyes widened in bewilderment, "How the hell would I know?" Dai Lian stroked his chin, lost in thought, "Could it have been Yanzi?" Tut tut... Taking out an entire small faction by herself, is Yanzi really that fierce? Or was the sword technique taught to her by that person from the Arbitration Place really that awesome? "Let''s wait for her to come back and ask..." "Creak~" The cover "manhole" above suddenly opened, revealing Gong Yan''s face¡ªnot stunning, but soft and pleasant¡ªagainst the backdrop of sunlight. "Yanzi!" "Where were you just now? How did we end up wiping out a faction?" Gong Yan, appearing at the mouth of the hole, was equally surprised, "I was about to ask if you guys did anything earlier?" This morning, she had gone to collect several thousand kilograms of cement offered by the enemy party and left in a hidden corner of the sewer. After that, those guys got greedy and wanted more... such as military supplies by the thousand. Unable to produce more and having made up an excuse to escape, Gong Yan had already harbored thoughts of killing them. But she had only just begun to entertain the thought, not even having the chance to plan a complete scheme, when these people disappeared? If she hadn''t been the one to act, then it had to be Kuang Xin or Dai Lian. They might have been protecting her from the shadows, and upon sensing something amiss, dealt a swift and lethal blow to clean out the scoundrels. But now... "It wasn''t you guys?" "We thought you did it..." The three fell silent for a moment... After eliminating all impossible answers, the remaining, no matter how outrageous, must be the correct one¡ª "It must have been Wen Jie!" Kuang Xin suddenly realized. "Stop talking nonsense! What could Wen Jie kill with? He can''t even handle a knife properly," Dai Lian said, dampening spirits and then cupping his chin, somewhat lost in thought, "Could it be the boss?" "Didn''t the boss go out on a mission? To Black Street?" "I don''t think it''s likely either..." "Then who the hell did it?" It definitely had to do with our organization, otherwise how could the credit be attributed to them? "Or could it be... other members of the organization?" The other members of the Li Ming organization had always been a topic only within the boss''s talks. Aside from the four of them, players, the only other member they had met was a rat person, and ironically, he joined the organization after them. So, was it members from other parts of the organization exerting force, wiping out some unknown small faction, and then sharing the glory with everyone? "That does seem a bit possible..." Gong Yan clenched her small fists, "Does it mean those thugs are still not dead?" It couldn''t possibly be that other people from the organization, knowing her identity, had stepped in to eradicate those thugs for her? She hadn''t even shared her murderous intent with Dai Lian or Kuang Xin yet... coincidence couldn''t be this coincidental. If they weren''t dead, those thugs would become a major concern. This morning, when she couldn''t produce the goods, she could sense those people''s sinister intentions, perhaps probing casually or following them during the cement transfer to launch a surprise attack... The consequences were unimaginable. No, that won''t do! She had to find a way to get rid of them! Without delay, Gong Yan expressed her concerns. "...I feel like they''ve grown suspicious and are planning to tail us." It was easier to dodge and hide on my own, but with the cement and all that stuff just lying there, we inevitably had to move it, and it wasn''t so easy to conceal our tracks while moving cement with Kuang Xin and Dai Lian. Before, they were afraid of my "background" and didn''t dare to go too far¡ªa slight nudge and they had to back off. But if lies couldn''t hold them off any longer, being tracked here could lead to the exposure of the boss''s secret base... Unless we give up the cement and never go to Black Street again... Move and start over elsewhere? Normally, as players, moving around isn''t an issue. If one place gets too risky, shifting to another makes sense. Haven''t I been driven all over the place in games because big guilds monopolized the area? But the boss is here! If we run, does that mean we''re no use to the boss anymore? Besides, they''re just a small gang of a dozen or so hooligans¡ªnot even sure if they qualify as a gang. Scared of them, my ass! Screw it! "Let''s go! We''re going to dig some traps to lure them in, then take them down in one fell swoop!" The way you kill wolves, that''s how you kill people! Just some low-level NPCs, and Dai Lian certainly doesn''t take them seriously. "We should also chop down some trees on the way. We''ve used up the wood we chopped earlier, and it''s not enough." Kuang Xin added from the side. "There''s no mission though..." "Isn''t the construction mission a mission?" Kuang Xin gave him a glance, "Can we rely only on the boss''s missions to keep up? We ought to handle things ourselves." "..." Dai Lian mulled it over for a bit but didn''t see one option as better than the other. Relying on scarce resources to take on more missions could certainly fleece the boss a bit more, but the construction progress would undoubtedly fall behind. After all, the boss himself said the number of missions he could issue each day was limited. It''s not so black and white--both choices have their pros and cons. But you, kid, being so proactive about considering the NPCs is a dangerous train of thought... Traitorous scum! "TMD! Let''s move!" Why did I get stuck with you two as teammates! Dai Lian grabbed the spade and climbed up the ladder with resolve, "Let''s go, go, go, we''ve still got some daylight left. We''ve got to set up those traps quickly, and lure them in tonight when we pick up the cement, and that''s when we''ll deal with them!" Unlike that honest-to-God gorilla Kuang Xin, he never held grudges overnight¡ªhe settled scores on the spot! "Ready! Let''s set off!" Gong Yan smiled at the Ratman, who was burying himself in work in the corner, and called out, "No need to work so hard when we''re not here. Hide and take a break..." She was worried about the noise the Ratman might make, given that the person''s identity was sensitive. She had heard that those two from Arbitration Place had been investigating his whereabouts recently. "Let''s go! Yanzi!" "I''m coming!" ... "Dig a hole, cover with earth, count one, two, three, four, five..." "Here a pit, there a snare... Don''t forget later, big gorilla..." ... S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the gradually darkening sky, a pair of bright eyes in the shadows watched the three bustling figures, "They seem pretty happy, don''t they?" "They probably don''t know yet that the little gang wants to make a move on them," said the beefy man, his tone laced with impatience. How did investigating one case lead to more and more crap piling up? "Franca, this has nothing to do with these people. I know you''re curious about the organization behind them, but it''s obviously unrelated to our case. Put away your curiosity, we have serious work to get to. Just yesterday, the higher-ups were asking if we wanted to go to the military camp to teach those privates how to handle Spiritual Energy under pressure. No one at the office wants to go. If you really want to have some fun, you can go there, but only after we resolve what we''re working on!" "Ah, I get it, I get it..." Franca waved her hand nonchalantly, dismissing the beefy man''s concerns as if they were nothing but wind, "Don''t worry, with me on the case, there''ll be no problem! We have to be thorough, right? Those thugs said the bullets came from these guys, so how could we not come and check it out?" "Isn''t that obviously a frame-up?" The beefy man rolled his eyes, thoroughly speechless. Chapter 178 Soul Crucible "Whether it''s framing someone or not, checking into it is never a problem."Franca still remembered the vengeful looks of the gangsters as they faced death when their military camp''s lost supplies were tracked down¡ª "It was them! They were the ones who gave us the stuff to sell!" "So you were just saying you plan to retaliate by stalking them?" The muscular man narrowed his eyes, seeing right through the little crooks'' schemes, "And you still have the guts to mess with the military''s spokesperson?" If this isn''t framing, then what is? When did these small-time thugs from Black Street get so bold? "...emmmm" Bearded Jonathan was stunned, "Fake! They''re all fake! They''re not spokespersons for the military!" See! Just as I thought! Lies! Contradicting statements, falling apart without being attacked. The muscular man sneered contemptuously, "If their identities are fake, then why did you say it was them who gave you the bullets to sell?" "It''s true! It was really them who told us to sell the bullets!" Jonathan blurted out in panic, his words starting to slur. "Pfft!" The cold light flashed, and a head fell to the ground, "Babbling nonsense!" Your journey continues at empire A chilling glint flickered in the muscular man''s eyes as he turned to the others, "You, tell me, who provided you the goods?" To these rotten elements from the outside world, the muscular man had not a trace of mercy; these scum could die by the hundreds, and no one would care one bit. Hearing their self-contradictory accusations and attempts to frame others even at the brink of death, he completely ran out of patience. Such people deserved to be killed! Anyway, it wasn''t just him aligned with both Black Street and the military camp; even if one channel was cut, another could be started anew. Kill! His underlings fell silent, exchanging glances involuntarily, their wide eyes filled with confusion¡ªhow could they answer this? To tell the truth means death; were they expected to fabricate a story on the spot? Seeing the conniving looks flickering in the eyes of his subordinates, the muscular man''s impatience grew. Scum! Having been out for a while, there hadn''t been much of the special oil for attacking demons left on him, so he could use them to replenish his supply! The muscular man stretched out his hand, and ripples immediately appeared in the space before his palm. An apparatus forged entirely of black steel slowly emerged from the turbulent space. Once at least half of it had materialized, the muscular man violently pulled it out¡ª A bronze-like furnace, square in shape. The Soul Furnace, a special creation that burns the souls of sinners to obtain precious oils used to combat demons. The only thing that can truly harm those high-dimension demons that mortals can hardly comprehend are the substances obtained by sacrificing souls. Even a mortal without the talent for Spiritual Energy, in facing death''s agony, emits a soul scream filled with pain, possessing sufficient Spiritual Energy potency. If they from the Heretical Arbitration House wanted to combat demons, they often had to be more demonic than the demons, more spiritual than Spiritual Energy! Inside the Arbitration Place, a large, never-ceasing furnace constantly burned countless sinners'' souls to provide the institution''s enforcers with the oils they needed for daily combat against demons. Similarly, enforcers who were out on long-term missions and had a certain level of authority were also allowed to carry a smaller furnace for convenient local sourcing. The muscular man, who had benefited from being under the young lady''s care, was using this contraption for the first time; not having had a chance before, he somewhat regretted it. Now, it was an excellent opportunity to use it. "Ah~ah!" "Ahh ahh" Thugs thrown next to the furnace, entering the flames that seared their souls, let out agonized screams that pierced the depths of their beings. The fire did not burn their flesh, yet the torment of the heat was far more unbearable than any corporal punishment. Franca, somewhat unable to bear watching the scene, moved away to use her Spiritual Energy to block her ears. Some who worship demons may still be kind-hearted, while others, even though human, can be revolting. Knowing some of their backgrounds, Franca also deeply loathed these people, but she could hardly bear to watch this torture based on the soul, feeling helpless. This was both a punishment for the sinners and an arsenal that allowed humans to possess the power to combat the demons. In the presence of real demons descending from high-dimension spaces, if it weren''t for this special material supplied by souls, even the enforcers from the Arbitration House would struggle to gain an advantage. Fortunately, the souls of ordinary thugs were impoverished and their will weak; they could not endure the burning of the soul flames for too long. The soul was burned to ashes, and the body that lost its soul''s dominion slumped to the ground. The burly man picked up the crucible from the ground, using a special glass bottle to carefully catch a pool of slightly yellow and somewhat viscous liquid that flowed out from it. "Just this little bit." Disappointment was clearly written all over his face. "I''ll keep it safe," Franca snatched it over in a flash. "..." The burly man moved his lips, wanting to refuse, but he couldn''t. ... Since those hoodlums mentioned these guys before dying, coming over to take a look didn''t seem to be a problem. Even if they weren''t suspects, they still needed to put a "good person" stamp on them. Franca watched the three somewhat strange fellas with great interest, eager to see what exactly they intended to do. ... "Make a few more, it''s always better to be over-prepared." "Indeed... it''s better to be safe than sorry." Kuang Xin and Dai Lian, in high spirits, prepared traps, planning to give those NPCs daring to covet Yanzi a little shock from the players. The sky gradually darkened, and Gong Yan, with her arms drawn in, hands covering her arms, asked, "Is it getting a bit cold for anyone else?" A sense of danger prickled their skin like needles, and Kuang Xin instinctively looked in a certain direction¡ª S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Under the dimming sky, green ghostly lights floated through the forest like drifting fireflies... "Fuck! They''re here!" Old foes! The wolves are upon us! "Stop digging, damn it, get ready to fight!" Times had changed; experienced in facing this old foe, their hands still stained with the blood of wolves that hadn''t fully dried, these beasts now reappeared before them. Aside from the timing of their appearance not being quite right, they weren''t particularly afraid. "Haven''t killed you guys in so long you couldn''t wait to come and die, huh!" Kuang Xin dual-wielded battle axes, valiantly like an ancient War God. "Lead them into the traps! Lead them into the traps!" Dai Lian hopscotched anxiously behind him, the bigger the gorilla''s muscles grew, the lower his IQ seemed to become. Two fists are hard to beat four hands, a good man can''t fight off a pack of wolves, you''re not invincible yet! Give him a few more months, and he''d probably dare to charge at those Bug Race, orcs, demons, and other disaster creatures alone! ... Watching the chaotic scene, Franca, hidden in the shadows, pursed her lips lightly. It seemed these people had experience dealing with wolf packs; there shouldn''t be any danger. And these traps, were they set up for these wild wolves? When power was insufficient, indeed, external aids were needed. But even when lacking strength, they still undertook this "arduous" task... just because it was beneficial to the people? During her time wandering Black Street, she had heard that someone had been quietly clearing out many wolves from Black Forest, significantly reducing the number of "missing" cases among the nearby commoners. This wasn''t a difficult task, yet few were willing to do it. Without an employer to pay a bounty, such tasks are often left undone. At this moment, it seemed... "Is this also their doing?" Was it their own initiative or an order from their mysterious boss they mentioned? Franca blinked, increasingly interested in the leader behind this organization. The fight went on for quite some time... Watching the three who were still somewhat experienced, ending the battle and gasping for air, Franca stepped forward with her hands behind her back, "Let''s go, step out and have a chat with them..." Chapter 179 174 Mainline Quest - Radiant Faith "Shh-shh," the intentional rustling caught the attention of Kuang Xin and his two companions.It was evening by then, the sky not completely dark but certainly dim. Realizing someone unexpected was approaching, they instinctively exchanged glances and tightly clenched their handguns in the shadows. It wasn''t until the noble lady''s intricate attire, starkly different from that of the Black Street commoners, became visible that Gong Yan breathed a sigh of relief. "It''s the Arbitration Place..." How long had the other party been watching them? Gong Yan''s mind entertained several thoughts. Last time in the sewer, it was because she needed to observe the rats that her talent inadvertently activated, allowing her to detect the covert spying of these two individuals. But now, her focus was entirely on traps, combat, and thinking about how to make their act more convincing in order to lure Jonathan and his men into a trap and annihilate them all. She had no inclination to activate her special talent and was completely unaware of the two people spying on them. Thankfully, she hadn''t said anything she shouldn''t have... With light footsteps, Franca gently stepped over the bodies of several wild wolves, her eyes like those of a cat, beautiful and slightly glowing in the night, "Did you kill these wild wolves?" "Yes..." Dai Lian showed an appropriate amount of confusion, "Could it be that these wild wolves are also the work of the heresy?" "Not quite..." Franca shook her head slightly, "We just suspect you have ties with the heretics." "..." Stay updated via empire "???" Startled, the burly man stepped back, his eyes filled with suspicion and uncertainty as he looked at the lady beside him, wondering why she was being so frank. You suspect us, fine, but why say it outright? This isn''t how you conduct an investigation... Wouldn''t revealing your suspicions cause them to hide even deeper? Dammit! The smile at the corner of Dai Lian''s mouth was somewhat stiff as he couldn''t tell if this NPC was bluffing or had evidence. He had no choice but to remain calm and ask in return, "What heresy are we supposed to be involved with?" "Hmm... it might be the one behind those sewer rats, or possibly other heresies." Franca pondered, touching her chin, "I''m not sure yet, still investigating..." As she spoke, Franca kicked a wild wolf corpse at her feet, "You seemed quite skilled in combat just now. Were the wild wolves we heard about earlier killed by you as well?" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes..." Dai Lian nodded cautiously, wary of any traps in her words. With a slight lift of her face, the cold and mysterious moonlight cast a chilly glow on Franca''s face, "Is all this under the orders of the ''superior'' you mentioned? Including the last time when we saw you cleaning up those plague rats in the sewer?" "Yes." "And the purpose?" "The superior said these things were disturbing everyone''s normal life..." Franca squinted her eyes, her gaze sweeping one by one over the faces of the three members of the strange organization resting after the battle, the silence oppressively heavy for a moment. Suddenly, she broke into a smile and cheerfully pulled out a glass bottle from her bosom, containing a bit of amber, slightly viscous liquid, "Since you are also fighting for the safety and well-being of everyone, I think you definitely need this." "Franca!" the burly man exclaimed emotionally, the little bit of substance he had managed to refine after a hard-won battle against the bad guys¡ªshe was actually going to give it all away? "What is this?" Glancing at the emotionally charged burly man, Dai Lian still stared at Franca, cautiously asking. "This is what we use to fight demons, it''s the only thing that can cause real harm to those terrible demons. You can apply this essential oil to your weapons or arrowheads, or you can use it to soak the bullets you use, either way, it will be effective. I think if you continue down this path, you will eventually encounter those terrible demons. With this in hand, at least you will have the confidence to fight back in moments of despair." Franca''s eyes twinkled with a dim light, appearing particularly eerie in the night, "Do you need it?" Of course, they needed it! Dai Lian still didn''t move and became even more vigilant, "There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world, what do you want?" "Requirements?" Franca''s lips curled slightly, "Of course, there are requirements..." Her gaze slowly swept over the three peculiar individuals before her, Franca''s voice low and full of force, "I require that you be true to your word¡­ What you do today, you must continue to do in the future; what you stand by in your speech, you must also continue to carry out; what you believe in your hearts, you must still hold firm after weathering the trials of the world. I don''t know where your ''master'' is or what he intends to do. But since he makes such demands of you, he must also be a person of outstanding talent and heroism. If I have the chance, I naturally want to meet him, to share a drink at our leisure." From one glance, one can see all¡ªa leader with enough charisma to gather and direct his followers to do such things would also surely be a luminary of great stature. How regrettable it would be if such an organization, comprised of these naive idealists, were to eventually be buried and forgotten in this dark world? "So I want you to always keep up with his pace. If he is wise, you must wholeheartedly assist him; if he makes a misstep, you must also earnestly remonstrate with him; and if he abandons his initial intentions... then you must strike him down!" [Trigger main quest¡ªLuminous Belief.] [Luminous Belief: The words of the temporary executor of the Heretical Arbitration House stir the convictions deep within your heart. Do you decide to fortify your path as she says, or will you make your own judgment? Quest requirement: Fortify the faction (Dawn) stance 0/¡Þ. Quest completion reward: 33ml of Exorcism Essential Oil, other rewards unknown. (Rewards are distributed periodically.)] X3 ... "How naive!" "I''m willing!" "Do you think your few words would make them remember for a lifetime? People change. Besides, they are just a few insignificant creatures. If they truly maintain their beliefs unchanged, they would most likely end up dying in some unknown sewer... You''re harming them." Franca, having left that group far behind, turned to look at the burly man, raising her slender, fair finger, "First: humanity is composed of countless such small creatures. Second: no one cannot die, no one will not die. Regardless of whether they hold fast to their beliefs or wander in suffering, all their experiences will become humanity''s precious wealth..." All the complex experiences will transform into the depth of the soul, the righteous upholding their convictions and drawing swords for humanity, the wicked becoming kindling and turning into bullets fired at demons. Sacrifice is the eternal truth of humanity. Those who wield the sword today may well turn into kindling tomorrow. The military''s greatest enemy is the Bug Race, their greatest enemy is the demons. Planting a seed today is merely the prerequisite for reaping more in the future. The more you plant, the more you harvest... Chapter 180 175 new lines of power development Clutching the newly acquired glass bottle, Dai Lian saw two faces through the twisted glass¡ªGong Yan and Kuang Xin.The three of them stared at the bottle Dai Lian was holding mid-air, their gaze filled with collective intelligence, "What do you think she means by this?" "I just can''t figure her out anymore..." Dai Lian shook his head, equally puzzled; that Franca from the Arbitration Place was too whimsical in her actions, and he was completely unable to see through her intentions. "Could it be that our boss planted a mole inside the Arbitration Place?" Logically, by taking in the rat people, they should have become mortal enemies with the Arbitration Place, but it seemed... Even if the other party didn''t know this for sure and was merely suspecting, their current actions were still quite bizarre. "Could it be that she wants us to use this thing to off the rat people?" Dai Lian pondered, stroking his chin. Kuang Xin, carrying his axe, "If you dare off him, I''ll off you." Gong Yan tilted her head, "Isn''t the mission just to have us adhere to our faction and that''s it?" "But she also said we need to prevent the boss from going astray if possible, right? NPC words surely can''t all be without a purpose." Kuang Xin looked down on Dai contemptuously, "What the boss does is none of your business to nitpick, is it? That''s for the future... You don''t know sh*t now, so how could it be your turn?" "That''s easy for you to say... Wait a minute, who doesn''t know sh*t?!" "I''m talking about you! Wanna fight about it?" "Eh? You think you''ve grown wings, do you?" Watching the two squabbling again, Gong Yan pursed her lips and smiled before trying to understand the line of thought of that Arbitration Place young lady again. But she couldn''t make heads or tails of it... However, they did freeload a mission reward and didn''t need to do anything extra... The mission was quite good; they were sure not to lose out by continuing with it. "No wait..." Dai Lian suddenly touched the back of his head, "What were we planning to do when we set the traps here originally?" Looking at the mess all around, with the pungent smell of blood continually drilling into his nostrils... Would Jonathan and the others be able to barge in here on their own? "Clean it up?" "Or dig again..." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Digging again would be too tiring, let''s just tidy up and see if those big idiots are vigilant... After all, if we''re going to dig, you dig; I''m not doing it anymore." Dai Lian decided to make a little fuss. When facing the same mental adversary, he was only willing to make an effort once. To dig traps everywhere for a bunch of lousy NPC riffraff was just too humiliating. If the other side figured it out, they could just confront them directly! Came prepared and still afraid they couldn''t beat a bunch of stinking gangsters? "Alright! Let''s tidy it up! Then we''ll go find them!" They neatly cleared away the bodies, and the thick jungle behind was a natural cover¡ªif one didn''t walk inside, they would surely not discover anything. As for the stench of blood in the air... the night wind would blow with enough time for them to carry cement back and forth, cleaning it away. And so... Carried one load... no one? Carried two loads... no one? Carried... To hell with carrying! Dai Lian suddenly threw down the cement he was carrying; manual labor was definitely not his forte, and after two trips he almost collapsed from exhaustion. "Where the hell are they!" The purpose of carrying the cement was to lure that gang of punks into following them to the Black Forest and then take them out. Now, with no one following, there was no point in carrying any more. To avoid exposing the boss''s secret base, the location where they set traps was in a completely different direction from the real secret base. The cement carried back to the Black Forest would eventually have to be transported to the secret base by themselves¡ªthe thought alone was torturous. [Could it be that Yanzi got it wrong?] Maybe that group of gangsters never planned anything? "No way, we should take a stroll on Black Street and see if they really suspect us." Dai Lian made a decision. With no one tracking them so far, Gong Yan also found it strange, "Alright, I''ll check it out." "Together, I''m worried about your safety if you go alone." Dai Lian had already mentally prepared to start the fight and wasn''t going to be cautious anymore. He was no longer just a fill-in; did he still need to consider profits and success rates as his primary concern? Of course, he would do whatever pleased him the most! To hell with it! ... "Gulp~" The resident who was questioned swallowed nervously, fearfully looking at the stunning woman before him. Too brutal, too brutal... Jonathan''s gang just spoke at noon about planning to hit you, and by afternoon a bunch of their corpses were already discovered. Who else could it be, if not you? Are you showing off that it was you by asking around here? I can''t afford to provoke this... "Sister, I admit I''ve been a bit loud when speaking to you before. Can you please be merciful and let me off like a fart?" "???" Gong Yan was slightly taken aback, but she maintained her stern face and didn''t show much else, merely waving her hand and saying, "Get lost." She randomly grabbed another lucky spectator to ask about Jonathan''s whereabouts, and the person regarded her as if she were a ferocious evil spirit, "I was wrong, sister! I admit I sneakily glanced at you before! But wasn''t it because you were too attractive..." "Get lost!" The three players looked at each other, suddenly realizing the situation might be different from what they had thought. "Jonathan and his gang... did we kill them?" At least that''s what the residents here seemed to think. So the previous prompt... Jeez! They''ve been heroically combating a gang of small-time thugs that are already dead? "We''re really awesome," Kuang Xin declared with pride. "Sister! Sister, you''re here!" A frail figure suddenly ran up to Gong Yan, who was standing in the dimly lit corner of the street, "Sister, I heard that Jonathan''s gang foolishly crossed you. Our boss sent us to look for you, to warn you... Thankfully, those guys didn''t cause you too much trouble." "" Gong Yan turned her head to glance at Dai Lian and Kuang Xin, feeling the situation growing more fantastical. What the hell? Have I become some kind of celebrity in Black Street? The boy didn''t dare to meet Gong Yan''s eyes, having already heard that those who did had their eyeballs crushed like firecrackers. He spoke timidly with eyes downcast, "Our boss mentioned there''s some business he''d like to discuss with you. When might you have some time?" "Business?" Gong Yan''s eyes lit up for a moment, then she nodded in agreement, "No problem." When the small fry disappears, the big fish appear. Games, leveling up... I''m well acquainted with it. Eliminating a small gang barely boosted the organization''s reputation. Would taking down a bigger one directly upgrade our reputation level? Although I don''t yet know what use there is in leveling up the organization''s reputation, having such resources is always better than not. Moreover, encountering more influential powers would no doubt unveil more of the game world''s backstory. What''s the point of playing if you don''t unlock more game content? "Lead the way!" ... The soundproofing was terrible; sitting in a somewhat noisy basement, Gong Yan listened to the man with a mechanical arm fitted to his forearm explain his plan. So to summarize... "You want me to take my people to meet with that orc gang and get... get the stuff back?" "Yeah..." Wallis looked at the beautiful yet deadly lady before him with his bulging mechanical electronic eye, "Whether by trade or by force... only warriors like you and your subordinates have what it takes to deal with that orc gang." The news of the military camp''s failed expedition against the Bug Race, he had heard from Jonathan''s gang, who in turn had heard it from this woman. In that battle, the military lost a lot of valuable goods on the battlefield, among them was the extremely rare Octiron. The military was also trying to recover it, but the difficulty of retrieving items dropped in the Bug Race''s lair was substantial. Sneaky, small-scale operations weren''t the military''s style, and a large-scale operation might disturb all the bugs like last time. Fortunately, since it was a metallic creation and the Bug Race only had interest in biomass, they didn''t care about those items, making recovery possible. Goods the military was seeking to recover would be unimaginably valuable to people like them. Dropped outside, everyone wanted a piece of it. Before the military could come up with a plan, a wandering gang of thrill-seeking green-skins had already taken practical action. Stealing from inside the military camp is unrealistic. Stealing from Bug Race territory is too dangerous. But trading with, or robbing from, those wandering orcs seems quite feasible. There wasn''t much, but because there wasn''t much, they were qualified to covet it. "As long as you can help us get the stuff back, I will pay you a substantial reward," Wallis promised. risking their lives. An enigmatic face with no known background like Gong Yan and her gang was seen as just the right type for the job. Gong Yan appeared thoughtful, but she had already made up her mind internally. "I need to go back and discuss this properly with my companions before I can give you an answer." "No problem! I await your news..." Chapter 181 176 Optimization fluid application After their departure, the three players privately discussed their options."Agree to it?" "Definitely can''t agree for now," Dai Lian shook his head. With their current strength, trying to contact that so-called wandering orc group would only bring them trouble. But keeping the connection for potential future cooperation wasn''t out of the question; after all, relying solely on Li Ming like today... They hadn''t done any missions all day! And since it was already getting dark, they probably wouldn''t be able to do anything today either. Two whole days! Do you know how they got through these days? Following the superior, their power had indeed improved much faster than other players, but they were still not strong enough to tackle more difficult events. Ultimately, everything depended on the superior! Superior, please come back soon! ... [Why haven''t I received any feedback from the players for such a long time?] Driving past Blood Raven Forest, Bai E saw the ground covered with birds'' bones, yet his mind was preoccupied with something else entirely. Without my supervision, have they learned to slack off? Well... no, it seems they no longer have missions. Having a "+1 in Management" meant he could only assign one extra day''s worth of missions, and four days had passed since leaving the players, resulting in two wasted days! Grasping this, Bai E became anxious to return. Unlike the outbound trip, the return trip involved driving through the day and arriving near Blood Raven Forest just as evening approached. This place wasn''t too far from the Bug Race''s nest, and the blood ravens could launch an attack at any moment. As dusk fell, it was unclear how many of the blood ravens that attacked them last time had been lost, but they would certainly not lack the courage to attack again. And the closer one was to the military camp, the safer it was, even at night. For the last leg of the journey, it was better to hasten back to camp rather than spend the night exposed in the wild. Bai E floored the accelerator, and nobody was getting off! The whole journey was fortunately smooth, and they successfully reached the military camp after midnight. "All right, everyone go and rest, we''ll take tomorrow off. I will go report the mission''s outcomes to the officers. Minister Likok, thank you for your effort," Gregory quickly arranged for everyone before leaving with the Spiritual Energy practitioner who still hadn''t woken up. No matter how outstanding everyone''s contributions were in this battle, they were still just soldiers in the military camp, and as soldiers, they should adhere to the soldiers'' regular routine. "Yes, officer!" The returning warriors responded in unison. After being out for several days, none of them had rested well. Although ensuring combat readiness despite poor sleep was a skill every soldier needed to master, they naturally needed plenty of rest once they could relax. Bai E slept soundly until daybreak, completely exhausted from the effort of driving in the wilderness, especially since he was leading the way and spent more energy than anyone else. Upon opening his eyes, he found the tent empty. However, seeing the light shining through the cracks, he could tell it was no longer early. It was time to exchange military honors for a watch; he couldn''t always rely on looking at the sky... thought Bai E. In this era, everything was a precious resource. A mechanical watch that did not need batteries and could keep precise time was handcrafted and therefore a coveted item. Almost immediately after he woke up, a familiar voice came from outside the tent. It was Carlos, "Bai E, you awake?" "Present!" Bai E called out as he dashed out wearing just shorts and a tank top, "Officer?" "You did well," Carlos said, looking at Bai E with great satisfaction. This morning, upon his return, Gregory had reported the full details of the secret military operation to a few high-ranking officers who were in the know. The reports on Bai E''s performance, coupled with testimonials from other soldiers, were consolidated and presented in full¡ªboth the minor disobedience of orders and the impressive actions throughout the journey. The disobedience was mitigated by consideration for the mission, Likok''s orders, and the unanimous agreement of his comrades, so it was not a major issue. With his stunning performance throughout, these small issues were hardly significant, and the Hamilton faction officers had little ground to argue about. The military honors were more than enough. One novice trial, one Bug Race battlefield, one covert operation. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just three military actions, and he had amassed enough honors to exchange for a Gene Optimization Solution, which was unprecedented in the camp''s history. However, the request for the Gene Optimization Solution had to be submitted personally by the soldier. Therefore, as soon as Carlos confirmed that the military honors were sufficient, he promptly came to notify Bai E. ``` "Is that enough?" Bai E''s eyes momentarily conveyed a sense of melancholy. After braving life and death three times, he had finally accumulated enough military merit. The idea of players creating their own Gene Optimization Solution was just a future prospect; naturally, he wouldn''t pass up the opportunity to obtain it right now. "How do I apply?" Bai E asked. "Simple, just fill out a form, and I''ll take you there," Carlos said, brimming with excitement. Only those warriors who obtained the Gene Optimization Solution had the chance for further development in the future; otherwise, as artificial humans, even with far greater military exploits than natural-born humans, they still had little chance of promotion. The Gene Optimization Solution was a precious resource that was hard to come by. The more resources an individual consumed, the harder it was to replace that individual with another cog in the machine; it meant they were less likely to be treated as a disposable part. Being a warrior was certainly not all there was to the life of 95B27. Any artificial human warrior with strength and potential should shine on their own stage, contributing even more to humanity. Filling out the form was straightforward, and Bai E didn''t need to worry about the subsequent haggling. With his solid record of battlefield achievements, even Hamilton and his people had to shut their mouths! Carlos was very confident about this. "Alright, you''ve got a day off. Go do as you please. I''ll handle this for you, but it might take a while," Carlos said. Each issuance of the Gene Optimization Solution required the most careful procedure: a representative from the military to sign off, the Scientific Research Institute to conduct a detailed physical examination to determine the genetic inclination and the appropriate dosage. Only after everything was confirmed without issue could it be injected for use. "Got it," Bai E nodded his understanding. He''d waited long enough; another day or two wouldn''t make a difference. Gene Optimization Solution... he really had no idea what it was like. After leaving Carlos, Bai E quickly grabbed some food from the cafeteria and headed straight out of the camp. Having a day off and a chance to leave the camp earlier than usual, if those players were around, it would be a good opportunity to teach them some more. In the four days of his absence, without other tasks at hand, they should have significantly expanded the underground base, and awarding contribution points for their faction was only logical. With his plans for the future in mind, Bai E walked briskly. ... As Weslin held the application for Gene Optimization Solution handed in by Carlos, he scrutinized the assembled officers who had the voting rights on this matter. Shaking the application form slightly, Weslin spoke in a subdued voice, "A warrior has just accumulated enough military merit and has submitted an application for the Gene Optimization Solution injection. This is his record of achievements and service. Take a look and then decide on your vote." He didn''t name anyone; there was no need for special treatment in the military camp¡ªit was his personal statement of neutrality. As for the outcome, he did not interfere. As the highest-ranking officer in the military, Weslin didn''t need to take sides. No matter which of his subordinates received the Gene Optimization Solution, they were ultimately his soldiers. Although he didn''t mention a name, everyone knew who it was. That new recruit had caught their attention with his exceptionally eye-catching performance in recent military operations. When Gregory had just successfully returned from a covert operation that morning and reported back, they knew the application would come soon. As Weslin finished speaking, the projection screen behind him displayed the new recruit''s military achievements. Each individual item received meticulous evaluations from more than one officer to ensure a fair assessment of military merit. Also displayed were the points he had spent on exchanges. "The military merits are sufficient, and his performance in multiple missions far exceeds that of a common soldier. If such a promising warrior cannot meet the standard to receive the Gene Optimization Solution, I don''t know whether we can maintain the trust of all soldiers with the rules we have set," Carlos was the first to speak up, his stance clear. "I agree," Hamilton followed with his vote immediately. "???" All officers looked at Hamilton with his smile and an expression of surprise in their eyes. Since when did you, a steadfast antagonist, defect as well? After the core of the faction that rejected artificial humans also cast a vote in favor, those neutral officers who might have otherwise considered relationships cast their inconsequential votes in the face of hard facts. Everyone wanted to apply for the Gene Optimization Solution for the soldiers under their command, but only the most elite warriors could acquire such scarce resources. Not only strength but also the willingness to give back mattered! An able but unwilling soldier was nothing but a cancer to the army; performance... was the sole criterion for applying for the Gene Optimization Solution. And that new recruit with the number 95B27 had undoubtedly done it to perfection. "Unanimously passed," Weslin tapped the table lightly, readily accepting the outcome. This was the first time he had chaired such a harmonious meeting; he felt slightly unaccustomed... "Meeting adjourned!" As the officers dispersed, some who were walking together pulled Hamilton aside, who was at the back of the group, their tones filled with surprise, "Change of heart today?" "Why argue with him?" Hamilton''s lips curved in a light smirk, "That 95B27''s record is indeed impeccable; even if we argued with him all day, we''d still have to grant his wish. I didn''t feel like wasting breath on them. Better to take a step back now and just wait and see what happens..." "What are you planning to do?" "What to do? Nothing," Hamilton took a bold step forward. "Since he''s willing to put in effort for the camp, then he might as well do a bit more. Isn''t there a Refugee Slum on the northwest side? Let him take a look!" His companion was slightly shocked, "That Refugee Slum..." It seemed that quite a few scouts had gone missing there. ``` Chapter 182 177 essential oils? Bring it on! Kuang Xin, who just emerged from the cave carrying a basket of dug-up earth and stones, saw a figure quickly approaching in the distance and immediately turned his head, shouting excitedly to the person below him, "The Lord has returned!"As if sprouting from the ground, three players jumped out one after another. "My Lord!" The three of them looked at Bai E with ardent eyes, as if they wanted to devour him. In the two days that Bai E had been away, they had tried to find other NPCs to see if they could get some quests, but obviously... those meager rewards were no match for what the Lord gave out. And it seemed that as their reputation spread, many NPCs who knew them were reluctant to interact with them, let alone issue quests. It was like when your reputation in one faction increases, it decreases with the opposing faction, stopping them from developing ties with both. Being seasoned gamers... they were quite used to this. So they were even more eager for the Lord''s return. "Did Your Lordship''s endeavor succeed?" Gong Yan, who had twice intimidated NPCs with feigned authority, almost subconsciously gathered such information. Bai E was in a good mood and felt no strong barriers towards the players, so with a smile, he nodded and said, "Pretty successful." He walked straight towards the entrance of the underground base, knowing that the size of the completed construction would determine how many contribution points he would distribute. "Whoa!" Descending the ladder and scanning the area with a glance, Bai E was inwardly impressed. The target for the requested task was at least 20*20*3m3. Though it was hard to tell the exact size at a glance, the scale had at least doubled since last time¡ªif not more. "You have worked hard these past few days," Bai E casually threw out some gratuitous words. Dai Lian, who had made adequate preparations, displayed his professionalism, "We''ve measured it, and we are close to having enough space. However, we still need to do damp-proofing, pest control, and other treatments before we can complete it." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just digging a hole in the ground wasn''t enough for a complete warehouse. With cement making its way into the picture, they were about to transform into construction workers plastering walls¡ªno surprise it was him and Kuang Xin once again... perhaps with an addition of a rat-person? When did he ever realize he was so all-around? In the future, even if he couldn''t game, he would still be quite the jack-of-all-trades in the real world... "No worries, as long as you''re working on it." [Side Quest ¨C Build a Warehouse (Construction Commission), progress updated.] [Quest Reward (Stage):Faction Contribution Points (Li Ming) +60, issued.]X3 Contribution points were issued once more, and Bai E continued to carefully control their numbers. After the players had exchanged items at the first level of the Faction Shop, the second level had long been open¡ª [Trait ¨C Well-Trained, price ¨C Basic Instruction: 60 Faction Contribution points.] [Knowledge ¨C Conventional Vehicle Driving, price ¨C Basic Instruction: 25 Faction Contribution points.] [Knowledge ¨C Computer Hardware Maintenance, price ¨C Basic Instruction: 25 Faction Contribution points; Professional Instruction: 40 Faction Contribution points; Expert Instruction: 60 Faction Contribution points; Gold Science Edition: 100 Faction Contribution points.] Stay connected with empire [Knowledge ¨C Advanced Physical Training 3.0, price ¨C Basic Instruction: 80 Faction Contribution points.] [Expertise ¨C Self-Restraint, price ¨C Basic Instruction: 100 Faction Contribution points.] [Unlock any "two items" from the current exchange level before unlocking the choice of items from the next level, stay tuned...] Many of his abilities seemed to be able to make it in, but traits like the inherent dullness to thoughts due to the artificial person template, battle instincts, as well as the bloodlust trait and hive will activated by the Bug Race template, plus his personal talent expertise¡ªrapid recovery, were all impossible to teach to others. Some knowledge skills required professional understanding, which is why there were tiered instructions; for practical skills like driving that didn''t require much professional knowledge, Bai E had only set up basic entry-level instruction, trying to maintain a bit of conscience and rationality when it came to reaping benefits. At the same time, Bai E didn''t want to make overpowered things like "Overlimit Drive," "Resist Death," or "Weapon Master" available to players too quickly. The second layer of the shop had already put out good items, so what about the third layer? But just these were already enough to satisfy the players'' ambitions and curiosity for the time being. The three players who had just received another round of Faction Contribution points were caught in a dilemma as they looked at the exchange list. "It seems different from the last time I checked it." Without any available exchange, constantly monitoring the list was one of the most torturous punishments in life. Having experienced the system prompt suddenly ringing last time, they also opted to turn off notifications of changes to the Faction Shop exchange list... a nuisance. Looking at it now, they noticed differences¡ª The Gold Science Edition of Computer Hardware Maintenance was definitely not there before. But that was not a problem; they weren''t interested in it. Dai Lian and Kuang Xin''s gaze rested on "Knowledge ¨C Advanced Physical Training 3.0," while Gong Yan''s interest was undoubtedly on "Expertise ¨C Self-Restraint." One to improve physical attributes more quickly, the other to enhance Spiritual Energy control¡ªboth were undeniably fitting for their professions, and they had been coveting them for a long time. Too bad they didn''t have enough... Gong Yan had spent the last distribution of Faction Contribution points without a trace left, now having only the newly issued 60 points. To exchange for "Expertise ¨C Self-Restraint," which required 100 points, she had no choice but to save up, as the others didn''t catch her interest as much. Chapter 183 177 Essential Oils? Bring them on!_2 Dai Lian and Kuang Xin both had 10 points left over from last time, and with the 60 points just issued, they had a total of 70 points, which was undoubtedly insufficient to exchange for the "Knowledge ¡ª Advanced Physical Training 3.0."For Dai Lian, however, the "Trait ¡ª Well-Trained" and the unfinished "Remote Weapons Master Guidance" from last time, as well as the newly introduced "Light Firearms Master Guidance," were also full of temptation. Kuang Xin, on the other hand, was single-minded about enhancing his physical abilities. His thinking was simple; just 10 points short, he wasn''t into flashy tricks¡ªsave it! While the three players were engrossed in how to plan the use of their faction contribution points, Bai E was also pondering over more ways to make use of the players'' knock on the door. His gaze swept around and felt that this so-called "Dawn Warehouse" seemed a bit empty. A warehouse is a structure that serves the function of storing materials. An empty warehouse, how can it be called a warehouse? These players moved around in the outside world, and one couldn''t rule out that they might obtain some items that were difficult for him to come by. Resources, well, they should flow between one another to create the greatest value. What they temporarily didn''t need might be just what he was looking for, right? And as for setting the prices, wasn''t it all in his own thoughts? Um... [Prompt: The current functional building¡ªWarehouse, has reached a certain stage of construction, and the Faction Warehouse function is now activated.] [Current warehouse inventory: Exquisite Brass Bullets, Bug Tribe Essence Extract, and Biochemical Components.] [Prompt: Extracting warehouse materials requires payment of corresponding prices.] [Exquisite Brass Bullets*10, price: Faction Contribution*5, Faction Funds*10. (A maximum of 5 sets can be exchanged per natural day, and a maximum of 20 sets per week.)] [Bug Tribe Essence Extract*1, price: Faction Contribution*100, Faction Funds*200. (A maximum of 1 set can be exchanged per natural day, and a maximum of 3 sets per week.)] [Biochemical Components*1, price: Faction Contribution*500, Faction Funds*1000. (A maximum of 1 set can be exchanged per natural day, and a maximum of 3 sets per week.)] Damn! A genius! Not becoming a game designer would be a great loss to the gaming industry. Looking at the rules he had set, Bai E was quite satisfied. To prevent players from losing their drive to strive after eventually obtaining too many faction contribution points, it was essential to offer them something with sustainable development for exchange, to constantly maintain their resource scarcity. And just like the reward he had given Wen Jie for the task¡ªthe Bug Tribe Essence Extract¡ªby establishing a price for it beforehand, he could let them know the preciousness of the task rewards and thus make them more diligent. It was indeed killing multiple birds with one stone. The players, suddenly receiving the unexpected prompt, were a bit stunned as they looked at the newly appeared "Faction Warehouse" feature. What''s this, how did a new feature suddenly appear? Let''s see what''s in there... "Damn!" "Damn!" Bug Tribe Essence Extract? Isn''t that Wen Jie''s reward? The thing that can make Gene Optimization Solution! Although they hadn''t reached the level to come into contact with Gene Optimization Solution yet, the fact that they now had a channel to obtain it undoubtedly created the illusion that the Gene Optimization Solution was just within their reach. Awesome! And this thing... Biochemical Components? Don''t know what it is, but judging by its value, it''s actually five times more expensive than the Bug Tribe Essence Extract? Awesome! But... "How do we get faction funds?" Dai Lian murmured to himself. Ah! Good question! [Prompt: Faction funds can be acquired by contributing "resources" to the Warehouse Manager.] The flow of resources, that was the principal reason Bai E activated the warehouse function, not just to harvest the players'' experience, but also to see if they had any resources that they couldn''t use at the moment but he could. Bai E maintained a calm expression and softly explained to the three players, "The warehouse is a place to store the common resources of the organization. Everyone can contribute or take from it. In principle, all the items are meant to be used by everyone in the organization. But considering that not everyone puts in the same effort, we can''t let people use the resources indiscriminately without limits, so there are some conditions when exchanging for them." God damn it! as deep as the Ganges! What resources don''t cost money? As for the boss''s explanation, the three players didn''t even bother to listen; they just needed to know how to obtain it, and that was enough. "Can anything be turned into funds?" Kuang Xin asked eagerly. "I''ll decide based on its value, the same for everyone." The three players looked at each other and reached a consensus, "Let''s test the waters first." "1000 Blackwater Coins!" Kuang Xin, who never did things by halves, handed over most of the money he won from the last match along with his original capital in one go. [You have handed over 1000 Blackwater Coins and received 200 Faction Funds.] "1000 for 200," Kuang Xin whispered to his two teammates after receiving the notification. Dai Lian nodded in understanding. Not bad, it was within expectations. By judging the price of the bullets, they had a rough idea of the value of Faction Funds, but it was always better to have a concrete confirmation. They had a substantial amount of Blackwater Coins on them. The last time they took out 600 bullets and sold them to Jonathan and his group, they reeled in 3420 Blackwater Coins. From a rate perspective, selling bullets directly in the outside world was more profitable, with a price of 6 Blackwater Coins per bullet. If they could exchange goods from the Faction Warehouse and sell them for money, and then come back and convert it into funds, couldn''t they infinitely exploit the system to multiply their wealth? Crafty strategies began to brew in the players'' minds, but unfortunately, exchanging warehouse materials required not only Faction Funds but Faction Contribution Points as well, and even then, there were daily and weekly limits on the amount that could be exchanged... No luck there. Even if they handed over everything, they would only have just over 600 Faction Funds, and they couldn''t possibly give it all away since they still had many uses for Blackwater Coins. The three of them scoured their possessions, looking to see if they had any resources they could hand over. They had nothing... Their guns and ammunition had been bought with Blackwater Coins, and after being exploited by those Black Street merchants, the real value would definitely be less than that of the Blackwater Coins themselves. Only the items not purchased with Blackwater Coins were worth handing over, like... Kuang Xin took out a small glass bottle from his body; inside was a bit of caramel-colored, semi-transparent liquid. The young miss from the Heretical Arbitration House had given them each 33ml of the so-called Exorcism Essential Oil, the only item whose value they did not know. "We don''t need this thing for now, right?" A bold light sparkled in Kuang Xin''s eyes. The demons of higher dimensions were of high caliber, and just the powers of the human Believers who worshiped them were unbelievable¡ªlike with the Ratmen, if they truly launched a full-scale attack against them, the three players would be nothing but easy prey. Although there would definitely be varying levels of strength among the high-dimensional demons, even the lowest-tier demons were probably stronger than the Ratmen. In such a situation, what good would it do them to have weapons that could harm high-dimensional demons? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could a child with a knife defeat a fully-armed soldier? "But isn''t it always good to keep it..." Dai Lian hesitated; after all, the other two items in the warehouse aside from bullets were currently not exchangeable, as the required contribution points were far from sufficient. "Hey, it''s fine. I''ll give it a try; you guys keep yours." Kuang Xin was nonchalant. Both the Bug Tribe Essence Extract and the bio-components were limited to a set number of exchanges per week. The earlier they were exchanged, the more one could accumulate. Who knew if they would be very useful in the future? And how could combat consumables like Exorcism Essential Oil compare to core growth materials? Let''s submit one and see. If it works out, we''ll hurry up and accumulate contribution points and take down all the exchangeable warehouse goods from the most to the least expensive! With a clear goal in mind, Kuang Xin was filled with enthusiasm and didn''t hesitate to try it out. Explore more stories with empire [You have handed over 33ml of Exorcism Essential Oil...] "emmmm" Looking at the item Kuang Xin handed over with both hands, Bai E slightly spaced out. He had heard about this item, a key material used by the Heretical Arbitration House to fight against demons, rare and hard to come by. Without it, even the professional executors of the Heretical Arbitration House would struggle to truly damage the essence of high-dimensional demons. Bai E''s eyes swept over the three players with a hint of astonishment... Players sure had wide connections. If it were up to him alone, it would be tough to get his hands on this. An item specifically for fighting demons? Bai E glanced at the conscientious Ratman who was staying away from everyone in the corner... The demonic issue with him hadn''t completely ended; who knows when he might face a direct threat from a demon. Having a weapon that could truly threaten demons would always be more reassuring... Such a good item didn''t come by often; encouragement was in order! [You have handed over 33ml of Exorcism Essential Oil and received 1650 Faction Funds!] Chapter 184 178 Continuing Mission — Acknowledgment from Yue Ying ```"Fuck!" Kuang Xin''s mouth dropped open in shock. Blackwater coins were exchanged at a 5 to 1 ratio, so organizational funds must be something very precious. So he originally thought that the so-called biocomponents priced at 1000 would be quite a distant future thing, but who could have anticipated getting nearly two of them all at once? He was fired up! His fighting spirit was ablaze! He was going to earn contributions for the organization! He''d work like an ox, labor for the cause! The organization was his home, and he''d build that home! Bai E saw the obvious change in his attitude and decided to add a bit more incentive. "Due to different situations the organization faces at different times, the scarcity of various materials can vary quite a bit. So, at critical times, the valuation of ''specific'' materials can fluctuate..." This meant that pricing was ultimately at their own whim, right? Plus, it could create a sense of urgency for them, with limited time increases in the purchase prices for specific materials. If you missed it, you missed it; if you have it, don''t wait! Perfect! Bai E was becoming more and more accustomed to exploiting player strength; if he ever could return to his own world one day, he''d definitely make a fine game designer... But the other two players seemed unmoved; they were not impulsive. Seeing that there seemed to be no further discussion about contributing materials to the organization, Bai E brought up the mission. "Additionally, have you cleaned up the sewer rat infestation you were tasked with?" "...No." Dai Lian couldn''t quite meet Bai E''s eyes, responding meekly. Seriously, who would go grind without an actual quest? Those little buggers were tough to kill. Without a quest, willingly going into the sewers after them at night was sheer torture, and not cost-effective. Bai E chuckled, "No worries, I know you all certainly have more important things to do. Everyone must have worked hard these past few days. I regret I was out and couldn''t offer my assistance... With me here, you can feel a bit more at ease." Relying on the three of them to wipe out a small Black Street force must have been tough; it was a pity he hadn''t been able to join the fight... Maybe there was a way to scavenge some benefits. "..." Dai Lian suddenly looked up. His eyes shone as he gazed at the superior figure slightly taller than him, his emotions a complex mix. Sorry? The superior said he was sorry? It was their own failure to do the task he assigned because they had no quests, and yet the superior sincerely thought their own matters were more important and even felt guilty for not being able to help! Even knowing it was a game, even though he knew the character before him was nothing but data, this genuine attitude was enough to melt even the hardest of hearts. For the first time, Dai Lian felt a pang of guilt... "Since I am back now, if you have any troubles you can tell me. I won''t stand idly by if I can help you. But since those rat swarms are still there, I''ll have to ask you to continue the cleanup." Dai Lian looked down again and, gritting his teeth, responded, "Yes! Superior!" "Mmm..." Bai E paused slightly in his speech, his gaze slowly sweeping over the three of them, "So, do you have anything else? I just got back last night and have many matters to attend to back at the camp." [You''ve thought about it long enough, right? You should have made your decision about what to exchange your organizational contributions for.] Kuang Xin and Gong Yan remained silent; they both planned to save up. But it was Dai Lian who spoke up, "Superior, I would like to continue learning the bow shooting skills." There were still plenty of plague rats in the sewers, and archery skills still had much room for use. Besides, the young miss from the Heretical Arbitration House had proven a point to everyone ¡ª in this magical world, cold weapons have a great potential for development. When personal strength can rival machinery, the effectiveness of cold weaponry in combat isn''t inferior to firearms. ``` "All right," Bai E nodded and promptly agreed. Having one study is better than none. He couldn''t directly control the players'' decisions but could only guide them as much as possible. The most important thing was that he currently lacked neither combat/general experience. After the recent covert operation, he had amassed a total of 7347 points of combat/general experience reserves. Slowing down the harvesting pace to let them develop a bit seemed like a good idea... Since he had paid 30 points of guild contribution for professional guidance, now to move up a level, he only needed to pay the difference of 20 points of guild contribution between a master and professional. Continue your saga on empire Bai E, although wanting to "harvest" the players'' "leeks," also knew restraint. ... ["Teaching" ended, through the feedback of "Teaching," you have acquired a total of 220 combat experience points and 180 general experience points.] S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s done! Bai E put away his bow and arrow and waved his hand without dawdling, "Pay attention on your own, and notify me promptly if anything arises." Upon returning to the camp, Bai E didn''t idle. Before departure, he had wanted to learn the "Steady Wind" skill that Yue Ying had taught previously. Whether or not the learning was crucial didn''t matter; the mission line possibly leading to the "Elf Breathing Skill" that Yue Ying carried was what mattered. He had to surprise her thoroughly to make her impart her treasured skills! He hadn''t seen her the afternoon of that day, but on this afternoon... Bai E spotted a cloaked figure quietly observing the soldiers'' training not far from a combat squad in actual training. This Elf Race lady seemed particularly interested in the training process of the human soldiers, though being alone in human territory, she probably didn''t have much else to do... "Miss Yueying..." Standing beside her was an officer assigned by the military. Bai E kept a respectful distance and called out as he stopped. The officer looked toward Bai E on cue, glancing over Bai E''s shoulder and chest, noting the lack of stars or stripes, just a synthetic being... somewhat familiar looking, but not important. His brow furrowed instantly, "Which unit''s soldier are you? What are you doing here instead of training?" "Reporting to the officer! I finished a mission yesterday, and I''m resting today," Bai E snapped to attention and replied stiffly and formally. "Resting?" The officer''s brows rose slightly, and he reprimanded with a cold voice, "If you''re resting, then rest properly, don''t loiter around the training ground." "Mr. Dunpus..." The cold voice finally spoke up. Being in a human military camp, Yue Ying wasn''t clear on the intricate rules among humans. It was only after realizing that not much was against the rules did she speak up, "He''s here to see me." "Yue Ying?" The officer was mildly surprised. In this military camp, he had never heard of any officer or soldier who received special treatment from this elf ally. His gaze flitted briefly, as the officer scanned Bai E standing respectfully in front of him, wondering internally¡ª What''s this kid''s background? "If Mr. Dunpus has other duties, please attend to them," Yue Ying said, involving private affairs. The element of authority in her cool tone, unequivocal, inspired awe. Considering that all the seniors in the military district held this foreign ally in high esteem, Dunpus dared not object and simply nodded his departure, "If Miss Yueying is busy, I shall take my leave. If you need anything, feel free to seek me out. Officer Veslin has instructed¡ª to accommodate all of your requests within the military camp." The detached hood gave a slight nod, "Understood." After waiting for the officer to walk away, Yue Ying turned towards Bai E. Her tone was noticeably lighter, hinting at reminiscence, "I heard you went on a mission the other day." "Yes." Yue Ying narrowed her eyes, feeling a bit excited, "So... is it that you feel you''ve honed sufficient skills during the operation?" "Yes..." Chapter 185 179 Set the wind! "Squeak~" As the sound of the bowstring being tensioned arose, Yue Ying''s cool voice also emerged, "Near my hometown, there is a canyon where strong winds blow all year round¡­"Having reconnected with Yue Ying after some time, it was clear she was not as silent as during the last lesson; however, the words spoken seemed to bear no relation to the technique''s key points¡­ "Wild fruits that are very sweet grow on the cliffs in the canyon." Pressing the switch, the set aerial targets were almost thrown out in a straight line at a uniform speed. The skill to be taught this time was not some flamboyant ability; it only required¡­ Moments before the ten moving targets perfectly aligned in a straight line, Yue Ying suddenly released her grip. "Whoosh!" The arrow tore through the air! "Bang bang bang bang bang¡­" The sound of the moving targets bursting open was a continuous chain, an unending sequence of noise. Bai E''s gradually enhanced Insight attribute allowed his dynamic vision to strengthen over time, and with dedicated observation under mental focus, he could glimpse the general process of each moving target bursting apart. These moving targets had been specifically manufactured by the military. They lacked any significant technological content but were filled with some¡­ air. The compressed air inside created great internal pressure so that upon impact with a collision of a certain energy level, they would burst apart violently, intended to provide a more visually impactful demonstration to the shooter as to whether their shots had hit. However, the violent bursting process of the compressed air certainly had a significant influence on the trajectory of any bullets or arrows passing through it. During Yue Ying''s last teaching session, Bai E had tried it out; his arrows could indeed easily hit the first moving target, but after hitting the first one, they would be deflected by the explosive air current, making a hit on the second target a matter of luck, while hitting the third was entirely out of the question. To shoot through ten at once like Yue Ying did¡­ That was a tall tale! Yet, it happened right before his eyes. As Yue Ying bent her bow and nocked another arrow, she continued her unrelated story, "The cliffs are steep. If we wanted to eat the wild fruits, we had to shoot them down with arrows." Again, ten moving targets rose up, and Yue Ying fired another arrow. "Bang bang bang bang bang¡­" The noise erupted in unison. It seemed as if Yue Ying had performed a casual, effortless trivial task as she lightly retracted her bow and looked towards Bai E, "How to withstand the influence of the strong winds and shoot down those fruits was the favorite challenge of our childhood. One of my elder sisters invented this technique, naming it¡ª''Ding Feng''." One arrow loosed, the wind stilled. Focus on one point; no matter what obstructions lay on the path, nothing could halt the might of this single arrow. Bai E pressed the switch for the moving targets, took a deep breath, and raised his bow and arrow as the Overlimit Drive supplied him with additional strength converted into actual physical force. Facing a series of aerial targets thrown out in a straight line, Bai E abruptly loosened his fingers from the fully-drawn bowstring. The arrow spiraled forth, its wake stirring the air. "Whoosh!" [You have spent 10 points of combat experience in learning, converted into 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Specialization" experience. (Very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] [Prompt: Please maintain "Overlimit Drive" output status; otherwise, the difficulty of learning will increase significantly.] "Bang! Bang!" The crisp sound of breaking was heard. Of the line of moving targets, only two shattered, the rest were left to descend powerlessly after reaching their apex, offering no further chance for Bai E to make amends. But that was alright. Bai E looked at the panel''s message and felt certain about this time. It''s not the small chance that''s scary, it''s the absence of any chance at all. Since there''s an opportunity to learn "Ding Feng" while under the state of "Overlimit Drive," he definitely couldn''t let it go before he exhausted himself! Again! [You have spent 630 points of combat experience in learning, converted into 315 points of "Ranged Weapon Specialization" experience. (Very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] ¡­ [You have spent 550 points of combat experience in learning, converted into 275 points of "Ranged Weapon Specialization" experience. (Small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] As the experience for the Ranged Weapon Specialization approached level 4, Bai E''s previously calm demeanor began to shift. "Whoosh!" "Bang!" This was the first time during the current learning session that only one moving target had been pierced. Noticing something amiss, Yue Ying looked over, her long, narrow eyes under her hood slightly squinted, observing Bai E''s reaction. Read exclusive content at empire If this was his mindset¡­ then there was no need to continue learning. "Huff~" Bai E''s fingers stroked the arrow, and on the next draw, he forcefully steadied his emotions through "self-restraint." It was merely a chance for an upgrade that came with a specialization level increase; there was no need to obsess over it. As long as it can be obtained, it''s never too late... "Whoosh!" "Bang bang bang bang bang!" Five of them! [You have spent 10 points of combat experience in learning, which has been converted into 5 points of "Ranged Weapon Mastery" experience. (Medium chance to awaken special attributes.)] Yue Ying retracted her gaze, feeling satisfied. This is how it should be; this is the human warrior she had taken an interest in! At any time, impatience is always the swiftest punishment away from success. [You have spent 60 points of combat experience in learning, which has been converted into 30 points of "Ranged Weapon Mastery" experience. (Medium chance to awaken special attributes.)] [With prolonged learning, you have gleaned sufficient experience from the master''s performance, your specialization ability¡ªRanged Weapon Specialization, has gained a new "special" attribute bonus!] [Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 3): Shooting accuracy +11%, shooting speed +7%, shooting range +300 meters, arcing shot (special) +6%, scatter level (special) +2, stabilizing wind level (special) +1.] [Stabilizing Wind +1: Your attacks can always precisely hit targets, ignoring any hindrances. After charging for at least 0.5~1 second, your attack gradually reaches its peak: attack kinetic energy +2, attack power (piercing) +3, projectile speed +15%, and ignoring any "feather-weight" environmental factors.] [Current Ranged Weapon Mastery experience at 990/1000, reaching 1000 points will master "Level 4 Ranged Weapon Specialization."] Success! Bai E''s spirit shook, he nocked an arrow to the bow, and after a slight charge, he released an arrow that broke through the air. In a vacuum, the arrow whistled through the air like lightning. "Bang bang bang..." The moving targets burst open in quick succession, the arrow''s course unwavering. [Triggered Stabilizing Wind! Successfully shot through seven feather-weight obstacles with one arrow, Ranged Weapon Mastery experience +5.] "It''s... It''s really learned!" A look of surprise flashed in Yue Ying''s slender eyes. This was the first skill she thought posed some difficulty, so she had more patience to wait. Moreover, this warrior''s physical capabilities clearly wouldn''t exceed the limits of humans, even under such circumstances... he still learned it? The most crucial aspect was the speed, even comparable to her own learning pace from back in the day... [Current task reward: Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: Purple)] S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: Purple): You have secured the sincere trust of the Elf Race''s Yue Ying. By demonstrating many of your outstanding talents, there''s a good chance to obtain the "Elf Breathing Skill" from her.] "With your current abilities, the fact that you''ve learned this skill is beyond my expectations. The subsequent skills, with your current strength, are not even remotely learnable for now. Let''s stop here for the moment," she said. While speaking, Yue Ying looked at the emotionless warrior in front of her, her eyes brimming with satisfaction. For a human to have mastered these skills before reaching a certain level of proficiency in archery was an incredible display of innate talent. All of these skills would grow more profound as his archery improved over time. That alone ensured he would certainly make a mark in archery. Very good! [Current task¡ªYue Ying''s Recognition, the progress is temporarily stagnant. Until you demonstrate abilities beyond learning shooting skills, the task''s progress will remain unchanged...] "..." "Then... goodbye." The elf lady bid him a gentle farewell and swiftly turned to leave. Not enough... Watching her retreating figure, Bai E sighed inwardly. This elf lady was quite cautious. After all, just learning wasn''t enough to be more than an excellent warrior, far from qualifying to learn the "Elf Breathing Skill." So, won''t it be necessary to complete two more events to acquire a clue of gold quality before ultimately achieving the goal? Just the thought of it was tormenting... But no matter, progressing steadily towards improvement, as long as there''s progress, there''s no problem. Looking at the Ranged Weapon Specialization skill that needed just 5 more experience points to advance to level 4, Bai E, who was slightly obsessive-compulsive, couldn''t stand it. I''m just going to shoot! [Triggered Stabilizing Wind! Successfully shot through six feather-weight obstacles with one arrow, Ranged Weapon Mastery experience +4.] [...+3.] [Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 4): Shooting accuracy +14%, shooting speed +9%, shooting range +400 meters, arcing shot (special) +8%, scatter level (special) +3, stabilizing wind level (special) +2.] [Scatter (Level 3): Dual shot success rate +80%, triple shot success rate +25%, quadruple shot success rate +5%, quintuple shot success rate +0.1%.] [Stabilizing Wind (Level 2): Your attacks can always precisely hit targets, ignoring any hindrances. After charging for at least 0.45~0.95 seconds, your attacks gradually reach their peak: attack kinetic energy +3, attack power (piercing) +4, projectile speed +25%, and ignoring any "feather-weight" environmental factors.] [Detecting character now possesses Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 4), the skill tree for advanced study is unlocked: Concussive Shot, Power Shot, Vector Shuttle.] Chapter 186 180 participates in a boxing match Having gained another specialization ability that reached level 4, Bai E''s bold conjecture had been confirmed¡ªDirectly upgrading a specialization ability to level 4 only meant to compensate for the lack of special attributes provided before reaching that level. A warrior who relied on actual training to attain a level 4 specialization ability wouldn''t be without special attribute bonuses. Indeed, he had lost out when he had previously upgraded his light firearms skill using his own points. But that had been a necessary evil due to lack of experience. How could he have had a later stage without an early one? Should there ever be an opportunity to respec, Bai E was determined to train for a perfect build! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the present, it was time to see what uses the three skills unlocked after reaching level 4 Ranged Weapon Specialization possessed¡ª Concussive Shot, hmm... a control skill. Power Shot, hmm... a damage-dealing skill. Vector Shuttle, hmm... a movement skill. Clear and simple! Gun Fighting Skill had given Bai E many surprises, and naturally, he held high hopes for the newly unlocked skill tree. Yet with each skill having its merits, Bai E was reluctant to make a choice before encountering a practical application scenario. Although he had quite a store of experience by now, it hadn''t come easily. Spending 1000 points of experience in an instant still required careful consideration. He checked the sky, noting it was still early, probably just past three o''clock. The main purpose of his return to the camp was to learn Yue Ying''s archery skills and to advance the progress of the "Yue Ying''s Approval" mission. Now that he had achieved his goal, it seemed like he suddenly had nothing to do within the camp again. So... Chavez, the fitness instructor, had mentioned underground boxing, which the other players had all tried. He hadn''t experienced it yet. In his pocket was the betting money given by Chavez, not much... just 500. Let''s check it out! Considering appearing there directly might be too conspicuous since his last visit to Black Street Tavern had drawn a lot of attention, Bai E decided to opt for a disguise. The whole set of clothes and even a mask given by other players last time would do just fine, so he took them. With no players around, the secret base was empty except for the rat-like individuals. "Where did they all go?" Bai E asked as he picked up the clothes to change, addressing the seemingly well-behaved boy in the corner. "They said they were out of wood¡­ and needed to chop some more." Bai E glanced around, noting the warehouse propped up by wood looked somewhat ragged and disorganized. [Relying on wood all the time isn''t a solution...] When they gained a bit more capability, he could consider having them build a pure metal base like the server ruins. Hmm... that seemed unrealistic. However, constructing one out of concrete and reinforced steel might work. Mulling over these ideas, Bai E asked the rat-like individual, "Have you felt anything unusual recently?" Since the rat-like beings were always related to demons, he had to stay vigilant about their mental and physical health. The connection between humans and demons couldn''t easily be discerned from the outside; problems always began in the mind first. "No¡­ no, nothing." "Do you find it boring to stay here?" "Yes... just a little bit." The adolescent yearned for the outside world, no matter how much suffering he had endured, he always longed for the beauty and fascinating aspects of the world; it wasn''t right to treat him as a mere tool, keeping him confined here forever, when saving someone, one must also take on the responsibility for their future well-being and any potential troubles they might bring." Bai E nodded in understanding, acknowledging that speaking truthfully to him was a good sign, "It''s okay, once I''m sure there''s nothing wrong, I''ll let them take you out for a stroll occasionally. But for now... please try to suppress these thoughts." "I understand, Sir!" the Mouse Person responded quite sensibly. "...Work hard." Bai E picked up the mask and climbed up the ladder. The clothes prepared by the players were pretty nice, albeit a bit sexy... The black leather jacket was skimpy on fabric, leaving the stomach and part of the chest exposed, showcasing clear lines of sturdy muscles. He wondered what state of mind they were in when they chose these clothes for him... but unexpectedly, it suited the style of Black Street quite well. Those living there either wrapped themselves up completely like the Mouse Person, not daring to expose their inner softness, or dressed in bizarre and personal styles to the extreme. This ostentatious outfit was, to some extent, also a disguise for his usual persona, and it wasn''t entirely unacceptable. As Chavez said, Bai E found the man known as "Black Goat" in Black Street. He was a black, slim man with sharp eyes, looking to be in his thirties. When he heard Bai E was referred by Chavez, the black man immediately became all smiles, leading Bai E in the direction away from the hub of Black Street. "Bro, is this your first time here?" Walking in front, Black Goat asked enthusiastically, looking back as he spoke. "Yeah..." Bai E posed confidently with his arms stretched out, his brazen gaze sweeping around; this was his first time visiting Black Street during the day. And perhaps because of the clothes he was wearing, his behavior naturally exuded an air of brashness, striking a contrast. "Got any money on you? The first time you participate in a fight, you need to pay a deposit of 500 Black Water coins, which is essentially betting on your own match." "500?" Bai E''s voice paused, as Chavez had given him exactly 500. Normally, as a man-made being, he would likely have no funds of his own, so... was this actually his startup capital? Also mentioned was betting on Blood God... "Of course, I have it!" Filled with a surge of emotion, Bai E strode ahead boldly, his tone hearty. Find more to read at empire "Hurry up, my fists are itching for action!" ... Following Black Goat, they reached the so-called "Underground Boxing Arena," a solitary grey concrete building stood forlornly upon the barren land, with the surrounding sand swirling, stinging the eyes of onlookers. Bai E shielded his eyes with one hand, tilting his head to examine the concrete behemoth before him. "This was supposed to be an apartment building for folks outside the city... The big shots from the inner city were once ambitious, vowing to extend urbanization to every place where human footsteps had trod. Unfortunately, everything that wasn''t too heavy to move was cleared out of the building overnight, and they abandoned the idea..." "..." Bai E was at a loss for words. Badass! "But what does that have to do with me?" Bai E''s figure surpassed Black Goat''s frail body, striding into the building, "You talk too much! I''m here to compete, not to sightsee!" Watching that grand silhouette enter the building from behind, Black Goat swallowed reflexively, only one thought echoing in his mind¡ª The fighter Chavez introduced this time... sure has a fiery personality. Chapter 187 181 White Ghost Even in the afternoon, the atmosphere inside the building was still frenzied.Men and women addicted to the violent secretion of hormones had no concept of time, though their silhouettes weren''t as densely packed as in the evening. The low-quality speakers blasted explosive waves of sound, and Bai E''s body swayed gently with the rhythm. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, after all, one has to blend in with the crowd. Stay connected with empire Seeing that a familiar person had brought him, and considering the warrior before him was fit and imposing, the staff registering fighters instantly changed from slouching idly to sitting up straight and proper. He had seen many such figures, and even if they might unfortunately die in some deathmatch later on, they were definitely the ones who could climb the ranks fastest here! Thus, his gaze toward Bai E carried a noticeable reverence, "How may I address you?" "White Ghost." Bai E blurted out. For some reason, this name surfaced in his mind first, like a shackle. Without waiting for a response, Bai E directly pulled out ten notes of currency that looked like glassine paper and slapped them on the table, "A thousand, on myself." Perhaps the average cyborg warrior had no money, but he was not average; there was no need to touch the 500 hard-earned dollars of Chavez, as the players had just handed him a thousand dollars. Self-sufficient. "Fine," said the staff member curtly, carefully taking the ten black paper bills worth 100 each, "Please go over there and rest for a bit. After this ongoing match and another one, it will be your turn." "..." Glancing at the figure heading toward the rest area with an imposing air, the staff member discreetly gestured to the waiting Black Goat, only asking in a hushed voice when he leaned closer, "What''s the background of this guy? Never seen him before?" "Over there..." Black Goat said with an air of mystery, tilting his chin in a certain direction. The registrar instantly understood, "Turtle, turtle!" One phrase instantly came to mind¡ªBlood God! He''s from the same place as the Blood God! Although there were quite a few who came to this arena from that place just for fun, this newcomer was entirely different from those taciturn and reserved soldiers; a single glance was all it took to see the stature of the Blood God. They would have to arrange a sufficiently worthy opponent for him... Sitting at the edge of the arena, Bai E spread his arms wide, majestically draping them over the backrests of the vacant seats on either side, his gaze fixed intently on the ongoing battle. The fights in this place were about anything goes; there were no reservations about any dirty tricks one could think of¡ªeye gouging, throat locking, groin kicking... Do whatever you want, in any way that you can win. Even if it wasn''t a fight to the death, it was full of brutality meant to maim. Victory was the only standard here. Bai E''s eyes sparkled, radiant with vitality. He liked this feeling of being unrestrained, having suppressed himself for too long, it was always necessary to find an opportunity to vent. Always cowering, always walking on eggshells in the barracks, it gets stifling after a while. An opportunity to beat someone up without consequences, who wouldn''t grasp it fiercely? As for getting beaten to a pulp himself? First, the rules didn''t allow killing, and someone would intervene in a dangerous moment; second, with the "resistance to death" trait, he wasn''t afraid at all. As long as he could get back to the barracks, no injury was a concern. Perhaps because of the constant wars with alien species in this era, medical technology was surprisingly advanced. With the right equipment, even his level 2 first aid skills could snatch people back from the clutches of death, not to mention the professional medical department in the barracks. He had almost been shattered by the Blood God before, and Rose had been battered by a mantis bug during the rookie trials, yet wasn''t she bouncing around again within a day? Watching the defeated contestant being dragged away bloody like a dead dog, and the winner raising his arms to embrace the audience''s cheers. Bai E felt... Hardened! His fists hardened! The two matches didn''t take long to finish, with staff members specially coming on stage to clean the bloodstains from the ring. It was a perfunctory job, but it showed an attitude, often indicating that the next contestant to appear was rather extraordinary. "Next match, by the all-destroying ''Tornado''..." The host paused to let the audience''s emotion ferment. Only after the cheers erupted did he slowly read out the opponent''s name. "Facing off against our newcomer¡ªBai E!" In an instant, confusion spread among the audience seats, "A newcomer?" "A newcomer?" "Tornado against a newcomer?" "What''s the deal with Bai E? Has the organizer lost their mind?" Tornado himself was somewhat famous in this gladiatorial arena, his battles characterized by a storm-like barrage of combos that would devastate his opponents spectacularly, always highly praised by the audience. Logically, such a well-known fighter should be matched with another high-level expert. Yet unexpectedly, the opponent was merely a newcomer. Newcomers should have their own pool... so why appear in a match against Tornado? The fact that the organizers had taken special care to clean the stage before the fight somewhat indicated the importance they placed on this match, a reverence reserved only for bouts featuring star fighters. It was also a signal to the audience¡ªprepare for the revelry! The gladiator, wearing nothing but shorts, bounded into the vast arena from the tunnel, the unrestrained nature of the fight allowing ample room for tactical maneuvers. He raised both hands, ready to receive the adoration and cheers of the fans, only to find the arena unusually silent, the sporadic mewling of a few kittens making it seem even quieter. What had happened? From the dimly lit corridor opposite, a figure gradually emerged from the shadows of the concrete floor, its outline becoming slowly clearer amidst the interplay of light and shadow. Blood-red leather pants with jagged, wide-edged cuts, and two metallic chains hanging as ornaments on the legs, the black leather jacket was slightly tight, revealing a large expanse of muscle with the lithe grace of a leopard. Even the parts covered by the jacket outlined an indescribable power in the bulging muscles. The mask on his face reflected a metallic sheen, planting a seed of mystery in the hearts of all the viewers. "Ah~" "So cool..." A woman, craving madness, crossed her legs tightly, her eyes a haze of infatuation. The men were nearly obsessed with that dream of a perfect body, not the exaggerated bulging muscles nor the frailness of a bamboo stalk that seemed like it could be blown over by a gust of wind. Since when could Black Street produce such perfect forms? The unattainable is always the most desirable. "Is it really worth giving him such fanfare?" the person in charge of the afternoon session, stroking his stubbled chin, asked, somewhat puzzled as he watched the figure emerge from the corridor on the monitor screen. Every promotional effort had to whip up a sufficient frenzy of excitement; otherwise, it could be a blow to the reputation of the organizers. The scruffy registrar cowered to one side, his tone feverish, "Boss, does this guy look like a rookie to you?" His entrance was full of presence, impressively imposing. This couldn''t be anything but an expert''s facade... it just couldn''t be. "Let''s hope..." The speaking manager glanced at another scene on the monitor screen... There sat a large figure quietly in a chair, eyes closed in wait. When a star player steps onto the field, there needs to be matching hype. Using a trivial preliminary to build up the atmosphere was a good choice. The main event was still to come; this appetizer before it... hopefully would also reach a certain level. ... Hearing those heavy breaths thick with desire, Bai E''s eyes narrowed slightly. The spectators'' eyes were indeed keen; the clothes prepared for him totally matched their tastes... But whether it was the players'' own perverse aesthetic preferences or to cater to the tastes of Black Street''s commoners was anybody''s guess. However, none of that mattered. He was there to fight. The muscular man opposite already had a visible fervor of murderous intent in his eyes. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tornado could tolerate defeat, but not the theft of his glory by someone else. Even in failure, he must be the most dazzling one! Bai E''s lips lightly curled, and he brought his index and middle finger together, tauntingly gesturing towards the other side¡ª "Come on." Chapter 188 182 Practice Mode ```"Thud," the door locked tight. Within the coarse iron mesh, only two beasts remained, sizing each other up. Both moved cautiously toward the center of the ring, the arena was large, but strategies like running around to exhaust stamina didn''t come into play until after testing hands and ascertaining the opponent''s true strength. Tornado had made a significant name for himself in such an arena, naturally, he had his tricks. No matter how angry one must remain rational, that''s the first principle of underground boxing. Boos from the crowd, the mockery of the opponent... if one can''t block out these distractions, they won''t even make it out of the rookie pool. Facing that stranger with a face that screamed trouble, one had to be careful, then more careful. When facing an unfamiliar opponent, the first thought shouldn''t be how to take them down instantly, but rather... to observe. Observe their habits, their weaknesses, by... probing. Bai E''s breathing was calm, his gaze fixed on the other, his body seemingly relaxed yet ready to mobilize every muscle in response to any incoming attacks. These outsiders would likely have a hard time getting their hands on something boundary-breaking like Gene Optimization Solution, so their physical limit was probably around 15, with his own 14.5 physical strength plus the burst from Overlimit Drive, he was sure to outmatch his opponent. However, reflexes were his weak point, and these people, accustomed to close-quarters combat, might very well surpass him in that regard. Then there was the application of technique. These were the goals he had set for himself when he came to this place; facing opponents likely superior in skill and reflexes, he could only opt to counter stillness with stillness. "Whoosh!" The distance was still enough, the other side threw a testing punch straight at his face. Bai E, ever attentive to his opponent''s movements, simply tilted his head and dodged with ease. Neck movements in a dodge always covered less distance than a punch, making such prepared evasions extremely easy. And just as his opponent threw that punch, Bai E''s eyes gleamed with a sharper intent¡ªby his ear, he heard an unexpectedly familiar voice: [Triggered sparring quest¡ªUnderground Boxing.] [Underground Boxing: You have entered a ''fatal'' underground fighting match filled with lethal intent. You must be exceedingly cautious under the watchful eyes of your opponent. Each adversary possesses their unique fighting style. Adapt to their rhythm of attack and learn from their combat experience to secure victory in every fight. The brave may not always win, but the observer never truly loses! Quest requirement: Learn the combat philosophy of your opponents in the sparring matches and achieve victory 0/? Reward for completion: After each fight, you may unlock a proficiency¡ª???] [Sparring Mode: Observing that your opponent''s technique exceeds yours, you resolve to pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) in order to learn their fighting style. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. You can initiate a learning process by spending: 20 experience points/min, with a chance to learn the opponent''s unique fighting style, and expend 2 combat/general experience points to receive 1 point of corresponding specialized experience (to enhance your own specialty level abilities). Both transactions must happen simultaneously; otherwise, the current mode cannot be activated.] ... Yet another mode he had never encountered before. Sparring? The final combat competition in the military camp counted as sparring, right? Or was it that the sparring there wasn''t lethal enough? No matter how realistic the military competitions were, they still lacked the desperate, no-holds-barred hysteria of fighting in the mire of the outside world. The emphasis on "fatality" in the description of the sparring quest¡ªUnderground Boxing might explain why it was triggered. Bai E clenched his fists, his gaze at the gladiator before him becoming even more fervent. Acquiring combat ability through triggered tutorials was difficult; after all, real combat hinged on rapid, life-or-death reactions. Bai E couldn''t imagine what a tutorial needed for learning advanced combat techniques would look like. Previous learning in shooting, including archery, allowed space for continuous teaching, whereas the combat tutorial once triggered from Dan was merely a fleeting glimpse and at best could only provide basic teaching in simple force application, movement, and such. His proficiency, already over level 1, could not be developed through such low-quality teaching. Now... real combat was the best teacher! This sudden prompt didn''t distract Bai E, instead, making him more focused once realizing what was happening. Learning an opponent''s fighting style? First, the opponent had to show his style. Each specialty had its unique features, with combat having its natural limitations. It seemed only logical that learning and training would require spending more experience. Bai E''s lips curled beneath his mask, and he threw back a punch in the same manner towards his opponent. [You are paying combat experience to observe and learn your opponent''s combat philosophy¡­ (Cost: 20 experience points/min)] [You have spent 10 combat experience points in your learning process, converted into 5 points of "Combat Master" experience. (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] [Current Combat Master experience 124/300, reach 300 points to master "Level 2 Combat Specialization."] Burn it! After all, he had plenty of experience reserved, and training reflexes from real combat needed to be at its peak. Bai E''s gaze was fiery, his movements large and uninhibited. Let go of design, let go of thought. Dodge attacks with reflexes, seek opportunities by instinct. Use the body to record every attack, feel each impact with the flesh. Every blow taken would be a heavy punch returned to the opponent. ``` ... A blank sheet of paper. Tornado could feel the combat style of his opponent. It was like a blank sheet with no sketches, devoid of any attacking patterns or schemes except for the responsive evasive maneuvers. An opponent who was best to deal with! On the surface, that flamboyant strength seemed to be just laughable gold foil, easily pierced and broken. The audience outside also erupted in jeers, "Tsk!" "That''s it? Looked like a pro, but ends up just getting hit all the time." "I could do the same if I were up there." "Tornado, go for it! Use your best Storm Combo and finish him off!" "Are the organizers idiots? This newbie is no match for Tornado?" ... [You have spent 90 points of combat experience in learning, which is converted into 45 points of "Fighting Mastery" experience. (Small chance of awakening special attributes.)] (Accumulated) ... A bit troublesome. This seemingly unimpressive opponent unexpectedly had a resilience that was somewhat prickly to deal with. Tornado was slightly out of breath, swaying as he tried to find an opening to launch an attack. There seemed to be openings everywhere, inviting attack, but... no decisive blow could be landed. The opponent highly valued the protection of his vital areas, as if a complete defense could win the match. But... that''s not how you fight in an arena! ... [You have spent 80 points of combat experience in learning, which is converted into 40 points of "Fighting Mastery" experience. (Moderate chance of awakening special attributes.)] (Accumulated) Discover stories with empire [In the fight, you discerned the opponent''s attacking intent and quickly reacted, Insight +0.1, Reflex +0.1.] ... "Huff~ Huff~" Tornado was gasping for air; offense was far more draining than defense, especially when his attack style required constant changes in positioning. Although he maintained the offensive rhythm, he always felt like he was the one being suppressed, a frustration that was driving him mad inside. He had realized it! His opponent was not weak... He, he was just observing his line of attack, making occasional counterattacks within a mostly defensive fight, attacks that tasted all too familiar to him. The opponent was learning the combat strategy he had honed through countless real battles! And moreover, learning quickly! This was no rookie! Absolutely not! Arrogant! Too arrogant! Tornado could hear the waves of jeering from the crowd, as if they were blaming him for not yet having disposed of this only defensive and evasive person. That was trust, that was support, that was the deep admiration the audience had for him! But at this moment, he just wanted those sounds that would usually cheer him to shut up! All he wanted was to shout out loud for everyone to hear¡ª "Shut up! You! No one knows what kind of monster this is!" He was learning, he was imitating! His abilities were far beyond mine, yet he was trying to use the fighting style I had developed to defeat me, his master! How arrogant is that? How presumptuous! Even if your strength surpasses mine, such arrogant presumption is the only reason for your failure! Arrogance always comes with a price! I... am not to be trifled with either! Chapter 189 183-combo-hit The tornado''s eyes flashed, finally catching the perfect moment when his opponent seemed to be out of breath.In just an instant, his body lunged forward, like a ravenous wolf longing for flesh and blood, eagerly unfolding his own gluttonous feast. Surrounding the target who had almost lost the ability to counterattack, Tornado''s figure shifted rapidly, leaning into every possible vulnerable spot to unleash his full offensive output in an instant. It was like a hurricane swirling around Bai E, a combat scene so fast that the figures were nearly indistinct¡ªthis was the origin of his moniker "Tornado"! This wasn''t a name he gave himself, but an honorific bestowed by the spectators! Until this moment, all the frustration and rage that Tornado had felt in this fight seemed to be vented in an instant, as his fists, filled with fury, pummeled down on that frightful and disgusting body from all directions like raindrops. "Bang bang bang bang bang!" Each powerful punch landed hard, and the sounds of fists striking muscle were incessant. Deathblow combo¡ªthat was his proud finishing move in this underground boxing ring! Every opponent who had the misfortune to be caught in this combo had, without exception, fallen! No one... "Bang!" The quickly delivered right punch was caught in a grip by a palm that wasn''t particularly large, and as Tornado''s gaze traveled from the palm to the wrist, forearm, and upper arm, he didn''t even notice the fear that had crept into his own eyes. [You have spent 80 points of combat experience in learning, converted into 40 points of "Combat Mastery" experience. (High probability of awakening special attributes.)] (Stacked) [Long-term learning has allowed you to draw enough experience from your opponent''s fighting style, and your specialized ability¡ªCombat Expertise, has received a new "special" attribute boost!] [Combat Expertise (Level 1): Strike Power +2%, Evasion +1%, Block +1%, Combo (Special) +1.] [Combo (Level 1): Exerts as much muscle strength as possible in the shortest force exertion time, increasing attack speed by 50%, with strike power gradually increasing to the peak at 110% of Overlimit performance.] [Current Combat Mastery experience 249/300, at 300 points you can master "Level 2 Combat Expertise".] As the aggressor who had been on the offensive, Tornado subconsciously realized that his attacks hadn''t completely broken through the opponent''s defenses. An attack that dragged on... Bai E''s lips curled slightly, his smile blooming recklessly, "My turn..." As Tornado''s stamina was depleted, Bai E''s counterattack was launched in an instant. The roles of attack and defense were reversed. "Bang bang bang bang bang!" Endless fists landed heavily, one after another, on Tornado''s muscular body. The muscles, taut as stone, gradually softened under the relentless combo, and the core elements of force exertion that Dan had mentioned were circulating in Bai E''s mind. Even under the storm-like offensive, Bai E still tried to rapidly marshal his muscular strength in the attack to exert an even more formidable striking power. "Bang!" A punch hit the chest. Bai E had carefully avoided striking any fatal points after breaking through the defenses, yet Tornado, already defeated in spirit, had lost the willpower to resist both physically and mentally. Without the need for Bai E to throw another punch, the heavy body flopped limply backward and crashed to the ground. The only thought lingering in Tornado''s muddled consciousness was¡ª How did it seem like he wasn''t hurt at all after so many blows? ... [Your body is rapidly healing from injuries, don''t worry! Warrior!] [Injury repair progress 80%, Rapid Recovery (unlocked) unlocking progress 37%.] [Using "Combo" to knock down the target, Combat Mastery experience +5.] "Boom!" His body collapsed with a thunderous fall, heavily smashing onto the steel platform. The counterattack came too quickly for the audience to even change their tune, resulting in an immediate silence. "Congratulations on witnessing a splendid battle! Our winner is, the White Phantom!" The host''s voice was filled with fervor, "What did we just see! Tornado fell to his most formidable Storm Strike! It seems our newcomer is also a player who likes quick attacks!" As the voice faded into the background, Bai E, stepping down from the arena, found a staff member, "Arrange the next match for me, the sooner the better." There was no time to wait, he couldn''t wait a moment longer! "You... don''t you need to rest?" the staff member asked, astonished by the newcomer''s impressive physique. Shaking his head, Bai E kept his breathing even, "No, that was just a warm-up." In the few breaths after stepping down from the arena, Overlimit Drive had already converted the abundant reserves of kinetic energy into actual physical strength. In maintaining his condition, Bai E had a huge natural advantage. The first battle lasted... 7 minutes. ... In the surveillance room, the person in charge squinted at the monitor, observing the figure still standing. "Can you see it?" A muscular man with a formidable presence behind him responded in a deep, echoing voice, "Another expert here to hone their skills." Such people were not rare in the Underground Colosseum; they were not here solely for the release it provided, nor were they particularly driven by bets or money. The only reason these individuals participated in the combats was to refine their battle skills. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had their developed philosophies of combat but suppressed their full potential to learn from observing their opponents'' tactics and adaptively countering them. Even the initial Blood God did the same... While many shared this mindset, very few actually succeeded. Learning an opponent''s strengths during short battles and defeating them using their own tactics is undoubtedly a formidable challenge. Many self-proclaimed experts have fallen embarrassingly due to such attitudes. In this place, keeping a continuous presence on the stage meant none were to be taken lightly. Of course, it could also be for those battle gangs... The person in charge''s gaze swept over some of the quieter corners of the entire colosseum¡ªthis venue was also seen as a cradle of talent, with many gangs from the city sending scouts to find suitable fighters. Discover stories at empire A contestant could freely choose to seek wealth and status, and the gangs could select talents they desired for private contacts... or through the organiser, provided they pay a certain fee after succeeding. "Boss..." a voice came through the headset hanging from his ear, "White Phantom says he wants to keep fighting, and the sooner the better." "..." The person in charge paused for a moment, then responded, "Who was scheduled for the next match?" "Viper versus Fang." After thinking it over, the person in charge made a decision, "Let White Phantom replace Fang, give him continuous combat." Continuous combat was undoubtedly a huge draw. Few contestants dared to take such a risk, but since the contestant himself requested it and his displayed strength didn''t seem delusional, the organisers would not pass up such an obviously exciting match-up. And besides... Viper was a special opponent. ... "News received, the freshly victorious White Phantom has requested consecutive battles!" "Next up, White Phantom will face Viper!" Chapter 190 184 Kiss of the Viper "Viper...""That''s one sly old fox!" Whispers of intrigue momentarily rose among the audience, only to be buried beneath even more boisterous voices. "Viper is just looking for some fun, but the True God is all about the White Ghost." "The White Ghost is truly fierce, Viper is nothing in comparison." "With fists faster than a tornado, Viper would be on the ground in no time." ... "I''m betting on Viper, 500!" "All in on Viper! 97!" "You need to bet at least 100 to place a wager." "Bro, lend me 3 coins..." This was a unique opponent, whose fights at first glance appeared to be the most ordinary and dull, but it was only at the most critical, perilous moments that the deadly intent hidden within that split second would be revealed. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The way of the assassin is to court death in order to live. Seizing the opportunity for a daring move meant either crippling the opponent or falling heavily wounded oneself. If both fighters'' styles involved careful observation for vulnerabilities in the other''s attacks, then the early stage of the match might be quite uneventful. Considering the fighting style the White Ghost had just displayed, that was very likely. Addressing the concerns raised by the muscular man behind him, the person in charge shook his head with a smile, his eyes filled with trust as he watched the black and red figure step into the arena once more on the monitor, "Such a person aims to learn from the unique combat style of the opponent in order to perfect their own fighting theory. Just one exchange, and upon detecting Viper''s purpose, he''ll take the initiative to draw out Viper''s best." Victory was not his objective, self-improvement was. Such confident fighters were actually the favorites in the arena, they always forced their opponents to exert their full strength. But as for whether the fighter was being arrogant or confident, that was hard to say. ... Bai E saw his opponent before him. Stooped in stature, he appeared quite despicable and base, lowering his eyes as he looked at people, as if subconsciously flattering them. Even knowing that such characters would not appear in this setting, one still couldn''t help but feel contempt for him. Whether he was being underestimated or not, Bai E didn''t care. His fists itched for a fight, eager to brawl. Flexing his fists, Bai E glanced towards the edge of the ring. The door seemed to sense his intent and closed with a "bang." It also signified that the battle had officially started! The opponent kept on smirking in that vile manner, inspiring disgust at a glance. Bai E charged forward with swift steps, his punch charged with full force aiming straight for the face. If the opponent didn''t want to strike first, let him stew in it. Combination attack! From the moment he launched his attack, Bai E laid his cards on the table. Wasting energy? Exposing weaknesses? He didn''t care! He was all about wild aggression. With his fast recovery and Overlimit Drive at his disposal, he wouldn''t feel the weakness that typically came after delivering combinations¡ªas long as he desired, there would be no such feebleness. He was eager to see what this opponent had up his sleeve. Sure enough, upon trading blows, Bai E could feel how tricky his opponent was. His adversary hopped around like a monkey, agilely dodging and even when struck by a punch, it seemed to lack force and never hit solidly. Yet the impression his opponent gave was somehow like a boat in a fury storm, as if he might capsize at any moment by an inconspicuous wave, tottering on the edge. Despite his powerful punches and the roaring winds they broke through, they failed to pose a decisive threat to the target. If a tornado was the harmony of footwork and attack, then this opponent represented the perfect defense within footwork. The adversary was like the most patient hunter, waiting for his prey to expose a fatal vulnerability on its own. Moving, observing, biding his time. And inescapable. Once the battle commenced, there was a feeling akin to being watched by Viper, an almost tangible cold air circulating, pressuring the aggressor with an anxious desire to defeat the opponent and put an end to this unsettling sensation. This subconscious impulse arose from a blend of rational and instinctive self-judgment, rather than any special influence from another, and didn''t even fall within the realms controlled by hormonal secretions of the body, with "self-restraint" having no effect on it at all. It forced him, as the adversary, into a growing madness, akin to the delirium and convulsions that followed a snake bite. But Bai E didn''t care! [You have spent 100 points of combat experience learning, which is converted into 50 points of "Combat Mastery" experience. (A very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] (Accumulated) [Current Combat Mastery experience 4/500, "Level 2 Combat Specialist" learned, synchronously gaining 1 potential point.] [Combat Specialist (Level 2): Strike Power +4%, Evasion +2%, Blocking +2%, Combo (Special) +2.] [Combo (Level 2): Within the shortest time of exerting force, deploy as much muscle power as possible, increasing attack speed by 55%, and gradually elevating strike power to a peak 120% with Overlimit performance.] For a moment, Bai E''s punches became more formidable, his fists alternating in a nearly impenetrable flurry. Onlookers outside the ring recognized the familiar scene whenever Viper was in combat, lively and intense, but all the more dubious for it. "It''s that familiar feeling again..." "It looks impressive, but what use is it if it doesn''t kill?" "He just used this tactic to exhaust Tornado, now why does he look dumb against a different opponent?" Feeling his opponent''s growing eagerness to take him down, Viper''s mouth corners subtly curled up in the unseen shadows, "That''s more like it." Explore stories at empire There were no fools among the fighters who ran rampant in this arena, and one''s own fighting style was no secret in this combat ring either. However, each of his opponents found themselves trapped in a difficult situation as they fought. Chapter 191 184 Kiss of the Viper_2 Patience... and stamina.He had not been without defeat; in that one lost battle, he had not managed to strike a single blow from beginning to end. The opponent''s perfect attacking rhythm left him no chance for retaliation, and the abundant stamina the opponent possessed completely drained his own, as the defender. He had suffered a crushing defeat in that battle, so much so that he even began to deeply doubt the combat style he adhered to, sinking into silent contemplation and absence from even a single match for a long time. It wasn''t until that opponent later achieved a dazzling and unbelievable record in this arena that he finally let go¡ª It wasn''t that he was weak, it was just that the opponent was too strong. That opponent was known as the "Blood God"! An opponent like that, there was only one, and there would only be one! Beyond that, all other opponents would merely become stepping stones for him, step by step as he climbed upwards! ... [You have spent 330 points of combat experience, converting into 165 points of "Martial Prowess" experience. (Medium probability of awakening special attributes.)] (Accumulated) [To suppress to death?] A trace of hesitation flickered in Bai E''s mind. He could feel that his opponent was waiting for his moment of weakness to come, but in fact... with his fast recovery and Overlimit Drive, it was almost impossible for that moment to arrive. As long as he maintained his peak condition, his opponent would definitely not reveal their final fangs. Then he would truly be suppressed to death. So what exactly was this opponent''s fighting style... or to say, special characteristics¡ªwas it his unique guardian ability? Or was it his final, thrilling gamble for life? Or perhaps both? "Huh~" Bai E''s muscles relaxed slightly. He needed to give his opponent an opportunity to show off; otherwise, what a loss it would be to spend all that time and earn experience without learning the opponent''s treasured skills? "Here it comes!" His keen intuition for combat allowed the Viper to detect the weakness in his opponent''s state immediately. Seizing the moment when Bai E''s guard was down, the slightly skinny Viper risked a punch to the shoulder and thrust forward into the inner circle, his fingers formed into a sword with a vicious killing move aimed straight at Bai E''s throat. Signature move¡ªViper''s Kiss! This move was supposed to be executed with a nimble weapon like a dagger, incredibly dangerous. But fingers trained to the extreme were no less potent than any weapon, able to cause injury or death just as well when hitting vital points. The sharpness akin to a blade''s edge assailed Bai E''s senses as he, facing the Viper''s stabbing fingers, subconsciously mounted an emergency defense; his hands forming a barrier which overlapped into a shield at the last moment, blocking the fatal strike. However, it was exactly upon blocking the finger thrust that he suddenly felt as if struck by lightning at his lower abdomen. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cold sweat poured down like a waterfall, the extreme pain radiating swiftly from that single point to his entire body. Bai E pushed his palms horizontally to force the opponent back and suddenly covered the right side of his lower abdomen, staggering back a step. Blood streamed down! The Viper, who had at last revealed his true intentions, also showed a look of psychotic joy in his eyes. He savored the blood and flesh he had torn away, bringing it to his lips for a light suck as if it were some exquisite delicacy. The crimson blood smeared over his lips, and the malevolently insane atmosphere enveloped the entire "cage" instantly. Outside the ring, the enforcers sought approval from their superiors, "Should we intervene?" "The contestant hasn''t given up yet, what''s the hurry?" Non-lethal matches in the arena only ensured no loss of life; pain and disability were not taken into account. To step onto this stage also meant accepting this agreement. Blood was needed to stimulate the nerves of those who had grown numb. Otherwise, what would sustain their arena? Hone their own skills? Losers don''t deserve to speak such words. Within a solitary room, a figure who had been resting with closed eyes unknowingly opened them at some point, looking at the injured figure in the arena, a hint of interest emerging in those calm eyes. ... Bai E removed his right hand from the wound, the fresh red blood already moistening his fingertips, flesh swelling in a desperate effort to seal the wound and prevent more blood from flowing out. But the intense pain was still corroding Bai E''s nerves. This old man''s fingernails... were poisoned! Not fatal, but enough to make the experienced pain skyrocket. Your next read is at empire And as blood flowed, body temperature boiled, affecting the entire body. Even such illicit acts were tolerated by this arena... It truly was... despicable! Pain made his body tremble; he could easily have suppressed its spread to his nerves, but this time Bai E chose not to curb the sensation. After a slight tremor, Bai E''s body suddenly ceased shaking at a certain moment. All the pain transformed into a deep rage¡ª The purpose of honing one''s skills was to improve one''s frontal combat abilities; humanity''s greatest enemies were the bugs, machines, demons¡ªthose terrifying foes. These despicable tricks, aside from wreaking havoc amongst their own during civil strife, what use did they have? Having a sliver of strategy, yet spending it all on their own kind! This opponent had already become tiresome! [You have spent 270 points of combat experience, converting into 135 points of "Martial Prowess" experience. (High probability of awakening special attributes.)] (Accumulated) [Your lengthy learning process has allowed you to draw enough experience from your opponent''s combat style, your specialization ability¡ªMartial Specialization, has been enhanced with a brand new "special" attribute!] [Martial Specialization (Level 2): Strike power +4%, Dodge +2%, Block +2%, Combo (Special) +2, Guardian Fortification (Special) +50%, Opportunism (Special) +2%.] Chapter 192 184 Kiss of the Viper_3 [Current combat mastery experience: 304/500. At 500 points, "Level 3 Combat Specialization" can be mastered.]Lying in wait, ready to strike! He magnified a tiny weakness in his opponent''s performance to the extreme, using all his own strength to amplify this flaw, to the point where it became the absolute factor in the opponent''s defeat. That was the opponent''s fighting style. As for his own weakness... it had always been there! Bai E took the initiative to attack once more, his strikes swift and forceful. His first two attempts to seize the opponent were dodged, but the momentum of the dodging actions could not perfectly evade the final side-swinging heavy punch, and the viper was forced to block. His fundamentals were incredibly solid; his basic combat skills were so refined it was hard to believe, especially in blocking and dodging where he was almost perfect¡ªable to dissipate most of the strength even when blocking attacks from a stronger opponent, allowing him to slip away like a fish. But this assumed that the gap in strength wasn''t too obvious. In their first exchange, Bai E, sensing his opponent''s lack of strength, did not use the burst of Overlimit Drive. That is to say, during the entirety of this fight, Bai E was holding back his strength. Would he suppress his foe until the end or suddenly suppress with overwhelming force? It was all within a single thought for Bai E. Once this opponent had lost his usefulness, there was no need to drag it out any longer! Fist met arm, and the unexpectedly massive force that hit the viper was not enough to cause injury, but the surprising strength unbalanced him. The viper stumbled backward, a shiver going through him instinctively. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the first time in the battle that something had happened that took him by surprise; until now, no matter how dangerous his situation seemed, it was all within the realms of planned defense. And now... Their eyes crossed, and the viper saw in his opponent''s eyes a burning passion brewing. He had seen that look many times before; every opponent thought he was not much of a challenge. That was the look of those frustratedly toys by the clown without recourse. But now... there seemed to be something different. Another punch! The falling viper had no time for deep thoughts, facing the oncoming punch he could only cross his arms and brace... "Crack!" Experience more content on empire A slight bone-cracking sound transmitted within his body, but what was more critical was the complete disruption of his balance. Fate was no longer under his control. Before a dreadful sentiment could surface in his heart, a large hand had already grabbed his worn collar... as if seizing fate by the neck. Bai E''s right fist was drawn from behind, the longest possible swing allowing the punch to build power to its peak, unleashing the peak of strength Bai E was capable of. Inch by inch... The viper watched helplessly as the fist rapidly grew larger before his eyes, "I surrender!" got swallowed up by the speed of the punch. Rage unleashed! Give it to me! Smash! "Bang!" "Thump!" "Crack~" The figure flew backward, crossing a distance of more than ten meters in an instant and violently hitting the coarse iron net, before falling to the ground like a heap of rotten meat with a "plop". His limbs twitched a few times, then fell still. The emergency medical team that was at the ready sprang into action, as death was generally not allowed in non-lethal gladiatorial contests¡ªthe indefinitely pummeling of an incapacitated opponent was definitely not possible. But as for being knocked out with a single punch, one could only say it was bad luck; no one would blame the victor. Even more so, they would offer up the most fervent cheers! The punch had not only crushed the viper, but it had also ignited the passion of every spectator. Like a mountain and sea, insane shouts and frenzied roars were released, indistinguishable screams mixed with the exploding beats of the music, overwhelming the senses. The noise engulfed the entire venue like a tsunami, with Bai E standing at the center, silent and unmoving. The chaotic noise made the whole arena seem to revolve around him, but his mind at that moment was unusually calm. [I didn''t add any charge...] He looked up at the stands; every direction he gazed upon exploded into an even more intense cheer, but his gaze calmly swept over each of the spectators. Why didn''t I add any charge? Because I was wearing a mask? Because they didn''t know my real identity? But that wasn''t a prerequisite. The last time he had saved people under the chaos at Black Street during the Fire Rat outbreak, few knew his real identity either. Maybe it was because... mixed within this worship were too many crazy impurities? His special skill required something much purer. Bai E lowered his eyelids and quietly walked towards the exit. Time taken for the second match... 10 minutes. Chapter 193 185 Furious Lion He had spent a total of 1300 combat experience points, in exchange for nearly a Combat Specialization Layer 3 and three special attribute bonuses.Indeed, the most direct combat was the fastest way to improve oneself; a danger that was both close to real battle yet not as deadly had its unique charm. No wonder those who lived in the dreariness found a bit of joy in it. Clutching near his wound, trying his best to stem the bleeding, Bai E made his way back to the war room. The attendants there swallowed hard as they looked at the blood-soaked wound and then at the man whose half-masked face appeared expressionless. "Do you need... someone to tend to your wound?" "No need. I can handle it myself, just bring me a medical kit," he replied. The attendant who brought the medical kit stood by, ready for the moment the strong man might need assistance. As he tended to his wound, a voice suddenly broke the silence, "Keep arranging matches for me... as soon as possible." ... "He still wants to fight?" The person in charge frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on the figure in the rest area treating his own wound, the color of blood undeniably eye-catching, "Where did this madman come from?" This was the most dangerous arena, not someone''s backyard. In the most perilous battles, a moment''s distraction could invite a storm of blows, especially with wounds already bleeding. Here, there were few who respected martial virtues; an injury was like an open invitation for targeting. Even if the fights weren''t to the death, the risk of injury, and a serious one at that, was high. The one who had nearly wrecked Viper couldn''t possibly be ignorant of the rules here, yet he still wanted to fight consecutively? Madman! But what did it have to do with him? How many here weren''t madmen? If someone could bring in profits, that was the talent he liked! The last two fights had already earned a significant sum; the more controversial the fight, the more it attracted attention. The news of his third consecutive battle, once released, would only draw more and more spectators. It was, in a sense, the perfect setup for tonight''s main event. "Ladies and gentlemen, I''ve received another incredible piece of news..." the host''s voice was filled with passion, "The White Ghost, with his two consecutive victories, requests to continue fighting. To give our most courageous contestant a little time to recover, please be patient. And let me give you a little hint, the White Ghost''s next opponent will be someone who has yet to be defeated... but it''s a secret." "F*ck!" "Damn your hide!" The unsatisfied audience erupted in curses, immediately followed by cautious discussions with acquaintances nearby; after all, it concerned their wallets. "The White Ghost seemed to be quite injured just now." "That old Viper''s sneak attack must have hit hard; resting for a bit won''t help, how could such injuries heal so fast?" "But since he dares to request consecutive fights, he must be confident. I believe in the White Ghost." Discover hidden content at empire "In my opinion, this White Ghost is a pure madman; he doesn''t have any confidence, he won''t leave unless he throws himself on this stage." Among the numerous discussions, there were all sorts of opinions, but when the "rumor" came out, it almost unanimously swayed them. "I heard the White Ghost''s next opponent will be Mad Lion Paul..." "Then it''s a win for the White Ghost!" "Exactly! He must be confident to ask for consecutive fights. I regret not betting on the White Ghost earlier; this time I''m all in on him." "Brothers, bet on the White Ghost, it''s a sure win this time!" ... During the rest period, no other matches were arranged, as the organizers left enough time for this heavyweight match to simmer. When the host announced the competitor''s name, the savvy ones had already placed their bets. "All in! I must go all in this time!" "Bet it all on Mad Lion!" "105 coins on Mad Lion, is that it?" the registrar asked with a deadpan expression and dead fish eyes. "Shh~ Keep your voice down, don''t let them hear!" "Damn *ssholes." Mad Lion, also known as the Junior Blood God. ... The opponent was a sunny young man with golden hair, whose smile was radiant to the extreme. He seemed extremely affable and approachable, not at all reflecting the "madness" in his title. His gaze lingered on Bai E''s waist, eyeing the white bandage still oozing red, and he said with a bright smile, "I''ll try to avoid your wound." "I''d rather you aimed for it," Bai E said expressionlessly. Paul''s smile faltered as he deeply gazed into Bai E''s eyes exposed outside the mask, "You''re even crazier than me." Bai E''s face slightly lifted, his gaze disdainful, "Did they ask you to fight just so you could chat?" "Haha! Alright!" Mad Lion Paul burst into laughter, instantly accelerating. His handsome and tall stature surged forward like a lion, each movement from his golden-proportioned body seemingly possessing the regal and domineering air of a lion king. As his opponent, one could always feel the suffocating pressure as if one were alone in the wilderness, face to face with such a beast king. Bai E could see this opponent''s explosive rate¡ªCombat Specialization Layer 4. The level isn''t especially high, just like the Viper earlier. But their styles of fighting are completely different. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Despite the same Combat Specialization Layer, Mad Lion Paul''s oppressive force was fully dialed up. Clearly, in the training of special attributes, this Mad Lion had a higher level of aggressiveness. The practical combat instructor, Dan, had previously told everyone the theory of integrating offense, defense, and footwork as the most basic entry-level and the absolute concept throughout combat. Yet, on this foundation, each individual''s direction for strength development was different. Barehanded combat differs from firearms and blades, which almost certainly result in life-or-death situations. Every black fist fighter who can gain countless combat experiences in this relatively safe arena has their unique understanding of combat. So the special attributes they train are diverse and varied. The opponent, Mad Lion Paul, in some ways resembled the bio-guard soldiers he had faced earlier, with moves that were broad and unrestrained in dealing with external enemies, along with various joint-locking techniques specifically tailored for the human body. Even in terms of strength, he was not inferior to himself when using Overlimit Drive¡­ Does he have a similar strength-enhancement specialization? Or is his physical fitness over 15? Unknown. But it did definitely make Bai E feel overmatched. If it weren''t for the recently acquired "Enhanced Defense," he would probably be completely taken down within a minute. An opponent whose strength was no less than his and who far surpassed him in technique. This world is still¡­ full of masters! ... Watching the opponent appearing somewhat perilous under the pursuit of their young master, two silent figures in a quiet corner of the audience seats suddenly let out a light chuckle. "Thought we had a real master here, but that''s all the level there is." "The young master''s goal is to tame that beast¡­ an enemy of this caliber is of course no concern." "I heard tonight is the chance for that beast to make an appearance. I wonder if the young master will take action." "Probably not¡­" Although the young master is formidable, he definitely isn''t a match for that publicly acknowledged top black fist fighter yet; he still needs more experience. Not to mention, the organizer announced a three against one scenario. With our young master''s pride, he surely wouldn''t step in under such conditions. Thinking of that ferocious beast, a twinge of regret flashed through the eyes of one of the cloaked figures, "Only the military would waste such talent." Until now, they hadn''t issued a Gene Optimization Solution to such a person with unlimited potential, causing his abilities to be stuck within the current physical limitations. The three basic attributes of the body have their maximum human limits, and it''s the same with other abilities. Once the specialization level is high, without sufficient basic attribute support, it''s impossible to elevate or utilize those abilities. Without access to the Gene Optimization Solution, even the most talented would eventually be confined within the cage of the human body. Another figure, a charming silhouette, spoke with a light, amused tone, "It''s not that the military doesn''t care, we just don''t have the opportunity to recruit such individuals." Any expert not valued by the military is seen as a rare main force in their city''s war gangs. And since they want to recruit¡­ they naturally have ways to make the military release such individuals, though not exactly by the book. After talking about that beast, both of their gazes refocused on the current battle, "This fight should be ending soon, I guess¡­" "To persist in wanting to counterattack shows the opponent''s commendable will to fight, but in the face of absolute power¡­" ... [You spent 250 points of combat experience in learning, converting into 125 points of "Combat Mastery" experience. (Medium chance to awaken a special attribute.)](Accumulated) [Your long-term learning has allowed you to extract enough experience from your opponent''s fighting method. Your specialization skill¡ªCombat Specialization, has gained a new "special" attribute bonus!] [Combat Specialization (Layer 2): Strike Power +4%, Evasion +2%, Block +2%, Rapid Strike (Special) +2, Enhanced Defense (Special) +50%, Opportune (Special) +2%, Joint Technique (Special) +20%.] ... Voices from the corner expressed doubt, "Why do I feel¡­ like the young master''s opponent has stabilized again?" The originally precarious battle situation had somehow¡­ reached a stalemate? The charming figure squinted, watching intently for a while before opening her rosy mouth in surprise, "He¡­ he''s learning the young master''s combat techniques!" Chapter 194 186-person combat system The original opponent''s greatest concern when facing the young master was his use of joint weaknesses, but now, after some time to get accustomed, targeting those commonly used joint weaknesses had become less effective. The opponent could now successfully extricate himself from the young master''s clutches during those occasional entanglements.This meant that he was no longer so passive when facing the young master''s attacks. In previous battles, this opponent of the young master had never shown such familiarity with joint techniques. "Is he hiding his skill, or is he learning?" If it is learning... The two exchanged a glance, both with a hint of shock in their eyes. "It doesn''t matter; even if he''s not that passive, he will never be able to win against the young master." ... The attacks were always interrupted before they could land, and the rare counterstrikes could hardly be executed with perfect force. This frustrating feeling was enough to make one want to spit blood. After becoming accustomed to Mad Lion''s most troublesome joint techniques and not being so timid, Bai E could now manage the occasional counterattack. But the feeling during the counterattacks was not much different from being suppressed, if not more uncomfortable. This Mad Lion had a special technique for interrupting attacks. But it doesn''t matter, I can fight with you for a whole day! What is yours will be mine. [You have spent 370 points of combat experience in learning...] (Stacked) [Martial Mastery (Level 3): Strike Power +6%, Evasion +3%, Blocking +3%, Combo (Special) +3, Enhanced Defense (Special) +100%, Opportunism (Special) +4%, Joint Techniques (Special) +40%, Intercepting (Special) +5%.] ... "The young master''s attack has been blocked as well..." "It doesn''t matter, the young master still has..." ... [You have spent 350 points of combat experience in learning...] (Stacked) [Martial Mastery (Level 3): Strike Power +6%, Evasion +3%, Blocking +3%, Combo (Special) +3, Enhanced Defense (Special) +100%, Opportunism (Special) +4%, Joint Techniques (Special) +40%, Intercepting (Special) +5%, Inch Power (Special) +17%.] ... "It doesn''t matter..." ... [You have spent 290 points of combat experience in learning...] (Stacked) [Martial Mastery (Level 3): Strike Power +6%, Evasion +3%, Blocking +3%, Combo (Special) +3, Enhanced Defense (Special) +100%, Opportunism (Special) +4%, Joint Techniques (Special) +40%, Intercepting (Special) +5%, Acupoint Striking (Special) +1%, Whip Tail (Special) +1.] ... "...the master still has." ... "I quit!" Mad Lion Paul, looking as if he had been fished out of the water, lay on the ground like a dead dog, too lazy to even move a finger, "I give up! I quit!" "Ah?" Bai E was slightly taken aback, "That''s it?" He was just getting into the swing of secretly learning. He had finally understood a saying, whatever doesn''t defeat you makes you stronger. With the player template, as long as he had enough combat experience, he could rapidly increase his strength by spending experience in various ways. [In the battle, you have perceived your opponent''s attack intentions and quickly reacted to counter, Reflex +0.1.] [Current Martial Mastery Experience 434/1000, at 1000 points you can master "Level 4 Martial Mastery".] [Your fighting ability has formed a strong personal style, integrating all your learning, and you are in the process of acquiring a unique personal combat system, current integration progress 33%...] Martial Mastery, compared to other types of mastery, is indeed slightly different, with a dazzling array of special attribute bonuses. And it seems that once a certain amount of special attributes is reached, one can develop a unique combat style or specialization of their own. Is this the reward mentioned in the sparring mission¡ªUnderground Fighting? The enhancement he had obtained in the pursuit of results, similar to the Overlimit Drive acquired before, had become another unexpected gain. The consumption of experience was also massive, even more so... Of course, Bai E did not regret it. Physical combat abilities didn''t just determine one''s strength when unarmed; they were also crucially important for training the overall quality of the body and every other action requiring bodily coordination. The body is the foundation of everything. By honing his unarmed combat abilities to the limit, Bai E felt that it would always serve a greater purpose in the future, since according to official statements¡ªthe personal martial power of this era was so formidable that it could even contend with starships alone. As insubstantial as duckweed, gazing up at the starry sky... Lying on the ground in defeat, Dead Lion Robby tilted his head to look at the figure still standing, his eyes filled with incomprehension, "Don''t you ever get tired?" Bai E remembered the persona he had crafted for himself, his face gently lifting, lips curling slightly, "You were close to taking me down... too bad, you''ll never have that chance again." Seeing the other approaching, Paul, weakened in body, felt a flutter of nerves, his throat worked, and he swallowed. He knew what it meant to be defeated here, but he had already called "surrender" in advance. His gaze involuntarily shifted toward the sidelines¡ªwhere were the enforcers? Save me, enforcers! The enforcers, realizing the potential danger, ran towards this side while calling out, "The match is over, no injuring the contestants!" "Whew~" The afterimage of a palm swung before his eyes, and Paul closed them instinctively. After he waited a moment without feeling the blow, he opened his eyes to find a hand firmly stopped in front of him. On the other side of the half-mask, it seemed as if the opponent was puzzled by his reaction, head tilted slightly and staring at him quizzically. Using the provided support to rise to his feet, Paul, a bit bashfully, expressed his gratitude, "Thank... thank you." Enjoy new tales from empire "It is I who should thank you." Bai E waved his hand and walked towards the passage to his rest area. The announcer''s delayed voice rang out behind him, "After a fierce struggle, our newcomer, the Ghostly White, has emerged victorious from this intense battle! With the vigor of a mighty beast, perhaps after this fight, it''s time to prepare another title more suitable for the Ghostly White!" Paul, his steps a bit unsteady, looked at the initially cocky yet now dominantly striding silhouette, a hint of longing in his eyes. Such a carefree and unrestrained life was exactly what he aspired to. [Perhaps next time we could ask if he''s willing to join our battle gang...] ["Lucky Strike" energy recharge +1.] ... Staring at the figure slowly leaving the arena on the monitor, the arena manager narrowed his eyes and contemplated for a moment before instructing his subordinates through the voice-command, "Ask him if he would like to join tonight''s battle against the Blood God." "Yes!" ... Having stepped into the shadows of the passage, Bai E''s figure paused, and he looked over his shoulder. The golden figure on the field seemed to still be foolishly staring at his departing back. Was the energy recharge provided by that guy? It seemed out of place in this arena. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If everyone else doesn''t participate and only you do, that definitely suggests a problem... But the outside world''s issues were temporarily unrelated to him. As a player without a strong foundation, it was fine to play the enigma in front of inexperienced players, but for the native inhabitants with myriad eyes and ears, there was no basis for contact or cooperation... Upon returning to the rest room, staff members already waiting approached and asked, "Lord Ghostly White, what are your plans next...?" "I''m not fighting anymore," Bai E declared firmly. He meant what he had said to Mad Lion; if the other had persisted a little longer, he really would have exhausted his reserves of mobility. After fighting tirelessly through three consecutive matches and using Overlimit Drive both to burst and maintain his physical state, he had pushed his mobility reserves to the limit, leaving almost nothing left. If he faced a formidable enemy next and invested his combat experience in the fight, only to be defeated before he could master the special attributes, wouldn''t that be a major loss? Definitely not an option. The staff member, recalling the instructions of their superior, asked again with some persistence, "There is an opportunity to fight the Blood God tonight... You do know who the Blood God is, right?" Chapter 195 187 Blood Sacrifice Ritual Bai E''s tone was light and rising, "I know.""Knowing is good..." Any normal person should be aware of the value of the name ''Blood God'' in this gladiator arena. A smile appeared on the staff''s face, "Now, there''s a chance to defeat the Blood God head-on in a four against one match..." Four against one? Head-on? "Not interested!" Bai E flatly refused. Four against one? Winning wouldn''t lead to any promotion. As for the so-called reputation in this arena, what use had he for it? Even the charge value for a lucky strike wouldn''t increase; it was worthless! In the control room, the person in charge was pressing an earpiece to his ear, listening to his subordinate''s report. "He says he wants to defeat the Blood God alone, he''s not interested in four against one." The person in charge''s lips curled slightly, and a cold light flickered, "Arrogant..." However... "Let him be." It was just a matter of one more or one less offering. The greatest ascension required the finest offerings, and ordinary targets didn''t even qualify to be a part of this ritual! ... Having heard that a match involving the Blood God was coming up, Bai E wasn''t in a hurry to leave. He couldn''t participate, but watching that fellow''s match wouldn''t be bad. It was only after his battle with the Mad Lion that Bai E deeply realized just how great the gap between him and the Blood God had been. Though his speciality level was only six levels behind, it seemed small, yet the special attribute entries included within the Blood God''s abilities were probably far beyond his own. Moreover, after who knows how many battles, his reflex attributes were undoubtedly far beyond his current 12.6 level without any surprise. Even if he had dumped all his experience into direct stat upgrades, the outcome of that battle would probably still have been a crushing defeat. Honed over several years and surviving until now, his practical combat abilities were terrifyingly strong. The only area where he might slightly fall behind was brute strength. With the Overlimit Drive, his strength advantage was unique and exceptional, while the Blood God... had never received even a single dose of Gene Optimization Solution. Despite this, he dared to face three opponents in this brutal arena? During the rest period, Bai E had heard this significant news from others. Tonight, it was heavy enough to be considered. The only thing he was a bit conflicted about was... whether or not to place the 500 Black Street coins from Chavez on the Blood God. Three against one at the top tier level seemed to have a very small chance of victory. Could he lose all of his savings? Night fell, and more and more people arrived... As the news deliberately spread by the arena fermented, almost the entire Black Street and even more people from the settlements outside the city came upon hearing the name. Outside the city there wasn''t just Black Street as a gathering place. The inside of the city was safer, but it also had rules. Those who disliked rules stayed outside the city walls, gradually forming various spontaneous settlements. Black Street was just one such place closer to the military barracks. And as more lively crowds from different areas gathered, the tiers of floors above and below were nearly filled to capacity with people. An unprecedentedly feverish atmosphere enveloped the entire gladiator arena. Those rampant desires, almost tangible, seemed to flow through the air. Bai E felt as if he could see a kind of perverse pink fog spreading in front of his eyes. [The scale is this huge?] Sitting alone in the resting room, Bai E marveled inwardly. The resting room could also be considered a VIP viewing platform. As a rising star, he had this privilege. Unfortunately... It couldn''t be monetized. Leaning back in his seat, Bai E''s eyes slightly glazed over, feeling a bit regretful. No matter how fervent the worship of these people, it couldn''t be converted into charge values for his skills. Otherwise, this place would indeed be a sanctuary for grinding charge values. After winning each match, he probably could count on a full 50 points of charge income. Unfortunately, it was not to be... The crowd was noisy, and to overcome the screeching music and the voices of the foolish around them, everyone spoke louder and louder, naturally inflating their emotions. Where there are more people, control becomes difficult. In a small place packed with people, a slight friction under a violent atmosphere could easily ignite a large melee. It was nearly impossible for the limited staff of the hosting party to maintain order among the inherently chaotic elements. As the situation gradually spiraled out of control and his subordinates were anxiously requesting orders, the person in charge finally pulled out the cigar clamped at the edge of his mouth and, with a ferocious smile, gave the signal, "Begin!" The announcer''s voice violently erupted through the poor quality speakers placed all around. For a moment, the squabbling crowds stopped their fights. "Let''s welcome the fighters to the ring!" Three top-tier fighters in a bare-knuckle match against one! Your next read awaits at empire The result of three top-tier fighters surrounding one would normally be a foregone conclusion, but with the Blood God being the one surrounded, things became uncertain. No matter what, the odds didn''t lie. With odds of 1 to 1.5, viewers still favored the trio slightly more than the lone Blood God. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Blood God was formidable, but his three opponents were also renowned fighters of unmatched strength. Bai E laid eyes on the three opponents of the Blood God. One... was a cybernetically modified fighter. One was an aged warrior with a sturdy physique. And one was a lithe, bloodthirsty desperado. "Hey! Those three guys, what are their stories?" Bai E asked curiously to the staff nearby. The staff member spoke as if reciting from memory, "That modified fighter, nicknamed Viper, used to be a long-standing winning competitor in bare-knuckle fights. He got schemed against once, lost a leg and two hands, got sponsored by the war guild in the city to have cybernetic limbs installed. Now he''s exceptionally ruthless in his moves, and he also has more strength than a normal person." Chapter 196 187 Blood Sacrifice Ritual_2 "That old guy is named Graff, a retired veteran who, I heard, survived over a decade on the front lines in the army barracks. He''s a tough cookie. He probably wouldn''t be boxing here if it weren''t for needing to support a few girls at home," the staff member explained."As for that skinny one... he''s survived twenty-eight death matches, a real Grim Reaper." The last one wasn''t introduced in detail, but the phrase "death match" was enough to prove his worth. Death matches are practically synonymous with an upgraded form of gladiatorial combat. Those who dare to participate are truly ruthless, and to win twenty-eight consecutive battles in this life-threatening setting... Without a doubt, these three opponents were also well-known fighters in this arena. Here, reputation signifies strength! After finishing the introductions, the staff member spoke with a hint of concern, "I don''t understand how Blood God dared accept this match. Although it''s not a death match... these experts, when they really start fighting viciously, even our people may not be able to control the situation." "You don''t think highly of him?" "Hard to say..." the staff member cautiously glanced at the surveillance camera above his head, then leaned in and whispered gossip, "Every once in a while, sacrificing some controversial fighters is a way to keep the arena hot. Sir... if you ever find yourself in that situation, you better be very careful." "Oh?" Bai E glanced at him and casually tossed a couple of banknotes his way, "You seem to really care about people." The staff member bowed and scraped as he went to pick them up, "Mainly because I can see you have the bearing of a king! I wouldn''t tell just anybody..." ... Mad Lion, who also had a private resting room, was hugging a girl while enjoying the service of another behind him. Doubt from a girl''s voice reached his ears, "Young Master, do you think Blood God stands a chance?" "I don''t know..." Watching the four unwavering experts on the field, Paul was frowning as well. He knew that with his current strength, it would be difficult to win against any one of these four alone, so he wasn''t very confident in his judgment of this highest-level confrontation. But... "Since Blood God dared accept it, he must have some level of confidence." Of the many star fighters in this arena, only Blood God was satisfying enough for him to want to recruit. The character of artificial people is resolute and stable. Having suffered unjust treatment for so long within the barracks without showing any dissatisfaction, recruiting him would undoubtedly be an excellent acquisition of a top-notch fighter. The precondition is... he must not be disabled by those three guys in this battle. After a brief mutual appraisal, the four fighters burst into action almost simultaneously, fiercely initiating combat. Even facing three opponents, Blood God displayed a highly comprehensive combat ability. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fight between them was extremely dangerous. It was evident that the other three experts, in their first cooperative fight, were not perfectly in sync, which gave Blood God a slim chance to find vulnerabilities. From a distance, Bai E could not clearly see every minute movement of the four, but an obvious fact emerged after the fight began. That old soldier named Graff seemed to show a slight reluctance toward the battle. In comparison to the swift and treacherous Grim Reaper, and the Mechanical Viper with slightly delayed response due to his mechanical arm but with tremendous force, the veteran seemed... somewhat disengaged. No discernible personal characteristics were apparent. Of course, it could also be that it was simply his fighting style. Bai E didn''t dare make a rash judgment. His main focus was still on Blood God. This camp''s strongest close-combat warrior, who did not use Gene Optimization Solution, might also be the benchmark of a common human''s pinnacle in this era. ... On the field, amid the rapidly changing figures, Graff''s eyes clouded slightly. Normally, this was not allowed in such a situation, as any distraction could be fatal, but it was only the cover from his two peers of equal rank that allowed him some leeway to slack off. The words of the arena manager still echoed in his mind, "Either you three kill him or he kills the three of you! From the moment you set foot in the arena, you only need to remember this¡ªkill him, and you will get a generous reward; if he kills you, I will make sure your families are well cared for. They will be safe, happy, and grow up without being bullied. I have already submitted this agreement to the Council for backup; you can rest assured. Understood?" Blood God does not fight in death matches. But why force a fighter who doesn''t participate in death matches into such a life-or-death scenario? And he himself remains unaware of the reason. Looking at the artificial humanoid warrior in the midst of combat, his face serene as he focused on fighting, Graff felt a pang of pity. "What are you thinking!" Amidst the melee, Viper''s chilling voice reminded him, "If we don''t kill him, we all die." "I know," Graff muttered in response. From the moment he signed the agreement, he knew this outcome, and even thought he was mentally prepared for it. But, upon actually entering the arena, he still saw his own past self in the figure of the opposing warrior. Find exclusive stories on empire Clenching his fists tightly, Graff seized the opening left by his teammate, surging forward with a shout. The flicker of Spiritual Energy disrupted the space, the powerful suction momentarily causing Blood God to falter, nearly letting Graff grasp him with his left hand. But even as he escaped the grasp, the sudden interference deformed Blood God''s movements. In such a perilous situation, any slight distraction could lead to a fatal blow. Chapter 197 187 Blood Sacrifice Ritual_3 It was just a moment, but Blood God''s situation was precarious.... Apart from the piercing music, the gladiator arena suddenly fell eerily silent. The joint combat of the four experts produced an aura akin to a genuine fight to the death, spreading a chilling murderous intent that silenced the usually raucous spectators, leaving them inexplicably heart-pounded and mute. Watching the Blood God struggle from the control room, a subordinate looked at the person in charge with some confusion, "Boss, was the sacrifice we chose for him too strong?" Those three were selected sacrifices, crucial for the enactment of this ascension ritual; but, looking at how things were developing, the ''sacrifices'' seemed capable of bringing down the ''main character''? "So what if they are? What does it matter?" The person in charge retorted with an eerie smile, seemingly indifferent to the situation in the arena, "Only the blood warriors who fully embrace combat can become servants of the master! If they can''t overcome this, then let them die!" If one cannot face their inner self in battle and embrace the power that comes from bloodshed and slaughter, then they should die! How can a sacrifice that lacks qualification compel the most fervent, purest desire for slaughter! Blood God is neither the first nor will he be the last. This arena was never simply for profit; it exists solely as a training ground for nurturing servants for the master! ... "Roar!" The warrior, who had maintained a calm and even cruel demeanor, suddenly erupted into a furious roar. A deep crimson flashed through his eyes, and visually, his speed and strength increased dramatically in an instant. The sudden burst caught the viper, engaged in direct combat, off guard, and its half-mechanical body was flung far away in an instant. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Quickly stabilizing his form with mechanical limbs, Viper immediately regained composure, eyeing the figure entangled by his teammate with wariness. [He''s become stronger...] How is that possible? Many had analyzed Blood God''s abilities; without the Gene Optimization Solution, his displayed combat power had already reached the peak level of a normal human''s physique. The peak level of a normal human''s physique should not be able to overpower the strength of mechanical limbs powered by internal energy sources! Had he finally broken through the stubborn military officials and received the Gene Optimization Solution after coming back from a mission just the other day? ... This is trouble! "Don''t hold back anymore!" Viper growled lowly at the old soldier who was still hesitating to strike. "Understood!" When someone is fated to die, it can''t be yourself dying... Graff''s eyes took on a misty gray sheen¡ª Spiritual Energy talent. The most basic level of Spiritual Energy talent. If it wasn''t for his advanced years and the fact that he was a natural human, the military would never let him leave... That''s under the assumption that he had never used any of the military''s resources for Spiritual Energy and genetics, otherwise, even in death, he would die within the military. ... As an opponent, no one could better understand the intentions of their adversaries than Blood God. It was just a gladiatorial match... Following the deep-seated prohibitions against harming natural humans implanted in his synthetic self, he never wished to harm any natural human without explicit military orders. Hence, even while training his abilities in this underground fight club, he never took any lives and refused to participate in death matches. He would fight earnestly but never deal a fatal blow. But now... the resolute killing intent of the three opponents was unmistakably evident. They... did they really want to kill him? The most primal urge to survive surged within, and a savage rage began to overwhelm his once-calm intellect. It was just a match... just a match... Why... Why! The frenzied, sinister atmosphere that pervaded the arena seemed to invisibly penetrate his very marrow. Rage surged wildly! ... In the rest area, Bai E''s eyelids twitched, feeling as if something tremendous had occurred before him¡ª Taking on three at once... That guy, did he really win? Chapter 198 188 Another task? Three figures, looking somewhat pitiful, lay on the ground as if they had completely lost the strength to resist, powerless.The red glow attached to his eyes gradually dissipated, and the Blood God, controlling himself to calm down, looked at his hands with a bit of surprise, then at the three opponents lying on the ground. They... had already lost? So he turned and looked towards the sidelines, waiting for the referee to announce the result. No matter how it felt before, the final outcome was that he had achieved victory, and some murderous intent in actual combat... should be normal, right? Behind him, the Viper lying on the ground looked at the back of the Blood God, a cunning light flickering in his eyes, "This is an opportunity!" If he couldn''t win head-on, then he would launch a surprise attack. The person in charge only needs them to kill the Blood God; the referee has not made a move for a long time, obviously, he has received orders to cooperate and wait for their uprising. The cold mechanical blade quietly sprang out from the Viper''s prosthetic limb, and he also passed two of them to his comrades. Bai E, who had been watching the situation on the field closely, abruptly stood up; however, the outbreak on the field was faster than any spectator''s reaction. The Blood God''s reaction was clearly a beat too slow due to exhaustion, and only when the Reaper''s blade tore through the skin of his arm did he realize that these three opponents weren''t planning on stopping. The scorching red light once again attached itself to his eyes, and the recently subsided rage swept back in an even more violent manner. "Bang!" As the Viper watched, a punch came flying from behind the Blood God, and he saw his mechanical arm forcefully pressed down by a fleshy wrist, losing out completely in this contest of pure strength. Following that muscular, bulging arm upwards, the Viper''s eyes met a pair of fiery red ones. "Boom!" With a punch thrown, the Viper''s entire body was sent flying like it had been hit by a truck instantly, his head bending back completely while in mid-air, showing that his neck had broken under that blow. The Blood God, whose rage persisted, flashed behind in the blink of an eye, grasping the wrist of the Reaper, whose movements were not as agile due to lack of strength. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Crack!" The acute pain of crushed bones instantly spread throughout the body, and in the next moment, the Reaper felt himself being lifted off the ground. Having his ankle grabbed, he was hoisted up like a bag. "Thud! Thud!" Left and right, he was slammed against the iron plate, the sound of the collision creating earth-shattering noise. The Reaper, whose bones were shattered, became like a boneless dead dog at that moment, a lump of mangled flesh wrapped in skin, casually tossed against the coarse nets at the side of the arena. The last one, with a blade imbued with Spiritual Energy, wasn''t quicker than the Blood God''s reaction, and the Blood God, trapping the dagger with his chest muscles, grabbed the equally robust old soldier by the shoulders with both hands. "Huff~ Huff~" Amidst heavy breathing, consciousness struggling to awaken, the Blood God''s forceful grip slowly relaxed as the red glow in his eyes flickered, easing the pain-wrinkled frown of the old soldier. "Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!" Voices from the spectator seats, not knowing when, unanimously chanted together. They didn''t care about the consequences; they only wanted madness. Not to mention, in a situation where one side had already violated the rules, any retaliatory action by the counterattacker was tacitly allowed here. Blood, violence! This was a carnage of frenzy for everyone! The feverish atmosphere soared high, with all its core focusing on that one single focal point. Any slightly calm thought was drowned in endless bloodthirsty qi. Blood... Slaughter... Savage desires erode the will, endless fury overwhelms the mind. Enough noise! "Ah!" The Blood God roared furiously. "Bang!" Muscle tissue tore apart, and a rain of blood like fluttering snowflakes gently scattered upon a face that was gradually becoming clear and seemed confused. Warm... Sweet... Subconsciously licking his cracked lips, the Blood God looked at his heavy hands. Two pieces... corpses? Playing back what had just happened in his mind, the Blood God narrowed his eyes and stood silently in place. The sheer brutality and bloodshed had inflamed the entire audience at that moment, their emotions surging skyward... Bai E took one last look at the figure on the field, receiving countless cheers, then turned to leave. The gap was significant. But what puzzled everyone was that the previously declining Blood God seemed to suddenly muster an explosive performance, with both speed and strength increasing significantly. Did he also possess an ability similar to Overlimit Drive? Unclear... The hints from the explosion rate didn''t show all of a person''s abilities, and it was normal for some hidden abilities to go undiscovered. He still didn''t know much about him. ... After exchanging the 750 black water coins won for Chavez, Bai E stepped into the growing darkness of the night, heading towards the secret base to change his clothes. Apart from the rat-men, no one was in the base. With the nightfall, it was an excellent opportunity for the players to go on their missions. "My lord..." Hearing the noise made by Bai E, the rat-man instantly became alert, only to relax when he realized it was Bai E. Recalling what he had heard in the afternoon, the rat-man whispered to Bai E, "My lord... this afternoon when I overheard their conversation, they seemed to mention something about the warehouse." "Oh? What did they say?" Bai E asked with a smile. "They said it''s troublesome to wait for you to be present every time something is exchanged or contributed. It would be better to have someone specifically to look after the ''...''¡ªI didn''t understand the word. In the end, they also mentioned that this ''...'' was fun but too realistic, so it''s too troublesome." The rat-man looked perplexed, "They didn''t avoid me when they talked, but often I don''t quite understand what they say, or can''t hear it clearly..." System keyword censorship? Bai E looked at the rat-man with a somewhat astonished gaze... The words he couldn''t understand, could they be "NPC," "game," or such indescribable and ineffable things? Impressive! The more he experienced, the more Bai wanted to uncover the truth behind this world... No matter what, Bai E wouldn''t believe that everything he had experienced was merely the product of a virtual game. There had to be a deeper story behind the appearance of players, but perhaps his current level was still insufficient to access it? But that didn''t matter. As long as he kept progressing, he would eventually be able to lift that mysterious veil. Walking under the starlight, Bai E quickly returned to camp. It was still early, and none of his tentmates had rested. Seeing Bai E lift the tent flap, everyone''s faces brightened. "Speaking of which, we haven''t gone on a mission together since Bai joined the team... The battlefield doesn''t count," Dashan was the first to speak. "We have a mission the day after tomorrow that''s just come up for our squad. You''re okay with that, right?" Tiger looked at Bai, formally asking. Chapter 199 189 Problematic Refugee Slum? Members of a regular special forces team are definitely supposed to follow the team and their missions without question, but Bai E was a special case. Since joining the team, he basically had not followed the standard procedures and regulations of the special forces, so much so that even when on an official mission, Tiger had to confirm with the person involved."It''s fine..." Bai E hesitated a moment, thinking carefully, "It should be fine, I guess." A mission? Going on a mission would be great. He loved going on missions, and going on a mission... that meant there might be a chance to go on a mission. "What''s the objective of the mission?" Bai E asked casually. "In the wilderness outside the city, we sometimes find humans who exist outside the city''s boundaries. They often end up in such situations for various reasons¡ªlike having offended someone in another city, or being cut off by wild beasts or environmental barriers, or not knowing the way to the city, etc. That''s why we frequently organize teams to search and rescue those wandering in the wild. No matter what, finding shelter in the outskirts of the city is always much better than trying to survive in the unforgiving wilderness." "Hmm~" Bai E nodded to indicate he was listening. "The day after tomorrow, our mission is to escort a group of refugees from the wilderness back within the city''s sphere of influence. The advance reconnaissance has already been roughly completed by scouts. The target community is hiding in a wind tunnel cave for survival, with a population of at least two hundred people. It''s quite a large number, and they may be attacked by wild beasts in the wilderness on their way back. Protecting as many of them as we can and ensuring their safe return to the city is the mission''s requirement." Tiger explained the purpose of the mission in a calm tone. Bai E became curious, glancing around the tent, "Just the five of us?" "Due to the larger scale of the target community, there will be two other special forces teams working with us on this mission." This was the largest scale for a mission with a non-combat main objective. As for deploying more soldiers... The value of over two hundred refugees probably wasn''t worth the expense of sending out more soldiers for a mission. In this era, countless lives were sacrificed, yet life was the cheapest commodity. Such a mission was just another routine task for the team. Tiger didn''t go into details, as there were things not every soldier needed to understand so clearly. Bai E nodded, "Got it." "Bai..." Dashan gazed eagerly at Bai E, "I heard you were teammates with ''The Blood God'' on a mission a few days ago. How much do you know about him?" After the successful completion of the mission, some secrets were no longer so secret. Although Minister Likok''s actions were reckless, the outcome was good. Not only was the server rebooted, but the electronic demon threat to humanity was also perfectly resolved. As the executor of this operation, the military could be said to have gained quite a few benefits. Therefore, the control over the secrecy of the mission wasn''t so strict, and those with even a slight connection had roughly heard some rumors. At these words, Bai E was taken aback, "The Blood God? Is he going too?" If that weren''t the case, Dashan probably wouldn''t have brought him up. "Yeah!" Dashan''s eyes lit up, "I''ve heard of his reputation a long time ago, but never really had the chance to spar with him. Is he really that powerful?" Bai was also very powerful, but Bai''s strength and The Blood God''s strength were on different levels. Dashan was an artificial human; The Blood God''s batch preceded his by quite a margin, and Dashan had been hearing legends of The Blood God since his creation. Many warriors with close combat talent nearly all regarded The Blood God as their ultimate goal to strive for, and Dashan was no exception. This opportunity to work on a mission together was most exciting for Dashan. "Him? Well..." Bai E instantly recalled the scene he had witnessed that evening. The Blood God, when truly unleashed, was terrifyingly ferocious, so his tone carried a hint of lament, "Indeed, very powerful." "With him with us, there''s no way we''ll have any problems with this mission!" Dashan was somewhat jubilant, worshiping his idol unconditionally. Experts always provided the greatest sense of security. The mission''s targets had all been scouted by the advance reconnaissance soldiers, and the route had been clearly planned. Aside from a few roaming beasts whose patterns were unpredictable, there was virtually no other danger. It was like earning military merit while lying down. Every mission came with military merit points, and in this era, straying from the vicinity of the city meant danger ¨C opportunities to earn military merits without much risk were rare. It was like a pie falling from the sky. "Okay..." Seeing Dashan''s excitement, Tiger couldn''t help but interject, "That''s enough, rest well. Make final preparations tomorrow. Regardless of who accompanies us, the first thing we need to do is ensure we take care of our own tasks." "Got it, got it..." "As long as you have the time," Tiger walked over to Bai E''s bedside and patted his shoulder, "We''ll talk about the more specific details on the road. Be careful during tomorrow''s training." "I know." ... [Feedback from the commission: your Insight +0.2.] [Feedback from the commission: Long-range Weapons Mastery Experience +48.] [Feedback from the commission: Light Weapons Mastery Experience +23.] ... Find your next read on empire [Feedback from the commission: your Reflex +0.1.] [Feedback from the commission: Hand-to-Hand Combat Mastery Experience +27.] ... [Feedback from the commission: your Physical Fitness +0.1.] ... [Feedback from the commission: Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +137.] [Feedback from the commission: Knowledge - Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +11.] ... Every morning, upon seeing the rewards of the players'' efforts during the night, Bai E felt his mood for the day would be exceptionally good. Not afraid of slow progress, only afraid of no progress at all. The slow trickle still brought a significant cumulative improvement. However, speaking of which... currently, he actually had four task assignment slots each day. Aside from that trio, Wen Jie was a rare sight in the inner city. When he had time, he still had to rely on himself to find another player to work for him... With the funds of 1250 blackwater coins, including the principal, Bai E arrived at the training ground in the early morning. Taking advantage of the time before the assembly, Bai E went to Chavez and stuffed the money into his hand. "I placed a bet last night, and the Blood God won." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "He''s back..." Chavez collected the blackwater coins without a fuss, squeezing them in his pocket, his expression slightly puzzled, "Didn''t you join in?" "I did join..." "Was it fun?" "It was alright." Chavez nodded and then jerked his chin towards the field, "Now that you''re back, train well. These kids have been slacking a lot these last few days in your absence." "Uh..." Bai, slightly hesitant, still told the truth, "Instructor, I might have another mission tomorrow." "Another mission?" Chavez was momentarily startled, then remembered Bai E''s true outfit, "Right, you''re part of the special forces; it''s normal to have many missions." He then casually asked, "What''s the mission?" "They say it''s to escort a group of refugees back to the city..." "Refugees?" Chavez was taken aback, turned to face Bai E squarely, his expression becoming serious, "Is it the refugee slum in the northwest?" Bai E wasn''t sure, after all, Captain Hu hadn''t gone into such detail, so he just shook his head, "I''m not too clear either, the captain notified us." Chavez frowned, "I''m not sure about other places, but there''s something wrong with that refugee slum in the northwest. A scout I know mentioned several brothers have fallen there. They say disappeared, but in this era, when you disappear in the wild..." Everyone knows what it means. As a natural human instructor, Chavez had deep connections in the camp and hence heard plenty of rumors. "This..." "You best find out if it''s that refugee slum in the northwest. If it is... better to back out if you can," Chavez turned to look in another direction. The steadiness of a natural human guided his thoughts. Talking to a fighter he quite liked, he was as sincere as could be, "It''s not worth risking your life for the little military merit of one mission." Bai nodded, "I will look into it..." Chapter 200 Challenge Instructor 190 Bai E continued his training, immersed in his own world.Turn it down? He knew the instructor might mean well, but was it too cautious to turn down a mission just because of some rumors he''d heard? Not to mention, he wasn''t even sure if such an action was allowed in the camp, especially since he had no other valid reason right now. An even more important point... as an artificial human, he probably didn''t have the same level of freedom as natural humans. Most likely, it wasn''t as simple as wanting to turn down the mission. Besides, even if he didn''t go, there would always be other soldiers to take his place. Bai E didn''t take the matter to heart, perhaps it would be somewhat challenging, but he had to witness it firsthand. ... S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [In strenuous exercise, you''ve pushed past your own limits, physical strength +0.1.] 14.7 now. The closer he got to his limit, the more complicated Bai E felt, after all, waste was shameful. Poking at the colorful mush in front of him, Bai E''s eyes became slightly unfocused. He was also unsure about the status of his application for the Gene Optimization Solution. As for hoping for the contingency plan he had in place on Wen Jie, that was probably still far off. From the feedback received, Wen Jie was probably being overworked with some sort of electronics research and manufacturing, and it would be a long road before he could access truly advanced knowledge. "Bai E." Stay connected through empire Suddenly, a figure sat down opposite him at the dining table. Carlos''s voice came in low and sudden, "You know about the mission you have tomorrow?" Bai E''s eyes refocused, and he calmly looked at Carlos, "I know." "Good, you must go on this mission." "Huh?" Bai E looked puzzled, then nodded as if he finally understood, "Isn''t that my duty?" "No... the information you got might not be complete. This mission is risky, the three previous scout teams sent to investigate the target area have all disappeared without a trace, with the only information returned being a preliminary size analysis. Normally, a target with incomplete information like this should be further investigated... or ignored. They wouldn''t just send you directly to rendezvous with refugees." Carlos glanced around sharply, his gaze keen as can be, and continued in a low voice, "So, you don''t have the full mission details. What I mean is... if something seems off, run. Bring back any information you''ve gathered, but remember, this time your mission is not to focus on assisting the refugees but to investigate first. I suspect those refugees themselves are the threat." This wasn''t unusual. Certain demonic cultists or mutants who couldn''t make it in the cities nearby¡­ Of course, cultists were fewer, as most needed to follow demons'' orders to infect more humans in the world, whereas mutants tend to be ostracized and leave cities on their own. For such beings, if it''s not convenient, the military wouldn''t bother to go after them specifically. After all, this world was full of enemies, whether it was humans, bugs, orcs, machine intelligence, mutants, or demonic cultists¡­ encounters always started with a fight. Of course, the possibility that the group of refugees are normal humans but hostile to the city wasn''t ruled out. Or maybe some unspecified risks are involved with the environment near them. There were many possibilities. What made this particular Refugee Slum stand out was that three scouting parties had somehow carelessly vanished while exploring it. Whether to continue to investigate or to give up in such circumstances wasn''t really the issue; sending out more elite squads for a joint exploration was standard procedure. Soldiers, well... they''re there to be used up, for scouting and collecting information; it''s all in a day''s work. But from the perspective of the squad being sent out, if misled by intelligence and heading unprepared into a cave, they likely would end up like those three scouts. And yet, Bai E couldn''t afford not to go. Fortune favors the bold, and if he refused such a mission that was optional at best, his application for the Gene Optimization Solution would inevitably face complications. "So you have to be extra careful. The mission can fail, and it''s okay to gather intelligence, but you must return safely. After you come back this time, you should be able to get the Optimization fluid injected." Delaying and finding ways to make the applicant have an accident, these tactics were all too obvious, yet an open strategy he couldn''t refuse. Bai E appeared to be digesting the information and after a while, he slowly nodded, "I understand." "Good, just be careful, and try to keep your teammates alert as well," Carlos emphasized, patting Bai E''s shoulder across the dining table, then turned and left. Even though he wanted to support Bai E, the necessary training experience was indisputable. The growth of any warrior is incomplete without facing risks over and over again, with each crisis serving both as an opportunity to toughen oneself and a good chance to establish prestige. Being injected with the Gene Optimization Solution was just the starting point for Bai E''s hoped-for advancements; climbing step by step within the military framework was the real long-term goal. From his recent covert operation, Bai E had already shown a certain level of leadership, with a few more impactful victories, his advancement in military rank and position would naturally follow. Keep up the good work; the future is always bright. Watching Carlos leave, Bai E narrowed his eyes. It could be said that Chavez''s rank was limited, but now that even Carlos said this, it seemed this mission indeed had some trick to it. It looked like he had to arm himself to the teeth before leaving. In the latter half of the morning, practical combat training. "Now, pair up and spar. Use all your strength to defeat your opponent. If no winner emerges within 1 minute, you''ll train for a whole day!" Having not heard his voice for several days, Drill Instructor Dan''s voice was still deep and resonant. "Reporting, Drill Instructor!" A voice suddenly rang out from the assembled training group. Dan''s gaze turned towards the recruit who had been missing for a few days, his expression calm, "Speak." "I wish to challenge you." It wasn''t that Bai E was getting carried away; just last night in the arena, he was able to trigger the sparring mode and rigorously learn from the combat experience of those bare-knuckle fighters. Could he repeat this process with Dan? Indeed, during the previous secret operation selection competition, the sparring mode hadn''t been triggered¡ªBai E initially thought it might have been due to the attitude of his opponents. But after reflecting last night, could it also be a factor of his own mindset? In fact, back then, his experience storage was limited, and even if the option for sparring mode had appeared, he wasn''t in the mindset to learn. In other words... he had "refused" this method of improvement himself. It seemed that in many of the tasks he triggered before, the factor of his own "desire" was also present, so could his mindset also affect the triggering of tasks and modes in the game system? Regarding the various features of the game system within him, Bai E didn''t yet understand them fully; he could only try to fumble through in various situations. Upon hearing Bai E''s request, Dan''s bright eyes instantly lit up. Challenge him? Good! Very good! No matter the strength level, this kind of courage deserved commendation. Moreover, since he dared to issue a challenge, he must have some skills, right? "All units, take a break and watch!" Whether for the purpose of learning or to let other soldiers understand the gap, Dan had the training group pause their training and observe the sparring between her and Bai E. This was the first soldier who had taken the initiative to challenge her; she couldn''t let this rare teaching opportunity go to waste. Dan clenched her fists, an excited flush visible on her face. "Come!" ... "A new recruit is challenging the instructor." "What the fuck, which new recruit is so fierce?" Even during training, unusual commotion easily attracted attention from other training groups in the vicinity. A few drill instructors gathered together, their eyes filled with surprise. "Has there been a revolt among Dan''s new recruits?" "I feel like I''ve seen that recruit before..." one of the instructors said, stroking his chin doubtfully. "Isn''t it that rookie of honor?" His war record of rescuing 423 comrades on the battlefield was well known, but in their view, the most crucial aspect was the "Number 3 throat strip," the miracle drug. This soldier could only be commended for his willpower. The slight display of ability was perfectly intercepting air strikes with a Type 77 rifle, as mentioned in passing by Marshal Weslin. However, they were neither marksmen nor had they witnessed it with their own eyes¡ªwho knows the true merit? But no matter the merit, that shouldn''t translate to ability in close combat. Now, arrogantly challenging his own drill instructor, even that commendable quality seemed to have vanished... Ignorant of his own limitations! Simply put, he''s become inflated. ... "What''s going on over there?" The officer who was closely following Yueying likewise heard the commotion on the training field. After observing for a while, he located the focus of the controversy¡ª All the training groups in this area were made up of new recruits from recent batches; it was rare to see a soldier bold enough to challenge an instructor. But from a distance, he couldn''t make out the appearance of the soldier; to him, the soldiers in uniform training attire nearly all looked the same. But it wasn''t important; what good could a presumptuous new recruit gain under an instructor''s watch? He would probably be put down within a few moves; there was nothing interesting to see. "Miss Yueying?" Dunpus looked puzzled as he observed the Elf Race lady suddenly stop. Yueying gazed far into the distance, her sight traveling through space, "Let''s see." Chapter 201 191 Hits "Come, you strike first." Dan clenched his fist, his face excited.Bai E looked at him seriously, reminding, "Please, instructor, don''t hold back." He had to control the variables, in case the instructor''s mentoring attitude prevented the mode from triggering. "Of course, I won''t hold back." Dan smiled heartily, "Making you aware of the gap is my responsibility." "Thank you, Instructor." Bai E shook his wrists to ensure that certain key muscles remained agile and flexible. Sometimes, being rigid wasn''t necessarily a good thing. Face to face, Dan was also curious to see how much this recruit, who dared to challenge him, had improved; letting Bai E strike first was to gauge his fundamentals. With the most standard force-generating movement filled with maximum power, Bai E took the initiative and threw a punch. "Bang." Fist met palm, unmoving. Your next journey awaits at empire Dan, who caught Bai E''s punch, slightly turned his face, looked past the fist to Bai E, more excited, "Not bad improvement, huh." [Triggering the sparring mode...] The hoped-for voice naturally rose in Bai E''s mind, and he sighed silently¡ª The instructor was indeed strong, perhaps not as much as Blood God, but his strength was definitely not lacking. His own force wasn''t augmented with Overlimit Drive, but even relying on his native 14.7 physical prowess, it was considered the peak of an ordinary warrior. Plus, as his specialization level increased, those basic abilities mentioned earlier by Dan were invisibly enhanced. Yet the instructor who caught his punch showed no sign of weakness. Clearly, he still had strength to spare. That''s exactly what he needed! Only from an opponent stronger than himself but not capable of instantly knocking him out could he continuously learn. "Let''s go again," Dan took the initiative to invite him. "Whoosh!" Bai E threw another phantom punch. Just like the initial probing during their first training session, one full-force blow, followed by a quick punch. "Slap!" Dan, having firmly caught Bai E''s fist again, gently pushed and said with a robust enthusiasm, "Good, you''ve improved quite a bit." Now confirmed that Bai E had a solid foundation, Dan clenched his fist, the exaggerated calluses on her joints displaying a fierce pressure. "Be careful!" With a warning, Dan lunged at him. Bai E''s eyes flickered, and he instantly stepped forward half a step¡ªintercepting! Interrupting the opponent''s attack before their force reached the ideal explosive peak meant that an action meant to release full power would ultimately only achieve 30 to 40 percent of its potential. This was a combat technique learned from the Wild Lion. Dan''s combat skills were rich, and sensing Bai E''s intent, he changed his move instantly. Everyone had their unique advantages. Apart from a resilient body, her strength was in her reflexes. Her flexibility, typical of a female body, coupled with sensitive reactions, allowed her to switch from punch to elbow instantly, changing her force emission method in response to Bai E''s intercept. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E countered move for move. His reflex level of 12.7 might not yet match those instructors who had honed their physical qualities through countless battles and time. But a versatile fighting style was his greatest advantage over Dan, learned from those underground fighters, focusing on varying and targeting the human body. Without heritage, special training, or the experience of daily conniving with various schemers, Dan relied on real combat against other races and self-training to grow. Defensive and offensive skills, flexible adaptation, those were her biggest trump cards. Every part of the body is a weapon, ready to deliver maximum short-range driving force. Fighting with Dan meant being cautious of her every move, as any seemingly insignificant motion could suddenly transform into a lethal assault. Her style wasn''t tricky; it was known for a tempestuous, overwhelming pressure. If last night''s tornado was known for its last-moment flurry of hitting, Dan''s average output was nearly akin to that tornado''s peak. If it hadn''t been for the massive surge in combat experience last night that urgently enhanced him, Bai E reckoned he would have been floored in a single exchange. Even so, now he was mostly relying on his enhanced Guardian Place skills to double block and evasion capabilities, along with intercepting ability, to narrowly resist Dan''s pressure. But that''s fine, his skills were rapidly improving. [You are spending combat experience to observe and learn the opponent''s fighting philosophy... (Cost: 20 points of experience/min)] [You have spent 10 points of combat experience in learning, converting to 5 points of "Combat Mastery" experience. (Very small chance to awaken a special attribute.)] ... "Such stable defense..." Dan, unleashing his power limitlessly, noticed the new recruit who was nearly watertight under his assault and his eyes couldn''t help but flash with surprise. During their first two trainings, he had judged this recruit''s fighting talent as not impressive, skillwise rough despite strong physical power, but who would have thought that after just a few days on a mission, he''d come back, so formidable? If Dan hadn''t been the one to initiate him personally, he would have doubted if this was the same person. No matter what, the serious instructor facing a challenge from a rookie who recently was a novice couldn''t help but take on a bit of a mentoring attitude, despite his correct stance. This momentary distraction was seized by Bai E as an opportunity. Waiting for the chance! Seizing the opportunity, going all in! Striking vital points! Controlling the flow of blood vessels, striking at the muscle fascia junctions to cause spasms, a method of hitting that stiffens the affected muscle area. Chapter 202 191 Hits_2 ```Just like the triggering condition of a heavy strike, Bai E seized the opportunity amidst the prolonged entanglement and instantly deployed the special attribute he had just learned last night. An explosive outbreak caught Dan off guard, as a bolt of lightning seemed to strike under his right arm, leaving his arm numb. Dan swiftly leaned in with an Iron Mountain Lean to strike Bai E and regain a safe distance from being pursued. It was only then that she looked at Bai E with a truly grave expression. This rookie... might really have the potential to defeat her. Where did he learn these techniques! Dan shook her right arm, the numb sensation slightly receding, before she took the initiative to attack once more. Although the requirement for these recruits was to defeat her before graduation, as an instructor, the idea of being defeated by one of her own soldiers, especially a recruit who had hardly trained for a few days, was a blow to her pride. An instructor... is always your instructor! "Boom!" Their fists met, and the air blast exploded. Powered by a burst step, this kid was able to block a direct punch! Dan looked at her own fist with deep skepticism. The next moment... Continue reading at empire "Hiss~" Both retracted their fists, wincing in pain. That punch almost shattered both their bones. ... "I remember who he is now!" The contemplative instructor finally recalled where he had seen the new recruit currently exchanging blows with Dan. It was not in the glory of the new recruits, but in the secret selection from two days ago! Rose was defeated by this guy! But it was clearly Rose who held back! It was this kid who disrupted Rose''s Dao heart! "If he couldn''t handle Rose, how could he possibly defeat Dan..." The astonished exclamations of other instructors filled his ears... "There''s actually a recruit capable of forcing an instructor to make a move?" "This kid... might really have some skills!" A group of instructors who had arranged training tasks for their own troops had gathered to watch the excitement, chattering away. The sounds of the fight indicated that Dan was apparently not holding back. Even so, she still couldn''t take down this new recruit? "That''s too fierce." "Can we transfer him to our troop..." "Don''t bother... you can''t beat him!" "Right, Guriba, what were you saying just now?" someone asked Rose''s instructor. Guriba blinked, "I was saying that Rose had asked me twice before to apply for the transfer of this kid to my troop..." "And then?" "I thought it would be too troublesome..." "..." "Lucky you didn''t apply, otherwise you''d be the one getting beaten up right now..." "But... he really shouldn''t be able to outright defeat Dan, right?" one instructor wondered, stroking his chin and analyzing cautiously. All being instructors, they occasionally sparred with each other. Dan''s offensive and explosive powers were not the very best, but her tenacity and stamina were almost unimaginable. Being able to achieve physical fitness close to that of a male in addition to a female''s unique sensitivity, Dan''s strength was certainly one of the top among the instructors. "Probably... But to push Dan to this extent, it''s already outrageous." "Lucky Strike" charge +5.] ... [You have spent 250 points of combat experience in learning, which were converted to 125 points of "Combat Mastery" experience. (Medium chance of awakening special attributes.)] (Stacked) Perhaps due to having a solid foundation, or maybe because Dan''s combat style was relatively easy to learn, the probability of awakening special attributes during learning skyrocketed. Bai E wasn''t just passively waiting for that final moment to come; the experience he was using came from system cheating, but he also had to put in his effort to transform the skills he had gained into real abilities he could control. Using his current abilities to try to defeat his opponent by all possible means, that was the familiarity and integration of his own abilities. Just like the "Overlimit Drive" specialty activated during the last advanced physical training, the specialty that might be activated in this sparring mission would most likely also require his own active exploration of the use of all special attributes and rely on self-integration to be successfully activated. Joint lock, enhanced defense, and interception were the main combat strategies; acupoint targeting and combination strikes could only be used at rare opportune moments. As for the whip... His four fingers were as flexible as a whip, changing a punch to a palm while his arm¡ª including his fist being blocked by Dan¡ªcontinued its motion. His fingers whipped out with the ceaseless momentum, creating a gust that blurred the vision, while the fingertips almost broke the sound barrier as they swept toward the vulnerable organs on the face. Dan, who narrowly avoided it at the last moment, felt as if a sharp blade had brushed past her eyes and retreated rapidly, squinting with one eye. With only one eye open, causing her eyelid to twitch uncontrollably, Dan watched Bai E with a shock she couldn''t even detect in herself. His moves... are strange. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But they are also effective, simple yet full of unexpected results. Of course, the moves are secondary; The main reason these unusual maneuvers worked was this kid''s unexpected tenacity; he managed to stay undefeated under her fierce assault, making his fundamentals the capital of his ongoing endurance. Even more importantly... after fighting for so long, despite being hit with solid punches from her, his combat state remained good. Whether it be injuries or stamina... he doesn''t get tired? It seems that as long as she couldn''t quickly take him down, problems might arise. Moreover, he was even quickly becoming familiar with her attack patterns during the fight, to the point of countering and analyzing them. Dan smelled something familiar in the opponent''s moves; he was trying to imitate her! ``` Chapter 203 191 Hits_3 At this moment, Dan''s mind suddenly recalled the special attention that the scholar from the Scientific Research Institute had for this new recruit.Back then, she still felt that the scholar wrongly believed this recruit was hiding his true capability... Now it seems, he really was? She doesn''t care about whether he has natural talent right now; all she wants is to protect the dignity of an instructor. No matter what... she cannot truly be defeated by a recruit! How can she take him down? "Huff~" Dan took a deep breath, blinked, and finally no longer felt discomfort. Could it be that she could only continue to be drawn into a prolonged fight? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... [After using close-combat attacks to strike the target several times, hand-to-hand combat mastery experience +32.] (Cumulative) Bai E wasn''t having an easy time either. His stamina stayed full thanks to the recovery provided by the Overlimit Drive, but the soreness in his body and the bruises from Dan hitting him several times were no joke, even with the aid of rapid healing. The occasional short-term physical strife had some effects. [Your body is repairing injuries rapidly, don''t worry! Warrior!] [Injury repair progress 74%, Rapid Recovery (not unlocked) unlocking progress 39%.] "..." Looking at the instructor before him, who showed not the slightest sign of faltering, Bai E couldn''t think of how to defeat his opponent. There was a mission on Dan that he hadn''t forgotten about, a chance to draw an ability card from her. Getting it before going on the mission would undoubtedly boost his confidence for the trip. But she was too hard to beat. He had landed hits on Dan''s body too, but just like during their first encounter and the tests he had undergone, even if he punched her squarely, he couldn''t break through her defenses. He wasn''t exactly losing, but he didn''t have the slightest advantage either. Or perhaps... he could only wait until he fully learned her style of fighting? Or maybe directly use experience to level up his hand-to-hand combat to level 4? However, this standoff wasn''t without benefits. Through practice during combat, he was slowly integrating the synergistic use of all his special attributes; the progress was slowly improving. [You have paid 170 battle experience points in learning...)] (Cumulative) [Your hand-to-hand combat ability has developed a strong personal style, integrating everything you have learned; you will form a unique personal combat system. Current integration progress 37%...] Enjoy exclusive content from empire Bai E''s eyes flickered, and he attacked again. Using the pressure of a prolonged fight to enhance his use of various newly acquired special attributes was also the purpose of this battle. As long as they engage, the process of engagement itself is sufficiently effective. ... Outside the arena, an indescribable astonishment rose in Yue Ying''s heart. ''Is he forming his own personal combat system?'' Watching the shadow that was becoming increasingly proficient in leveraging his strength, the small mouth under Yue Ying''s hood opened slightly in astonishment. With her keen eyesight, she could best understand the unusual aspects of what seemed like an ordinary fight¡ª But how could this be possible? How long had he been practicing hand-to-hand combat? Or rather, how long had he "existed"? She had witnessed with her own eyes his birth as a newly created artificial human in this world! Within such a short time, to achieve such prowess in close-quarters combat, such aptitude was perhaps no less remarkable than his talent for shooting. In her experience, to form a personal combat system, what was first needed was sufficient accumulation... as well as strength in specialization. Only with broad knowledge and familiarity can a wondrous flower bloom from the enriched soil above. Yue Ying realized that she might be witnessing the rise of a human prodigy... [Current mission reward: The clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: Gold)] [The clue to the Elf Breathing Skill (Quality: Gold): You have gained the complete trust of Yue Ying of the Elf Race, displaying your astonishingly excellent qualities, which will enable you to obtain the secrets of the "Elf Breathing Skill" from her.] "..." There really is gold, huh? Bai E glanced briefly at the visible dark figure on the side and quickly withdrew his gaze; at this moment, he couldn''t afford to be distracted. [You have paid 250 battle experience points in learning, converted into 125 "Hand-to-Hand Combat Mastery" experience. (High chance of awakening special attributes.)] (Cumulative) [Long-term learning has allowed you to extract sufficient experience from your opponent''s fighting style, your specialized ability¡ªHand-to-Hand Combat Specialization, received a new "special" attribute boost!] [Hand-to-Hand Combat Specialization (Level 3): Strike power +6%, Dodge +3%, Block +3%... Hundred Strikes (Special) +1.] [Your hand-to-hand combat ability has developed a strong personal style, integrating everything you have learned; you will form a unique personal combat system. Current integration progress 45%...] Got it! Chapter 204 192 victories The moment he acquired "Bai Ji," Bai E''s eyes instantly became clear.Dan''s offensive was like a storm, with an extremely high frequency and overwhelming pressure, but distinctively different from the continuous strikes of a tornado. One was an overexerting burst; the other was about developing all parts of the body, any point of which could unleash a fatal attack. Moreover, the primary focus was on rapidly mobilizing muscular strength to ensure that maximum output could be maintained even during short-range bursts of power. If he could combine the two... Bai E instantly initiated his move, pushing the Overlimit Drive to its peak. "Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang!" The savage assault completely submerged Dan''s figure, fists, palms, feet, and knees all became weapons. Facing Bai E''s sudden outburst, even Dan, with a Combat Specialization Layer of 5, couldn''t fully defend, and the sound of body impacts almost merged into one. Not enough! Still not enough! Bai E could feel the touch of his fists, Dan''s physique was as robust as ever, like stones padded with cotton, his punches and palms felt only the rebounding force and not much of the impact damage to the opponent. The current Combat Specialization Layer of 3 was still not sufficient! sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Currently... Combat Mastery Experience (833/1000), Remaining: Combat Experience 2, Universal Experience 2655. Add points directly! It''s just 167 experience points; there''s no more wool to be sheared from Dan, it would be most reasonable to try to defeat her for the rewards of her tasks. [Payment: 2 Combat Experience points, 165 Universal Experience points.] [You have acquired "Combat Specialization Layer 4," and you''ve also received 1 Potential Point.] [Detected character currently has Combat Specialization (Layer 4), skill tree advancement unlocked: Graceful Release, Tactical Evasion, Absolute Defense.] [Current unlocking requires: 1000 Universal/Combat Experience (double the cost for each additional skill unlocked of the same tier), 2 Potential Points (fixed).] The moment the Specialization Layer increased, even the progress of the sparring task surged significantly. [Your combat abilities have developed a strong personal style, integrating all you have learned into a unique personal combat system, current integration progress is 76%...] Every time new special attributes are gained and the Specialization Layer is increased, it seems to rapidly advance the process of the personal system. But there is still a considerable distance from it being complete, and it can''t be relied upon for the time being. Read exclusive adventures at empire Choosing one out of the newly unlocked skill trees needs careful consideration, the first 1000 experience points are not very expensive for him now, but unlocking additional same-tier skills requires doubling the experience, Bai E doesn''t want to make a choice lightly unless it''s crucial. Defeating the instructor with the strength he already possesses is the optimal choice for now. If that really won''t work, he''ll just unlock Graceful Release... The three skills: Graceful Release for offense, Tactical Evasion for dodging, Absolute Defense for protection, clear and straightforward. As the Specialization Layer increased, the addition to all attributes soared instantly, and the accompanying boost in effects was immediate. In a flash, his strength surged. Even with Dan''s high resilience to being hit, she still found the combination of pressure points and joint locks amidst the powerful strikes troublesome, as these techniques could directly bypass physical defense to restrict the opponent''s movement. Dan only felt a numbness in her left arm before Bai E suddenly moved behind her, forcefully twisting her isolated right arm. In the brief struggle, she ultimately couldn''t match the brute strength of the new recruit. "Crack!" The muscle strain and bone dislocation caused Dan, the iron-willed woman, to feel a heart-piercing pain. "Huff~ Huff~" Dan exhaled painfully, her face towards the ground. It had been... how long since she felt this suffocating, tearing pain? Since she left those frontal battlefields! Constrained to form, powerless to resist. Dan patted the hand clamped onto his shoulder like an eagle''s claws, struggling to speak, "Alright, alright, I lost." The damage fists and feet could inflict was ultimately limited for the two of them; even if he forced himself to break free at the cost of some pain, continuing to fight would simply lead to exhaustion until their last ounce of strength was depleted, to see who would falter first. But it was just a spar in the military camp, there was no need to take it to that extreme. [You''ve experienced an exhilarating battle, combat experience +20.] [Your combat ability has developed a strong personal style, integrating all you have learned; you will gain a unique personal combat system, current fusion progress 80%...] [Sub-quest¡ªChallenge, complete!] [Quest reward: Target character Ability Extraction Card*1, issued.] [Target character Ability Extraction reward pool locked: Trait*Resilient Skin, Specialty*Enhanced Strength, Mastery*Combat Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding level 5. Start extraction?] System prompts leaped out one after another. "Phew~" Bai E finally sighed in relief, gently releasing the shoulder of Dan, who felt like a block of stone. The muscular Dan, turning around, looked at Bai E with appreciation on his face and admiration from the heart, "Impressive!" ["Lucky Strike" recharge +1.] "It''s all because of the instructor..." Dan interrupted, anticipating Bai E''s response, "Don''t say it was because I taught well! I at most taught you the basics of how to deliver power; I have no clue where you learned the rest of your skills..." With that, Dan turned to look at the trainee troops riveted on their fight, announcing loudly, "I lost!" Despite having witnessed the bout, only when Dan announced it himself did the dreamlike reality descend, shattering the last bit of unconscious denial the others harbored. "He really won?" "Can we actually beat the instructor?" "See that? My big brother!" "Then, I think I could also try challenging..." The instructors watching from a distance couldn''t believe their eyes... Dan lost?! Even among their group of instructors, there were almost none who dared say they could beat Dan with certainty. Did this mean that the "New Recruit Glory" was now so formidable as to defeat most instructors in hand-to-hand combat? How long had he been born? "Turtle turtle~" ... ["Lucky Strike" recharge +44.] emmmm... 50 when added together? They''re pretty strict. Bai E chuckled secretly, then looked forward to the Ability Extraction Card in his Consciousness Space¡ª Resilient Skin was the core trait behind Dan''s endurance; Enhanced Strength was akin to a youthful version of Overlimit Drive, but he wondered if it could be used in tandem with Overlimit Drive; as for Specialization, it was nothing out of the ordinary. Compared to the luxurious reward pool from Yue Ying last time, this time there were only three abilities to choose from. The strength of a basic-level military camp instructor was, after all, no match for someone at Yue Ying''s level, but even the weakest ability accumulated could result in an unimaginable enhancement. Let''s see what I can draw this time... The pointer spun rapidly over sections of three different colors, eventually slowing to a stop¡ª Trait¡ªResilient Skin! Chapter 205 193 Mission Goals [Tough Skin: Your body can protect you from more from external harm, reducing impact damage by 30%, and puncture or slash damage of energy level 7 or below cannot cause substantial injury; physical defense performance +2.]The introduction was simple and clear, but the effect was also quite formidable. In Bai E''s view, this was the most useful option among the three choices for him, and his luck with this draw wasn''t bad either... "Reporting to the instructor!" A powerful roar rang out in the training group. It drew everyone''s attention, including Bai E''s. Dan asked with a composed face, "What is it?" "I want to challenge you as well!" The warrior stood tall and proud, basking in the attention of the many eyes upon him... And since someone had managed to defeat an instructor head-on, did that mean there was a chance for him too? I too have the makings of a Great Emperor! Dan nodded calmly, "Come on." The warrior stood with hands behind his back, his confident gaze straight ahead, his voice resonant, "Instructor, don''t you need to rest?" "No need." "Ah!" The victor was determined two and a half seconds after the battle commenced. There wasn''t even a chance for onlookers to give pointers. Dan clapped his hands, ignoring the soldier who was lying on the ground, wincing in pain with a dislocated arm, and just smiled at Bai E, "Alright, since you have this strength, you don''t need to waste time here anymore. You can carry out the battle training on your own and don''t need to report to me." "Yes, sir!" Bai E saluted sharply. Dan was a powerful and responsible instructor and deserved respect. "Go." Dan waved his hand and looked away, turning his gaze to the other soldiers, "Anyone who wants to challenge me is welcome at any time. Now, continue training!" Good, with that, he was essentially free from basic training types. As Bai E left, he was making calculations¡ª Physical fitness, shooting, combat¡­ The various basic trainings most needed by recruits were essentially completed. What he needed to learn next was what really made one a member of a special forces team. Machine guns, flamethrowers, infantry vehicles, chainswords, etc., as well as non-combat abilities such as scouting, gathering, and dissecting. But that would all have to wait until he returned from his current mission. After practicing some archery for a while with the time he had left, Bai E rushed to the outskirts right after a quick lunch. He was going on a mission tomorrow, and there were some things he needed to bring... such as that bottle of "Exorcism Essential Oil." Normally, you wouldn''t need such a thing in a military camp, and it was easy to get discovered by teammates living together every day, so Bai E kept these items in a warehouse. Since he was leaving early tomorrow morning, Bai E naturally had to bring along such potentially useful items just in case. Refugee Slum? Suffering is most fertile ground for faith; when human society cannot provide solace to an individual, those people can only seek all possible means to survive tenaciously. Believers completely commanded by demons indeed mostly follow the guidance of demons to spread their faith in human society, but it''s also possible to encounter newly born faith. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bringing along this kind of item that specially targets demons is definitely the right move. It''s just a shame there is only 33ml... "Sir, we also want to submit supplies!" Dai Lian looked at Bai E with sincere eyes, "We want to contribute to the organization too!" Yesterday, Kuang Xin had set an example for them, and they managed to exchange for a good amount of money, so they urgently relied on their own channels to inquire about the value of Exorcism Essential Oil. It turned out that it was CJB. This thing had no effect on any living creatures other than demons, not even on demon believers walking among humans... Only against those real demons from higher dimensions and those particular entities who have transcended from normal humans into demons can it exhibit its intended effect. But with their current strength, if they really encountered a demon itself or those transcendental beings, it would undoubtedly be akin to offering themselves up on a platter. This item would only be a threat to demons when in the hands of those who can hold their own against demons; it''s an entry ticket to defeating demons, not something to increase power limits. Matching up against demons? Are they worthy? They are not. And yet, yesterday the sir had especially reminded them that this item was in short supply for the organization; it''s not worth this price under normal circumstances, so when else to submit it if not during a limited-time bounty period? The thought that there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers in his organization, and that someone had actually been combating demons recently, filled Dai Lian with excitement¡ªthe future was bright! "Good." Bai E nodded with satisfaction. The funds were handed over painfully fast. [Submitted Exorcism Essential Oil*33ml, received organizational funds*1650!]X2 He glanced at the progress of the warehouse construction and recorded another 10 contribution points per person. The other two remained motionless, having their own objectives but lacking in contribution points, they sensibly saved themselves; only Kuang Xin was somewhat excited. 80 points! He could finally redeem the Advanced Physical Training 3.0 he had been longing for; his physical ability had reached 13.5, and it had been difficult to improve for a while. Without any training methods, he felt like he was about to die... "Sir! I''d like to learn methods that can effectively train my physical abilities," Kuang Xin formally requested. "No problem," Bai E agreed without hesitation, and 80 contribution points were instantly deducted. ["Teaching" concluded. Through the feedback from the "teaching," you''ve acquired 90 combat experience points and 510 general experience points.] Only 600 points? Bai E felt a pang of disappointment as he looked at the experience gained. To roll out this damn 3.0 plan, he had spent quite a bit of experience himself; it was easy for the players to learn from the groundwork others laid. But it was not a big problem. The more people learned, the more he earned, and looking forward, it was bound not to be a loss. "I have to go out again tomorrow. I''m not sure when I''ll be back. In the meantime, you guys will have to manage things yourselves." Bai E took the initiative to remind everyone and reissued the quota for the mission. "Yes, Sir!" ... Returning to the military camp, Bai E ran into Dai Lian and others who were waiting for him. "Let''s go. We have a mission tomorrow. First, let''s gather the members of our three squads to get acquainted, then familiarize ourselves with the mission target and designate each team''s specific tasks." They had been given a heads-up the night before, and Bai E nodded in agreement, "Okay." There was no dedicated conference room, so they found a spot in the sun, where Bai E saw the other two squads besides his own. At a glance, he didn''t recognize anyone except for the Blood God... "They are all pretty seasoned. We might have to follow their lead for this mission," Dai Lian whispered a reminder in Bai E''s ear, and Bai E subtly nodded without making a sound. "These are the only two photographs we have of the target." One of the muscular men in a tight combat suit held up two photos and said, "Take a look and pass them around, so you can get a rough idea." After Bai E received them, he scanned the first one¡ª A yellow background with an overall terrain shot: it looked like a honeycomb cake, the wind-eroded caves dotted across the vast land. The picture was still, yet Bai E could already hear the howling of the wind. The second photo was predominantly black. Only after carefully looking could one discern the different shades of shadows outlining the terrain¡ªit was the interior of a cave. Based on the timestamps in the upper-left corner of each photo, they were taken no more than half an hour apart. So... even under the daylight, the lighting conditions inside the cave were still not great. "This is the target location for our mission," the man spoke up after everyone had looked at the photos. "Those refugees are hidden inside these numerous caves. There might be traps they''ve set up to ward off wild beasts inside, and everyone must be careful. The scouts we sent before most likely lost contact due to injuries inflicted by those traps." "They are hiding deep inside the caves. We will split up into small teams to go in and scout. If you see someone, stay alert. If we are attacked, defense comes first. First, we state our intentions and try to persuade them, and we are not allowed to harm the refugees unless absolutely necessary." "I have a question..." Bai E suddenly spoke up. The man frowned slightly, gathering all eyes on Bai E. Maintaining his composure, Bai E continued, "Are we sure that the earlier missing scouts disappeared solely due to their own carelessness? I think it''s best if we don''t spread too thin before we understand the situation." Chavez and Carlos''s repeated cautions made Bai E extremely cautious, and he just wanted to raise his concerns to keep everyone extra vigilant. The man who had been speaking, possibly a squad leader, furrowed his brows into a ''´¨'', "How can those ordinary scouting groups compare with us?" The special ops teams present were the elite of the elite, and the two teams had incredibly seasoned members who had participated in countless battles. Moreover, regular scouting groups went out in pairs, whereas special teams operated in groups of five. Samuel felt his arrangements were overly cautious already. "I just want to ensure the safety of everyone..." Another man¡ªwho hadn''t spoken up until then¡ªgazed at Bai E with a sharp look, enunciating clearly, "Our duty is to scout dangers for the city. No one''s life belongs to themselves. You''re currency in the hands of the city lord, and you shouldn''t have your own opinions." With that, he turned to Dai Lian, "I don''t care how you usually assign your team''s missions, but when we''re on a joint mission, make sure to keep your team in line!" Samuel too stared into Bai E''s eyes, "This is an order, not a negotiation." "..." Bai E could feel Dai Lian tug at his clothes from behind. In truth, he had no intention of arguing further. In this era, individual strength varied greatly, and the wilderness environment was complex and unpredictable; it''s impossible to say what might cause someone to vanish. Since these people were so confident, they likely had their own judgments. Of course, the line between confidence and arrogance is often paper-thin. Bai E could not control others, so he could only do what he was capable of... He couldn''t rely on them... His gaze lingered on the dim environment in the second photo; Bai E remembered he still had an unfinished specialty... Chapter 206 Expertise in Training 194 Evening, the Black Forest.The moonlight was dim, the wilderness silent. Bai E was no longer the same person who had first arrived in this world, neither in strength nor in mindset. Facing the wilderness he had never dared to tread at night before, he now had the courage to come alone. A military saber and two handguns were all the equipment he carried. The saber was for killing enemies, the handguns for self-defense; there would be no problem using his Gun Fighting Skill to escape in a pinch. As for his target...always letting Kuang Xin and the others kill wolves, wouldn''t it be unacceptable if he didn''t try it himself? He had never killed this creature before, there was no experience decay, and it should be good for farming experience. Bai E still remembered the unfinished "Blindfolded Combat" unlock method¡ª It required earning 100 points of combat experience by killing enemies in a Dark Environment, which was perfectly suited for the potential mission in the dark. The night breeze in the Black Forest carried a moist, earthy stench. Bai E deliberately made noise as he walked to attract any potential carnivores lurking in the dark. "Crack~ Crunch~" Twigs and leaves shattered beneath his feet as Bai E strode boldly deeper into the forest. Until at some unknown moment, several ghostly green eyes floated in the darkness like will-o''-the-wisps. "Swoosh~" Bai E drew his saber from its sheath, casually spinning it in a flourish. The specially treated matte black blade was nearly unnoticeable at night; he didn''t know if it would attract the wolves'' attention, but they probably didn''t care. Wasn''t it only proper to feast when a terrifying bipedal ape strayed alone into their territory, as if he was delivering meat right to their doorstep? Encirclement, closing in. The eyes of the beasts were fixed intently on the prey they surrounded, waiting for him to reveal a weakness. One thing you never wanted in the wilderness was an injury, even if your target was as good as dead, you still had to be wary of its final struggle. One two three four five, going into the forest to hunt wolves... There were six of them in total. Standing still and letting them ravage... that would be an exaggeration, but given his current physical condition, six wolves shouldn''t pose any danger. Bai E pulled out a black cloth from his chest, opaque and impenetrable to light, and swiftly wrapped it around his eyes. Then he secured it with a knot. The requirement for activating the Combat Specialization Layer was a "Dark Environment," and he wasn''t sure if the moonlight qualified as "dark." To avoid a wasted effort, adding another layer of surety seemed more sensible. If it was to be blindfolded combat, he must first become blind. The moment the black cloth covered his eyes, darkness completely descended upon Bai E''s world. All around was a pitch-black void, as if he had instantly lost connection to the world. The moment the visuals vanished, everything around him felt far away. This differed from the sensation of entering the depths of the sewer that day; one was an instantaneous cut-off, the other a gradual adaptation; one involved rats as foes, the other wolves. Even though his current strength was unrivaled by ordinary people, the primal fear brought on by darkness still caused Bai E''s heart to race. Though it was quickly suppressed by "Self-Control." After taking a deep breath, Bai E began to gradually adapt to the environment. Using his ears, his breathing, his sense of touch... The wind brushing his skin, the rancid odor in the wind, the rustling of grass as he moved... [You are using your Senses to observe the environment...] "Whoosh!" He made noise almost simultaneously. No matter how clever an animal was, it was still just an animal. Seeing that the terrifying bipedal ape had covered his primary means of observing the outside world, they thought this was the greatest opportunity. A sigh echoed in Bai E''s heart. [Here they come!] [The left!] Bai E gripped the handle of his saber backward, estimating the speed, distance, and direction as he slashed to the left! A solid sensation confirmed he hit his target. The feedback in his hand was slightly rigid, indicating a significant impact. The wailing of a wounded wolf also rose near his ear. Without time to consider which part he had struck, Bai E spun around and delivered a sweeping kick in another direction. Though the six wolves attacked at once, their actual assaults arrived in staggered successions, giving him some room to maneuver. "Bang!" A metallic thud came as his heel struck a skull, and the continued arc of his leg connected with the second oncoming wolf without losing momentum. There was no chance for a follow-up or breather; Bai E turned again and struck towards his rear. Unexpectedly, the empty hand he swung was suddenly entwined by a warm body. He felt sharp claws scraping the unknown fabric of his combat uniform and the gnashing teeth on his arm, eager to tear away a chunk of flesh. Yet the toughness of his muscles and the fabric of his uniform frustrated the beast''s intentions, leaving only a not-too-serious pain transmitted to Bai E''s senses. The mere act of biting and tearing wasn''t much concern; what really constrained him was the weight of the wolf, nearly half the size of a human. Flipping his blade around, Bai E chopped at the wolf which had ensnared his left arm with its forelimbs and fangs. The sharp saber cut through the animal''s tough fur but struggled to inflict significant damage; at least Bai E did not feel the blade penetrate deeply. The blade wasn''t dealing high damage? In a swift motion, Bai E turned his blade to stab downward, aiming for where he anticipated the wolf''s belly and thrust harshly. In pain, the wild wolf instantly released its fangs and leaped backward. Discover exclusive content at empire However, the coordination among the wolf pack during a hunt was unimaginably tacit, leaving Bai E no time to process his move before a wolf''s jaws fiercely clamped on his right forearm, the one holding the knife. They knew the danger of the knife Bai E held in his right hand, a terrifying weapon fashioned by humanoid apes, posing the greatest threat to them. Once they controlled the knife-wielding limb, the humanoid ape''s offensive capabilities would be greatly reduced. Pressing down on the wolf''s head, Bai E kicked its soft belly. With the activation of various special attributes from his Level 4 Combat Specialization, even without much space to wield force, he could still unleash an attack with a certain degree of strength using any part of his body. The wolf, in agony, unconsciously released its bite with a pained howl. In the complex fight, noises surrounded him on all sides, creating a situation far more challenging to discern complete information than the environment he encountered in the sewers that day. The wild wolves weren''t very strong, and six was not a large number, but for Bai E who couldn''t rely on his eyes for information, it was a challenge neither too big nor too small. Arms, thighs¡­ the wolves attacked from all directions in their attempts to restrict Bai E''s movements, but he resolved each assault in turn. The sharp claws and fangs struggled against the protection of the combat suit, unable to cause substantial harm, and on the rare occasion that the tusks did genuinely pierce through the suit, Bai E''s "Tough Skin" trait meant they still couldn''t taste blood. Pain was inevitable. But like the pain felt in an underground fighting ring, it didn''t cause Bai E to lose his reason. Instead, it brought him into a certain icy furor. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seizing the fur of another wild wolf that lunged at him, Bai E heaved its body and smashed it towards another encroaching wolf. The military knife had been returned to his waistband early on. It was of no use to him. The somewhat heavy military knife, categorized as a light weapon, did not inherit the strength directly from the Combat Specialization Layer like when a dagger was used. With only the feedback of 99/100 expertise points from the player and not even unlocking a Level 1 specialization layer, it was truly cumbersome to use for killing enemies, even less convenient than bare hands. Bai E had no intention of significantly developing this specialization. Light weapons were typically suited for dealing with small creatures or fellow humans, but they proved to be of little use against the bugs or those machine intelligences and orcs he had yet to encounter. Training to improve them was one thing, but he couldn''t afford to invest experience points to boost that specialization. For now, it was a better choice to cripple the wolf pack with his fists before using the military knife to finish them off. Without the knife, Bai E''s movements became even more agile. After grabbing one wolf and slamming it onto another, he loosened his grip and again pressed down on the charging wolf''s head. The wild wolf succumbed to his brute force, and as Bai E knelt down and gathered the strength in his fist, he smashed down on its spine. "Crack!" The wolf''s body was slammed into the ground, and with one stab, the blade twisted into its flesh, spilling guts and blood all over. [Successful close-range attack has rendered the target incapacitated, Combat Mastery experience +5. (Cumulative)] [Successful critical hit on the target, Light Weapon Mastery experience +3.] [Acquired "Level 1 Light Weapon Specialization", concurrently earning 1 Potential Point.] [Light Weapon Specialization (Level 1): Attack speed +12%, Armor Penetration +1%.] [Current Light Weapon Mastery experience 2/300. On reaching 300 points, "Level 2 Light Weapon Specialization" can be mastered.] [Critical hit on target, dealing 27 piercing damage!] He casually pulled out the blade and flung it away. Having become accustomed to battling in "Dark Environments", the improvements in his abilities were not limited to information gathering, but more crucially, the confidence stemming from his comfort with the darkness. "Awoo!" The wolf that was struck squarely by the blade let out a painful howl. Kill! ¡­ [Successful critical hit on the target, Light Weapon Mastery experience +12. (Cumulative)] [Critical hit on target, dealing 33 fatal damage!] [Target''s breathing ceases, all basic life signs lost.] [You have killed the target, combat has ended, 85 combat experience points acquired. (Cumulative)] [You are attempting to familiarize yourself with combat in a "Dark Environment", and have successfully gained "100 combat experience points" through "combat", enabling you to train the Blind Fighting specialization. Current progress 98/100.] As expected, his Blind Fighting progress had increased substantially. Pity it''s two points short... quite a rapid decay. It felt as if the depreciation was even quicker than when killing rats. Sure, the initial 20 points of experience per wolf were not insignificant, but the rate of decay was too high. Was this due to... his own current strength? Wiping away blood with his left hand, Bai E removed the black cloth covering his eyes. His gaze swept over the scattered corpses and closely examined the wounds on their bodies before realizing just how wildly off-target his attacks had been¡­ His skills were still lacking. Continue! ¡­ [...Progress 107/100, you have successfully unlocked the Blind Fighting specialization.] [Blind Fighting (Level 1): Perceptual performance (Auditory) in "Dark Environment" +1.] [You are attempting to familiarize yourself with combat in a "Dark Environment", and have successfully gained "300 combat experience points" through "combat", eligible for upgrading the Blind Fighting specialization level. Current progress 7/300.] A specialization with levels? This was his first encounter with one. Bai E was brimming with joy, as the excitement in his eyes, hidden beneath the cloth, shone even brighter. Wild wolves? I''m sorry! Chapter 207 195 Delving Deep into the Cavern [... Progress 85/300.]... [... Progress 143/300.] In the dead of night, a figure reeking of blood roamed alone through the Black Forest. The thick scent of blood carried far on the wind, drawing wolf packs without the need for him to seek them out actively. Their numbers steadily increased. [... Progress 229/300.] [Successful close-quarters attack rendered the target incapable of moving, Combat Mastery Experience +21.] (Accumulated) [Successfully struck vital points on the target, Light Weapon Mastery Experience +18.] (Accumulated) But the experience points were diminishing. "Hurrhurr~" Perhaps the scent of their own kind''s blood alerted the newly arrived wolves to danger, and this batch didn''t attack directly. With one leg stretched out and one bent at the knee, Bai E sat on a fallen dry log, the cloth that covered his eyes never once removed. At the approach of another wolf pack, he merely twitched his ears. One... two... three... The rustle of footsteps, the panting of the chase... every unnatural sound was a variation. At least... twenty of them. "Click~" Bai E gently undid the leather buckle at his waist. He planned to make it quick. The last wave, even if each one only provided an average of 4 points of experience, would be more than enough. After this fight, he would go back and rest. It wasn''t that Bai E was content with just reaching level 2 in Blind Fighting; it was simply that the wolves here were not enough to train his Blind Fighting skill to a higher level. Not to mention whether he could easily find another wolf pack afterwards was debatable, there wasn''t much time left this evening, and he had to set out early the next day... The largest of the wolves, resembling a Wolf King, approached Bai E aggressively, its eyes filled with a lethal glint as they fixed on the figure bathed in the blood of their kin. It had a scar slicing through its right eye, a wound left by a human, and it remembered forever. "Bang!" [Gun Fighting Skill, activated!] Bai E fired the first shot. [... Progress 342/300, you have successfully leveled up your specialty¡ªBlind Fighting to level 2.] [Blind Fighting (Level 2): "Dark Environment" Insight (Auditory) +2, Insight (Tactile) +1.] The effects were straightforward. Bai E took off the bandage, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic scene before him. Bullet-pierced branches and leaves scattered all around, mixed with splashes of torn flesh. The hit rate set a new low for Gun Fighting Skill, as relying solely on his ears to gather information made accuracy terrifyingly low in a complex environment. He particularly surveyed the body of the largest wolf... an elite monster¡ªWolf King. The experience from the Wolf King was outrageously high, one exceeded a gang of others combined. 50 combat experience points! If it weren''t for the Wolf King''s sacrificial demise, he might have had to look for something else to kill. But fortunately, it wasn''t necessary. Taking advantage of the moon''s cover, Bai E slipped away lightly. After a night of slaughtering wolves, the thick scent of blood was almost indelible. Before going back to the tent, Bai E entered the communal washroom to clean himself thoroughly inside and out. It took the slickest soap and the hardest wire ball to finally lessen the smell. He tiptoed into the tent and lay down on the bed. It seemed that You, who was in deep sleep, suddenly turned over, mumbling words like those in a dream. "Get some sleep, we need to get up early tomorrow." "... Mhmm." ... [From the quest reward, your Insight +0.1.] [From the quest reward, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +42.] [From the quest reward, Light Weapon Mastery Experience +30.] ... [From the quest reward, your Reflexes +0.1.] [From the quest reward, Combat Mastery Experience +22.] ... [From the quest reward, Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +152.] Bai E stretched himself and put on his full equipment. The two hundred arrows he requested for a covert mission last time were largely reusable after collection and patching; he didn''t need to prepare anything else. Sixteen people, two vehicles, Bai E''s junior squad was sadly scattered. Only junior squads can take in equally green recruits, a point that was considered during allocation, but sometimes this inexperience could be inconvenient. Song Ying and You took Bai E in one vehicle while Tiger and Big Mountain turned to enter the other. "Let''s go!" The road is long and obstructed. ``` The target location was about a ten-hour drive from the base, requiring passage through the city. As they brushed past the edge of the city, Bai E could see the towering city walls and the occasional human settlements beyond them. In the gloomy world, this black city stood miraculously, its longevity unknown. The three team leaders were in another vehicle, seemingly discussing the details. Someone in Bai E''s shaky carriage leaned in close and patted his shoulder, "Kid, a piece of advice, keep your mouth shut during missions. We''re all battle-hardened, nobody''s less thoughtful than you." Another soldier sitting up front chuckled and looked over, "Even if you do have important suggestions, it''s better to discuss them privately and let your team leader convey them. Blurting them out during planning is like slapping our team leaders in the face. It''s not that our team leaders are petty; it''s about maintaining the necessary authority for leading a team. You better be careful about that." None of these men wore badges on their chests, indicating that they were all of natural human status. Bai E''s gaze swept across their faces, and he nodded in acknowledgment, "Understood." "In any case, we follow our team leader''s orders. Even if there''s a failure, it''s not on you, got it?" The soldier who had first reached out to Bai E patted his shoulder again, "Even if there''s a slip-up, we''ve got your back, little brother." "Thank you." Naturals varied, some were hostile towards artificial humans, while others didn''t care about that status¡ªor rather, it was more about a sense of natural nobility and superiority. Morals made them feel obliged to protect the weak. Good and bad people always existed in equal measure within any group. Bai E felt introspective but was still somewhat apprehensive about the unknowns of the mission ahead. The carriage rattled on. Blood God sat diagonally opposite, staring absentmindedly at the floor of the carriage, silent. ... The journey was unusually smooth. Enjoy new adventures from empire It was five thirty-six in the afternoon. The setting sun cast a sallow light, as misty as fog. It slanted across the caves, casting bizarre, elongated shadows on the ground. The boundless wilderness was swept by fierce winds that howled through the oddly shaped caves like wild beasts, and the sand carried by the wind felt slightly abrasive against the skin. Desolation, silence. That was the overwhelming sensation at the target location. The photos had hinted at it, but being at the site made one even more aware of the primitive unease brought on by the environment. "They live in a place like this?" A soldier getting out of the vehicle surveyed the surroundings, trying to find traces of human habitation. "This area''s far from those major threats; it really is a good hiding spot." Using the city as a barrier and resting behind it did indeed seem like a good development area. But the soil was too barren to support many people; it might be a paradise for a few settlers... relatively speaking, compared to other parts of this world. The three team leaders seemed to have reached a decision on the strategy and their respective areas of responsibility and disembarked together from the side of the vehicle. Experienced soldiers effortlessly took some equipment out of the rear storage compartment. "Here, night vision goggles. You know how to use them, right?" [No.] But he could ask You and the others. Bai E took them and nodded, "No problem." "Kid, don''t be scared. If you run into danger, just shout. We''re here for you." A soldier laughed heartily, apparently not taking the potential dangers of the mission too seriously. What haven''t these veterans seen? A bit of relaxation helped when it counted most. Experienced soldiers quickly identified several cave entrances that seemed to be hideouts for the vagabonds through traces left in the environment. "Make sure to keep communication open. Report any issue immediately!" The three teams spread out to act. Tiger, taking the lead with a blast shield, stepped into a downward-sloping cave mouth. The twilight glow watched over them as they gradually disappeared into the darkness and sank with it. Within his own team, Bai E voiced his question, "Aren''t we waiting for daylight to move?" Tiger shook his head slightly, "We''ve discussed it; there''s no need. You''ve seen the photos¡ª even during the day, it''s pitch-black inside. There''s no difference with night vision. Move quickly, we can handle the vagabonds tonight and set off early tomorrow morning." The return trip wouldn''t be as quick as the journey here. Moving two hundred people would surely be slower, and even without considering their physical condition, it would likely take two to three days on the road. Not encountering danger on the way didn''t mean it was safe on the way back. In this era, there was never a guarantee of absolute safety outdoors, so the less time spent out there, the safer it was. "Oh~" Bai E responded somberly. The world looked strange under night vision, everything enveloped in a layer of dim green light. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He needed to adapt. Thinking Bai E was nervous because it was his first time with them on such a mission, Big Mountain cheerfully comforted him, "Don''t worry; You is here. She''ll spot any traps the vagabonds have set up." You, leading the way in risk assessment, was as vigilant as a little cat. The delicate touch unique to female artificial humans showed in various aspects and complemented male templates. The group moved deeper into the cave, the path became winding and descended underground. The light from the outside world could not penetrate the bends, leaving vision beyond the night goggles in utter darkness. The complete darkness dampened the mood for conversation. Amidst the silent sound of footsteps, the howls of the wild winds above the wasteland seemed especially eerie. "No traps..." You took the lead, her clear, cold voice echoing with confusion. ``` Chapter 208 196 Exploration and Doubts "Traces of humanoid creatures...""No feces or scent left by large wild beasts..." "No traps..." Based on the discoveries made so far, which were not too deep into the area, You made her current judgment. "Perhaps traps are laid a bit deeper inside?" "Or perhaps this isn''t their primary living space?" The cavernous terrain covered a vast area, and the scouts who had explored previously had only speculated about the rough living range of those migrants through scattered clues. If the scouts had made a mistake or if their presence had alarmed the migrants, causing them to move, it couldn''t be certain. You frowned, having her judgment, "Even without signs of traps being set, if it were to guard against wild beasts from the wilderness, there would already be traces. Placing them too close to their dwelling would also risk accidental injuries. Maybe... we are going in the wrong direction." Those migrants didn''t dwell in the areas that their current exploration pathway could reach, so naturally, there was no need to lay traps along this passageway. As for the sparse humanoid traces she had found... they couldn''t be taken as solid evidence. The network of caves and tunnels here was extensive; it was quite possible for some passages to be less frequently traversed by people. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Song Ying looked towards Tiger and asked softly, "Captain?" After pondering for a moment, Tiger made a decision, "Continue exploring a bit further." The distance they had entered wasn''t far; the discoveries at this time couldn''t serve as definitive evidence for a judgment. If they reported this, the members of the other two squads wouldn''t accept it; instead, it would make the already somewhat awkward situation even more embarrassing. Since there were signs of human activity, it meant the intelligence on the migrants in this area was generally correct. Even if they had changed their residence due to the disturbance from the previous scouts, it was necessary to locate and confirm their original dwelling place. The clues in the tunnels could only prove limited things, but the actual living site could yield more useful information, including the number of people, living standards, and so on. In this era, firstly the technological level was limited, and secondly, human life was cheap; information explored through human efforts often relied on bravery and physical endurance. "Okay." You nodded gently and continued to clear the way ahead. The team proceeded as quietly as possible, not making any unnecessary noise. Silence ensured that everyone was able to acutely perceive everything in their environment. To listen to the wind that sounded like wailing ghosts and howling wolves, to listen to the rustling footsteps constrained by the limited vision, to listen to one''s own heartbeat that felt like the only thing left in the world, to listen to... the fear that comes from the primal darkness. ''Why do I feel a bit creeped out...'' Big Mountain rubbed his hands together and looked over his teammates. For some reason, even though everyone was moving together and the physical distance hadn''t changed, he always felt his teammates were drifting further away from him. Further and further away... Further and further away... So far that his breathing became slow and drawn out, so far that each blink of his eyes felt extremely heavy, so far that voices stretched into several syllables to the point of distortion, so far that his heart seemed to forget how to beat. He felt like an unfortunate swimmer who had drowned, watching his companions who were still afloat on the surface, silently sinking down to the seabed... "..." He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to break the panic-inducing sensation. But he couldn''t make a sound. It was unclear whether it was reason preventing him from making noise, fearing that his own noise might disturb or mask potential information or dangers in the darkness; Or whether it was emotion suppressing his body''s instincts, stopping him from using his mouth and vocal cords. He could only watch as he drifted further and further away from his teammates, slowly being submerged into the darkness... "Beep beep beep~" A series of signals suddenly came through the earpiece. Even when there was no need to share essential information, everyone would press a button at regular intervals to signal to their teammates that they were alright. The sudden noise made Big Mountain''s body tremble violently, and the feelings he had just experienced retreated like a tide. Regaining his senses, Big Mountain felt his back drenched in sweat, not realizing when his cotton undershirt had been soaked through. Raising his hand to press a button on the side of his earpiece, Big Mountain also signaled that he hadn''t encountered any abnormalities. Turning to look at his teammates, everyone seemed to be fine. Did he not sleep well last night? Big Mountain shook his head as if to shake off the sinking sensation he had felt, as if to cast it off along with the motion. "Look over there..." You, who was leading the way, whispered, made room by stepping aside, and stopped in her tracks. As everyone caught up and peeked, an underground cavern that suddenly broadened in their field of vision appeared before them, evident through their green-tinted night vision devices. Tiny spots of an even more luminescent green dotted the entire inner wall of the underground cavern, making the sight in their vision as splendid as a starry sky. "Is this... some kind of fungus?" "Cultivated by humans, it''s either food or a weapon..." They were either exploiting the natural toxins in these materials as traps or weapons or the fungi were edible... The migrants living in such a place, without normal conditions for cultivating crops or synthesized food production lines that could utilize proteins, starches, and the like, only had the option to grow such things as a source of sustenance. ``` Everyone tended to agree with the latter. Wearing gloves, You carefully picked a mushroom and examined it closely. After a moment, she matched the target species with the "Encyclopedia Atlas" recorded in her mind, "Flavor-heart Mushroom, edible between 23 and 60 days of growth, containing mild hallucinogenic toxins, mild addictiveness if consumed over a long period. The toxicity gradually increases and it starts to lignify after 60 days of growth..." After crouching down and observing for a while, You confirmed, "These Flavor-heart Mushrooms are basically about thirty days old, they probably haven''t come to harvest them yet." Zhou, with his arms crossed, had completely recovered from the "illusion" he had just experienced, "But this patch of Flavor-heart Mushrooms wouldn''t be enough to sustain those two hundred people mentioned in the intelligence reports..." "There must be more than one plantation..." You looked around and said, "The growing conditions for Flavor-heart Mushrooms are very low, they must have planted a lot. If we keep moving forward, we should see more." "Let''s go, keep moving forward." With a somewhat exhilarated tone, Tiger expressed that finding human-cultivated food also meant that at least part of their prior intelligence was correct. As expected, several nearly adjacent caves were found to contain large swathes of Flavor-heart Mushrooms, brilliant as the stars. "They''re here!" You stated confidently. In the absence of any guards In the absence of any guards, such a plantation could easily be ravaged and eaten by various wild animals. The cultivated area couldn''t possibly be too far from the real dwelling place of the refugees, or even if they were moving, they wouldn''t leave so many Flavor-heart Mushrooms unharvested. "They haven''t left." "Good!" Tiger nodded in agreement, fully trusting his team member''s judgment, and then speaking into the microphone said, "This is Team A97, we have discovered their plantation, repeat, we have found their plantation." As Tiger reported their findings to the other two teams, You was still looking in the direction they had come from, continuing to doubt to herself, "But why are there no traps?" Surviving in the wilderness, using traps for warnings and defense is a basic requirement, the refugees couldn''t possibly be unaware of this. This wasn''t something that could be easily explained by whether the city dwellers had hostile intentions or not. Unless... they''re not afraid? Come to think of it, since arriving at this underground nest, they really hadn''t encountered any small wild animals. It seemed that the entire cave system was unnaturally quiet. Bai E, closest to You, heard her muttering to herself. "Did you find a problem?" "There shouldn''t be an absence of traps..." You said softly, expressing the doubt circling in her mind. "Zzzzt¡ª" After some static, the familiar voice of another team leader came through, "How large is the scale, approximately how much can it supply for daily consumption?" Inwardly calculating, Song Ying quietly reminded Tiger at his side, "Probably just over a hundred people." Tiger nodded and responded, "Based on what we''ve found so far, it''s enough to support the daily consumption of about a hundred people." "Understood..." "Zzzzt¡ª" Another voice joined the conversation, "We''ve found some too, and it''s not small... wait, we think we''ve seen someone. He''s running! Chase!" Suddenly, the voice became chaotic, hurried breathing momentarily dominated the conversation. While two teams continued their exploration, they awaited the outcome on the other side. Only until the commotion coming through the open mic subsided did the waiting team leader calmly ask, "Did you catch him?" "He got away..." After regaining some composure, the voice responded steadily, "There are too many branching paths here, we''re not familiar with the environment, and he lost us after a few turns." Team Leader 1 fell silent for a moment, seemingly contemplating the next move, before finally saying, "Continue moving forward to explore. Since we''ve found the plantations, the target group can''t be far. Our side... has found them too." It might be a scale larger than two hundred people. Everyone understood the implications of that statement. "Received." "Received." Tiger and Team Leader 2 responded softly and then muted their mics. "Continue the exploration." Tiger looked at his teammates and waved them forward. Walking on the rugged terrain, the group once again fell silent as they moved forward. Since a squad had seen a figure, it meant they were heading in the right direction. Besides being wary of possible attacks from the refugees, they also had to be careful not to startle them. If only they had been a bit quieter and closer, could they have caught him? Capturing one would likely lead to finding the main body of the refugees effortlessly, provided communication was possible. But... "There are so many forks in the path." "We have the same situation here." Tiger reported seriously, pressing his earpiece. In front of them, several dark tunnel mouths resembled the gullets of beasts, waiting for them to step inside voluntarily. "Let''s split up to explore, two people per group." Team Leader 1 was somewhat aggressive. He believed in the individual combat abilities of his team members, "As for you... do as you see fit." ``` Chapter 209 197 has fallen! "Captain?"Tiger fell silent for a moment, looking towards You, "Any clues?" "There are traces of human activity." After a brief silence, everyone was waiting for Tiger''s decision. For some reason, Dashan felt his palms beginning to sweat, as if he were waiting for a judgment. He hoped everyone would stay together, but he couldn''t bring himself to voice his fears, worried it might influence Tiger''s judgment. After a long silence, recalling the advice he had secretly received from his instructor and Sniper God Carlos, Tiger still decided to err on the side of caution, "We''ll stick together." Efficiency could be sacrificed; ensuring the safety of the team and the success of the mission was the primary concern. "Phew," Dashan let out a breath, feeling much more relaxed. Just now, that hallucination-like "imagination" always made his heart feel as if it were being held by an invisible hand, unable to settle, nor to break free. A sense of faint unease echoed in his chest, only dispersible by the warm strength of his teammates when they were by his side. "Let''s go." The team once again plunged into as quiet an exploration as possible. The finely ground special sand falling from the sand-timer-like device clipped to the waist of Dashan at the rear left a clear trail in the night vision goggles, so everyone knew the path they had taken to avoid getting lost. Everyone still tried to minimize any noise they made, their stealth skills coming into play once more. Bai E''s footsteps were so light they were almost imperceptible, with You and Song Ying not far behind. Only Tiger''s footsteps were slightly heavier, but they too could not provide a sense of reassuring power. It''s coming... It''s here again... That feeling... it''s back again... Dashan felt his breathing becoming difficult, his teammates ahead increasing their pace, while his own legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. He desperately wanted to pick up the pace and catch up, but he couldn''t move quickly. He reached out, yet he couldn''t touch the back of his teammate. Wishing to shout, something seemed to block his mouth and vocal cords, resulting in only a silent gaping. "Thump~" "Thump~" The spiritual world was dark and ethereal, the sound of his own heartbeat magnified infinitely in his mind. Faster and faster... Faster and faster... The howling winds above swept across the land, stirring up ghostly wails. The world before him expanded away, while he felt like an insignificant grain of sand in the endless darkness, losing his color, his character, his will, losing... everything. He was about to merge eternally into this expanse... of darkness. "Szzzz~" Static suddenly erupted in the comms, Dashan waiting with bated breath for salvation, only to hear a long scream. "Ahhh~~~~" "Save... *click~" In a consciousness stream that seemed to flow slower, allowing him to hear every nuance of each byte, the screams of other team members played out slowly in his mind. This cry from his teammate completely shattered his last line of defense. The moment the scream sounded, he felt every nerve in his brain being plucked one by one. His crown felt as if it had been blown off, sending chills directly through him. A tremor that reached deep into his soul invaded his entire body, leaving him feeling electrocuted. He stretched out his hand desperately, seeking salvation from his teammates. In his field of vision... His teammates... all stood still. ... "Woo~" The wind over the wilderness never ceased. In the cramped passageway, it was as quiet as one''s own breathing, every light rustling of footsteps felt as if they were directly on one''s heart, causing it to tremble ceaselessly. If the noise from any step became slightly louder, it felt as if some taboo commandment had been violated, instilling unease. Bai E, slightly distracted as he walked, blinked his eyes as if he had a premonition of the scream that was about to come through the headset. "Ah!" "Save... *click~" Something''s gone wrong! Bai E jolted alert from a semi-lucid state. It was from another squad; he instinctively turned to look at his teammates. But he found that everyone maintained a strange "in-progress action": Tiger''s body rigidly extended forward in a half-step, his foot lingering in mid-air as if frozen into a statue. Song Ying was holding his machine gun as if ready for battle, but likewise, he was stuck in place. Lagging behind, Dashan reached out like a drowning victim in a weird semi-floating posture, desperately trying to touch what was in front, his longest middle finger stopping just three centimeters shy of Song Ying''s back. And You, just half a step in front... Suddenly, a gloved small hand was thrust into Bai E''s own, a pained and soft voice intermittently piercing into Bai E''s ear. "Quick... run..." "You?" Bai E shook the hand that had been placed in his, and along with it, You''s entire arm also moved slightly. However, his stiff body was likewise frozen in eternity. Teammates... were all immobile. The voice comms, too, fell silent. No one questioned the comrade who had just screamed. Everyone was engulfed in a deathly silence. They... were all motionless. They had fallen... In just an instant, a piercing cold swept up from Bai E''s heels, climbing up his entire back. All the pores on his body contracted, his hairs standing on end. "Woo~" The only sound was the howling of the wind above. It was like the death cry of a beast¡ªor the sob of humans in despair. What''s happened! What''s happened! Bai E clenched his teeth tightly to ensure he wouldn''t tremble from the fear in his body. His mind was blanketed in darkness, Bai E having no time to analyze the situation or make decisions. This can''t go on! Self-control... where is my self-control? Realizing he had not yet fallen like the others, Bai E struggled to remember his trump card. Fear''s agents chaotically surged within, self-restraint like soldiers arresting bandits throughout the city, but the fear only multiplied¡­ more and more¡­ It was as if it poured into the crown of his head from the air, the boundless darkness flooding his body along with the fear, seeking to completely bury him. "Slap! Slap!" Bai E fiercely slapped himself twice, the pain bringing a momentary lucidity to his senses. He couldn''t stay here! Get out! Carlos was right, as long as you don''t die, collecting intelligence and returning is also a way of completing the mission. There''s something wrong with this Refugee Slum! Something wrong! It''s problematic! He scooped up You''s light yet rigid body around his waist, his left hand trying to lift the close-by body of Ying. However, the muscles, acidified from fear, suddenly gave out, and the two bodies he managed to lift fell to the ground in an instant. He couldn''t carry them¡­ Just run¡­ Leave this place¡­ Get out of this cave! The disappearance of several previous recon soldiers was not a careless accident, this place¡­ harbored perils beyond common imagination! Bring back the intel! Bring back the intel! Short, recurrent thoughts looped in Bai E''s temporarily stalled mind. Run! The path he followed showed a clear guide under the night vision goggles. He couldn''t care about hiding, couldn''t care about the noise, the only consideration was to leave the cave as fast as possible. The mask of the night vision goggles trapped his heavy breathing, the hot vapor covering his face. Running away¡­ Was also an escape. The darkness grew ever denser, Bai E''s consciousness filled with the pounding heartbeat and heavy breathing. "Thump! Thump!" It was as if an unknown primeval beast stalked him from behind, the closer Bai E got to the cave entrance, the smaller he felt in comparison to the entire world. Massive stones and the very earth seemed like bindings pressing down on him, leaving him gasping for air. "Hiss~" Bai E''s foot slipped on stepping out of the Wind Erosion Cave tunnel, almost causing him to fall. Staggering to his feet, he sprinted to the vehicle parked not far away. Opened the car door¡­ turned on the ignition¡­ Bai E, performing all these actions, could only feel his hands shaking continuously, the unspeakable fear eroding his heart at all times. At some point, the hand steadying the steering wheel suddenly paused. Bai E slowly raised his head, staring blankly into the dimly lit night sky¡ª In the boundless wilderness, the rocks of bizarre shapes outlined monstrous and distorted figures under the black shadows. Natural wind caves played a primitive roar for the ordinarily silent gale. His thoughts, as if his soul had left his body, soared quickly from in front of him into the boundless sky. The earth seemed to grow more and more distant before his eyes, his small body like a drop in the ocean. "Thump~" "Thump~" In the quiet, Bai E heard his heartbeat slowly calming down. A seed of fear had taken root deep within his heart without him knowing when. Escape? Go ahead and flee. You can escape from the present, but not from within. Once the seed is sown, all acts of escapism become the best nourishment for fear. Perhaps on the road¡­ Or maybe back at camp¡­ In the future¡­ perhaps tomorrow¡­ maybe when waking up the next morning¡­ He would regret why he abandoned everything because of the unknown fear. Escaping? [Under your firm will, you have successfully passed a "mental check".] [You have successfully passed a check in the field of occultism, Occult +0.1.] Only when his self-consciousness awakened from the endless fear did the success notification quietly pop up on the panel. This passive confrontation could happen at any moment, and the notifications on the panel could not be taken as a preventative source of information. Bai E lifted his head, his gaze empty as he looked ahead. In the silent darkness, it seemed as if a pair of malicious eyes had formed, quietly watching him with amusement¡­ Fear was not entirely his own. In that brief instant just now, Bai E sensed the fear imposed on him by other wills¡ª A group of ragged refugees, with dry and hardened sticks in hand, struggled to climb to the top of one of the Wind Erosion Caves. The desolate gray wilderness stretched to the horizon like a backdrop in front of them. The city''s glow couldn''t shine into the wilds¡­ It was as if the glow deliberately drove these gray figures out of their borders. With such a vast world, there was nowhere for them to go. What about the future? What about life? Every child who fell asleep in the dark caves with the whisper of the wind had swallowed bewilderment and fear along with the cold and hunger. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The demon that germinated from fear had already shown its fangs, reaching its roots into the hearts of every living being that came here. The farther you flee on land, the more the seed blossoms. Physical escape was meaningless if one could not face it head-on, as no matter where one went, one would ultimately succumb. "Huff~" Bai E exhaled gently, as if expelling all fear from within with that breath. Turned off the engine, got out of the car, closed the door. Bai E slowly completed these actions, taking steps towards what lay ahead¡­ The unknown cave awaited quietly in the darkness. To be a fool who challenges the windmill. Rashness, closer to courage than caution¡­ Chapter 210 198 Facing Fear "This is 95B27, this is 95B27. If you hear me, please respond. If you hear me, please respond."Bai E pressed his earpiece, his voice echoing in lonely resonance. In his own ears, and possibly in every corner of the passages. No response. Everyone was silent, sinking into silence, or waiting for possible rescue. Bai E closed the channel and sighed softly. The dark dungeon remained fearsome¡ªevery unwatched corner seemed like a writhing shadow, brewing malice in the dark. Courage couldn''t always inspire Bai E''s body; the bewildered fear of the caverns invaded his body at all times. But Bai E, not immediately overwhelmed by fear, was trying to fight against this feeling. Once he bravely took the first step in resistance, mere emotions could no longer depress his will. Mere drifters were not the enemy; the true threat loomed over them. Who exactly? He didn''t know. But going deeper might reveal the answer. The same journey, but without his teammates by his side. Those who had said they could be relied on in an emergency had long since fallen silent. However, precisely because of the solitude... because there were no teammates to depend on, he had become stronger. This time it wasn''t about redemption for anyone else, but solely about his own redemption. The target was his own heart. Seedlings accompanied his heartbeat and spread throughout his body with his blood; Bai E could feel those evil tendrils taking root and sprouting within him. They wanted to feed on fear, to completely corrupt him into becoming their servant. Let''s see then... Let''s see whether you make me kneel, or whether I will overthrow your reign. Bai E moved swiftly, even more familiar with the route he had already traversed, the characteristic sand on the ground forming a clear path under night vision. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Suddenly, at a fork with many cave mouths, Bai E heard echoes coming from one of the tunnels. Gunshots! Teammates who had lost their ability to communicate? Or those drifters? "Bang!" Another short gunshot echoed, then fell silent. A simple emotional outburst, or a clash between two forces? Bai E''s eyes flickered, and he opened the pathfinder hourglass also at his waist. Then he cautiously stepped into the passage from which the gunshots had come. There was no need to deal with the safety of his teammates for the moment; what the other side needed was the emotion of fear itself, and only living creatures could provide fear. Even if he took their bodies away, it wouldn''t help; their hearts... had already been linked to some strange existence. Only by facing fear could he save himself. And only by defeating fear could he resolve it all. Before discovering the truth, every unexpected finding could be a small part of the truth. The passage was pitch-black, but the night vision goggles provided a certain degree of visible field. However, the view was filled with winding, twisting underground passages, with endless obstacles blocking the view, one couldn''t even see things beyond three meters. Only the sound could... As Bai E stepped into the passage, sounds that were not as obvious as the gunshots but just as discernible in the quiet began to grow clearer. "Bang!" "Bang!" Irregular thuds and vibrations like a hammer smashing a wall resounded, accompanied by... screams. "Ahh!" "Help..." "He''s gone mad..." "Bang!" As Bai E rounded a corner, two bodies appeared in the night vision. The soldier pinned to the wall was dripping a thick mixture of saliva and blood from his mouth, his body hung on the irregular protrusions of the wall like a piece of rotten meat, his entire form mashed flat against the rugged surface. Only his head seemed to retain its complete structure, issuing a final warning with a whisper-thin voice. "He... has gone mad..." He... It was the Blood God. The massive Blood God turned his head to look over, his blood-red eyes especially sinister through the night vision goggles¡ªthe terrifying glow piercing through the slightly distorted view and keenly perceived by Bai E. His muscles swelled, the violent, bloody aura almost filling the cramped space. "What are you doing!" Bai E held his gun with both hands, questioning coldly. The bloodthirsty Blood God pointed to the mangled body on the wall, a smile flickering across his face, "He no longer deserves to be a soldier of the empire, offering his strength to demons; only death can redeem him!" "Demons?" Bai E squinted his eyes. "Can''t you smell it? The scent of demons in the air?" said the Blood God, pausing suddenly in mid-speech, as if waking from his intoxicated expression to look at Bai E, "Oh right... you can''t smell it. You''re not like them; you haven''t become a part of the demon." He extended a bloody hand, "Join me, and together we''ll cut through this den of sin." "And what about you?" Bai E stepped back unobtrusively. Atop the Blood God''s head, his identity now shone brightly¡ª [95A09/Blood God (Human) (Chaotic) (Elite)¡ª¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*2400, Battle Experience 3500 points, Gaze: Blood''s Stare); High Probability (Trait: Regenerative Blood, Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, not to exceed level 6, Mastery: Agility Weapon Specialization Layer +1, not to exceed level 6); Possible (Skill: Extreme Pain Suppression, Feat: Fury''s Surge).] Even without the display of drop rates, Bai E could tell from his performance that his current state was far from normal. He had been on a mission with the Blood God before; the towering figure only fought in silence, dutifully carrying out his superior''s orders, showing not the slightest hint of the... madness, the arrogance he was displaying now. When did the change begin? A covert mission? The return journey? Or was it right now? Fear had plunged his teammates into a dark tremor, yet this most formidable warrior used arrogance to mask his fear? A demon? "They haven''t become part of a demon¡­" They had only been temporarily invaded by a demon. Bai E raised his guns, the dark muzzles aiming at the head of the Blood God. "The real demon incarnate... is yourself!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Machine guns are ill-suited for confined tunnels; the sound of the pistol''s gunfire bounced futilely within the underground channel. At the first sign of Bai E''s attack, the Blood God''s colossal body easily retreated, exploiting the terrain to dodge the bullets. Within seven steps, a gun is quicker. But in the cave''s environment... there were no clear paths of seven steps. Darkness, silence. Taking advantage of the complex passages to retreat easily, Bai E lost sight of the Blood God after advancing just two steps. The soldier''s faint groans reached his ears, and Bai E, unable to bear the sight, turned his gun toward the soldier''s head instead. "Bang! Bang!" After two shots rang out, Bai E tightened his grip on the gun handle and chased through the tunnel from which the Blood God had fled. A demon? Let it be a demon! It was just as he had anticipated before his departure. Suffering is the perfect breeding ground for demonic beliefs; it''s a reluctant choice for wilderness refugees with nowhere to turn. It''s just that he didn''t know... the background of this demon. The four major demons You had introduced were simply the foremost among higher-dimensional demons; even the clueless commoners might have heard of their notoriety. But below the four Demon Gods, countless greater demons and lesser demons exist. All extreme emotions of all sentient beings are capable of coalescing in higher-dimensional space, potentially giving rise to specific demons. So could this demon be the one that rules over fear? Having such a multitude of people''s mental "worship," Bai E did not know whether the demon could incarnate in true form, nor was he overly familiar with the field of demonology. What was clear was that the Blood God had already caught a demon''s attention, becoming Its chosen one. Striking down the chosen one is also a way to weaken the demon''s power. Perhaps by killing the Blood God, the chosen disciple of the demon, he could diminish the power of the current demon, thereby lessening Its control over You and the others. It was both a rescue for his teammates and a redemption for himself. The battle that didn''t happen in the arena that night could be settled right now. The only oddity was... why would the Blood God, the chosen disciple, invite him to slay his way through this nest? Is it some kind of way to elevate oneself? Or is it inherent to the demon''s nature? Or perhaps, is it just a lie to lower one''s guard? But none of that matters. Many things in this world are chaotic and unknown, but battle never deceives. While many things are shrouded in mystery, in the end, they still lead to an inevitable fight. Gun in right hand, left holding a dagger pressed under the gun handle, Bai E remained on high alert while he ventured into the dark corridor. Each winding turn in the tunnel might be an opportunity for the Blood God to launch a sudden attack. Even though the enemy had temporarily retreated, he clearly wouldn''t give up on finding him. In this dark and complex labyrinth of tunnels, hunter and prey hunt each other, with roles possibly reversing at any moment. "Click~" Bai E, whose vision was limited due to night-vision goggles, kicked something squishy without noticing it right away until he looked down to inspect. Night-vision goggles? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They lay quietly on the ground, looking somewhat distorted at the lenses. Did they belong to the soldier who had just died? After the sudden assault, losing this device may have been what caused him to be completely outmatched by the Blood God. However... why haven''t the soldier attacked by the Blood God turned into an immobile "stone sculpture" like You and the others? Perhaps that was exactly why he had attracted the Blood God''s attention and was specifically targeted. But why didn''t he respond to Bai E over the voice comms? Bai E narrowed his eyes, burying these suspect thoughts deep in his heart, awaiting the final revelation. Shifting his gaze, Bai E continued to move carefully forward. As he walked, Bai E could feel his limbs trembling slightly. With self-control imposed, forcibly-induced fear no longer caused Bai E''s will to falter, but the omnipresent spirit of fear still stirred the seed of fear within. It circumvented his will and deceived his own body. Trembling, weakening... It was inevitable. Chapter 211 199 Absolute Defense ```Cautiously turning a corner, the dagger shielded the pistol as it turned. Shadows assaulted in an instant, and Bai E subconsciously pulled the trigger. "Bang!" Before he could fire, the muzzle was already twisted upwards, the discharged bullet ultimately could only hit the rocks at the ceiling. Sparks flashed past. "You ant, you''ve already lost to me once, how dare you chase after me!" the Blood God, pressing down hard on Bai E''s wrist, bared his white teeth. Bai E, with his hands pinned down, gritted his teeth as he struggled against his opponent. However, an external fear penetrated his marrow, to the extent that his muscles involuntarily soured and he was easily disarmed of his pistol and dagger. The Blood God, who nonchalantly flung aside both weapons, didn''t bother to use them but instead, with a burst of fury, headbutted Bai E right in front of him. "Thud!" Bai E''s vision blurred for a moment as he staggered back two steps, and even the Blood God, standing still, seemed a bit groggy as he shook his head. He hadn''t expected that the body of this opponent, whom he had brutally beaten once, would prove to be so formidable... But this was even better, the Blood God clenched his fist, eyes glowing red as blood. "Let''s see how much you''ve improved during this time!" Bai E didn''t make a sound, only adjusting the night-vision goggles on his face. The lenses had skewed from the impact of the headbutt, instantly limiting his field of view. Bai E, having straightened his night-vision goggles, stared silently at the large man towering over him by an entire circle. Once he entered a true combat state, his blood visibly began to surge within him, as if his muscles were receiving courage where his blood flowed. The limp and sour sensation was retreating from every corner of his body, and a genuine fighting spirit began to resist the omnipresent fear dwelling in the cave. Shaking his wrists, Bai E hopped lightly on the spot a couple of times. His body was gradually recovering its combat state, undoubtedly good news. Facing fear head-on was indeed the only way to eradicate that seed. Weapons? He hadn''t planned on relying on weapons to defeat this enemy in the first place. The environment inside this cave wasn''t suited for the full use of weapons, though the agile dagger might come in handy. But since his opponent had already issued a bare-handed invitation, he would not shy away from battle. With blood circulating warmly, his body grew increasingly excited, Bai E''s will ignited as he looked at the Blood God with burning intensity. "You know? I''ve been waiting for this day for a long time..." His voice trembled with excitement. Since the day he had been brutalized by his opponent, since he''d been beaten to the ground with almost no ability to resist... Bai E never told anyone that he was a person with a strong competitive spirit. Whatever had caused him to fail before, he always aimed to snatch victory back in the same fashion. He had been waiting for a formal battle with the Blood God, be it just for practice, whether in the barracks or the arena. But surprises always come unexpectedly. Right here inside this cave, during this mission. "I don''t know why you''ve become what you are now, I don''t know if you can repent, and I guess you won''t explain it to me..." But right now, we are in a fight to the death. "I''ll use all my strength to incapacitate you, and after that... I''ll ask you one more time, why!" As his words fell, Bai E rushed forward, his Overlimit Drive bursting forth with full force. "Bang!" Body blocks resonated dully in the narrow cave corridor. [Triggering Sparring Mode...] There was no space to dodge, only head-on, tough confrontations. Avoiding direct blows to vital areas was the fullest extent of dodging either could achieve. Fist met flesh directly, and one would reduce damage by blocking successfully, or else brace for impact with their body. Their fists flew like the wind, blocking and counterattacking almost every moment. Without the tough skin obtained from cultivation, Bai E likely wouldn''t be able to sustain such high-intensity endurance in this hard confrontation, as rapid recovery was not fast enough for such intense attrition. Knowing he was outclassed in his level of Combat Specialization, Bai E went all out from the start. Rapid-fire strikes. Fists, feet, elbows, and knees combined, the onslaught was fierce and dense like a storm. Yet the Blood God''s fists were also incredibly heavy, matching the powered-up Bai E in strength, his force periodically disrupting Bai E''s offensive rhythm. Fortunately, the drastically increased level of Combat Specialization and its numerous special attributes had an immediate effect. Unlike their previous clash where Bai E was easily overpowered, this time, the fight initially seemed evenly matched. [Using close combat to engage in rapid offense and defense with the target, Combat Mastery experience +13.] (Stacked) "Bang!" Caught off guard, Bai E broke through the defense and landed a punch on the Blood God''s chest. The pain in his body intensified the red light in the Blood God''s eyes, and his strength surged momentarily. His palm moved like lightning to grab Bai E''s right fist, and as Bai E struggled to break free, the Blood God''s other fist smashed into Bai E''s chest. "Bang!" As one hand exerted force, the other involuntarily weakened, allowing Bai E to break free. Bai E, having taken a punch to the chest, was not to be outdone, and retaliated with a punch of his own. "Bang!" "Bang!" Your punch, my punch. ``` The original assault and defense battle had suddenly turned into a turn-based one. The heavy physical blow also ignited Bai E''s ferocity, as if his mind had snapped, standing still and steadfastly trading blood with the opponent. A punch, another punch, and yet another. It was as if he wanted to completely expel the fear inside him through the force and true pain of his fists! "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" The last sound almost coincided, the simultaneous punches from both sides forced each to take two steps back. Rubbing his aching chest, Bai E coughed lightly, finally exhaling the breath he had been holding. "Good! Good!" The Blood God also rubbed his chest, his eyes turning redder as he looked at Bai E, his tone fervent... The most extreme combat undoubtedly stimulated his nerves, tearing open the combat suit that had become a restraint on his body, revealing his muscular physique clad only in a black vest to the air. With a meaningless growl like a wild beast, the Blood God''s massive body charged like a tank down the narrow passageway. Bai E clenched his fists. During that violent outburst, the power suppressed by fear had completely returned. Cold desire for battle spread throughout his body. He glanced at the semi-transparent panel with subtitles that did not obstruct his view. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [You have spent 50 points of combat experience, converting into 25 points of "Combat Mastery" experience.] Gone... Had his special attribute bonuses reached some sort of upper limit? Or was it that the Blood God really didn''t have much personal flair? But that wasn''t important. [Your combat abilities have begun to form a strong personal style, integrating all you have learned, and you will gain a unique personal combat system, current integration progress 82%...] Combat itself, has meaning! Bai E stepped forward, bowing into a jab that smashed into the side of the Blood God''s attacking right forearm. Swinging his right arm, he blocked the incoming large hand, and with his left hand''s two fingers joined like a sword, he pointed towards the wide-open side waist, inches away. Confident in the effect of his attacks, almost the moment after making these moves, Bai E spun into the Blood God''s embrace. His palm struck the side of the face, chopping at the chin. Turning his hand down, a series of chopping and pushing palms hit the Blood God''s chest, forcing him to gasp for breath and losing any space to counterattack. This was the first time Bai E had achieved a perfect combo advantage in a head-on confrontation. "Cough, cough, cough!" The Blood God involuntarily retreated several steps, his eyes brimming with red. Defying science, his body stopped the backward inertia in an instant and abruptly changed direction forward. With a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye, another charge, both hands smashed into Bai E''s chest like cannons. "Bang!" With that strike, Bai E''s body flew backward, smashing directly into the cave wall four or five meters behind him. [Hit by the opponent''s attack, you have taken 4 points of strike damage.] "Cough~ Cough~" Bai E, who quickly flipped into a corner to prevent pursuit, covered his chest as he stood up swiftly. The saliva at the corner of his mouth couldn''t stop flowing down; the Blood God''s two punches felt like they had toppled his innards, stomach acid and bile surged up, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. At the same time, the images of the Blood God''s attack replayed slowly in his mind... Speed, strength, had increased again. It was like the feeling of fighting one against three in the arena before departing... The arena? The fleeting inspiration was not captured, as Bai E had to focus all his thoughts on the present¡ª The Blood God was already at the peak level of normal human bodies, and in theory, should not be able to enhance strength and explosive power on the spot. So, was this the power granted by pledging oneself to demons? Those ultra-dimensional existences distorted reality with unrivaled Spiritual Energy, providing their Believers with extraordinary powers. Damn it! Damn it! He had to make a choice, didn''t he? Facing the Blood God, an opponent with robust vitality, Bai E did not have the confidence to take him down with one hit. After reaching Combat Specialization Level 4, the three unlocked skills included one that was almost like a younger version of a lucky hit without the reward of dropped items. The same burst of power, the improvement it could bring was not significant. Tactical evasion was even less worth mentioning; in such an environment, there wasn''t much space to dodge. Even a skill laced with the irrational factor of Spiritual Energy had little room to perform here. So, it had to be the continuous... Absolute Defense. Bai E gritted his teeth and made up his mind: [Payment: 2 Potential Points, 551 General Experience points, 449 Combat Experience points.] [Skill Learned¡ªAbsolute Defense.] [Absolute Defense: From now on, you can consciously strengthen the body parts about to be hit, greatly increasing resistance to strike, slash, and pierce damage, while also slightly immunizing against (but not limited to) acid, flame, frost, and electric shocks; Vitality (Defense) +5, Vitality (Recovery) +3. Cost: 3 Spiritual Energy (30 action potential reserve)/min.] Compared to Gun Fighting Skill, Absolute Defense consumed less, after all, it simply strengthened oneself without involving rapid response to complex environmental changes. With his current action potential reserve, he could last at least... three minutes! In these three minutes, complete the integration of his personal combat system to 100%, to see if the effects of this new specialty could be as life-changing as Overlimit Drive. If not, then he would decide whether to use other cards in his hand. With over two thousand points of general experience reserve and a chance to use a lucky hit, he was endowed with endless possibilities to turn the tables. Chapter 212 200 instantly kills a hundred beasts! ``` sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.[You have spent 100 points of general experience to learn, converting it into 50 points of "Combat Proficiency" experience.] Even without learning any special attribute bonuses, Bai E continued to spend experience to enhance his progress on his sparring task. "Both must proceed at the same time." The experience computed by time and the experience converted by learning must be spent simultaneously to advance the progress in perfecting expertise. [Your combat abilities have now formed a strong personal style, integrating all that you have learned, and you will obtain a unique personal combat system. Current integration progress: 85%...] 86%... 87%... 90%... In continuous rapid exchanges, the progress also rapidly increased. Facing Bai E, who had activated "Absolute Defense," even the powerfully enhanced Blood God struggled to inflict fatal damage on him. The astonishing defensive power allowed Bai E to opt for a bolder style of fighting, focusing less on his own safety in the midst of battle and directing all his attention to the sole objective of defeating his opponent. Fortified guard, interception, pressure points, flurry attack, joint locks, combo hits, whip strike... Bai E''s mastery of special attributes took turns in action, gradually integrating from a previously scatter-shot application to a cohesive whole. As the integration of various techniques became more harmonious, Bai E could strongly sense that the perfected offensive routines were like ripening fruits forming in his mind. Regarding how to fully utilize his entire strength to execute a fighting style unique to himself, Bai E became increasingly confident. As if dispelling clouds to see the sun, a realization dawned upon him. [You have spent 200 points of general experience to learn, converting it into 100 points of "Combat Proficiency" experience.] [Your combat abilities have now formed a strong personal style, integrating all that you have learned, and you will obtain a unique personal combat system. Current integration progress: 100%...] Time elapsed: two and a half minutes. Battle is the best occasion to verify theories. Never before has Bai E felt such a profound "understanding" of battle. His opponent stood there as if numerous bubbles leaped off his body, each indicating a different method to defeat him. Countless methods awaited execution. "Huh," Bai E exhaled deeply. At last, it had come. [Sparring task ¡ª Bareknuckle. Current progress has reached 100%; specialty is generating...] [Please select the special attribute you wish to serve as the core of your personal fighting style: combo hits, fortified guard, seizing opportunities, joint locks, interception, pressure points, whip strike, flurry attack.] Under the ghastly green night vision lens, the panel resembling a pale blue screen appeared unaffected before his eyes, waiting for Bai E''s decision. There were eight choices in total, each representing different specialties, and the core essentially dictated the direction of subsequent specialties. If considering only the present, no matter how powerful the Blood God''s body, it remains human, so techniques specifically targeting the human body¡ªjoint locks, pressure points¡ªwould undoubtedly be the prime choices. However, they have great limitations, implying that their effects on other types of enemies might be restricted. No choice should be made based solely on the current situation; unless the other options are significantly inferior, these two are unlikely to top the list. Fortified guard and interception? Too conservative and passive. Bai E has never been one to wait passively. If he could flatten the opponent in one encounter, why would he opt for a lengthy battle? Pass! Seizing opportunities and whip strike, each capitalizing on the ability to find openings or using obscure techniques with the flexible extremities of the body, centering the core on either of these seems too much like a gamble. Bai E couldn''t even imagine what kind of specialties they would form. That leaves combo hits and flurry attack. Both attributes specialize in high-frequency attacks, except one relies on the momentum of stacking bursts and overdrafts, growing fiercer with each strike, and the other relies on exploiting every part of the body to produce unexpected sequences of attacks. Speaking of which, flurry attack also relies on the body''s elements... So, it''s decided¡ªcombo hits. The decisions in his consciousness happened incredibly fast, with the analysis of the pros and cons of each of the eight special attributes completed almost instantaneously. [Core confirmed: Combo hits.] [Specialty is generating...] The next moment, the pale blue screen shattered before his eyes as a fist large as a sand pot broke through and slammed towards him. Bai E steadied his breath with a heavy voice and blocked with his arms. "Bang!" His figure was instantly sent flying. The boost from Absolute Defense was still active; though his body was unharmed, the tremendous force of the punch still sent Bai E flying uncontrollably. Crashing into the rugged stone wall was far from a pleasant feeling, and beneath the sensation of a quaking earth and tumbling rocks, dust fell continuously. Bai E struggled to his feet, clutching his chest. Even under the enhancement of Absolute Defense, Bai E still felt his breath tight in his chest. As the battle wore on, his opponent also gradually increased his strength in the fight, to the point where even at full Overlimit Drive, Bai E could not match the Blood God''s power. ``` Is this the power from a demon? It''s a completely different power boost from the Rat People, and furthermore... The drop rate subtitle above their heads showed that the opponent hadn''t completely become a demon''s Believer or chosen one. What must drop wasn''t a "blessing," but merely a "gaze." This demon...seemed to be even more formidable than the "Benevolent Father" that the Rat People once devoted themselves to. At least in terms of outright combat ability. What''s more critical is that, after joining the demon''s ranks, the strongest move Blood God seemed to have gained was the rapid strike he could use every so often. This strike far exceeded the limits of human reaction, fierce and unparalleled in strength. Had it not been for Absolute Defense, my grave would be meters high with grass by now. But...that ends here. Let''s see if you''ve obtained more power from the demon or if I''ve obtained more power from the cheat! [Skill exchange mission¡ªUnderground Fighting, completed.] [Mission Reward: Specialization¡ªInstant Slay a Hundred Heads, generated.] [Instant Slay a Hundred Heads: After days and months of honing your own skills, you have reached the pinnacle in applying your techniques. From now on, you can use all your skills to deliver an "instant" ultimate strike against your target. The multiplier for this strike is decided by the "Spiritual Energy" or "Action Power Reserve" you expend, using up to 5 points of Spiritual Energy or 50 points of Action Power Reserve to create a maximum effect of "9" times the actual hit, which can be considered as "a single hit" when striking the same target or "simultaneously" when hitting multiple targets; Because of the different "bare-handed" or "weapon (non-firearm) type," the strength of your strike will also differ. The power of the strike initiated with a "ranged weapon" will be "2" times your "bare-handed" state based on the specialization abilities you currently possess. Even without expending any Spiritual Energy or Action Power Reserve, this skill can still enable your normal attacks to achieve at least "2" times the actual hit effect, but your body will need time to recover from the load of such an instant burst (Cooldown: 5 seconds). (Growth Potential: From now on, every special attribute you gain in "Combat Specialization" or "Weapon Specialization" will be reflected within this specialization. After sufficient growth, the power of this specialization will receive an unimaginable and extraordinary enhancement.)] Every specialization, like a short essay, is bound to be unbelievably powerful. Even without looking at the display on the panel, Bai E instinctively knew how to use this newfound specialization the moment he acquired Instant Slay a Hundred Heads. Confronting his onrushing opponent, Blood God''s face was a picture of madness from his intoxication with the fight...Bai E gave him a similarly chilling smile in return. In his vision, Blood God''s figure blurred, yet the attack that almost surpassed sight failed for the first time in their battle. As the palm''s afterimage misleadingly swept past the eyes, Bai E moved skillfully to the side of Blood God. By the time his hesitant gaze followed Bai E''s movement, Bai E had already moved behind him. Experts are always most guarded against attacks from behind; under absolute combat reflexes, Blood God reached back to grab, but Bai E''s steps never stopped, retreating to the side just as Blood God extended his hand. Within the confines of the narrow corridor, Bai E created an impossible off-angle attack opportunity through his footwork. Bai E''s personal combat style, centered around "combos," wasn''t just about chaining attacks; it integrated all his special attributes together. The combination itself was important, but how to exploit the greatest vulnerability needed for executing combos depended on cooperation with other special attributes to find the opportunity. No vulnerability? Then create one! "Bang!" An upward karate chop crashed against Blood God''s lower jaw, and before the hit''s double-effect could manifest itself on his body, Bai E''s incessantly moving feet had already swept past Blood God''s back again. Time seemed to slow down in that instant. Blood God''s developed dynamic vision allowed him to catch the moving figure surrounding him, but the response of his nerves, like someone drunk, was always half a step late. Unable to keep up with the changes, unable to predict. The phantom-like Mystifying Steps became an unreachable spectral bubble for Blood God; what seemed like random steps followed a special trajectory in perfect sync with the rhythm of the attacks. "Slap~" "Bang!" Bai E''s attack was no longer straightforward punches, but attacks made with both palms... Fan, chop, lift, slash, smash! The towering figure of Blood God was toyed with in the palm of Bai E''s hand like a puppet, his instinctual offensive capability only dragging him deeper in pursuit through a quagmire. And even the completely crazed outburst of "rapid strike," born from utter rationality, was futile. Whether it was reason or brute force, both utterly abandoned him at this moment. Hard clashes that fueled Blood God''s blood to boil, and the blood of both combatants surged with his desire to fight, but being played with one-sidedly was unbearable. "Roar!" A reckless roar erupted, and furious killing intent spread like a gale, rippling outwards. In the face of this sudden outburst, Bai E''s attack rhythm was disrupted. As his body was involuntarily blown back, he saw the lettering above his opponent''s head subtly shifting¡ª [95A09/Blood God (Human) (Chaotic) (Elite)¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" for the kill may drop: Guaranteed (3500 combat experience points, Gaze: Blood Trial)¡­] In that high-dimensional space unreachable by ordinary people, an indescribable, unfathomable, unobservable, intangible existence glanced at this place for the first time¡­] Chapter 213 201 Boom! The most savage fight seemed to provide unbridled, raging power directly to this demon''s chosen one.The more one plunged into madness during combat, the more one could receive feedback from the strength. Utilizing a burst of murderous intent to repel Bai E in that instant, taking advantage of the brief imbalance in Bai E''s body, the Blood God suddenly initiated a sprint and with one punch... shattered the night vision goggle strap on Bai E''s face. The countless attacks earlier had informed him that Bai E''s physical strength was even more formidable than his own; to completely defeat this once-despised ant in this battle, he first had to render him unable to see in the Dark Environment, to stand a chance of achieving final victory. He had had numerous opportunities to destroy this device in the prior fight, but he did not make a move. It was only after realizing that there was indeed a possibility of defeat that he made this ultimate choice to ensure victory. Shattered... The previously sickly green field of view disappeared, and the world became pitch black. Bai E touched the remnants of the night vision goggles within reach of his fingers, finding that the lens area was already twisted and cracked, rendering the whole device incapable of fulfilling its intended function. He simply yanked it off and threw it away. The Dark Environment? Not panicked. This wasn''t the first time he had found himself in such a predicament. The self-training he had undergone deep in the forest, facing the wolf pack before setting out, was precisely for coping with the situation he faced now. External objects after all are unreliable; it''s the true strength that belongs to oneself that can stand unbeaten at any moment. The Blind Fighting attribute he had trained was indeed important, but a calm and collected mindset when dealing with darkness was clearly more critical. Bai E closed his eyes, completely shutting off the channel of observing the outside world through vision, and distributed all his attention more intently on his hearing and touch. The level 2 Blind Fighting began to take effect... Bai E cautiously took half a step back, crossing his hands in front of him, waiting for the opponent to make the first move. "Whoo~" The howling wind above his head was fierce, and the sound of wind being torn by fists was not so noticeable mixed within it. Hesitating slightly in the distinction, the Blood God''s fist was already close to his body, missing the optimal moment to block. "Bang!" The effect of Absolute Defense was still present, and Bai E merely took two steps back to deflect the force. Tilting his head slightly, Bai E tried to filter the roaring of the wilderness wind, gradually getting accustomed to the "abnormal" sounds in this environment. "Your progress is indeed significant..." the Blood God''s voice sounded rather boastful. With a twitch of his ear, Bai E seized the opportunity and burst forward instantly. Passively waiting was never his style; he seized every possible chance to take the initiative! He was no longer the weakling that had just arrived in this world; with the strength he possessed now, if he lacked the confidence and courage to subdue his enemies in battle, he would find it difficult to face the questioning of his own heart later. In the interlacing of four hands, every bit of rubbing between palms and wrists was clearly transmitted to the brain through the ubiquitous tactile nerves on his skin. Blind fight! Blind fight! Confronted with the Blood God''s hands blocking his attack, Bai E captured every thread of muscle resistance during the brief entanglement. Even without the sight, his combat instincts still caught a sliver of chance with hearing and touch! Parting the Wild Horse''s Mane! The midsection wide open! Forcibly breaking through the Blood God''s center, Bai E took advantage of the situation to move in, landing a fierce Iron Shoulder strike to the opponent''s chest the next moment, and with his left hand, he immediately grabbed the opponent''s right hand that attempted to pull away. Thinking of fleeing? Once you''re in close, don''t even think about getting away! Even if the Blood God were to burst out with murderous intent again like he did just now, having experienced it once and with mental preparation, Bai E was confident that he would no longer be affected as much. As joint techniques accompanied his footwork, Bai E''s form shifted. His familiarity with the opponent''s body size allowed him to understand the opponent''s position along the arm; his whole body, under the enhancement of "Whip Tail," was as flexible as a whip, engaging in close combat with the Blood God. "You shouldn''t have spoken," Bai E said with a cold tone. Having completely given up on sight, Bai E''s sense of touch became even more precise; but whether it was an illusion or not, the strength exerted by the Blood God seemed to have diminished from earlier? Bai E did not understand the mechanism of the demon-bolstered strength, but the tangible change was evident before his eyes, and he had to seize the opportunity. The prolonged battle reduced the Blood God''s defensive ability to a nadir, and the tangible feedback from flesh-on-flesh contact let Bai E know that his attacks had breached the Blood God''s defenses. [Use close-quarter attacks to breach the target''s defenses, Combat Specialization experience +22.](Stacked) [Deal 18 points of strike damage to the target!](Stacked) The battle information from the panel popped up belatedly. Expending the last remnants of his action power reserve, Bai E stopped saving for Absolute Defense. Instant Kill Hundred Heads! Heavenly Twin Palms! "Crack!" A crisp sound of breaking bones. The twin palms that struck the Blood God''s jaw nearly snapped the spine, and the jawbone dislocated and fractured under the blow. Quadruple! "To count as one hit" means... kinetic energy stacking! Ten strikes with a power level of 10 might not break defense, but a single attack with a power level of 100 is enough to make any opponent crumble. Turning palm into fist, he brought his bent elbow thundering down! Apex Elbow Strike! Once he grasped the opportunity, Bai E would never give his opponent a chance to turn the tables! "Bang!" [Deal 62 points of strike damage to the target! The target has entered "Critical Injury Status"](Stacked) "Drip~ Drip~" Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and Bai E, expressionless, gripped the Blood God''s neck, which was already limp, and pressed him against the wall. Slowly opening his eyes... they shone like the morning star. In the darkness, Bai E couldn''t see the other''s expression, but he didn''t care. Just as he had promised before, Bai E asked softly, "Why?" Why embrace the demon? Why harm teammates? Why... become what you are now? "Why..." Bloody God''s voice was fragmented. Bai E''s assault had nearly shattered many of his vital organs. Even if he were brought to the military''s medical room now, it would probably be a troublesome issue, let alone being hundreds of kilometers away from the base, in the midst of the Dark Cave. The red light had long since faded from Bloody God''s eyes. Only after Bai E thoroughly defeated him did he seem to wake from some delirious dream, with everything he had done vividly returning to his mind. ''What have I done...'' The artificial human''s original loyalty resurfaced, once again taking control of his body. "Be careful..." He struggled to speak, offering up all his experience to those who came after. "Be wary of your desire to fight... it will lead you to the abyss." "Beware of your fear... you can confide in your comrades." "Be careful of your discontent..." Beneath his usually expressionless face was a heart scarred in ways no one knew. He was afraid, so he never dared to break the rules, failing to achieve any truly outstanding combat feats to this day. He numbed himself with combat, drawing sole meaning for his life from the cheers following victory. The rumors and gossip of others gradually made him feel entitled to the legendary Gene Optimization Solution, and the persisting sense of loss slowly grew into discontent. He was afraid of failure. He chased victory. Thus, he disappointed both his comrades and that great will watching over him. The automatic response was him masking his fear in the face of danger to the extreme, and ultimately, his fear of Bai E led him to sabotage the night vision goggles as a tactical strategy. The betrayal of combat incited disapproval from their "Master", and the power that supported his own fighting began to recede like the tide. From the moment he sabotaged Bai E''s night vision goggles, he had already betrayed the concept of "combat" itself. If everything could be done over... Would he suppress his combat desires, overcome his fear, or suppress his discontent... becoming a super soldier his comrades could rely on? Or would he remain loyal to combat itself and completely burn himself out in the pinnacle battle against Bai E, potentially even returning his soul to the "True God"? He didn''t know the answer. But now, it was all too late. Everything had abandoned him. "It wasn''t me..." Bloody God struggled to extend his powerless right arm, pointing to the depths of the cave, "It''s there... the source of it all." "I never embraced the demon voluntarily..." A dying man''s words are good. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Opening his eyes to confirm Bloody God''s location, that explosive caption once again floated above his head¡ª [95A09/Bloody God (Human) (Chaotic) (Elite)¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" to kill drops: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*2400, Combat Experience 2500 points); Probability (Trait: Blood of Regeneration, Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, up to level 6, Mastery: Nimble Weapon Specialization Layer +1, up to level 6); Possible (Skill: Extreme Pain Relief, Specialty: Rage Torrent).] Back to the way he looked when they first met... Demons are born from all creatures'' myriad emotions, and any poor emotion could become a channel through which demons erode humanity. Combat, fear... As Bai E''s contact with this world deepened, his strong link led to his own emotions becoming more and more intense. It''s fine to fight, but not to be overly zealous. It''s fine to be afraid, but one must brave it. Any poor emotions must be addressed head-on positively. So... what about discontent? Facing unjust treatment, what should Bloody God do? What should I do? Conform? Or change? His mind momentarily drifted to the distant future, and Bai E narrowed his eyes, pulling his wayward thoughts back. [Activate "Lucky Strike".] The path you have not walked, I shall continue for you. [Struck the target''s vital point, inflicting 12 points of fatal damage!] [Target''s breathing has ceased, and vital signs are lost.] [Obtained loot: Fresh Meat*2400, Combat Experience 2500 points, Trait: Blood of Regeneration, Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, up to level 6, Mastery: Nimble Weapon Specialization Layer +1, up to level 6, Skill: Extreme Pain Relief, Specialty: Rage Torrent.] [Trait¡ªBlood of Regeneration, the body''s physical condition is being transformed, countdown: 9 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds until effect...] Completely plundered! But that wasn''t all. There was an unexpected gain¡ª [...Progress 2542/500, you have successfully increased the Specialty¡ªBlind Fighting to level 3.] [...Progress 2042/1000, you have successfully increased the Specialty¡ªBlind Fighting to level 4.] [Blind Fighting (Level 4): "Dark Environment" Insight (Hearing) performance +4, Insight (Touch) performance +3, Insight (Smell) performance +2.] The experience burst from the Lucky Strike unexpectedly was also applied to the level increase for the Blind Fighting specialty. After using the last opportunity, the charge returned to a non-usable stage at 70/100. But regardless, compared to that one explosive opportunity, Bai E trusted his basic abilities that were always available to use. He looked up slightly, gazing in the direction pointed by Bloody God. The lair of the demon was calling out to him... Chapter 214 202 Alone After swallowing a No. 3 throat lozenge, Bai E sat quietly in the darkness to recuperate.The howling wind above his head, the dark environment, was constantly trying to mire him in a quagmire. However, having just gone through the most intense battle, the fervent emotions were still echoing in his chest, preventing the gloomy negative emotions from affecting Bai E in the slightest. He was just contemplating to himself¡ª Is the ultimate enemy, a demon? The remnants of the Blood God''s words didn''t reveal more about the source of his power or the types of demons. Bai E could only speculate based on the information he already had. In the depths of the nest, was it a Believer chosen by the demon, endowed with power? Or... the true form of the demon. If the Blood God, not even the true chosen of the demon, possessed such power, how terrifying was the being that lurked deep within this nest? Whether it was the true chosen of the Demon God or the demon itself, both likely possessed unimaginable power. Bai E was not an expert in this field; the little he knew about demons came from asking due to the ratman incident. He knew that there were many types of demons and that they had different abilities due to different birth emotions; this was the most important intelligence he had gathered. For example, the uncontrollable plague in the ratman and the blessing of never suffering from disease... So, judging by the powers demonstrated by the Blood God, the demon power in the depth of this nest was... strength? Turning fear into strength? Unilateral authority or a diversified one? Everything was unknown. The unknown bred fear more easily... In the quiet, Bai E listened closely to his own heartbeat. The seed was still there... It''s impossible to deceive oneself; he still harbored fear towards that unknown entity deep in the cave. If he didn''t overcome it today, every deep night in the future, when recalling this wind-eroded land and its dimness, occasionally hearing the breeze blowing over the plains... would cast him into the deepest abyss. This is the demon! Every slight emotion at the beginning will eventually become the loophole for them to invade! They are omnipresent. Bai E reached towards his waist, where there... was a 99ml bottle of Exorcism Essential Oil. A precaution taken before coming, which he hadn''t expected to truly come in handy. Demons... demons! Feeling almost fully recovered, Bai E stood up, feeling the walls. It was pitch black in the darkness, and he could not see a thing. In battle with others, he could rely on blind fighting to sense his opponent''s location, but in the face of an unmoving environment, he was truly a blind man... The Blood God didn''t have night vision goggles on him, and it was unknown whether the power granted by the demon allowed him to see in the dark. Fortunately, the final battleground was not far from where he had encountered the fallen night vision goggles, and Bai E groped his way back in the dark, guided by memory. It still worked... The moment he put the night vision goggles back on, the familiar ghastly green perspective returned to his eyes. The traces of the hourglass left on the ground also returned to his vision. Following the path he had taken in pursuit of the Blood God, Bai E retraced his steps in the opposite direction. Before truly entering the depths of the cave, he needed to determine the status of his teammates first. If possible, he intended to first carry their bodies out to a state of physical safety; only then could he truly open his mind and make an all-out effort. With the Exorcism Essential Oil, said to truly harm demons, Bai E felt he wasn''t without a chance. True strength was the resolve to act against any adversity, not high-level specialized skills or high-tech weaponry. Several rigid bodies appeared in his line of sight¡ª Dashan, Song Ying, You, Tiger... Facing the fear that surged from within, they were still struggling in the vast sea of the psychic world. All darkness and eerie howling turned into otherworldly fantasies seeking human lives, and those things they feared the most seemed to bubble up from the depths of consciousness, becoming terrifying illusions that were both real and unreal, tangible and intangible. When could they escape? Could they escape at all? No one could provide an answer, and all Bai E could do was carry their bodies out. Approaching Dashan, who was at the back of the team, Bai E reached out to pick him up by the waist without any guard. However, the moment his hand touched the body, a surge of darkness instantly flooded into Bai E''s mind. It felt as if he was being tied down with heavy stones and cast into the deep sea that gradually suffocated him. The boundless gloom, along with the terrifying pressure, compressed every inch of his skin and even seemed to squeeze out the air from his lungs bit by bit. In the silence, the only sound was his own heart beating wildly in his chest, throbbing as if it could break free from the confines of his ribcage... "Huff~" Bai E suddenly stepped back. His body was numb and cold as if electrified. The vision he glimpsed was chilling to the bone; was this the psychic world in which Dashan was now immersed? After taking a deep breath, Bai E, mentally prepared, reached out again without hesitation. Darkness assaulted Bai E''s will, but a trace of clarity always reminded him of his responsibility. He had to leave this place with his teammates, and he could not fall at this moment or abandon them. After grabbing hold of Dashan, Bai E didn''t hesitate to reach for Song Ying... Endless darkness twirled overhead, unspeakable unknown fears chased him from behind, and the world seemed to shrink into a chessboard-like square, leaving only the comparatively tiny "self," eternally fleeing from the unknown "fear" that pursued from behind. Darkness, pursuit. Completely different from the overwhelming pain of the mountains, underneath Bai E''s slightly furrowed brows was a mind besieged by unimaginable spiritual assault. Yet the hands that tightly embraced the two never loosened in the slightest. Any change was worth attention. Compared to when everyone first succumbed, what changes occurred when he made contact with Hu and You''s bodies? Had he defeated the Blood God? Had he attracted the attention of the "Lord of Fear"? Did he intend to use the suffering felt by his teammates to bring me down? Manipulative lowlife! You, are not worthy yet! "Bang~" "Bang~" Two bodies were thrown inside the carriage... And then two more bodies were thrown inside the carriage... Even with comrades on his back, the familiar partners of the past could not offer him any consolation for his spirit. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every teammate touched by Bai E shared their fear with him; Bai E saw their innermost irrational, illogical, and unruly fears, changing reality and illusion. He also saw more... After transporting all members of his team back, Bai E set out again to search for the members of the other two teams. Everyone was equipped with a special hourglass to record their movement routes, which was not too difficult to track. Rescuing the bodies of teammates was a natural duty. If he were to hold a grudge and refuse to help because of their past ridicule¡­ that would be planting a flaw in his heart akin to the Blood God''s. Someone mocks you sharply, and you mock back just as sharply; Someone looks down on you, and you immediately scorn them in return; Someone boasts in front of you, and you quickly prove that you are even better; Someone is indifferent towards you, and you immediately become distant and aloof. The things you detest can easily turn you into the very thing you once despised. This is the greatest damage an "enemy" can do to you. There are demons in this world... Those heart-manipulating demons await their opportunity at all times. Bai E absolutely¡­ absolutely will not allow any opportunity that could be exploited by demons! Not to mention, he needed controlled experiments to verify some suspicions in his heart. Following the previously agreed-upon exploration areas, Bai E traced the left-behind paths of each warrior and found every scattered member. This also meant sharing the "fear" of each comrade during the process... A total of 12 people were recovered. There were 16 people on the mission in total, minus Bai E, there were three corpses¡ªincluding the Blood God and two unfortunate soldiers who were killed by the Blood God before Bai E took action. "Bang!" "Click..." As the carriage''s side door was about to close, it was stopped by a feeble, delicate palm. Looking up along the arm, Bai E saw the slowly awakening You and her eyes struggling to open. "You¡­ where are you going?" In the endless darkness, a cold sun had risen in her heart, unknown when. The not-too-blinding light scattered those nonsensical, undefined fears, allowing her to finally, with difficulty, awaken in the real world. She did not know where the cold sun came from, only that upon awakening, the first sight of Bai E was the one who had once again saved everyone. Bai E smiled gently, and explained softly, "I''m going to help you break free from the nightmare..." "Take us¡­ let''s leave, just getting away from here will be enough," said You, her voice still trembling, her soft, continuous voice made one feel pity, like a lost and frightened stray kitten. "We can''t leave," responded Bai E, shaking his head gently; his voice was mild but his tone determined. Compared to the last confrontation with the Bug Race''s mental domain, the current spiritual attack had a more enduring impact. One was simply a violent, unreasonable suppression by force. But demons took root in emotions; once fear existed in the heart, no place was different. Even if he led everyone away from that cave, they could not completely emerge from the darkness of the spiritual world. Just as he had initially speculated, geographical escape had lost its significance. When facing a higher-dimensional demon that could ignore space, only by truly facing and defeating it in the spirit could one be truly liberated. In the hearts of all the soldiers present, a seed of fear was likely planted. No matter where they went, they remained pawns of the Lord of Fear. More soldiers who were waking up weakly lay in the carriage, looking at Bai E outside the door, "Don''t risk your life for us, you''re not affected..." "Yeah¡­ just take us away.'' "The enemy here¡­ is not something you can deal with." "Tsk!" Several hands pulled open another car door that had already been closed, and those weakly awakened soldiers learned who it was that saved them from that dark cave. "I apologize for what I said before¡­ you are the bravest soldier." "Don''t enter that cave again, we''ll just go back and report the situation." "Wait for me on the truck, if I don''t come back, you guys go back and send a message¡­" Bai E said, shaking his head with a smile, gently stepping back and slowly, yet resolutely, closing the carriage door. "I''m not just doing this for you¡­" ''It''s also for¡­ cultivation.'' Chapter 215 203 True Form of the Demon Bai E, once again entering the cave alone, moved with light steps and chose a descending path without looking back.While rescuing the members of the other two squads, Bai E had already discovered that the honeycomb-like passages here had almost no dead ends, each path leading eventually to the ultimate core location¡ª The absolute heart of this nest. Is bearing all the pain of one''s comrades worthwhile? Of course, it is. Bai E repeatedly felt the various fears emanating from different comrades, as well as the truths those fears revealed¡ªthe fear of that demon! The master of fear incarnate, the embodiment of fear itself, also suffered the torment of fear itself! It feared human defiance, it feared its true intentions being seen through. It tried to corrupt Bai E''s will by exploiting the mental worlds of all his comrades, then let them awaken to instinctively persuade him to leave with his people. It feared direct confrontation! It feared revealing its own vulnerability! The demon that played with fear was itself a plaything of fear! A demon... that only played tricks with illusions. Without any concrete evidence, Bai E trusted his own judgment. ... Upon crossing a certain boundary, everything suddenly became clear. The cavernous hollow expanded greatly before his eyes, the wide underground space seemingly endless in the darkness ahead. It was unclear whether this was the natural work of spirits or the artificial expansion by the refugees who came here. At this moment, a sea of bowed heads prostrated on the ground, worshiping their "deity" in a certain direction. The refugees weren''t dead... Of course, they weren''t dead. How could the souls of the deceased provide the intense emotions that the demon required? Instead, this "deity" needed to protect its poor "children" for its own sustenance. No traps? Because there was no need for traps. It needed ignorant beings to step in to provide sustenance for itself, or the wild beasts that strayed into the cave to sustain these impoverished refugees. In the dark hollow of the cave, only a high throne of bones stood quietly. The shadows in the dark carved out a circular arc, and as Bai E stepped into the expanse of this cavern, the symmetrical shadows suddenly unfurled. Like bat wings, the black shadows blocked out the light, and a pair of demon wings thunderously spread open! [??? (Demon) (Chaos) (???): ???] The demon itself! Not a chosen believer, but... the actual demon itself! As if waiting for Bai E''s arrival, there was movement in the darkness only when he appeared. The nearest refugee was involuntarily lifted into the air, the man seized by an unknown force screamed in despair, "Ah! Ah! Don''t! Please, don''t! Save me!" His limbs flailed wildly without control, as if he knew his fate that was to come. Hearing the man''s anguished cries for help, the cluster of bowed refugees lowered their heads even further, their bodies trembling like a sieve. The refugee pulled by the invisible force eventually drifted slowly before the demon, and a muscular arm powerfully grasped his throat. And so, even the scream turned into a choked, whining struggle. "Hiss~" Reddish misty vapor connected from the refugee''s head to the open mouth of the demon, the ultimate fear of death of the dying being the "delicacy" It most appreciated. Hearing their kin''s painful cries before death, the fear emanating from the surviving refugees palpably intensified. Of course, Bai E couldn''t see the energy derived from emotions, but he could clearly feel the fear invading his body grow even more fierce. Similarly, the terrifying presence radiating from the horrific demon seemed even more daunting for a moment. The fear provided by all sentient beings was his greatest source of power. So... you want to make me feel fear? No! Bai E, long accustomed to such an environment, would not succumb to such an obvious emotion. On the contrary... he thought the demon was bluffing. The real great demons dwelt in higher-dimensional spaces, controlling the fates of countless beings. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even for them, manifesting in the material world was an extremely difficult task. Although they were humanity''s nominal enemies, their essence... was no different from true deities. The demon before him, enslaving a mere group of miserable refugees, seemed just a little... pitiable. Perhaps this demon was born from the initial fear and panic these refugees felt towards the unknown future and environment when they first arrived here. With a flick of the body, Bai E drew his bow and nocked an arrow. To confront fear itself, one couldn''t just look and walk away. Emotions stem from within; people can deceive friends, deceive enemies, but they can''t deceive themselves, nor can they deceive demons. Some might speculate on the mastermind behind the scenes and be content to retreat, thereby unaffected from then on; Some people took one distant look at the demon''s true form and, after confirming their suspicions, perhaps could then retreat; While others needed to challenge that demon to prove their bravery, regardless of whether they could injure or defeat it... Sometimes, a simpler mind might lead to an easier life. But Bai E couldn''t do any of that. Born proud, why speak of retreat? Not only did he wish to strike, but he also arrogantly sought to find a way to completely vanquish this demon! To win was not the ultimate goal, the desire to win was. The bowstring made a grating "creeking" sound under stress, and after a slight readying of his aim, he took the wind''s assistance to its limit. "Whoosh!" The arrow tore through the air, swift as lightning! And yet, such a speedy attack seemed to the demon as if it were in slow motion. Watching the arrow come straight at it through the air, the demon even opened its arms early in preparation to embrace... the attack. "Hum~" The steel arrowhead collided with the demon''s blood-red muscular surface with barely any indication of kinetic resistance before helplessly falling to the ground. Ineffective! The hideous demon sneered in Bai E''s direction, and the image that should have been too far to see clearly somehow lit up directly in Bai E''s pupils. Across the surging crowd of hundreds of refugees, the demon raised its claw and made a grabbing motion, and Bai E suddenly felt himself uncontrollably flying rapidly towards the demon. While seemingly struggling frantically, Bai E''s left hand calmly clenched the dagger hidden behind him, which had been coated with... Exorcism Essential Oil. However, Bai E''s situation clearly differed from that of the refugee just now; his heart devoid of any fear and intent on counterattacking, the demon could not extract from him any of the nourishment it craved. Without heart-wrenching screams of despair emanating from deep within, how could the common refugees deepen their fear and worship of the demon? Intelligent beings are mostly emotional creatures; however, emotions have a shelf life, and time is the enemy of all things. Nothing will stay sunk in the same kind of fear for long; accustomed to despair, they will gradually adapt. Only by constantly applying new stimuli, making them feel fear directly and intensity from all angles, will the emotion of "fear" they provide be both greater in quantity and "tastier." A self-important fool wishing to challenge me? There are such beings among humans; the six so-called "human warriors" who came earlier had tried to do the same, yet now they''ve become the ones who crawl at my feet with the deepest fear. Bai E''s body gently landed about ten meters in front of the demon, and the closer distance allowed for a clearer view of the demon''s entire appearance. Even under the pallid green vision of night-vision goggles, the red muscles shimmered with their innate luster, mysterious lines akin to runes sketching fascinating patterns on its body, the grey-black bat-like demon wings lay quietly folded, its face ferocious and fangs bared. Such a familiar feeling, it seemed demons should look just like this. No... Bai E suddenly realized. This wasn''t the demon''s real appearance... or rather, demons don''t have a true appearance. What living beings see of demons is merely a projection of their own imagination. Demon... demon... Through Bai E''s eyes, "seeing" the presumptuous human''s imagination of it, the Lord of Fear''s lips curled into a cruel, wicked smile. It craved fear, submission... mere slaughter could not satisfy its desires. The more resolute the human warriors like the one before it, the more intense the emotions they would emit when they fell! Glancing sideways, warriors who had received the signal, their bodies trembling, looked back with sincere advice to their comrades from the same homeland. "It''s no use..." muttered the warrior still in the standard combat uniform of the military camp, one of the reconnaissance soldiers who had previously gone missing. His voice shook with endless fear, "It''s no use, the True God will eventually rule the world, the entire world will submit to the Lord''s will!" All things must end, only fear is eternal. "Bullshit!" Bai E sneered coldly, nocking an arrow and drawing the bowstring. The Lord of Fear stood high on its throne, as if waiting for the futile struggles of mortals. "Hum~" "Hum~" The arrows Bai E fired could pierce metal and split stones, yet to the Lord of Fear, they were like annoying mosquitoes that made a buzzing sound but never dared to get too close. The attacks were completely ineffective, not even a hint of the expected resistance. "It''s no use..." another warrior trembled as he lifted his head, "The Lord is the one True God of this world..." Bai E''s brow furrowed slightly, but he made no sound. With his limited knowledge, he believed that demons that manifested in the real world could be combatted. Only Exorcism Essential Oil could cause true harm to them, but that did not mean ordinary resistance would have no effect¡ª Strength could repel, and flames could burn... Even without Exorcism Essential Oil, a sufficiently powerful warrior could ensure they weren''t consumed by a demon. The Exorcism Essential Oil was just the simplest means to force them back into higher dimensions. At this moment, it shouldn''t be like this... The attacks shouldn''t be ineffective; even the top-tier Four Great Demon Gods manifesting in the world shouldn''t be able to completely ignore all attacks. Bai E''s gaze inadvertently swept around before settling on himself. Quietly contemplating, he looked inward with a focused expression. It was... "faith." Chapter 216 Plan to Defeat the Enemy Even with the courage to strike at demons, the awe for the unknown realm he harbored made himself an "prey" in the authority of the other, or rather, a Believer.Because he feared his attacks would be ineffective, the attacks were certain to fail... This was a trap Bai E himself hardly noticed. So... should he hypnotize himself? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Lord of Fear gave Bai E no time to think. Any impulsive emotions required a continuous onslaught of facts; once humans had time to think calmly, their so-called "wisdom," "morality"... would allow them to gradually slip from control. With feet like bird''s claws, he stepped down from the throne of bones, the exposed blood-red muscle without skin emitted a strong scent of blood. Bai E cautiously retreated. Not knowing what the adversary wanted to do, not knowing his mode of attack... Every unknown brought panic, and worse still, Bai E, despite being mentally alert to these points, was unable to control his descent into the confusion of the unknown. Fear is faith... Even he... had become nourishment for the other''s growth. "Boom!" The Lord of Fear erupted suddenly with a plain attack, and a punch felt like being run over by a truck. Bai E''s body instantly flew backward, and on landing, he knelt and slid back several meters on the ground. By the time Bai E finally stopped, his hands were planted on the ground, blood running from the corners of his mouth, his mouth filled with a sweet, metallic taste. Pain! Excruciating pain! Every inch of his flesh felt as if it were being pricked by needles, Bai E''s fingertips dug hard into the ground, almost driven mad by the humanly unbearable pain. The Lord of Fear''s strength seemed to carry an assault targeted precisely at the flesh, turning the fear he collected into a tangible poison, infusing all of it evenly into Bai E''s body with that punch. Spiritual Energy''s power tainted reality, and even "self-restraint" couldn''t suppress such pain, as it was more than just a pure hormonal emotion. "It''s no use... all your resistance is in vain, only by entering the Lord''s embrace can you find complete peace," the voice of the earlier scout still advised from a distance. Bai E bent over, his head down, biting down hard on his teeth, feeling the gradually adapting pain. Hearing another''s voice, a gritty breath came from the shadows, "Enter His embrace... like you, jittery and unable to stop?" No! Absolutely not! The pain caused his muscles to spasm unconsciously, almost uncontrollably. Although he was slowly getting used to it, the pain was fading too slowly. The body... the body... Extreme Pain Relief! A skill obtained from the Blood God! [Extreme Pain Relief: You have learned the ability to numb your senses. From now on, at the cost of temporarily losing "tactile sense," you can completely ignore all the pain you feel, and maintain optimal combat condition until your body suffers widespread damage. Maximum duration: 1 hour, exceeding the limit may result in permanent loss of function in parts of the body. Cooldown time: 24 hours after closing the skill effect.] Every warrior lucky enough to survive countless battlefields must learn this ability to disregard pain and continue fighting. Only then can they fight with abandon, exhausting their last drop of blood! "Cough~ cough~" With the pain entirely blocked out and unable to feel his outer skin as if anesthetized, Bai E struggled to his feet, his will no longer affected by pain, and his thinking back to normal. Such speed... Such strength... The demon, grown powerful from absorbing countless fears, was this formidably strong! Indeed... the Blood God had only acquired a portion of the power bestowed by demons and displayed such terrifying battle might, and if it weren''t for the sharp decline in his strength after his night vision goggles were knocked off, the outcome of their battle might have been in question. Now facing the demon itself, it should be even harder to defeat. But demons in the real world too must speak with their strength. In this world, even with an irrational element like Spiritual Energy, swords, guns, and firearms are still the absolute rulers! Battle is the only melody of the world! With a fierce spit of bloody, sweet-tinged, viscous saliva, Bai E moved his arms. If he could overcome the mountain that was the Blood God, then he could also overcome this demon who wielded fear. Let''s see! Let''s see if the skills I possess today can earn me a chance against you! Hands forming palms, crossed in front of his chest. The power of the Lord of Fear was several notches above that of the Blood God, but that figure, similar to humans, had some commonalities with humans in terms of combat skills. Refined techniques were Bai E''s confidence against his opponent. After defeating the Blood God, his Combat Specialization Layer leveled up out of nowhere. Level 5 Combat Specialization! Plus all the attribute enhancements that came with the rise in combat specialization layers. Added to that are abilities like "Overlimit Drive," "Instant Kill Hundred Heads," and defensive ones like "Regeneration Blood," "Resist Death," and "Absolute Defense." Bai E had never felt as strong as he did now, his real and substantial abilities were the necessary prerequisites to face this world with courage. Watching the human warrior who had managed to stand up again right in front of him, the Lord of Fear''s thick, purple-red lips slightly flattened, "You can still get up?" ``` ... On the vehicle halted in the wilderness, soldiers were waking up one by one, and as they gradually freed themselves from those nightmarish delusions, the chilly and debilitating sensation in their limbs was also slowly fading away. They were gradually regaining some of their mobility. "Wonder how he''s doing?" "There must be a demon inside... those lowlifes summoned a demon!" "Can you move yet? Maybe we should send one vehicle back to the barracks to report the situation here, and get those professional executors from the Arbitration Place..." "But brother B27 is still inside... We have no idea how he''s faring." "Should we go back in and check?" As time gently soothed the scars, the soldiers who had awoken from the murky, nightmarish scenes that they could not clearly recall were almost ready to forget the suffocating terror they had felt before... just like anyone who wakes up from a nightmare in the middle of the night, time heals all. They felt they could move again... The fastest-acting soldier even reached out to slide open the vehicle''s side door, when suddenly a spinning, topsy-turvy sensation surged up, and boundless darkness once again enshrouded his world... "Bang!" "Bang!" The sound of a fist striking flesh was the first to echo in the soldier''s mind. As if growing accustomed to the darkness, the soldier''s incorporeal eyes began to "see" clearly what was happening in the dark¡ªa sphere covered in arms like a spiky ball was mercilessly slaughtering the brave soldier over and over again. The demon moved with such speed that it seemed to teleport, easily appearing behind B27 every time he was knocked down. The soldier who had vowed to free them entirely from their terrifying plight was now in such a dire state it seemed as if he would die at any moment, his body so battered it was nearly impossible to find an inch of unmarred skin, his lip corner smeared with bruised blood mixed with mud... It was evident he was trying hard to resist every attack from the "demon," but the combat stance he adopted was always obliterated by an irrational force. "Kneel down!" "Quick, kneel down!" In the dark dungeon, the oppressive mass of heads came together in a single voice, chanting a deep tone that was foolish and terrifying. For some reason, the soldier inside the vehicle felt as though he had turned into one of them. ''Kneel down...'' He firmly suppressed the urge to cry out as such. He looked with hope at the solitary point of light in this darkness. To flee? Or to fight back? He didn''t know. He didn''t know what he wanted to see... He just wanted to see a glimmer of hope. To see a ray of hope that humans could counterattack the demon. "Bang!" The flash of the pistol in the darkness was brief as the beaten soldier unexpectedly counterattacked in midair. The flame from the primer surged and propelled the bullet out of the chamber, the spinning bullet tearing through the air, leaving a searing trail in its path! "Snap~" The bullet hit the demon''s crimson chest, sinking millimeters deep in an imperceptible fashion, then the forceless bullet fell to the ground... Still no effect. However, looking down at the shot on his chest, the demon''s eyes showed a flicker of panic... How could this be? How could this be? Could it be that despite being beaten down like this, he still believed he could defeat him?! The very thought of this terrifying possibility triggered the Lord of Fear into instant action, his silhouette flickered, and in an instant, he appeared before Bai E as he landed. "Boom!" Two arms, even sturdier than those of a Blood God, crashed down powerfully, the demon no longer attempting to subdue this human warrior who was so difficult to break mentally. "Snap!" The punches, were they blocked? "Haven''t you noticed?" Bai E crouched into a high stance, bracing the demon''s fists that came smashing down, slowly raising his bowed head, his eyes ablaze with golden flames. Rage surged! [Rage Surge: Your rage is endless, the flames of anger drive your body, from now on, the "anger" emotion you feel will boost your "reflections," up to a maximum of +3 in combat performance.] The Lord of Fear possessed no great technique, merely relying on the countless sacrifices of fearful emotions to attain unimaginable speed and strength. Bai E, who had been attacked countless times, had long grasped his attack patterns and frequency. If he were willing, he could certainly give as good as he got with the full force of his current power. But, he had to make sure his plan was absolutely successful! The pitiful-looking Bai E smiled lightly, the corners of his mouth slowly widening into an increasingly manic grin. "From just now, I haven''t attacked you once..." ``` Chapter 217 If you feel afraid... "Because I''m afraid..."I''m afraid you coward wouldn''t dare to share our battle situation with everyone! Saying that we must free all comrades from the enemy''s control isn''t just lip service! Now, everyone should be able to see it, right! His Gun Fighting Skill activated instantly, and Bai E, with a pistol clenched in his mouth, performed a flip kick and propelled himself into the air. While midair, Bai E sheathed his gun. The dexterity of his manual skills allowed him to perform all these intricate movements with remarkable agility. He drew his bow in the air, his fingers quickly locating the specially marked arrow in the quiver on his back. Drawing the bow, nocking the arrow... Instant Kill Hundred Heads! Ninefold power! Shoot! Under one arrow, several afterimages followed closely, and almost transcending time, the arrow struck precisely into the chest of the master of fear, muscled and brawny. "Puchi!" The arrowhead buried deep, unmatched in sharpness. Ever since he realized the problem, he had always been able to hurt the opponent; it was just that he feared letting the enemy discern this and had thus never taken the initiative to attack. With "Absolute Defense" at his disposal, Bai E didn''t mind playing along with the enemy''s act. Following closely behind the arrowhead was a sizzling smoke, spreading from the point where the arrow had penetrated the flesh, akin to the hissing of roasting meat. The arrowhead of that particular arrow had been completely soaked in Exorcism Essential Oil by Bai E before arriving at this final dungeon. [Exorcism Essential Oil (99ml): Apply by smearing or soaking to bestow weaponry capable of striking demonic flesh with astonishing Spiritual Energy power! Upon hitting the demon''s body, the weapon will inflict irreversible damage. (Note: The empowering effect lasts for a maximum of 2 hours, beyond which it dissipates.)] "Puchi!" The master of fear violently yanked the steel arrow from his chest; in his absolute strength, the arrow instantaneously bent. In the gap left where the arrow was pulled out, a light green gas continued to erode His body like sulfuric acid, leaving behind an unwoundable gap under the faint white smoke. Bai E stood his ground, his voice echoing calmly, "So, you can be hurt after all?" All his displays of weakness were to achieve this moment. To defeat a demon that draws power from fear, one must first sever its source of power. The moment Bai E started bringing each teammate back, experiencing their individual nightmare illusions, he surmised all that the demon required. Emotions are temporary; the half-real, half-illusory visions that lack logic cannot immerse someone indefinitely. To continuously enhance His power, He needed to occasionally expose those intelligent beings under His dominion to new levels of fear stimulation. A once-daring and arrogant challenger repeatedly hitting a wall under absolute power, conquered in despair and pain by Him, would undoubtedly instill shared fear in other humans. This demon that reigns over fear wouldn''t miss any chance to sow seeds of terror; it''s His authority, His instinct. But now... He is not invincible. "You too can be hurt... you''re just an ordinary demon..." Bai E slouched, using time to heal his wounds, laughing coldly. Whether his attack can affect the opponent depends on whether he has unwittingly been included within the enemy''s dominion of fear. But after completely examining his heart, casting away any possible emotions of fear and worry, certain "real" elements began to emerge. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The master of fear''s power, truly immense, is powered by the transformed Spiritual Energy from the multitude of refugees'' emotions of fear, greatly strengthened His physical body. Even if his attacks could effectively hit, he would still not be a match for the opponent''s strong power and speed, alone at the end. Without breaking the terror "worship" of all refugees, including his teammates, towards this demon, it would be difficult to truly defeat Him. When was this plan set? From the first time He targeted me specifically! The first step is to take away the faith from His hands! "Thinking of shutting off the link?" Bai E laughed coldly, "My companions are not foolish idiots; to cut off the link now would only prove your own insecurity." The master of fear, initially intent on shutting off the visual link shared with the human warriors outside, suddenly dismissed the thought. "Then... kill me!" Bai E raised his bow, his voice resounding through the cavern, "After killing me, continue your false reign. The beings under your rule will engulf the entire territory of the human empire, and the new fifth Demon God begins His step from here!" If He could start from this cave and gradually erode every human city until truly bringing all of humanity into fear of Him, perhaps His power could indeed rival the legendary Four Demon Gods. In that high-dimensional space of pure "intelligent beings'' thoughts" known as Spiritual Energy space, as long as there are enough "believing" thoughts, anything is possible. But Bai E won''t give Him that chance. Every word he utters, contains a trap! "Whoosh!" The arrow tore through the air, with double power. In a bleak space, an isolated human launched a lone resistance against the high and mighty demon. "Swoosh!" The afterimage flashed by, and the demon''s claw, made of red muscles, grasped the arrow that shot toward it. Without the "Instant Kill Hundred Heads" driven to its maximum extent, it was very difficult to match Its speed and strength. "You''re right..." The Lord of Fear spread its wings, its body rising into the air as it stretched its arms with relish, as if embracing something. Its voice was deep and hoarse, as if numerous layers of resonance rose at the same time, exploding directly in the heart, easily stirring the heartbeats. "Thud!" "Thud!" The heart was pounding violently, as if drumming directly on the eardrum. "Kneel down now!" "The true God is angry." The scout from before was prostrate on the ground in an instant, trembling violently. The wrath of the Lord of Fear, like a tsunami, instantly engulfed every heart connected by fear, making all the humans in the cave instantly remember the most terrifying nightmares. Even a soldier in a vehicle on the ground lost himself in this burst of fear. Those different terrifying illusions once again dragged them into a void of fantasy, as if the haziness between half-awake and half-asleep made it difficult for them to focus enough attention on guarding their own minds. The emotions of fear that erupted instantly transformed into tangible power, like rivers flowing into the sea, merging into the body of the Lord of Fear, who was suspended in midair. The powerful aura surged out violently, and even the space in the cave seemed to carry a hazy sense of fluctuation as if dissolving into a higher-dimensional space. The thick demon''s claw suddenly clenched tight, and the fine steel arrow in its hand turned to dust in an instant. Feeling the power raging and surging inside it, the Lord of Fear, with its head up and eyes closed, slowly opened its eyes, its gaze coldly locking on the distant Bai E. "You do indeed deserve to die..." Any change in emotions requires a gradual process. To gain the same power growth, one needs layered and progressive emotional fluctuations. Stimulating the fear memories deep in the hearts of living beings can''t be used without limits, and every use is like overexerting the total emotional change that each individual can provide in the future. But to capture this only variable with absolute power, all of it is worth it! "As long as I kill you..." "You''re wrong..." Bai E took out the small glass bottle from his arms and bit open the cork with his mouth. In the midst of intense heartbeats and howling winds, his lone voice resounded boldly, "Do you know... I actually quite like this era." "Even with so much suffering, they continue to live bravely." "Even when facing unknown dangers, some are willing to sacrifice themselves to create new living spaces for humanity." "They confront the whole world with their tiny bodies, courage being the only thing they can proudly wield." As he bit open the cork, Bai E took out all the remaining arrows from the quiver on his back with his other hand. "Do you think I''m that special one?" "You''re wrong." "Kill one of me, and there will be thousands, millions more." "After I die, everyone can be me..." "You think you can make humanity surrender, but I believe they will eventually break free from your control." The slightly viscous yellowish liquid dripped from the bottle, soaking the arrows. Bai E''s eyes swept over the group of prostrate people on the ground, his voice passionate and assertive. "My brothers and sisters, if you''re scared, just open your mouth wide." "If you want to make a sound, then call my name." "Bai E! Remember this name!" "As long as the sound of arrows piercing the wind continues, as long as gunfire flashes before your eyes, it means I haven''t fallen!" "I will be here, always here!" The yellowish Exorcism Essential Oil appeared to be a tangible liquid, but this substance, being between Spiritual Energy and material form, would not truly flow like water over the arrows and onto the ground. They flowed like real life, instinctively enveloping every corner of the arrowhead the moment they made contact. The arrows, now with spirits attached, exhibited a faint glow under the occasional focus of consciousness. Bai E''s voice continued, invading the hearts of those humans sinking into dark fear. "Even if, I fall here today, then in the gunfire that reappears in the future..." "It means I have come back!" Bai E nocked an arrow, making a light decision in his mind. [Payment: 2 Latent Points, 1,000 Combat Experience Points.] [Skill Acquired¡ªPowerful Shot.] [Powerful Shot: You shoot an arrow that transcends the ordinary, which will not veer off course or stop for any reason until it reaches maximum range; the kinetic impact of this strike is doubled, the piercing attack power is doubled, but the power reduces by 10% after passing through each target, dropping to a minimum of 60% (used in combination with "Special Attribute¡ªWind Fixing," it forms "Special Skill¡ªPiercing Wind Breaker"). Cost: 3 Spiritual Energy points (30 Action Power Reserves) per use.] "Wanting to control humanity with fear..." "Do you think you''re worthy?" Chapter 218 206 Belief Bai E swallowed another No. 3 energy strip in his mouth.Even though the efficiency of recovering energy reserves would slow down a lot with the massive use of this substance in a short time, it was still better than not replenishing at all. As Bai E gained more abilities that required the use of energy reserves or Spiritual Energy, even with the No. 3 energy strips, his reserves were increasingly insufficient. The need for Spiritual Energy was urgent, yet the most hopeful clue to its acquisition lay with that young lady from the Elf Race. He had no idea when he would genuinely acquire the legendary ability of Spiritual Energy. A fleeting thought crossed his mind, and Bai E''s gaze became resolute. [Activate "Power Shot".] Piercing Wind Breaker quickly gathered strength. "Swish!" The arrow, wrapped in a fierce wind, stirred up waves within the cave. Refugees close to the arrow''s flight path were easily knocked down by the wind, and the sky-full of whirlwinds eventually converged at the bloody, muscular chest of E, the Master of Fear, and drilled in. With undiminished force, the arrow pierced through layers of rock, disappearing to who knows where. [Trigger "Piercing Wind Breaker"! Successful penetration of the target''s defense, long-range weapon mastery experience +3.] E, the Master of Fear, stared dumbfounded at the spot where he had just moved, unbelievingly observing the wound pierced by the arrow, with white smoke slowly drifting from it... Completely transpierced. The windstorm caught the attention of some refugees who were blown about. Without permission, they dared not lift their heads. But as their bodies were helplessly tossed around, the scene glimpsed by those brief flashes of surprise firmly embedded itself in their minds... "An arrow never aims directly at the target''s current location," Bai E said softly. In the recent exchanges, although Bai E had not counterattacked, he had already figured out the opponent''s pattern of action. The power and speed of E, the Master of Fear, were undoubtedly exceptional, but his skill... leaves much to be desired. Straightforward, with no frills. "Is this the power you claim can conquer the world?" Bai E spoke with scorn, knowing that the outcome of the battle did not rest on him. It lay... with all the refugees present. He had to give them confidence! "If you can''t even deal with me, how will you face the world?" "Swish~" "Swish~" Two arrows, like fish, split in two different directions, both shooting towards the opponent. Without using the skills "Power Shot" or "Instant Kill Hundred Heads", the speed of the arrows was not fast to E, the Master of Fear, and those demonic pupils could even see clearly the trajectories of the two arrows coming from the dark. In fact, even if the arrows hit, the Spiritual Energy attached to them would only cause limited harm to Him now. Those unhealable wounds could only do so much. Compared to the powerful soul energy He had absorbed, the Spiritual Energy coming from the arrows was but a drop in the ocean. But being continuously hit would surely reignite the confidence of those already shaken humans. He must dodge... them. "Swish swish~" In the moment of dodging, two arrows instantly changed direction, drawing a large arc, hitting His body from different directions at the same time. [Trigger "Double Shot", "Arcing Strike"! Successful hit on the target, long-range weapon mastery experience +3.] The arrows didn''t penetrate deep into the flesh, and no white vapor emerged... The previous two arrows were just a test of the efficacy of the Exorcism Essential Oil. Realizing the actual harm the legendary oil, capable of truly injuring demons, could inflict was limited, Bai E didn''t waste any more. It might not be that the oil was too ineffective, but rather that the Spiritual Energy continuously replenished itself from the endless fear emotions transformed into His power. Without cutting off His source, it would also be a waste to shoot out all the arrows anointed with the oil. For the same reason, Bai E didn''t use his last few dozen energy reserve points on output like "Power Shot" and "Instant Kill Hundred Heads". Before truly knocking down the opponent, he first needed enough time for the refugees'' hearts to ferment with vigor. All he had to do was not truly fall before that fermentation was complete! But even ordinary attacks, ordinary arrows, could still penetrate three inches into the flesh upon hitting. "Pfft~" E, the Master of Fear, pulled out the two arrows lodged in his front and back, his emotions a mix of shock and fear. It had begun! The emotions supplied by those humans were starting to wane! Although the extent was small, they were indeed dwindling! He had to finish Him off! He had to do it quickly! "Boom!" "Snap!" With his arms crossed in front as a shield over his chest, Bai E did his best to mitigate some of the force using his body''s strongest parts, yet he was still blasted away in an instant. The recently unleashed power of E, the Master of Fear''s demonic strength, was fierce and unmatched, something he could not currently contend with. Even though he had activated "Absolute Defense", he still felt a tightness in his chest. "Extreme Pain Reliever" indeed cut off the pain, but symptoms like suffocation and numbness still persisted. As Bai E was sent flying back, with no time to care about his breathlessness, he still struggled to adjust his center of gravity midair to land smoothly because... The attack from E, the Master of Fear, would arrive right at the moment of his landing. ... Inside the vehicle, You furrowed her brows hard, desperately resisting the illusion that made her feel despair. She knew this was a demon''s trick, but emotions never listen to reason. The only glimmer within her rational mind was the figure who was facing the demon alone. If she was afraid, she could call out his name... "Bai... E..." Her weak voice called out intermittently and softly. "Bai E..." There were other soldiers also voicing out in the agony of their torment. "Bai E..." The voices became gradually clearer. "Bai E!" ... "Bang!" Bai E, merely knocked back, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked defiantly toward the Lord of Fear ahead, "What''s wrong? Getting slower? Weaker too? You''re weakening, aren''t you?" The Lord of Fear looked around to find several sneaky glances peering from the darkness. The noise from the prolonged battle had proven one fact¡ª The demon feared by everyone seemed not as powerful as imagined. "How dare you look at me!" The demon''s low growl swept across the field like a storm, and the bodies of all the refugees present began to levitate slowly into the air, just as the first refugee who had been absorbed did at the start. The uncontrollable reality and the fear of their unknown destinies made these refugees once again recall the Lord of Fear''s power. Indeed... perhaps a few elite humans could maintain their combat stance when facing the Lord of Fear, but they were just ordinary people. Their power was limited... Their will was not strong... They couldn''t do it... Eyes dimmed... "You can do it!" "Bang bang bang!" The sound of pistol shots suddenly overtook the howling wails that haunted the atmosphere. Bai E''s voice shone alone in the hollow cave. "Every one of us can do it! The reason It can do all this is because you believe It can." "Abandon your fear of It..." "It''s useless..." The Lord of Fear''s thick lips curved into a sinister smirk as he reached out his hand, and the demon''s claw clenched in the void. It was like fish out of water, like air being instantly sucked away. The refugees floating mid-air curled up in agony at once, gasping in their throats, choking in this dim world. "They will never break free in their lifetime..." "Heh~" Bai E sneered coldly, recalling the key that was most central. He remembered the fleeting visions of fear from the refugees when he first attempted to escape by car. Yes... that was their most profound fear. Of their fates... of their futures... S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "My fellow kinsfolk, I know what you''re worried about." "This world will not be forever shrouded in darkness." "I have come to take you back into human society." "No one will ostracize you again, no one will bully you again." "You will live in a garden flowing with flowers and honey, no longer wandering misfits for the sake of existence." "My name is Bai E." "Remember my name!" "I promise to give you a land of life! No one can take that away from your hands anymore!" "Perhaps life throws a few tough trials at us, but please always believe..." "When you''re too weary to fight the currents, there will always be someone who sees your efforts and extends a saving branch." "I will try my utmost to reach out for you." "But also please..." "Believe in me just once..." ... "Bai... E..." Someone hissed through gritted teeth. "Bai... E..." Another followed in confusion. "Snap~" "Snap~" Among the multitude of struggling bodies suspended in mid-air, suddenly two fell thunderously to the ground. The boy and girl looked around in bewilderment as they landed; their fellow kinsmen still hung in the air... had they come down? Clutching their chests... they no longer felt the suffocating sensation. Am I... free? Bai E''s voice was steadfast from afar, "You can do it, It''s merely manifested from your fears. You should be Its master!" Just like the question of whether an attack would be effective or not, the authority over one''s body can only be relinquished if one "believes" the other can dominate their fate¡ªit''s an invisible covenant signed with destiny. However, what truly lies within one''s heart... can only be determined by oneself! "Dad... Mom..." "Uncle... Uncle..." The young voices, though tender, bravely took the first step, "We can do it, we really can." After summoning their courage, it was as if a cold sun rose within their darken souls, dispelling all confusion and pain. Apparently, fate would not leave them to a dead end after all. The voices of the two young teenagers became another horn of defiance in the cave, aside from Bai E. "Snap~ Snap~" Watching more and more figures fall from mid-air, Bai E lit two flare sticks that pierced through the darkness, casually fixing them to the card buckle on his combat suit at the back. They rose like two flags behind Bai E. He notched an arrow to his bowstring, several arrows soaked in Exorcism Essential Oil reflecting the orange glow of the flare sticks. "Impossible! It can''t be!" The Lord of Fear''s once insurmountable aura was rapidly withering, his eyes filled with disbelief as he watched body after body fall from the sky. "They can''t possibly do it!" "Whether they can or not... is not for you to decide, nor for me," Bai E said coldly, laughing, "But you... it''s time for you to disappear!" Chapter 219 207 Expelled! Fear can spread, and so can courage.When a familiar companion took the lead as an example, it seemed not so difficult to break free from the demon''s control. More and more figures fell from their suspended state in mid-air, which meant that the reign of the Fear Lord over them had come to an end. "Whoosh~" "Whoosh~" Arrows whistled through the wind, each one piercing through the chest. Bai E had not used any techniques or abilities to enhance the penetration power, yet the drastically weakened body of the Fear Lord was clearly no longer able to withstand Bai E''s arrows. Of course, the penetrating power of the arrows themselves was secondary, the real damage was inflicted by the Exorcism Essential Oil that hit the wounds along with the arrows; these were the true protagonists causing harm. The white smoke that dispersed seemed to contain countless tiny faces, screaming and wailing, as endless torrents of chaotic emotions transformed into the most disordered Spiritual Energy impacts, challenging even these high-dimensional, emotion-feeding demons to cope. The resistance of the refugees weakened Its power, the decline in power led to a reduced grip over the refugees... A vicious cycle reached its limit, and at a certain moment, all the refugees suspended in the air fell to the ground at once. As the power converted from emotions receded like tide from that body, the desiccated demon''s shell finally revealed the true form of a small demon. The delayed combat information then slowly popped up on the panel¡ª [Using Exorcism Essential Oil on a specific target, your attack has 50% converted to special attack damage.] [You deal 5 points of Spiritual Energy damage to the target!] [Fear Lord (Demon) (Chaos) (Elite) (Weakened state): Health 9/100; Defensive Power 6; Trait: High-Dimensional Being¡­] [High-Dimensional Being: High-dimensional beings do not truly perish in the material world, after their physical form in the material world sustains a catastrophic blow, their core will return to the high-dimensional space, where after absorbing enough power, they will hatch and be reborn again. How much of their memories from before the rebirth they retain depends on their "rank"... Each death means they have drawn more experiences from the past.] "I will come back! I will come back again!" The small demon, with its shriveled reddish-brown muscles and less than one meter in height, stared venomously at the human who had brought about its downfall, as if to memorize his appearance for after its rebirth. "You can''t kill me! I will come back and bring you into the high-dimensional space, where your soul will suffer eternal torment!" Bai E, expressionless, drew back his bowstring, and as he gathered power, strength converged upon the arrowhead, "Come a hundred times, and I''ll kill you a hundred and one times!" "Whoosh!" As quick as lightning, an arrow pierced the chest. [You deal 12 points of Spiritual Energy damage to the target!] [Your attack exceeds the target''s current physical tolerance, the target is about to be expelled.] The space where the Fear Lord stood became indistinct in an instant, as if a misty mirror of light suddenly appeared behind it. Almost no one could gaze at that area; the hazy feeling only brought dizziness and made heads spin. Even Bai E couldn''t look directly at it. Circling around the withered demon''s body was a rapid swirl of air that did not blow a single person''s clothes on the spot. An even more brilliant flash of consciousness flickered past, and the emaciated body instantly shrank into a flesh egg and fell into the mirror behind it, disappearing completely as if sinking into a droplet of water. The reverberations ebbed slowly, and the space gradually smoothed out the ripples. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [You have completely expelled the target, combat ends, gain 300 battle experience points.] [Notice: Your actions have attracted the attention of an unknown existence!] After a fleeting sense of palpitation, Bai E withdrew his gaze from that space. Revenge? Let it come! Bai E lightly swept his gaze over the refugees who were still recovering their senses in the darkness and exhaled lightly, finally relaxing completely. As the battle intent receded like the tide, the effects of skills like Absolute Defense and Maximum Pain Relief also vanished in an instant, and a sensation of soreness and numbness surged throughout his body and deep into his bones and marrow. One hard fight after another, the battle with the Blood God had already pushed him to the limit, and facing the Fear Lord had been even more punishing. Even Bai E, who had survived numerous life-and-death battles, could not withstand the backlash of pushing his body to the limit, and he collapsed, barely maintaining a semblance of composure by leaning against the wall behind him. "Hiss~" Ouch~ ¡­ Gone¡­ Completely gone¡­ The refugees who had yet to recover sprawled on the ground, stood up in a daze. The familiar dark caverns seemed so alien now. Without the writhing shadows in the corners, without creatures that might burst out of the darkness to devour them, even the sound of the wind above no longer seemed as terrifying as before. The hollow feeling in the heart, as if something had been scooped out, had vanished, and so had the sense of caution where even a slightly louder noise could send shivers down the spine. A warm current flowed through the body, as if the days of poverty and pain were gone forever. All of this... it seemed to all stem from one belief. Was it he who saved us? Their gazes gradually focused, all looking in the same direction. Two glowing light sticks in the dark illuminated a tiny space where the man who saved everything rested against the wall, one hand on his knee, his gaze fixed on the distance ahead... as if contemplating the future. ["Lucky Strike" charge +50.] ["Lucky Strike" charge has reached 120/100, ready for use!] "M... Master." An old and cautious voice sounded before him, Bai E blinked his eyes, snapping out of his reverie. Facing the three figures, one large and two small before him, Bai E tried to smile as gently as possible at them, "Hello." He looked intently at the two young children, a boy and a girl around fourteen or fifteen years old, both skinny and frail, covered in dirt, but with bright, spirited eyes... Bai E was deeply impressed by them because it was these two children who had first mustered the courage to break free from the control of the Lord of Fear. In any place, the power of a role model is always boundless, after all, he, an outsider, could never be as convincing as these two fellow tribespeople they knew well. Without their initial resistance, whether the outcome would have been successful was questionable; even if he could ultimately drive away the Lord of Fear, his own situation would likely have become very dire. "You were very brave just now... What are your names?" If possible, Bai E even wanted to reach out and pat the boy''s head, but unfortunately, he could not. He was just too exhausted. "Morphie." "Kiro Lan." The boy was more enthusiastic, while the girl was somewhat reserved. Bai E nodded, "You did very well, you''re heroes." Receiving praise from the man they saw as "the strongest," the boy''s face showed a visible delight, while the girl modestly bowed her head, seemingly reluctant to accept such sudden praise, "Actually... we didn''t do much." "Those who have the courage to face reality are all great." Bai E explained with a smile, then he looked up at the refugee elder who had been waiting quietly. "Are you their leader?" Any group of more than three people, when living together for an extended period, almost always needs a leader who can make decisions on important matters. These refugees, numbering at least four or five hundred, could never have left the city to live in isolation and survive without a unified will. The elder nodded, his graying hair bearing the marks of time, and the wrinkles on his face as deep as valleys and gorges, "Yes." After acknowledging his position, the elder seemed a bit nervous, rubbing his hands and speaking hesitantly, "Master, you said you would lead us... lead us to a new life?" Those "flowery and honeyed" lives were far too ideal, so much that just speaking of them was difficult. His only hope was to leave this cursed place. Although the hearty mushrooms and occasional small animals they caught could barely sustain them, clothing, medicine, and other supplies were simply beyond the capability of these people who had left human society behind to produce by hand. In the long run, they would not be able to survive, and the size of this group of refugees would only diminish. Not to mention that mere survival has never been the sole requirement of humans. A void in their spirits would only invite greater disaster. They had already proven that once... And now... it seemed like heaven could no longer bear to watch them suffer so much. The reason the elder had quietly waited for the savior before him to finish speaking with the two children was that he wanted to see what kind of personality this godsent savior possessed. Looking at him now, he seemed even more gentle and tolerant than the elder had imagined. Below that calm composure lay an unfathomable depth of foundation. The elder wondered how this savior would arrange for them. "I wonder, Master... where do you come from?" The elder spoke softly, utterly humbling himself, as his backbone had long since been shattered by endless suffering, leaving behind only the meekness of seeking a stable life for his companions. Bai E did not reply immediately but continued to calmly look into the elder''s eyes. A silence prevailed until, confused, the elder raised his head to meet those brilliant eyes, like morning stars. "Ma... Master?" "You are no less than anyone else; remember that, do not belittle yourselves, do not choose to be humble. Those higher-dimensional beings are always watching the mortal world, waiting for every opportunity to invade. Never, become their tool." The resignation of the rat people, the misery of the refugee community... were lessons for everyone to heed. Perhaps he couldn''t influence the overall situation of the city, but there was no problem speaking his mind to this group of refugees whom he had just saved. "Yes..." The elder''s voice paused, his countenance shifting to a more resolute tone, "Master!" "I come from Blackwater City, I am a warrior..." Only then did Bai E speak softly, revealing his origin. After the adrenaline rush, it was time to confront the reality of the situation. Chapter 220 The Origin of the 208 Refugees "...So, Lord, you say you came to escort us to the city following orders?"Bai E nodded and said, "Yes." A regular soldier from the army barracks was the one rescuing them from the grip of demons? But could someone who dares to confront demons so directly and shines with the aura of a leader be just a regular soldier? A formerly disgraced officer demoted for misconduct? Or was it merely a temporary retreat? However, the fact that a city was willing to send someone to actively accept them was always good news. The elder was advanced in years, seen much and knowledgeable, yet he had spent his entire life in the same wilderness oasis. He had heard of cities but had never truly encountered one. After being ostracized from the oasis, they had already lost faith in their kin; hearing that they could live in a city made them feel both lost and excited. "Lord... what is a city like?" an eager boy asked, his eyes shining with anticipation. "A city..." Bai E said with a distant look in his eyes, for he also did not know what it was like inside a city, but with the protection of the army barracks outside, people inside should certainly live more safely and comfortably, right? "A city is a home surrounded by steel." "And what about you, sir?" a girl piped up, her clear eyes fixed on Bai E''s face, asking with a hint of hope. "Me?" Bai E smiled at her, "I''m a soldier; I live outside in the army barracks." The girl''s eyes lit up, "Then can I go to the barracks?" "The barracks are for fighting; you should focus on living well." Other places Bai E didn''t know, but at least in Blackwater City, according to the information he had¡ª With the consumption of artificial humans, the pressure to conscript from natural humans wasn''t large. Even if Kiro Lan were to enter the barracks, she would most likely learn to become a qualified nurse just like Mashati whom they had met before. But if not necessary, there was no need to enlist. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E just smiled and explained, "However, it will be your own choice. I just received orders to take you back. Maybe once in the city, you''ll find a more interesting life waiting for you." "So we can join the barracks if we want?" the girl seemed somewhat insistent. Bai E spread his hands helplessly, "If you volunteer, you probably can, but that''s not up to me." Having received her answer, the girl didn''t press further, "Understood, sir..." "As for you..." Bai E addressed them after calming their emotions, "Where are you from, and how many are you?" This was related to making judgments about the refugees'' background and planning the relocation. "We come from Jinshuizhou Town..." The elder spoke softly about their group''s origins. A simple issue of resources. The capacity of a wilderness oasis to sustain a population is finite, and with the population swelling, natural selection inevitably filters out the weaker individuals. This group before him was one that had been filtered out. The process was inconsequential now; fortunately, they were still alive... covers it. "When we left, we were six hundred and thirty-one; now, there are only four hundred and seventeen left." As he spoke, the elder glanced back at the body drained by the demon, excluding it from the count. "Four hundred and some..." Bai E mused softly. The number was almost double what he had initially been informed. However, as long as these people were willing to cooperate, moving two hundred or four hundred people did not differ fundamentally in difficulty. "Zzzz~" Having broadly understood the situation, Bai E heard the voice of his teammate through the earpiece; the determined tone of Ying, as if regaining strength, "Bai E, how are things on your end?" While slowly regaining the ability to act during the wait, those who had stayed in the vehicle had already rationally analyzed their current situation. Out of rationality, they needed to send someone back to the barracks to report the situation here. A demon invading the real world was a serious matter, something only the professionals at the Heretical Arbitration House could handle. And out of emotion, they didn''t want to see their brother Bai E fighting alone. Especially after having shared the real-time images inside the den with the demon, they felt even more anxious. But it seemed that the Bai E had discovered the demon''s weakness and valiantly started to resist; the following events were beyond their observation. The demon, needing more strength, actively stimulated the seeds of fear in their hearts, causing their consciousness to fall into a haze. The images shared by the demon in their minds ended unnoticed while they struggled against the void and darkness. When they tried to recall, they found their memory blurred by the struggle and fear, making it impossible to clearly remember all the details. Only their trust in a particular name was deeply rooted in their hearts¡ª Bai E. Invoking this name in despair as if it truly brought warm salvation. So, when everyone awoke once more from the terrifying illusion in their minds, Ying immediately contacted Bai E. "My side?" Bai E glanced again at those refugees slowly regaining their senses, watching them huddle together in the dark to soothe their inner scars, he smiled and replied, "All is well." "Good!" Ying''s voice was buoyant, "We''re coming in." "Oh, and..." Bai E remembered something and spoke as a reminder, "Bring some food in." "Alright." After ending the conversation, Ying looked excitedly at the other warriors, "He''s fine." Everyone''s situation was generally the same; the images shared by the demon only stayed on the moment when Bai E was fighting alone. Then, a surge of emotions not their own forcefully welled up, threatening to drown them. Despite everyone''s cautious resistance, at some point they vaguely lost track of the shared images. When they snapped back to their senses, the images shared by the demon had already ended. "Looks like Bai E drove away the demon?" "Really... impressive." The captain of Squad 2, his face flushed with shame, looked at Ying and said, "We owe it to Bai E from your team again this time. Otherwise, we would have been trapped here." A soldier in the corner buried his face, not daring to meet anyone''s gaze, ''On the way here, I told him he could call me when it''s dangerous...'' What Bai E had advised before departing to be cautious proved to be correct. Unfortunately, even with utmost caution, it seemed to be in vain in this place. There were no sudden attacks, no external threats. The real danger came from within. The Tiger Squad didn''t split up, yet the heart of each member became an isolated island. Except for Bai E... It was said that this brother had performed remarkably well in the spiritual domain of the Bug Race''s overlord in their nest, but since they were in the reserve echelon at that time, they didn''t experience the feat that saved more than four hundred people. Now it seems that if the spiritual energy domain of that Bug Race overlord had been as strong as what they were experiencing now, Bai E''s achievements from that battle would have been unimaginable. "Do we go in now?" a soldier maintained his skepticism, "He might not have really driven away the demon. Those scouts that disappeared before also became the demon''s minions, right? His words now could also be a trap guided by the demon, hoping to lure us all back." Faced with an enemy like the demon, which they did not understand, any assumption extended toward the most extreme direction. "I don''t think it''s likely," Song Ying glanced at the speaking soldier, "Bai E has never let anyone down. He will definitely not become the demon''s minion." "But none of us present were able to avoid the demon''s invasion. How could he be the only one? I find it hard not to believe this is a trap set by the demon." "Don''t forget, he was the one who saved us." "I could have woken up on my own without his help." He recovered the fastest among all the soldiers who had stayed in the vehicle, and that was the source of his confidence that he was no worse than anyone else. His teammate tugged at the corner of his clothes and whispered, "If it had been a trap from the start, then Bai E wouldn''t have needed to rescue all of us from the cave." The skeptical soldier looked earnestly at his teammate, "You should know, even on the Bug Race battlefield, he wasn''t the only one who could move in and out of the frontline. But now, he is the only one who has resisted the demon''s spiritual corruption. Don''t you have the slightest doubt?" The driver responsible for operating the vehicle hesitated before speaking, "I tried it once on the battlefield of the Bug Race..." "That''s because you couldn''t handle it." The eyebrows of the skeptical soldier remained calm, "I don''t mean to target anyone, but when we are on a mission, we need to be as cautious as possible." "..." Everyone present was an elite. Every elite was proud. They found it hard to believe that anyone else could easily resist and even counter something they themselves couldn''t withstand. The skeptical soldier''s words didn''t sound very pleasant, but they did have some merit. "How about we leave some people in the vehicle?" The captain of Squad 1 nodded, "Alright, let''s do that. Ka Ruigan, you go with Ying''s and the other squad to take some food to those refugees." "Okay." "No problem." Both squad captains agreed without hesitation. ... Within the cave, the five scouts who had gone missing earlier had also woken up from that terrible state, and Bai E had deliberately asked elders to call them over. He wanted to gather more information from them. But now... these former elite soldiers seemed to be in a poor mental state. Bai E''s gaze swept over the derelict and grim expressions on their faces. They were sharper than the ordinary refugees, but perhaps that was why they had been targeted more specifically by the demon. "The two photographs in your hands were left by me, but actually, after leaving that information, I regretted it," one of the soldiers confessed regretfully. He was one of the first scouts to arrive here. Unlike the ordinary refugees, their faith had been completely destroyed after being immersed in fear of the demon for a long time. Even after the demon had been driven away, their mental state could not return to its previous vigor. "I had the same experience as you all. After I woke up from the illusion and escaped the cave, it felt like I left a piece of my heart behind, and I wanted to pick it back up..." As he spoke, the soldier''s eyes suddenly reddened, and he abruptly bowed his head to cover his eyes, a choking sob squeezing through his palms, "But I... I never expected it to turn out like this." He felt as if he was done for. Even after most of the refugees had bravely taken their first step in rebellion, he still couldn''t shake off the demon''s control. Had the demon, whose power had fallen to a certain level, not been directly driven back to a higher-dimensional space by Bai E, he feared he would still be a pawn in the demon''s hands. "It''s all in the past." Bai E was quite helpless and could only offer weak words of consolation, "It''s all in the past. Actually..." Bai E looked at the less than favorable mental state of the few scouts in front of him and still asked resolutely, "I want to know, during the entire process of being controlled by the demon, what exactly were you feeling?" Although asking them to recall those unbearable memories might be torturous, Bai E had to probe their wounds in order to learn more information. And there were some questions that had to be asked before the arrival of their comrades, especially since they involved the Exorcism Essential Oil he used. The origin of this stuff... was not so easy to explain. Chapter 221 209 Tianhui Gift "It was just pure fear, an irrational terror.""My limbs cold, my body shaking." "My heart felt like it was being carried, any slightly louder noise could make my nerves jump suddenly..." The feelings were very similar to those his comrades had shared with him before, but Bai E was not looking for this; he merely asked again softly, "So, during my fight with that demon, what did you all see?" That was the question he cared most about. He wanted to know exactly how much these people had witnessed. The situation was urgent at the time, and some things had to be done, but now that it was over, he had to consider the aftermath. If he really had to explain, Exorcism Essential Oil wasn''t impossible to explain¡ª For instance, he taught someone something random outside, and that person, out of gratitude, gave it to him and explained how to use it. But why hide it? Was he harboring some thoughts? Was it a breach of discipline to indiscriminately teach what one learned in the military to the public?... The situation could get very muddled. If possible, Bai E didn''t want to deal with such trouble, especially since he didn''t know where the players got that stuff from... Upon hearing Bai E''s question, the reconnaissance soldiers visibly flinched. They looked at each other before whispering in reply, "We... we didn''t see anything." "Nothing at all." They had been under the demon''s mental control until the very end when the demon was completely expelled. Before that, they were in a state of "fear" the whole time, providing power to the demon, and didn''t notice what was actually happening. "I understand," Bai nodded, "Then you should rest for now." According to the decision made by the previous team captains, it was probable that they would depart for the city early the next morning. "Recover your strength as soon as possible. Tomorrow on the road, we will need your help protecting these refugees." The scale of over four hundred refugees was simply too large. Two off-road vehicles were clearly not enough; they could only walk with the refugees. And how fast could these refugees move? The longer the journey, the more likely they were to encounter unknown dangers. Their small joint squad of merely thirteen people was clearly stretched thin. Having a few experienced scouts spread out among the team for protection was an excellent idea. A slight sense of responsibility awakened courage within the few scouts. After a quietly subdued silence, they responded hesitantly. "Yes." "Yes, sir." "Szzzzz~" Tiger''s voice came through the earpiece, "We''re almost there, where are you?" "The core area is a big cave. I''ve lit some flare sticks, you should see me as soon as you come in." "Okay." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, it was a piece of tranquility. As Tiger stepped into the suddenly spacious cave, his vision, aided by night vision goggles, slowly swept from the immediate surroundings to the distance¡ª The refugees, now settled down, huddled in the dark whispering to each other, while a few figures, who had recovered more quickly or were more enthusiastic, moved among the crowd asking questions. It looked exactly like the underground cave they had seen while under the demon''s influence, only without that terrifying figure akin to a Demon God. Just like Bai E said, the figure with the two flare sticks stuck behind him in the corner stood out in the dark. "No problem, Bai E really drove the demon away." They reported back through the voice communication, of course... avoiding Bai E''s channel. "Put down your stuff," Tiger whispered. The group, laden with large and small bags, gently unloaded the supplies they carried. "Hiss~" Tiger took the lead in lighting two flare sticks and sticking them behind him. The other soldiers did the same. Each person ignited a flare stick and placed it behind them; soldiers bathed in glowing light formed two lines with agile steps. They passed through the darkness, through the curious gazes of the refugees. Eventually, they crossed most of the cave to reach the figure of Bai E slumped on the ground. Team Leader 2 gave the order, "Salute!" The Radiant Salute. A gesture of acknowledgment by the Radiant Legion, to which Blackwater City was nominally subject for the top soldiers within the legion. Though the empire''s thirteen legions were largely nominal by now, the cities under each legion still held great reverence for the honors passed down from those ancient troops. Team Leader 2, with a crisp drop of his right hand and his body standing erect, loudly reported in a manner akin to debriefing: "The joint squad has arrived at the target location! Twelve were supposed to come, eight have arrived, four remain with the vehicles guarding the supplies. Please instruct us on the next actions, sir Bai!" "..." Bai E''s expression faltered for a moment but then he noticed Tiger, trailing behind, squinting and gesturing at him with an expression. With a helpless smile, Bai E, controlling his frail voice to sound as firm as possible, commanded, "Distribute the supplies you''ve brought to them. Let everyone eat and rest well... we set out early tomorrow morning." "Yes, sir!" Attracted by the noise of the new soldiers, the refugees who had been following the situation turned their attention toward the exchange of dialogue. Hearing the conversation, some refugees whispered in the dark to each other, "Wow, he really is an officer..." "I said it, how could an ordinary soldier have that kind of strength and nerve." "This Blackwater City seems very impressive." After selectively sharing the information they had just received from Bai E with their companions, the elder, along with two young children, also leaned to one side to rest a bit. Their strength wasn''t the best after being trapped under the domain of fear, and after dealing with negotiations with Bai E and managing group affairs as the first order of business, they had reached their physical limits. At that moment, they merely looked on with reverence at the figure sitting on the ground. "The adult is amazing..." the boy murmured softly, then turned to the girl beside him, "Kiro Lan, was it true that you wanted to join the military?" "Mmm..." the girl''s expression was calm as still water, quietly gazing in that direction, "I want to become a person like the adult as well." "Then I''ll go with you too..." ``` "...do whatever you want." The elder didn''t speak, only their gaze swept over the refugees hidden in the darkness before returning to the adult leaning alone in the corner. Their eyes briefly flickered. Hu and the others had nearly brought down all the supplies from the vehicle, which were originally prepared for these refugees. Considering that these refugees had been living outdoors for a long time, their nutrition was definitely lacking, and the journey back to the city was long. To prevent them from lacking the strength to walk on the way, they had specially packed the trunk of the convoy''s vehicle with high-calorie, low-volume rations before setting out. Bai E had tried one on the road, grape-flavored, and it tasted quite good... Even these artificially synthesized foods each had their flavor, and the city did quite a good job in this regard. Never before savored "delicacies" served as a more direct stimulus than any other thing. Many refugees eating the ration bars they had received cast their eyes toward that bright corner in the darkness. Everything... was brought by that man. ["Lucky Strike" charge +23.] "emmmm..." A pleasant surprise. Bai E, sitting and resting, received an unexpected notification, suddenly remembered his previous speculation about the "Lucky Strike" charging mechanism. The charge limit for the same emotion within a "short time" was only 50 points, but it seemed that different kinds of emotions could break this limit. At the moment... being saved from the demons and the "gifting of food" were clearly considered two different things. Could he make even more effort to farm some more points? It was not easy to come by such an opportunity with a good favorability foundation; he had to seize it well. Thinking of this, Bai E started running "Overlimit Drive" to accelerate the recovery of his physical strength. The No.3 ration bar he had eaten earlier was slow to restore, but it was continuously working. Before long, he got up and walked over to the elders who had consciously moved away, squatting in front of them, Bai E softly asked, "Living out here, you must have a good number of patients troubled by injuries and pain, right?" The elder looked up at Bai E with some confusion, "Sir...?" Of course, there were injured. Among the many worries he originally had, this was one. But now... Bai E smiled gently, "Gather them up, and I''ll take a look." Bai E didn''t mention any other factors; helping had to be straightforward to stir genuine emotional responses from these people. emmmm... collecting power through emotional fluctuations? A very familiar setup... Bai E silently shook his head and scoffed to himself, how could it be. ... "Captain..." After hearing about the developments inside the cave from the headset, one of the soldiers staying by the vehicle who was a warrior looked toward their own captain, "What should we do?" The warrior who had previously been doubtful still echoed in his mind with the voices of the No.2 captain and Hu and others cheering for that guy, internally gritting his teeth. ''Why boost his momentum like that!'' Now, hearing his teammate''s question, he immediately retorted firmly, "Bai said to rest, didn''t you hear?" "...heard¡­ heard?" ... There were about forty or fifty injured. Long-term living outdoors, having major or minor physical ailments was only too normal, plus the prolonged enslavement by demons, these refugees were weakened both physically and mentally. After all, the lord of fear wouldn''t care about these humans'' health problems. These refugees were living day by day; physical suffering was actually more conducive to the breeding of fear emotions. If one were to be serious about it, among the more than four hundred refugees, everyone had some ailment. But under the current rudimentary conditions, only those truly affecting the ability to move were selected and gathered by the elders. Looking at the hopeful eyes before him, Bai E didn''t speak, just picked up the first-aid kit brought by Hu and others and got down to work. [You are attempting first aid...] [You have completed first aid; the patient''s injuries are stabilized and are recovering slowly.] "Thank you! Thank you!" Looking at the white bandage on her previously pus-filled wound on her shin and feeling the slightly stinging warmth underneath, the dirt-covered woman''s tears fell in gratitude, repeatedly thanking him. ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] "It''s okay, it''s not serious, but you should rest in the vehicle tomorrow," Bai E smiled at her and then moved on to the next one. [You are attempting first aid...] [You have completed first aid...] "Thank¡­ thank you." ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] "It may itch a bit, hold back and don''t touch it¡­" Bai E spoke softly and tenderly, a master of healing hands. Kiro Lan, watching from a distance, had stars in her eyes, for the first time feeling that there could be such a shining figure in the world. "This is the great Sir..." So she ran up and asked clearly, "Sir, can I learn these skills from you?" Bai E glanced at her and replied with a smile, "Of course, no problem¡­ but there are a lot of people, I can''t explain to you one by one." They were to set off early the next morning, and to ensure the mobility of these refugees, Bai E certainly wanted to complete the treatment of every injured patient as soon as possible. While treating, he was also checking everyone. The two off-road vehicles that would head back were empty, perfectly able to pick those refugees who were unable to move on their own to rest in the vehicles. Bai E was not too comfortable with leaving the decision to the refugees or their teammates; it could easily cause controversy, so he wanted to make the call himself. "It''s okay, it''s okay," Kiro Lan waved her hands repeatedly, "I''d be thankful to just observe." After all, ever since she was young, she learned things quickly... ``` Chapter 222 Sheltering under someones influence (or protection) "Why has such a godly figure joined your team?" the captain of Team 2 said, his eyes filled with admiration as he watched the figure tirelessly healing among the refugees.Hu shook his head, "He just got assigned to us..." Actually, when they first heard that a newly born soldier was being assigned to them, they weren''t too pleased either, only Song Ying found an excuse to accept this newly created person. However, during subsequent training and battles, this new recruit, who had not been born long, undoubtedly blew the minds of every witness. He would keep going and infect everyone who had walked with him. "He''s still going..." You''s eyes slightly glazed over, "He must be tired too, right?" His own group had only briefly resisted the mental oppression of the fear demons, causing them to only regain partial mobility to this point, gasping for air after carrying back supplies and distributing them. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But what about him, facing the demons head-on? Nevertheless, he was still healing the refugees'' wounds, soothing their emotions. He was always kind and tolerant to everyone. A...natural-born leader? Recalling those brief, impassioned words, You rarely felt her face grow hot and flushed. If she could carry out missions under his lead in the future... that must be a wonderful thing, right? ... Bai E quickened his pace. There were still so many patients waiting for treatment, these suffering refugees were the best emotion extractors, each providing about 1 point of charge, much more sincere than those soldiers whose heads were only good for maintaining guns. Beside him, the girl''s eyes took on a faint, grey glow, unwaveringly watching Bai E''s every move. Through observational actions, she seemed to effortlessly grasp the underlying principles behind them. +1+1+1+1+1+1+1... Kiro Lan suddenly spoke up, "Sir... Could I also have a first aid kit? I want to help them too..." "..." Bai E was taken aback for a moment and turned to look at the girl. The knowledge seemed to still flow through her crystal-clear eyes. Had she learned it? Or had she already had some basis? She couldn''t be a player, could she... but there were no hints of interaction, were there? Bai E felt a slight suspicion in his heart and waved to Hu and the others in the distance, while saying through the earpiece, "Bring another first aid kit here." "Okay." Once Kiro Lan also started caring for the refugees, Bai E couldn''t help but spare a bit of his attention to watch her movements¡ª She really knew what she was doing. And every move was like his own shadow, the efficiency nearly as fast as his. She might have been a bit clumsy at first, but after quickly getting familiar, the efficiency increased a lot. Learned... learnt it? A genius! For the first time, Bai E felt a profound sense of pressure from these native NPCs. The natives'' talents were indeed unreasonable. With Kiro Lan''s help, the pace increased significantly, and of course, she took on her share of the workload. +1+1+1... The charge kept rising, the severely impaired patients were no longer sufficient, Bai E looked towards more refugees in the distance. The short-term limit for the same kind of emotion was 50 points; he hadn''t reached 50 yet, so he couldn''t stop now. "Gilder..." That was the name of the elder of the refugees, "See if there''s anything wrong with anyone else, I''ll take a look as well." Gilder couldn''t bear to see his companions suffering from illness, but thinking of the hard journey the adult had undertaken and how he had driven away the enslaving demons for them, seeing him still worrying about this made his eyes wet, "Sir, what you''ve done for us is already enough." ["Lucky Strike" charge +5.] "Yes, sir, you should rest... we''re okay." "Just endure a little longer, we have to travel tomorrow, and you should get some rest, sir," said other refugees, who also had various ailments but hadn''t yet received treatment, from a distance. "It''s fine, I just need to rest a bit, learning how to quickly recover and maintain stamina for prolonged combat is also a skill we soldiers must master." Bai E smiled as reassuringly as possible, waving his hand in insistence. He couldn''t miss any opportunity to gather charge! "Fine... okay then." Gilder hesitated but agreed, once again picking out patients for Bai E. He knew the conditions of his comrades well, some of which were serious even though they didn''t affect their ability to move much. +1+1+1... [You have completed a first aid...] No more... [The third one didn''t add any charge...] Was it because they felt no gratitude? No, it was because he had reached 50 points, not counting those 5 points provided by Gilder. They can make such fine distinctions... 196 points. Bai E sighed deeply. "It''s getting late," Hu came over, looking at the mechanical watch on his wrist, he reminded Bai E. "Sir, go get some rest, I can help everyone." Kiro Lan, having learned Bai E''s "true teachings," also turned her head back and looked kindly at Bai E from not far away. "Alright then." Bai E knew what mattered most. No matter when, rest is always the best way to recover. They had to depart early the next morning, and there might be more dangers to be wary of on the journey, and his body indeed needed rest to recover from the true exhaustion. Chapter 223 Sheltering with someone else For the sake of energy values, he could still hold on, but now that they were depleted, he was somewhat unable to persevere."I''m going to sleep..." Youth is great, falling asleep as soon as one''s head hits the pillow. ... [Feedback from the commission: Your Reflexes +0.1, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +28, Light Weapon Mastery Experience +26, Combat Mastery Experience +29, Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +149.] A sense of unease, as if being watched, lingered in his mind, and Bai E, who had already had a good rest, woke up instantly from his sweet sleep. His vigilant eyes opened, bright as two stars in the night. Inside the cave, all was peaceful. The howling wind above seemed only to be an accompaniment that helped one sink deeper into the world of dreams, the refugees'' breathing steady, enjoying an evening of rare mental tranquility. There were no enemies, nor was it the return of demons. Elder Gilder sat not far from Bai E, his aged eyes watching with some hesitation. After the impulsive gratitude of being saved had cooled down, the experiences of his past life overshadowed his rationality. Where there are people, there is strife. Could these refugees, who had been rescued, truly start a new and beautiful life as this officer said? Not very realistic. Resources are the most realistic topic in this world. If they had no special skills, how would they be allocated the survival resources that everyone in this era needed? Was the so-called Blackwater City truly a utopian world of legend? If such a world existed, it was likely already overrun with people. He had not shared this worry with anyone, hiding it in his heart instead. Their companions, who had been driven out of the town together, had just escaped from the clutches of demons. It would be ill-advised to plunge them back into fear for the future, which might invite the terrifying demon once again. Would there be a second savior then, or would they be rescued one more time by this gentleman? There are not so many blessings in this world, but since the gentleman had made such a commitment at the time... did it mean that he had some ability to ensure a new life for everyone? Gilder was unclear about the system in Blackwater City; he only knew that in their old town, the powerful always had their own private armed forces and retainers. "What''s wrong?" Upon waking, Bai E proactively inquired in a soft voice to the elder. "Elder, please come with me," Gilder said resolutely through gritted teeth, whispering as quietly as possible to Bai E. ... Bai E swept his gaze around the shadows, everyone else was resting. Be it his teammates, or the refugees. No one noticed what was happening here... "Okay," Bai E nodded, agreeing to the elder''s request. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following Gilder, the two arrived in a tunnel where they were unlikely to disturb the others who were resting. "Can we speak now?" Bai E looked at Gilder, who had turned around, and calmly asked. "It''s like this, sir..." Gilder twisted his palms, pausing for a while before saying with difficulty his personal thoughts, "I was wondering if you... have your own... faction?" Gilder observed the gentleman''s expression with utmost caution; his life in the dark seemed to give him a certain Dark Vision, allowing him to make out some images in the darkness. "Uh?" Bai E''s tone hesitated slightly, "Why do you ask?" Since he had decided to speak up, Gilder was candid, "I... I don''t know what kind of system Blackwater City has, but where we come from strong men have their own factions. I think... it might be better to follow under your leadership rather than with the city''s central authority." Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Although following Bai E might not even amount to being the head of a chicken, even being the neck, the body, the heart, or the lungs of the chicken would still be good... Such a splendid figure as Bai E was someone he had never seen in the town. Following a character like him, one would not have to worry about being arbitrarily discarded one day. Not to mention that their prolonged wandering had broken their spirits; without learning to bow and adapt, one cannot survive in this world. ... A moment''s silence. Bai E was somewhat indecisive. He had never imagined the elder would speak of such a matter. To grow his own faction? After deceiving players and desperate Ratmen, was he to accept such a large group of refugees? Wouldn''t that be too conspicuous? Not to mention whether he could support them, the sheer numbers were enough to be branded as rebels. He was not yet aware of the city''s plans for these refugees, nor did he know whether the city permitted the existence of large private groups. Taking the refugees in, given his status, was definitely not appropriate. At least not at present. "Sir, rest assured, we may not have any special abilities, but we can ensure absolute loyalty. Most of the four hundred people are men; with some training and arms, they could fight for you! I may not be very capable, but having lived so many years, I do have some experience. I could look after the team and help with internal affairs," Gilder confidently vouched for himself and the others while Bai E silently pondered. There is no love without reason in this world, even the purest relationships ultimately require the need for benefits and value. Facing Gilder''s hopeful gaze, Bai E spoke thoughtfully. "You were specifically asked to be brought back by the commander; it''s not appropriate for me to intervene directly." Bai E''s words were ambiguous, not a flat rejection. Who knows what the future might hold? His main quest required him to raise the reputation level of his forces to Level 2. The elimination of a Black Street force by the players had only slightly increased it, and perhaps the remaining requirements could include a hard number of people? It was uncertain, but he could not discount the possibility. Gilder''s eyes brightened at the response, "I see..." Not being directly refused meant the gentleman might really have his own faction. Was it just due to the rules... But almost immediately, the wisdom gained from many years and countless events led him to think of a workaround, "How about this, sir? Your commander doesn''t know our exact numbers, right?" Let alone the long journey that could easily lead to some falling behind... "Missing one or two shouldn''t be a problem. Let an old man like me first join you. For them... we''ll see if there''s another turn of fortune?" Bai E''s eyes flickered. He was indeed in need of a warehouse manager for his own place... The 5 points of energy value provided by the elder before could be considered a form of "loyalty." Maybe it could work. But he still needed to give it further thought. Bai E turned and walked back towards the cave, "We''ll discuss it later." Chapter 224 211 The Incident on the Way Back to the City Even without any reminder from Tiger, the biological clock within Bai E had become an instinct over this period of being a warrior.The cavern remained pitch-dark, yet Bai E was already awake. Elder Gilder also quietly roused his companions one by one in the darkness. "Wake up..." "We, are setting out." They were setting off for a whole new life. Every awakened migrant seemed very excited. The warriors who had stayed in the vehicles had long been waiting at the entrances of those caves, watching the figures emerge in single file and they couldn''t help but exclaim in awe. "Such a crowd..." The intelligence reported only around two hundred people, but the sight of more than four hundred was undoubtedly double their initial mental preparation. "We need to allocate our individual tasks." There might be some minor troubles along the way; they had to spread out as much as possible to ensure that if an incident occurred, warriors could arrive immediately to help the migrants. Team Leader One called over Team Leader Two and Tiger... along with Bai E to discuss. As for Tiger and the rest of the warriors from Team Two, they were all helping the migrants to form up. A team of more than four hundred people is neither too large nor too small, but without a neat and unified formation, it would be messy and difficult to manage. No one expected them to obey every command without question, but at least they shouldn''t drag their feet too much when encountering potential dangers. "There are also five scouts over there; they should be able to help a little," Tiger pointed out, referring to the five soldiers previously discovered missing in the cave. Team Leader One''s gaze swept quickly over them and frowned upon seeing the posture of those five men standing. The five soldiers, walking amidst the migrants, had completely lost the sharpness that befits a warrior and looked utterly dejected, as though they had been assimilated by the migrants. "They didn''t die?" muttered a warrior standing not far away who had always had a slight critical view of Bai E. To die as a warrior exploring for humanity is one thing, but to survive... and then go missing was a serious offense. "They were also controlled by the demons, against their will," Tiger explained softly. Team Leader One nodded noncommittally, "Harold, distribute guns to each of them." The disgruntled warrior trusted his own team leader and responded loudly at once, "Yes! Captain!" Team Leader One pondered by himself, "Apart from the two drivers, and including those five scouts, we have... sixteen people. Okay then, I''ll lead the way. Tiger, you take care of the left flank, Ka Ruigan you''re on the right flank, and have those scouts cover our rear. The two vehicles..." "The two vehicles should be used to transport the migrants; many of them inside have severe injuries and would have difficulty moving on their own," Bai E interjected. Team Leader One looked deeply at Bai E, this time without rebuttal, and simply nodded in agreement, "Alright, we''ll do it your way this time." After speaking, Team Leader One clapped his hands, "Any other issues?" "No." "No." "Good," Team Leader One lifted his head and looked over the assembly of migrants. Under the arrangement of the warriors, they had vaguely formed into four columns. The formation wasn''t perfect, but clearly, they didn''t need to be too stringent. "Alright... let''s set out!" ... "Harold, time to go," someone from Team One called out to the warrior who had been ordered to distribute weapons to the scouts. "Coming," the warrior responded loudly, turned back, and coldly admonished the five scouts before him, "You''ve already brought shame to our military once; don''t mess up on the way back. The fact that you''re covering our rear is already the biggest concession we can make! Got that?" "Yes... I understand," a few scout soldiers replied, hanging their heads in shame, not daring to meet his eyes. As he passed by Bai E, the warrior patted Bai E on the shoulder, his deep voice fleeting, "Kid, that''s enough of the act, got it?" "..." As he watched the figure walk away, Bai E felt a sense of bewilderment. Who was that? "Don''t mind him." The tiger also looked at the other''s fading figure and shook his head. "Hmm." ... The journey was filled with swirling winds and sands. Sitting in the vehicle, one wouldn''t feel it, as it sped through the landscape, swiftly reaching the destination. It was truly monotonous, nearly a single shade of crimson, when relying on one''s own feet to walk. Monotonous to the point of deathly silence. With no cover on the plains, the howling wind blew sand against the face... If it weren''t for Bai E''s resilient skin, these grains could easily have left bloody scratches on his face. Not to mention those ordinary refugees. Discover more content at empire It was truly with all their strength that they had first made it this far. It wasn''t that they wanted to stay in that dark, underground cave, just that their physical strength couldn''t support them in leaving this vast terrain anymore. Dangling by the side of the refugee team and walking slowly, with teammates ahead and behind, Bai E carefully approached the mountain and whispered the question he was more concerned about, "Can you tell me what you all saw in the vehicle outside?" The scouts within the cave saw almost nothing, but what about their teammates outside the cave? What could be the shared vision the demons had allowed them to see? Bai E wanted to know what information they had gathered and their authentic feelings about the demon. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Considering that even the Fear Demon seemed to have taken a grudge against him, it was better to learn more about the effects of its powers to be well-prepared. "Us?" The mountain was slightly startled, "We just saw you getting beaten by that demon, then you shot it with an arrow, and after that, basically... Right, that demon had so many claws, how did you manage to fight it off, eh?" "Claws?" Bai E was stunned, a little puzzled by the word. "Yeah! It was like, um..." The mountain asked as a matter of course, then searched his mind for the right adjective for half a day, "a combination of a centipede and a praying mantis... how did you just block all those bladed limbs with your hands?" "..." Bai E had a strange expression, "What you saw might be a bit different from what I saw." But he understood. He had guessed at that time that what each person saw of the demon could be different, based on their own mind. However, this difference seemed not merely in the eyes of the beholder... The image of fighting a humanoid monster and fighting a centipede-like monster would surely be vastly different, but the scenes they witnessed were still convincing enough for them to believe it was real without much inconsistency. It was only to say... these visuals were half-truths. The appearance changed a thousand times, but for every human who saw Its form, everything that happened in the interaction made sense. An unimaginable power... Was this the power of the demon? Half-fictitious, like an illusion, yet somewhat real... Moreover, this was just a demon summoned from the higher-dimensional space by the fears of hundreds of refugees, and its strength probably wasn''t outstanding. If it was already so difficult to confront it, and he had to resort to trickery, what would happen if one day he truly encountered one of the great demons or even a Demon God from the higher-dimensional space? "..." A wistful mood enveloped Bai E''s heart. Suddenly, from not too far away, came the reminder from Song Ying, "It seems like something is approaching." Bai E''s ears twitched, and his rapidly growing insight attribute also allowed him to hear noises not coming from their own group. Scanning around, he saw no unexpected targets on the horizon. Therefore, he simply closed his eyes, voluntarily entering a "dark" state. "Blind combat" began to take effect... Hearing stretched out like tentacles, reaching out in a certain direction. A cacophony of sounds poured into his ears¡ª The roar of engines, the trembling of metal shells... and, boisterous yelling. All of this eventually converged into an abstract picture in his mind, sketched out purely by lines¡ª Eight run-down vehicles, even considered junk in the human world, were carrying a group of physically robust creatures, speeding from the northwest direction. Bai E instantly opened the radio channel, "Be alert, unknown targets are approaching from the northwest, get ready to encounter the enemy!" Chapter 225 212 Beasts! The northwest?That''s the direction they came from, toward the Wind-Eroded Cave. Not long after Bai E''s voice rang out, someone raised a question over the comms, "You can hear what''s behind while on the flank? You think you''re better than those scouts?" Bai E''s brows knitted lightly, but before he could speak, another voice took over. "Understood," the calm voice of Team 1''s captain came through the headset, issuing tactical orders, "Ka Ruigan, Tiger, your teams move back and get ready for support, but also be wary of possible attacks from your direction, don''t rule out a feint." "Yes!" "Yes!" Then Team 1''s captain continued to inquire over the comms, "Scouts, have you noticed any movement from behind?" The five rear scouts exchanged glances, highly uncertain of their own judgment. They truly hadn''t heard anything, after all, the wind on this wilderness buried a lot of noises, and their lack of focus might be another reason. Yet that officer who had created a miracle and driven away the demons seemed certain that there were "people" behind... "Speak!" The voice of Team 1''s captain was somewhat stern. Stay connected with empire Compelled by the harsh voice, after a moment of hesitation, the scouts decided to report according to their own judgment, "Currently, no targets detected¡­" "Wait!" Another scout, after being reminded, focused and felt as if he had heard some unexpected noise. "Seems like... there is indeed some noise, like a vehicle." "Eight vehicles," Bai E said gravely. "You again¡­" "Harold! Shut up!" "..." The voice of Team 1''s captain was steady, "Leave two people up front, everyone else move back, get ready for combat!" Besides two off-road vehicles leading the way up front and two warriors from Team 1, all the other soldiers were nearly all moving toward the back of the team. The team kept moving forward, but the hearts of the soldiers in the radio frequency channel were involuntarily racing. As the other party drew closer, almost all the scouts could hear the increasingly distinct roaring from behind. The five scouts tightly clutched their guns, nervously looking in the direction behind them. Was something unexpected approaching? Human? Or some kind of enemy? Of course, even if they were humans, they were not necessarily friendly. The so-called "warlords" wandering the wilderness also liked to capture humans to serve as soldiers or slaves when they had the chance. In any case, it was an era of extreme chaos. "Rumble, rumble, rumble~" Beneath the trembling roar that sounded like the oldest diesel tractors, eight beat-up cars that seemed like they could fall apart at any moment began to appear in the view of the soldiers approaching from behind. "It''s really eight¡­" A soldier''s gaze became hollow, involuntarily glancing towards his teammates. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] Bai E didn''t make another sound, only staring intently at the green figures crammed into the eight small cars with a heavy gaze. A bunch of muscular green brutes were squeezed onto relatively small cars, creating a constant sense of danger that the vehicle could be crushed at any moment. Body sizes varied, but even the skinniest among them was bigger than the most muscular human in the team, not wearing a stitch of armor. Great swathes of green muscle were exposed, many parts smeared with oil paints in graffiti that seemed to carry some meaning. Only a few individuals had steel helmets of different designs, awkwardly perched on their heads, painted in vivid, colorful patterns. Round helmets, face guards, horned helmets... they varied widely, including the weapons in their hands. If those imaginative, creative implements, adorned with numerous teeth, spikes, and even small motors, could be called weapons at all. [??? (Orc) £¨???£©¡ª¡ª Use "Lucky Strike" for kill to drop: Definite (Spore Colonies*2000, Combat Experience 1500 points); High probability (Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding 5 layers, Mastery: Heavy Weapon Specialization Layer +1, not exceeding 5 layers); Possible (Trait: Photosynthesis)] Orcs. This was the first time Bai E had seen the orc race up close. "It''s orcs!" "Forty-five of them!" The voice of the scouts in the channel clearly carried a hint of panic. These were the most unpredictable and belligerent beings. They were warlike and insane, with no concept of fear. Most importantly, there were more of them than us! Humans typically kept their distance and approached orcs with caution, yet now, while escorting this refugee convoy, they had stumbled upon these creatures. "Look at the dominant color of their paint, they are divided into many clans internally," said an "expert" familiar with orcs in Team 1 who hadn''t completely moved to the back, remotely directing over the comms. "They have red and white on their bodies, and primarily red paint on their firearms." "What about the vehicles?" "Yellow... golden yellow." "Do you see any distinct marks or symbols on them?" "There seems to be... a tooth on the paint of the cars?" "We''re in luck..." a member of Team 1 exhaled in relief over the comms, "It must be orcs from the Fu Yue Clan. I''ve dealt with them before; they''re the only clan among the orcs that might be able to communicate normally. Don''t attack, I''m on my way." Chapter 226 212 Beasts!_2 "Are you confident?" Squad Leader No. 1 quietly asked over the channel."There should be no problem¡­" "Rumble rumble rumble!" The car, ramshackle yet seemingly without a problem, dragged its tattered iron shell, carrying a group of orcs that looked much heavier than itself, making a tremendous noise as it rumbled closer, eventually coming to a slow stop not far from the scouting soldiers with guns at the ready. The green-skinned orcs hopped down from the car one after another, causing the already ramshackle vehicle to emit an unpleasant squeaky rocking sound. The panting and chuckling noises never ceased; some smaller orc pets also excitedly jumped down from the car following their owners, their tiny bodies almost entirely made up of heads, with short legs scurrying around the orcs, romping around and making panting noises like little dogs. "Ha~ha~ha~" These creatures, like the orcs, were grown from the ground; only, they might have been underdeveloped, not turning into orcs but into orc pets instead. Experience new tales on empire Their scientific name¡ªDaog. The Daog, with their large heads and light feet, scurried around at the orcs'' feet, occasionally lunging at a sufficiently plump ankle and snapping their wide mouths shut with a bite. "waaaagh!" The bitten orc leaped three feet straight up on the spot, but this only brought heartless laughter from the Daog''s owner. "Hahahaha~" "Shut up!" One orc, unable to stand these little creatures, stomped down with its foot. "Pfft!" The lively orc pet was instantly flattened. After two breaths, it bounced back up like jelly and scurried about once more. Bai E''s brows quirked slightly¡­ Chaotic, noisy, unrefined. This was the first impression these orcs gave. Their style just didn''t fit with that of normal creatures¡­ Arriving hastily at the rear of the squad, Squad No. 1''s "orc expert" took the initiative to greet them, approaching the other party with an exaggerated laugh, "Hey! Lads! How did you end up here?" One of the orcs, holding a huge handgun in his left hand and carrying a rusty saw-toothed machete half the length of a person in his right, took two steps forward, causing the refugees at the back of the line to unconsciously shrink back. He pointed with his machete towards the line of refugees, opening his big mouth as wide as the sky, his voice resounding, "We fancy your slaves." The orc expert''s face stiffened, "But you don''t eat humans." "We fancy their teeth." "All of them?" "Of course, all of them." The orc expert looked displeased, "I need to ask my superior." "Go on, go on¡­" The orc waved his hand impatiently, his wide mouth muttering to himself. However, his voice was so loud that even the refugee line at the very front could vaguely hear him. "You humans are such a hassle, always asking this one, asking that one to make a decision¡­ Unlike us, we all listen to just one person¡­ Hoo-ya!" "Hoo-ya!" In the midst of the chaotic commotion, the leading orc lowered his voice to give orders to his underlings, "As soon as they agree, make your move!" By the Orc God above¡ª Axe Bro is violent yet cunning, Knife Bro is cunning yet violent. Unfortunately, he preferred to follow the path of Knife Bro. If the humans agreed, it meant they were afraid. Fear meant they couldn''t beat his boys. Moreover, once the humans made the decision to agree, they surely thought the matter could be settled peacefully, dropping their guard. Is not taking action even justified with Dao Ge''s guidance? "Hoo-ya!" "Hoo-ya!" ... The orcs carried on boisterously among themselves, and the orc expert swiftly turned to explain to everyone in the channel: "They want these refugees'' teeth, which are as good as black water coins in the eyes of the orcs... They''ve set their sights on this money." Team Leader 1 had already withdrawn from the front of the team and wasn''t far away. He could hear what the orcs were saying just as well with his own ears and now asked, frowningly. "So, we just give them what they want?" He wouldn''t be oblivious to the information his own team members knew. At the moment, he was merely using the method of questioning a team member as a way to have a team member''s mouth explain the reasons to the other two squads, which might not be familiar with the orcs. "They won''t give up on something they''ve set their eyes on. The Fu Yue Clan can indeed communicate, but it''s usually by forceful trade." Team Leader 2 interjected, "So, you''re saying we only have two options?" Fight, or sell teeth? "After all, it''s the refugees'' teeth, better not to stir up trouble when it can be avoided. Our orders were simply to bring them back alive," Harold''s voice once again rose in the channel. Team Leader 1 glanced at him one more time but remained silent. Oftentimes, things that he felt were inappropriate to say could be voiced by his subordinates. What he needed to do was to rebuke his subordinates when they said something not quite right. "They have more people than us, and if we fight, there''s no guarantee we''ll come out on top. Besides, these refugees might scatter and flee or suffer heavy casualties, so it''s indeed better not to provoke a head-on conflict," a member of Squad 2 also whispered in agreement. After all, they only wanted teeth, not lives. Not to mention they wanted the teeth of the refugees. Refugees... those in the know, understand. "Indeed..." "We''re also protecting them." Seeing this proposal gain the agreement of many soldiers, Team Leader 1 slowly asked everyone in the voice channel: "What do you think?" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Agreed." "Agreed." "No objections." The voices in the channel were almost unanimously in favor. "Alright, then it''s decided," Team Leader 1 declared decisively. The orc expert then turned around and shouted: "Hey! Lads, our chief has agreed to your trade demand." The leading orc, upon hearing this decision, immediately revealed a ferocious smile on his green-faced and fanged visage, but it was fleeting. "Who agreed?" Tiger was originally discussing the pros and cons with his teammates. But he quickly realized that this decision seemed to bypass their squad altogether. The minority was falling in with the majority, and the other two squads had made the decision for everyone. Tiger glanced at Bai E, who had a dark and unsettling countenance, and almost instinctively blurted out without thinking. "..." All the people and orcs turned to look at Tiger who had spoken out. Without waiting for the humans to decide among themselves, the impatient orc''s voice rang out impatiently, "You humans are such a hassle, choosing a leader based on words instead of fists. After the choice is made, half listen and half don''t. If you ask me, there should be a fight to choose a leader, and then everyone would listen to the winner." Saying this, the orc leader raised the huge handgun in his hand and violently pulled the trigger towards the direction of the orc expert. "Boom!" The piercing detonation echoed for a long time under the sky, startling the orc expert who reflexively ducked his head, only to realize that the bullet had not hit him. For a moment, the orc expert was both shocked and angry, his eyes filled with rage as he looked at the orc, "What do you mean by this!" Chapter 227 213 Fungal Biology ```The beastman leader holding a pistol burst into exaggerated laughter, "You humans can''t decide things, so we''ll decide for you." "Boys! waaaaaaaaagh!" "waaaaaaagh!" The beastmen rushed forward like a bunch of reckless brutes without brains or plans, a moment ago they seemed like they were about to trade, but in the next, they had already grabbed their machetes and charged. Shouting "waaaaagh," they surged forward as if inspired by the power of gods, their movements swift and coordinated. "Bang!" "Bang!" The pistols in the beastmen''s hands, almost as big as human machine guns, roared wildly first. Fired into the air... Whether accurate or not, they were simply loud. This was the beastmen''s combat aesthetic. Big is good, loud is strong! "waaaaagh!" Even the beastmen''s pet dougs charged forward with "huffing and puffing" in the frenetic warlike atmosphere, their tiny frames bursting with bloodthirsty madness. The beastmen''s sudden eruption wasn''t beyond the expectations of the human soldiers here, who were all elite special forces members. They might not perform well against demons that are skilled at manipulating the mind, but when it comes to real gunfire and battle, they''ve never been afraid of any opponent. Almost the moment the leader shouted, some soldiers had already realized that things might change and raised their riot shields to rush towards the rear of the squad. Uncertain of a fight, they had prevented sudden attacks from other directions, and all soldiers, except for the scouts, hung close to the flanks. Now, certain of battle, the human soldiers'' footsteps were equally as swift as the wind. "We''ll settle with you after the fight!" The soldier named Harold, holding a thick black blast shield, rushed to the front line at the rear first. Called out by the leader, Ying and others ignored him and, pulling out their chainswords, also stepped forward like charging soldiers towards the beastmen. The beastmen''s long-range combat capabilities were not strong; the fearsome-looking firearms in their hands were basically inaccurate, and most beastmen carried pistols just to fire them and hear the noise, then they''d use the guns to smash when up close. Only a small part of them liked to snipe with guns, and these beastmen were called by humans "sneaky shooters." However, with their formidable physical enhancements, these beastmen''s close-quarters combat capabilities were far superior to those of ordinary human soldiers. Da Shan and You also sprang into action, their speed even faster than Ying''s. Facing the beastmen, there was no tactic to speak of. This wasn''t a formal military-scale battle. No artillery support from a distance, no heavy firepower to lock down the area. Just a straightforward close-range encounter, get it done and that''s it. "Click~" The sound of the safety being released rang by Song Ying''s ear as his machine gun aimed at the charging crowd of beastmen. "Ratatatatata!" Gunshots erupted from all different directions at almost the same time, and the sudden assault of the beastmen undoubtedly sent the ordinary refugees into a state of mental shutdown, with the humans'' gunfire startling those at the back of the squad immediately. The leader of Squad 1 held a big black sword and coldly called out to Ying from afar, "Keep your people in order; don''t let them run amok!" It wasn''t any special care. Squads 1 and 2 were older, not in words alone. Their average individual combat power was stronger than Ying and his team; at this time, they were just doing what everyone was supposed to do. Fleeing refugees were more troublesome than these beastmen. "Yes!" "You, Da Shan, you two go maintain order, get them moving forward," Ying ordered those who had already charged halfway, their faces reluctantly turning around. On the battlefield, military orders were paramount. "Click~" Bai E also released the safety on his machine gun, angrily joining the fray. The flames at the muzzle were clearly visible even in daylight, and a torrent of metal stormed into the bodies of the beastmen charging from different directions. A hard swallow! Yet these creatures'' reactions to being shot were more exaggerated than those of insects. Insects rely on their natural chitinous shells to defend against bullets; without the protection of their shells, bullets easily penetrate and cause severe injuries. After all, insects have a variety of important organs inside their bodies, such as nerves for transmission and organs for digestion and respiration. But the beastmen are different. These creatures are essentially plants, spores. They don''t even need to eat, but they don''t abstain from food altogether. Eating is an enjoyment, a luxury for them, but essentially, they are still plants that live well through photosynthesis. There are none of the vital parts that make up normal sentient beings in their bodies ¨C no heart, no intestines, no organs or immune systems. Instead, they have just a stomach cavity filled with fungal soup. That fungal soup can fulfill all the functions of all organs in a normal living being, like... all-around stem cells? This meant that these creatures didn''t have the numerous weak points of a normal body. Even their heads... the head is certainly important, they don''t need society, they don''t need education. Every beastman that crawls out of the ground can directly access enough knowledge to fight and wage wars from the shared memories in their brain that coexist with the fungi. But even if their heads were chopped off, they wouldn''t die. The fallen heads could be grafted onto another beastman''s body with ease, and before long they''d be bouncing around again. ``` The only way to completely defeat these creatures is to crush every inch of their bodies and then remember... burn them with fire. If you crush the bodies of these orcs but do not burn them with a great fire, you''re merely helping them to farm the land¡ª Every piece of crushed body tissue, not surprisingly, will grow back into a whole lively orc, or some underdeveloped snotlings, goblins, and squigs. Only flames can utterly destroy an orc. Fire is the enemy of all life in the world. Unfortunately, even the first step of crushing their bodies is extremely difficult. Orcs charging against bullets visibly try to dodge as best they can, but human fighters'' marksmanship is not something orcs can compare with. The torrential storm of bullets strikes the green bodies, visibly making green blood splatter about, the orcs at the forefront riddled with countless holes; parts of the torn flesh hang on nearby skin, revealing underneath... green bones. For any normal human, such horrific injuries would undoubtedly mean entering the realm of death. But these are orcs. Their body tissues are inherently filled with sponge-like fungal structures, which provide good defensive effectiveness against various external impacts. More importantly, their bones serve as the core pillar of their bodies. Similar to bird bones, orc bones are very hard, and the interior is filled with a sponge-like fungal matter that can absorb and digest a large amount of kinetic energy impact so that they can easily withstand super high-intensity collisions and strikes without their bones breaking or deforming. It may look like their flesh is torn and shattered, but as long as their main support, the bones, isn''t massively damaged, they are far from death. Most importantly, these beings, which purely crave war, have no concept of pain at all, and without vital organs throughout their body, they also do not need the sense of pain to protect themselves. No feeling of pain, just a frenzied love for battle. This information all came soon after Bai E''s bullets hit their bodies, reflected from the information on the panel¡ª [??? (Orc) (???): Health 183/210; Defensive Power 14; Action Force 83%; Trait: Fungal Creature...] "Fuck! They can''t be killed!" Many fighters at the site were facing orcs for the first time. Even though they had understood how troublesome these guys were in the military camp, facing them directly still felt unbelievable. Fast, strong, not afraid of death, and also hard to kill. The key thing is, there''s also a lot of them. That''s just how unreasonable orcs are. "We can only sever their limbs and heads! And then burn them with fire!" the voice of the orc expert echoes intensely in everyone''s ears. Like facing insects, these savage creatures may look bulky but are incredibly fast. Even withstanding the human''s bullet storm, they still manage to get close at an extremely fast speed. In such close-quarter combat, firearms are nowhere near as effective as hacking with a blade. "Clang!" The Chainsword in Ying''s hand violently collides with a chopping knife held by an orc. The knife, covered with rust and uneven surfaces, looks like a rusty blade that has corroded for months in a damp place. However, in the hands of an orc, it can clash with a great sword forged from the best steel humans can produce without being at a disadvantage. In the hands of an orc, the chopping knife looks somewhat small, but in the moment it really approaches and strikes the body, one realizes that these knives are half as long as a person. Including what seems like ridiculous serrations that become a terrifying decoration capable of easily cutting through skin and flesh. "Boom!" Up close, an exaggeratedly shaped pistol in an orc''s hand suddenly opens fire. No! To call it a pistol is an understatement, it''s more like a hand cannon. Upon pulling the trigger, a terrifying flame bursts instantly from the barrel, and a scorching storm of fire engulfs a vast area in an instant. Including themselves as well as the human fighters they face. Incendiary shells... But a miniaturized version for close-quarters combat. It''s a wonder how ammunition designed for tanks got adapted for use in pistols by these creatures. "Waaaaagh!" Amidst the orange flames, you can still hear the excited, almost frenzied, screams rise. "Waaaaaagh!" "Boom! Ka-chk¡ª" It''s not at all surprising that such bizarre weapons jam; however, the next moment, the jammed pistol is ferociously thrown by the orc wielding it. Towards... the direction of the refugees. With the strength of an orc, even a well-guarded fighter being struck would spit out blood, let alone those unguarded refugees. Bai E, reacting in advance, raises his gun and shoots, successfully intercepting the pistol thrown like a pebble mid-air, diverting its path. "The situation isn''t good." The captain of Team 1, wielding a great sword, faces off against three to five orcs alone while speaking to the others through the headset. "The two vehicles at the front should come back!" Mounted on each off-road vehicle is a heavy machine gun which might provide some assistance. The number of orcs... is just too great. Bai E narrows his eyes and flicks the Compound Bow; under the sound of the trigger mechanism, the bow unfolds instantly. He is not going to use a gun anymore. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His teammates have proven that firearms have limited lethality against these creatures, and even with using skills, they probably wouldn''t achieve great results. After all, Gun Fighting Skill also embodies a certain degree of survival ability and isn''t quite satisfactory in terms of pure offensive capability. By comparison, the skill "Powerful Strike," strictly as an offensive output skill, is more lethal. Chapter 228 214 Three Arrows Break the Orcs "Ah!"As Bai E drew his bow to accumulate power, a warrior already caught in the besiegement let out a painful scream. The warrior, wounded by a cleaver on his arm, was almost immediately submerged by the surge of cleavers in the next moment. Slash after slash, cut after cut. Amidst the flurry of blade shadows, flesh and blood flew in all directions. Blade edges, serrated teeth, spikes... countless attacks devastated the warrior''s body simultaneously, and even the combat suit could not protect the frail human frame from such an onslaught. Those orcs'' attacks followed no rules. They neither aimed to strike body parts to kill the enemy quickly nor thought about how to allocate their force and devise tactical plans. Raging battle, chaotic noise¡ªthat was what they pursued. The roar of gunpowder, the enemy''s screams... all the messy sounds excited them with a primitive thrill of battle. The fallen warrior thus suffered even more brutal blows. Dying under chaotic blades was excruciatingly painful, yet no one could rescue him; each warrior was nearly facing a number of orcs far exceeding their own. "Waaaaagh!" An orc that chopped off a warrior''s head held up the warrior''s pain-stricken, unyielding face, examined it in front of him for a moment, then bit into the nose. After casually chewing a few times, the orc threw away the head; his pet dog Doug excitedly pounced on it, sniffing around the severed head before taking a bite out of the ear. The orc who turned around chewed vigorously, his facial muscles twisting, and his face and entire body smeared with bloodstains as if they were his medals of honor, gloriously scattered over him. "Waaaaagh!" Other orcs looked up to this bravest among them and roared in admiration. "Yuck! Doesn''t taste good at all!" The orc, after chewing a few times, spat out the nose in disgust and kicked Doug, who was excitedly tearing at the head. Thrown in a parabolic arc, Doug flew towards the distance like a rubber ball... "So boring!" They yearned for the fiercest of battles, not one-sided slaughters. Whether it was bullying others single-handedly or being bullied single-handedly, neither held any interest for them. Only the screams of their enemies might provide a little entertainment, but these were nowhere near as enjoyable as the actual fight they reveled in. If not for the bounty of teeth, he really wouldn''t be interested. "Ptooey!" So he spat again. However, the trajectory of Doug, who had been kicked away, didn''t get very far. "Whoosh!" Bai E completed his power accumulation. [Activate "Power Strike."] Accumulate power¡ªStabilize the wind. Combo technique¡ªPiercing Wind Breaker! The arrow shot forth like a leaping fish, and a hurricane arose from the ground. The air in front of the arrow''s trajectory was instantaneously expelled by an unimaginable force, allowing the arrow itself to shoot through a vacuum. The intense disturbance of air formed a transverse hurricane powerful enough to sweep away everything, drawing towards it any attractable debris near the arrow''s path. Including unclaimed dust, including the bodies of the orcs. The massed orcs only felt their bodies suddenly drawn by an immense suction, involuntarily aligning along a single straight line. Before they could realize what was affecting their bodies, a cool sensation pierced through them. The arrow unimpededly penetrated orcs'' bodies aligned nearly in a straight line, and even the orcs'' proudly resilient bones could not resist this arrow. The hurricane followed the arrow, furiously pouring into the trajectory left by the arrow. The insides of the orcs, already hollowed out by the arrow, were ravaged by the gale force that gushed in, so that even a demon''s body at its peak would be shot through from front to back, let alone these ordinary orcs. The orcs aligned roughly in a straight line did not all get struck in their core body parts, but even an arm pierced through would have its wound and flesh shredded effortlessly by the invading wind. In the wake of a single arrow, green flesh and blood were carried away by the storm, mingling and grinding into pulp within the wind. The whole row of orcs was as if hit by the most powerful anti-material sniper rifle, with lost arms and broken legs being relatively minor injuries. It all happened so quickly that the wounded orcs didn''t even feel pain until they disintegrated into nothingness when the arrow reached its maximum range, only then belatedly realizing parts of their bodies were forever gone. The consequence of massive bodily loss was their belated collapse, not yet dead, but their combat capability vastly reduced. [Trigger "Piercing Wind Breaker"! Successfully penetrated multiple targets, ranged weapon mastery experience +5.] [Dealt 80 piercing damage to the target! The target''s body severely damaged!] Seven of them. He had not killed them outright, but he had relieved some pressure for his comrades for the time being. Bai E flicked his eyelid and drew another arrow to his bow. With his current full reserve of action power, he could at most release three more arrows. These three arrows had to achieve results that could lay the foundation for victory. Bai E readjusted his stance, looking for an attack path that could penetrate even more enemies with a single arrow. Spotting an opportunity, Bai E once again struck decisively. After a brief accumulation of power, the arrow flew out like a dragon! "Whoosh!" The fierce storm blew across the battlefield once more, and all the enemies on the attack path were instantaneously drawn together involuntarily. And then, an arrow through the heart! "Pffft pffft pffft pffft~" It was as if piercing through tofu, the bodies of a group of beastmen were instantly penetrated, the residual hurricane following the guidance of the arrow, howling through the wounds, tearing away large chunks of flesh and blood. This arrow dissipated 500 meters away, in an instant. The ordinary arrows, enhanced by extraordinary strength, couldn''t withstand the attack''s own burden and shattered to pieces in the exploding force, just like the objects it struck, vanishing without a trace. The distance of 500 meters was Bai E''s current level 4 range for shooting specialization, plus the bonus from the Extraordinary Talent¡ªWeapon Master, an additional level 1 bonus to effective range control. As for the bow''s own stated range of 800 meters, it was the maximum range supported by the craftsmanship of the bow, not the actual performance level. [Trigger "Piercing Wind Breaker"! Successfully penetrated multiple targets, long-range weapon mastery experience +5.] [Inflicted 90 points of piercing damage on the target! The target''s structure greatly damaged!] One arrow, twelve beastmen! Thanks to the beastmen''s lack of planning and tendency to swarm in battle, Bai E was able to find a perfect angle for his shot. If the first arrow hadn''t caught too much attention in the chaos of the battlefield, the second arrow''s release almost directly turned the tide of the entire battle. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Originally, the forty or so beastmen had a huge advantage in numbers, but after two arrows, about twenty had been nearly directly halved. With their numbers drastically reduced, the beastmen''s disadvantage without tactics was immediately exposed. Beastmen in equal numbers were never the match for humans¡ªthey were the true fanatics of swarm tactics. The frontline warriors, sensing the sharp drop in the number of opponents, were spirited and had no time for distractions, only subconsciously exclaiming. "Fuck, who''s that fierce!" "Which brother has this kind of killer move?" "It''s Bai E..." [Lucky Shot energy charge +11.] "waaaaaagh!" The same cry, but Bai E seemed to hear a different emotion in it. It seemed to be shock, as well as increased excitement. Far from being demoralized by the horrifying killing power of the previous two arrows, even those beastmen who had half their bodies shot away by Bai E attempted to struggle to get up from the ground and launch an attack once more in their frenzied battle consciousness. There were no orders, or rather, the meaningless "waaaagh" was the order. In just an instant, beastmen who discovered that Bai E had fired the two arrows almost simultaneously abandoned their original opponents, who were close at hand, and rushed over, waving the variously shaped cleavers in their hands. Even three beastmen were holding pistols in their hands, attempting to aim at Bai E. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" Loud noises rang out across the battlefield, but the beastmen''s aim was really poor, or perhaps it was their oddly-shaped pistols that were inherently inaccurate. That they didn''t blow up in their hands was a miracle in itself. Bai E, still moving, simply sought an appropriate angle to shoot his arrow and didn''t even make any deliberate misleading dodges¡ªstill, the beastmen''s black guns couldn''t hit accurately. The bullets fired by the beastmen exploded on the ground behind Bai E, a wave of heat surging over him. The alarming heat brushed against Bai E''s combat suit from behind, his wild hair dancing against the orange-red backdrop, standing his ground, bow drawn and arrow notched. With deliberate maneuvering to guide the chase, the beastmen who came after him clumsily formed a bloated S-shaped curve. That was precisely the shooting opportunity he needed. The leader of the pack, the biggest beastman with the largest cleaver and the biggest pistol, rushed towards Bai E in a frenzy, his facial expressions wildly distorted by beast-like fangs abandoning restraint. From afar, You and Dash tried to rush to help, the frontline warriors turned their heads trying to block their opponents with large knives, a comrade holding a Blast Shield leaped over trying to protect Bai E in front... Everything seemed to freeze in a moment. The third arrow! Shoot! The hurricane sweeps, the air currents surge. The pale aura slowly diffused around the trail blazed by the arrow, nine beastmen missing arms and legs, with shattered chests and abdomens, now staggeringly fell to the ground. The beastmen leader was directly hit in the abdomen, split in two, becoming a separate top and bottom. "Plop~" The upper body fell limply to the ground, yet still flew forward an inch due to inertia. The upper half of the beastman leader, as if completely unaware of his predicament, crawled frantically on the ground with both hands, shouting "waaaaagh" and still wanting to come over and hack at Bai E. Nine. Bai E withdrew his pistol from his waist, silently contemplating. [Activate "Lucky Shot".] He rather liked the photosynthesis on the beastman loot panel. Just wondering whether it would drop anything... Bai E stepped on the head of the crawling but now unarmed beastman leader, casually unlocking the safety. "Click~" "Bang!" Chapter 229 Photosynthesis 215 ```A shot rang out, and green fluid exploded - like a green flower blooming on the ground. The orc''s head, too, was made of various fungi symbiotically living with genetic material, forming a mush and sponge-like fungal tissue. Now blown apart by a single shot, it splattered all over the ground. [Hit target''s vital spot, causing 120 points of critical damage!] [Target''s breathing ceased, basic life signs lost.] Dead. Orcs, of course, die. The tricky part about them is that their corpses and even fur, once touching the ground, can take root and sprout, and just after two rains, a bunch can grow again from the ground. But for individual orcs themselves, they don''t possess the devilish trait of being so difficult to thoroughly kill. [Loot acquired: Spore Colonies*2500, Combat Experience 1800 points, Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer+1, not to exceed level 5, Mastery: Heavy Weapon Specialization Layer+1, not to exceed level 5, Mastery: Throwing Specialization Layer+1, not to exceed level 5, Trait: Photosynthesis.] Bai E''s heavy weapon mastery was only at level 1. The +1 level meant keeping the current experience and directly advancing one level, reaching level 2 with 246/500. Throwing mastery was a new specialization, thus straight up +1. As for combat mastery, Bai E had already reached level 5, and the new loot bonus couldn''t be directly converted into levels, similar to the sideline quest "Shooting" which awarded a light firearms specialization layer +1. The reward unable to be directly converted into levels was halved and transformed into half of the required experience for leveling up, which amounted to 1750 points of universal experience stored away. Lastly... [Detected current character is not orc template, "Trait: Photosynthesis" is incompatible and lurks dormant.] [Under the interference of external factors, some subtle changes are occurring in your body...] "Photosynthesis" hadn''t fully activated, which was hardly surprising, just like the two bug race traits that had popped up previously¡ª Without the hardware, even forcibly installed software couldn''t function properly. What Bai E was more concerned about was the last notification that popped up on the panel. Changes? Bai E meticulously scanned the light blue panel, finally focusing his gaze on the very bottom¡ª [Mutation Risk: Medium] Last time, it had shifted from very low to low, and now... it had become medium? Mutation? Just as Helen had said, the latent mutation risk shared by many bioengineered soldiers? His own body, a hybrid of orc and human genetics, became increasingly at risk of mutation the more he came into contact with orc-related factors. To become one of those mutated human subspecies. Neither human nor orc, but a monster that neither side cared for! Bai E''s brow furrowed slightly as he shifted his gaze away from the panel. The light blue semi-transparent panel didn''t interfere with Bai E''s actual vision. When his attention moved away from the panel to the reality in front of him, the panel vanished from sight as though it had never existed. The battle before him wasn''t over yet. There were more than a few orcs who, despite being severely wounded, still wished to land a blow on Bai E. Looking at the young orc charging furiously toward him, left with only one hand yet still brandishing a chopper, Bai E''s eyes flashed as he lifted the war blade machine gun slung over his shoulder, swinging the attached blade toward his opponent. The hefty war blade machine gun, with its considerable weight and the burst of Overlimit Drive, cleaved through the resistance like a hot knife through butter. "Pffft!" A savage orc head flew into the sky, and the body, which bled far less than a human''s, stood still, the brain no longer commanding the body, thus losing its target. [Hit target''s vital spot, causing 100 points of slashing damage!] Not dead yet. Mere decapitation was not enough to confirm the death of these orcs, and under normal circumstances, it''d be quite difficult to even achieve that. In regular combat, not only Bai E but also those warrior specialists in heavy weapons would find it challenging to decapitate an orc with ease. Their skulls, connecting the head to the body, were the hardest part of their anatomy, and since they had only this one vital spot, they would instinctively protect their necks in battle. Bai E had grabbed the opportunity when their physical functions were significantly impaired, to behead an orc with one strike. "waaaaagh!" A loud shout came from a distance. An average-sized orc turned tail and fled. Orcs don''t fear death, there is no fear. However, when faced with an opponent of clearly superior strength, they won''t fight to death mindlessly. The lethality of Bai E''s arrows was outrageous, wiping out their main force with just three shots. If Bai E had killed so many of their brothers in close combat, they might have felt excited and ready for a world-shaking battle. But facing an untouchable enemy, dying so easily on one side was clearly not fun. "No need to chase!" Team leader of Squad 1 spoke up instantly, stopping the human warriors heated by bloodlust. The orcs, unrestricted by any armor, could run swiftly, making even bullets ineffective against them, so there was no need to waste resources. Just as the human strategy against orcs had always been, if you can avoid fighting them, then do so, and if they run, there''s no need to pursue them to the death, because they truly can''t be wiped out. Engaging them in a bitter fight was sheer folly. "We... won?" A few warriors stood still, somewhat dazed as they watched the retreating figures of the orcs. Facing an enemy several times their number, they had braced themselves for a fight to the death. But they had not anticipated... Victory? All of this was due to that special figure. Bai E... Bai E! ["Lucky Strike" energy charged +7.] The leader of Squad 1 wasn''t absorbed in the past events. Since he mainly directed the squad, he had to remain calm at all times. ``` Despite his appreciation for Bai E, who had displayed extraordinary abilities twice, he wanted to transfer him to his own team. In this encounter, his team had lost another member... Putting aside his complex thoughts, he turned to look at the chaotic scene, "Chop them up into pieces!" The orcs whose bodies had been half destroyed by Bai E''s shooting still hadn''t lost their ability to move, swinging their cleavers and attempting to counterattack. However, their mobility was greatly impaired and, being only capable of close combat, they were clearly struggling to inflict any further casualties on the human fighters. "I''ll do the chopping!" Bai E rushed forward immediately, pushing his teammates aside. This was a great opportunity to harvest experience; orcs were opponents he had never killed before, and their experience was full, spared from the torment of experience decay. "No need, no need," said the warriors who were pushed aside, not daring to look Bai E in the eye, and instead continued to gravitate towards the struggling orcs with their knives ready. The battle might be winnable, but everyone was feeling uncertain. Even if they eventually did win, it was likely to be a pyrrhic victory. No one had expected Bai E to emerge and defeat the orcs with just three arrows. How could they let such a fierce War God attend to these aftermath chores? "Bai E, why don''t you take a break?" Team Leader 1, who had also heaved a sigh of relief internally, turned to Bai E and softly persuaded him. The cave battle might have involved some trickery with words, but the encounter with the orcs had undoubtedly cemented Bai E''s prestige. Bai E, coming up with a clever solution on the spot, said with a pained expression, "This dispute arose because of our team''s protest, and we must take responsibility for it. This is my duty." "This..." Such a loyal soldier. Both Team Leaders 1 and 2 were taken aback, along with their team members, who didn''t know whether to continue or to stop. ''He looks very guilty.'' ''Should we give him a chance to redeem himself?'' The two team leaders silently exchanged glances to share their thoughts. "We''ll help you." You and Dashan, who had just dealt with the refugees up ahead and were returning, saw the current activity and immediately joined in. "No problem, leave it all to me," Bai E said, stepping aside nonchalantly, avoiding the motion of an orc who was still reaching out an arm trying to land a blow on him, "You guys are tired too, you need rest. Leave it to me!" "Leave it all to me!" "..." Watching Bai E''s serious face, even his teammates fell silent. Bai E''s sense of responsibility seemed more earnest than anyone else''s. He truly viewed all of this as his own mistake to atone for... ["Lucky Strike" charge +9.] Chop and burn! The green blood of the orcs wasn''t abundant, and its color wasn''t jarring, allowing Bai E to chop without any psychological pressure. He even enjoyed it. +25 +30 +28 Experience points differed according to the orcs'' size, with larger ones generally providing more. Including those wounded by his teammates, there were a total of thirty-two orcs. After dousing them with the gasoline carried on the vehicle, Bai E sparked a flame that ignited the pile of pieces. There were strict requirements for the burning of orc corpses; chopping them up was to ensure the complete incineration of every piece of tissue because leaving even the smallest fragment could lead to a future sea of green... Watching the flames rise before his eyes, Bai E, who had quietly observed everything, finally breathed a sigh of relief. 830 combat experience points... The team stopped, not just waiting for Bai E. The warriors who had just fought a fierce battle also needed to rest. The short but intense combat had drained not only their physical strength but also their will to fight. Moreover, in the chaotic fight against the orcs, many of them had visible injuries. "Harold, that looks like a serious wound..." On his thigh, the wound gaped open for an inch, the flesh turned out, looking ferocious. The orcs'' weapons were covered in oddly shaped spikes, and the rust indicated they possibly carried numerous toxins that could infect the wounds. Without proper treatment, muscle damage could be a serious consequence. "Just bandage it up for me," Harold''s cheeks trembled slightly, evidently enduring severe pain. "I can''t guarantee I''ll do a good job," said one of the special squad warriors, who were generally adept in multiple fields. But specialization was key, and the ones skilled in medical treatment had already fallen in the cave, the unfortunate victims of the War God''s attack, "Or maybe..." The speaking warrior glanced towards the figure facing the flames. The rumors about him treating the various wounds of the refugees had already spread throughout the team yesterday. With refugees living outside for long periods, they were afflicted with numerous complex maladies. Being able to handle all of that suggested that this warrior named Bai E had top-notch medical skills as well. "It''s fine, I can make it back to the military camp," said Harold, his face set, unwilling to give in. "Sit tight." A shadow suddenly loomed over him, "Stretch out your leg." Bai E''s voice was calm, his gaze fixed on the wound instead of Harold''s face, devoid of any prejudice. "..." "Hurry up, there are others who need treatment." "Oh, oh..." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ["Lucky Strike" charge +5.] Chapter 230 Unexpected ruins? The benefit of being all-around is that you can collect different gratitude from various perspectives.Unfortunately, the energy gained from converting a person who originally had prejudices and from saving someone who already worshiped you is not the same. In the eyes of the warriors who already worshiped and respected Bai E, it seemed that Bai E treating their wounds had become a "given." So much so that the energy provided by all the injured warriors together was about the same as what Harold alone contributed. ["Lucky Strike" Energy Charge +7.] Not bad, even after using it once, there was still another opportunity to use it. Looking at the 136/100 energy value and the total of over eight thousand experience reserves, Bai E was content. Indeed, every outing with a small group presented good performance opportunities for reaping energy, in contrast to large-scale battles where personal accomplishments were extremely limited. "You should take a rest too." The leaders of Squad 1 and Squad 2 came together, standing behind Bai E who had just finished treating the last warrior, and softly persuaded him. For such an all-around and unbelievably strong warrior, they had completely given up any thought of contending with him. As naturally born humans, they knew more of the unwritten rules within the military camp than the artificial humans¡ª Perhaps it was hard for artificial humans to climb to the real top layers of the hierarchy, but there were quite a few positions for mid to low-level officers in the military that artificial humans could reach. It probably wouldn''t be long before this newly created artificial human could climb to a higher position than theirs, by which time they would only be looking up and taking orders... "Hmm," Bai E complied obediently and walked to the side to sit down, without showing the slightest hint of arrogance for his achievements. In fact, he wasn''t tired at all... The traits of the beastman¡ªthe photosynthesis, although dormant, was still somehow effective to a certain extent, just like the previous traits of the Bug Race, it was still vaguely working, just not at full capacity. Under the warm sunshine in the sky, Bai E could see that his stamina reserves had recovered by more than ten points during this period. I''ve become a solar battery... As skills that require stamina reserves become more and more necessary, the storage of this energy was becoming insufficient. Just like earlier, a full reserve of stamina only supported him in shooting three arrows. If there had been more beastmen, they might have really been in trouble. And now, there was another way to recover stamina reserves aside from eating, which was a cause for celebration. "Where did you get that archery skill?" Big Mountain asked with excitement in his voice. The teammates gathered around; besides Tiger, the other three hadn''t exerted much effort during the short battle and were still full of energy. "I was taught by that lady of the Elf Race after coming down from the Bug Race battlefield?" Song Ying couldn''t help but exclaim with admiration, "That''s amazing..." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His talent was related to shooting, and he envied such shooting-related skills. Bai E remained silent. Teach? Sorry. This kind of instinctive operation, which was directly infused into the body by the panel, didn''t have much knowledge to speak of, and if he were to teach, he would probably end up like Yue Ying. Song Ying, without the player''s system, was highly unlikely to learn it. "They are starting the cars over there..." You timely changed the subject, pointing to the distance. The beastmen were good people, not only delivering experience and traits but also bringing eight different styles of small cars. The beastmen fleeing had no time to take care of their vehicles, and compared to their powerful bodies, these battered small cars couldn''t block a torrent of bullets. If they wanted to drive away, they might not have been able to escape. And now, these cars had become resources for humans. How much water a barrel can hold depends on its shortest stave. The pace of the refugees was slow, mostly because they had to take care of the weakest among them¡ªthe old, the weak, the sick, and the disabled. If cars could transport those groups, the speed of the return journey could undoubtedly be greatly increased. "Clang clang clang~" The sound of car engines starting could be heard from afar. Hearing that sound, Bai E thought of the tractors he had ridden in the countryside when he was young. The tractor, too, made the same sound after starting the engine with a crank¡ª "Clang clang clang~" The increasingly enhanced perception attribute allowed Bai E to see the vibration of the car shell. Riding in it might indeed be even more shaky than in a tractor... The bodies of the cars, composed of various specifications and colors of parts, were obviously pieced together by the beastmen from who knows how many discarded materials. That they could still run was a miracle. The warrior who successfully started the car looked overjoyed, "Seven of them are still usable!" Carrying so many hefty beastmen in pursuit had exhausted the life of these small cars, and one of them was clearly beyond repair and immobile. "Drain the fuel..." Squad Leader 1 turned his head and looked towards the group of refugees, "Ask if any of them know how to drive." Seven cars, but obviously the soldiers couldn''t drive. First, there weren''t enough drivers who knew how to drive, and second, they needed to stay on alert around the refugee convoy, which made driving inconvenient. "Yes!" A soldier replied briskly and then jogged toward the refugee convoy that had temporarily stopped for a rest. "Does anyone here know how to drive?" "I..." "Me." Immediately, a sea of hands, some firm and some trembling, were raised. Before they were expelled from Oasis State Town, they each had their own lives. In a group of more than four hundred people, finding seven drivers wasn''t hard. Once again, they embarked on their journey, a smooth sail throughout. Without the urgent mission weighing on their minds from before, there was almost a leisurely appreciation of the scenery as they traveled. This was the back of the city, far from the Bug Race nests. In fact, if it weren''t for a Bug Race nest near Blackwater City and the territories of two Machine Clans, Blackwater City would have been a paradise. Not every city''s surroundings are this hostile; because of this, elsewhere on the planet, many ordinary people are able to live a relatively comfortable life. Blackwater City is the guardian of the vast lands that lie beyond it. They traveled until dusk... They traveled into the night... The thunderous engines gradually came to a halt, and the refugees, whose buttocks were numb from the vibration, jumped off the seven cars at the first opportunity. Orc technology, impact... whether it shocks the heart or not is not very clear, but the buttocks are definitely quite shocked. Although there were stops along the way, a proper long rest was still necessary. The place where they stopped was a small patch of city ruins; they took a slight detour to get here, as this was part of the planned route back to the city that had been arranged in advance. It was foreseeable that the refugees would not be very efficient in their movements, and now, as the cold winds of the winter nights blew, those without much warm clothing might freeze through the night on the open plains and lose who knows how many more. The ruins, although also devoid of resources, had buildings that hadn''t completely collapsed, which could provide some shelter from the wind and rain. This place must have been just a small town before the apocalypse, with buildings not very tall. The marks of a past civilization were buried by time, and lush vines had long since covered the ruins, which were at most two or three stories tall. Some plants stubbornly squeezed through the cracks of the concrete and limestone, and the grey-white cobwebs in the corners of buildings fluttered gently in the wind, their owners having long since disappeared. Without human interference, everything would gradually return to its natural state over time. The arrival of humans startled some small lizard-like creatures that scurried away in the shadows. Some houses'' floors had blackened marks where fires had once been lit, these relics of the past in the time of civilization''s collapse having sheltered countless refugees with nowhere to go. Bai E''s fingers gently caressed the wall, under the unguarded erosion of the elements, the once indestructible wall crumbled like hardened tofu under a pinch. An unexpected notification suddenly sounded in his mind¡ª ["Notification: A small-scale ''ruin'' discovered. Current exploration progress: 0.1%¡­"] "emmmmm..." "Bai E!" D¨¤sh¨¡n called from a distance, "Over here! We''ll sleep here tonight." "You sleep first," Bai E waved his hand, feeling the blood in his body start to quicken. An adventure in the quiet of the night... was the most beautiful fantasy a child had about the world many years ago. To explore a brand new world and discover "treasures," whether useful or not. This was one of the main gameplay features promoted by the game officials, favored by many players, including Bai E. Watching Bai E''s silhouette disappear into the darkness, D¨¤sh¨¡n muttered absentmindedly, "That guy really doesn''t know when to quit..." You shook his head, "He''s always been like this." "He''s always been like what?" D¨¤sh¨¡n''s eyes lit up, gossip eager, "What ''like that'' has he always been?" Bai E hadn''t been on the team long, and most of that time hadn''t been spent with his teammates. The only two opportunities they had to go out on missions, the adversaries they faced were too frightening to imagine, leaving little room for fighting side by side and getting to know each other. Song Ying calmly laid out his folding blanket, recalling the evening they met for the first time on patrol. "Curious..." You explained softly. It was about the attitude of the people coming from Black Street on the night he was born, and the camp departure permit requested during training the next day. Bai E was always eager to know the outside world. It had always been so, and it had never changed. "Don''t worry about him." Now the youngest in terms of time of birth, Bai E was recognized as the strongest in the joint squad by a large margin, the all-around champ, so no need to worry about him. "Here, take it." Song Ying walked over with his own blanket to two children who wanted to approach but didn''t dare to come too close. He remembered the children''s names, one was Kiro Lan and the other was Morphie. They were about the age of his own child, similarly bright and lively. "Do you... Do you not need it?" the boy instinctively accepted the blanket, somewhat reluctant to accept the kindness. "I''m not afraid of the cold," Song Ying said with a stern face, turning to leave. "Um..." "..." Song Ying quickened his step. Walking away¡­ Kiro Lan withdrew her outstretched hand, a touch of regret on her face. She wanted to ask what Bai E was up to¡­ "Sleep!" Song Ying, returning to his teammates, didn''t give them a chance to ask and leaned against the wall, falling swiftly into slumber. To seize every opportunity to rest and quickly recover energy is a skill every special forces soldier must master. In the cold, silent night, only two pairs of glistening eyes watched in the direction where Bai E had vanished. "What''s the Guardian doing?" Kiro Lan asked curiously. "We''ll know if we go and see," Morphie, more proactive, suggested. The two of them carefully surveyed their surroundings, and seeing that they weren''t the focus of much attention, they tiptoed away cautiously... Chapter 231 217 Do we have to farm? The ruins at night were quiet and eerie, as Bai E stepped lightly over the shattered sand and stones, creating a faint sound.In the hidden corners, some daring little creatures opened their curious eyes to look at the huge entity they had never seen in the bygone times. Bai E followed the barely visible main road, watching the progress on the panel slowly increase. 0.2%... 0.3%... 0.5%... 1%... Unbelievably slow. Could this mean that the scope of the ruins was very large? And yet it was referred to as a ''small'' relic... Bai E inwardly scoffed, taking a turn and suddenly becoming energized. The monotonous ruins were still ruins, but after the turn, some of the ruined buildings shone brightly with a row of translucent words only he could see¡ª [Abandoned and Damaged Bar] (Claimable) (Repairable) [You are exploring a functional area of the target ruins; current exploration progress: 10.7%.] The progress had suddenly shot up a large fraction! When Bai E focused, more detailed explanations appeared one by one beneath that line of text¡ª [Hint: You have discovered a no man''s land¡ªan abandoned and damaged bar. Current status: Claimable, Repairable. This area has been abandoned for many years and has lost the effects it once held. However, the shadow of time has recorded its most perfect days, and if you can gather the necessary materials (alcohol: 100 units, servers: 3, manager: 1), and complete the main building''s repairs, you can put it back into use.] [Bar: As a place to exchange information, it can occasionally serve the function of posting and completing commissions. (Requirements: Regional reputation level 1)] [Bar: Due to the frequent visits from travelers from all over and various effective information exchanges, this place can occasionally attract some individuals with certain "strength"... (Requirements: Faction reputation level 2, Regional reputation level 2)] "..." Bai E''s expression became somewhat odd after he read the detailed explanation thoroughly. Is this... asking me to start farming? Exploring relics and developing power turned out to be two complementary development paths. Fine. Bai E continued forward, simply noting this clue... He didn''t even need to remember it. Just like the last time he explored the ruins of the internet root server, the map on the panel directly marked the location and size of the ruin with a faint blue line in a three-dimensional display; he could check it whenever he wanted. As Bai E continued along the main road, he discovered more abandoned buildings¡ª [Abandoned and Damaged Vehicle Repair Factory] [Abandoned and Damaged Freshwater Treatment Plant] [Abandoned and Damaged Food Production Factory] [Abandoned and Damaged Power Plant] [Abandoned and Damaged Steel Plant] [Abandoned and Damaged Market] ... With each new discovery, the exploration progress of the ruins surged dramatically. The scale of this small town ruin was certainly no match for the core cities of the Golden Age, but as the saying goes, "Though the sparrow may be small, it possesses all its vital organs." In this place, Bai E could almost find all the functional buildings necessary for a force... or rather, a community to sustain life. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But in a state of abandonment and ruin. Restoring these facilities to functioning status would first require finding the key resources they needed. For instance, the power plant would need at least 3 generators. The food production factory would need at least 1 production line and three planting bases... and so on and so forth. As Bai E walked, he suddenly remembered what the refugee elder Gilder had mentioned¡ªallegiance. Suppose... Suppose one day he left the barracks, even the city. Or to say, even if he did not leave the barracks or the city, it seemed that it would still be possible to secretly develop his own armed forces. The underground warehouse that the players were now constructing was too close to Black Street and the barracks. A micro-base wouldn''t be an issue, but to expand... location became the biggest obstacle. Neither the bigwigs in Black Street nor the military would sit by and watch an unknown force build various infrastructures so boldly nearby. This place... seemed quite right. Materials, knowledge, people... The most important was people! Talent! More talent! Like Kuang Xin, Dai Lian¡ªtalents in combat and tactics. Like Gong Yan¡ªtalents in management. Like Zhou Wenjie¡ªtalents in science and technology. With people, everything else comes. Bai E''s thoughts flickered briefly through his mind; he didn''t think too deeply. Both his own strength and that of the players were still weak, and what the future held for this group of refugees was uncertain. If there was a chance, perhaps he could let them start developing from here. But for now... Bai E stopped in his tracks. He was very far from where the rest were resting, having crossed more than a dozen blocks. Anyone who might have followed out of momentary curiosity should have turned back by now. But still being followed until now... suggested "ulterior motives". Bai E spoke softly, "Come out." Two small figures emerged hesitantly from behind a broken wall in the distance. "Sir... Sir." "Bai E." Morphie and Kiro Lan called out softly. Bai E turned around, squinting at the two in the dim moonlight with some helplessness, "After traveling all day, aren''t you tired?" "We just wanted to see what you were up to..." With a gentle shake of his head, Bai E responded, "I was just looking to see if there were any resources that could be recovered... All right, there''s nothing else here, let''s head back." After all... the progress was already full. [You have completed all the puzzles of the ruins exploration, current exploration level: 100%.] There were no extra rewards, just the three-dimensional lines of the entire abandoned town outlined on the panel, waiting to be rebuilt someday. As Bai E slowly walked forward, Kiro Lan''s big eyes looked up at him, filled with nothing but admiration. "Did you discover anything, sir?" "Everything that could be moved has been taken." Hundreds of years have passed since the curtain fell on the Golden Age, and in this era, every resource is scarce and precious. Anything that could be moved from the ruins had long been taken away. Even some of the more difficult-to-move fixtures had been divided and carried off. After all, for countless ordinary people in this era, even the steel produced in the old days was considered an unimaginably high-tech product. Bai E shook his head with a hint of regret, his gaze drifting over the silent ruins in the dark, "It''s just... such a pity." Not being able to make use of it... it''s a real loss. There must be some reason why this place was chosen to be a town back in the past, with its fairly fertile land and a live stream not far away. With manpower and resources, it might be possible to rebuild and make use of it again. But that''s only if one can withstand all possible malice from the wilderness¡ª Coming from insects, from machine rebels, from beastmen... and even from other humans. There is actually a lot of land available in this era, a true era of vast spaces and sparse population. If there are small tribal settlements... like the underground Wind-Eroded Cave, where refugee groups maintain a low-tech primitive life, they might be able to survive for a long time if they''re lucky. But if one really wants to develop industry, to create a future of their own... then without high walls and a sound military system like those in Blackwater City for protection, almost all will die in their infancy. Insects will subconsciously seek out places where there is a large accumulation of biomass. Machine rebels will instinctively collect any mineable resources they can. Beastmen will keep looking for trouble and fights. Humans... will attempt to occupy the fruits of other people''s labor without working for it. Not all, but often. Such a pity. To be confined within towering castles, drooling over the vast world outside, is indeed a great pity. "Perhaps you could give it a try, sir?" Kiro Lan followed Bai E''s gaze and looked towards the silent ruins. The ruins of the city held a unique beauty of Order for her. The city planning during the Golden Age was always so reasonable and aesthetically pleasing. In a moment of inadvertent daydreaming, everything before her eyes seemed to rewind rapidly, restoring to its original perfect state in the fast flow of time. She saw the broken stones leap back onto the rooftops. She saw the fractured iron frame return to its place. She saw the shattered signs hang back under the eaves facing the street. She saw the toppled equipment soar back up. Time told everything. The past glory had not been entirely forgotten. Even though she had never seen that so-called Golden Age with her own eyes, just by looking at the few traces left behind by that era, she seemed to travel through time and space, tracing back to that most beautiful time from the river of time. Right before her eyes, everything returned to its most beautiful state. The bright lights shone around her, and she felt as though she was immersed in the bustling noise of the crowd. For a moment, she was entranced. "So beautiful..." She murmured softly. "What?" Morphie thought he had heard wrong. Kiro Lan blinked, and the fantasy-like scenes instantly vanished. Since childhood, her thoughts had always been particularly divergent, her imagination rich, always able to imagine things she had never seen... It had troubled her, but she had gradually gotten used to it. "Shh~" Out of the blue, Bai E spoke, placing his index finger on his lips. There was a disturbance. Quiet and stealthy, as if trying not to attract attention. Right behind that wall next to them. Bai E carefully shifted his stance, imperceptibly placing the two children behind himself. This time... what was it? "Hiss!" Grotesque bony claws, like swords, stabbed out from the darkness. The focused Bai E embraced the war blade machine gun that had always hung at his waist and met the attack head-on. "Clang clang clang!" The clang of bone against blade echoed like the sound of steel striking steel. After blocking the opponent''s initial assault, Bai E covered the children and fell back several steps before he could clearly see the monster''s full form. A... grey-whitish spider? A spider bigger than a human! And not just one. The spider that launched the attack was just the first to blow the horn of charge, and more grey-white figures emerged quietly from the corners of the ruins, overwhelming in an instant. In the blink of an eye, had these creatures surrounded them? This ruin... had guardians?! Chapter 232 218 Relic Horror Bai E raised the machine gun and unloaded a barrage of bullets at the attacking giant spider.The first was to test its quality, and the second was to make some noise and see if it could draw the attention of the refugees. If there were monsters in this area, what about the resting refugees? Would they be attacked? There were only a dozen or so fighters to begin with, and two had died in the battle with the orcs; now, they were short-handed and definitely unable to fully guard the team of over four hundred people through the night. In order to explore the ruins, he had ventured a bit far from their location, perhaps the sound of gunfire could penetrate the distant space and awaken them from their weary slumber. While firing the gun single-handedly, Bai E also began to back away as he opened the voice channel and warned all the warriors of the joint squad, "Enemy encounter! Repeat, enemy encounter. A large number of giant spiders have appeared about five kilometers to the southwest of the encampment, stay alert." More intuitive than the voice were the machine gun shots in the background. All the warriors, already asleep, were instantly awakened; no one was more familiar with the sound of gunfire than them. After all, they had spent nearly half their lives to such noises. It was Bai E! He had found the enemy. "What''s going on¡­ Didn''t we scout ahead?" Captain of Squad 1 woke up with a furrowed brow. It wasn''t as if they had simply picked a spot to sleep; nighttime rest involving so many people naturally required assured safety. "Bai E said it''s five kilometers away¡­ We didn''t search that far in detail." After all, there were only a dozen or so warriors, and as they spread out in a circular range, each could only scout a limited area. The further the radius, the more ground to cover, and they didn''t have the energy for that. "¡­" The captain didn''t pursue the matter further. Instead, he swiftly stood up, "All hands on alert, wake the refugees." If it was possible to fight, they would, for finding a spot to shelter from the wind and rain for a comfortable night''s rest wasn''t easy. The day''s journey had left everyone nearly dead tired, needing rest to recover. But if the enemy was too numerous and strong, and they couldn''t be stopped by their handful of warriors, they definitely had to run. The warriors who had received the order began to wake the nearby refugees. "Hey! Wake up." "Everyone, wake up, get them all up." "Bai E has spotted the enemy, we might have to move at any moment." Rustling noises spread among the scattered crowd, and some refugees, with sharper ears, had already been jolted awake by the distant gunshots in the silent night. "Enemies?" Elder Gilder approached several reliable confidants who were generally dependable, "Count the numbers, see if anyone is missing." They trusted him to lead, so he had to be worthy of their trust. At all times and in all places, he needed to consider every member of the team. "Yes!" Everyone dispersed. Only Gilder stayed where he was, clutching the blanket that Kiro Lan and Morphie had brought to him, looking worriedly towards the area where the two children had been. The two said they were going out with Bai E, and now that E had encountered the enemy, he wondered if he could protect the two little ones while fighting. But if it was E¡­ Surely it would be fine, right? ¡­ In the wilderness, far from the city, one must always be prepared to face all kinds of dangers. After issuing orders and seeing that everyone had come to their senses and were preparing, Squad 1''s captain once again asked over the voice channel. "Bai E, what''s the enemy?" "Spiders¡­" Bai E''s voice was terse as he dodged an opponent''s three lance-like sharp claws with a swift sidestep while the bullets from his machine gun never ceased pelting the round body of his foe. Compared to their bodies, the spider''s particularly long and narrow claws were indeed their most powerful weapon. The giant spiders, of course, wouldn''t just stand there and take the hits, but these low-intelligence creatures could only launch instinctual hunting behaviors and had almost no resistance against the bullets. The seemingly hard carapace and the needle-like hairs on it were easily torn apart by the bullets, with the thick biological tissue and body fluids being ripped and flung about by the metallic storm. After emitting a low growl, the eight spear-like claws finally flattened on the ground, no longer moving. But Bai E''s expression was far from relaxed. The attributes of the spiders killed by firearms flickered on the panel ¡ª¡ª [??? (Beast): Health Points 0/245; Defensive Power 8; Action Power 0%; Traits: Genetic Mutation...] [Genetic Mutation: Originally just a native species of the planet, they have been infected with alien genes. The original genes and the alien genes have mutated to create a perfect host among their vast numbers. Now, their size can grow almost unlimitedly, as long as there is enough food, they can take over the entire world. Current: Large Beast (Life Upper Limit +50, Physical Performance +3).] Of course, it was not particularly impressive; its strength and speed weren''t especially high, even worse than the previously encountered orcs, it just had a bit more health. And the one that attacked him was already one of the larger ones in sight, the other smaller spiders probably had even lower attributes. The drop rate subtitles also complemented the abilities of these monsters from another perspective ¡ª¡ª [??? (Beast) ¡ª¡ª To drop when killed with a "Lucky Strike": Guaranteed (Mutant Spider Claws*400, Battle Experience 1250 points); Possible (Trait: Web-Slinging, Trait: Alien Genes)] This was already the one with the highest drop rate... It was clear that the individual combat prowess of these creatures really wasn''t up to much. But there were just too many of them. Just counting those currently in sight, a quick glance revealed dozens. Genetic mutation coupled with the spiders'' terrifyng breeding efficiency...there''s no telling how many more there are that haven''t appeared yet. To restore normal usage of this relic, it seems necessary to first clear out these "guardian beasts"? But that was obviously not the immediate concern. If he didn''t regroup with his teammates soon, he would still be able to escape at any moment using his Gun Fighting Skill, but it would spell trouble for these two children. "Let''s go." Bai E, holding a gun in one hand, started sweeping fire at the spiders that were gradually closing in, while his left hand drew a pistol from his waist and handed it back without looking, "Can you shoot? Take it." The pistol had limited stopping power, but it could still have some lethal effect on the smaller spiders. With so many of them, if they truly swarmed him, he''d have a hard time blocking them all; any that slipped through would have to be dealt with by the kids themselves. "I can," Kiro Lan''s voice was calm and steady. As he spoke, Kiro Lan''s gaze was tightly focused on the details of Bai E firing the gun¡ª The movements of holding the gun, the muscle exertion, the stability of the posture¡­everything was turned into knowledge that could overcome instinct, infusing it into his body. She had always been a quick learner since she was young¡­ "How about you?" Bai E didn''t linger on her but asked the little boy Morphie instead,"Do you need a gun?" He carried two pistols with him. But he noted that when the boy arrived, he was holding a machete from an orc for self-defense, and he wasn''t sure if the boy had any special training. If he had a specialty, a machete for close protection might be even more useful than a pistol for self-defense. "No..." Morphie shook his head, scenes of Bai E decapitating spiders with the bayonet mounted on the machine gun replaying in his mind, "but I think I should be fine." "Okay." Both children had not only a strong will but also the courage to fight. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the incident with the demon, the willpower of the two children seemed to have increased, and their voices were equally firm at this moment. They were not afraid of these monsters... He was spared the step of having to comfort and encourage them. "They are just spiders!" Bai E''s voice was like the warm sun of winter, instilling endless confidence in people, "Don''t be afraid!" "Da-da-da-da!" Bai E retreated steadily, the three-round bursts from his machine gun never ceased. Apparently believing they had finally grasped the vulnerability of their prey, the spiders, which had been approaching slowly from all directions, no longer kept the pressure of their encirclement tight. Instead, they launched a collective sprint! Chapter 233 219 Genius "Report, Commander! No monsters have been found nearby for the time being."The alerted soldiers first carefully searched the area around the resting place of the refugees once again. Clearly, the monsters had not yet approached closely. "That''s good." The No.1 Commander let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this. If they were really attacked by monsters from the shadows at night, just their dozen or so people would probably be hard-pressed to provide perfect protection. However, a choice lay before them¡ª Retreat? Or clear out the monsters? This would depend on how tough the enemies were. "Tiger, take your men and support Bai E with me, and you scouts, come along as well." Better to take the initiative than to wait passively. The large number of refugees, with no tactical training, would likely make a hasty retreat difficult without issues arising. Taking advantage of the enemy''s distance to assess their strength and make a decision was better than waiting in place for news. And if the targets were indeed tough, the two squads plus a few scouts could still serve to slow the enemy''s pace, buying enough time for the refugees to retreat. Leaving Squad 2 behind was for managing the refugees; if anything went amiss on Bai E''s side, they could immediately inform this side to retreat via voice communication. The arrangements of the No.1 team leader were swiftly carried out. "Yes!" "Received!" ... With a "click," the safety pin of a fragmentation grenade was pulled, and timing the last two seconds, Bai E threw it to where the incoming monsters were most concentrated. Thanks to his newly acquired orcish throwing specialization, he managed to aim quite well. The metallic casing bounced on the ground slightly before exploding with a boom. Numerous tiny metal shards shot outwards from the center of the explosion, and a torrent of hot blast instantly shredded a cluster of small spiders. [Successfully threw the grenade to the right location, Throwing Mastery experience +3.] [Dealt 30 points of fatal damage to the target!] [The target''s vital signs have disappeared.] In encounters with bugs and orcs, these small individual weapons weren''t of much use, but against these smaller creatures that were within the bounds of common sense, grenades were definitely useful. "Click~" "Click~" One after another. Taking advantage of the spiders that hadn''t fully approached and within a safe distance, Bai E threw all five grenades he had on him in quick succession. Once they got really close, he wouldn''t dare to continue throwing grenades recklessly. However, after just running down a street, the spider horde, slightly held back by the grenades, once again surrounded him. Bai E passed the machine gun to his left hand, wielding both the machine gun and the military saber. Benefiting from an ancient warrior''s specialty¡ªWeapon Master¡ª the proficiency in light firearms and light weapons effectively got a +1 level boost. The actual effectiveness of a level 4 and level 1 specialization became level 5 and level 2, respectively. The machine gun was for mainline killing, while the saber was for close defense. Even when encountering more troublesome monsters, the blade attached to the machine gun could work in tandem with the saber, allowing for a coordinated defense with both hands. Of course, the blade attachment on the machine gun was very heavy, belonging to the same category as the Bug-Slaying Blade, within the range of heavy weapons. With Bai E''s level 2 Heavy Weapon Specialization, its effectiveness was actually at level 3, which was more than sufficient. The three specializations came into play simultaneously, wielding both gun and blade, sweeping through all opposition. The two young ones following Bai E were also retreating rapidly and steadily, encountering some spiders that had previously been held back on the way back. With 360 degrees of the battlefield, Bai E alone obviously couldn''t attend to everything; he could only fall back and do his best to hold off the main body of the chasing spider tide, leaving the few medium and small spiders on the way back to fend for themselves. Fortunately, the spiders blocking their return were not large, and fortunately, the two youngsters displayed astonishing combat abilities. The orcish cleaver, which seemed small in an orc''s hand, seemed somewhat unwieldy when held by a human youth; the heavy weight meant Morphie had to grip it with both hands to properly wield it without hurting himself on the spikes and serrated edges. When facing slightly larger medium-sized spiders, it was he who bravely engaged them. As for Kiro Lan... her performance was more reminiscent of Bai E. Imitating Bai E''s stance of fighting with both gun and knife, Kiro Lan took a dagger from a sheath on Bai E''s calf. The small handgun and dagger might not have been as intimidating as Bai E''s large gun and sword, but weapons that suited her size were undoubtedly the ones she could control flawlessly. ``` In the gaps where Morphie was fiercely fending off those incoming sharp claws, it was Kiro Lan who made crucial follow-up strikes with his nimble knife and gun. The coordination was surprisingly in sync. "Did you often have to fight in your previous lives?" Bai E, who was sparing a fraction of his attention to watch his back and be ready to burst out at any moment, asked curiously. "Not often..." "Bang! Bang!" Kiro Lan coolly fired his gun, and even after hearing Bai E''s question, he was still able to maintain a clear head and respond accurately, "Occasionally followed an old hunter on a couple of hunts, but we never got the chance to take a shot." So, was it purely natural talent? And as the fight progressed, their performance and cooperation became more and more polished. The two of them glanced back at Bai E from time to time while fighting; their ability to control their weapons seemed to advance by leaps and bounds in this kind of live combat training. At first, their attacks were straightforward, especially for Morphie, who seemed to struggle considerably to control the huge chopper in his hands. However, as the battle went on, before any significant improvement in physical strength, their weapon handling became increasingly delicate. Often, a defensive move would naturally transition into a counter-strike slash, something utterly unimaginable at the outset. Amidst this adaptation to combat, the two small figures began to clear the way even faster. Bai E, who was always watching his back, keenly observed this change. On the side unseen by the two little ones, Bai E''s expression seemed a bit strange. If these two didn''t act as recklessly as gamers, and seemed to have wide connections among the refugees, origins that could be traced, he would suspect they were also molded from the gamer template. Of course, the main reason was that he didn''t receive any experience feedback. Just natives with strong learning abilities? Like how Kiro Lan learned his medical skills last night? That''s fine. With such abilities, whether right now or after reaching the city, they should be able to lead a decent life, so he need not worry about them anymore. If one looked down from the sky, they would see a dense, grayish-white "carpet" spreading quickly in a certain direction under the cover of night. Ahead of the carpet were three small black dots moving swiftly, and in the direction they were headed, some similarly sized grayish-white dots were also emerging continuously from the dark ruins on both sides. It seemed that sensing their prey was about to escape the laid trap, the "presence" lurking in the dark finally lost its patience to remain hidden. With the sticky sound of segmented limbs tapping on the ground everywhere, pairs of pitch-black compound eyes focused on Bai E''s direction from all directions¡ªas if the three enveloped in this boundless malice could feel a tangible desire for slaughter chilling to the bone. The desire to hunt had merged into a breath-taking killing intent, capturing the soul. [With the help of "Self Restraint," you have successfully filtered out a certain predatory marking.] In almost the time it took to inhale, Bai E filtered out that intimidating killing intent that seemed to chill one from head to toe. Compared to the corruption of higher-dimensional demons, the ability of these ordinary monsters was still insufficient. Bai E took a deep look over his shoulder at the oncoming tide, where it felt like an icy, lifeless will was staring coldly at him... The two children who lacked the corresponding abilities felt an instant chill in their hands and feet. Morphie, who was struggling to wield the chopper, was already in a precarious balance, and the sudden mental intimidation made him stagger; he suddenly lost balance and fell forward. Kiro Lan showed no apparent reaction, but his response to a spider lunging at him was noticeably slower. ... "Damn it!" A line of warriors emerging from behind a corner of the ruins, drawn by the sound of gunfire, tensed up at the scene unfolding before them. The encirclement was complete; the grayish-white spider army was gradually surrounding the three isolated figures. If it were only Bai E, they would naturally not worry too much, given the combat ability he had displayed. But there were also two children by his side... Would he risk injury for the sake of the children? Their distance made them anxious but powerless. ... "Puchi!" The blade of the war machine gun whizzed through the air, splitting the body of a small spider in two. The two halves of the corpse drifted down slowly. "Give me your hand." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E''s always stable and calm voice rang in the ears of the little ones as a pair of large hands reached out towards the fallen Morphie in front of him. "It''s just a predicament, I''ll lead you out of here." ``` Chapter 234 220 explodes! Before seeing his teammates, Bai E didn''t dare to fully unleash his power, after all, he had no idea when the encirclement by the spider swarm would end. He tried to manage the situation with just his regular combat strength until the most critical moment of crisis arrived.But now that his teammates had come to support him, there was no need to hold back any longer. Bai E, who had re-sheathed his military knife at his waist, grabbed the fallen Morphie''s left hand tightly and pulled him up. Then he admonished Morphie, "Hold onto Kiro Lan with your other hand, she is your life, never let go no matter what, understand?" "She''s already my life," said Morphie through clenched teeth, his eyes bloodshot with self-reproach for his key moment failure. [Gun Fighting Skill, activated.] Bai E pulled up Morphie with one hand, stringing Kiro Lan along with them. Once he took the lead, the spider swarm could no longer keep pace with his strides. The menacing and bizarre claws of the spiders that leapt towards him were all severed with a single slash. The roaring of the machine gun instantly blazed a trail, with countless spear-like claws waving a "welcome" on both sides. The spider creatures had numerous claws, each almost like a sharp spear. There were far too many claws barring the path for Bai E to clear them in an instant. If a spider''s claw managed to pierce one of the children in the chaos, it could cause a wound that was difficult for them to bear. Fortunately, those spiders weren''t too large, and they couldn''t reach the space higher than where they were situated. So... Spotting the largest one within the spider army that blocked the retreat, Bai E pulled the two along and charged straight at it. As they approached, Bai E lightly jumped, swinging his arm, which was pulling the two children, upward. The two children, somewhat light in build, were lifted into the air by his tremendous force. Bai E stepped on the rounded back of a medium-sized spider with one foot as his machine gun erupted with fire, clearing an even wider space in the distance in an instant. But not right in front of him. The enclosing circle formed by the spider army was too dense; breaking through just one layer of entrapment didn''t do much good. He needed to think ahead, to make decisions with a longer view. Route planning complete. Bai E needed to lead them... to run along the walls. The collapsed ruins on both sides of the road became the trio''s opportunity for escape at that moment. As the human chain rotated in mid-air, Bai E had to swing forcefully to ensure the safety of the two children due to inertia. Their palms tightly clasped, the spinning sensation left the two children''s minds a complete blank, having never experienced such a thrill before. As they descended to the nadir, the monsters'' claws seemed to graze by their scalp, yet it was all an illusion. And when flung towards the highest point, they distinctly felt Bai E slowing down the pace, firmly controlling the rhythm of the spin, so they weren''t thrown off by the excessive centrifugal force. At this moment, their only thought was to concentrate all their strength into their hands. Hold on! Hold on! They had to hold onto each other''s hands no matter what! The dust under the metal war boots crumbled at the slightest touch, the walls, long corroded to their core, were fragile as crumbs, with nearly all the force concentrated in Bai E''s footsteps, easily destroying the last vestiges of the ruins. Bai E couldn''t afford to stay still for a moment. The collapsed walls behind them raised a trail of grey dust like a dragon, bowing its head in silent reverence as it sent off its master. Watch your step, control the pace, and be wary of the spiders'' firing attacks. "Pfft!" Sticky webs were occasionally spat out by elite spiders aiming to entangle the three of them and restrict their movements. This soft and clingy attack was more troublesome, and Bai E did his best to avoid it. Hence, the chosen path became more twisted and intricate. Under the moonlit night, the three figures dancing in the air resembled fairies beneath the moon. At some point, even the obscure ring of light high in the sky became the backdrop for the trio, and the supporting soldiers watching this scene held their guns in a daze. ... "This is... this is unbelievable." How much whimsical imagination, precise judgment, and execution skills were required to perform such a miracle? If it were any other soldier present, they could at most ensure their escape from the spider horde. But with two burdens... "Tap~ Tap~" Until the metal war boots landed lightly in front of them. Bai E knelt down on one knee first after landing, threw aside his machine gun, and perfectly caught the two children he had thrown out at the last moment with one hand each. Morphie and Kiro Lan, who had landed safely in his arms, were clearly still in shock, it took them a while to come back from their numb state of mind. The roar of gunfire erupted beside their ears¡ªthe teammates who had come to support them took over the fight, and a row of riflemen blocked the pursuing spider swarm. Only then did the two children tremble, blink, and regain their senses. "That was... that was thrilling." Morphie was shaking, slowly replaying the brief breakout in his mind. Although he hadn''t reacted at the time, his wide-open eyes had faithfully recorded everything he saw. The actions of Bai E were replayed slowly in his mind, giving the impression that even when let go, he still seemed to stand there, looking dazed. Kiro Lan recovered more quickly, straightened her tattered clothes a bit, took a small step forward out of Bai E''s arms, with an unintentional blush flashing across her face. "Sir... I apologize for the trouble." "It''s fine." Seeing the two children unharmed, Bai E also breathed a sigh of relief. The warriors lined up behind him with guns ready began to retreat step by step, and the nearby Captain of Squad 1 turned to remind him, "If you''re alright, we should retreat now, there are too many, we can''t hold them off." "Okay," Bai E nodded and looked at the two children, "can you run on your own?" "Mm-hmm!" Kiro Lan nodded in agreement, then pulled on Morphie, who seemed to be still dazed, "Let''s go, no more trouble for the adults." The grim scene of ruins before their eyes zoomed in rapidly, the sound contracted, and suddenly invaded Morphie''s sight, making him shiver, the flickering light in his eyes disappearing in an instant, "Oh~ let''s go!" The number of spiders in the great army was too many, and as the battle progressed, more figures quietly crawled out from every corner of the ruins. Especially more and more larger spiders were crawling out from the shadows underground, their bodies'' compound eyes were dense and numerous, making one''s scalp tingle. "Let''s go! We can''t stay here any longer." Team Leader 1 shot single-handedly in an orderly fashion, while opening the voice channel to notify Team Leader 2, who was on standby, "Notify all refugees to retreat orderly, continue heading back to the city!" It wasn''t impossible to travel at night, after all, the usual dangers on this road weren''t many, unlike the one leading to the server ruins. Also, Bai E had been exploring for over an hour, and though the resting refugees might get a bit tired, they weren''t completely unable to walk. "Here is Ka Ruigan, message received," came Team Leader 2''s calm voice. The soldiers on standby sprung into action upon receiving the order, "Get up, everyone, keep moving." "We''re setting off! The sooner we get back to the city, the sooner we''ll be safe." "Our comrades have spotted the enemy; it''s no longer safe here, but the distance is still far, so don''t worry. An orderly retreat will suffice." ... "Dadadadada!" More than a dozen machine guns spat out orange flames, which were particularly conspicuous in the night. Having already moved some distance away from the ruins of the relics, those gray-white spiders were still relentlessly pursuing. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even the mutated spiders, with their bodily structure, were nowhere as troublesome as the Bug Race with Chitin Armor, human bullets could easily shred their defenses wherever they hit. Their round bodies burst open like water-filled bags under the storm of bullets, scattering all around. Yet their flat claws still twitched unwillingly on the ground. The machine guns in the soldiers'' hands were beginning to overheat, ejected casings paving a trail along their path of retreat. "They are still chasing us!" Team Leader 2''s brows furrowed slightly, his expression turning a bit grave. Having retreated all the way from a district 5 kilometers away, the ammunition the soldiers had been carrying was running low. Of course, they could still resupply from the off-road vehicles, but the bigger problem was the firearms themselves. An overheated barrel was a fatal issue. Unfortunately, the cumbersome group of over four hundred refugees, even though they tried their best not to cause chaos, couldn''t retreat as rapidly as the soldiers. The large group retreating was right behind them, and ahead... was the relentless spider army still unwilling to let them go. [Consecutive successful hits on numerous moving targets, Gun Fighting Skill experience +21. (Small chance to awaken special attributes.)] Bai E rehung the scorching-hot machine gun on his side and took down his bow with his left hand. It was difficult to maintain high levels of energy reserves with normal food and water consumption; he would only consume the No. 3 ration bar to replenish his energy reserves right before battle. Moreover, after the recent major battles, the No. 3 ration bars were rapidly consumed. The supplies were limited to one a day, and even with the handful Carlos had given him before the battle against the Bug Race, there weren''t many left now. But now, even without consuming another "No. 3 ration bar," the solar energy replenished after driving away the orcs had filled Bai E''s energy reserves completely. Taking into account the No. 3 ration bars that could be consumed on the spot, it meant that in a prepared battle, he could have twice the energy reserve for an outburst. One blue bar turning into two blue bars was a great enhancement to his stamina and explosive power. The ability to maintain full energy reserves during rest without relying on the "No. 3 ration bar" was particularly precious to the current Bai E. The fully recovered energy reserves played a crucial role at this moment. When the soldiers'' firearms could no longer buy time, the last three arrows could still clear a 500-meter-long safe distance for everyone. Bai E stood up, nocked an arrow to the bow. The night breeze gently stirred the hair on his forehead, and Bai E''s eyes were as sharp as his arrows. Draw! Shoot! A gust of wind swept through, the residual white airflow stirred up the desolate surroundings, and after a moment, it slowly dissolved into nothingness. "Whoosh!" Another arrow! "Whoosh!" The final arrow! The three arrows pierced through everything in their path, the spiders falling one after another were not even an obstacle; they even flew straight into the ruins, burying the last glories of the relics. Dust filled the air. Ahead was clear. Bai E slowly put away the bow, his gaze piercing beyond the 500 meters of space, fixing on the spider eyes that unexpectedly halted due to the terrifying strike. In the dark spherical eyes, the fear of the unknown finally restrained their bloodthirst for the first time. Bai E gestured backward with one hand, "You go ahead." If they dared to pursue further... there were three more arrows. As they watched the not particularly robust figure, the soldiers covering the rear couldn''t help but be filled with extreme awe. No matter how many times they saw it, this earth-shattering arrow was incomprehensible. ["Lucky Shot" charge +11.] ... Countless compound eyes locked gazes with Bai E, who stood watchful in the distance, and the entity deep underground in the ruins finally seemed to realize these flesh and blood creatures were not for its taking. The first spider slowly retracted into the shadows... Watching the gray-white figures gradually disappear into the darkness, Bai E squinted his eyes. The rats underground should no longer be enough for the players to toy with, right? Chapter 235 221 Are they all geniuses? The winter sun, distant and chilly, blossomed in the sky with a brilliance that was just right.The black iron walls of the city started to emerge at the end of the horizon, and the rest of the trip was without many twists and turns. They had arrived. From afar, upon seeing the city, the refugees visibly stirred with excitement, and their bodies, which had been listless like the walking dead, suddenly surged with a bit of vitality from deep within. For most of them... or rather all of them, they had spent the first half of their lives in a wilderness oasis called Jinshuizhou Town. What did a city look like? They had only seen and heard about it through some circulated pamphlets and rumors. So this is how big it is... The steel city walls, taller than the tallest thing they had ever seen, seemed to reach straight up to the sky. The humans living inside must be very happy, not having to worry if they would still be able to wake up the next day. So... were they also going to live in a city like this now? ... What seemed close took a long walk to reach. The refugees had already been drained of almost all their energy, and had they not actually seen the city, they would have collapsed long ago. The last leg of the journey took them nearly until dusk. They didn''t head to the military camp but arrived at a place outside the city that Bai E had never been to before. The makeshift buildings were almost built against the city walls and looked somewhat run-down; there was also a gathering place outside the city in the distance, but it wasn''t Black Street. This place was closer to another gate of the city. "Take them to handover." The captain of Team 1 was clearly familiar with the procedures; the city had its own standard process for handling new refugees. The personnel responsible for the reception had stern faces. It was hard to tell if it was military silence or if they had reached the pinnacle of exhaustion and numbness, they just stood by the road with dead fish eyes watching the endless grey-black queue. The smell of the refugees made them frown slightly, "So many?" "Four hundred and five," the captain of Team 1 replied promptly. Some unlucky refugees had been hit by the orcs'' wildly inaccurate gunfire in the skirmish with them. "Oh~" The guiding officer nodded, "Have them line up here and wait, one by one." "Come on, line up, and follow this official," the captain said. Under the guidance of Team 1''s captain, the soldiers of the coalition team maintained order at the scene. "Everyone, line up and wait here, don''t panic, don''t rush. This is the last checkpoint before entering the city, and there are some necessary checks." "Later, follow the orders of those officials, do whatever they tell you, understood?" Having been with these refugees all the way, the soldiers were familiar with them, and now they said their last goodbyes. After all, what was to come next had nothing to do with them. Bai E stood by the road, watching the refugees pass by one by one, each of them looking at him with gratitude, nodding respectfully with a smile even if they didn''t speak. He smiled throughout, trying to comfort their confusion about the unknown, "It''s okay, just follow them." It was only when Morphie and Kiro Lan walked past him, with Kiro Lan looking at Bai E with determination, "I will come to find you, sir." Bai E still smiled lightly, "You guys just watch yourself." Everyone had their own choices, and he had no right to interfere. Not until he watched the team being handed over and settled did Dashan approach Bai E curiously, "How come I didn''t see that old man among the refugees?" "..." Bai E''s smile wavered slightly before he shook his head, "Didn''t they report him missing last night?" "Oh~ I remember I saw him last night." Dashan scratched his head, sounding somewhat regretful, "Did he get hooked by a spider in the chaos? That''s a shame." When that old man was around, he managed the refugees quite well. He had some ability. Bai E pursed his lips and did not engage further in the conversation. He quickly took a few steps forward and caught up with the squad of Team 1''s captain. "Um... Captain, excuse me." "Bai E..." Team 1''s captain paused, his tone noticeably softer, "What is it?" Bai E glanced back, "What are they queuing for?" "Health check," Team 1''s captain explained patiently. "All new refugees entering the city need a health check." They needed to check for highly contagious diseases that were a serious threat, examine if their physical fitness could endure at least ten more years of labor, assess whether their mental state was stable enough to comply with regulations... and so on. The city wasn''t a charity; was it its solidarity and cooperation that kept it standing in this bleak world? No! In times like these, it was the city rules, considering gain and loss to the extreme, that mattered. Everything useful to the city would get its due role. Everything useless to the city should be discarded without a second thought. As for whether life itself would seek a way out... that was up to each individual''s fate. Bai E frowned slightly to himself and looked back again. He asked, "What will happen to them after the health check?" "Arrangement?" Team 1''s captain looked at Bai E curiously, "Those who are physically fit will go to work in the city, and those who are in poor health..." He gestured with his eyes toward the gathering place nearby, "That place is waiting for them." The greatest blessing the city offered to the refugees was allowing them to catch their breath under its protective shade. Though this space was equally filled with the law of the jungle''s barbarity where the strong preyed on the weak. Bai E frowned deeply in silence. The captain of Team 1, who had happily completed the mission and returned to the city, was evidently much happier now. At this moment, he even put an arm around Bai E''s shoulder, "Brother, don''t worry too much about them. Are you feeling guilty about your own promise? There''s no need. Back then, it was your only chance to defeat that demon. They will only be grateful for your rescue. Not every word needs to be strictly acted upon, many makeshift plans are just that, makeshift. We understand you, and they will too." "..." Seeing that Bai E still didn''t speak, the captain of Team 1 patted his shoulder with a chuckle, "Alright, stop thinking so much. We''ll head back to camp to report our positions, and tonight I''ll treat you to a drink at Black Street''s bar. Get drunk, and by tomorrow, we''ll have forgotten it all." "Let''s go! Back to camp!" "If the captain''s buying, we''re not coming back until we''re drunk!" The soldiers who had once again brushed past death''s door and even returned from a mission accomplished were somewhat excited. Aside from fighting, they each had their own desired normal life. In the midst of the commotion, Tiger came forward and also put his arm around Bai E''s shoulder, whispering, "Take it easy, you''re just a new recruit. You can''t do that much." Yes... can''t do that much. Bai E pressed his lips together, taking one last look back at the refugees awaiting the judgment of their fate. ... "Huh?" The medical examiner, seeing the red light flashing on the equipment in front of him, instantly became excited from his previously listless complexion, "Spiritual Energy! Spiritual Energy!" There was a fluctuation of Spiritual Energy! This refugee might possess the innate talent to harness Spiritual Energy! "Quick, quick, quick! Notify the superior! A Spiritual Energy talent has appeared among the refugees!" "What! A talent for Spiritual Energy!" Another staff member perked up, as if it were a festive occasion for them to find a talent for Spiritual Energy among the refugees. After peering closely and confirming the screen of the device that first indicated this discovery, the latter rushed out, "I''ll go notify the superior right away!" The equipment used for refugee check-ups could only detect basic things, like whether the body was within a "healthy range," or if there were any obvious contagious diseases, etc. For monitoring Spiritual Energy, it only remained at the level of "fluctuations." After all, they were just refugees. Assuming an indifferent attitude, they were being tested on the off-chance something might turn up. Of course, finding something was good, but it didn''t matter if they didn''t. Because of its crudeness, the equipment was prone to misjudgments, or it was normal to discover just a hint of talent that was difficult to activate. Therefore, a real professional superior was needed for a "final diagnosis." And such equipment was not just limited to one; there were times when there were many refugees, and checking them one by one would be too inefficient. Hearing the clamor of two staff members belonging to the same machine, the workers at the four other machines were somewhat dumbfounded. One of them, also looking at the red light on his machine, said with a puzzled face, "It looks like I''ve found one too." This triggered a chain reaction, as the staff at the remaining three machines exclaimed in succession, "Mine too..." "Mine too..." "Is the equipment broken?" So many talents for Spiritual Energy appearing among the refugees at the same time was either the Arbitration Place''s enforcers coming to joke with them or the equipment was broken. There was no third possibility. "Quick, quick, quick! Get him back! The equipment might be broken! Don''t startle the superior over nothing!" "Hey you! Wait over there. Come! Next one, you try now." In the spirit of controlling the variables, a staff member directed the refugees being examined to step aside. "Oh, oh~" The refugees, who didn''t understand why the superiors in the city were making such a fuss, shuffled over bewilderedly, murmuring submissively. The result came out quickly¡ª"Beep, beep, beep~" It''s red! "Let''s test a few more..." "Beep, beep, beep~" It''s red! All of them are red! "Damn it, got all excited for nothing! The freaking machines are all broken!" "Who got screwed by a dog?" A voice suddenly emerged from the doorway, and a man as thin as a monkey walked in laughing. Seeing the newcomer, all the staff members tensed up instantly. "Superior..." "Superior~" The thin monkey''s gaze swiftly moved across the faces of the refugees in the room, trying to discern with his own eyes who the chosen one was. Eventually settling on a particularly handsome young man in his twenties, he asked the staff members with a grin, "Is it that kid?" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Um, um~" The questioned staff member just shook his head nervously, hesitant to tell the truth. "Oh?" The thin monkey''s gaze shifted again towards the second potential target, "So it must be him then." Handsome and dashing as he was, how could anyone who shared his Spiritual Energy talent not also be good looking? "Um, um~" The staff member shook his head again. "..." The thin monkey''s expression became slightly displeased as he looked toward the third candidate, "It can''t possibly be him." "Superior..." In the corner, a staff member nervously raised a hand, "They all are..." Chapter 236 222 Extraordinary Talent! ?The staff member bravely stood up, ready to tell the truth. "Sir... the machines detected them, all of them." No matter what the facts were, blame the machine first. "We notified you as soon as we detected the first one, but, to our surprise... all of them were detected by the machine. We now suspect there might be an issue with the machine, yet we still hope that you could help us confirm it, just in case there really are that many talented individuals, which would be a great achievement for us." Since the summons had already been made, might as well follow through. Strike with a staff imbued with spiritual energy. The skinny monkey stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping over the somewhat bewildered and fearful refugees. If everyone possesses it, it means no one does. It must be the machine that''s broken. But since they''re here anyway, let''s see what they''re made of. Tests amongst spiritual energy users don''t require much machine assistance. Each practitioner possesses their strengths, and what the skinny monkey excelled in was sensing the fluctuations of others'' spiritual energy... but it required the target''s non-resistant cooperation first. The skinny monkey walked towards his chosen number one candidate, speaking in an even tone, "Look into my eyes, focus your attention." "Yes... yes." The refugee wasn''t sure what was going on, but Bai E had instructed them earlier, so following orders was the best option. The final test, once passed, would lead to a brand new, splendid life. As their eyes met, the skinny monkey''s gaze swirled like a vortex in the refugee''s eyes, causing an unconscious dizziness to set in. "..." Time quietly passed by during their eye contact, and at a certain moment, the skinny monkey suddenly stepped back, disconnecting from the spiritual contact. A shock that was hard to express welled up in his heart¡ª There indeed was talent. The sensed fluctuations weren''t particularly strong and somewhat passive, but still a bit more than the average person. Perhaps the machines were malfunctioning; it was highly unlikely for everyone to have it. But his own sense was not mistaken; the first candidate he had identified indeed possessed a trace of potential talent that could be unearthed. Facing someone who might be a future peer, the smile on the skinny monkey''s face softened a bit more, "Not bad, not bad at all. Wait over there for a while; I''ll take you to register shortly." In a vast city teeming with people, most are affiliated with various power struggles and factions; only these unaffiliated refugees represented a "wealth" that the city itself could fully control. After speaking, the skinny monkey then turned his gaze to the second candidate with some expectation, rubbing his hands together. It seemed his spiritual intuition was incredibly sharp. If the first person he identified had talent, what about the second one? "Look into my eyes..." "..." Present as well? "..." To encounter two in one go was a double blessing. What day was today? The skinny monkey was ecstatic as he turned towards the third candidate. "..." As the vortex swirled in the eyes, the skinny monkey took a step back in disbelief. Present too? Three... there were three! "..." The skinny monkey suddenly looked towards the staff next to the machine and asked uncertainly, "Did you just say that the machines judged all of them to have it?" "Yes! Yes!" The staff members nodded in unison, looking compliant. Could it be that the machines weren''t malfunctioning? Yes, indeed... It''s normal for a machine or two to have issues occasionally, but what are the odds of five machines malfunctioning simultaneously? The skinny monkey''s expression became grave. One was luck, two were a surprise, but all... that was terrifying. For their world of spiritual energy users, behind any abnormal phenomenon, there often lay astounding secrets. He began to doubt if the problem was with himself... "You all continue monitoring. Line up in front of me, anyone who''s confirmed by the machines." "Yes!" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes, sir!" "Beep beep beep~" "Beep beep beep~" The machine''s faint buzzing noise started to sound incessantly. The non-irritating sound rose and fell without a break, turning the examination room into an atmosphere of strangeness. There were so many refugees lined up that the room could barely contain them, packed in a confused wait. Until two machines emitted even sharper buzzing sounds consecutively. "Buzz buzz buzz!" The skinny monkey, who was testing the refugees in front of him, immediately broke the connection and turned his attention toward the two machines and the targets they were examining. A boy and a girl, both very young. Their figures were somewhat frail, but their eyes were bright and lively... And they were both good-looking too; their worn and tattered clothes couldn''t hide their innate aura. The medical machine''s standards only had two levels¡ªmight have it, and explosively strong. When the gap wasn''t significant, the machine couldn''t tell the difference. It was only when someone possessed talent to a certain extreme that the machine would issue this burdened warning as it was right now. In an instant, the skinny monkey''s expression, originally one of surprise, swiftly changed to one of humble recognition. He sprang to his feet and approached the two with careful hastened steps, asking with reverence, "May I know how the two noble individuals wish to be addressed?" It didn''t matter whether they were called nobles or not, or what their ages were; this world recognized only one truth¡ªrespect the strong. No matter where these people came from or what secrets lay behind their appearance, the reality of their spiritual talent stood firm. Such immensely talented refugees... no, nobles, were rare to see even in a monster-filled institution like the Heretical Arbitration House. And more importantly, they were still young. If these two young individuals were to progress step by step, their future achievements were unimaginable. And with such talents, they were bound to receive the city''s full nurturing efforts! As long as they didn''t perish halfway from the demon''s gaze, they would be the future''s strong pillars of support! Morphie and Kiro Lan exchanged a cautious glance before taking turns to briefly reply. "Morphie." "Kiro Lan." "Morphie... Kiro Lan... I need to conduct a small test for the two of you first, and I would be grateful if you could cooperate." It was highly likely that the machine had no problems, but considering the need to alert the higher levels of the organization, the Skinny Monkey had to perform a basic test himself. "...No problem." The attitude that differed so drastically from how they treated other refugees caused the children to be surprised, but they didn''t show too much reaction, simply agreeing cautiously. Everything in the city was fresh and unfamiliar to them; they needed time to adapt. The vortex spun quickly; feeling a throbbing pain in his brain, Skinny Monkey hastily retreated four or five steps. Without any time to consider his mind being stirred as if by a heated iron needle, Skinny Monkey stepped forward quickly, his tone humble to the extreme. "Please wait a moment here; I''ll go notify the city''s elders to come and receive you." "Wait." Morphie furrowed her brows slightly and asked Skinny Monkey, "Is there, any problem with us?" "No problem at all!" Skinny Monkey replied in quick succession, fearing that he might leave any misunderstanding with the future elders, "It''s just that your talents are too exceptional; they are rare in the entire city, and our small division has no authority to handle it. We need to report to the higher-ups so they can personally come to guide both of you." "..." Talents? Exceptional? Morphie and Kiro Lan exchanged glances. They had lived in that oasis town for the past decade or so, where such barbaric places don''t pay heed to these things. They, had talents? But regardless, seeing the other''s humble attitude, both became aware that they might indeed find a decent settlement environment in this city. Status meant having a voice, and Kiro Lan felt somewhat exhilarated, ''In that case, it should be no problem to go to the military barracks, right?'' ... The appearance of those with Spiritual Energy talents was evidently a top-priority matter in the city. And this time, the matter was particularly significant! The arrival of two top-tier talents along with an entire group of over four hundred refugees, all possessing basic talents, immediately caused an uproar within the Spiritual Power Managers Center that received the news. Each Spiritual Energy practitioner specialized in different areas; not all belonged to the Heretical Arbitration House. Spiritual Energy practitioners affiliated with the city were firstly part of the Spiritual Power Managers Center and secondly the various functional agencies. An A-level personnel from the Management Center and two B-level persons arrived together, their released Spiritual Pressure causing Skinny Monkey to hunch over, completely unable to look them in the eye. "Where are they?" the authoritative female voice in the middle calmly asked. "They''re in that room over there... I''ve asked the two elders to rest over there first." "Lead the way." "Yes." ... After a more precise test, Aglaya rubbed her temples with her pale finger, looking slightly distressed. Unimaginably exceptional talents. Both of them. In the history of the entire city, probably no more than five individuals possessed Spiritual Energy talents equal to or surpassing these two children. And each of these talents of such caliber was undoubtedly an indescribable treasure and core of the city. "We''ve struck gold!" An elated male B-level colleague exclaimed. Another male B-level colleague, although equally excited, still maintained his own critical thinking, "But the question is, why did they appear at the same time?" It could be called coincidence for two superb talents to appear together, but for two superb talents and a group of basic talents to emerge at the same time was just too strange. Aglaya crouched down gently, her expression softening slightly from the sternness the outsiders saw, "Child, tell me, where do you all come from?" These were refugees brought back by the military, which was all the information they had. Specific details were for the military to record, the refuge center didn''t care about those matters. But now, they could only analyze based on the origins of these people. About to reach adulthood, the large-sister-figure with pitch-black curls exuded a spirited aura; her face, unlike Kiro Lan''s delicate and charming one, possessed a kind of bold and sharp beauty. This caused the typically proactive Morphie to unusually blush slightly. Kiro Lan spoke calmly, "We come from Jinshuizhou Town." "Jinshuizhou Town?" The male B-level member silently noted this name. Aglaya''s gaze focused on the girl''s face in front of her, and she continued to inquire softly, "Did you encounter anything unusual on the way here?" Kiro Lan looked straight into her eyes, "When we were hiding in an underground cavern... we encountered a demon, like those in the legends." "Impossible!" one of the B-level members immediately denied, "If you truly encountered a demon, you could not have escaped!" Escape with these refugees having no combat power? Talent potential is potential, combat power is combat power. Perhaps they had encountered some inexplicable incidents, which these ignorant people mistook for the work of demons. "No! That was indeed the demon itself." Kiro Lan kept eye contact, unyielding. Aglaya didn''t rush to dismiss this claim. Her serene and wise eyes just stared into Kiro Lan''s, "Then how did you manage to escape?" Upon encountering the true form of a demon, either one was corrupted and enslaved or directly devoured. Such entities knew nothing of mercy. Kiro Lan spoke gently as if recalling the towering figure of that elder, "A warrior appeared and saved all of us." Aglaya narrowed her eyes, "Was it a soldier sent by the military to assist you?" "Yes." "What''s his name?" "Bai E." "Let''s go," Aglaya rose suddenly, "To the military camp." "Hey, hey, hey! You really believe what she said? That''s a demon!" "Then how would you explain all those refugees suddenly having Spiritual Energy fluctuations?" Aglaya glanced back at him. In her mind, an explanation was already taking form. But it needed to be confirmed through a face-to-face confrontation. Chapter 237 223 Wishing to prove loyalty "What! You''ve encountered the high-dimensional demon itself!"As the Captain of Squad One detailed the full process of the mission and mentioned the demons in the cavern, the usually quiet superior officer suddenly stood up and stared at him with burning eyes, asking with some distrust, "Are you sure it was the demon itself?" Captain One, who had been full of confidence a moment ago, was also taken aback and subconsciously glanced back at Bai E standing to the side behind him, "It was... right?" If it wasn''t the demon itself, then what could it be? It had the ability to share real scenes with everyone at the same time and could even create unique horrifying illusions for each person based on their deepest fears to force them into a state of terror. Although none of the warriors or refugees had ever seen the true form of a demon before, after a discussion, everyone agreed that the creature could be nothing other than a demon. "..." The officer responsible for listening to the report turned serious. Confronting a demon was no trifling matter. In some places, even information about demons was forbidden, let alone facing a demon in the flesh. Even just meeting those powerful high-dimensional creatures carried the risk of corruption. That was the expertise of the bigwigs at the Heretical Arbitration House, not something ordinary people could take lightly, and even he was not fully versed in the intricacies of it all. "Wait here, I will call for a user of Spiritual Energy." "Yes." Captain One instinctively agreed immediately. In the silent room, the members of the united squad looked at each other. "Seems like a serious matter?" "Wasn''t it driven away by Bai E? Shouldn''t be any problem, right?" The fight was over; wasn''t everything settled after reporting and rewarding their achievements? The soldiers who had never dealt with the realm of demons were just as ignorant of the significance behind this caution. Seeing the superior officer''s reaction, everyone felt somewhat uneasy. Without speaking, all eyes inadvertently swept over Bai E¡ªif there really was a problem, this War God would probably be the most troublesome one. ... But in a moment, a tall and lanky man pushed aside the curtain and strode into the room. "You encountered the demon itself?" The voice of the Spiritual Energy user resonated with a hum, as if imbued with a specific Magic Power that made it difficult to tell lies. Some basic enhancements, such as improved reflexes or physical stamina, were common abilities of a user of Spiritual Energy. But each Spiritual Energy user''s core ability was different, and this user''s core ability was to make it difficult for people to tell lies with ease. However... this was never a lie. "Yes, sir." After a moment of collected contemplation, Captain One showed the responsibility he was supposed to. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The facts remained facts, and would not change no matter how many times one asked. "We all encountered the demon, and it was Soldier Bai E who defeated it by himself!" No matter what awaited them, the facts needed to be stated. "Who is Bai E?" "I am," Bai E stepped forward, taking the initiative to answer. "You defeated the demon by yourself?" The Spiritual Energy user fixed his gaze on Bai E. He felt this young man looked somewhat familiar, but had no time to ponder it further. Looking at Bai E''s eyes, veiled with a light mist, "The demon died before you?" "No, sir! It was banished. It retreated back into the high-dimensional space," Bai E answered calmly, hands clasped behind his back. The Spiritual Energy user frowned slightly, "How can you be sure it was the high-dimensional space?" "After it was defeated, the space became hazy, too blinding to look at, and it stirred up a tempest in our minds. I believe these are the traits of the high-dimensional space. Moreover, there were over four hundred refugees present, and they all know." "Over four hundred refugees saw it as well?" The Spiritual Energy user muttered softly, "This is troublesome." Without meaning to, he glanced back at the officer who had called him over, somewhat blaming him for not sharing such crucial information... Then he continued to question Bai E, "What about them? Why did you alone defeat the demon?" "They were temporarily incapacitated by the demon''s corrupting power and I escorted them outside the cavern to rest." "So only you alone faced the demon? They were just corrupted by its power?" "Yes, sir! But there were also over four hundred refugees with me inside the cavern." "..." The Spiritual Energy user lapsed into silence, then spoke to the officer receiving the brief after a moment, "Step outside with me." After leaving the room, out of earshot of the soldiers, the Spiritual Energy user stopped and with a grave expression said to the officer, "I suspect they are lying." As for the purpose... perhaps it was to claim military honors? Most soldiers are loyal, but beneath loyalty, it''s not inconceivable that some harbor personal motives. As a user of Spiritual Energy, he was more aware of the mysteries of the high-dimensional space than ordinary people, including middle and senior military officers who had not come into contact with the Spiritual Power World. This era was one of decay and darkness; none could escape it. The people living in this time, with all their belligerence, bloodlust, jealousy, and twisted tendencies, was it really just due to human nature alone? No! The sinful presence seeping from the high-dimensional space was constantly influencing this world! Every breath of air and every bite of food and drink was saturated with sin. Every creature would, over the long years, be corrupted by the madness in the very air they breathed, deep into their bones; none could avoid it, it was merely a question of time. Before succumbing to corruption, the value one could provide to the human empire defined the contribution of a person''s life. So, in a world where even betrayal seemed so justifiable, some soldiers seeking personal gain through lies... was unfortunately all too normal. "Isn''t it true that no one could lie before you?" The officer was puzzled, which was precisely why he had sought out this particularly skilled Spiritual Energy user. "My ability is not an absolute rule." Those who lied before him would be overwhelmed by the pressure of their guilty conscience in an instant. But if someone had received specialized training or possessed a corresponding resistance, naturally they could be immune. Spiritual Energy is some kind of ability that transcends common sense, but in essence, it is also just another form of contest. "So what they said was fine?" the officer frowned tightly. "I don''t know where they got some of this knowledge about demons, but what they said was basically not a big problem," the Spiritual Energy wielder shook his head. Normally circulated information about demons wouldn''t contain such detailed content, such as each person''s subjective impression of demons, the demons'' mental interference with everyone, and the presence felt when demons are repelled back into high-dimensional space... Without personal experience, it would be difficult to speak so accurately and confidently. And it was even a solo defeat, which was completely off the mark! Putting aside the truth of this military achievement, just to say... But how could this possibly be true?! Demons are also hierarchical! Ordinary common demon foot soldiers can actually be completely killed in the material world; it''s only those so-called "origin demons," whose core is linked to the source of emotions, that have the special privilege of retreating to high-dimensional space to recuperate after suffering fatal blows in the material world. Do these special squad soldiers really understand how powerful an origin demon is? If they truly encountered a demon of that caliber, even the enforcers of the Heretical Arbitration House would probably need to be on high alert. Without assembling a small team of at least ten people, those enforcers would probably not even dare to glance at It. Such an existence, defeated by you, a mere foot soldier, alone? And to even directly annihilate its physical body in the material world, sending the demon... back to slumber within high-dimensional space? Do you think you''re the War God Ares himself? The officer didn''t have the Spiritual Energy wielder''s complex thoughts and just furrowed his brow, focusing on the present, "So, what do we do now?" Defeated a high-dimensional demon, but without a shred of evidence, how is this to be handled? Is this military merit to be recorded or not? Even if it were to be recorded... How would one record a solo defeat of a demon? There were no standards or precedents to reference... "Or... just rub it out and forget it," the officer couldn''t be bothered with the hassle. "Record it! Of course, it must be recorded," the Spiritual Energy wielder insisted. For the warrior himself, fairness is necessary. For the military camp, lying is the beginning of corruption. Excellent soldiers deserve commendation, while corrupted soldiers must undergo cleansing. Either a cleansing of the spirit or a cleansing of the body. Otherwise, bigger mistakes will emerge in the future! "Let''s go back there!" ... "Are you willing to take full responsibility for your words?" the Spiritual Energy wielder stood before Bai E, staring silently into his eyes. "I am willing," Bai E''s voice was resounding and powerful. The Spiritual Energy wielder then turned to the other members of this joint squad, "And you?" "Willing!" "Good," the Spiritual Energy wielder nodded, "Since you insist, I can then tell you everything that is about to happen. Remember, this is your own choice..." The Spiritual Energy wielder, with hands clasped behind his back, swept his stern gaze over all the soldiers before him, "Anyone who has directly gazed upon a high-dimensional demon has a high probability of being contaminated by the demon! Even though you are now warriors of the empire, it is very possible that you have unwittingly joined the ranks of the demons. With your own hands, you''ll destroy everything that you were supposed to protect!" "..." The warriors who had never encountered such information began to show visible panic. The Spiritual Energy wielder was pleased with this reaction; there was hope for those willing to turn back. The psychological counseling team in the camp was there for this purpose. "If you are certain that you truly encountered a high-dimensional demon, then I will request that the enforcers from the Heretical Arbitration House conduct a final arbitration for you. If it is confirmed that you are still the empire''s most loyal warriors, then you will receive the commendations you deserve. But if... you have unknowingly become the minions and slaves of those demons, then... the Spiritual Energy Furnace awaits you!" If it''s a lie, surely these words would be enough to make them recoil. Once they recoil, their resolve would no longer be firm. Before him, lies have nowhere to hide! The Spiritual Energy wielder''s gaze held a faint foggy light, calmly waiting for the chain collapse triggered by some point among these warriors. The buzzing voice still echoed in the room, with a determined voice ringing out first. "In the name of the empire, I shall prove my loyalty!" Bai E spoke out emotionlessly. The demon had indeed been truly repelled by himself; this was an undeniable fact. The panel acknowledged everything, and up until now, there was no judgment related to corruption. Bai E believed he was clean. The initial voice solidified the resolve of the warriors who had felt uneasy because of the Spiritual Energy wielder''s words. Yes, this was the truth. Although they hadn''t been much help in the process of repelling the demon, this was the fact! The credit that belonged to Bai E should not be buried! Furthermore... if they had indeed been unwittingly corrupted by the demons... Then for humanity... for the empire... they should ensure their own cleanliness! The city could be destroyed tomorrow, could be breached by external enemies, but should never! Perish at the hands of the warriors who once protected everything! "In the name of the empire, I shall prove my loyalty!" All the soldiers cried out in unison! Chapter 238 224 Unclean Whisperings "They might really not be lying," the psychic now harbored a shred of belief in the face of the soldiers'' resolve."Should we really notify the people from the Arbitration Place?" hesitation still lingered in the heart of the officer who had left the room. The individuals there were paranoid lunatics, among whom the "Purist Faction" proclaimed that any human who knew even the slightest bit about demon knowledge should be completely eradicated. And now, the soldiers who had faced the demon¡­ "Armored battalion." The psychic pointed in a particular direction. Ever since the last combat with the Bug Race, the city had arranged for the enforcers from the Arbitration Place to come and help train the Mecha pilots of the armored battalion to withstand spiritual energy blasts. This plan had been underway for some time now, and the enforcers selected as training instructors might not be so fanatical in temperament; privately inviting them for an appraisal shouldn''t be an issue. "That could work!" The officer nodded in agreement. Such an approach would at least keep the matter quiet, as initiating cross-departmental applications was a complicated affair. It was now evening, and there were no training tasks. The enforcer who had been invited, upon hearing it might be related to demons, allowed professional ethics to immediately take control of their body. "Let''s go!" No matter where they were, eradicating anything related to demons was a duty they had to fulfill as enforcers. "We invited you here today to examine if there is any demonic residue posing a threat on them," said the officer and psychic, both avoiding too much detail due to their stereotype of the enforcers from the Arbitration Place, not wanting these enforcers to get too involved in this matter. Internal matters of the military camp were not for the enforcers to decide. "Hmm," the stout and imposing enforcer responded briefly, "Where are the people?" "Inside." They lifted the tent flap and entered the room. The soldiers from the joint squad were still waiting quietly. The enforcer reached out to grab an orb-like object from thin air and, after injecting spiritual energy into it for a moment, he firmly declared. "No." Each enforcer had their unique ways of discerning the scent of demons, a fundamental skill for battling demons. Yet, there was nothing. "Nothing?" The psychic was a bit taken aback, finding it hard to believe that, after an encounter with a demon, there was not a trace of demonic threat lingering on them. A perfect battle against a demon? "Really nothing?" The officer was also somewhat stupefied, incredulously repeating the question. Now that he had somewhat accepted the fact that these soldiers had truly encountered a demon, he was already thinking about how to arrange follow-up actions. Having encountered a demon, maybe not everyone was problematic, but surely one or two couldn''t escape suspicion, right? Such people definitely couldn''t just be handed over to the enforcers for an on-the-spot resolution; the fate of those under the military''s jurisdiction had to be decided by high-ranking officers. But now¡­ nothing? The plans that had been swirling in his head came to nothing, and the absurd supposition that had temporarily subsided now surged back¡ª The joint squad repelled a higher-dimensional demon, leaving no evidence behind¡ªis this military achievement acknowledged or not? How should it be recorded? "Sir¡­ are you certain?" the officer murmured in disbelief, almost without thinking. "It is our duty; they are merely perfectly normal people, untainted by demons," the enforcer glanced at him, his boiling blood now cooling down gradually. It turned out to be a false alarm that caused unnecessary excitement. Chasing after anything related to demons was his duty, as well as his lifelong pursuit. Having his expectations dashed, he was the one who felt the most distressed. "All right then¡­ thank you for your trouble, sir," the officer sighed. "What exactly happened?" Yet the enforcer was in no rush to leave. Not a single clue related to demons could be overlooked; even if these soldiers themselves were not problematic, they might lead to something truly related to demons. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s like this, sir¡­" Since their own people were clean, the officer didn''t hesitate to relay the information they had, "They were dispatched for a mission to meet some refugees, but in the area where the refugees had settled, they encountered a real demon¡­ and then¡­" "So¡­" The enforcer''s mood darkened with each word he heard, and his emotional state grew noticeably agitated. He looked at the officer like one would look at an idiot and then turned his gaze towards the psychic, "You believe what they said?" "¡­" Feeling pierced by his gaze, the psychic softly retorted, "At first, we didn''t believe either..." "Do you know what level a demon that is only repelled but not killed falls into?" The enforcer eyed the psychic with scorn. "I know¡­ A Source Demon, right?" "A Source Demon!" The enforcer laughed bitterly. "A Source Demon, you say... If you know about Source Demons, then you should understand how troublesome such creatures are. Do you think they could defeat a Source Demon with just their power?" Those were beings even a group of enforcers had to carefully handle together. Was it possible that a single one¡ªno, just a simple soldier with hardly any knowledge of demons¡ªcould repel a Source Demon? What need would there be for enforcers at all then? He initially thought that, even if the soldiers were fine, they might have clues about the demon, but now it seemed to be a complete false alarm. "Furthermore¡­" The enforcer intended to educate the psychic of the military camp a bit, to prevent similar false alarms in the future, "one more thing you must understand¡ªhow many refugees did they say there were?" "Over four hundred," the officer replied without hesitation. "Over four hundred!" The enforcer snorted with derision, "How could over four hundred refugees summon a Source Demon? And its true form at that! The stronger the demon, the harder it is for them to manifest in the material world; ordinary demons can hardly descend to the material world, even if it''s just as a willful possession, let alone a Source Demon! If over four hundred people could summon the true form of a Source Demon, this world would already belong to the demons!" He waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave, "They are definitely making it all up; this is an issue for your military to handle, I''m out of here." "Safe travels, sir¡­" The officer''s voice of respectful farewell had not completely faded when a calm voice abruptly broke the silence, "But sir, why didn''t you ask about the details of the combat process?" It was Bai E. He didn''t actually care much about the military merit of repelling demons; personally, he would rather have less trouble than more. But the fact had already occurred, and you can''t wrap fire in paper; it was absolutely impossible to suppress what so many people knew. In the future, when asked why he concealed it, how would he answer? Moreover, after confronting demons himself, Bai E had personally experienced the affliction of having a seed planted by a demon. He could only be sure that he was unaffected, but what about the other soldiers? What about those refugees? Could there be hidden dangers in their souls as the Spiritual Energy users in the military camp said? Was there potential for demons to exploit these weaknesses in the future? Deep down, he hoped the military would take this matter more seriously. So he might as well stand his ground now. If they still thought he was faking it... then let them think he was faking it. Bai E''s statement made the enforcer, who had already taken a step out, pause and turn his head sharply toward Bai E, his gaze sharp as a knife. "You''ve got some nerve!" "I only hope that sir will take this seriously. We may be fine, but there is no guarantee that those refugees are as well... and those few scouts who survived." On the way here, Bai E had noticed that their mental state wasn''t quite right, and their spirit, energy, and mind were definitely not what one would expect from a soldier. Was it truly because they were disheartened by defeat? Or was it because the seeds planted by the demons were still rooted in the corners of their souls? "Are you teaching me how to do my job?" The enforcer narrowed his eyes slightly, with a glint of cold light flashing. "If I have offended, it was not my intention." "..." The enforcer didn''t speak again but stared at Bai E with a somewhat gloomy look in his eyes. Cacophonous whispers from higher dimensions kept whispering in his ear incessantly. At this moment, it was as if they had substance, saying¡ª "Kill him!" "Kill him!" "Kill this insolent fool who affronts your authority!" A daunting Spiritual Energy pressure surged through the room, the airflow stumbled slowly, and the chilling breath even spilled out of the door. No one spoke. No one dared to break the silence at that moment. It wasn''t until a series of rapid footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by the familiar voice of Marshal Weslin, "The briefing room is this way. The joint squad that went out on a mission just returned not long ago, I''ve already questioned them, and now they''re registering their operation records here." "Whoosh~" The door curtain was flung open, and Aglaya, who had not yet stepped into the room, sensed the pervasive Spiritual Energy pressure in the air. So, right after entering, she turned her attention to the only enforcer in the room. "What are you doing?!" The Spiritual Energy pressure from the higher-ranking Spiritual Energy user immediately took control of the scene, and the imposing female voice resonated deep within the souls of everyone present. Spiritual Energy users'' core abilities vary, but most of them are actually quite astute. To sustain strong Spiritual Energy powers, a sensitive and intelligent brain is essential. Aglaya, one of the few A-rank managers of the Administration Bureau, is almost certainly one of the most outstanding individuals among all the Spiritual Energy users in the entire city. She excels in both strength and wisdom. She didn''t even need anyone to explain; by just sensing the atmosphere, she could roughly guess the reason for the tension. After all, the truth may indeed overturn the understanding of ordinary people... including ordinary enforcers or Spiritual Energy users. Aglaya''s voice was like a bucket of ice water in summer, instantly clearing the enforcer''s mind. The noisy whispers in his mind also dispersed in an instant. "Lady Aglaya..." He bowed his head and stepped back, beginning to repent. Every enforcer of the Arbitration Place faced the constant erosion of those unclean whispers from higher dimensions while battling demons. Just now, he had nearly fallen. During his time at the military camp, the silent superiority and irritability he felt while teaching the armored battalion''s soldiers had made him lose himself. Perhaps it was time to consider returning to his career of hunting demons... Aglaya glanced at him and looked away. She then turned to Bai E, who was at the center of the oppressive atmosphere just moments ago. Without needing any introductions, she had already identified her target. "You''re Bai E?" The tall figure stood before him, even a few centimeters taller than himself, making her approach seem all the more imposing. Bai E looked up and met her eyes calmly, his voice exhibiting not a single ripple, "Yes, it''s me." "Good that it''s you," Aglaya said, her lips curling slightly, seemingly satisfied with the soldier''s reaction. Chapter 239 225 Bai E, is he an android? On her way here, she had already heard everything about this warrior from two children¡ªAlone in the cave, he expelled demons; in the battle against the orcs, he single-handedly turned the tide; at the ruins of the small town, he held the rear with three arrows to repel the enemy. It was unimaginable how the military managed to train such an extraordinarily capable warrior. With an unshakable mind unaffected by demons, his great benevolence saved many from disaster, and his combat skills were exceptional, surpassing even those battle-skilled officers of the Arbitration Place. The reason for her visit was to see for herself what kind of person the true model of this warrior was. After all, humans are creatures of emotion, and the narratives of Morphie and Kiro Lan inevitably carried the sentimental bias inherent to their humanity. She needed to bring the owner of these deeds down to earth, strip away the emotional perspectives, and then see what kind of hero stood before her. As for the facts themselves, she had already inquired with more refugees; facts were facts¡­ Now seeing him for the first time, he was neither humble nor arrogant, and maintained his self-opinion even when faced with skepticism. This was indeed the demeanor of a warrior capable of all those feats, and should be the very object of extreme admiration spoken of by the children. As Aglaya confirmed with her voice, the door curtains rose again. Morphie and Kiro Lan rushed in from outside, and upon seeing Bai E, both children were instantly overjoyed. "Sir!" "Bai E, sir!" Bai E''s lips curled slightly as he smiled at them. Seeing this scene, he probably also knew a bit of the truth¡ª The officer''s words just now had not escaped the ears of their warriors, and the doubts he raised were actually quite reasonable. But what he had failed to consider was... talent. More than four hundred refugees, being ordinary people, did not have the capability to summon the true form of a primeval demon, but what if... there were extraordinary individuals among the refugees? Yes, talent! The learning abilities of the two children could even be compared to the system buffs on himself and the players, which had previously taken Bai E by surprise. And now, it seemed that the children''s talents were more fearsome than he had imagined, so much so that the real big shot of the city had rushed over to confront him immediately. This tall and dignified woman with shiny black curls that gleamed blue, the floating damage numbers above her head confirmed the substance of her strength. Only slightly less recognized by the system than Yue Ying. The true core figure of the city in the field of Spiritual Energy! "I''m asking you, what were you arguing about?" Aglaya spoke softly, her solid voice was calm and imposing, deterring any thoughts of deceit. "This is Aglaya from the Spiritual Power Managers Center; answer her question seriously." Fearing that these soldiers didn''t understand the severity of the situation, Weslin, who personally led the way and stood by smiling, gave a light cough before reminding them. "I want the lords to focus on screening," Bai E said, meeting her gaze with parity, every word clear and distinct, "Our team has just encountered demons, and I don''t know if I could be corrupted by the demons as a result, let alone if others could be subtly tainted." "Do you know what kind of existence you''re up against?" Aglaya gazed intently into Bai E''s eyes. Spiritual Energy is about confrontation. But she was confident that no one in this city could lie before her. "I know." "After getting all your companions on that cart, you should have immediately retreated and brought the intelligence back to the military camp." The two children had learned some details from the idle chatter of the warriors, but not in great detail. Aglaya needed this rare case to analyze why this incident ended the way it did, and if possible, whether it could be applied to combat all demons. Insects are the greatest enemy in the material world, and demons... are the greatest enemies for Spiritual Energy practitioners and the mental realm of all humanity. "I couldn''t retreat. I believed it was a trap set by the demon." "A trap?" queried Aglaya, her eyebrows raised. "He was deliberately letting us escape... Fleeing is a sign of weakness; once one fears, one is already within His grasp." "On what basis?" "Feeling," answered Bai E with a light blink, each refined movement played slowly in Aglaya''s mind, "I deduced that this was a demon centered around ''fear,'' and I thought it might be worth trying this line of thinking." "¡­" Aglaya stared silently at Bai E before slightly tilting her chin up after a moment, "Do you have absolute confidence in defeating Him?" "No." "Then why not return to the city and report? Your actions could have deprived the city of key information, leading to history repeating itself," Aglaya said, her tone somewhat sharp as a keen edge faced head-on. "I left comrades behind; if I didn''t make it out, they could still come back and report after they recovered." A flawless explanation. Aglaya''s piercing gaze softened slightly. He was just braver, sharper, and more decisive. Once he had decided to act... "how to achieve it" had already been demonstrated by facts. All the refugees had witnessed that process. The demon at the core of fear finally suffered a backlash, and the warrior''s attack was merely going with the flow. Or rather, it was precisely because of the warrior''s selfless devotion that everyone''s will to resist was awakened. Humans have defeated demons countless times throughout history, thanks to the heroes who stepped forward at such critical moments. However, this time the ability to push back the Primeval Demon was more attributed to the warrior''s fierce courage, with few lessons that could be broadly applied. This demon was special¡ª Based on more than four hundred refugees, the Primeval Demon''s status was indeed lofty, its core tied to "fear," immortal and indestructible. Even if destroyed in the material world, it would return to high-dimensional space and wait for an opportunity to resurrect. But it was also weak, much like Morphie and Kiro Lan who supported its birth, possessing innate gifts and a high future potential, but currently lacking strong power, which allowed the warrior to delay it long enough for its "First Elect" to sense the master''s "weakness" and thus betray it. Yes... The Elect. This is why all the refugees other than Morphie and Kiro Lan also had fluctuations in their Spiritual Energy talent. In fact, the judgment of the military camp''s Spiritual Power Managers and even the executioners was not wrong; even with supernaturally talented individuals like Morphie and Kiro Lan, a group of over four hundred people could not summon any Primeval Demon that had taken form in high-dimensional space into the material world. So, this Lord of Fear was newly born. At the initial birth of the Fear Demon, being inside the incubating demon''s ovary, they naturally became the First Elect of this newborn demon. In a sense, their souls were all extremely close to the high-dimensional space that ordinary people struggle to access, resulting in their now innate familiarity with Spiritual Energy. This was also a method of awakening Spiritual Energy talent; any human who had the chance to touch high-dimensional space with their soul could possibly awaken the talent for Spiritual Energy and become a noble Spiritual Energy manager. However, those who tried to glimpse the secrets of higher dimensions through this method were often first to be corrupted by the unpredictable high-dimensional space and turned into fodder for demons, with very few able to actively break free and return. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This batch that was rescued... or rather, that initiated resistance on their own to completely break free from the "gods" and return to the present world, was unprecedented! Moreover, because they had once resisted a demon and shed their status as the Elect, they might be more resilient than ordinary Spiritual Energy managers when facing other demonic incursions in the future. This was nothing short of miraculous wealth for the city! And all this, was brought back by this warrior before their eyes! The conviction from deep within him made his decision utterly correct. If he had retreated even a step, his soul, his life, would no longer be his own. There would be no chance of returning to the military camp, let alone passing on a message. The scouts before him had also had the same thoughts, yet at the moment they decided to flee, they had already lost control of their own fate. ["Lucky Strike" energy recharge +1.] Aglaya retracted the storm in her eyes, turning instead to look at Weslin, who was just waiting with a grin, "Marshal Weslin, could you please come here for a moment." Aglaya and Weslin turned their backs, so all the sounds and movements they made were no longer observable by Bai E and the others. "Marshal Weslin, I would like to see the personal information of this soldier, Bai E." A warrior able to resist demonic assault and acutely detect the tendrils of its spiritual world invasion likely possesses some talent for Spiritual Energy as well. Even if not as extraordinary as Morphie and Kiro Lan, proper nurturing could definitely make him a powerful executor in the Arbitration Place. Executors are "expendable" and need to be replenished at all times. "I have brought it." Weslin cheerfully took out the tablet he had been holding, prepared for when he knew this personage was coming for the joint squad. He had readied everything. After all, the Spiritual Power Managers Center is this city''s most vital core institution! It''s the top priority echelon he needs to court. The screen lit up and Aglaya''s face, previously somewhat gentle, stiffened instantly, her sharp, narrow eyes immediately capturing the most crucial information¡ª [ID: 95B27] Synthetic human... Bai E was a synthetic human... She held no factional bias against synthetic humans, but there was a prohibition associated with them! Thought Dulling. This innate restriction indeed allowed them a bit more resistance to high-dimensional demon corruption than normal humans, but also nearly cut off the possibility of their awakening to Spiritual Energy. He might... not deserve such deep veneration and admiration from Morphie and Kiro Lan. Suddenly, Aglaya fell silent. Returning to face Bai E, Aglaya''s expression became so calm it was entirely devoid of emotion. "I need to conduct a test on you... to confirm there are indeed no remnants of the demon''s tendrils on you." Chapter 240 226 Implemented Gene Optimization Solution There were no remnants of demons.But there was also no Spiritual Energy talent, nor even a degree of resistance. This was a standard indication of dulled thoughts. The prohibition could not be broken. Aglaya sighed quietly to herself and put away the thought she initially had of bolstering the image of Morphie and Kiro Lan as objects of veneration. "Let''s go, you''ve already wasted a lot of time, from now on... you must study without ceasing." The two children who had been excitedly talking about how well their clan members were now being treated by Bai E were called away by Aglaya. As they left, Aglaya did not forget to remind Marshal Weslin, who had come out with her, "Marshal, this warrior has performed exceptionally. Please ensure he receives everything he deserves." But he should not covet anything unwarranted. She didn''t articulate the message too explicitly, after all, the two children were right beside her, but she expected the Marshal to understand her meaning. The warrior''s merits should not be erased, but he was no longer suitable to remain in contact with Morphie and Kiro Lan. Cutting off relations was best for everyone. Weslin paused for a moment, then nodded with a smile, "Understood." "You don''t need to see us off, Marshal. You''re also very busy." "Alright..." Watching them leave, Weslin turned and went back inside the tent. His gaze swept over the faces of the bewildered soldiers before he spoke in a deep voice. "Keep everything about this operation a secret for now. Don''t let me hear even a whisper about this rescue from anyone unrelated. Also, lock down the operation record with my authorization; no one is allowed to access it. Is that clear to everyone?" "Understood!" "Alright, the rest of you can go back now. Bai E, you stay." Once all the soldiers, including the record-keeping officers and Spiritual Energy managers, had left, Weslin, who had been sitting silently behind the long table, lifted his head from his meditative state. He looked at Bai E with a genuinely pleased smile. "You did very well this time." From the brief explanation given during the meeting with Aglaya and what he overheard just then, he had generally grasped the entire process of the incident. He already had a deep impression of the artificial human warrior before him, whose consistent outstanding performances had vividly and concretely demonstrated his achievements in certain respects. This time, he had even managed to bring back two extraordinary Spiritual Energy talents and a group of ordinary talents from a mission that was "impossible" to succeed. Of course, this was a contribution to the Spiritual Power Managers Center and did not reflect on him personally. His real benefit, however, was that Aglaya owed him a small favor... and the favorable impression he had left on the military under his leadership. That was his greatest gain. A delighted Weslin made a final, definite promise, "You won''t be assigned any missions or wander around these next few days. The quota for the Gene Optimization Solution you applied for has been approved. The staff from the Scientific Research Institute has been waiting for you to return to collect your body data. I''ve already passed on the news of your return to them, and if nothing unexpected happens, they should be over tomorrow." [It''s finally confirmed!] Joy surged in Bai E''s heart. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He hadn''t taken seriously the big promises sketched out previously, only now with these definite words did he feel that matters were finally settled. "Thank you, sir!" What a grateful warrior... Full of admiration, Weslin''s face was beaming, "It''s what you deserve." ... In the vehicle returning to the city, Aglaya collected her emotions, looking at the two children sitting opposite her. "Earlier on, you mentioned having certain demands, right?" Morphie immediately spoke up, "Kiro Lan, she..." Under the table, Kiro Lan pressed her hand to Morphie''s to stop what he was about to say. Facing Aglaya''s questioning gaze, Kiro Lan looked up with a smile, "Nothing much, ma''am. I just want to learn more about demons and combat skills to prevent encountering situations like we''ve been through before." Her thoughts were more intricate; she had clearly perceived the change in attitude from Aglaya during their earlier interaction. In this city, the status and position of Bai E didn''t seem very high; he was still subject to the restraint of others. Aglaya obviously didn''t want her to interact with Bai E any longer... So they''d overturn these rules. In the brief time, Kiro Lan had already gauged her and Morphie''s place in this city from how all the city dwellers they met treated them. They valued her and Morphie highly, indicating that their potential was likely rare in this city. Likewise, the leader with such charismatic qualities was certainly not a common person. If both sides worked together, what could stop them from reaching the pinnacle? There was no rush. No need to hurry... Everything was still in its early stages. After all, even Grandfather was working in the shadows for their benefactor. Aglaya clearly saw Kiro Lan''s subtle gesture and was inwardly pleased. Indeed, children raised in the wilderness were more sensible than those family descendants from the city. This was good as well, sparing her the need to explain. After a brief moment of contemplation, Aglaya made a decision, "Then... first go to the Heretical Arbitration Place for some training. You''ve started late, and although you have exceptional talents, you must be wary of the prying eyes of higher-dimensional demons. The Arbitration Place is an expert in this area, where you can achieve the fastest improvement." "Alright! We''ll follow the instructor''s arrangement." Kiro Lan was exceedingly well-behaved. Morphie didn''t think too much and happily echoed, "We''ll listen to the instructor!" ... "Have you heard? Two geniuses have arrived at our House! Real geniuses!" "Yes, I heard they were personally brought here by Aglaya of the Spiritual Power Managers Center. She requested that they receive the best training possible." Franca walked along a steel corridor lit only by two rows of dim oil lamps. This was the architectural style of the Arbitration Place. Stuffy, outdated, with even the air seemingly filled with the scent of rust. The corridor was not particularly spacious, and not all the enforcement officers passing by were of the reticent kind. As they walked, they chatted among themselves, their voices easily reaching Franca''s ears. Geniuses? Personally delivered by Aglaya? The stalwart man walked beside Franca, with a smile playing at the corner of his mouth as he glanced at the young girl beside him, "Is there a newcomer even more talented than you?" Franca was already considered one of the strongest spiritual talents in the city in recent years, and when she was brought to the Arbitration Place, she did not even receive the personal escort of Aglaya. Upon hearing this news, Franca''s eyes sparkled slightly, and she was quite interested. She always liked bustling and novel things. A genius even more formidable than herself sounded like fun. So, she turned on her heel and headed straight toward the two chatting enforcers, her pretty face brimming with a charmingly cheeky smile, "My colleagues, I overheard you talking about newcomers? Where are they from?" With her cheerfully smiling face, Franca was obviously capable of easily obtaining information. The two officers responded with beaming smiles, "There are two of them, rumored to be top-tier talents rarely seen. It''s said they just arrived in the city as refugees... We really struck gold this time." "That impressive, huh~" Franca let out a genuine gasp of admiration, "Where are they? Can we go see them?" "They''re with the Judgment Chief... If you dare to go, then go ahead." "What''s there to be afraid of." Franca strode off. "Hey hey hey!" The brawny man quickly caught up from behind, "We have important matters to attend to!" Since that rat-like person was rescued by mysterious forces, their traces were lost. Whether they tried tracking the rats or searching through the black industries involved with the military, they couldn''t find any information about that mysterious force. It was as if this mysterious force had emerged out of thin air. The various powers of Black Street seemed to have no clues... or perhaps, they dared not speak? If it wasn''t a local power from Black Street, could it possibly be an extended arm probing from the city? If it was from the city, that would be troublesome. In the city, there were hundreds of battle gangs, with complex and intertwined relations, each with their own schemes. If that rat person was indeed rescued by an internal city power, extracting him back out would be difficult. But such incidents were not uncommon in the city; the city was too large and chaotic, accommodating every kind of filth and squalor. They returned to share the intelligence about the rat person with others, marking him as a long-term target. After all, given what they had collected on his abilities and personality, even among demon believers, he was considered one of the least harmful. If he were to be exploited by someone with ulterior motives, his abilities would make it quite easy for him to be noticed, but his danger level wasn''t top-tier, allowing them to afford the luxury of time for a slow pursuit. At the same time, all the enforcers sent out on missions needed to return to the Arbitration Place at fixed intervals to report and monitor their spiritual state, provided they were not far from the city. Those who fought demons were themselves standing on the edge of a precipice, and their reputation was feared by all ordinary people for a reason. Anyone could fall from grace, indeed, they were even more prone to it... This was the crucial business they needed to take care of upon their return. But... "Let''s go see what''s happening first~" Franca never listened to him anyway; this mistress with her own strong opinions only did what she wanted to do. "I''m not going." Even inside the Arbitration Place, few wished to seek discomfort by visiting the Great Judgment Chief''s domain without reason. "I didn''t ask you to." "..." ... A towering statue of ten or more meters stood majestically, while a gaunt-faced old man with white hair gazed indifferently at the two adolescents on the distant red carpet below the statue''s dark pedestal. When was the last time the city saw such levels of spiritual talent in youngsters? Fourteen or fifteen years of age, their eyes were full of life, scanning all around, their extraordinary spiritual acuity radiating like spikes of cold light from a distant star. Indeed, very conspicuous... Such traits would stand out to him, and no doubt, even more so to those demons in higher dimensions. For them to have reached this age without any guard or self-cultivation, undetected by those demons, what kind of good fortune did that illustrate? An aged voice echoed in the spacious hall, ethereal and profound, "Aglaya, are you sure you want to send them here to train?" Aglaya gently stroked Kiro Lan''s soft hair at her side, "They possess the will to fight, and the subjective intent of a spiritual energy wielder is equally crucial." "You know the consequences all choices may bring." The Judge lowered his eyelids, "Since you''ve made your decision, I will not refuse." A rash voice suddenly tumbled in from the far-off hall entrance, across the smooth, mirror-like, bronze floor. The girl''s figure skated into view. "Hey hey hey! Grandpa Nolanitz! Where are the newcomers? Where are they?" Chapter 241 227 Transfer Application Franca''s sudden intrusion clearly caused the solemn atmosphere of the occasion to choke for a moment, and the intimate address made the muscles under the right eye of the old man on the high platform involuntarily tremble."Eh? Aglaya is also here?" Franca, who strode in, seemingly didn''t treat the Judgment Hall, regarded as a solemn place by all the executors, as anything serious. Aglaya glanced sideways at the noble young lady who was exquisitely dressed. Her family had significant weight in the city, so much so that her personal behavior often seemed unimportant. Anyone mentioning her would only remember the family behind her. But her family couldn''t afford to be frivolous in front of Judgment Chief Nolanitz... ''It seems that the young lady has also forged her own path...'' Aglaya withdrew her gaze and looked up again at the Judgment Chief above, "Your Excellency Nolanitz, since you have other matters to attend to, I won''t disturb you. Just these two children... I''ll trouble you with them." "Rest assured." Watching the tall woman''s retreating figure, Franca followed the two adolescents with a pair of curious eyes. To call them children was not quite accurate; after all, she wasn''t much older than them. Their eyes were large, full of vivacity. The girl had a quiet temperament, serene and reserved. The boy was lively and sunny, his curious eyes scanning around. They were said to be refugees? Yet the black clothes with golden stripes were sophisticated and elegant, suiting them well without the awkward urgency of refugees new to the city. Are these the two with extraordinary talents? Indeed, they had an exceptional air about them. "Franca, why have you come back?" While observing, the Judgment Chief Nolanitz suddenly asked from above. The previously ethereal and profound voice became more grounded, carrying a touch of closeness. "The Rat Plague case flopped, came back to report that I''m not dead yet." The old man fell silent for a moment, his voice slightly reproachful, "It must be that boy Balu being too arrogant..." "It''s not his fault; I let them escape," Franca waved her hand dismissively and turned to ask the boy and girl beside her, "Grandpa, are they the new recruits?" "Yes... You''ve come at just the right time," Nolanitz said with a clearly affectionate chuckle in his tone, "You lead them to Asibern at the youth training camp and tell him to keep a close eye on them. These two have started late and will need to work harder than the others." "Alright~" Franca cheerfully agreed on the spot, her eyes glued to the two children, "Follow big sister, I''ll take you to where we train." "Hold on." As Franca was about to turn, the Judgment Chief seemed to remember something, "The executor that went to instruct the soldiers at the military camp has requested a transfer, leaving a vacancy. Franca, would you be interested?" "The military camp?" Franca cocked her head thoughtfully, "The one where you mentioned going to do Psychic Pressure Resistance Training for those soldiers?" "Yes." "Didn''t I submit an application that was rejected?" "So now I''m giving you the opportunity." Because nobody else wanted to go... Initially, hardly any executors were willing to direct resistance training for soldiers without related talents. Those who were reluctantly chosen had all slipped away and returned. The life of an executor was meant to burn passionately in the hunt for demons; any comfortable life would weaken their fighting will over time. The executors who went to the military camp all felt the impact of unclean whispers from higher-dimensional spaces deepening, urgently needing fervent battle to purify themselves. On the contrary, executors newly joined to the Arbitration Place might be more suitable. "Oh~" Franca tapped her chin with a tender finger, pondering briefly before crisply agreeing, "No problem, I''ll go!" She had already applied last time, only to be rejected by everyone. This time, with the Judgment Chief personally inviting her, there was no reason not to take a look. For Franca, anything she hadn''t seen was fatally attractive. "Then it''s settled." Nolanitz nodded in satisfaction, "First take them to report to the youth training camp, then head to ''The Slate'' to receive your assignment. I will have someone notify Balu." "No problem." Franca waved her hand, her crisp and lively voice echoing through the hall, "I''ll take them now." On their way, Franca leaned in slightly, her lovely face drawing near Kiro Lan''s side, her bright eyes glancing at the two children, "Are you really refugees? What made you decide to come to the city?" "A great person saved us and brought us back," answered Morphie instantly, taken in by the beautiful big sister''s approachable demeanor that lacked any sense of strangeness. The city''s landscape was drastically different from the oasis town where he had spent the past decade or more. Everything was novel and alluring, and the people here seemed universally kind. It seemed that what Bai E had said was indeed true; the city was a paradise... if only he had known earlier. "A great person?" Morphie blurted out without thinking, "It was Bai E." "The great person from the military camp," Kiro Lan clarified softly, elaborating, "We were actually stranded in the wilderness, and the people from the camp saved us and took us back to the city." "Oh~" Franca nodded, registering the name "Bai E" and then asked excitedly, "So where are you guys originally from? How could any city let you leave with such talents?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kiro Lan turned slightly to look at the delicate features of the amiable young lady beside her. Those sparkling eyes showed cunning intelligence, and her gentle face bore no signs of the ravages of the world. "Sister... we lived in an oasis in the wilderness, where talents were not valued." Spiritual Energy? Can Spiritual Energy be eaten as food? They lacked a professional system to understand and develop Spiritual Energy; just surviving consumed all the effort of their lifetimes. There were Psychic Ability users in the oasis too, but only a very, very few of them could maintain their true self without being eroded by demons, not to mention having significant strength. Or to say, the strong ones had all died... The stronger the Psychic Ability burned, the more brightly its projected Spiritual Body shone in the higher dimensional space, appearing like a beacon in the dark to those demons. In the short time they had been in contact with Great Lady Aglaya, they had learned quite a bit of common knowledge about the world of Psychic Ability users. "Oh~" Franca obediently responded, "I see~" Then she grew excited again, "How many of you are there... and where did you bring them back from?" "In the beginning, there were more than six hundred of us. We hid under a wind-eroded cavern and due to our unknown fear of life, a Origin demon was born around us as the core..." After learning more about demons from Aglaya, Kiro Lan''s description became more accurate. "Origin demon?" Franca was shocked, "Wow! That''s not something to mess with." With that, she pulled Kiro Lan toward a hidden corner of the corridor and crouched down, tucking in, "Come on, tell me all about it..." "But sister, aren''t we supposed to go report to the training place?" Morphie felt something was off about the situation. Franca waved her hand carelessly, "Hey~ it won''t hurt to be a bit slow, right?~" Continuing with an excited face, she urged Kiro Lan, who had crouched down with her, "Keep going, keep going, I love stories!" Kiro Lan smiled gently, with no objections. The sister''s behavior might be extraordinary and casual, but her sincere attitude made it hard for anyone to dislike her, and she quietly began to recount the past. "The military sent out three groups of soldiers, but all of them fell there, until the arrival of this group of adults..." From a corridor frequented by enforcers, the occasional strange glance floated in. From afar, one could only hear the soft voice of a young girl slowly saying something, interspersed with the exclamations of another lively female voice. "Gee~" "So that''s considered cool?" "Yeah, yeah~" "I''m quite envious of you... emmmm, I mean I''d also like to see what demons look like." And... what I could achieve when facing a demon. What others can do, I can do too! After hearing the story, Franca stood up abruptly, "That guy is called Bai E, right! I''ll meet him tomorrow!" ... Late at night. Back in his room, too excited to sleep, Weslin sat in his comfortable recliner pondering how to reward the newly created Artificial Human Soldier. This time, he had almost single-handedly brought back over four hundred Psychic Talent users and two top-tier talents for the city and had legitimately established a foundational relationship with Aglaya¡ªa feat deserving recognition. Mere military merits? Those were expected, not an extra reward. Since his creation, this new Artificial Human had accomplished several meritorious deeds and also proved to be very sensible. Had it not been for concerns about Hamilton''s faction''s potential opposition, he would have arranged the Gene Optimization Solution reward for him long ago. Now, the distribution of Gene Optimization Solution had become a sure thing, so it could not be considered a reward either. What, then, would be a good reward for him? His hand absentmindedly flipped through the documents on the desk beside him, and seeing a proposal submitted just today, glanced at it out of an innate sense of duty¡ª "Proposal for the Transfer of Artificial Recruit 95B27 to the Armored Battalion"¡ªHamilton "..." 95B27? Wasn''t that Bai E? Why was Hamilton wanting to transfer Bai E to his Armored Battalion? Could it be he planned to get rid of him on his own turf? Such a tactic seemed too foolish. Because of Carlos''s faction''s intent to support the Artificial Human, Hamilton had indeed shown an opposing stance to the Artificial Human previously, but essentially, it was to express dissent against Carlos''s faction''s decisions rather than any real issue with the Artificial Human himself. It''s unlikely that he would directly target the Artificial Human; it would break the "rules." Looking at the time the proposal was submitted... it was today, just after the special joint squad returned from their mission. Did he submit this proposal at the first news of Bai E''s success? Quite eager, indeed. Let''s see what he''s up to... After reviewing Hamilton''s submitted proposal, Weslin shook his head with a quiet chuckle. So that''s his angle... You Carlos faction want to support him? I''ll support him too. But as a natural person... Undercutting the foundation! That was Hamilton''s plan. Chapter 242 228 natural person identity Hamilton''s proposal for this artificial person was¡ªto be transferred to the armor battalion, and not just any part, but the very core lineage of the true armor battalion. To have the chance to be in contact with mecha, becoming a backup mech pilot! Due to this newly created artificial person''s outstanding combat achievements, even factions leaders like Hamilton, who were unwilling to recognize the equal status of artificial persons, had to admit the excellence of this individual. Since this mission also failed to result in this artificial person''s "sacrifice," they might as well stop targeting him. If they couldn''t prevent the opponent''s promotion, better to completely make him one of their own with a decisive move. Previously, Hamilton''s targeting of Bai E remained almost entirely within the awareness of these top military officers; the soldier himself was actually completely unaware of it. Therefore, even now, as they reversed their attitude and started to attract him, he himself should harbor no resentment. Being transferred to the armor battalion was just a facade; everyone knew that the armor battalion was the exclusive domain of natural persons, and the occasional artificial persons transferred in were only fit for the most menial tasks in the battalion, absolutely unable to get in touch with the core Titan-class armament¡ªcombat mecha. Now, allowing an artificial person to come into contact with this, was essentially granting him the identity of a natural person. By giving an artificial person a public identity as a natural person, he could only be grateful. Weslin, who had put down the proposal, had a thoughtful gleam in his eyes¡ª Hamilton''s proposal might just be a fine reward... Indeed, the identity of a natural person was actually the greatest reward for an artificial person. This is class. A person might easily acquire wealth and honor, but no matter how hard he tries, he can only be confined to a circle set at birth for his whole life. Opportunities to cross class boundaries are rare, and each one is a tremendous opportunity. If this artificial person warrior wasn''t extraordinarily outstanding, and hadn''t coincidentally achieved numerous actual combat records, this chance would never have fallen to him, it wouldn''t even exist at all. This reward... would truly show his favor towards him! He was indispensable! Indispensable indeed! It was settled then! But the prerequisite was... that he had to successfully inject the Gene Optimization Solution. After all, for artificial persons, that stuff was really a double-edged sword. ... As dawn was just breaking, Bai E heard the call of the life officer outside the tent, "95B27!" "Here!" A groggy Bai E had formed an instinct, with his eyes not yet open, his mouth had already responded. "Tidy up your personal hygiene, the marshal is looking for you." "Yes, sir!" Could it be the Gene Optimization Solution that was mentioned just last night? So early in the morning? During his morning wash, Bai E felt a small anticipation. He had been waiting for this thing for quite a while. The route to withstand a nuclear bomb with one''s body, as mentioned on the official game website, relied on this thing that could push the human body beyond its limits. Perhaps with this injection of Optimization fluid, he would instantly become a saint, capable of nuclear-explosion palms and nuclear-bomb kicks, invincible in the world. "Reporting, the individual has been brought here!" The familiar laboratory was the same one Helen had used before. Was it really happening? Bai E''s heart thumped with anticipation, only to be quickly restrained. The Gene Optimization Solution! So close at hand! "Go in," the officer leading the way gestured. Hamilton nodded, "Yes, sir!" He pushed the door open, the familiar white coats standing beside that familiar instrument. But it wasn''t Helen, it was some unfamiliar faces he had never seen before. That made sense, given that Helen was a senior academician at the Scientific Research Institute; such grassroots work certainly didn''t need her hands-on involvement. Weslin was there too. Upon seeing Hamilton, a friendly smile appeared on his face, "Hamilton, come here." "Marshal..." Weslin gestured with his eyes to the three white coats who were busy preparing and explained, "About the Gene Optimization Solution I mentioned to you yesterday, I asked them to come early in the morning." "Injecting the Optimization Fluid is a time-consuming and laborious task that needs to be done with caution and may take a long while," one of the white coats interjected to explain. The face of a military marshal deserved cooperation, of course. "Thank you, Marshal!" "It''s what you deserve..." Weslin said with a chuckle, waving his hand and turning to the three white coats preparing, "Are you ready?" The fully armed personnel from the Scientific Research Institute nodded, "We''re ready, Marshal." "Then let''s begin," Weslin said, looking back at Hamilton and patting him on the back, "Go on, don''t be afraid, I''m here." Hamilton obediently lay down on the familiar workbench, his body being inspected by the three white coats as if it were a corpse. One of the white coats approached the area above Hamilton''s head, looking down into his eyes and speaking to him. "Before we actually start, there are some things about the Gene Optimization Solution that I need to make crystal clear to you." "What''s happening now is not the real injection; we''re collecting your bodily data. Only once we verify through the data that your body is sufficiently prepared can we begin the actual injection. Of course, whether your body is ''prepared'' is not for us to say, nor is it for you to decide¡ªit all depends on the data. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If we judge that your body isn''t ready for the injection right now, we will provide you with a three to seven-day period of conditioning." Strange, cold sensations touched up and down his body, as if sharp objects were touching or piercing his skin, but it didn''t hurt. Hamilton didn''t utter a word or look down, simply nodding to show he had heard. "Generally, there''s no need to worry, ninety percent of our soldiers can receive the injection directly," Weslin reassured with a smile, speaking from experience. "Hmm..." the white coat nodded in agreement with Weslin''s statement, continuing to explain to Hamilton, "Even with the injection, I must make something clear to you¡ª" "Your artificial human genes contain interspecies elements. As Number 95 from the artificial human production line, your genes naturally have a part of the orc... The Gene Optimization Solution suited to you also contains this component. After the injection, your genes may express differently." "It may remain unchanged; or it could be that your human genes dominate and start to expel the interspecies genes, though this is a slim possibility; more likely, the interspecies genes start to spread widely and take over. If the orc genes completely dominate your body, then I''m sorry... your fate will only be to be utterly abandoned." Interspecies genes are inherently dominant and aggressive compared to human genes. This is the fundamental reason why the military rarely issues Gene Optimization Solutions to artificial humans. Compared to natural humans, artificial humans born with interspecies blood inherently carry original sin. The Optimization Fluid is more likely to amplify this original sin, not to mention the waste of precious resources; it may also create mutant species detrimental to humankind. Only when the achievements of an artificial human are indeed too significant to overlook would one risk attempting injection. "But you needn''t worry too much... The next part of what I''m going to say may be a bit less ''scientific'', or maybe less ''materialistic''... You might not fully understand, but you just need to remember¡ª who you are is for you to decide." The white coat above Hamilton''s head looked into his eyes with a serious and earnest gaze, trying to make him fully grasp the gravity of his words, "Be firm in your humanity, be firm in your pride as a human being. All interspecies, will ultimately be eradicated from this planet!" "Do you understand?" Hamilton took a deep breath and replied with a heavy voice, "Understood." He knew the risks the white coat was referring to. Enjoy new chapters from empire It was the mutation risk indicated on the panel... medium. Plus, the intrinsic flaws of artificial humans Helen had warned about before... Everything converged at this moment. In the process of enhancing themselves, the original sin from the birth of artificial humans would also grow and strengthen alongside individual development. Which would prevail in the internal struggle between the genes of different species¡ªthose of humans or those of the orcs? No one could know before the answer revealed itself. Chapter 243 229 Injection! After explaining the key points of injecting the Gene Optimization Solution, the scientist in the white lab coat fell silent, and for a moment, the only sound in the room was the occasional light "beep beep" of the equipment.As time slowly passed, a continuous humming was followed by Bai E''s medical report landing in the hands of one of the scientists. [Physical Fitness]: 14.7/15 [Insight]: 12.5/15 [Reflex]: 12.9/15 These were the basic attributes, a must for the physical examination. But they weren''t the deciding factor for the injection. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The scientist glanced over the other crucial indicators and found them mostly within the acceptable ranges. The only issue was the activation rate of the foreign genes... It was flirting with the danger threshold. Seeing the scientist frowning heavily, Weslin, who had been waiting to the side, stepped forward, "What''s the problem? Is there an issue?" The scientist nodded slightly, speaking with some hesitation, "The indicators are mostly okay, but his foreign genes are a bit too active. Forcing the injection could likely lead to his genes mutating out of control... " Turning into a monstrous mutant neither human nor beast. Weslin''s eyebrows furrowed, "Is there a way to lower it?" He knew there wasn''t one, but he said it for Bai E to hear. If he wanted to win someone over, he had to show his concern; silent protection isn''t worth a fig. "No," the scientist shook his head in resignation. So far, the research had not produced a perfect way to control foreign genes. Perhaps keeping calm, reading more books, eating less meat might help? But that was even more esoteric than the notion of firmly believing one is human. In the past, they wouldn''t have taken the risk under these circumstances. "What should we do then..." Weslin pondered, his finger on his chin. The scientist looked at Weslin, not understanding why the marshal cared so much for a regular artificial soldier, but nonetheless he cooperated and directly presented the options, "There are only two choices: either proceed with the injection, but the risk of mutation is high, so be prepared for emergency contingencies; or... give up the injection." "Tat tat tat~" The sound of metal military boots approached, and Weslin moved above Bai E''s head, looking down at him with eyes full of worry and sincerity, "I leave this choice to you." "I want to go through with the injection," Bai E answered without hesitation. This might be his only chance to get the Gene Optimization Solution. If he gave it up now, there was no telling if he would ever get another chance. Hope for the players to develop it on their own? Their facilities were nowhere near as comprehensive as the Scientific Research Institute''s full suite of services. Better to take the risk today than at the players'' later. Human, right? I was always human! What about beastmen, bugs, demons? Sooner or later, I''ll take a sword to them and wipe them out completely! Hearing Bai E''s response, the scientist hesitantly looked to Weslin, "Marshal?" Weslin spoke firmly, "I support his decision." "Fine," the scientist nodded, "then let''s proceed with the direct injection. He will need absolute silence afterward; I must trouble the marshal to maintain Order outside. The absorption time of the Gene Optimization Solution may be quick, or it might take long, this varies from person to person. I hope no one will come to disturb him during this period." "No problem, leave it to me," Weslin spoke in a brief and decisive manner, filled with a military demeanor that instinctively inspired trust. Finally, with a pat on Bai E''s shoulder, Weslin spoke sincerely, "I believe in you." After leaving the room, Weslin gestured to the guards outside. Immediately, a squad of soldiers outside clicked their safeties off and chambered their rounds. No matter how much he trusted, he still had to prepare for the worst¡ªand trust wasn''t that abundant anyway... If things turned out well, he''d gain a fiercely loyal little fan; if not... then so be it. Enjoy more content from empire Stepping out into the corridor, the nearly wintery sun cast a warm temperature on him, and a dark silhouette, Yueying, happened to pass by not far away. Weslin''s eyes brightened, and he quickly chased after her, "Miss Yueying!" ... Bai E glimpsed the solemn actions of the three scientists. A silver-gray metal case was placed with grave care onto the flat workbench, and under the sound of electronic prompts for a password, the dampened metal case slowly opened. An icy chill instantly spread as three differently colored tubular syringes were quietly arranged inside. Red, blue, green. What effects each had was unknown. Bai E simply tried to remember everything he saw, as this knowledge might come in handy with the players in the future. "Close your eyes, feel every change happening in your body. Occasional muscle twitching is normal, as is feeling a warm flow or frost moving through your body''s meridians and veins. Don''t panic. Remember, control your emotions. Stay calm and relaxed, keep a level head. Shifting emotions can more easily trigger and amplify the activity of foreign genes; you''re already on the edge, and we can''t afford any mistakes. Don''t answer, just blink to let me know you heard." As the other two scientists made their final preparations, the lead scientist''s voice grew more solemn. Bai E blinked rapidly, signaling his awareness. Control emotions? Perhaps "self-restraint" could be helpful. The expertise that was originally thought to provide little enhancement to actual combat ability is now indispensable in various aspects! "Begin injection." "Injecting No. 1 drug." "Injecting No. 2 drug, start timing." "...3 minutes have passed." "Injecting No. 3 drug." "Monitor the body''s data!" [You have used a dose of "Low-grade Gene Optimization Solution", your body is absorbing and transforming...] ... "How is it?" "Breathing steady, body data isn''t fluctuating too much." "Seems like this synthetic human is pretty lucky..." If mutations were to occur, they tend to come very quickly. If there''s no sudden fluctuation in data within the first few minutes of injection, it essentially means that this warrior is unlikely to encounter any complications afterwards. Three individuals in white lab coats, two standing by Bai E''s side holding sedatives at the ready, and one in front of a monitor, watch the screen attentively, chatting softly with a relaxed tone. "How much do you think he will improve?" "At most one or two degrees, the best record in our city was only a 2.1-degree improvement..." "I wonder if he can awaken a new talent. This synthetic human seems pretty stable." "It''s probably difficult... Out of a hundred who undergo optimization fluid injection, there may not even be one who awakens an additional talent; he''s probably not that lucky one..." The voices of the individuals in white lab coats faded away, and Bai E''s mental world plunged into darkness. Then... his brain felt dizzy, as if everything was upside down and in disarray, followed by an unparalleled sense of clarity spreading throughout his body. His consciousness perceived his body with great lucidity. Limbs, arms... blood vessels, bone joints... fascia, skin... nerve endings... Bai E''s consciousness swiftly coursed through his body, like a cold probe sweeping over every inch of his tissues. At a particular spot, the consciousness closed in rapidly. Cells, which were nearly invisible to the naked eye, quickly magnified in the field of vision of the consciousness. Some cells with green-hued walls stood out conspicuously amid the flood of other cells and seemed disproportionally large on the ramparts. Yet this magnification did not cease; focusing on a selected cell, vision plunged into it. The instant a certain boundary was breached, the double helix structure slowly spiraled in the dark Consciousness Space, extending toward the far-off darkness without end in sight. Numerous glowing particles emerged from the dark "Space" right before Bai E''s "eyes", and they floated consciously around the double helix structure, gradually sinking into it. As those particles infiltrated, certain segments of the double helix structure began to glow faintly. New "segments" generated from nowhere, replacing the existing structural segments. Clear, visualizable changes to his genes occurred before Bai E''s eyes, yet he could hardly understand the meaning behind each subtle alteration. While immersed in this enigmatic sight, Bai E could also feel real-time changes occurring in his body. The changes in his body were as the white lab coats described, like countless warm little snakes roaming within him, with the most notable change being to his brain. His head progressively became lighter, as if a layer of invisible, intangible membrane was punctured with a "pop," and his thought processes felt quicker to him. His "mind''s eye" view of the world became instantly clear. ... His eyelids twitched lightly, and milky light intruded into the narrow slit. More immediate than the light to his senses, was the sound that began to echo beside his ear. "He''s waking up, he''s waking up... only two hours have passed." "He came through it so steadily..." "Wonder how much he improved." [Gene optimization complete, your attributes have undergone significant changes...] [Template changed from "Gene Modification Prototype" to "Gene Modification Optimization Stage I".] [Due to the change in the template, the health points formula from "Base 60 + (Stamina - 10) * 15" has been changed to "Base 100 + (Stamina - 10) * 20". Current health points: 180/180.] [Gene optimization level changed from "0.1/100 (orientation: Orc)" to "3.3/100 (orientation: None)".] [Due to the increased gene optimization level, the upper limits of the three basic attributes, Stamina, Insight, Reflex, have changed from "15 points" to "24 points".] [You have guided the direction of the changes through willpower during the gene optimization process, and your trait has changed: "Trait ¡ª Blunt Emotion" has disappeared; a new "Trait ¡ª Keen Senses" has been added.] [During the gene optimization process, you have absorbed enough power, and your "Talent" specialty has undergone changes: Specialty ¡ª Fast Recovery (Locked) progress "39%" ¡ú "89%", and additional effects have been added, details to take effect after the specialty is unlocked.] [Trait ¡ª Keen Senses: Can add to any ability related to the "Insight" attribute, while thought speed +10%. (Current applicable abilities: Trait ¡ª Well Trained, Specialty ¡ª Blind-Fighting.)] Bai E opened his eyes... Chapter 244 230 Optimization fluid "Don''t move yet, we still need to conduct some checks on you.""Hmm¡­" Bai E blinked his eyes, gradually adjusting to the brightness before him. The familiar laboratory looked somewhat different at that moment, though he couldn''t quite pinpoint what it was. "Beep~ beep~" A soft beep from the equipment resonated rhythmically, and soon after, exclamations from three scientists in white coats could be heard. "It''s risen by 3.2 degrees!" "I''ve never seen it this high!" "Could it be due to his high alien gene activation rate?" "His alien gene activation rate was even suppressed after the injection!" "Goodness!" The three scientists, through their professional curiosity, began to theorize upon seeing the results. Conservatively, most wouldn''t inject Optimization Fluid into a subject with a high alien gene activation rate, but today''s subject had become an exception due to the Marshal''s insistence. Everyone even thought that this dose of Optimization Fluid was going to be wasted, but the outcome was frighteningly successful. In an instant, the three scientists looked at Bai E with burning enthusiasm. If they could identify the reason behind these results, they could significantly increase the efficiency of every dose of Gene Optimization Solution! "How do you feel?" asked a scientist eagerly as he leaned in closer, "Do you feel any discomfort?" Bai E furrowed his brow and took a moment to assess his condition before speaking softly, "I''m a bit hungry¡­" "Of course, you''re hungry!" The three scientists gathered around Bai E''s bed. One scientist on the left side of the bed cheerfully explained, "The process of gene optimization itself requires the absorption of a massive amount of energy. Although we injected a highly concentrated nutrient solution into you, your degree of optimization was so high that the energy from the nutrient solution wasn''t enough." It seemed that one of those three differently colored injectable vials was merely nutrient solution¡­ Bai E made a mental note of this piece of information. The thought flashed through his mind, and a cautious curiosity appeared on Bai E''s face, "I don''t know¡­ what is optimization rate?" Normally, engineered soldiers without a panel wouldn''t know this, so Bai E needed to use this topic to elicit more information about the Optimization Fluid. 3.3/100 By that calculation, would he need thirty-three doses to max out? Would he become a deity after reaching the max level? Could he punch out the Bug Race Overlord with a single fist or snip a high-dimensional demon''s head with scissor legs? It was all unknown, requiring effort to uncover. "It''s quite complicated to explain... but for now, just know that most people''s optimization rate only increases by 1 to 2 points after their first use of the Gene Optimization Solution. Yet, you''ve risen by 3.2 points, which is truly remarkable!" Bai E frowned slightly, "The first time? Can I be injected again in the future?" "Of course." The scientist on the right quickly answered, "It''s with this substance that we humans can hope to surpass the mundane and have bodies that can rival constructs of steel. The highest record known to date is our empire''s War God, Ares, who after twenty-three injections of Optimization Fluid, attained an optimization rate of 21.4 points. Against the War God, those bugs and orcs you see during missions are nothing more than prey to be torn apart by hand!" Bai E maintained a steady tone, though somewhat stiffly, as he inquired, "Are there any restrictions on injecting this substance?" Fortunately, the three excited scientists, while stroking Bai E''s body as if it were a piece of art, unconsciously replied, "There are restrictions, of course! Big restrictions..." The optimization rate works in stages, every 10 points marking a new phase and each phase requiring a different concentration of Gene Optimization Solution, all of which needs to be strictly controlled. Otherwise, it''s very easy for the body''s genes to destabilize and turn into a heap of mush. Moreover, not everyone can get endless injections. As a high-profile figure, the empire''s War God received almost infinite resources, but even he had to stop after twenty-three injections. After each injection of Optimization Fluid, a sufficient ''natural cooldown period'' is necessary, which is currently the only method found by humans to stabilize the genes. The result of consecutive injections is always the same¡ªgene collapse, followed by sudden death. Of course, the length of the ''natural cooldown period'' varies, as individual constitutions are different. For some, it''s a few months; for others, it could be decades... There''s no certainty. "So, will I have another chance in the future?" "Maybe... That depends on whether you can earn it through significant deeds; it''s an internal military matter." No sooner had the scientist on the left finished speaking than the one standing above chimed in, "Yes! You must! If not you, then who else? Once your cooldown period is over, even if you haven''t achieved anything significant, I''ll find a way to get you another dose!" Your journey continues at empire "¡­" "..." Even his two companions looked at the man in the white lab coat with disbelief¡ªWhat do you mean, buddy? Xu Nuo''s bold declaration didn''t make the man in the white lab coat flinch as he raised his head to look at his companions, "What, you''re not curious? He increased by 3.2 on his first injection, who knows how much he could improve in the future? He might be the next Empire War God! Even the War God only increased by 2.9 on his first injection!" "..." "...That seems to make sense." "That''s what I said, as long as you keep improving, I''ll find a way to get you another dose as soon as the cooling period is over!" A good man indeed! Bai E felt somewhat moved, "But could you stop pinching the root of my thigh... it''s kinda ticklish." "Oh, oh~" The man in the white lab coat wiped his hands on his clothes, "Occupational habit¡­ habit¡­ Anyway, you are very special; it''s just that we don''t know how much you''ll improve with your next injection. I hope you can maintain this trend." "Does the increase vary with each injection?" "Generally, it decreases over time. If an individual has had more than eight injections of Gene Optimization Solution at the same phase without advancing, they are generally deemed a ''failure.'' Of course, that''s for the noble offspring. In practice, commoners who don''t improve by more than 6 points after three injections usually don''t get another chance with the Optimization fluid. You definitely won''t be a ''failure''¡­ presumably." It seems there''s still a long way to go. I thought this Optimization fluid was a one-off deal; turns out it''s a pay-to-win item! Dammit! Bai E nodded to show he understood, "Can I get up now?" "Yes... yes... as long as you don''t feel anything unusual, you are free to move around." "Eager to leave? If you don''t have any urgent missions, why not stay and chat with us for a while?" "..." Facing the eager gaze of the other party, Bai E pressed his belly, "I''m about to faint from hunger." Not lying. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Limb weakness, mind blank. I really am about to pass out from hunger. "Oh, oh~ Then you go ahead." "If there''s a next time, we can talk more..." In the face of this "miracle" they had never seen before, the three men in white lab coats were terrifyingly enthusiastic. Bai E burst out of the door and headed straight for the cafeteria. Hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry! ... The door opened. The guard outside, who had not been given the "sound of a cup as a signal," saw Bai E and silently lowered his gun barrel. The captain of the guard watching over the premises came up smiling at Bai E, who didn''t show any abnormalities apart from a bit of unsteadiness in his walk. Weslin, who had gone after Yueying, left him two contingency plans¡ª If Bai E had not mutated, notify him to get ready to receive a reward. If Bai E had mutated, shoot him dead amidst the chaos. It was clearly the first scenario... "Marshal Weslin wants you to wait for him in the council hall." "Can I eat something first..." The captain of the guard assessed Bai E''s condition and remembered the marshal''s instructions¡ªno mutation, everything is negotiable. "Then go ahead, but be quick." Chapter 245 231 Natural Persons Identity Incentive ```Seeing that it was still early, Bai E initially wanted to leave the camp to see if he could run into some players and issue the tasks that had been interrupted over the past few days. He hadn''t expected that Weslin seemed to have other plans for him, and today he probably wouldn''t be able to go... "Hmm~" Can''t think, dizzy head! A lump... another lump... yet another lump... It was still early, and the canteen was empty. The porridge-serving machine didn''t require manual supervision; take as much as you eat. The deserted canteen witnessed the birth of a glutton. The "satiety" normally provided by the delicious porridge seemed like a joke in front of the ravenous stomach, as the Gene Optimization Solution had enhanced Bai E''s body, not just the upper limits of his basic attributes. There were more direct and specific changes manifesting in his body, such as a stomach that digested food faster... a heart that pumped more blood more quickly when it mattered... It was these substantial physical changes that provided the foundation for even higher attribute gains. After gulping down about ten times the normal amount of food in one go, his voracious body finally slowed its urge to continue eating. "Burp~" Pleased with the hearty belch, Bai E stood up and stretched lazily, feeling truly reborn. The impact of the Gene Optimization Solution injection was far from just an invisible increase in attribute caps. He only felt now that he was faster, stronger, could jump higher, and was brimming with energy. The amazing physical fitness brought about an exuberance of vitality. Read new chapters at empire His forceful aura was almost constantly radiating from within Bai E, full of life. [At last, I have taken the first step towards the extraordinary.] Until now, no matter how strong the physical and technical abilities, they were still within the realm of humans; it was only at this moment that Bai E truly felt power surging through his palms. They wanted to see him? Then let''s see what those high-ranking officers really had in mind... Bai E stepped forward, striding towards his destination. ... In the meeting room, the assembled senior officers all looked at Weslin blankly, completely unaware of the purpose of his sudden call for a meeting. After all, there were no urgent combat plans or large-scale unusual movements among the alien races recently... Only Hamilton, seated to his left, had a flicker in his eye, thinking of his own proposal. Upgrading the status of artificials to that of naturals, granting them the same promotion opportunities within the military as naturals, was unprecedented. Setting such a precedent now could be a reason to gather everyone together. Facing everyone''s inquiring gazes, Weslin didn''t play coy. He knocked on the table and swept his gaze over the crowd, "In a moment, a soldier you all are somewhat familiar with will come here." "A soldier?" The particular choice of words made the more than ten senior officers present raise their brows involuntarily. In a gathering of high-ranking officers, what was a mere soldier doing here? ''Could it be the direct descendant of some high-ranking personage from the city?'' some looked at Weslin oddly. After all, the current marshal had parachuted in this way. Starting from scratch... having been a low-level soldier for three days. Then directly ascending to marshal. "This soldier made an indelible contribution to the city in a mission a few days ago, the specifics of which will not be made public. I''ll just say a few words about it here orally," said Weslin. All present were senior officers who knew each other''s background well, and there were generally no stab-in-the-back incidents. "..." No one spoke; they waited for Weslin''s next words. A soldier who had made a significant contribution to the entire city? This combination of words left their imagination coming up short. Even Hamilton, who was originally full of confidence, began to doubt whether it had anything to do with his proposal after hearing these words. "The mission was to escort a group of migrants back to the city from the northwest, normally not a special task. But during the journey, an accident occurred... resulting in over four hundred migrants becoming Spiritual Energy talents." "Hiss~" Suddenly, a chorus of sharp intakes of breath filled the room. Over four hundred Spiritual Energy talents - what did that notion imply? ``` If they all survived and developed, it would no doubt be a terrifying wealth beyond imagination for the city. No one dwelled on what kind of upheaval had led to all this. Since Weslin had said it in such a setting, it was certainly no joke. Weslin knocked on the table, urging everyone to stay calm, because more stimulating news was yet to come. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "At the same time, two of them are extraordinary talents, who, solely in terms of potential, rank among the top five Spiritual Energy users in the history of Blackwater City." It was like a deepwater bomb, instantly whipping up towering waves. Potential that ranks among the top five Spiritual Energy users in the history of the city, and there were two of them! What did that imply? Every peak-level Spiritual Energy user before had pushed some aspect of the city forward by a large step. Spiritual Energy users were the group of people most capable of creating miracles in the world. And those at the peak... were almost comparable to True Gods of different dimensions! The more than four hundred Spiritual Energy talents might be a terrifying wealth, but it was still only "wealth". The extraordinary talent capable of developing into peak-level Spiritual Energy users, that was a "miracle" that could not even be bought. The piercing noise was uncontrollable, even these high-ranking officers struggled to contain their shock. But what did all this have to do with that soldier? The officers, having regained their composure, looked at Weslin, waiting for his answer. When the noise finally subsided, Weslin slowly began, "They were all supposed to perish, but it was this soldier, who alone pulled them back from the abyss... This was witnessed by all the soldiers involved in the mission as well as the more than four hundred Spiritual Energy talents, without any falsehood." Of course, bringing back more than four hundred Spiritual Energy talents for the city wouldn''t be attributed as the merit of that soldier, it was the military''s achievement! But personal rewards were indispensable. "So, to let this soldier know that we see his efforts, I''ve decided... to grant him the public status of a natural person!" "Natural person status?" This special form of reward instantly made all the officers present realize the original status of the soldier Weslin spoke of¡ªan artificial human soldier. Piecing together the task involving the refugees from the Northwest, as well as the message received last night about having returned to camp... the answer was almost calling out. Carlos and Hamilton instantly looked at each other, finding the answer in each other''s eyes. "Knock, knock, knock~" The soft knocking on the door sounded from outside, followed by Weslin''s adjutant''s voice, "My lord, 95B27 has arrived." Bai E pushed the door open and entered. Focus narrowed to a single point. 95B27. It was 95B27 again! The look in the eyes of the officers said it all. No wonder Weslin said they might all find this soldier familiar. In the short time since the birth of this artificial human soldier, he had almost achieved what all soldiers struggled to accomplish in their lifetimes. If it was he who had done everything Weslin mentioned... it seemed quite reasonable? ["Lucky Strike" charge +7.] [Am I actually getting charge points for this too?] "..." Bai E stood by the door, eyes on his nose, nose on his heart, silently. "Bai E, come over here," Weslin beckoned to him from the front of the long table. "Yes! Commander!" When Bai E stood beside him, Weslin looked again at all the officers present, "Of course, the status of a natural person isn''t something we can simply adjust in our records; it requires the recognition of all eyes within the camp. So, I''ve decided, starting from today, to assign him to the core unit of the armored battalion, to become a reserve Mech Pilot for Titan-class armament." Weslin paused slightly, his hands pressing against the table, his body leaning forward slightly, "That is the reason I''ve gathered you all here today... What are your thoughts?" The cards are on the table! Hamilton''s eyes were somewhat glazed. All this roundabout talk, and it turned out to be his own proposal in the end... No! It had now evolved from his proposal to his assertion. This was an attempt to win people over. He knew that 95B27 was quite exceptional, but he didn''t expect such extraordinary extent that even Weslin was starting to entertain his own little schemes. Chapter 246 232 joins the armored battalion It seems that his decision to break away from previous thought patterns was not wrong.As for who proposed this proposal, does it matter? Hamilton glanced at Carlos, who still looked somewhat dazed as if he had not reacted¡ª In the end, didn''t the person end up in his hands? Hmph! ["Lucky Strike" energy +2.] "I have no objections! This is the well-deserved honor of 95B27! He has made so many contributions to the barracks, risking his life from birth to death. He should have been reused and promoted long ago!" Hamilton was the first to express agreement, then turned to Carlos, "What about you, Carlos, what do you think?" It''s not necessary to convene this kind of council to promote a natural-born soldier normally, as the barracks are already the most straightforward force in the city. The able rise, the weak fall. With real merit laid out, no one would have any objections. However, Bai E, this synthetic being, was already the focus of contention between two factions, his fate was out of his control, and he had become the battlefield for the confrontation between the two factions. Any decision regarding him could invite criticism from the opposing faction. Not to mention that the decision to promote a synthetic being to the status of natural-born had never been made before. The first time, it always required the collective decision of everyone. Carlos''s face was gloomy. He had never expected Hamilton, who appeared to be a rigid pure natural-born partisan, to be able to show such adaptability. This unforeseen tactic, one that had never been used before, had indeed disrupted his strategy. "What''s the matter? Your constant talk of hoping synthetic soldiers could have a bright future wasn''t just lip service, was it?" Hamilton looked at Carlos sarcastically. "Now he has the chance for a glorious future, yet you''re still hesitating. Or were your past convictions merely a pretense to support synthetics as an excuse to seek your own benefits?" "..." Carlos furrowed his brow tightly, sensing that things were going south. Hamilton''s words, of course, had flaws to exploit¡ª If a synthetic being becomes regarded as a natural-born in the records and in everyone''s perception, then all his future achievements and efforts will become the glory of the natural-born, having nothing to do with the synthetics anymore. It''s essentially about class¡­ Synthetics can only enjoy equal rights by being promoted to "natural-born." But what he wanted was for all synthetics to be able to enjoy the full treatment of natural-borns from birth, hoping to use Bai E, an excellent synthetic, as an example to lead the charge under the banner for synthetics. The starting points are diametrically opposed. It''s just that Bai E himself was also present at the scene, which was the most troublesome part. If he were to express any reservations about his promotion, then even if he forcibly kept him, Bai E''s heart might not be free of a gap, likewise letting Hamilton triumph completely. Such a vicious plan! Carlos''s gaze swept over the faces of Weslin and Hamilton, the architects of this stalemate. The Marshal had always maintained a neutral faction, but now... had the Marshal made some kind of deal with Hamilton? Regardless, it was time for him to make a decision. If he couldn''t retain him... then it was time to let go completely. He truly pitied the tragic fate of the synthetics, which is why he joined the faction that supported synthetics to fight for the lifelong rights of all synthetics. Now... "I agree..." "But I would like to keep his special squadron assignment." The old Marshal, who had been sitting quietly at Carlos''s right as if he were asleep, suddenly spoke up. The elderly man slowly opened his eyes, and his aged gaze seemed clouded, "He has only been born for a short time and still needs to learn more. Since he is now a natural-born, he should learn everything about this world." ''Pah! Old coot!'' Hamilton cursed silently, somewhat irritated. The things that a reserve mech pilot from the armored battalion needs to focus on training are only one thing¡ªTitan-class armaments¡ªwhich could almost be said to be treasures rarely displayed outside the barracks. Severing his ties with the outside world completely and making him entirely his own, wouldn''t it be up to him how to brainwash him when the time came? But the old Marshal''s remark meant that he would still spend half his time exposed to people from other factions. As for which side this soldier, promoted from a synthetic to a natural-born, would sit on... that would be really hard to say. And to top it off, the excuse he gave was to climb on top of what he, himself, had said, all for the sake of the soldier''s own future. Damn! Indeed, the old are wiser! "Right!" Carlos, reminded, suddenly had a gleam in his eyes, "I agree to his promotion to natural-born, and that he participate in the reserve mech pilot training at the armored battalion during his free time, but also to maintain his special squadron assignment, aiming to learn all that a natural-born needs to know." This is even better... Weslin was indifferent, he just wanted to reward Bai E. After all, Aglaya had said that his contribution was undeniable... and considering that the two extraordinary talents seemed quite fond of this soldier, it couldn''t be guaranteed that he wouldn''t remember old affections as he grew in the future. His full support for the promotion might not be very evident now, but it might come in handy at some crucial moment in the future! "Carlos is right, does anyone have any objections?" "None." Hamilton didn''t make a sound, but the officer sitting next to him glanced at his face and responded in a muffled voice. The neutral faction cared even less, if there was merit, then one deserves the position; they were the purest of soldiers, "Let''s do as Carlos says..." "Then it''s decided." Weslin gave the final verdict. The decision took effect; inside the barracks'' records, Bai E''s identity had completely transformed from synthetic to natural-born... From... Black Street. Background... orphan. "Let''s go! I''ll show you the sights of our armored battalion!" Hamilton''s broad palm wrapped around Bai E''s shoulder. Although the result wasn''t entirely satisfactory, at least it had been a thorn in Carlos''s side. Hamilton, who glanced back at Carlos, raised his head high like a victorious rooster. "Yes, sir!" Bai E answered expressionlessly. Your adventure continues at empire From start to finish, he hadn''t said a word. They had summoned him only to reward him, but nobody had asked for his opinion. In fact, he himself didn''t have much attachment to such a title; any status that could help him acquire more resources was a good status. Since he temporarily couldn''t leave the military camp, he had to find ways within the camp''s system to acquire more things to aid his growth. The Gene Optimization Solution he had just been injected with proved this point; who knew where to get that stuff if he went elsewhere? As for which side he was really on... Talking about that was premature when he hadn''t clearly seen this world yet. If he were to take a side, it would only be the side of humanity. ... "Squeak squeak squeak~" Broad tracks dragged the heavy tank bodies slowly past, kicking up a whirlwind of yellow sand. Out of the hazy dust emerged two indistinct shadows. "Cough cough~" Hamilton waved away the dust from in front of his mouth and nose, "As you see... cough cough~ our battalion''s main training focuses on these steel vehicles." The armored battalion''s camp was entirely different from ordinary soldiers'' training camps; upon perusal, nearly everything within the camp was composed of those cold and formidable creations of steel. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rows of Multi-function Infantry Vehicles lay quietly arrayed, V3 rocket vehicles laden with missiles ready to deploy at any moment, massive tanks maneuver diversely across the field, their turrets swiftly turning in practice, trying to aim at non-existent targets. This was their daily training. And the mechas... The towering mechas stood at the back of the camp, those mechas he had seen countless times from a distance in the regular training camp only became truly imposing when he got up close, conveying a sense of pressure only massive objects could impart. Watching Bai E''s gaze sweep interestedly over the moving tanks, Hamilton, with his sonorous voice, said, "If you want, you can train with those too. In your free time, my hope for you is to be an official Mech Pilot adept at handling our Titan-class armed mechas!" "Hmm~" Bai E nodded slightly. Hamilton''s glance swept over his profile, growing fonder of this silent warrior the more he saw. His opposition was always specifically focused on Carlos''s faction, the ones who wanted to give artificial beings and natural humans equal status. With status comes aspirations. Then, what was the purpose of creating these artificial beings? To resist all surrounding natural disasters and calamities, the city needed to suffer so many deaths every year; if not using the lives of artificial beings to fill the gaps, should they draw lots to let artificial and natural humans compete fairly? The plan of producing batches of two thousand artificial soldiers four times a year in the military camp was specifically designed to handle this level of human attrition. The number of deaths due to warfare each year was around eight thousand, and the production of artificial beings was to plug this loophole. Humans have always had the capability to mass-produce soldiers, and the production line of artificial beings could even handle more than four batches a year at peak efficiency. But if too many artificial beings were produced and they didn''t die in battle, what would be used to sustain them? They would only encroach upon the already scarce resources of natural humans. Wanting to give such creatures, created for sacrifice, a status was undeniably na?ve idealism. If they weren''t needed to die, then there was no need for them to be born. If they were needed to die, why bother hypocritically granting them human rights? This was the fundamental difference in political views; Hamilton held no sentiment for individual artificial beings sent to life-or-death situations. However, this artificial being was special... He was already a natural human, and he was now in his command. No officer dislikes a strong and obedient soldier. The fonder he looked... ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] "..." Bai E hesitated internally, "Sir, when can I start participating in the formal Mech Pilot training?" That was a mecha! No man could resist the allure of a mecha! "You can start now, but the training for Mech Pilots now involves more than just operating mechas. You saw it last time during the assault on the hive, without a strong spirit, no matter how formidable the armament, it''s just a lamb to the slaughter." Hamilton shook his head and sighed, "At this point, they should be undergoing Spiritual Energy stress resistance training." ... "Hello everyone, I''m your new instructor." The girl''s clear voice arose in front of a group of warriors standing with their hands behind their backs, showing no hint of levity. Franca, in her tight light blue combat suit, looked over the soldiers before her with a smile brimming with cheer. "From today onwards, I''ll be specifically responsible for overseeing your training in resisting Spiritual Energy impacts!" Chapter 247 233 Psychic Pressure Resistance Training "Perfect timing." From a distance, Hamilton smiled when he saw the assembly of warriors gathered in front of a massive square cabin-style device, "It hasn''t started yet, you can still make it to this training session."After taking a couple more steps and getting a clear view of the slender execution officer from Arbitration Place, "the instructor", Hamilton paused slightly in surprise. Continue your adventure at empire "A new face?" He muttered softly to himself, but Hamilton didn''t care too much. The goings-on of Arbitration Place weren''t their concern, and personnel changes there didn''t need to be reported to him; as long as someone was present, that was all that mattered. "Go on," he patted Bai E on the back and stood with arms crossed, waiting to watch the show. The city''s resources were limited, and although they claimed to provide support for the armored battalion, up to now, only one training pod had been built. It was certainly not enough for every warrior in the battalion, so only the reserves of Titan-class armed mecha were qualified for training. And during each training, the spectacle provided by the warriors was varied and highly entertaining. Bai E carefully made his way to stand at the very back of the last row. He saw a familiar face... The young lady on the stage was none other than the officer from the Arbitration Place he had seen in Black Street with Gong Yan. This made Bai E feel a subconscious twinge of guilt. But then again, he thought there wasn''t much interaction between them besides that one time... except for the incident in the sewer. After all, in the sewer incident, he knew it was her, but she didn''t know it was him. It was just a fleeting encounter, and the young lady probably wouldn''t even remember him. The warrior standing next to Bai E glanced at the newcomer, but seeing that their superior officer, standing next to the instructor from Arbitration Place, hadn''t said a word, he paid no more attention and focused on listening to the noble-looking lady who seemed so out of place yet was addressing them. "I don''t know how my predecessor demanded of you..." Franca''s large, clear black-and-white eyes swept over each warrior with an effortful authority, striving to make a compelling first impression. The figure who had suddenly joined from the back was undeniably eye-catching; Franca''s gaze lingered for two or three seconds on the face of the straight-standing, expressionless warrior but could not recall where the familiar visage came from. She decided not to dwell on it. "But listen! I have only one demand for you! When you think you can''t hold on any longer, endure for one more second! Whether you enter standing up or leave carried out horizontally, you are the city''s most elite soldiers! The responsibility for protecting this city lies on your shoulders! You are meant to be the city''s sharpest sword, its most sturdy shield! I''ve heard how your predecessors fell in battle, and I''m sure you''re not unaware!" In that moment, the tall lady appeared surprisingly reliable. With her pale fingers posed like a blade, she pointed towards the south of the city¡ª "There! Where they were sliced in two by the vermin without any resistance! We won''t stumble at the same spot a second time! Next time, the next time we face that creature, I want each one of you to strike it with your blade! This is our vengeance! This is the only way we can honor our fallen comrades!" "Remember the shame of that day, and repay it twofold tomorrow!" Her crisp, slightly childish voice, like a young tiger reaching maturity, roared for the first time to the world, "Now... let go of your hearts, step into the training pod, pit your will against the world!" Franca stepped aside, and the doors of the pod slowly swung open to the sound of pneumatic valves. The dark interior of the training pod was shrouded in darkness, like a beast in flood waiting for the naive to step into its trap. The warriors stepped firmly, lining up instinctively as they entered the pod. The warrior walking in front of Bai E whispered with others. "Passion, it''s flaring up..." "The new instructor is much more passionate than the last one..." It wasn''t just passion... Free from the dulling order of mourning, Bai E''s now exceptionally sensitive senses could feel an invisible force that had, unbeknownst to him, started to surround him. It was like a mischievous and elusive sprite... pushing his body forward from behind. Could it be... the effect of Spiritual Energy? The practical application of Spiritual Energy? Bai E pondered secretly, keeping pace with the queue ahead. However, as he neared the entrance, a small foot clad in a brightly-colored combat boot gently lifted and blocked his path. Bai E stopped in his tracks and looked up with a puzzled face at the young female officer who blocked his way. "Instructor?" Franca''s eyes were lively and aggressive, sizing up Bai E''s face in a way that was somewhat elusive, "Have we met somewhere before?" "I don''t remember, Instructor." His voice was gentle, yet filled with strength. ''Such a familiar voice.'' A fleeting inspiration crossed Franca''s mind as she stared into Bai E''s eyes with even more curiosity, "We must have met somewhere... You don''t usually talk like this." Now this... is too humble. You shouldn''t be like this. "You might have mistaken me for someone else." "Perhaps..." Franca said noncommittally, but then her words took a turn as she asked casually, "What''s your name?" "Bai E." "Bai E?" Franca''s delicate body shuddered, and her eyes fixated on the familiar warrior before her, "Are you the one who brought back over four hundred... refugees?" "If Instructor is referring to the four hundred and five refugees from yesterday... then I was involved." "..." With the answer in hand, Franca''s lips curled into a fleeting, somewhat wicked smile. ''So it''s you, huh.'' She stepped aside and gestured for Bai E to proceed, "Please enter, our great hero." [I''ve been noticed...] I was told not to spread the word, yet it seems like the whole town knows. Bai E sighed inwardly and stepped into the cabin. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside was not pitch-black; once everyone entered, soft milky-white lights illuminated at the edges of the cabin wall. The interior was quite spacious, allowing the twenty-six-member reserve mech pilots to stand apart comfortably, yet everyone still instinctively lined up and waited. Franca followed at the rear with her hands clasped behind her back, walking in slowly. As she fully entered, the operator on duty, upon receiving the command, pressed the switch and the expanding doors of the cabin slowly closed again. "Some of you might be here for your first training session." Franca''s voice grew more distant, ethereal and hollow. "I have only one requirement for you, endure at least thirty minutes. Those who don''t meet the requirement will be considered for extra individual training~" The world spun around. An endless humming sound arose from nowhere, entering their minds like tangible characters, mixing with Franca''s voice that came in sporadic bursts, yet clear enough for everyone to hear. Those milky-white lights twisted into vortexes before their eyes, shrinking and boring into their pupils. A blinding white light surged into their minds, turning the world into tangled chaos. Caught in the midst of it, Bai E felt himself upended, unable to distinguish left from right... No! It was as if he had lost all sense of spatial orientation as well as the perception of time in relation to changing events. The space-time around him became utterly confused in his perception. In his dazed state, the only thing that echoed unreal in his mind was the voice from the panel¡ª [Side mission triggered¡ªResilient Spirit.] Chapter 248 234 Resilient Spirit [Resilient Mind: In preparation for future resistance against mental assaults, your instructor is testing your limits with a Spiritual Energy suppression pod to solidify your willpower, requiring you to persevere for at least 30 minutes to achieve extraordinary growth. Mission requirement: Remain consciously aware and persist for at least 0/30 minutes. Mission completion reward: Mystery +0.1.]Bai E had no time to consider the mission''s description and reward, as the pod assailed his consciousness with a continuous barrage of lights, sounds, and an indescribable spiritual oppression. Self-suppression was still reliably in effect, prioritizing its protective role against mental onslaughts over its secondary function of hormonal regulation. But it wasn''t enough! Nowhere near enough! Bai E''s capabilities at this moment were entirely different from when he faced the Bug Race''s dominator. Back then, he was on the battlefield, his blood boiling with fervor. In the heat of battle, the mind naturally ignores certain external psychical impacts; the reason Helen accepted his determination to stand firm because of his mission was precisely because it was the truth. Now, without such conditions, no matter how prepared he felt internally, the training during peacetime hardly compared to the sheer battle-driven will on the field. More crucially, his artificial traits had shifted¡ªfrom Thought Dullness to Sensory Acuteness. The prohibitions placed upon artificial beings were limitations as well as protections. Previously, whether facing the Bug Race''s dominator or the demon known as the Fear Lord, it was the trio of heated battle spirit, self-suppression, and Thought Dullness that allowed him to act freely. Without just one of these, he might have met the same fate as the other warriors. But now, with one taken away and another added... The protection offered by Thought Dullness disappeared altogether, replaced by Sensory Acuteness, which made him extremely sensitive to every minute change in his body as it responded to various lights, sounds, and tightly linked spiritual afflictions. The assault applied by the pod was, for a time, far more difficult to bear than what he had previously encountered with the Bug Race dominator or the high-dimension demons. He knew he was standing in place, but even maintaining his stance required real-time muscular adjustments throughout his body. He reeled, his head and eyes dizzy, not even sure how to coordinate his body to ensure he wouldn''t fall. Yet, he was trying hard to maintain it. Confronting this kind of psychological pressure training for the first time, Bai E had no known tricks to rely on. Perhaps there were no tricks at all. The purpose of the training was to obtain mental resilience or, in other words, to strengthen one''s spiritual will. Maintaining his chosen state could perhaps help him pull through. Bai E didn''t know the correct approach, but setting a minor goal and striving with all his might to achieve it could perhaps enable him to last longer. Was his body moving? Swaying? About to fall? Indistinguishable... The overwhelming spiritual onslaught restricted to the mind robbed Bai E of any perception of his surroundings. Perhaps he had already fallen, but it felt like he had not. The tactile sensation of his body hitting the ground would undoubtedly be different from what he was experiencing now, not to mention the distinct feeling of the ground''s support if he were to actually fall. Don''t move... Don''t move! Read exclusive content at empire Hold on! In a turbulent sea of consciousness, these brief tenets echoed relentlessly. ... "Thud~" "Thud~" Sounds of warriors collapsing occasionally reached his ears; the abnormal noises emitted by the pod were perhaps insignificant irritants to Franca, but they posed a tremendous challenge to those soldiers unaccustomed or less trained in Spiritual Energy. Although they might have been conscious, the complete sensory loss of control over their bodies was undoubtedly more distressing for these warriors, so used to dictating their every move. And there could be no compromise! In real combat, the intensity of psychic assaults one might face is constant, but in training, that intensity continually increases. The spiritual assaults simulated within the pod grew stronger by the second, with no such thing as getting progressively accustomed to it. One needed to remain resolute from the beginning to barely stay undefeated in this struggle of spirit. Those who fell too easily would just as readily be completely vanquished. Franca''s amber eyes shone as they swept over each figure before her. She did not know how the previous instructor had taught these warriors, nor did she intend to reveal fundamental strategies on their first meeting. For some of these soldiers, it was their first time in training, and many firsts often reveal much more. Those still standing... regardless of future achievements, showed a firmer will in this moment. And among them... that particular individual was present. Standing upright, his body trembling slightly yet with a posture hardly different from before the pod was activated. Indeed, it was the same individual who faced demons with unshakable courage, leading everyone out of demonic control¡ªa luminary leader. Artificial being? What did it matter if he was an artificial being? Aglaya still clung to that rigid mindset of prioritizing Spiritual Energy users alone. In facing Spiritual Energy, those with Spiritual Energy would confront it head-on, like warm and cold currents in the sea battling and blending with each other. Artificial beings may struggle to comprehend the mysteries of Spiritual Energy, but their natural resistance to it was like the steadfastness of rocks amid raging seas. All they had to do was to deepen and polish their foundations, becoming resistant rocks capable of becoming a central force against demons. In this era, every life is insignificant, yet every life can also be grand. Franca never underestimated the power of any being, as in their singular moments, each could create miracles. This warrior named Bai E had already demonstrated his remarkable combat will and strength. As for now... considering how he fared against demons, it might take an hour to reach his limits. So... let''s just wait and see. ... The world twisted into distortion. A diffuse white light and a buzzing, distorted sound filled all that Bai E could perceive. And it became ever more distorted. The semi-illusory, semi-real nightmare scenes of his teammates'' spiritual worlds that he had encountered previously at the domain of the Lord of Fear seemed to churn up all at once at that moment. In a pitch-black world, deep and dark purple cross-shaped fissures emitted bizarre flashes before his eyes, and numerous tiny gray-white tentacles seemed to creep and grow inward from the edges of his field of vision. Cold pine needles rubbed against his skin, slowly piercing into his body from all angles, while fierce flames rose up from beneath his feet, the heat causing his back to grow damp and clammy. The intertwined illusions, both formless and with form, overlapped with reality, making for an utterly chaotic and bewildering sensation that left Bai E feeling waves of faintness. Time would not heal all that he was experiencing. ["Sub-quest¡ª¡ªResilient Spirit" current progress 28/30...] ["Sub-quest¡ª¡ªResilient Spirit" current progress 0.8/30...] ["Sub-quest¡ª¡ªResilient Spirit" current progress 388/30...] How much is it? Just how much is it? Even the progress displayed on the panel could not be truly understood by his current consciousness. Bai E''s body suddenly staggered, and he quickly stepped forward with his right foot to stop himself from falling. Relaxation at his task''s imminent completion nearly became the final straw that broke the camel''s back. Realizing this, Bai E almost instantaneously re-established his spiritual defenses. Although he had been in this world for only a short time, after enduring several crises and ordeals, he was no longer the corporate drone who loved gaming. All his experiences transformed into the foundation of his soul, only revealing their true magnificence in such moments. ... ''Losing stability?'' It''s been less than half an hour? Franca, with crossed arms, furrowed her brows as she watched the warrior named Bai E. Just now, there was a violent shake in his body, his right foot attempting to move, but in the end, it was just a slight bend of the knee that halted his descent. Temporarily stable, but the increasingly chaotic aura of the person indicated that the pressure exerted by the chamber was pushing him close to his limits. But given his combat record, it shouldn''t be like this. With the intensity of this chamber, it would be difficult to match the pressure exerted by the Bug Race master they encountered before within the first hour of starting the mental assault, let alone the authority of the source demon. Is it because he''s not on the battlefield? This disparity in performance is too great. Larger physical movements indicate an imminent breakdown. In the struggle of the spiritual world, a moment of inattention can lead to instant defeat, to say nothing of doubting one''s own abilities? 31... 32... 35... Franca silently kept time. "Thunk!" The figure in the simple training attire collapsed heavily to the ground. His mind was a blank, his vision dark. ["Sub-quest¡ª¡ªResilient Spirit" current progress 35/30, task completed.] [Task Reward: Mystery +0.1, issued.] "..." Watching the fallen figure, Franca remained silent, inevitably feeling some disappointment. Bai E wasn''t the first to fall, as the ground was already littered with warriors rolling their eyes back, foaming at the mouth, convulsing, and even some who had lost control of their bladder and bowels, waiting for his addition. The fallen Bai E had a determined expression, and his posture could be considered the most upright of them all... However, compared to what she had expected of him, it was too much of a discrepancy. Was this really the invincible War God who carried Morphie and Kiro Lan through the source demon, the one who was described as full of leadership by them? Was it simply that the source demon was too weak? Or was it just that Morphie and Kiro Lan''s impressions were excessively amplified by their personal subjective wills? Indeed... Aglaya had already confirmed his talent. Although that woman upholds the supremacy of Spiritual Energy users, she seldom neglects true talent. After her contact with this man-made warrior, there had been no follow-up, perhaps because these accomplishments happened to coincide, rather than because of extraordinary strength. "..." Disappointment. She had thought she would see an extraordinary individual climbing up from the grassroots, only to realize it was a name without substance. "Sigh~" Franca exhaled lightly, feeling lackluster. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The greatest joy of coming to the barracks was gone. Bai E''s training performance was actually quite good; prior to this training and even currently, only three others persisted. But dashed high expectations always lead to weariness. With a sense of duty, Franca continued to monitor the status of the remaining three warriors. 38... 41... Chapter 249 235 Teaching Breathing Skill! "Awake?"A deep, husky male voice came from nearby. Bai E struggled to open his heavy eyelids, and the orange glow of the sunset instantly flooded his vision. The memories before he passed out surged up¡ª He was supposed to be undergoing Psychic Pressure Resistance Training. But it was only the beginning of the afternoon at that time, and now... it was already dusk? How long had he persisted? And how long had he been unconscious? The task completion record on the panel provided the answer¡ªhe had hung on for 35 minutes, then fell unconscious until now... The good news was that the task was complete, Mystery Happiness +0.1. The bad news was that he had been unconscious for way too long. Did this thing really have such severe aftereffects? A large hand waved in front of him, and the neighboring soldier asked enthusiastically, "Hey, brother, haven''t gotten over it yet?" Bai E blinked, looking towards the owner of the moving arm, while also glimpsing from the corner of his eye the other soldiers who seemed to have been strewn across the ground originally. They were not too particular about sleeping positions. He wasn''t the first to wake up, but he wasn''t the last either, "Does this training always leave you unconscious for so long?" The soldier waved his hand indifferently, "Hey~ it depends on the person. It''s pretty good for your first time in training." How long you''re unconscious isn''t a sign of strength, how you perform is what matters. Not having skewed eyes, slurred speech, or an uncontrolled bladder was already the most impressive feat for a newcomer. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The soldier spoke with warmth, appearing incredibly friendly, "Brother, where were you selected from? I saw our big BOSS personally bring you over, not everyone gets that kind of treatment." "From that military camp." "I know from that military camp, only the soldiers with the best performance in their original assignments get directly transferred to our armoured battalion''s mech pilot reserve. That''s how all of us were chosen," the soldier said with a proud smile, "I mean your original assignment." "Special forces squad." "Awesome!" "Hey? Where do you live?" Another awakened soldier leaned in, asking with curiosity and enthusiasm. We''re all natural-born, and the most important thing in controlling mechs is the close and seamless cooperation between each other; we''re all brothers. Isn''t that how relationships heat up by chatting like this? However, Bai E was taken aback, "Home?" He shook his head, "I don''t have a home..." "How can you not have a home?" a soldier asked, not quite believing it. "My home is in the military camp..." "I mean outside..." The man who spoke first pulled the other soldiers who had come over to join in the excitement, giving them a knowing look. Not having a home... it wasn''t impossible. In this era, there were always some orphans who lost their parents at birth. Picked up by the military camp, they directly considered the camp their home. A pitiable background. "No worries, buddy~ from now on, we''re your brothers!" the first soldier who spoke patted Bai E''s shoulder hard, "Tomorrow night is our chance to get some air. I''ll take you to see my wife! She makes delicious food!" "Oh, oh~ thank you." "Who knows, maybe we''ll end up in the same group later on. Just follow my lead then, I''ll guide you." "Oh, oh~" Was he talking about mech piloting skills? Bai E didn''t understand any of it; at this moment, he just nodded in agreement. "Chatter chatter chatter..." "Oh, oh~" "A string of nonsense..." "Oh, oh~" "Let''s go eat!" "Oh, oh~" ... The new "buddy" he made was a real chatterbox, giving lectures even during meals. Stay tuned to empire Bai E managed to slip away from him sneakily, thinking of sneaking out of the camp. It had been several days since he last received feedback on a task. Without topping up his daily routine for the players, it felt like ants were crawling on him. As his attributes increased, the attributes gained from player feedback became less significant, but over time the accumulated amount was still considerable. Not to mention he had just injected the Gene Optimization Solution, his three basic attributes had skyrocketed. If not now, when else should he let the players intensely level up for him? However, a slim, dark figure appeared out of nowhere, blocking the path ahead. Bai E didn''t even notice when the figure had taken up position there; he instinctively stopped in his tracks as his heart skipped a beat. "Yueying?" Yueying turned around, her thin lips parting slightly, "Follow me." "... Yes." Following Yueying, Bai E felt a strange anticipation as they wound their way through the military camp at night. Yueying rarely took the initiative to seek him out. But if she did come looking, it usually meant there was some great news waiting for him. Thinking of the "task" he was still burdened with on her behalf, Bai E''s heart throbbed with excitement. Finally, in a hidden corner, Yue Ying came to a stop. Turning to face Bai E, she slightly lifted her jade-like face, and a pair of willow-leaf-shaped eyes shone brightly beneath her hood in the evening light. "I''ve heard from your marshal about what you''ve accomplished..." Yue Ying spoke softly, her tone filled with sincere admiration. Even though Weslin had emphasized his own wise command, she was more concerned with the achievements of the warrior at the execution end who had created legends. To fight head-on and defeat a high-dimensional demon with no prior experience in manipulating Spiritual Energy, even among her extraordinarily gifted Elf Race, was an exceptional feat. "You really are remarkable..." "''Lucky Strike'' energy charge +3." "[Current task¡ªYueying''s recognition, progress has reached its peak. You have demonstrated your excellent strength and qualities numerous times and in all aspects before Miss Yueying of the Elf Race, earning her complete recognition. The task reward is now available, please proceed with caution...]" "I just did what had to be done." "What you deem necessary is precisely what many find difficult to achieve," Yueying shook her head gently, "Regardless, you''ve now been involved with incidents concerning high-dimensional demons, and it will be difficult to avoid them in the future. Prime demons can resurrect and remember who it was that shattered their bodies in the material world, and if you lack the relevant abilities, you''re likely to find yourself easily targeted by those cunning demons and fall into the abyss." She didn''t want to see that happen. She didn''t want to see a human hero plunge into an inescapable quagmire due to an unfamiliarity with high-dimensional demons... with Spiritual Energy. It was this impulse that had driven her to approach Bai E of her own accord. If humans were unwilling to teach, she would teach. Artificials have an innate prohibition against emotion? But half the effort is always better than none at all. She acted according to her own desires, not weighing the comprehensive pros and cons like humans did. The only concern was that she had never heard of humans practicing their Elf Breathing Skill. While the Breathing Skill emphasizes mental cultivation, because the physiological structure of elves and humans is different, the basic "breathing" rhythm might also be different, and therefore, the rhythm of adjusting one''s spirit might also vary. There was no way around this; she would have to watch over him in real-time during the actual teaching process and carefully adjust for him. "If you wish to possess some countermeasures against high-dimensional demons in future encounters, I can teach you the way to cultivate Spiritual Energy." Under the dim night sky, Yueying''s eyes glimmered like jewels. [As expected!] Bai E was thrilled. He had always hoped for the Breathing Skill, and unexpectedly, he received his answer this very night, as though all good things were happening to him today. Suppressing the urge to leap for joy, Bai E nodded seriously, "Then, I''ll be in Miss Yueying''s care..." Yueying nodded, somewhat pleased with the human warrior''s eagerness to learn. Even the most willing impulse to teach needed a diligent and eager student. From the past few lessons, she observed that this human warrior had quite an exceptional aptitude, a rarity even among her own Elf Race. She wondered how he would fare with the completely unfamiliar Breathing Skill. "Sit down." With these words, Yueying assumed a seated, legs-crossed posture, demonstrating for him. "Yes." This was a secluded spot untouched by others and distant from the bustle of life, a quiet place that Yueying had found. Bai E sat cross-legged and listened attentively to Yueying''s voice. "Close your eyes..." "Slow your breathing..." "Empty your mind..." "Inhale~" "Exhale~" "[You are learning the Elf Breathing Skill...]" "[Initiating teaching task¡ªThe Way of Breathing.]" "[The Way of Breathing: Spiritual Energy is innate and even those who have never manifested external talents of Spiritual Energy can tap into their inner reserves. Powerful Spiritual Energy can twist reality and achieve anything, while contained Spiritual Energy can protect oneself comprehensively. Task requirement: Follow Yueying''s guidance to maintain a completion rate of ???% for ''multiple'' cycles of the Breathing Skill. Task completion reward: Skill¡ªSpiritual Power Breathing Skill.]" "[Teaching: Breathing Skill is a completely new field for you, and you need to pay a certain price (combat experience/universal experience) to follow the other''s guidance to gain mastery of the Breathing Skill. (Cost: 10 experience/min)]" Yueying''s voice continued to resonate peacefully beside his ear. "Inhale~" "Exhale~" Her voice rose and fell in a strange rhythm, calm and beautiful, like a violin playing a solitary concerto in the moonlit night... Guiding Bai E towards a state of mental tranquility and special awareness. Moonlight crept from behind the clouds, its quiet glow like silver foil draping over the two of them. Maintaining the deliberate breathing rhythm was undeniably challenging for Bai E. Trying to follow Yueying''s rhythmic guidance made him tense instead, unable to achieve a state of ethereal calm. Only after paying with experience points did the suffocating and bloating tension slightly ease. "[You are using combat experience to adjust your breathing rhythm...]" "[Current follow-through rate: 87.3%]" "Inhale~" "Exhale~" Yueying''s voice remained unwavering. Of course, she knew that Bai E, being new to the practice, would have difficulty keeping up with the pace. The Breathing Skill, after all, was a capability that only took effect once one was so familiar with it that it became instinctive. Chapter 250 236 Breathing Skill Practice "Inhale~""Exhale~" "Inhale~" "Exhale~" Yue Ying guided with all her heart, constantly monitoring Bai E''s physical reactions and adjusting the rhythm of her instruction accordingly. The purpose of the Breathing Skill was to adjust a person''s body and mental state to be most suitable for sensing Spiritual Energy. If one was too deliberate in following, it was impossible to truly quiet one''s mind and feel that profound and mysterious power of Spiritual Energy. Most people might never come into contact with such seemingly subjective power in their lifetimes. Living in a materialistic world, they would need to completely break and discard their inner "prejudices" to glimpse the "truth" of the world. The first time was particularly difficult. The reason why only those so-called "talented" individuals, whose Spiritual Energy easily emits outward, are allowed to practice Spiritual Energy within the human community is because these naturally gifted ones find it easier to get started. They can sense the so-called Spiritual Energy without needing overly focused one-on-one guidance. This process is incredibly time-consuming and energy-intensive, and the efficiency is touching. Their vast population also allows them to make such luxurious selections. Didn''t work with this group? Just switch to another. Therefore, humans do not have a process of acquiring the Breathing Skill from scratch, only improving from having it to perfecting it. At least Yue Ying had never heard of any human Cultivation Skill that included tricks to guide the untalented to the threshold. This was probably also why human organizations of Spiritual Energy practitioners paid no attention to Bai E, an artificial human without talent and born with prohibitions. To them, he was a waste. But the Elf Race was different. With their smaller population, they needed to value every member. Even those who did not show great potential would have elders from within their own race diligently guiding them into the realm of Spiritual Energy, ensuring they had enough power to defend themselves. The Elf Breathing Skill was all about teaching indiscriminately. [You are using combat experience to adjust your breathing rhythm...] [Current follow-through completion: 94.7%] Sensing Bai E''s increasingly smooth and gentle breathing, the corners of Yue Ying''s mouth curled up slightly. Regardless, this human warrior''s comprehension was as exceptional as ever. Under her guidance, he had quickly gotten on the right track in a short amount of time. Although it might still take a little while for him to sense Spiritual Energy, the fact that he could use the Breathing Skill to adjust the state of his spirit and flesh to enter the ethereal state was already a significant progression. As Yue Ying guided Bai E''s breathing, she did not relax control over her own body. Years of practicing the Elf Breathing Skill had integrated this special skill into her instincts, where every inhalation and exhalation was a chance to refine her body and spirit. The cultivation of Spiritual Energy continued every moment, as long as she was breathing, her power was growing every second. Breath flowed into her nostrils, circulated through her body, and was then exhaled. A faint Spiritual Energy was mixed within it, and if one had excellent Spiritual Energy vision, they could vaguely see thin strands of milky white Spiritual Energy within the breath. "Inhale~" "Exhale~" Their breaths enveloped the two of them. As the guide, Yue Ying intentionally infected Bai E with her own rhythm and insight to lead him into the entry-level teachings. The milky white Spiritual Energy exhaled from her flowed into Bai E. The breath, threaded with Spiritual Energy, circulated between the two, temporarily connecting all their sensations on a certain level. Their connection was seamless and unending. In Yue Ying''s "eyes," Bai E "saw" a dazzling and illusive world. Multitudes of stars of different colors hung far off at the edge of the sky, and streams of light ribbon fell far before the eyes¡­ Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, violet - the infinite stars all seemed to hang on the horizon, waiting for one''s harvest. And among them, a vast, cold white "sun" sat at the very center of the "starry sky"... "Exhale~" "Inhale~" "Cough, cough!" [Node record +1, collect more Breathing Skill tricks, and you will be able to become fully accustomed to this breathing rhythm.] Bai E''s breath hitched, and he suddenly bent over, coughing violently. Yue Ying, seated with her legs crossed, watched the suddenly disrupted Bai E with a slight frown. It wasn''t Bai E''s fault. It was... the Breathing Skill''s fault. The Breathing Skill of the Elves, created specifically for them, wasn''t quite suitable for humans, considering the differences in their physiques. The proper rhythm for elves might not be as smooth for humans. The close connection between spirit and flesh was inseparable. The adjustment of the Breathing Skill was not just about reaching a relaxed and peaceful mental state; the mobilization of certain body parts was equally important. Humans did not have the tricks to get started, and the Elf Breathing Skill wasn''t quite fit for humans. It seemed that artificial beings were naturally excluded from the realm of Spiritual Energy, with no Cultivation Skill fit for their practice in the world. However, since Yue Ying wished to teach, she naturally considered all of this. If it didn''t exist in the past, was it impossible for the future? If there was no Cultivation Skill suited for artificial beings in the past, why not try to adapt one? All these required time... "Continue." Yue Ying''s voice rose, steady, unaffected by minor setbacks. The exact physical momentary state of Bai E and the role the Elf Breathing Skill needed to play at that moment replayed over and over in her mind. Harmonizing the cooperation between the two was the most crucial point. Since she wanted to do something unprecedented, it would naturally require extensive practice to continually refine her ideas. Would it work? She did not have a solid idea herself. But many things first require faith to undertake before there is a chance to see the results. She didn''t share these thoughts with Bai E. Only she had the vision, and only she could make improvements. Telling him might only cause him to conjure unnecessary and chaotic self-correcting thoughts, which could be counterproductive. ''I can do this!'' Yue Ying affirmed with conviction. There aren''t many paths in life an elf can take as a belief, but they treat each difficult challenge with seriousness. After all, it''s only in the pursuit of "the path" that the sensitive needs of the body and desires can be briefly suppressed. "Yes." Bai E adjusted his posture, sitting cross-legged. He recognized the issue he had just encountered and understood why the mission requirements for completion were marked with "???". It was because the Elf Breathing Skill wasn''t entirely suitable for humans. Just now, his completion rate had nearly hit one hundred percent, yet the result was his own undoing due to a bout of breathlessness in his chest. Under the guidance of someone at Yue Ying''s level, there''s rarely any mistake, so the issue could only be with the Elf Breathing Skill, which didn''t fully match the human body. Yue Ying was clearly looking for a solution to this problem; under her deliberately changing guidance rhythm, his completion rate was actually fluctuating and not unchangingly approaching one hundred percent. But... it was too slow. [Free Creation Mode: You are attempting to combine the skills and abilities you''ve learned with your own characteristics to create a new Breathing Skill that better suits your constitution. Based on your abilities, the current success rate is "extremely small". However, you can assist your creation by paying a certain price (combat/general experience). (Cost: 20 experience/min)] The required experience is double that of mere learning, but it allows the creation of something never mastered before under the panel''s "hint feature." Of course, even the Elf Breathing Skill itself was not something Bai E was familiar with. Learning and creating had to be done simultaneously. Thirty experience points per minute is something he could afford to burn. But not right now... How could Bai E talk about creation when he wasn''t fully familiar with the Breathing Skill? He would need to become more acquainted with it before considering making his own improvements. Bai E focused his mind, not perturbed by his earlier failure. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As long as there is hope and a clear direction for effort, many can persevere. Yue Ying, sensing Bai E entering the state almost instantly, nodded to herself in approval. Not falling into self-doubt after an accident is also a significant aid in cultivation. "Exhale~" "Inhale~" Yue Ying''s gentle guiding voice rose again, and the hidden corner was filled only with sounds made by her alone. Patrolling soldiers passed not too far away, but Bai E, barely disturbed in his thoughts, remained unaffected by the outside world. The patrolling soldiers also failed to notice the two of them. Read latest chapters on empire Yue Ying''s aura enveloped the space where they were. Unless it was a Spiritual Energy practitioner with sharper senses, ordinary patrolling soldiers would never discover them. His state was gradually improving. [You are paying combat experience to adjust your breathing rhythm...] [Current Completion Rate: 85.1%] The completion rate is neither high nor low. Having had one experience, Yue Ying chose to be more cautious. Under her guidance, Bai E''s breath stabilized, and those extraordinary forces seemed to pour into him through the crown of his head, cleansing his body that was fully open to embrace. If one wants to cultivate Spiritual Energy, they must first accept it. From the mind to the body. Purely mental power requires an equally mental approach. It''s not just the mind and will that must accept, but also making the indescribable instincts of the body familiar with the existence of Spiritual Energy, which is the first step in cultivation. Resistance... Any bit of resistance could cause the loss of Spiritual Energy. In this process, both sides need to become familiar. The breaths of the two formed a bridge of fusion, completely enveloping the small space they occupied. If an outsider were to discover this secluded corner, they would see two spaces gently rippling like water, emitting wonderful halos of light, dark, deep, and flickering intermittently. Ordinary people without Spiritual Energy capacity would feel dizzy just by glancing at it, unable to maintain focus. Of course, Bai E could not yet embark on formal cultivation; this was Yue Ying using her own methods to let him personally perceive the mysteries of Spiritual Energy, their Elf Race''s style of guidance being this harmonious mixture. In the midst of guiding, Yue Ying quietly opened her eyes. She did not need to concentrate wholly during this process, allowing her to think about more things¡ª Bai E was not resisting Spiritual Energy, from body to soul; he allowed it to pass through smoothly. The so-called ban on artificial humans didn''t seem to show more resistance in him, not at all like the challenging impediments typical of a first-timer''s experience. Perhaps because he indeed had encountered demons before, experiencing Spiritual Energy firsthand? No matter what, this was good news. Next, she had to continue to push the limits. Only by allowing Bai E to error test with his body could she tailor make a Breathing Skill just for him... or rather, a Breathing Skill that would enable humans, even those without talents, to embark on the path of cultivation. "Exhale~" "Inhale~" [You are paying combat experience to adjust your breathing rhythm...] [Current Completion Rate: 97.3%] The progress was picking up again. Bai E was very satisfied with Yue Ying''s decision. She needed to trial and error, and he needed the complete information on the Elf Breathing Skill. Only when the panel judged that he had collected enough tricks of the Elf Breathing Skill would the success rate of creation naturally rise... Chapter 251 237 node records One minute¡­Two minutes¡­ In a state of ethereal selflessness, time passed without leaving a trace. Bai E was even indifferent to how much experience he had exactly expended. Ever since the last return from the demon lair, his experience reserves had already hit the roof; such a minor expense was nothing in his eyes. Unsurprisingly, upon approaching a near-hundred percent completion once again, the Breathing Skill suitable for the elf physiology gave Bai E that suffocating sensation. "Cough cough cough!" [Node record +1, collect more tricks of the Breathing Skill, and you will become fully familiar with this breathing rhythm.] "..." Watching the hunched-over and coughing figure of Bai E, Yue Ying moved her mouth, trying to organize her words to comfort him. She wanted to say that all this was normal, that beginners were just like this, and not to feel discouraged or to think it was his own problem. However, while she was considering what to say, Bai E had already sat up straight again. "Again!" His voice was firm, unwavering. The words she had prepared seemed useless to him¡­ "..." Yue Ying nodded slightly, "Okay." ... "Cough~" [Node record +1¡­] "Pfft!" [Node record +1¡­] As Yue Ying went full force, Bai E''s body could not withstand the high-pressure rhythm, and the frequency of his failures increased. "Cough cough cough cough!" [Node record +1¡­] Hearing Bai E''s cough that nearly expelled his lungs, Yue Ying frowned with concern. "How about we call it a day?" A Breathing Skill that always pushed human physical limits could invisibly harm his body. Once or twice might be negligible, but now¡­ It was too much of a good thing. She never expected to teach it in one session; instructing a human-made warrior to learn the elves'' Breathing Skill was an unprecedented challenge, and she had reserved a great deal of patience, not in a hurry for quick results. "I can still continue." Bai E caught his breath and insisted in a somewhat hoarse voice. The Breathing Skill that exceeded human tolerances indeed inflicted no small harm on his body, and his now more sensitive sense of touch seemed almost able to perceive the cries of various organs under high pressure. But his rapidly healing talent, having unlocked to 89%, was quickly repairing his damaged physique, even advancing to 90% completion. There was nothing more to say. Everyone''s talents had different applications; some directly affected combat abilities, others shone in logistical support. His quick recovery allowed him to sustain long and exhaustive training. Yue Ying looked at Bai E''s profile with slight worry, but still gently agreed, "...Alright then." Willpower was also a critical factor affecting Spiritual Training, and besides, human medical technology was impressive; even if something went wrong, he could simply be sent straight to the military camp''s medical department, which should not be a big problem. What was more valuable was his ability to endure internal pain without letting the body''s distress signals affect his Breathing Skill, a testament to mental fortitude already close to their elves'' strong control over hormones and emotions. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Self-restraint was a prerequisite for elves to practice the Breathing Skill, but for humans with less sensitive bodies, it was not necessary, and training that was time-consuming and difficult, not worth teaching. In her view, humans who could achieve this without self-restraint were rare. "Continue." [Node record +1¡­] [Node record +1¡­] ... The Elf Breathing Skill had countless demands on the body and soul; fortunately, after a night''s investment of experience, Bai E finally saw the chance of freestyle creation mode shifting from extremely low to moderate. Tomorrow... when continuing the training, he could attempt a dual approach, learning and creating at the same time, developing a Breathing Skill truly suited to his body! As for today? It was definitely not possible. He was distinctly aware of several ruptures in his internal organ membranes, not to mention bleeding in the inner walls, and a tearing pain in his chest, as if his ribs were broken. The beating and expansion of his heart and lungs were slowing down, and his blood flowed with a languidness. It looked serious, but with his current constitution, along with regenerative blood and rapid recovery at play, a day and night''s sleep should see no major issues. Still, to recover swiftly, Bai E patted his backside as if nothing were amiss and headed straight for the medical room for the injured. Watching Bai E''s receding figure, Yue Ying silently shook her head. To push himself to the limit, even if it meant enduring inhuman pain. Perhaps it was this resolute will that was at the core of the many miracles he had achieved all along. The weak have many excuses, but the strong show remarkable similarities. ... On duty was the diligent Mashati. "Doctor, I need medical attention." "I''m just a nurse¡­" Mashati, who was looking down at her work, responded subconsciously at the familiar voice, pausing abruptly as she looked up and saw Bai E, "You... what brings you here?" "Medical attention." It was better to let the military doctors tend to him than to tough it out using his own constitution; why ignore such good medical facilities? "You..." Mashati gave Bai E a once-over with some hesitation. It was rare for someone to come by walking on their own... Generally, being able to walk meant it wasn''t serious. So, he couldn''t be just making up an excuse to come see me, could he? The girl''s thoughts wildly danced, but still adhering to her duty, she took Bai E to the doctor''s office. Looking at the scans, the doctor stared at Bai E with shock on his face. "How can you still be standing?" "¡­" Bai E glanced at the white bed in the clinic and obediently walked over, "Should I lie down?" "You, you, you... do you know your organs are nearly failing?" the doctor stood up, his demeanor serious, "How did it get like this?" "Training¡­" "¡­" "Awesome!" Continue your adventure with empire ["Lucky Strike" energy +1] "You people just don''t treat your bodies as bodies," the doctor with thinning hair pressed down on Bai E''s upper body while speaking and working, "Lie down and don''t move. Mashati, go get me some Powerful Resuscitation Powder. And don''t worry, there''s no one here we can''t save." "Oh~" Bai E responded, then quickly advised, "Use the Ultra-effective Heart-saving Needle, that one''s more powerful." "That usually can''t be tolerated by the average person¡­" the doctor paused, trying to explain. "¡­" Bai E looked into his eyes and sincerely said, "I''m not the average person." "No, wait¡­" The doctor ignored Bai E''s response and instead gripped the only three stubborn hairs left on his head, "How do you know about the Ultra-effective Heart-saving Needle?" "¡­I also know a little about medicine." "¡­" "¡­" The two men locked eyes. "You kid¡­" Watching Bai E who had just received an injection get up from the bed and walk away, the doctor, still clutching the remaining two strands of hair on his head, wore a puzzled expression, "Where did this kid come from? Is it really okay for him to push himself like this?" "The dean had previously mentioned taking him as a disciple," Mashati, who knew a thing or two, looked adoringly at the fading figure. "Oh¡­ eh?" The doctor, now with only one stubborn hair left to hold, fell into deep thought. ["Lucky Strike" energy +1] ¡­ In the early morning, Bai E got up from bed feeling refreshed and clear-headed. Seeing his tent-mates like Tiger and You, his mood was good. After all, they were comrades who had been sleeping together every night since they arrived in this world. It was indeed fortunate to not have been transferred out of this special forces team¡­ "You haven''t been around these past few days. What have you been busy with?" Da Shan casually asked while dressing. Bai E replied just as casually, "I was sent to join the armored regiment for training with them." "Ah?" "Ah?" All four men turned their gaze to him, filled with confusion¡ª What''s the deal, little brother? The armored regiment isn''t something you can just join whenever, right? There has never been a story about a man-made soldier from there who ended up with a happy ending. Dying on the battlefield is nothing; it''s a glorious sacrifice. But spending all day in the armored regiment with that humans-first atmosphere, occasionally receiving covert hostility, is far more painful than being outright stabbed. "Didn''t we tell you not to go to the armored regiment before?" Song Ying said somewhat regretfully. Bai E blinked and with an innocent look up from the bed, "The orders were from a superior officer¡­" "You could have suggested otherwise, though. Your achievements should be enough to negotiate some leeway." Although the team didn''t know the extent of Bai E''s military achievements or how the senior officers viewed him, they knew enough of his credited actions on two joint operations to believe that there was room for maneuvers. "Yeah¡­ Why don''t you talk to the commander and ask to be transferred back? You don''t belong in that place." Not only was it a waste of time, but it was also uncomfortable to live there. Only You noticed something amiss, "How come you''re still sleeping here if you''ve been sent to the armored regiment?" "The commander said I could retain my special forces assignment¡­," Bai E explained. "Ah?" Song Ying was puzzled. Since when could an armored regiment assignment coexist so harmoniously with a regular one? Isn''t that place famously autocratic? "I just need to participate in the necessary training at the armored regiment." "Ah?" Tiger couldn''t understand it at all. Could one actually enjoy such freedom after joining the armored regiment? Were all the stories from the past man-made soldiers just hot air? "Aside from controlling mechas and undergoing Psychic Pressure Resistance Training, I don''t need to go at other times." "Ah!?!?" ??? Mecha? Psychic Pressure Resistance Training? Da Shan found it hard to swallow, "What exactly are you responsible for in the armored regiment?" "Mech Pilot reserve¡­" "¡­" "¡­" "As a natural person¡­" Bai E hadn''t planned on keeping this a secret from his companions, with whom he spent every day. You couldn''t keep all secrets buried in your heart; that would drive a person mad. "¡­" "¡­" "Awesome!" Da Shan voiced what the teammates were thinking. They knew Bai E''s achievements might be significant, but they hadn''t imagined they were great enough to compel even the famously intransigent armored regiment to make compromises. "Do good work¡­" Song Ying came over and patted Bai E''s shoulder, "Don''t blow your cover." "We should get to training," Tiger said, noticing his teammates engulfed in shock, his voice firm. He knew Bai E would rise quickly, but he hadn''t expected it to be this quick. As his newness hadn''t worn off yet and he was already so far ahead, they, as teammates, shouldn''t always be holding him back. It was time for them to go all out too! "By the way¡­" Tiger said, lifting the tent flap and turning his head to the left, "Since you still have your special forces assignment, I expect you''ll be on the list for the joint mission in a few days. The target is probably the new type of ''Sandworm'' from the Bug Race that can burrow underground, recently discovered. I''m just giving you a heads up. Don''t forget what preparations you need to make." "Sandworm?" The new type of bug they encountered on the way to the Root Server ruins last time? So the other military personnel were not just sitting on their hands; they''d already made a battle plan, had they? Bai E nodded, "Got it, I''m aware." As for now¡­ today was actually the first official lesson in mecha control training. Chapter 252 238 Regular Mech Pilots It seemed that the mecha pilot reserves mentioned yesterday some characteristics of mecha training¡ªThis thing can''t be operated by one person alone, it requires everyone to divide the work and cooperate during training. Like a tank, does it require several people inside to operate different module systems? One person responsible for movement, one for fire control, one for reconnaissance? What''s the difference between that and driving a humanoid tank? It''s quite different from the mecha of my imagination. I don''t quite understand, but it''s not important, I''ll know once I go and see today. Bai E was in high spirits at the prospect of piloting the legendary mecha, but as he set foot in the heart of the armor camp''s mecha training area, his now extremely sharp senses detected some kind of oppression hanging over the training area. Almost all eyes converged invisibly on himself the moment he entered¡­ The comrades who had been on good terms with him yesterday now looked at him a bit strangely¡­ "..." Bai E remained expressionless, but was inwardly alert. Had something happened that he didn''t know about? However, it wasn''t important, as he had never relied on the kindness of others to live his life. Having nothing to do with others was fine, it spared him the trouble of dealing with social niceties. Standing alone to the side, within a three-meter radius of Bai E, no one approached until the mecha piloting instructor arrived. "Assemble!" At the command, the soldiers formed ranks instantly. Bai E stood at the back, somewhat excited as he watched the instructor, the unknown mecha waiting ahead, uncertain of the control mode. "Some of you may be participating in our mecha pilot reserve training for the first time, so I''ll introduce myself. My name is Brandon Trollope, and unless something unexpected happens, I''ll be in charge of all the mecha piloting training before you grow into ace pilots. Read new chapters at empire Before we begin formal training, there are a few things you need to understand¡ª First, I need you to grow up as fast as possible and be able to stand on your own. Everyone should know about the recent battle to exterminate the bug nest. In that battle, the other components of the camp were basically intact and able to fulfill their duties, but our armored camp''s main mecha pilots were almost wiped out. During this period, none of the camp''s combat operations have considered deploying our armed mechas. This is a consideration, but also a disgrace. I can only give you half a month''s time, which is the deadline for you to go from reserve mecha pilots to official mecha pilots! If you can''t make it, I''ll ask the superior for a replacement batch, willing to pilot mechas, I imagine they are not rare in this military camp." [Triggered side mission¡ªRegular Mecha Pilot.] [Regular Mecha Pilot: Due to the massive loss of mecha pilots, the armored corps is in dire shortage of regular pilots who can perfectly operate armed mechas. In order to fill this gap, your instructor requires you to learn the ability to perfectly operate armed mechas as soon as possible. Mission requirement: Obtain full driving ability of the specific vehicle (armed mecha) within 15 days. Mission completion reward: Knowledge¡ªMecha Modification Plan 2.0. (Countdown: 14 days 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds)] "..." A mission right from the start? Bai E''s gaze sharpened, and his blood boiled. The ability to pilot a specific vehicle? After raising his standard vehicle capabilities to Level 3, he was told that he met the prerequisites to master the ability to pilot specific vehicles. Now it was time to put it to use. The instructor''s voice did not stop, he just kept talking: "Second, trust in your training content! I know many of you have been transferred here from various assignments such as tank soldiers, multi-function infantry vehicle drivers, and armored vehicle drivers. There are always soldiers who are skeptical about the shape of our armed mechas, feeling that using the same materials to build fighter jets or tanks could also dominate the battlefield, or might even be more useful. But..." His voice paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over all the soldiers present, emphasizing firmly, "That''s a wrong idea! All of you here today will be the pillars of our city in the future. What I''m about to tell you is also the cutting-edge theory discovered by the academicians of the Scientific Research Institute¡ªeverything in this world that you consider inanimate could potentially give birth to a ''spirit of armors''! The more you embrace and resonate with the object in your daily use, the greater the possibility of it developing a ''spirit of armors''. An armed mecha paired with a ''spirit of armors'' will perform at least one grade higher than a normal armed mecha. There have been definitive records indicating that an armed mecha that developed a ''spirit of armors'' had crossed seas of bugs under its Mech Pilot''s control and beheaded a bug nest''s brain bug... Although this is a record from the Golden Age, it is without a doubt true. The humanoid form of the armed mechas is undoubtedly the easiest for you as humans to familiarize with and accept. At the same time, the academicians of the Scientific Research Institute are also trying to replicate the empathetic cockpit from the Golden Age. Once that''s in place, these armed mechas will be an extension of your limbs¡ª one person... is equivalent to a legion. Getting accustomed to the use of humanoid armed mechas in advance and accumulating experience in mecha use is also a remarkable contribution you make for the whole of humanity!" The future is grand, but the reality is minute. "However, at this stage, you still need to learn to work together, to jointly pilot the current armed mechas... Next, when your names are called, pair up two by two, and we will start with basic cooperation training." "Random Soldier A, Random Soldier B." "Random Soldier C, Random Soldier D." "Benson, Bai E." "Report to the superior, I refuse!" As the last name was called, suddenly a resentful voice rogue out of the line. The instructor looked over with hollow eyes, "Benson? Do you have any objections?" The soldier stood up straight, his expression unchanged as he responded, "I can''t work with an artificial person!" "..." The instructor''s eyes immediately became as sharp as an eagle''s, "Who said that?" Bai E was special. He was promoted from artificial to natural person status. Hamilton had personally advised him to pay extra attention in training, not to let other soldiers create a rift. Hamilton knew himself, and he knew the core of the armored camp that he had handpicked. If I could weigh the pros and cons and make some tentative compromises, the kids under my command don''t know anything about that. The belief in the supremacy of natural-born humans has taken deep root in the hearts of people. The wheels that have been set in motion are not even something I, the instigator, can stop. And now... have these natural-born soldiers really found out? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, the instructor had no intention of disputing the matter, just looking sternly at the other person. Remedial action was necessary, and those who gossiped deserved punishment. The soldier, arms folded across his chest, responded indifferently, "The truth doesn''t need to be voiced; everyone is well aware of his origins." Yesterday, at first, nobody realized what the story was with this newcomer, but by evening, once we hadn''t seen Bai E around and gathered to think it over, someone remembered an all-troop commendation ceremony that had taken place¡ª The one regarded as the glory of artificial human recruits, 95B27, seemed to be this newcomer called Bai E. A bit of inquiry into Bai E''s background and physical characteristics made it impossible to conceal the truth. If there was anyone to blame, it was only for the deeds he had accomplished in the past that were too dazzling. The instructor glanced at Bai E, but couldn''t find the words to say anything. Blame him for being too high-profile before? If it hadn''t been for those accomplishments, he wouldn''t have been promoted by Hamilton out of the ordinary run. The distinction of being elevated from an artificial human to a natural-born one was the first such occurrence he knew of in military history. The instructor''s face darkened like charcoal as his silent gaze swept over the proud soldiers¡ªthese were all men he had once trained. But this Bai E, he was Hamilton''s new favorite. A father loves both his children... "No matter what identity he had in the past! But now, at this moment, he is your comrade, your brother! Whether in records or in perception, he now has a natural-born status just like you. He can get promotions, retire, and start a family, just like any of you. He is your brother!" "Artificial humans can''t be trusted; this was decreed by our superiors!" the soldier declared loudly, without a trace of compromise, "I can''t work closely with an artificial human!" "You''ll have to do it! This is an order!" The instructor''s voice was icy, trying to exert pressure. "Piloting an armed mech requires the pilots to have complete and implicit trust in each other, without genuine trust, the training is meaningless. Sir! I am just discussing the facts!" "..." The instructor fell silent for a moment. Indeed... piloting a Titan-class armed mech required the pilots to cooperate with perfect understanding, without the comradeship of brothers, the idea of effectively piloting an armed mech was pure fantasy. What Benson said... wasn''t entirely without reason. Yet, the authority of orders must be upheld. "Benson, you blatantly defy a military order. Go and receive a third-grade military punishment and then confinement for three days!" The soldier saluted, "Yes, sir!" He left at a brisk pace. The instructor''s gaze followed the retreating figure before turning once more to the rest of the soldiers. "What about you? Anyone willing to pair up with him?" "..." Silence prevailed. No response came. "..." The instructor''s eyebrows furrowed tightly, his gaze occasionally sweeping over Bai E, who was standing in the corner of the formation. The soldier who had been promoted from artificial human status didn''t seem to be emotionally disturbed by this, which was the only piece of good news for now... "..." The tense atmosphere lasted for a while, before the instructor finally let out a hesitant sigh. It wasn''t that he didn''t want to stand up for him, but it was truly impossible to hold everyone responsible. Calling them out one by one would be pointless, as they could all be determined like Benson to accept punishment. And he couldn''t really dismiss them all. "Commence training! Bai E, you''re with me." The development of fundamental understanding didn''t have to take place on a mech, as just moving an arm on that thing requires a tremendous amount of energy. The camp had a special simulation chamber to provide training for this kind of cooperation. Taking Bai E in front of the simulation chamber, the instructor spoke with a hint of helplessness, "I''m sorry you have to endure this... but what he said is also true. Piloting a mech indeed requires the pilots to have a whole-hearted trust in each other, and harboring doubts means that even if training is forcibly passed, it will still pose significant problems on the battlefield. For now, I will train with you... I will report your situation to Hamilton later for him to decide." "Instructor! It''s okay, I''m fine." Bai E didn''t care too much. His gaze merely glanced curiously over everything inside the simulation chamber¡ªthose were models constructed to the scale of the actual mech cockpit functions. These things, do they really require two people to work properly? Chapter 253 239 Specific Vehicle Driving "Come in,"The instructor settled into the simulation pod and greeted Bai E, "First, let me introduce all the functions the templates inside the cabin can have when operating a mecha." This work should have been done by Benson, as it is a longstanding tradition for an old soldier to mentor a new one in the mech pilots reserve. He was a reserve member of the last batch of formal mech pilots, and because he was not qualified for frontline mecha combat, he was lucky to survive the last battle against the Bug Race. And now, the previous batch of reserve members had become the reliable main force of today''s mech pilot training camp. When the main force couldn''t be relied upon, the instructor had to step in personally. "The mechas you will be able to get your hands on are currently only this type of Owl Dragon I, as more types of mechas are generally not used as your regular vehicles. Of course, if one day you have the chance to deal with the Mechanical Court, then you might also see a few other kinds of mechas, but for now, we will only talk about this one. "The entire control module inside the Owl Dragon I model is mainly composed of four parts, which are motion, action, the arsenal...and the energy center." [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªSpecific Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Operation," progress 1%.] "Motion refers to wide-ranging movements like walking, running, jumping, moving left, right, forward, and backward, etc...." "Action, on the other hand, is the precise control of smaller areas such as forearms, upper arms, calves, thighs, back, waist, and other parts." "The arsenal can be regarded as tactics for combat, our armed mechas'' standard arsenal includes the Alloy Chainsaw Sword, the Fire God Machine Gun with a firing rate of 3600 rounds per second, the Giant Flamethrower, two small missile arrays, and two small-yield nuclear warheads. Of course, the mecha has reserved slots for special equipment, so if you have a particular weapon you are fond of, you can apply to your superiors for individual fitting or minor modification. We can talk about this more once you''re familiar with operating the mecha." "As for the energy center, it''s a bit special; we''ll talk about that later." "Normally, it takes two mech pilots to operate this model and engage in combat." Simply put, a mecha is a large human body, and the mech pilots act as the nerves and blood vessels inside the mecha. Find adventures at empire Imagine the intricate coordination of bones and muscles inside the human body during battle for any possible action; the existence of the mecha is to finely dissect those numerous processes that are instinctively smooth on the human body into independent actions. Pilots in the cockpit transmit commands and force to the respective parts at the exact moment to simulate the agility and adaptability of human movements. "Typically, one person controls the motion module and selects from the arsenal, and we call this person the ''main mech pilot,'' who is primarily responsible for strategic decisions like advancement, retreat, and selecting tactical weaponry against specific opponents¡ªessentially the brain of the mecha." "The one who solely controls the action module is called a ''combat mech pilot.'' To achieve agility similar to the human body, there are a vast number of small parts on the mecha that can be individually controlled. The ''combat mech pilot'' has total control over these parts. Tactical combat movements in battle are mostly led and completed by the ''combat mech pilot.''" "As for the energy center I mentioned earlier... different parts require constant adjustment of driving power, and control over it is not fixed in either pilot''s hands." "Only with teamwork between the two can one perfectly operate an Owl Dragon I model armed mecha. The more skilled the group of pilots, the more agile and sensitive the mecha''s performance becomes, approaching the sensibility of the human body." "I''ve heard that you are quite good at both combat and shooting, right?" As he spoke, the instructor suddenly turned his gaze towards Bai E. Meeting the other''s gaze, Bai E lowered his eyes somewhat "at a loss," "I can... do a bit." "Be confident... I''ve heard quite a few legendary stories about you," the instructor patted Bai E''s shoulder and continued to explain. "In fact, operating a mecha has certain similarities to the bare-handed and armed combat you do with your body. Warriors good at combat tend to have astonishing performances in mecha operation as well. But there are many differences too. For example, to throw the most powerful punch with the human body, you typically need to draw your fist back as far as possible to ensure there is enough distance to generate force. However, a mecha with an internal power system does not need to do this. As soon as the command is given, it can complete the maximum output within a limited success rate in the shortest distance. Of course, the commands given by the mech pilot also need to be preempted, to ensure the mecha''s internal power systems have enough time to produce power, but the mecha itself will not be constrained by the human body''s limitations and need not perform some of the excess movements. You will be able to feel the difference between them when you operate the mecha practically." [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªSpecific Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Operation," progress 17%.] "Your actual combat ability is formidable; maybe in the future, you could become an excellent ''combat mech pilot.''" Having said these words, the instructor paused, seemingly concluding the introduction. Bai E finally had an opening to ask his own question, "Is it impossible for someone to operate a mecha alone?" "Hehe~," the instructor chuckled heartily. The pinpointing from others just now might not have caused much turmoil in his mentality as a man-made warrior, but it might also have stirred some pride. If no one wants to pair with me, then I''ll just form a team by myself. But that, is impossible. "Many new mech pilots, like you, have such ideas when they first encounter mecha training, but you have to understand, it''s not possible. Now, imagine you want to do a forward roll right now, how would you operate?" As the image of a forward roll flashed through his mind, Bai E''s gaze towards the cockpit''s layout filled with various buttons and joysticks became somewhat bewildered. The instructor didn''t push them too hard, his words were just meant to spark Bai E''s imagination. While speaking, he also started explaining and demonstrating, "Come, let''s break down this movement step by step¡ªstarting with the motion aspect, we need to use our legs to generate power and jump forward, right?" [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªSpecific Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting," progress 21%.] S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Mm-hmm," Bai E nodded, indicating he was listening. "Then our upper body needs to lean forward as much as possible to move the center of gravity forward. You have to understand, a mecha''s body is not limited by human muscle tissue, but it still has to follow the laws of physics." "Hmm..." "What about the arms? To maintain the center of gravity, and to ensure we maintain the right combat posture after rolling, they need to move accordingly. It''s not too different from making a normal rolling motion with your own body, right?" "Right." "So in this seemingly simple action, how many movement commands do we need to execute?" "Three?" Bai E tilted his head, following along with the instructor''s explanation. "No..." The instructor shook his head, "It''s nine. To jump with the thighs, first we need to send a command to the power center to adjust the leg''s energy supply level and then we can leap; that''s already two commands. At the same time, upper body pressing forward, upper arms, forearms bracing forward, that''s three commands. After the hands press against the ground, the waist drives the legs to flip backwards, increase the arm''s energy supply, upper arms, forearms straighten to push the body back to a standing combat posture, that''s four commands. Nine in total. Complicated, isn''t it?" When the human body wants to do something, once the idea is there, the body naturally allocates the energy and carries it out like an instinct. But a mecha is an inanimate object; humans are its brain and nerves, its blood vessels. Every tiny decision requires a decisive command from the human for thorough execution. Increase the power supply but don''t move the body, and you''ll just be roaring in place. Move the body without giving it energy, and of course it won''t budge. [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªSpecific Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting," progress 23%.] "What I''ve described is the simplest procedure already... To go into more detail, when we do a forward roll, our body can''t do without the process of bending the knees, right? That''s something the body must do to exert force." "Mm-hmm." Bai E nodded. "But in piloting a mecha, the process of ''bending the knees'' isn''t actually necessary to accomplish the action of ''rolling forward,'' right? Because a mecha''s body doesn''t need to rely on ''bending the knees'' to generate force." "Right." "But what if we don''t input the ''bend knees'' command? What do you think would happen?" Images flashed through Bai E''s mind¡ª The mecha fell forward stiffly, and then, like a diver''s motion in reverse, its legs straightened out and were pushed up stiffly by the arms. "Do you understand?" the instructor looked at Bai E as if he were deep in thought, "We could choose not to execute ''bend knees,'' but that would undoubtedly increase the magnitude of the movement, take more time, and expose bigger vulnerabilities. In real combat with our own bodies, that moment could be enough to decide life or death. And you have to understand, all of this is based on a simple environment without any interference. Imagine¡ªif you were on a battlefield, after you''ve completed this forward roll dodge, you have to immediately decide which weapons to counterattack with upon getting up, where to launch your attack, and so on. Leave aside the complexity of these tactical decisions and the simultaneous or sequential command outputs in an instant; even deciding whether the bullets about to be chambered in the Fire God Machine Gun are armor-piercing, concussion grenades, or incendiary rounds requires you to make a quick choice in the blink of an eye. Do you think you could handle that?" "..." It did sound, indeed, a little difficult. "What if there were more people?" Bai E asked curiously. "More people?" The instructor shook his head, "As I just explained, the execution of a major action relies on the coordination of various commands. Even cooperation between two people is a test of understanding, let alone with more operators. One arm forward, the other back, thighs squat, calves drive a jump up... Can you imagine that kind of chaos?" Mechas are different from tanks and airplanes; to achieve the flexibility similar to a human body, the fewer "brains" there are issuing commands, the better. One person can''t handle it, and more people just add to the chaos. Two people, as has been determined after long-term practice, is the most reasonable configuration to pilot a single mecha. "Oh~" Bai E nodded, committing it to memory. [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªSpecific Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting," progress 25%.] Chapter 254 240 Im just one step ahead in skills "Next, I''ll introduce you to the functions of these buttons and toggles... This controls the forward and backward movement of the left and right legs, this is..."[You are currently learning "Scholarship - Specialty Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting," progress 50%.] [The learning progress for "Scholarship - Specialty Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting" has met the requirements; the subordinate "Knowledge Point - Basic Mecha Maneuvering" has been unlocked.] [Current unlock required: Universal Experience *1000. After unlocking this knowledge point, the next stage "Knowledge Point - Advanced Mecha Maneuvering" will be initiated.] "You''ve just started mech pilot training, and it''s already impressive that you are memorizing all these key positions and lever functions so quickly. Of course, I have tentatively positioned you as a ''battle mech pilot,'' so it''s acceptable if you only remember the functions related to ''actions'' for now. I also have an operation manual here for you; you can read it in your free time when you go back, but remember... don''t lose it. Although it''s not extremely important, it is still classified as city confidential." "Hmm..." Bai E nodded, holding the booklet, "When can we begin official training?" The instructor was taken aback, "Have you memorized the functions of these operation modules?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E blinked, "Pretty much." [Payment: Universal Experience 1000 points.] [Acquired Knowledge Point - Basic Mecha Maneuvering.] [Basic Mecha Maneuvering: From now on, you can perform all standard actions of mechanical operation mechas with a complexity of "moderate."] The instructor raised an eyebrow in disbelief, "You remembered the main mech pilot''s control modules as well?" "Yeah." "???" The instructor squinted and stared into Bai E''s eyes, "Are you sure?" "How about... we try it?" Bai E said cautiously. The instructor fell silent, saying nothing. This was a talent Hamilton had made an exception to promote; perhaps there really was something special about him. But everyone else has to memorize for days; you''ve memorized it just like that? I want to see how much of a genius you truly are! "Fine!" The instructor suddenly broke the silence, "I''ll work with you." It is said that only with the ultimate implicit understanding between two mech pilots can a mecha be perfectly operated, but in fact, if one can fully accommodate and understand the other, the result displayed can be just as flawless. If one feels everything about piloting a mecha is so smooth it''s unimaginable, it isn''t necessarily due to the pairing; it might be that their partner''s comprehensive grasp utterly outmatches. Now, let you feel the superior consideration from an instructor. "You''ll start as the main mech pilot." In the basic training of mechas, the main mech pilot always takes the lead, while the battle mech pilot is more responsible for coordinating limbs, arms, and other parts. Undoubtedly, it demands more thought from the battle mech pilot to align with the main mech pilot''s actions. The main mech pilot, in turn, needs to plan the actions for the training targets. There are various targets in the training as well. Upon confirming the start of the training challenge, the simulation pods'' screens in front of them slowly brightened from dark, revealing a challenge scene filmed on location¡ª Within glass windows constructed from grey-black steel at all sides, a gigantic tree lying on the ground came into view. Step over it! A simple action, yet when performed with a mech operated mechanically, it breaks down into several separate movements that must be executed one by one. For new mech pilots, even a mere stepping action often causes them to panic. Planning a sequence of fluid movements also takes thoughtful consideration. This is normal... The instructor relaxed his posture, quietly waiting, knowing it won''t be so quick... ...how did he start moving already?! The mech status display on the simulation pod''s screen showed he directly activated the right leg... The shockingly startled instructor instantly sat up straight, his hands catching up with the control sticks, swinging the mech''s arms to maintain balance. "Click-click-click~" The mechanical structure emitted various sounds of gears meshing, and the simulation pod''s screen showed the gigantic tree obstacle lying behind them. Passed... have we passed? Just like that? Although as the initial challenge of basic training it wasn''t particularly difficult, how could you, a mech pilot who has just touched the controls, pass it like this? Gazing at the giant tree now behind them, the instructor fell into contemplation¡ª Is this really your first time? Bai E did not stop. The simulated cabin screen was not merely a display of one segment; one challenge followed another, naturally preventing any pause. The mech strode forward, the actual scenery outside the window and the cameras in all directions within the cabin simulating the forward progression. Even the instructor, with his solid fundamental skills, maintained subconscious control over the mech despite his astonishment. Jumping, leaping, climbing... One by one, the challenge objectives were tackled. Unbelievably smooth. For the instructor, the content of the novice training was something he was thoroughly bored with, something he could complete even on autopilot using muscle memory alone. So, the instructor really did switch off his brain... His full attention was on Bai E at the mech pilot controls beside him. Incredibly stable. Although he was merely executing a series of basic maneuvers, he did so seriously and accurately. More crucial was the fluidity of movement; the screen showed the mech''s forward strides steady and unwavering, continuously moving ahead. Many soldiers, even after one or two months of training, would still falter and pause to think about how to tackle these basic training stages ¨C the complex control rods and intricate maneuver analysis often required considerable mental effort. But him... It was as if he had ingrained mech piloting into his instincts. Was this really his first encounter with mech controls? Experience more content on empire It was too incredible! Hmm... why is he frowning? Has he finally encountered a challenging stage? The instructor''s spirit was jolted as he caught a glimpse of a subtle change in Bai E''s expression. ... It''s too slow... Bai E slightly knit his brows. The difficulty of the basic training was quite foundational, teaching one how to run, jump, climb, and turn... It was like an alien species, taking its first awkward steps in a human body. It reminded Bai E of the many idiot-proof new player tutorials he encountered while gaming. To many players with even a slight talent, the teachings of those tutorials were meaningless even if it was their first encounter with the game. It was like an old lady''s footbinding cloth, stinky and long. And they still wouldn''t let you skip... Training was making him sleepy. Then, why not speed things up? Bai E lightly pushed with his right hand¡ª Energy supply shifted up, scaling to the third stage. Legs accelerated, the screen in the simulated cabin began to rush towards his eyes at high speed. "Hey, hey, hey?" The instructor reacted instinctively, swinging the mech''s arms to balance its center of gravity, "What are you planning to do?" No one had ever used more than a single-gear energy output in the novice basic training before. It''s too fast, you won''t be able to handle it! A half-body height demolished wall loomed nearby, and the speeding mech looked set to crash into it. With no control over the decision, the instructor could only watch helplessly as the simulated mech hurtled forward... ...and then it soared into the air. The mech''s legs kicked off to the side, and the belated instructor hurriedly controlled the arms to brace against the top of the crumbling wall. The simulated damaged wall exhibited realistic texture and collapsed instantly under the colossal force of the mech, fortunately, the brief moment of leverage was enough to deem the mech successfully hurdled over the broken wall. In a display only visible to the instructor, the mech''s hurdle was replayed from various angles in the observer''s view. Watching the mech elegantly clear the wall in the screen, the instructor felt a tinge of pride. ''Good thing I''m a cut above.'' Even when cooperating with Bai E''s abrupt ideas and actions, he managed to respond in time and make the necessary adjustments. Who else could execute such a perfect arm-supported hurdle? Um... How come the screen still shows rapid progress in the corner of his eye? Chapter 255 241 Parkour game? Leaping over the decrepit city walls was just the first barrier to cross after acceleration.If the speed was to be increased, it would certainly be maintained to the end. The difficulty of the subsequent levels had increased compared to the previous ones, yet Bai E''s advancing speed accelerated even more. The rapidly approaching simulation screen seemed to blow onto his face with the gale, and it was only then that Bai E felt a bit of the thrill. [It''s like a parkour game...] The guy could play Temple Run until his phone''s battery exploded. "Stop, stop, stop!" Just as Bai E increased his speed to fifth gear, reveling in the joy of getting through the levels, the instructor suddenly interrupted him urgently in his ear. He had to admit that this synthetically engineered warrior truly had exceptional talent. Not only could he remember every module that a main mech pilot could use clearly, but he could also quickly choose the most suitable solution for the challenges he encountered. It had been said before that his ability to adapt on battlefield was strong, and now it seemed indeed true. There were many warriors with strong adaptive physical abilities, but few had the imagination and execution to transfer that dexterity from their bodies to the operation of a mecha. Bai E was clearly one of those minorities. But... it was still early days! The basic actions were not very difficult. A warrior who remembered the operation of each mecha module and had practiced for a while might easily accomplish them¡ªhe was just at a higher starting point than the average warrior, but that didn''t define his limit. Moreover, as a combat mech pilot, he had almost perfectly coordinated with him through the levels. While he strategized as the main pilot, his own piloting actions that followed were the core reason why all those moves were executed flawlessly. If it had been another newbie pilot in Bai E''s place as soon as he started accelerating at the first level¡ªthe dilapidated city walls, they would have crashed straight into them. So now... "Come, let''s switch places." The main pilot strategizes, the combat mech pilot supplements the details and coordinates. You say you remember all the modules needed by the main and combat mech pilots, right? Let''s see what level you can reach. The instructor, with lengthy teaching experience, did not believe that a warrior on his first day with a mecha could get the hang of it without any hindrance. "Good." Bai E had no objections. Being a main pilot wasn''t very interesting; even at fifth gear, there wasn''t much to operate. Once the combination and division of basic movements were ingrained in his mind and body like instinct, the choices he needed to make at any level came naturally, without any conscious thought. On the other hand, the operations of the combat mech pilot, controlling many more parts of the mecha, were more intense. Bai E, who occasionally got distracted watching the instructor''s operations, had long wanted to try it out himself. The instructor buckled his seat belt, and the simulator''s driving position also mimicked reality. The mecha''s cockpit was a form of semi-mounted, semi-reclining style. While having a certain carrying capacity, the limbs were suspended in the air to provide more operating space, with the main pressure points on the hips and waist. "Are you ready?" he looked at Bai E, who was also fastening his seat belt. "Click!" After a crisp click of the buckle, Bai E''s calm voice responded, "Ready." "Do we need to start from the beginning?" The training mode''s difficulty increased the further you progressed, so not resetting the progress meant that Bai E would face a serious challenge as soon as he took the position of a combat mech pilot. "No need," Bai E replied, his expression calm. It was this thrill that he sought. Displaying his talent was also undoubtedly a way to allow himself quicker access to a real mecha, and to kick off advanced combat training. "Good," Brandon nodded in satisfaction. He liked this overconfident attitude. Confidence is an essential quality for every fighter. Brandon slowly shifted gears, understanding that before any action, he needed to determine the power output gear¡ªthree. If he were the main pilot, he would not start at one like all the trainees who began training, but considering it was Bai E''s first time, he did not recklessly switch to too high a gear. The roles of the main mech pilot and combat mech pilot were sharply different. Being able to handle the main pilot role did not mean one could play the part of a combat pilot as well. Moreover, despite Bai E''s remarkable display of talent in the recent basic training, it was still within the realm of "basic." The simulation pod''s screen timely simulated the scenery outside of the mecha, showing the vast yellow wasteland reduced to insignificance before the towering mecha. "Here it comes." Before nearing the obstacle, the instructor considerately gave an advance warning. "Hmm~" Bai E answered, fully focused. Cliffs... Broken bridges... The mecha leaped high into the air. Bai E, who was constantly focused on the independent screen in front of the combat mech pilot, instantly grasped Brandon''s intention¡ª He wanted to fly directly over, instead of jumping down to the relatively low base of the cliff for the mecha. The simulator provided more than one way to pass each level. The main pilot could make more than one choice, while the combat mech pilot needed to adapt quickly and follow suit. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To leap, one would need to grab onto both the cut-off steel bridge and a large chunk of protruding rock by the cliff''s edge to leverage. A simple prediction of the movement flashed through the mind and instantly disintegrated into several separate steps, each passing through the mind in succession. As for how to go about it, Bai E had a plan in his heart in an instant. As the powerful steel body leaped from the cliff''s edge, Bai E employed his hands and feet, sending a series of control commands in quick succession. The Mecha, with its logical sequence of front and back, would naturally perform these movements in their proper order¡­ The mechanical palm stretched out vainly twice, attempting to grasp the last chance, but failed to accurately seize the protruding rock. The steel bridge held by a single hand was corroded and could not provide enough support for such a heavy body. Without a reliable fulcrum to provide power, even a Mecha with built-in power sources could not forcibly defy the laws of physics. The huge body fell powerlessly and crashed to the ground. The earth quaked and the mountain trembled. The simulated image raised a large cloud of dust, like a mushroom cloud, with striking realism. ''That''s more like it...'' Brandon, who failed to coordinate, felt this was only to be expected, "Don''t be disheartened, this is normal. This level is not easy. Many Mech Pilots who have trained for ten days to a fortnight make frequent mistakes here. Plus, if it were a real Mecha, there would be a jet propulsion unit on the back, and this height would easily be surmounted." "¡­" Bai E frowned slightly but said nothing. He stared at his palm, slightly distracted, feeling something was not right... Yes, the tactile feedback was off. Too late... The Mecha was responding to his commands too quickly. In other words, the process of issuing commands was done too rapidly. The commands should be delayed a bit more so that the Mecha''s keen response could be executed at the right moment. However¡­ this was entirely different from the sensation he felt in the main pilot''s position. The response speed of the function modules operated from the main pilot''s position was much slower than this. Initially, he had felt somewhat uncomfortable with this, but after crossing several levels, he became accustomed to it. Now... Was it his misconception? Or was it the original setting? Having clarified the key point, Bai E looked toward the instructor, his eyes filled with evident doubt, "Instructor, why did I just feel like the Mecha''s response got faster?" Brandon was slightly surprised to hear this and muttered softly to himself, "Such sharp insight..." He then nodded in agreement, "You''re not wrong. The control module response speed of a combat pilot is always a bit faster than that of the main pilot. As for the reason... it''s to follow." Combat pilots need to take the initiative to cooperate. After sensing the intentions of the main pilot, they need to act promptly, ensuring their commands are executed quickly. A main pilot combined with a combat pilot constitutes a complete Mecha pilot team. Their commands always need to be integrated together to achieve the desired effect. It''s like the timing of a command from the brain reaching the extremities¡­ This is not solely dependent on the brain''s decision or the speed of nerve conduction; it requires both to work together effectively. Additionally, the combination of the Mecha''s built-in action trajectory prediction and the response speed disparity between the two pilot''s control modules forms the basic condition for the coordinated combat of the two pilots. Read latest chapters at empire "Of course, this response time difference can be freely adjusted depending on the Mech Pilots'' driving habits and the level of coordination between them. Our current simulation cabins are set to the default maximum time difference of 2 seconds." A 2-second delay might easily decide life or death in human combat, but in battles involving reliable Mechas, it is not such a fatal issue. This is also why the movements of Mechas in previous frontal battles appeared somewhat slower compared to those of humans. Of course, the shorter the time difference that both pilots can control, the more agile the Mecha''s movements will be¡ªthis is beyond doubt. Even the most outstanding technical pair in the military struggled to reduce this time difference below 0.5 seconds, except for the monsters from the Mechanical Court... [You are learning "Knowledge - Special Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting," progress 70%.] The instructor explained everything with a chuckle. Suddenly, the smile on his face froze. Recalling the scene that just happened¡ªhe thought of something. The left hand of the Mecha that should have grasped the rock¡­ swung too early. The Mecha''s feedback and ability to improvise was clearly not on par with a human body, even if it wanted to correct a failed action, it would depend on whether the Mecha''s internal system could respond fast enough to allow it. So... it fell. In other words, it was not an issue with Bai E''s personal operation. It was because he had not informed him of the different response time delays between the two pilot seat control modules, leading to Bai E''s misjudgment of the timing to act. "..." An unspeakable shock rose from his heart. Brandon swallowed hard, his gaze returning to the present. "Let''s try again!" Chapter 256 Cooperation with 242 The mecha restarted from the base of the cliff.In a way, the simulation pod displayed a training field that was also a semi-open map. Even after falling to the bottom of the cliff, there were other routes and challenges waiting ahead... The speed had unconsciously reached the fifth gear. Rotating, jumping. Bang, bang, bang! The heavy footsteps quaked the earth; the mounts on the simulation pod somewhat simulated the vibrations felt when actually piloting. Actions that humans could normally perform could be replicated on a mecha. This was the outcome that basic training hoped the soldiers would eventually achieve. And now... this was already the result achieved. Brandon felt something peculiar. Their cooperation was like that of old partners who had worked together seamlessly for years; it was as if the other knew every intention of his, and even the occasionally unorthodox moves he made were timely followed by the other without a hitch. Although the chief mech pilot was mainly responsible for guiding decisions, when options were too limited and the complexity of actions too low, there was no difficulty for him. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At most, he would deliberately make some unconventional decisions to give Bai E a challenge. On the other hand, as a combat mech pilot, Bai E had to pay full attention to follow his choices. Miraculously, from the first mistake to the present, Bai E had not made a single mistake in their cooperation. He felt a long-lost enjoyment in the control and coordination. But something wasn''t quite right... "If someone can keep up with all your actions, it might not be a sign that the two of you have a tacit understanding. It''s more likely that the other person''s level is far above your own..." Dammit! Could I have become the noob that gets carried by a superior player? Brandon was performing the controls mechanically and furrowed his brow in distraction, then suddenly remembered something else¡ªwait a second, weren''t we just teaching a newcomer the first-time operation of a mecha? What''s with this level of coordinated operation? And how can he keep up with my rhythm? Hmm... How is the mecha moving so fast? Fifth gear... Fifth gear!? When did we reach fifth gear?! Shit! "Tss tss tss~" The mecha''s steel feet braked sharply on the ground, and the rest of the mecha''s limbs balanced the body even with the sudden braking. The metal creature halted its strides, and Bai E''s puzzled gaze came through. Everything was going well in the training, so why stop? All knowledge requires a combination of practice and theory. The instructor''s words laid the foundation for him, and in the simulation pod, he felt the kind of... rhythm truly necessary for piloting a mecha. The rhythm of Mechanical Rhythm. Mecha had a human shape, but it was not a human body. Command transmission required time; the enormous body of the mecha relayed commands from the cockpit to the extremities. The electronic system needed time to respond, and the mechanical structure required time to rotate and mesh. It was like some massive multi-limbed creature, where commands issued from the central intelligence core took an immense amount of time to reach the farthest tentacle segments. To operate a mecha, one must become familiar not only with the system''s set delay times but also with the essential delays inherent to the mecha''s structure itself. Every action''s actual effective moment required a certain degree of anticipation, and the anticipation needed for different parts varied. This was something that could not be taught or passed down through an instructor''s experience but had to be figured out through one''s repeated use. Fortunately, progress was still acceptable... [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªSpecificity Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting," progress 89%.] "..." The instructor didn''t make a sound for a long while, simply digesting the fact that he had encountered a monster. "You did very well." Brandon unbuckled his safety harness with a trace of melancholy, unaccustomed to encountering a talent of this caliber for the first time. "Do you have any other questions?" he asked casually, though Brandon was just going through the motions. "Yes," Bai E said with utmost sincerity in his eyes, "I find it exhausting to follow your maneuvers¡­" He honestly expressed his feelings. Feeling tired was to be expected, of course. A secondary Mech Pilot must completely follow the lead Mech Pilot''s decisions, having no initiative and needing to constantly concentrate to guess the intentions of the lead Mech Pilot. But it shouldn''t be this tiring since they were only doing basic movement following, which hadn''t yet involved more complex combat. Even so, he had almost entirely devoted himself to following the instructor''s desired maneuvers, and it was hard to imagine how much mental effort a regular soldier would need to cope with the demands of an intense combat environment. The key issue was that this level of focus had to be maintained for a very long time... unimaginable. "Tired?" Brandon smiled, "Being tired is normal. That''s why we need to train for understanding and coordination. Every Mech Pilot has their own control habits. If we practice together over a long time, the secondary Mech Pilot will learn the lead Mech Pilot''s habits, and much of the coordination will become instinctive, naturally saving a lot of energy. Plus, you can also pay attention to the display screen in front of you." In front of the secondary Mech Pilot is a screen that only they can see clearly. It doesn''t show the scenery outside, but the current status of the Mecha and its external actions. It''s not in real time. It''s predictive. Whenever the lead Mech Pilot issues a command, the Mecha''s main core chip will simulate the actions the Mecha is about to execute in the first instance. Maybe it doesn''t carry them out as quickly, but it can simulate the state after the command is executed in advance. The secondary Mech Pilot can rely on this display to better understand the lead Mech Pilot''s intentions, of course¡­ the speed of response remains the core element in measuring how smoothly a driver operates a Mecha. [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªSpecial Vehicles (Armed Mechas) Driving," progress 90%.] "Oh~" Bai E nodded, having observed a bit earlier, but now with the instructor''s clear explanation, he understood its function even more clearly. "Additionally, there''s this..." Brandon patted the iron plate supporting him at his back, "The simulator doesn''t have a real installation, but in a normal Mecha here, there is an emergency Stimulant that can be injected, which can help you improve your reaction speed very quickly. The side effects are quite significant though... you need to finish the combat quickly and get treatment from a doctor." "Oh~" Enjoy new adventures from empire "Do you have any other questions?" "Not for now..." Bai E shook his head. After the instructor had explained each module''s function, he knew he needed to familiarize himself with them through practice. "Then let''s leave it at that for now." The instructor headed for the exit of the simulation pod, looking back and waving his hand, "You go ahead and familiarize yourself with the modules in the simulator, I''ll check on the learning progress of the other students." Bai E was not the only soldier who had just started training or had not been training for long, and the instructor needed to cleanse his eyes with other people. In fact, according to his plan, he was only going to teach Bai E some basic knowledge, and then he could go busy himself with other matters, letting Bai E familiarize himself with the various functional modules, which constituted the entirety of the first lesson. Normally, that''s how most soldiers got through their first lesson, and often the second one as well. Just memorizing the intricate module functions already required all the soldiers'' mental focus, and managing to stumble along with a little jog or jump was considered exceptional performance. But Bai E... "Alright, Instructor!" Bai E responded readily. Being left to explore on his own was fantastic! Chapter 257 243 Solo Practice Bai E had interacted with both pilot seats, so he felt¡­ it seemed that it wasn''t strictly necessary for two people to get along in order to play.At least in terms of the operational intensity in basic training, this was true. Let''s try... The instructor was not there, alone, he furtively explored. Because everyone''s body shape is different, with varying arm spans, leg lengths, and other measurements, the various control modules inside the simulation pod had a certain range of motion. Similarly, the positions of both pilots could be adjusted. Bai E hadn''t asked about how to adjust the mechanical structure, and the instructor hadn''t mentioned it, but... Bai E flipped open the manual. "You are learning ''Knowledge¡ªSpecialty Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting'', progress 93%." Following the guide in the directory, he easily found the operation to adjust the position. "Click~" "Click~" The mechanical structure made a frictional noise when coupled together. He pushed the copilot''s seat to the back, the main pilot''s seat to the middle, pulled all kinds of control modules close, and Bai E secured himself again at the main pilot''s position. The surrounding function modules were dazzling, all piled up before his eyes. Bai E rubbed his hands together, feeling a hot sensation in his palms. Operating the mechanical structure had an addictive tactile feedback, especially exhilarating and focused amidst the flurry of hand shadows. Starting from the beginning... Bai E reset the difficulty level of the course. Now practicing alone, he couldn''t be overconfident. Experience more tales on empire "Buzz~" The speakers in the simulation pod began to simulate the buzzing sounds made by various structures of the mecha when operating. The slight shaking and vibration also transferred to his body from the support point behind him. Completely immersed in everything displayed within the simulation pod, the experience was quite realistic. Bai E truly felt as if he was piloting a towering mecha, walking across the vast land. First gear... second gear... third gear... Bai E advanced the gear, and the power began to increase. While preparing to swing his legs, Bai E also pre-entered the instructions for the arms to follow. Balance, center of gravity... these were more pronounced while driving a mecha than with his human body''s senses. The memory of that ready-to-tip-over feeling during a few sideward slants while coordinating remained fresh. Feeling the process happen slowly but being utterly powerless to change it only pressed a heavy sense of helplessness on his heart. This was the lack of confidence that came from imbalance during operation, and when controlling it alone, he needed to be even more mindful of this sense of loss of control due to slight flaws in coordination. Recalling all the issues he faced during his recent practice, Bai E''s hands became blurs, and the mechanical structure''s buttons and levers created a cacophony before his eyes... "Boss... how''s that guy doing?" someone breezed through a level and turned to ask the instructor behind him. Brandon was dutifully overseeing the coordination training between each group of mech pilots. Everyone''s progress was different, with some veteran pairs being reserve mech pilots left over from the previous batch and, due to incompatible habits or personalities for taking on newcomers, keeping their original pairing for practice. They were almost guaranteed to be the newly appointed regular mech pilots. And having trained for a long time, they were quite familiar with the instructor, which made their conversations somewhat more casual. Remembering the outrageous scene from just before, Brandon shook his head, "Don''t bother him when there''s nothing wrong, he''s a talent personally recruited by Hamilton." "Talent?" scoffed the training soldier. Weren''t talents abundantly available in this world? His identity as an artificial human doomed him to not be taken seriously here¡ªit had been an unwritten rule in the armored camp for a long time. "Instructor, it''s not that we''re deliberately targeting him, but just look around and tell me who would want to be brothers with an artificial human? Who knows when he might go crazy and stab us in the back." The "discrimination" against artificial humans naturally needed factual corroboration, with mutinous artificial humanoid incidents being the most publicized arguments here. Without anyone willing to cooperate, they couldn''t always expect an instructor to accompany his practice or even join him on the battlefield, could they? To become a regular mech pilot, it wasn''t about the capacity of one soldier, but that of a pair of soldiers. Even if he was highly gifted, strong, and renowned elsewhere, in this armored camp... it didn''t count for much. Under these circumstances, that guy certainly wouldn''t be able to become a regular mech pilot, and would probably end up like the other artificial humans who came to the armored camp, becoming a member of tank or rocket vehicle crews. That said, the training soldier was still curious about the artificial young man''s learning ability. The soldier stretched his neck trying to see the tablet computer the instructor was holding. It recorded the performance results of each group of soldiers during practice. "How did that kid perform just now?" "Very impressive," the instructor said truthfully, hoping that his subordinates would be a little more cooperative with the superior''s wishes, "so I''m telling you, don''t mess with him. Hamilton really values him, and later they might even transfer someone from elsewhere to pair up with him." If those at hand were unwilling to cooperate, they would find someone who was. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the only plan he had come up with. Since they were all new recruits, starting fresh and developing a tacit understanding of coordination wasn''t a bad idea. Whether he would do this or not depended on whether the superior''s consideration of him was sufficient. "Oh~" The speaking warrior responded perfunctorily and also glimpsed the information he wanted to see. Group 2, current evaluation "Excellent", comprehensive evaluation "Good+". There was also a rising green arrow... This was almost certainly a fixed spot for a regular Mech Pilot... and it was his own. As expected, but still a delight in his heart. Then looking at that kid... Group 21, current evaluation... "Excellent+". No comprehensive evaluation, because this was his first lesson... Huh? Really? Plus? "Instructor, are you sure you''re not favoring him?" seeing this result, the warrior could hardly believe his eyes. "He really is impressive," Brandon sighed sincerely. The other warrior training in the same group shook his head in disbelief, "Could their performance be worse than the instructor''s? Even the dumbest newbie can be corrected by the instructor..." "¡­" Such words would usually be pleasant to hear, but today they especially burned his face. Brandon felt his face heating up. Not to mention the complex training to come, just speaking of the basic training that had just taken place... it wasn''t clear who was rescuing whom. But at this moment, even if he told the truth, these lads probably wouldn''t believe him, let alone that it would undermine the authority of the instructor. Brandon coughed discreetly, "Anyway, don''t go too far, he really is quite good and is someone the superior specifically asked to be looked after, that''s enough." "Alright, alright, we promise not to target him." But they wouldn''t cooperate either... You train by yourself, let''s see how you become a regular Mech Pilot. "Look!" a warrior who glimpsed something suddenly laughed, "As soon as the instructor leaves, this guy can''t do it, right?" Current evaluation¡ª¡ª"Poor". The tablet in the instructor''s hand was just a presentation panel collecting internal evaluations of the warriors currently training by the simulator system. The true grading wasn''t decided by the instructor himself, the motions being up to standard were judged by the simulator system. At that moment, the simulator system was faithfully reflecting the training status within each simulator. The feedback information unique to Group 21 was flashing a bright red light, alerting the instructor that this "group" had significant issues in their training situation. Seeing this, Brandon frowned and murmured to himself, ''What''s going on? Weren''t they training well just now?'' "¡­" That''s not right, damn it! Who was this kid training with after he left? Or was he just casually using the lead Mech Pilot''s module for fun? Could he be tripping over himself walking? Otherwise, he wouldn''t be rated as "Poor" by the system. Who was the person he had coordinated so well with just now? Damn it! Brandon quickly put away the tablet to prevent the training warrior from peeping, and just instructed coldly. "Train properly on your own! Don''t slack off, got it? Even if you''re the highest level in this group, it doesn''t mean you''re guaranteed to become a regular Mech Pilot. If your skills aren''t sufficient, going into battle would just waste the city''s resources. The final selection isn''t up to me." Having said this, Brandon turned and walked away. He was going to see what that synthetic boy was up to! ... "I''m not quite used to this..." Bai E grimaced, "It feels uncomfortable." Operating alone, his own plans for himself couldn''t have been clearer. But the two-second latency difference between the principal and the war Mech Pilot was too uncomfortable. Distracted by calculating this time difference, he struggled even with the most basic level that he had initially passed effortlessly. "How do I adjust this..." It''s not in the operating manual either... "What are you doing?" Brandon''s puzzled voice came from behind. Chapter 258 244 Mechanical Rhythm Has the simulation capsule control room before me, which has undergone a drastic layout change, remained the same familiar simulation capsule control room?"Familiar with the control module?" Bai E asked back with some confusion. Isn''t this what you told me to do? Why do you look so surprised? ''Did I tell you to do the work of two people alone?'' Brandon felt a tightness in his chest, as if he were painfully suffocating. "I have said that it''s very difficult for one person to take on the load that normally requires two people." Brandon said with a cold face. Don''t believe it? Let you not believe it! Let you not believe it! Now you can''t even walk straight, can you? The basic training might be simple, but it''s not something a newcomer to mecha operation can easily handle. In his view, Bai E''s behavior was not uncommon; at their armored camp, there had always been people who tried to pilot the mecha alone. But it was only the professional mech pilots who would occasionally try to do so during basic training. And very few could show a performance that matched that of two pilots operating together. The cooperation between two well-synchronized mech pilots would indeed make it easier to control a mecha. Instead of being arrogant, it was better to practice diligently according to the truths they had discovered. That was the best solution at the current stage. Bai E''s attempt was understandable, but it shouldn''t be indulged. If nobody was willing to cooperate, the superiors would handle it... But first, you had to face the reality of the gap. "Understand how difficult it is now?" "I understand," Bai E nodded sincerely. It was indeed difficult. "But I''d like to ask how to adjust the latency differences between the dual-pilot systems?" Looking at Bai E''s earnest expression, Brandon couldn''t quite tell if the kid had really taken in what he had said. The aloof nature of these artificial humans was sometimes damn hard to grasp; no wonder some soldiers instinctively disliked these guys. It was hard to discern their mental activity from their expressions, which for many people created a sense of superiority and loss of control over the other party, always making one feel uncomfortable... Brandon narrowed his eyes and explained in a deep voice, "When you become an official mech pilot, you naturally gain that authority." To prevent students from changing settings recklessly and thereby reducing their training progress, the delay differences in the simulation pods were locked. Only after proving their capabilities would they be granted access to adjust these settings. "However, for now..." Brandon sighed, remembering that this kid was the one everyone targeted, feeling a bit sorry for him, "I can adjust it for you." After accessing the backend system with his credentials, Brandon turned to Bai E and asked, "How much time do you want?" "0.1 second?" "???" Bai E hurriedly explained, "I''m practicing on my own, and I always know my own thoughts." "..." Brandon sighed and shook his head before saying, "Suit yourself... but just this once." He couldn''t always accompany him for practice, and sadly nobody was willing to be grouped with him. Baldly pretending he needed to memorize the module features was a joke; didn''t he remember everything after just one explanation? Without allowing him to practice alone, what could he do here? "You need to understand one thing. When you''re piloting alone, the difference in latency times actually becomes less important," Brandon explained while adjusting the system. There were other mech pilots in the armored camp who had tried single-pilot basic training practices, so they had some experience. "Our mecha operating systems have a certain logical judgment to help you make small adjustments to all the commands you input in a short time." For example, a large motion requiring thirty small action commands to be combined and completed, whether the pilot inputs these commands within one second or takes three seconds to input them, the mecha will execute the entire set of moves as smoothly as possible¡ªthis is the smart logic integration and application within the system. A very basic application, because with the presence of electronic demons in previous years, the city dared not to intensify research in this aspect. "So at this point, the factor that affects the smoothness of your mecha operation is not the latency difference between the two pilot positions, but the speed of your entire set of input commands. You can slow down, but the order must be correct... but you can''t be too slow, either." The simple smart logic of the system still cannot handle errors in the order of operations; integrating and executing actions continuously in a short time is the extent of its capability. Moreover, the specific measure of "short time" is not easy to grasp; the input of commands can be slow, but it must be steady. Evenly inputting thirty commands within five seconds can achieve a complete expression. However, if you input ten commands in the first second, pause for two seconds, and then input twenty commands in the next two seconds, the Mecha might treat the first ten and the latter twenty commands as two "separate" actions and execute them separately, which might result in uncoordinated movements of the Mecha''s limbs. These are lessons learned from the past. The fastest speed that previous ace Mech Pilots in regular training could achieve when outputting a complete set of commands was also fluctuating between 1 to 2 seconds. Without the time to guess teammates'' intentions but with twice the operational volume, the actual agility shown by the Mecha didn''t increase by much. Now, as a beginner, Bai E is trying to practice this... He is not very optimistic about it. "Although the electronic demon has been completely solved, I have also heard from the Scientific Research Institute that they are researching new ways to operate Mecha and intelligent assistance systems, but the results are not coming that fast," Brandon knew more news and said it casually in the moment. Painting a grand vision for his warriors from time to time, they can have more hope for the future. "Oh~" Only by reaching a certain level can all unknown areas be unlocked; Xie''s words filled in the last piece of the puzzle for Bai E''s understanding of basic Mecha operations. [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Specific Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting," progress 100%.] ["Knowledge ¡ª Specific Vehicle (Armed Mecha) Piloting" learning progress has met the requirements; the subordinate "Expertise ¡ª Mechanical Rhythm" has been unlocked. (The current expertise needs to be unlocked through training.)] [Training: From the instructor''s mouth, you have acquired all the theoretical knowledge of operating a Mecha, and now is the time to verify how much you have truly mastered. Through rigorous training, you can gradually learn and perfect your mastery of the current "Expertise ¡ª Mechanical Rhythm." You can also accelerate the learning or perfection of this expertise by paying a certain price (combat experience/general experience). (Cost: 20 experience points/min) (This mode becomes ineffective after the expertise level exceeds level 3.)] [Current expertise level: 0/7 (Mechanical Mecha''s upper performance limit)] Simple learning demands less experience, while mastering abilities through practice, combat, or even creation requires more experience. But that doesn''t matter! What I have now is experience! "Thank you, instructor!" Discover hidden stories at empire "Then you practice on your own." Brandon sighed softly and walked away. ... [Successfully navigated the target obstacle by independently operating the Mecha, "Expertise ¡ª Mechanical Rhythm" experience +1.] [Current "Expertise ¡ª Mechanical Rhythm" experience 1/100, at 100 points you can master "Expertise ¡ª Mechanical Rhythm (1/7 level)."] [...experience +1.] +1 +1 +1 Expertise can only be improved by practice, just like previous skills such as stealth or blind fighting, which cannot be directly increased with combat experience and can only grow through missions or over time. ''So slow¡­'' Operating alone reduces the time spent guessing teammates'' thoughts and coordinating, but the double workload indeed leaves no time to spare. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E, moving again, couldn''t maintain the fifth gear speed he had when cooperating with the instructor; keeping at the second gear without making mistakes was already the fastest speed he could achieve. Even that... couldn''t guarantee a 100% completion rate. Only each correct successful completion of a challenge has a chance to add one point to the expertise experience. After practicing and roughly understanding the way to increase experience, Bai E realized that this expertise indeed could grow through training in this kind of simulation pod. If that''s the case, burn through my experience! [You are paying with combat experience to aid your training progress...] [Learning efficiency has increased to: 200%] The brain, augmented by an invisible force, has a clearer and more decisive analysis of the actions of operating a Mecha momentarily. The extraordinary power transformed from experience seems to substitute Bai E''s thinking, only requiring him to become familiar with and remember the decisions and habits in this state; these abilities will eventually become his genuinely exceptional personal understanding. +1+1+1+1+1+1 The pulsing of experience becomes more frequent at once. Chapter 259 245 Top combat power! ```"It''s about time..." Keeping an eye on the clock and looking at the green displayed on his tablet, Brandon satisfactorily shut down the simulation process in each simulation pod from the main console. The results weren''t too bad, with no particularly poor scores. As long as one isn''t a fool, prolonged practice can make most people master the methods of driving a mecha, not to mention that those selected to come here are the elite of the elite. Aside from possibly being a bit arrogant, there are generally no other issues. Find your next read at empire The previously mentioned 15 days was just to instill a sense of urgency in these kids; getting a handle on operating a mecha isn''t hard, the difficulty lies in mastering it. To maneuver a massive mecha with the agility of a human body and thereby exert extra combat power, even among the previously enlisted regular mech pilots, there were few who could manage it. I''m no exception... Peak mech pilots and ordinary regular mech pilots are simply two different species. The latter can get by with hard work, but the former... one in a million. The prompt that suddenly popped up on the screen let the warriors know that the session had ended, and many walked out from the spherical simulation pods with a sense of reluctance. This thing is somewhat like playing a video game... And for most people, training with such a novel gadget is addictive, the joy derived from the release of dopamine satisfying them with each new discovery. Every mecha training session is hugely popular, but sufficient time must always be left for reflection. Moreover, they are warriors, and there are many other training objectives that they need to master. "That''s it for today, dismissed!" As he watched everyone leave, Brandon began to thoroughly check each simulation pod for any signs of wear and tear or outdated damage. Purely mechanical systems are prone to wear out from frequent day-to-day use, and if not properly maintained, they will break down quickly. These are all responsibilities that fall to me as an instructor... and being an instructor isn''t all that easy. He checked each pod in turn until he arrived in front of pod number 21... Looking at the unique structure inside the chamber, Brandon sighed with a tinge of regret. The solitary control seat in the middle of the construct spoke of its occupant''s grievances. Who knows how Hamilton would decide after receiving the report. Glancing at the tablet in his hand subconsciously, Brandon wanted to see what kind of practice the artificial human soldier had undertaken in his subsequent solo explorations. Current evaluation¡ªGood+. Hmm... par for the course. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The tablet computer''s display showed real-time monitoring, and upon the completion of training, the meaning of "current evaluation" would change to an overall assessment of the session. Good+... It seems at the start when I was pairing up with him, the score was quite high, and there were many mistakes during the solo practice that dragged down the overall rating. The simulation pod only grades based on the performance during the challenges, regardless of whether there''s one or two pilots in the pod. But a significant difference between the two has made this comprehensive "Good+" rating somewhat inaccurate. Especially the "Excellent+" performance at the beginning was so prominent that by looking only at the overall evaluation, it''s impossible to accurately judge how well that kid performed during the solo practice. Furthermore, I don''t know the total duration of his training; whether it diluted the "Excellent+" training time. If the solo exploration was just a brief stint, the overall rating should still be dominated by the "Excellent+" part. Then this "Good+" could be quite misleading... Brandon slid his finger over the tablet, tapping into the sub-page dedicated to pod number 21. The main page is an overview display of all pods'' performance, and more detailed information is available after delving in. Let me see how long this kid trained alone, and how he performed¡ª Training duration: 3 hours and 23 minutes (Average training time: 3 hours and 17 minutes) Idle time: 37 minutes Completion rate of current level: 82% (Average completion rate: 63%) Average efficiency of passing levels: Tier 2.4 (Average passing efficiency: Tier 1.3) "..." Staring at the data, Brandon was lost in thought. "How could this be?" "How could this be?" This was all real data being tallied, the so-called training time being the actual effective operational time. How long did I partner up with him? Was it even half an hour? ``` So he practiced by himself for nearly three hours?! With about a six to one ratio in training time, the score that would normally be in the "excellent+" category was greatly diluted. Even if his solo performance in piloting Mecha can''t be considered "good+", a "good" rating is unavoidable. Moreover, the completion rate of this level and the average efficiency of passing... were actually far beyond the average level of this course! The elements affecting the average level, of course, include a mix of good and bad. The previous trainee Mecha Pilots, who are now veterans, naturally performed well, and the newcomers who had just started training obviously did less well. But one must realize... Bai E was supposed to be the bottom one among them! He was the true rookie, attending the training for the first time! And no one was willing to cooperate with him; he had even completed this basic Mecha piloting training course by himself! Could this really be the work of a newcomer, who had just been exposed to Mecha operations?! "...Eh heh." Brandon''s mouth dropped open as he realized that something significant had happened. No wonder the commander said he needed special care. No wonder the commander exceptionally promoted an artificial human to their natural human rank; this was a precedent never established before. Now... all the answers were clear. The commander had seen his innate talent in this area; that was why he made an exception to recruit him. Even across the entire city, even within the Mechanical Court full of monsters, peak Mecha Pilots... were exceedingly rare! Every peak Mecha Pilot could, in the name of Mecha, create miracles that are unimaginable! This is a big win... Brandon opened his mouth and then ran off. Maintenance? Maintenance, my foot! Initially, he didn''t care much about Bai E''s situation; all his work was just routine. But now... How could he not seize the opportunity to rectify such a talent? If no one was willing to work with him, even the most talented Mecha Pilot would have nowhere to apply his skills. Being able to perform well in basic training alone doesn''t mean he can pilot a Mecha into battle alone; they must find him a perfect partner as soon as possible! ... Walking to the cafeteria, Bai E was all smiles. He had mastered a skill at a rapid pace for the first time without any agony. It just consumed a tremendous amount of experience... 3000 points of combat experience, gone in the blink of an eye. [Current "Specialty¡ªMechanical Rhythm" experience 13/500, at 500 points "Specialty¡ªMechanical Rhythm (3/7 level)" can be mastered.] [Specialty¡ªMechanical Rhythm (2/7 level)]: Through continuous practice, your control of Mecha has become increasingly intuitive, and the roughly human-like movements have allowed you to find the key to analogous mastery. From now on, you can transfer all the specialized abilities your physical body possesses to your Mecha''s actions, making your Mecha appear as a sentient being. (Current transfer rate: 30%)] In just over two hours, he pushed this specialty to level 2. When piloting a Mecha in battle from now on, Bai E''s own specializations such as "Long-range Weapons," "Light Firearms," and others can also be displayed with 30% of their effects. Although it seems like a significant discount in ability, the weapons used by Mechas and those used by humans are not on the same level. Like the Mecha''s machine gun mentioned by the instructor earlier, firing 3600 rounds per minute, it is merely considered "Light Firearms" for a Mecha. It appears the abilities are discounted, but the lethality displayed in actual combat is probably unimaginably terrifying. Perhaps once in a Mecha, I could even tussle with that Bug Race overlord? Just thinking about that scene sends Bai E''s spirits soaring. This is the pinnacle of human combat power! Of course, he must not get ahead of himself. At the very least, he needed to upgrade Mechanical Rhythm to level 7; the higher the specialty''s level, the greater the transfer rate. Can''t be reckless; must be stable. There are also specialized weapons for Mecha... Among conventional weapons, there probably aren''t any bows and arrows available. Once I demonstrate sufficient strength, I can probably make a request to the commander and have the Armament Department craft a bow and arrow specifically for my Mecha. Then with one arrow, I''ll blow the Bug Race''s heads off! Chapter 260 246 signboard......Grandpa "Why is our mascot an old man¡­" Kuang Xin remarked on more than one occasion.Out of the blue, an old man showed up in the base warehouse, claiming to be one of their Dawn members, following the orders of the adults, and from then on would be stationed there to oversee the warehouse management duties. Of course, this was a good thing. Previously, whenever they wanted to exchange or submit something, they always had to wait for the adult to return. And the adult himself often had important tasks and was frequently absent. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They even often went on "business trips," disappearing for days at a time. This was very inconvenient. Having someone from the organization in the base not only to perform daily duties but also to help expand their world view and learn more about the organization was a great thing... but it would have been even better if the mascot could have been a commanding big sister! "We''re lucky to have someone, so stop complaining," Dai Lian rolled his eyes. In the game, whether the NPC was good-looking or not didn''t matter to him; it was just a tool. What mattered to him was how the tool could make things more convenient for him. And clearly, the arrival of this new tool... The new Dawn character brought several pieces of good news with it. First, the adult had returned! The specifics couldn''t be disclosed, but the adult was back and had been back for two days. Even though they didn''t know why he hadn''t met with them yet, they had gotten into the habit of waiting in the base warehouse every noon. They wondered if the adult would come today. Second, there were new items available for exchange¡ª The first-floor exchange store added "Close Combat Specialization," "Throwing Specialization," and "Light Weapons Specialization": [Throwing Specialization Instruction, price¡ªBasic Training: 20 Faction Contribution Points.] [Light Weapons Specialization Instruction, price¡ªBasic Training: 20 Faction Contribution Points.] [Close Combat Specialization Instruction, price¡ªBasic Training: 20 Faction Contribution Points; Advanced Training: 30 Faction Contribution Points; Master Training: 50 Faction Contribution Points.] The second-floor exchange store added "Master Training" for "Ranged Weapon Specialization" and "Close Combat Specialization": [Ranged Weapon Specialization Instruction, price¡ªMaster Training: 100 Faction Contribution Points.] [Close Combat Specialization Instruction, price¡ªMaster Training: 100 Faction Contribution Points.] The refreshing feeling of occasional new updates was something that couldn''t help but earn rave reviews. Even the Faction Warehouse itself had updated with something they had never thought of before¡ªcars! [Empty-Tanked Car*1, rental price: (Faction Contribution Points*10, Faction Funds*50) per natural day (limit of one rental at a time per person); sale price: Faction Contribution Points*500, Faction Funds*1000 (the contribution points spent on rental can be deducted from those needed for the purchase).] Super user-friendly! They had inquired about the prices for these on the market, but they were way out of reach for them at the moment, given their meager means. But now, the Faction Warehouse offered rental and sales services. Buying a car outright only cost 1000 Faction Funds, equivalent to 5000 Blackwater Coins, which was much more affordable than the inflated prices from Black Street''s unscrupulous merchants. Let alone the fact that after their last contribution of "Exorcism Essential Oil," each of them had no less than 1000 Faction Funds. All they needed was to pool together 500 Faction Contribution Points, and they could buy it outright! Having a car versus not having one in the game was like night and day. Not to mention all the cement still piled up in the sewer¡ªhow long would they need to carry it on their shoulders? Now with the car, they could rent it for one day and get it all "plonked" in one go! Bearing in mind the expansion of their area... Restricted to walking, they couldn''t venture far from Black Street, or they''d stray outside of the adult''s operating range, and all the ground they gained with Dawn would evaporate. With a car, they could travel much farther afield. Whether it was for completing missions or exploring the world of the game, it was far more convenient than using their legs. This time the Faction update was... awesome! And the arrival of the old man mascot brought more than that. After he arrived, he directly settled the contribution points they had earned for constructing the warehouse up until today. Each person received 250 contribution points! That was even more than twice the cumulative amount dispensed before! The reason, of course, was that they had worked twice as hard during the two days the adult was absent. They put aside other missions and focused entirely on the construction of the base warehouse! The 20*20*3 space requirement from the mission had long been met. The space they excavated was even larger to account for internal "decorating," and the actual usable volume was definitely less than the space they dug out. Using their limited knowledge to figure things out on their own, they used up nearly half the cement during the past few idle days, which resulted in such a large influx of contribution points. As to why they worked so hard... Building the base accrued contribution points, and with those points, they could exchange for instructional courses in the faction that seemed incredible to other players. Goods are meant to be thrown out by comparison, and people are meant to despair through comparison. Only in interaction with other players could they genuinely realize just how much of an advantage the three of them had in joining the "Dawn" organization compared to others! The players assigned to this city were not limited to just the few of them. Many players were mixed into various factions, with most of them freewheeling solo players. Normally, it was rare for everyone to meet; some were so integrated into the game world that even when players passed each other face to face, they might not recognize who the other person was. Without the text display above their heads, nobody could easily distinguish who was a player and who was an NPC. Only occasionally during quests could one tell by the way the quests were conducted... Like recognizes like, and there are many quests that the native inhabitants wouldn''t even glance at... only players would be interested. Such as the recently encountered quest "Retrieve the lost mecha parts from the orcs." Gong Yan and the others didn''t accept the quest right away, and the other party didn''t have the patience to wait indefinitely. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire Therefore, a quest intended for all "bounty hunters" somehow appeared in the bustling underground market at some point. It even became eagerly sought after. The head of the guild issuing the quest couldn''t fathom why a task, which in his experience might not attract many bounty hunters due to the laughable reward when compared to the danger of tangling with orcs, was now so popular. Of course, his initial intention was just to dupe some unsuspecting bounty hunters unaware of the market price, to use them as cannon fodder to scout for potentially useful information. But unexpectedly, the response overwhelmed him, with applicants breaking down his door. Just thinking about those unruly bastards made Kuang Xin feel a surge of anger. "Those bastards really have no respect for the rules!" Dai Lian nodded in agreement, "Indeed... it was just a mission bracelet, and they fought over it like mad." The guild boss Wallis, who likened himself to a crow feeding on carrion, had initially intended to lure naive bounty hunter novices with a low price to do his bidding. When he realized the overwhelming number of "bounty hunters" willing to undertake the mission, he quickly changed his strategy. Want to do the quest? Sure! Buy the "mission bracelet" at a high price. Only those wearing the "mission bracelet" had the right to turn in the quest. Otherwise, even if others obtained the items he desired, their contributions would be rejected. Of course, if someone did manage to bring him what he wanted without a "mission bracelet," he would naturally take the item and send the person packing. A reward for the quest? Not a single cent. After all, the rule was set, wasn''t it? Without rules, there''s no circle to be squared! A single quest, not only to freeload the desired items but to also extort a hefty sum from those dim-witted bounty hunters. Wallis didn''t know why his quest attracted so many "fools," but the instinctive pursuit of profit drove him to act in his own best interest subconsciously. And he certainly wasn''t acting honorably. On the surface, he allowed everyone to take on the quest, but only those with "mission bracelets" could ultimately submit it. He recognized only the bracelet, not the person. In secret, however, through his underlings disguised as bounty hunters who also accepted the quest, he would "resell" the right to undertake the quest¡ªor rather, the "mission bracelets"¡ªat high prices. Many clever players easily realized that this was a scheme by the organizer and detested such dishonorable local NPCs, swearing to destroy their entire families after completing the quest. But first, the quest had to be done... After all, the reward for the quest was truly tempting¡ª [Jackpot Quest¡ªRetrieve the Creation.] [Retrieve the Creation: The technological creations of humanity have fallen into the hands of other species. It would be a significant loss for humanity if the fruits of human intellect were analyzed and their technological methods deciphered. To recapture the glory of human creation, we shall not shirk our duty! Quest requirements: Allowed to use any means (including but not limited to trade, robbery, theft, etc.) to retrieve the target creation 0/1. Quest completion reward: Jackpot experience (currently 7200 points). Participation fee: 100 points of combat/general experience.] This was the system quest that popped up when "bounty hunters" accepted the task issued by the guild boss Wallis. Who cared about the pittance Wallis gave? What everyone valued was the massive amount of experience accumulated in the jackpot! Invest 100 points, reap millions in return. Go for broke with a small stake for great gains, take off in one swell foop! Lose, and you do so with grace, free of regret. The opportunity for a massive free-for-all for just 100 experience points was also a gain. Moreover, which gamer thought less of themselves? They would take the chance even if it were one in ten million, especially for a jackpot quest that relied solely on personal intelligence and ability. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, so be it. The guilds forming teams to develop core experts, so be it. Every player who took on the quest believed they had a chance to come out on top in the end. "So we must be more cautious," Gong Yan said with a smile, tucking a curl that hung by her temple, her fair wrist adorned with an iron-gray metal bracelet that reflected a subdued, matte luster in the light of the warehouse. "Can the big guy make it today?" Kuang Xin looked on eagerly, knowing that there wasn''t much time left before they set off on the mission. Some quick ones had already departed, and had it not been for the hope of turning their resources into hard cash to increase their chances of completing the mission, they too would have already left. "I hope he can come today and teach me a few things to slay my way to victory!" Faction contribution points could be directly credited to one''s account, but to convert them into the strength taught in those courses still required the big guy himself to come. "He should be able to make it," Gong Yan said with a gentle smile, her soft voice comforting. Chapter 261 Harvest begins at 247 "He''s here, he''s here!"Dai Lian''s spirit jolted as he paid close attention to the distance. The shadow emerging from the horizon was undoubtedly the figure they most wanted to see. Familiar posture, familiar figure... It''s the Lord! A brief separation like a honeymoon, even the composed Dai Lian couldn''t help but have slightly moist eyes at this moment. Lord, you have finally come! How could I live without you! ... After finishing the basic training for mecha operation and having lunch, Bai E rushed over. He now stepped calmly in front of the three players, his smile unchanged despite the days apart. "You''ve met the people I arranged, haven''t you?" The missing refugee elder Gilder hadn''t truly been taken by the spider that night; the disappearance was merely a "defection" agreed upon in secret by the two. The elder didn''t trust the city, and Bai E needed development¡ªit was a perfect match. A huge refugee camp could hardly be managed by just a dozen soldiers, not to mention counting them accurately. How many exactly, wasn''t it ultimately up to the elderly man managing the refugees? And not just he himself, a few refugees hadn''t actually entered the city... The missing elder, on Bai E''s instructions, was shown the way to the underground warehouse constructed by the players. An elder with many years of life experience, even upon arriving at an unfamiliar place, wouldn''t suffer due to a lack of life skills. With directions from Bai E, the elder easily and inconspicuously found the players'' secret base, and with his rich life experience, he would only need some time to get acquainted and should easily take up the role of "warehouse manager." This was the responsibility and task Bai E had temporarily given him. "Signboard... the old grandfather is really nice and quite capable," Dai Lian answered on behalf of the trio. He wasn''t just being polite; the grandfather was indeed very nice and quite capable. As a signboard grandfather, he could even issue quests to the three: [Side Quest ¨C Stock Food]. He could also impart abilities not offered for exchange in the Faction Shop: [Technology ¨C Management, Knowledge ¨C Conventional Vehicle Maintenance]. Whether they were used or not, this was his unique function. As a signboard grandfather, what he could do had already far exceeded their expectations, they couldn''t ask for more. Bai E nodded with satisfaction, "That''s good..." Gilder managed to keep a group of over four hundred people together without disbanding, which naturally showed his strengths and advantages. Keeping a few players in line shouldn''t be a problem. "Let''s go down and have a look," Bai E gestured with a tilt of his chin. Due to the affiliation of his power, the moment he saw the three players, Bai E could see from the floating text over their heads exactly how many faction tokens each owned. [Gong Yan: 320 points of faction contribution, 1650 faction funds.] [Dai Lian: 310 points of faction contribution, 1650 faction funds.] [Kuang Xin: 250 points of faction contribution, 1850 faction funds.] This meant that since Gilder''s arrival, he had distributed 250 points of faction contribution to each of them, more than double the total of 110 points previously given by Bai E himself. Before Gilder took office, Bai E had told him about his management policy for these¡­ members, hoping that Gilder could take over some of his judgment and reduce some of his workload. If he decided to develop a power, then it was inevitable he couldn''t handle everything himself... Delegating authority was both an inevitable and necessary decision. Gilder made a good impression on Bai E, who also trusted Gilder''s judgment. But the rewards he issued still had to be fulfilled by himself. Such a large number of rewards released at once always gave him some concerns. What if¡­ what if Gilder, being new, didn''t "fully" understand the value of these tokens? He needed to issue contribution points for the legitimate purpose of reaping players'' experience, but at the same time, he needed the faction tokens he had set to hold enough "value" in the eyes of the players. ... ''Wow!'' The changes were quite significant. Down in the cavern, spacious and regular. The original passageway had been neatly cemented. A patch of iron-gray ground was the first thing to catch the eye, its cemented surface exuding a sense of smoothness and grandeur. Bai E''s gaze widened, and it was apparent that the entire underground "cave" could no longer be called a "cave"; the semblance of a base was taking shape, and perhaps the construction of a power had truly begun on the right track from this moment... A faint realization arose in Bai E''s mind. Gilder, sitting behind a table, stood up to greet Bai E immediately, "Lord..." In his aged eyes was a profound and sincere respect. ''The Lord is being far too modest¡­'' Find more adventures on empire Before his arrival, Bai E emphasized repeatedly that his power was just getting started with scarce personnel, limited materials, and underdeveloped infrastructure, all requiring his attentive care. He was prepared to develop from the ground up, with nothing at hand and even felt somewhat apologetic for his self-interest that had involved the Lord''s desire to develop. Had it not been for the intention to take care of himself and so many refugees, the Lord probably wouldn''t have considered starting a major power on his own. It was due to his own defection that the Lord had embarked on this path, probably out of necessity. And that meant the Lord would likely have to invest much more effort in the future. However... Although the base was just starting out, its foundation was complete and robust, the mountains of cement hidden in the unknown sewers displayed the depth of the adult''s resources and thorough preparation. There were only four personnel, but each was a pillar of talent, filled with trust for others yet not losing sight of personal judgment, possessing ample initiative and sufficient strength, easily and efficiently preparing the food that was requested, and most importantly, the internal unity, trust, and enthusiasm were abundant. This was an excellent team. The supplies were indeed not plentiful, but the base, with only five people including oneself, truly did not need too much for the time being. Although the adult had not lied, in a sense, they had also "deceived" in terms of "attitude". Such an outstanding team was merely described as "primitive conditions." The adult was truly too modest! Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, the more central aspect was the management guidelines and strategies set by the adult¡ª The internal contribution system and financial policies of the faction were simply strokes of genius! Not only did the adult possess a leadership aura that could stir anyone to follow, but their means of leading the organization were also equally convincing. With such a wise ruler, what more could one want? [Lucky Strike energy +3.] [It''s just a clumsy imitation of those gaming dogs'' planners...] Listening to Gilder''s embarrassingly flattering praises, especially his heartfelt "admiration," Bai E waved his hand, "Enough of this, I have important matters to deal with them." "Yes! Sir!" In the time it took for two sentences, the players had also climbed down. "Sir..." "Sir!" The three stood tall and proud, looking at Bai E. The vast semi-finished underground warehouse before them was the masterpiece of their ceaseless toil, and seeing the secret underground base they had crafted with their own hands take shape like this, they felt a great sense of accomplishment. "You''ve done well, is there anything particularly you''d like?" Bai E asked the three with a smile. Players, after all... a barrage of words can''t outweigh some solid benefits. The best way to win them over is to directly satisfy their desires. ''I wonder what''s on the third level of the Faction Shop?'' Kuang Xin had already learned the advanced physical training from the second level of the Faction Shop, and unlocking the third level required at least two purchases from the second level, all while the Faction Shop refreshed individually for each person. With these considerations, Kuang Xin, who had secretly discussed with the others beforehand, stepped forward, his eyes eagerly fixed on Bai E, "Sir, I want to learn the master-level Mecha combat specialization!" The earlier one could master the special attributes as the specialization levels improved, the higher the ceiling for potential would become, this was a gaming trick they had already discovered. And even without Bai E''s command, Kuang Xin had recently been immersed in underground fighting rings, going there every night had become his routine. In the thrilling close-quarters battles, his physical abilities, reflexes, and fighting skills were rapidly improving. Of course... as his bouts increased and his "hidden rank" rose, he could distinctly feel the opponents arranged by the arena becoming more formidable. His strength was barely keeping up with the level of his opponents, and he needed to improve urgently. Directly leveling up with experience would compromise his future potential, so he was waiting for Bai E to return and learn from him. "Good." Bai E nodded, accommodating as ever. After all, he would be the one to benefit. Collecting 100 contribution points, Bai E began teaching the master-level... that is, the complete Mecha combat specialization. He did so by demonstrating each move one by one. He currently had ample time, no longer like before when he was under pressure. Being part of the armored forces yet preserving the special forces unit meant he had in a sense become a completely free individual, and he even had proof to leave the camp at any time. Although he was still part of the military''s structure, when there were no mandatory missions, he was essentially a free man outside the military. He had not forcefully left the military, but he had begun to rid himself of the military''s constraints. [Teaching finished, from the feedback of the "teaching" you have altogether gained 130 combat experience points, 1580 general experience points.] The massive expenditure of experience reserves had just been somewhat replenished through the players... And it wasn''t that Kuang Xin had learned all of Bai E''s signature skills, only that was the extent of his experience. Observing Kuang Xin''s look of disappointment, Bai E patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Don''t be disheartened, there will be other opportunities, and I won''t charge you twice for contribution..." "Yes! Sir!" Kuang Xin''s eyes lit up, his despondency had not been without worry about this very matter. If he hadn''t learned everything from the contribution-based teaching, would he have to pay the contribution again for another lesson? He had no prior knowledge on this matter, and those insidious game developers had scammed people plenty of times on such issues, and the NPC operations in this game were quite disgusting too, like the recently encountered "mission bracelet". Our organization is so much clearer! I surely followed the right person! And more importantly... [The third level of the Faction Shop has been unlocked...] Let me see what''s in store! Chapter 262 248 template differences """[Skill - Gun Fighting Skill (Requirement: Mastery of Light Firearms Specialization Level 4), Price - Basic Instruction: 100 points of Faction Contribution.] [Skill - Absolute Defense (Requirement: Mastery of Combat Specialization Level 4), Price - Basic Instruction: 100 points of Faction Contribution.] [Skill - Powerful Shot (Requirement: Mastery of Ranged Weapon Specialization Level 4), Price - Basic Instruction: 100 points of Faction Contribution.] [Feat - Overlimit Drive (Requirement: Advanced Physical Training 3.0), Price - Basic Instruction: 200 points of Faction Contribution.] [Feat - Blind Fighting, Price - Basic Instruction: 80 points of Faction Contribution.] Bai E also nearly threw in everything he had mastered... except for a few that looked overly advanced or had a special use. For instance, skills like Weapon Master, Instant Kill of a Hundred Beasts, Ultra-effective Pain Relief, and Raging Waves of Anger... What to place after the third layer is filled with the fourth? The only truly advanced item in the third layer was Overlimit Drive; there had to be one genuine treasure to tantalize the players with a touch of the dawn''s excitement. While contributing items to the Faction Shop through the panel, Bai E could figure out quite a bit about the players'' characteristics. After all, the interaction between "player" and "NPC" always had to pass through an unseen rule for determination, allowing passage. Some of his tricky ideas had already been rejected many times. Rejection or acceptance, invisibly, already represented the answer. For example, most traits were inherently "natural" and couldn''t be taught, so they weren''t allowed to be added to the Faction Shop. Only skills and feats that could be mastered through later training were allowed to be added. Another example: players couldn''t awaken their skill trees on their own and could only master them through learning from NPCs. Isn''t this the biggest difference between them and myself? The moment he saw what the third layer of the Faction Shop offered for exchange, Kuang Xin''s eyes turned red. His blood was boiling! Skills, skills, skills! Specializations are the foundation, but skills are the core of creating miracles. Not to mention the feat sold for 200 points of Faction Contribution... With its standout price, the value must be extraordinary. If he could master this feat, he''d definitely soar high! "Sir, we still need to discuss it among ourselves," Kuang Xin said. "Sure, go ahead," Bai E indifferently let the players discuss. The main approach was to be indulgent and inclusive. Players couldn''t be controlled too tightly. As long as benefits were provided, and it suited their temperament, these adorable little things were actually very easy to control. Discover exclusive tales on empire The more Bai E did this, the more the players valued it. Without comparison, there''s no harm done. Compared to the grandeur of their own leader Bai E, what were those so-called gang bosses outside but dead fish and rotten shrimp? Perhaps it was just as E himself said, he could accept the consequences of everyone''s choices, and that''s why he could accept everything and tolerate everything. This was the symbol of strength and magnanimity. The three of them bowed slightly, subconsciously lowering their stance out of respect under the influence of this leader-like aura, and quietly retreated to the side to discuss softly. "...So these are the items offered for exchange in the third-level shop," Kuang Xin said. Kuang Xin repeated verbatim the list of all items available for exchange in the third-level shop, along with their exchange prices. The Faction Shop was bound to the individual; each person''s unlocked shop layers differed based on the items they had exchanged, and Gong Yan and Dai Lian, who had not reached that layer, were unable to view the content of the higher-level shops. They could only exchange the game content information through the trust between players. "Wow! There really are skills!" Dai Lian''s eyes lit up immediately. He had also guessed that their organization had profound resources, and what couldn''t be obtained outside could definitely be obtained from their own. Recalling a previous player who, after advancing their specialization to level 4, ran all over the place searching for a "mentor" to learn skills, only to be shot dead, an intense feeling of superiority thrilled them to their scalp. Learning skills? Is it really that difficult? The skill trees under Combat Specialization, Ranged Weapon Specialization, Light Firearms Specialization... Ah, too many choices, which one to learn? Dai Lian looked at his current configuration - Light Firearms Specialization Level 3, Ranged Weapon Specialization Level 3, Combat... Level 0. Even if both specializations were level 3, the experience needed for Ranged Weapon Specialization was slightly ahead of Light Firearms Specialization. But "Gun Fighting Skill" sounded really cool. However, with Kuang Xin, the melee powerhouse, leading the front line, there was no denying that this guy''s boldness was reassuring. Having him at the front during the occasional combat mission truly gave a sense of security. Thus, a choice had to be made between possessing shooting skills capable of melee combat and the violent output of a lethal long-range shot... Rationality triumphed over the desire to show off. "I''ll learn the Ranged Weapon''s master instruction and regular vehicle driving, as well as the Powerful Shot later on..." Dai Lian whispered to Gong Yan and Kuang Xin, laying out his plan. He hadn''t learned anything from the second layer of the shop, so he needed to learn at least two to unlock the third layer. The most needed skill from the second layer shop at the moment was definitely "Regular Vehicle Driving"; they had already decided to rent a car as a boost for their upcoming bounty mission, so being proficient in driving was essential. Next was to increase his specialization in Ranged Weapons; having already learned from the previous master instruction, to learn from the grandmaster instruction he only needed to cover the 50-point contribution difference. This setting was quite user-friendly and also meant capitalizing on his strong points. Afterward, they would learn the Powerful Shot as their trump card for this mission! Perfect! He went on to plan for Kuang Xin as well. "Then Kuang Xin, you should save your contribution points for now. I think Overlimit Drive would suit you best, but you don''t have enough points for it yet..." "Hmm... I think so too," Kuang Xin nodded, then the two looked towards Gong Yan. "What about you, Yanzi?" """ "I..." Gong Yan flicked her hair and smiled gently, "I''ll learn self-restraint, and use the rest... for renting a car. After all, we don''t know how many days this trip will take." There''s no need for three people on a mission to rent three cars; it means someone will have to use their own resources to accommodate everyone else, so why shouldn''t it be me... "..." Kuang Xin and Dai Lian didn''t say anything for a while. She''s so understanding... Having made up their minds, the three of them turned back to Bai E, "Sir, we''ve also made up our minds." "Mm..." Bai E looked at them with an encouraging smile. "I want to learn how to use ranged weapons and the skills for driving conventional vehicles." You have to eat one bite at a time, and if Dai Lian went straight for the third-floor shop without finishing the second floor''s offerings, he didn''t know if that would fry the NPC''s CPU right there. "I want to learn the trick of self-restraint." As a Spiritual Energy talent, learning to protect oneself is paramount before stepping into the realm of Spiritual Energy. "All right," Bai E agreed without hesitation. Experience! Experience! The somewhat free Bai E had plenty of time and the patience to individually teach the players the skills they needed... [The "teaching" session has ended. With feedback from the "teaching," you''ve gained a total of 520 combat experience points and 1380 general experience points.] The teaching session for Gong Yan and Dai Lian ended perfectly. ... [You have acquired "Ranged Weapon Specialization Level 4" and received one latent learning point.] [Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 4): Shooting accuracy +14%, firing rate +9%, range +400 meters, arc strike (special) +8%, scatter level (special) +2.] [Detection: You currently have Ranged Weapon Specialization (Level 4), the skill tree slot for further learning is now unlocked, current skill tree slots 0/1. (Hereafter, each time you level up a specialization by one level, you will simultaneously receive an additional empty slot.)] S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Reminder: You cannot self-learn combat techniques'' proficiency on your own. Only after successfully learning from a character with the related ability and paying 2 latent learning points can you unlock the corresponding skill.] So difficult... It''s so hard to learn master-level special attributes... I simply can''t learn it! Even though I''ve leveled my specialization up to level 4, my chances of learning that special attribute are still extremely small. Have I become a ghost without realizing it? Dai Lian felt a bit disheartened, but there was nothing he could do. The prerequisite for learning skills was having at least a level 4 specialization; without leveling ranged weapons to 4, I couldn''t learn the skills. Knowing this now, I would have been better off adding points directly... But on the other hand, the contribution points paid won''t disappear; what I can''t learn now, I might have a chance to learn in the future. Besides, if I want to unlock the third-floor shop, I must choose two things to learn from the second floor. If not this, then what? That''s the only way to console myself... Although consoling myself, complaining is necessary too. After all, our Sir looks like an easy person to talk to. "Sir... The skill you taught us is quite difficult." Dai Lian held his cheek while Bai E explained with a chuckle, "I just looked, and it''s really difficult for you to learn that skill with your current physical abilities. But it''s not entirely impossible; skills can compensate for a lack of physical strength to some extent." "..." ''Do you think we''re all like you?'' Dai Lian mused helplessly. Some NPCs'' talents are simply unreasonable; players struggle and strive, while NPCs have sudden epiphanies¡ªthere''s no comparison. "Sigh~" Nevertheless, it was still from Sir where I got the direction I needed to strive for¡ªphysical strength. Archers need physical strength too; do I need to exchange for Advanced Physical Training 3.0 as well? Collecting his thoughts, Dai Lian proceeded with reason leading his actions, "Sir, I''d also like to learn more advanced bow skills." "More advanced bow skills?" Bai E mused a bit. If the player wants to role-play, he doesn''t mind joining in a bit of live-action gaming. "I have an extraordinary archery technique called ''Powerful Strike''. How about that?" ''That''s exactly what I need!'' Dai Lian nodded emphatically, "Thank you, Sir!" [The "teaching" session has ended. Through feedback from the "teaching," you''ve gained a total of 780 general experience points.] "Also, Sir... We need to rent a car for our regular activities." "You can talk to Gilder about the warehouse stuff." Trusting without doubting, Bai E left the entire responsibility in the capable hands of the elder Gilder. In fact, it was through their mutual under-the-table dealings that they managed to siphon off several small cars from the orcs as spoils of war. The shoddy military junk the orcs cobbled together was nothing to behold; when nearing a city, any minor excuse was enough for the car to break down and other soldiers naturally couldn''t be bothered with it. With a large number of refugees, it was not difficult to find one or two people skilled in car repair and other related techniques. Once the soldiers moved on, the refugees who falsely reported numbers and separated from the main body covertly fixed the cars and drove off. Now, those cars had become assets of "Li Ming". "Oh~" Hearing Bai E''s response, Dai Lian nodded in acknowledgment. And, catching the reminder in Gong Yan''s eyes, Kuang Xin, who had been waiting to the side, stepped forward and asked, "By the way, Sir, is our organization still recruiting?" Chapter 263 249 elite members Recruit people?The sudden question from Kuang Xin made Bai E''s heart skip a beat. Recruit! Definitely recruit! He had a quota for issuing tasks every day, but recently he''d been entangled in miscellaneous matters and hadn''t found the time to look for reliable player targets. Bai E didn''t plan to hit and run, changing targets after each shot. The limited task quota he had each day couldn''t be given to unreliable players or distributed randomly; he definitely needed to focus on nurturing the same player consistently. He would cultivate them with his authority, and use their feedback to improve himself. This was the choice that served his interests best. The targets, of course, had to be chosen with care, and ideally, be as deeply tied to him as these three individuals before him. Bonding them through joining the organization could also be considered the best choice. With the corners of his mouth slightly raised, he asked softly, "Do you have any friends still?" "Not exactly friends..." Kuang Xin scratched the back of his head, somewhat embarrassed, "just people we''ve met while... playing together." When Bai E wasn''t around, everyone occasionally did other quests and would encounter other players. That''s when the difference became apparent. Armed with the various abilities taught by Bai E, they exhibited far greater prowess than those players who had no guidance, didn''t even know relevant game information, and who only knew how to level up their specializations. The gap between a Level 2 and Level 3 specialization ability might not be very big, but the difference with or without special attribute enhancements was like night and day. Such is the world¡ªsome people get by with or without guidance, but relying solely on oneself, the piecemeal achievements are hard to form into a system. Among players in the same phase, the trio stood far ahead whether in uncovering game content or personal strength. Naturally, impressive abilities would pique the curiosity of other players. Following the mysterious ethos of the adults, they certainly wouldn''t disclose anything proactively. But when other players expressed an interest in joining, they didn''t mind helping to ask. Once the organization expanded, as founders they would feel a sense of accomplishment in nurturing newcomers and reap practical benefits too. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Are there many?" If there were too many people, that wouldn''t be a good thing; his task quota wouldn''t suffice, and he couldn''t treat everyone equally. Moreover, with too many people around, the situation could get chaotic. Players were not exactly an easy species to control. If someone, acting under the ostensible power of his burgeoning organization, messed up, wouldn''t he end up suffering the fallout? When players don''t act beyond the understanding of this world''s natives, their actions will provoke the most authentic responses. Kuang Xin hesitated but eventually replied truthfully, "Hmm... There are some. About, ten or so?" They''d met many individual players, and almost everyone would casually inquire, but how many were truly earnest... that was uncertain. They were players themselves and knew their own kind''s ways best. Seeing Kuang Xin''s reaction, Bai E roughly guessed the ruse. When there was a real conflict of interest, players could become ferocious; but without disputes, they would greet each other as brothers on sight. That kind of relationship was likely superficial, not friends brought by real-world social networks. Which meant... they were hard to control. Bai E pretended to mull it over when in fact, he had already made a plan in his mind. After a slight hesitation, Bai E''s gaze met the other''s, warm and sincere, "This depends on you. If they are truly trustworthy friends to you, and share our interests, I don''t mind more people joining us. However, if you feel your understanding of them is not deep enough, then our organization is not fit to step into the limelight at the moment. You should weigh this matter yourselves. I''m willing to trust your judgment. Of course... even if you trust them, new members need to walk the path you''ve trodden from the beginning." In other words, they would have to start as temporary members. And for temporary members to be promoted and gain access to core "secrets," ultimately, wouldn''t it still require his approval? Let players feel trusted, but always keep the final decision firmly in his own hands¡ªBai E thought this strategy shouldn''t pose any problem. Before Kuang Xin had the chance to speak, Bai E spoke again to add, preventing rigid terms, "¡­ And if you also feel that the newcomers need further observation, then you can temporarily take them in under your own name as auxiliary members of the organization. I grant you this authority." Stay updated via empire [Notice: Your status within the "Li Ming" organization has been promoted. Your current status is "Elite Member," entitling you to the following rights: First, lead an auxiliary member action team comprising no more than five people. Second, possess the authority to propose promotions for action team members. (1/1 per week) Third, all your actions will be regarded as part of a whole, sharing rewards and punishments. Fourth, to be determined...] "..." The three players, who abruptly received the prompt, shivered simultaneously and looked toward Bai E together. Bai E, with a serene expression, silently gazed fixedly at his nose as if in deep concentration, not uttering a word. It was just a spontaneous idea. The player''s words had reminded him that, to become great and reach new heights of glory again, recruiting troops was indispensable. If he decided to expand his power, then growth was just a matter of time. Just as a boat must paddle upstream to advance, or else it slips backward. But his own ability to issue missions only grew at a limited pace, making it hard to attend to multiple players at once. Instead of making them feel equal and yet treating them differently, it was better to establish a hierarchy from the start. The core players who he could directly assign tasks to would become the organization''s elite members, holding the right to lead teams on behalf of the organization. At the same time, the entire team would share honor and disgrace as one. For their own benefit, the elite members who recruited others would surely tighten control over their own team members. Rather than exhausting himself, it was better to throw the responsibility onto the players. Even to prepare for unforeseen situations that might arise as the organization grew larger in the future, he thought, "I''ll have the final say on everything, and I can add whatever I think of later!" Perfect! The three players stared blankly at their boss for a long time before turning to look at each other in stupor. Power... Authority... For the first time in the game, they held real power officially recognized by the system, which left them somewhat adrift. They... had they really become the core backbone of a game world organization without realizing it? So, their every action within the game truly had the power to affect the world''s development in real time? Did they truly possess the power to turn the world upside down within the game? "Geez~" Kuang Xin simply uttered in amazement. Dai Lian breathed rapidly, fresh developments and challenges awaited him. Gong Yan''s eyes shimmered silently, saying nothing. "Alright, the organization''s growth and strength cannot do without everyone''s efforts," said Bai E with a smile, breaking the silence. He addressed the three players, "What plans do you have going forward? How is the rat infestation I asked you to deal with?" Daily tasks still needed to be assigned, but before he did that, he could also ask if they had any plans of their own. If so, letting them do something they wanted to do and earn double rewards for one task¡ªwasn''t that a method of winning them over? After all, it was also very tiring for him to always have to think hard to find targets for them, right? In any case, what he wanted from assigning them tasks was only the various attribute feedback from the task completions. What they actually did... didn''t concern him much. He was just hitching a free ride. Speaking of which, Dai Lian, as the brain of the team, took Kuang Xin''s place and stepped forward, "My lord, we might need to make a long journey in the coming days." "Oh?" Bai E, his face brimming with a smile, gazed at him intently, "Can you divulge where to?" "Of course. Last time, you mentioned that our camp''s attack on the Bug Race''s hive ended in retreat, leaving behind some materials in Bug territory that had not been evacuated in time, and the camp has been trying to recover them. Recently, we''ve heard that some of these materials have been plundered by a roving band of orcs, who are trying to decipher human technology from them. We thought maybe we could lend a helping hand and snatch back those materials that the orcs took! Even if we can''t recover them, we can''t let other races find a way to counteract us humans from this!" Dai Lian spoke with conviction, rich in emotion. Having been in the game for a substantial amount of time and knowing the lord for a while, thoroughly familiar with the lord''s personality and the game''s tactics, he controlled the emotional cadence of his speech perfectly, ensuring it was as genuine and sincere as possible. This kind of realistic role-playing was quite enjoyable. Even showing a hint of regret at the end. "These next few days, we might not be able to carry out your commands..." "That''s perfect!" Bai E exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands. "Huh?" Chapter 264 250 Development Plan "Actually, I had the same idea."Bai E''s face showed satisfaction, "I didn''t expect us to think alike, which is just perfect." "Huh?" The three players gaped, completely dumbfounded. Could there really be such a coincidence? "You might not know this..." Bai E took a moment to explain, letting them realize that they were not bootlickers, "When I left a few days ago to carry out a secret mission, I encountered those orcs on my way back. This chaotic race roams everywhere, causing tremendous disturbance for both the city and the nearby residents. Not everyone lives in the warmth of the city; many refugees wander aimlessly through the wilderness, and the consequences are unimaginable if they run into those orcs. The city has many difficulties to face and cannot control everything. Some things we must handle ourselves. Sending you to eliminate those roaming orcs was also a task I planned to assign upon my return." [Task description auto-generating...] [Side Quest ¡ª Clear the Orcs (Combat Commission): The orcs that wander the wilderness have always been a major threat to humanity. Now that your strength has grown to a certain extent and you have the ability to handle a crisis, the leader of Li Ming hopes you can take on this grave responsibility and alleviate human survival pressures to a certain degree. Task requirement: Kill orcs 0/5~8 (adjustable). Task reward: Universal experience 50~200 points (adjustable), item reward (undetermined).] (Note: "Auto-complete" allowed; after confirming the commission, "authority" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) [Do you want to issue the current commission?] The difficulty remains at the maximum; each of you bring me back at least 8! The experience reward is also maxed out. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the item reward... let''s give them something fresh and exciting. [Item Reward: Spore Colonies*2.] Last time it dropped from an orc, and now it''s being used in a quest targeting orcs, which makes sense. In fact, Bai E had never really considered what use it might have. [Spore Colonies: Biological nature removed, can grow rapidly, extremely adaptable.] Simply put, it''s inactivated orc tissue... Anyway, it doesn''t seem to be of much use, so might as well throw it to the players and let them do as they please with it. If it''s useful, use it; if not, at least it''s a novelty that can fool them for a while. [Confirm release!] Directly X2! There is also a resource-type task... might as well take the "unknown supplies" they''re talking about! [Task description auto-generating...] [Side Quest ¡ª Recover Supplies (Resource Commission): Human creations must not be left to waste outside. Make every effort to recover the supplies and use them for the growth of the organization. Task requirements: Surrender the supplies plundered by the orcs to the organization''s warehouse 0/1. Task rewards: Technology points*1, Spore Colonies*5.] (Note: Physical submission of goods required, the current commission cannot be "auto-completed," and needs "inspection completion"; after confirming the commission, "authority" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) But now I''m allowed to have two tasks published at the same time... The supplies can only be submitted once; for the other task... let''s submit talent. [Task description auto-generating...] [Side Quest ¡ª Talent Scouting (Resource Commission): The leader of Li Ming wants the organization to grow and believes in your judgment. This task is a joint mission and can be completed together. Task requirement: Scout at least 0/1 potential target to become an official member of "Li Ming." Task reward: Technology points*1, Spore Colonies*5.] (Note: "Auto-complete" allowed; after confirming the commission, "authority" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) All done! Each time Bai E arranged tasks for players, it took quite a bit out of him. But he was as satisfied as ever with his own arrangements this time. One. He only needed one. After all, he currently only had the quota to issue four tasks every day, and there would be no use for more people. The fresh tasks came pouring out all at once, the three players exchanged careful glances and didn''t hesitate to accept them before that. Look at our lord! Now look at other fighter group leaders! That''s what you call vision. Everyone was going on prize pool tasks, each person staking their own 100 experience points in the gamble, yet only those three were guaranteed a return with two tasks at every action, drought or flood. I love Li Ming! I love Li Ming! "Right¡­ What about the underground rat plague I asked you to clean up before? How is the progress?" Bai E hadn''t forgotten what he had said before, once he decided to do something, he had to eliminate the threat completely, "If you haven''t finished the cleanup and now need to go far away, I will need to consider sending someone else to deal with it." "It''s done! Lord!" Kuang Xin was the first to respond. Dai Lian''s tone was slightly cautious, "At least during the last mission when we covered the entire sewer network, we didn''t see a single rat. Lord, you know, those creatures are mad and bloodthirsty, they would definitely attack if we passed by them." "Hmm¡­" Bai E nodded, acknowledging Dai Lian''s statement. He had personally dealt with those things and knew that these small creatures had been completely corrupted by demonic forces. So that was¡­ perhaps the last bit of the rats'' vile influence in this world eradicated, for now. "You are free¡­" Bai E approached the rat person, looking at him with a smile. This rat person was somewhat timid; even if it was lively inside the underground base, he usually kept his distance and silently observed from afar. Enjoy new tales from empire The sins he had committed seemed unforgivable in his eyes, yet the lively nature of youth always struggled against his rational mind. "Stay hidden, and¡­ go out for a walk when you can. I will have the old man follow you. He is new to this place and needs to experience many things here. Remember, you must protect him!" Wisdom is often just the sediment of experience. Gilder was new and always needed some contact with the locals before he could really do the job Bai E needed him to do well. At the same time, the rat person himself was a qualified bodyguard. Believers in demons do not only have different special abilities for worshipping each demon; the enhancement to their physique¡­ or rather, the basic three-dimensional attributes is the most important and fundamental. If the rat person didn''t have a superior physique, he would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago due to all the digging. Even if the rat person hadn''t systematically learned combat skills, just with attributes far superior to ordinary people, he should be able to protect Gilder from harm in a conflict, or at the very least, help him escape the scene. You could say it was making the best use of him. "Yes! Lord!" the rat person''s eyes shimmered with mist, touched. He had seen all that the lord had done for him, as much as one''s own parents ever could! ["Lucky Hit" charge +5.] Bai E smiled slightly and stroked his head. A faint odor kept entering his nose unwantedly, causing a bit of distress. Believers in the "Eternal One" gained the ability to ignore pain and illness but lost the "impulse" to attend to their own hygiene. They accumulated dirt on their bodies far faster than normal people, and the desire to clean themselves was subtly eroded away. Even with someone reminding them all the time, their desire to carry out such tasks was not strong. Being a demon believer was ultimately trouble¡­ always to be thoroughly resolved. He wondered if there was a way to help him break free from demonic rules once and for all¡­ When Bai E had saved the rat person, he hadn''t refrained from experimenting on him to understand this world faster. The rat person wasn''t very dangerous, had a mild and controllable temperament, making him an ideal experimental subject. As for now¡­ "Off you go." It was time for him to return. He had taught the players a lot of knowledge today, which took up a great deal of time, and now dusk was approaching. The training time agreed upon with Yue Ying was almost upon them¡­ Chapter 265 251 Free Creation In the familiar secluded corner, Yue Ying waited as promised.To do something, one must persevere. Teaching an artificial human created by man the Elf Breathing Skill was an unprecedented endeavor, so facing the current resistance was to be expected. "Sit down," Yue Ying''s voice was ethereal. Merely hearing it felt like a spring bubbling up in one''s heart, instantly refreshing the spirit. "Yes," Bai E obediently crossed his legs and sat. With her eyes closed, Yue Ying sensed Bai E''s slightly chaotic breath from rushing over and calmly guided the process, "Calm your mind, stabilize your breathing. No need to respond." "..." Bai E evened out his breath. Yue Ying''s voice had a calming effect that easily gathered the scattered and chaotic thoughts. The atmosphere became peaceful for a moment, and starlight gently cast a soft silver veil... Gradually, his entire focus was concentrated on his flesh and spirit. He could feel his breath, each inhalation like lively elves coursing through his body, trading out the impurities that were no longer useful to him. He could feel his heartbeat, a strong and powerful heart pumping surges of warm currents; the blood flowed like majestic rivers within the wide and resilient "riverbeds". A robust aura of life incessantly spilled out from within, his physical strength becoming ever more formidable, and the prior genetic enhancements along with many traits related to his physique had gradually taken his life towards an extraordinary realm. Muscles, fascia, skin, nerves... Countless structures formed a network as if woven from myriad stars, those bright nodes seemingly shimmering with light. That light... was the sparkle of Spiritual Energy. Spiritual Energy was everywhere, yet for some, it was like a draft passing through an open hall, leaving no trace. For others, it was the nutrition that penetrated deep into the marrow, always ready to be commanded by their will and unleash unimaginable powers to the world. Restraining thoughts, becoming aware of the presence of Spiritual Energy. This was the prerequisite for starting the training in Spiritual Energy. Sensing that the human warrior beside her had almost completely reined in his wandering thoughts, his soul focused entirely on the inward examination, Yue Ying finally spoke again¡ª "Let your thoughts drift, relax your body..." "Exhale~" "Inhale~" [You are paying with combat experience to correct your breathing rhythm...] [Current Following Completion: 91.3£¥] [...98.5%.] [...99.9%.] "Cough cough cough cough!" A sensation of tearing beyond what a human body could endure filled Bai E''s chest; the body that had just been repaired yesterday was once again subjected to an unbearable load under a method of training completely unsuitable for humans. [Node Record +1, collect more Breathing Skill secrets, you will be able to fully master this breathing rhythm.] Yue Ying''s bright eyes watched the figure beside her coughing and bending over, and under the intimate link formed through guidance, she could also feel the pain the warrior was experiencing. It was precisely because she understood that she empathized even more. The perseverance of this human warrior undoubtedly inspired admiration, irrespective of race or status. ["Lucky Strike" Charge +1.] Bai E wiped the drool unwittingly escaping from the corner of his mouth and sat up straight again, "Let''s go again!" [Node Record +1¡­] [Node Record +1¡­] ¡­ The familiar scene played out once more. Once... once... and once again... "Cough cough cough!" The harrowing cough, accompanied by heavy noise uncontrollably ringing out for a long time, was already making Yue Ying somewhat reluctant. "Perhaps... we should call it a day?" She knew human medical technology was quite advanced, but it wasn''t meant to be used like this. The physical pain would inevitably lead to a mental toll, and forcing oneself to continue training would only be counterproductive. Training in the Breathing Skill was always going to be a long-term process, and she was prepared to treat guiding Bai E as a long-term goal to work towards. After all, even she herself could only improve by summarizing her experiences from repeated attempts, little by little. Using the most foolish method of exhaustive trial and error, what''s left is to see Bai E''s own willpower. However... Bai E had no intention of ending it like this. For him, every day was important, every day was a race against time. If he didn''t work hard today, a command might come down tomorrow, and he could be sent to fight to the death again, always being in danger without sufficient strength at his side. Although his own strength was growing ever more powerful, it was still nothing compared to the world. With every bit of power he mastered, naturally, he gained a bit more confidence in his ability to survive in this world. Moreover, as he acquired more skills that required the burning of Spiritual Energy, relying solely on the "physical energy reserve" was not a long-term solution, only by mastering Spiritual Energy... he must master Spiritual Energy! This was the true qualitative change! Moreover, if even Bai E, with the experience-enhancement from Meng Meng aiding his cultivation, couldn''t complete the cultivation of the Breathing Skill, then who else in this world could? "I''m okay... cough cough cough!" Bai E forced out, utterly ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth and the sensation of his chest being torn apart. Suppressing and enduring the pain himself, the military''s medical resources were his greatest confidence, and his full dedication to wound recovery would let his special talents sprint towards ultimate progress. [Your body is rapidly healing injuries, injury recovery progress 33%, rapid recovery (unlocked) unlock progress 93%.] Damn it, keep going! [Node record +1...] [Node record +1...] "Cough cough cough!" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You..." Yue Ying wanted to persuade. With gritted teeth, Bai E said, "Wait for me to come back!" Immediately after speaking, he got up and ran, his weakened chest in no way affecting his short-term activities. After many attempts, Bai E felt the distinctive sense that Yue Ying was trying to modify the Breathing Skill''s secrets to be more suitable for human physiology, although the effects were still minimal. But for his own interface, the data collected seemed to be enough... [Free Creation Mode: ...current success rate "medium". However, you can aid the creation by paying a certain price (combat/general experience), (cost: 20 points of experience/min).] Medium... not particularly high, but definitely a huge improvement from "extremely low"! He had to try! Tonight, he would try! If he didn''t attempt it, he wouldn''t be able to sleep peacefully! Arriving at the infirmary, the familiar nurse Mashati was still dutifully on duty. Bai E, well acquainted with the routine, said "Doctor." "Go." Seeing the familiar face, the salty egg doctor''s fingers trembled slightly as he pointed at Bai, "Again?" Bai E nodded expressionlessly, "Needle." Salty Egg sighed helplessly, rubbing his shiny bald head, "Go get it." "Yes!" Bai E shouted at the retreating figure, "Increase the dosage!" Mashati turned back to ask for instructions, "?" Salty Egg waved his hand, "Get it." One shot, and he was lively as a dragon. Looking at that once again vigorous figure, Dr. Salty Egg had a look of pity, sighing, "Ah!" "Medic medic medic..." another nurse came rushing in, frantic. "Don''t panic, take it slow," Salty Egg said nonchalantly, lifting the lid of his teacup for a sip. The nurse stepped aside without a detailed explanation, revealing several figures behind her, covered in blood and looking weak. Seeing the condition of the newcomers, Salty Egg''s teacup trembled, spilling hot water, ignoring the burning sensation in his hand, he stood up suddenly, "Another battle?" "No, no..." the leader with tiger-like energy, though weak, showed off a big white smile and waved his hand, "Training... just training." ... ... Salty Egg''s gaze drifted, glancing towards the direction where the other figure had disappeared some time ago, then back again, blinking blankly. "Awesome!" Is this the new trend of training among the soldiers in the military camp now? Chapter 266 252 Spiritual Power Breathing Skill! When Bai E briefly left, Yue Ying''s clear eyes stared in the direction he''d departed, lost in thought. Though Yue Ying could indeed divide her attention between guiding the Breathing Skill and thinking, there was no doubt that her mind was clearer during her leisure time. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Even now, right after guiding had ended, inspiration struck even more so. While guiding Bai E''s body, she was even more aware of all the feedback coming from it than Bai E himself; at this moment, the myriad feedback from Bai E''s body and the characteristics of the Breathing Skill sketched out like two anatomical drawings on separate layers in her mind, delineating clearly¡­ "I''m back." Bai E greeted from afar. Yue Ying blinked, her gaze swept over Bai E''s body; his breath was still turbulent, but fortunately, there was no loss of spirit after being injured, so she nodded gently in response, "Hmm¡­" "Let''s continue." Bai E was in high spirits. The chance of creation had increased by a large margin; at least, it wasn''t such a waste of experience anymore. "Alright." As they spoke, Bai E sat down cross-legged. The turmoil of qi and blood from his rapid running calmed instantaneously under his self-restraint, the slight sweat cooling, and in a blink, he entered a state of emptiness. "..." Yue Ying was about to open her mouth to help but then closed it again. How many times had they trained? He was already capable of rapidly controlling his body and spirit so swiftly. Truly, befitting the human prodigy she had chosen! ["Lucky Strike" charged +1.] "Exhale~" "Inhale~" [You are paying with combat experience to correct your breathing rhythm¡­] [Current Follow-Through Completion Rate: 94.7%.] ''How should I change it?'' Yue Ying watched as Bai E swiftly entered the state again, feeling a slight vexation in her heart. For the first time, she was aware of her limited comprehension, struggling even with such minor difficulties. If her sister were here¡­ [You are paying with combat experience to assist your creative attempts¡­ (Consumption: 20 points of experience/min.)] Bai E didn''t hesitate to begin the free creation mode. Two-pronged approach! He had just harvested more than seven thousand points of experience from players, and this was the confidence behind his spendthrift ways. Time trickled by beneath the night stars, and with the passage of time, the rhythm of his breathing became smoother and steadier. "..." Yue Ying furrowed her brows slightly. She felt it; Bai E was becoming more and more... disobedient? Occasionally, his reactions to her guiding words sped up or slowed down by a beat or two, gradually losing control of the intensity. The changes weren''t obvious, but, in the practice of the Breathing Skill where there was little tolerance for errors, this should have been quite fatal. It should either cause more harm to the body or be utterly useless. Based on Bai E''s previous performances, these low-level mistakes shouldn''t have occurred. Was it because he had practiced too long in a short time and lost control over his body? Or... had he come up with his own ideas? Yet... Because of the guidance of the qi mechanism, there was some sensory overlap between them. She could also somewhat sense the current state of Bai E... And it was getting better and better. The light and soothing changes in his breathing never stopped but were as smooth and graceful as the instinct of natural breathing. The rhythms he deliberately mismatched fostered an even more concentrated and robust breath. Was this Bai E intuitively adapting the Elf Breathing Skill, feeling it unsuited for human physiology? ''So impressive...'' It was the first time she truly felt outperformed by Bai E in some aspect. ["Lucky Strike" charged +3.] Yue Ying silently closed her mouth, choosing to trust Bai E''s intuition. "Don''t stop," Bai E, still with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke up. His creation wasn''t fully mastered and still needed adjustments in the general direction based on Yue Ying''s rhythmic guidance. Regarding the state required for Elf Breathing Skill, which adjusted both flesh and spirit, he was still unfamiliar. This seemed to be a dynamic approach that would be difficult to learn on one''s own without someone to guide, even with the system''s mighty power. "Mhm~" Her voice softly replied, and Yue Ying''s voice peacefully rose again, "Exhale~" "Inhale~" ¡­ "Cough cough~" She coughed lightly, the rhythm breaking for a moment. [Current Follow-Through Completion Rate: 83.2%.] ``` Bai E wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and both people tacitly remained silent, only to close their eyes again in the next moment and re-enter the state. The transformation was not smooth sailing. Constantly investing experience in learning and creation, the chance of successful creation gradually approached the ultimate goal¡ª¡ª [Free Creation Mode: ...Current success rate "quite high"...] Stars shone brilliantly, silently illuminating humanity. [You are spending combat experience to assist your creation attempt... (Consumption: 20 points of experience/min)] [Free Creation Mode: ...Current success rate "extremely high"...] The campfire extinguished, the warriors succumbed to weariness and drowsiness. The voices fell silent, and the night slipped into slumber. The night was deep, and the world was silent. All that remained was that steady breathing gradually becoming the only sound in the world¡ª¡ª Half past one in the morning... The starlight was magnificent. Behind Bai E, the sprawling military camp facilities lay silently in the darkness; under the cool, pale moonlight, the shadows of sparse clouds cast upon the fabric of the tents. Bai E''s spirit seemed to leave his body, soaring beyond the tent, beyond the lighthouse, beyond the scope of the camp, drifting towards the unfathomable distance... The granite city walls were half-hidden in darkness; he had never scrutinized that grand and majestic wall of life up close, but due to some inexplicable state, its color and contour presented themselves with clarity in the dark recesses of his mind. Even deeper... Going even deeper... Diving into the structure, exploring every molecule that comprised it. The sensation was somewhat vague, yet incredibly certain. The images that seemed to be witnessed firsthand burst forth from every gleaming crack, the brightest of which came from the dim streetlight behind the wall that lit up the night. He could feel the paths the light rays dispersed through. Bai E realized that his impressions of those rays had received the most fervent response from the light itself. He could not only see the light but also follow its path far away. He clearly saw the light, tirelessly journeying toward the ends of the world day and night, traveling countless light-years. Not just the distant walls... atop the tower not more than 500 meters from him, whether it was the blazing light column or the silent and grim cannon, all carried their distinct origins and assailed his mind. From stone, from trees, from steel... from the ancient star fusion of eons past. Bai E''s eyes remained tightly shut, his body poised. Letting his consciousness flow, he drifted with the scattering light. As the light passed through everything, it revealed the true origins and structures to his mind, and Bai E quietly indulged his will in them... Mountains stood through the ages, and light breezes over forests and lakes stirred ripples and inaudible choruses. Seas changed to mulberry fields, and the affairs of the world transformed. Bai E''s consciousness traced its source upward, through the endless corridors of time and space, back to the very point where the world formed¡ª¡ª The silver-white nighttime land was vast and peaceful, with stars twinkling overhead. Starlight from countless light-years away traversed time and space, filling the entire firmament. From the plains that fell from the horizon to the other side under the arc of the earth''s edge, they interwove into a magnificent tent of time and space. Consciousness rose continuously, and even clouds could not obscure Bai E''s "sight". He saw the main star of Scorpio twinkling conspicuously with red light, forming a beautiful curve with a dozen other stars, its tail submerged in the Milky Way, merging into the embrace of the stars. However, a corner of the stars was far less spectacular than the vast smoky Andromeda spiral galaxy, where countless ancient planets revolved slowly around the central massive black hole, their epochs echoing almost as long as the universe itself. Bai E felt the starlight from thousands of galaxies rush into his eyes, the song of time sung by those star systems intertwining and overlapping in his mind. Consciousness suddenly shifted, and Orion, suspended in the southern sky, burst into view. The brightest star of Orion captured Bai E''s attention immediately, and instinctively, he looked southeast of the three stars, finding Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. To the east of the brightest star of Orion was another bright star, Procyon of Canis Minor. Between the brightest star of Orion, Sirius, and Procyon, the faint Milky Way cut across. This seemingly endless cosmic river transformed into a current of time and space, extending beyond Bai E''s vision, filling the earth and sky, encompassing the myriad things of the world. The majestic river flowed forward serenely, never returning. Its source was endless, its end unfathomable. As the river of time flowed "by", its powerful allure effortlessly drew Bai E helplessly into its embrace. Gentle waters cradled Bai E''s "body", drifting in the boundless and majestic expanse. In this moment... or perhaps for eternity... Bai E connected with the "truth" of the universe. Like a spark fleeting in darkness, like lightning ripping through the night sky, that flare of light... once briefly illuminated a dark corner of the universe. [You are attempting to modify the skill¡ªElf Breathing Skill, current modification progress is 100%.] [You have completely finished modifying the skill¡ªElf Breathing Skill and completed one full cycle of Breathing Skill training. Reward: Skill¡ªSpiritual Power Breathing Skill, has been issued.] [You have perfectly completed one cycle of Breathing Skill training, Spiritual Energy upper limit +1.] Bai E opened his eyes... ``` Chapter 267 253 Bai E opened his eyes, and a faint glint of light flashed within them.Even facing those bright eyes, Yue Ying still couldn''t help but feel a shock to her soul. For a moment, a vast, smoke-like aura pressed in from "behind" Bai E as though a tsunami, leaving one breathless. Spiritual Energy! Spiritual Energy! The sea of Spiritual Energy, high-dimensional space! Only that existence, which transcends time and space, encompasses everything, and seems both the true face of the universe and completely illusory, could give her such a terrifying sense of oppression. Just now, in an indiscernible, indivisible instant, Bai E''s will had successfully connected to that legendary ocean. Awakener! From a human-made man, initially repelled by Spiritual Energy, to an authentic wielder of Spiritual Energy... This human warrior had taken only two short nights. An immeasurable shock arose quietly in Yue Ying''s heart; even among her own Elf Race, those with no innate talent and even resistant to Spiritual Energy didn''t awaken such power easily. Let alone mastering the methods of the Elves with a human body. One couldn''t imagine how much he had changed to bring about this ultimate miracle! The novel sensation brought by an unprecedented miracle surged like waves against her body, and her abnormally sensitive body climbed a layer of pale pink glow on this "heartbeat" moment. A faint heat rose from every corner of her body, and even the maximized self-restraint unconsciously employed could hardly control the physical instincts activated by the sea of Spiritual Energy and the terrifying reality never faced before. The overly sensitive body and mind gave the Elf Race their extraordinary talent for Spiritual Energy, but in a certain sense, it also made them always hover on the edge of being corrupted by extreme emotions emanating from high-dimensional space. Yue Ying, somewhat beyond control, gently rubbed her thighs together, the granular friction of her clothing distinctly touching her fair skin. The instincts, long suppressed, seemed particularly fervent now; the pleasing sensation from just the rubbing almost instantly spread through her whole body, shaking her sharply like lightning, and a soft moan nearly escaped uncontrollably from her throat. "You... have Spiritual Energy now?" Unable to suppress herself, she had to try to divert her attention through speech. However, Yue Ying didn''t realize herself how much her trembling voice carried a sultry warmth. Powerful Awakeners could easily infect others with their will, just as emotions from high-dimensional space could contaminate the thoughts of those nearby. Bai E slightly lifted his head and glanced at Yue Ying concealed under the shadow of her hood, feeling that there was something odd about her tone of voice. As if she were running... "Yes," he replied calmly. Not counting last night, just tonight alone he had spent 6300 points of experience; with such a massive expenditure of experience, not learning it would mean better to commit suicide. The display on the panel clearly showed the ability that Bai E now possessed¡ª [Spiritual Energy]: 1/1 It was still a small amount, just starting out. But going from nothing to something was undoubtedly a monumental leap for him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As long as one has the method for training, every single minute and second meant growth, imperceptibly, continuously. But for some reason, there was no "attribute" display. Bai E, who had just stepped into the realm of Spiritual Energy, could only speculate based on his scant prior knowledge. In a previously experienced panel concerning drop rates, both Yue Ying and Pansen, the Awakener who helped reclaim server relics, each had their own Spiritual Energy attribute. Yue Ying''s was "Sharp Cut," and Pansen''s was "Heavenly Eye." Although he didn''t know what it meant, perhaps it was like a special attribute bonus related to specialized abilities? Different "attributes" of Spiritual Energy have their own tendencies in ability. Bai E spoke haltingly, wanting to inquire but unsure how to begin. He couldn''t explain how he knew that Spiritual Energy also had its own attributes. "What¡­ did you see in the moment of awakening?" Yue Ying''s voice emerged with difficulty. She knew something was amiss with her current state and needed to extricate herself quickly to calm her mind alone. But an uncontrollable curiosity towards the newly awakened Bai E kept her from convincing herself to leave. There is only one chance to witness one''s awakening of Spiritual Energy in a lifetime. That very moment is crucial! The inspiration in that moment, the dim "visions" seen, will determine one''s direction on the path of Spiritual Energy for life. Humans may not place much importance on this, as they often select those naturally gifted with Spiritual Energy for training, who typically awaken in moments of routine childhood activities like eating, sleeping, daydreaming, playing¡­ any inattentive instant might conclude this awakening-like event. It is hard to trace back, and the vast number of humans means they don''t concern themselves with individual development paths. Only the Elves hold this moment with utmost regard. The intense curiosity for the newly awakened Spiritual Energy made it impossible for Yue Ying to convince herself to leave just like that. "What I saw..." Bai E murmured, his gaze vacant as if he were lost in memory, "I saw light... starlight..." The origins of all things? The river of time? What has already happened. What is happening. What is about to be plotted. In that moment, which seemed brief yet where time was incalculable, Bai E saw too much. So many "images" and sensations, so dense that they couldn''t be clearly expressed in words for a time. As a means of exchanging information, language... is far too insufficient. Due to an instinctual secrecy, he did not wish to disclose everything he saw. "Stars?" Yue Ying gently repeated, her focused thinking to some extent suppressing the odd sensations in her body. As for the imagery seen at the moment of an Awakener''s awakening, there were Elves in the Elf Race who had specifically studied this. The mysteries of Spiritual Energy are ever-changing and elusive, yet it is precisely within this field of difficult research that Elves immerse their minds. Through generations of heritage, they had developed their own unique way of interpreting the "imagery" observed at the moment of awakening. And the stars... "How many... did you see? What were... the color and brightness like?" Yue Ying''s breath was still somewhat heavy, her exhales seeming to carry a sweet, pink tinge. In the Elves'' "imagery interpretation," stars represent a higher potential. Each star seen could represent a different path of development. The color indicates tendency, brightness indicates strength, and number... represents choice. The development of Spiritual Energy requires personal will to guide it to a certain extent. "How many?" Bai E hesitated. He intended to ask the experienced Elf lady about developing his Spiritual Energy, but what she described was so far removed from what he had seen. This made him hesitant to speak the bare truth. He hesitated slightly. Yue Ying did not rush him. Not every Awakener could clearly remember and articulate the "imagery" they saw upon awakening. Perhaps in that fleeting moment, an Awakener might have caught a hasty, blurry glance at some warm, dandelion-like orbs of light and thought them to be stars. Or perhaps, they saw points of light twisted like pentagrams... "Imagery" is diverse and ever-changing; what Awakeners see is not necessarily clear, what is clear is not necessarily accurate, what is accurate may not be remembered, and what is remembered might not be expressible. Of course... what''s most important is belief. Even if one only saw a flicker like that of fireflies, if one firmly believes them to be stars, they might gain the power blessed by a host of stars. In the realm of Spiritual Energy, belief itself is power. After a moment of hesitation, Bai E decided to ask, "Normally, how many would one see?" "That''s uncertain... one, two, three..." Yue Ying enunciated each word with some difficulty, "...all are possible." As she spoke, she needed her rationality to struggle to restrain her body in order to suppress the fleeting urge for a more intense sensation. "What about more?" Using the norm to aid in recollection was not uncommon among Elven Awakeners, and Yue Ying tried to help Bai E, "It''s rare... No one has that many choices." "..." Bai E pursed his lips, "It seems like, two... one red, one white. The brightness, perhaps similar to tonight''s moon." In fact, they were brighter... Of course, what Bai E actually saw was not just one star. He believed he even saw the actual Milky Way. ...and the even more illusory river of time and space. ''As bright as the moon?'' Tonight''s moon is quite bright. This level of imagery felt like a surge of heat rising from below, crashing through Yue Ying''s mind, instantly making her body feel unbearably hot. As a result, her breathing grew even more chaotic, her exhales coming in bursts, "Very good... you are doing very well." White often means salvation, red... might mean love or it could mean slaughter, or something else entirely. The specific nuances would depend on the shades. He himself might find it difficult to recall or describe those subtle characteristics. "You must persist in your training and always... always scrutinize your heart." The first step in awakening Spiritual Energy often means taking a step closer to the abyss. From now on, the vast psychic sea of higher-dimensional space will constantly affect this newly entered soul. "I should leave now... We can talk more about it when we meet tomorrow!" The moment she received an answer, Yue Ying felt a great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Curiosity is the most difficult desire for intelligent beings to overcome. Fortunately... this desire rarely arises. Watching Yue Ying hastily retreat, Bai E felt something was odd. Ever since his awakening, the Elf lady had been behaving very strangely. Her words were sticky and slurred, syllables blending into one another as if bound by some unidentified mucus. Yet occasionally, her words seemed to be ejected with difficulty, one by one, in stark contrast to her usual cool and decisive demeanor. Of course, what''s more important is what he saw... Even in the knowledge of someone like Yue Ying, there seemed to be no precedent for the sights he had witnessed... Is it good, or bad? Chapter 268 254, off we go! Awakening to Spiritual Energy, one feels clearheaded and refreshed.In the early hours before dawn, Bai E snuck back into the dormitory tent with light and stealthy steps. His teammates'' breathing was calm and gentle, deep in sleep. Yet the same sleep seemed, to Bai E''s newly sensitive senses, to carry a slightly unusual touch¡ª They... were exhausted. Perhaps it was a conclusion forged from information gathered subconsciously that even his rational mind had not detected; perhaps it was from a synesthesia of collected stray thoughts. Bai E instinctually felt that his teammates, sleeping like logs, were worn out from body to soul. And in this state of slumber, both body and mind were relaxing and recovering swiftly under some intricate, hardly perceptible mechanism, so that the aura of life gradually grew stronger. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those precise sensations were as vivid as distinct strings before him, as if he could reach out and touch them. However, when Bai E actually tried to do so, he found his hand seeming to pass directly through the air; those "strings" that seemed visible were ethereal to an extreme, utterly intangible. Bai E lowered his somewhat excited hand. Spiritual Energy was certainly powerful, but it wasn''t like one could reach the heavens in a single step. At just 1 point of Spiritual Energy, he was still a mere apprentice at the threshold, with many unknowns in this realm yet to be explored. After casually washing up on the public platform outside and cleaning himself, Bai E, lying in bed, found himself unable to fall asleep on either side. His freshly awakened Spiritual Energy left him feeling energized, every injury suffered physically and mentally while practicing Spiritual Energy having been cleansed in an instant during the awakening, thoroughly healed. He was in excellent condition. He simply couldn''t sleep. Bai E sat up, closed his eyes, and began to practice the Breathing Skill suitable for the human constitution in the peaceful night. New to the practice of the Breathing Skill, Bai E couldn''t yet maintain it constantly like Yue Ying, nor exercise Spiritual Energy through breathing at all times. He even had to assume specific postures during practice to help him quickly enter a meditative state and find that feeling of cultivating both spirit and flesh. Breathe in~ Breathe out~ The plain breath flowed smoothly and lightly with each exhalation, time passing serenely like water. ... Uncovering the small car hidden beneath clumps of grass and branches, Dai Lian took the driver''s seat and inserted the key. "Vroom~ vroom~ vroom~ clatter clatter clatter~" After struggling to start it, the engine beneath the hood finally roared to life like a tractor. The trembling engine transferred vibrations through the car''s rigid connections, shaking the backsides of the three people sitting inside. So much so that Kuang Xin''s voice trembled as he spoke, "Are we setting off right now?" Without a word, Dai Lian stroked the "steering wheel" in front of him, round like a ball, and looked back. Gong Yan, who carried many bags in the car, struggled to reach out for the door, prompting Dai Lian, somewhat annoyed, to hammer Kuang Xin''s shoulder, "Don''t you know to help Yanzi close the door?" "..." Just as Kuang Xin was about to act, he heard Gong Yan''s voice, "It''s fine, just having the stuff brought up is enough for me." Dai Lian''s gaze swept over the large and small bags of items and he asked softly, "Do we have everything we need?" "All here," Gong Yan patted the canvas bag beside her, which contained the food supplies they would need for the next several days. Of course, there were several other packages, each filled with medical supplies, weapons and ammunition, and other materials they might need. It was their first time undertaking a mission in this game world far from the city, and their in-game lives were quite precious. Plus, with their current accumulation far exceeding that of ordinary players, the three of them preferred not to be negligent and aimed to be well-prepared for every conceivable aspect. Dai Lian nodded with satisfaction, "That''s right, we trust your work. Then let''s... set off!" Your next journey awaits at empire The internal rental agreement for the car within the organization was settled by the natural day, so to avoid wasting time, they had rented the car and departed as soon as midnight passed. Departing at midnight allowed them to have more time to act during daylight. "You know where we''re going?" Dai Lian asked, glancing sidelong at Kuang Xin, who had unfolded a map on the passenger seat. "Of course..." Let''s not talk about other tactical minds for now, it''s just map navigation, and as a seasoned game veteran, Kuang Xin is quite familiar with it. Kuang Xin''s eyes wandered over the hand-drawn map, and he quickly located both their position and the approximate roaming area of the orcs that the mission publisher had defined. Orcs always like to run around erratically, and their traces may not be found within the designated area of activity, a fact that those who assign the missions would clarify to prevent strange "Bounty Hunters" from becoming enraged due to not finding their target. "Here¡­" Kuang Xin pointed at the target location and then traced a winding line from their current position to the target with his finger, "We''ll take this route." The map''s target is not only to pinpoint the target location but also to mark all potential dangers one may encounter on the way there¡ªthese are the crystallizations of the efforts of those who like to deal in shortcuts, painted in blood. "Alright, you lead the way," Dai Lian nodded, his role as the co-driver was to assist the driver with various tasks on the road. The not-so-bright headlights pierced through the night''s thin fog, and the humid air floating in the atmosphere scattered the direction of the once straight beam of light. Wilderness driving conditions were harsh with the ground littered with stones, and the clattering makeshift car was bumping all along, jarring the passengers to the point of physical discomfort akin to having their brains thoroughly shaken. Fortunately, none of the three got carsick¡­ "After we get back, I''ve got to learn some repair skills to fix this car up properly," Dai Lian said as he gripped the steering wheel with both hands, trying his best at 50 kilometers per hour to keep it steady, with his bright eyes straining to distinguish passable roads, all the while gritting his teeth with determination. [You are using the "Insight" ability to observe the complex environment...] "It''s all on you then¡­" The cold nighttime wind poured into the car through a window that couldn''t be fully closed, the air as sharp as a knife against the face, but for Kuang Xin, it was just an unexpected pleasure. The thought of soon encountering the orc girl he was after made Kuang Xin''s heart itch with anticipation! It''s been so long! I''ve been in the game for such a long time! I''m finally going to see my kin woohoo! ¡­ "waaaaaagh!" "waaaaagh!" A bloody, rusted axe blade was pulled out with a "splat" from a green chest, and the sticky green fluid it carried was carelessly flung aside by the axe-wielding arm. Several relatively lanky machete lads looked on in horror at the formidable and brutal figure before them. Just now, this member of the Fu Yue Clan had personally chopped off the head of their former boss. And now... "Crunch!" "Crunch!" The grating sound of chewing echoed through the quiet night, accompanied by the cool breeze pouring into everyone''s ears. The former boss''s head was still alive, but firmly grasped by a large hand, which tore and chewed off pieces of flesh bite by bite. That clear sound reverberated in the ears of every orc spectating. Is this a fellow Fu Yue Clansman? How are they even more brutal than our Spike Hammer Clan? "Ptooey!" The new boss had no intention of fully consuming a head, after a few bites, he casually tossed it aside. Several drooling dog-like creatures immediately pounced on it, and the round former boss turned into a kicked ball, rolling around on the ground amidst their scramble. An orc''s head being chopped off didn''t necessarily mean death, and thankfully, such a thing felt no pain. The half-mouthed former boss retaliated against the dogs fighting over him with bites of his own, creating a lively and noisy scene. The new boss from the Fu Yue Clan spat out another irresistible hard bone, with his thick lips puckering and moving in a sound that seemed both simple-minded and brutal, ringing in the ears of all the orcs present. "Me reckon... it''s me who calls the shots now, right?" "You call the shots!" "It''s all your call!" The remaining youths of the Spike Hammer Clan shouted with fervor, their voices becoming particularly zealous amidst the chaotic ruckus. Standing in the center of all the orcs'' attention, the new boss felt an infinite power surge within him. The vigorous force that bumped and pushed inside him was like a ball of hot air trapped within his body, unable to break free, urging his body to rapidly swell. The already bulky green muscles became even more fearsome and terrifying as they quickly expanded, and under the moonlight, his shadow grew a more imposing silhouette on the ground... Chapter 269 255 Combined "What are we going to do now?""This is a mess..." "Damn it, is this game targeting me specifically!" The purchase plan had just been agreed upon yesterday! Yet today, they learned that the boss they had negotiated with had been ganked. It had happened last night, on a night when the moon wasn''t dark, and the wind wasn''t fierce. A sudden fight erupted on the turf where the Orc Tribe had set up camp. The foreign orcs had no sense of martial ethics, and they defeated the local orc leader in a one-on-one duel. Now look what happened... "Boss... my teeth... my teeth..." "I''ve lost my teeth too, boss..." The new boss obviously had no plans to deal with humans; the underlings who were sent to talk to him were violently knocked out and had all their teeth removed before being sent back. It was because of this that they found out the Orc Tribe''s boss had been replaced. Two underlings with whistling speech squeezed in front of Ren Fengxing, hopping up and down, their gums with single-digit teeth opening and closing comically. Without teeth in the real world might be a big problem, a good set of teeth is a basic guarantee of physical health, making eating a pleasure and sleep sound, and dentures are never as convenient. However, in the game world, such minor injuries were nothing; even the in-game food was quite perfunctory. For combat players, a mouth full of broken teeth was a medal of honor for the guild. Far from being ashamed, they proudly boasted about it everywhere. "Get lost!" Ren Fengxing kicked the two away. "Boss, boss! The cart we assembled has fallen apart!" Another underling crowded over from the side. The cart had been put together for transporting the artificial metal object. During the negotiations yesterday, they had already seen the so-called human-made object ¡ª a large piece of metal whose texture was unidentifiable. It was segmented. The cut was incredibly smooth, as if it was meant to be that way. But clearly it wasn''t; from its structure, the object was obviously a small part severed from a much bigger machine. It was hard to imagine what kind of attack could have inflicted such damage. After all, for them, not even swords or firearms could leave the slightest mark on it. It was the same for the orcs. Being indestructible meant it was also unusable. An almost unusable metal structure; the Orc Tribe''s continued interest waned, which was the core reason why they agreed to sell it. But now... "Stop fucking worrying about that damn cart!" The negotiations had collapsed. The other party had turned hostile. Wouldn''t you grab your weapons, ready to blast them to smithereens? Pushing the underling''s face away, Ren Fengxing continued to stride toward the distance. The executive president of another guild had also personally led a team for this task. When obstacles arose from the game world itself, they were natural allies. A woman in a flowing red dress was slowly approaching. Her figure was graceful and radiantly beautiful, and although her face did not appear young, it had a sense of age''s patina. As she walked, the small pistol strapped to her leg with a black belt flashed in and out of view beneath the slit of her skirt, contrasting greatly with the swinging single-edged sword at her waist. A sister with an imperial aura. "Gu Lan, how about joining forces?" Ren Fengxing greeted her first. If stealth was ineffective, the only option left was brute force. The orcs were opponents the players had never faced before, and the hearsay about them was filled with lies and exaggeration. No one knew their true strength. This game was not like the others they used to play; it lacked visible levels or data on attributes and gear for reference. Here, life was incredibly precious, and players could no longer recklessly use corpse-running tactics to forcibly clear instances or bosses. Exactly how to fight against the orcs needed careful planning. The mature Gu Lan agreed readily, "How many do you have?" Cooperation was essential, players'' competition was an internal affair, let each rely on their methods. But the first priority was to snatch back the item from the Orc Tribe. Ren Fengxing glanced back and, in a spot hidden from Gu Lan, his eyes flickered slightly, "Thirteen." Then looking at Gu Lan again, he shot back the question, "And you?" "Me?" Gu Lan laughed lightly, her lips curling up enchantingly, "However many you have, I have just as many." "...Haha!" Ren Fengxing laughed, aware that both were keeping their cards close to the chest. His gaze scanned the surroundings. There were many lone wolves and solo players, either by themselves or in small groups, wandering in the distance. The scale of the Orc Tribe is quite large, and most importantly, each one looks like a tough contender, with broad shoulders and thick waists, making them seem hard to deal with. Those solo players, being neither able to form large groups nor confident enough to sneak attacks on their own, can only hang around not far away, like a pack of hyenas waiting for a fierce beast to show a flaw, ready to leap and bite into the flesh at any moment. The opportunity they are waiting for is, needless to say, the leading charge of our two big guilds. "What do you think of them?" Ren Fengxing lifted his chin slightly. Do those solo players think they can be opportunistic? In what world does it work that easily? Have the tough ones have their share, only for them to wait to rip a chunk off one''s own body? No way! Either join the fight together, or go die first. Thinking about sneaking a win? You''ll have to see if I agree first. Gu Lan raised an eyebrow, "Aren''t you afraid of being cursed?" The notoriety of the big guilds for clearing out zones and monopolizing them has already been widely spread in other games. And because of the unique nature of this game, organizations from the outside world find it difficult to utilize their numerical advantages in its world, just like this mission, where the two big guilds that dominate the real world could each muster only¡­a secret number of players. So if these solo players really start to hold a grudge, their path in Blackwater City may not be so smooth in the future. Ren Fengxing looked provocatively at Gu Lan, "Are you scared?" "Aren''t you?" "I''m not," Ren Fengxing snorted disdainfully, "With just them?" The means of raiding by the big guilds don''t rely just on sending out their original members. Since the birth location of players who join the game cannot be chosen, recruiting players who have already created characters in the game is just as viable. Most of these solo players have already been filtered once. Since they are unwilling to submit to management, they are also utterly unable to band together and work towards the same goal. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hatred? Is that more important than freedom? Experience more on empire The resentment of a lone wolf isn''t worth mentioning. "Shall we go ahead then?" Ren Fengxing nodded, "Let''s do it." Clear the zone. The standard operating style of the big guilds. Either join, don''t watch, or¡­die. Don''t talk to me about tyranny or tyranny. To play a game is to play with a smile! Someone''s got to smile, so why not me? ... "Seems like they''ve noticed us, huh?" "Could it be that Gu Lan woman took a fancy to me?" "..." The buddy beside gave him a look as if to say, "Your brain must be seriously sick." "Why are they waving at us?" "Why are they looking at us?" "Why are they coming over here?" A series of questions involuntarily rose in the hearts of the solo brothers. The members of two well-known local guilds gathered together, a large group of people with various styles, brandishing weapons and looking menacing as they walked over, an image that was unsettling. "Are we in their way?" "Should we step aside?" Then let''s step aside. The two brothers who deliberately stepped back a few paces found that the others adjusted their course to follow suit. "It really seems like they''re coming for us..." "We didn''t provoke them, did we?" Closer and closer...the pressure became immense. Looking at the leader of the group, a man with an aggressively smiling face, the two soloists couldn''t help but shout from a distance, "Fengxing..." "I know you haven''t provoked us," Ren Fengxing cut them off directly, stepping forward briskly, "Not yet, but just staring at us here is pissing me off." He held up two fingers, his face slightly lifted, "You have two choices, we either take on those son of a bitch Orcs together, or we give you a beating first." Following that, Ren Fengxing revealed a row of shiny white teeth, "What''s it gonna be?" Chapter 270 I was thinking... ```The independent players'' eyes flickered, stepping back lightly, their faces sporting an awkward smile, "Can we choose not to? My buddies and I are just here to watch the fun, we have no interest in the mission." "Click click click!" The sound of firearms being taken off safety almost melded into one, and in the next moment, the independent players found several long rifles and short guns aimed straight at their faces. A group of gun-toting youngsters bore threatening expressions, their intent to coerce clear as day. Ren Fengxing, slightly displeased, pushed the rifle resting on his shoulder and adjusted his leather jacket as he stepped forward, his face still wearing that threatening smile, "So, how about it? Want to think it over?" "No need to think!" Independent Player Number One declared with righteous indignation, "Clearing all heretics for humanity is the innate mission of our existence!" Independent Player Number Two picked up his handgun, his face filled with rage as he looked towards the distant Orc Tribe, "For the Alliance! Charge!" "Very good," Ren Fengxing nodded with satisfaction, "In the Yan Kingdom, we have an old saying, ''He who laughs, a martial artist, will be a hero!'' You guys, you''ve got potential!" The independent players nodded and bowed repeatedly, "Definitely! Definitely!" "Next!" Ren Fengxing waved his hand dismissively. Independent Player Number One hurried to the front, "Fengxing, this way please. I know a few of those lads over there, let me introduce them to you... for Big Brother Fengxing!" "Not bad, kid!" "Of course! Of course!" ... "Hey! You there, boy, Fengxing asked me to bring you a message. He says in our Yan Kingdom there''s an old saying, called..." "No need, boss! Count me in!" ... "Can you let me finish my damn sentence!" ... "Our dear Fengxing..." "Fengxing, right! I know him, the chief executive of the Black Hole Guild! Any particular things to take care of?" "He says, heh heh..." "Heh heh~" "Heh heh?" "Heh heh your mother''s head! I''ll stuff a round up your damn Yanzi ass!" With a "click," a bullet was chambered. "Bam bam bam bam!" Gunfire rattled indiscriminately! Independent Player Number One blew the gunsmoke from the barrel. He stepped forward to pick up the shotgun from the dead body of a rebellious player. "We all use pistols, and you''ve got a shotgun. Who else but you was going to die?" ... Sitting atop a broken-down cart, Ren Fengxing gazed at the team that was recruiting all independent players, its size growing ever more formidable. "Still plenty of smart ones around~" The elegant Gu Lan, resting a hand on her sword hilt, her long legs protruding from the slit of her skirt, set foot on the edge of the cart. Looking towards the ongoing recruiting, she smiled in admiration, "You''ve really made enemies of them now." "So what if I''ve made enemies? What are they gonna do, bite me?" Ren Fengxing scoffed. You know what Black Hole means? The meaning of Black Hole is that I''m here, and everyone has to be drawn in. They''re all mine. They all listen to me! Gu Lan shifted her gaze back from the scene, looking beside her at Ren Fengxing, who was playing with a blade of foxtail in his mouth, "What''s your battle plan?" Ren Fengxing did not answer directly, instead waving over one of his underlings, "Come on, show our beautiful lady here what Black Hole Guild is made of." "On it!" "Huff and puff~" Four people, two pairs of underlings carried a cumbersome wooden crate half a person''s height between them, struggling mightily as they brought it over from afar. "Clunk!" "Clunk!" The heavy wooden crates were let go just five centimeters from the ground, crashing and shattering with the sound. Inside was something metallic... S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You damn well be careful!" Ren Fengxing couldn''t help but kick out in response to that sound. The player who tumbled all over didn''t get angry but clambered up chuckling, "Boss, it''s just too heavy... we''ve lugged it all the way from the city..." "Go get your pay yourself! An extra 80 for a kick." That player immediately perked up, presenting his rear, "Come on, kick a few more times, more kicks..." "Scram!" Gu Lan raised an eyebrow, her piercing eyes fixed on Ren Fengxing, who was jesting and cursing in front of her, waiting for him to reveal the answer himself. "Open it," commanded Ren Fengxing with a glance, and the remaining two lackeys quickly stepped forward. "Click!" "Click!" At the crisp sound of unlocking, the wooden crates opened on cue. Inside were¡­ black, disc-like objects that resembled flying saucers? ``` Gu Lan squinted his eyes, "This is..." "Mine!" Ren Fengxing stepped forward, slapping the steel creation that still glistened with oil, "remote-controlled." "¡­" Enjoy new adventures from empire Gu Lan''s gaze at Ren Fengxing flickered with a hint of admiration. This thing was not easy to deal with. And judging by the quality, it didn''t seem like the product of some shoddy, makeshift workshop. Ren Fengxing lifted his rust-colored leather jacket, revealing a black box at his waist resembling a brick phone, "The remote controller. I press it, and it goes boom!" These were the most advanced strategic weapons currently in the possession of the Black Hole Guild; those hulking Orcs might look big and strong, but as long as they were still made of flesh and blood, they too had to bow down before the might of firearms. In front of the Minefield Array, all creatures are equal! "Let''s go! Find a spot to see how many of those green-skins there are," Ren Fengxing quickly shut the wooden crate. "You''re going?" "Both of us." "I won''t be looking out for you if we start running." "Don''t worry, I''ll cover your back." ¡­ Orc Tribe. In a clearing surrounded by a crude fence made of mud, rows of simple wooden targets were stuck into the ground. Flying axes occasionally whooshed past, some occasionally hitting the targets, their ferocious power easily smashing the wooden targets to smithereens, while many more¡­ simply whizzed through the gaps. "Waaaaagh!" the leader of the Fu Yue Clan roared out in frustration, having thrown numerous hand axes without achieving the desired effect. The oblivious young ones watching beside him cried out in imitation, not knowing why but feeling inexplicably excited, "Waaaagh!" As he weighed a hand axe, the leader of the Fu Yue Clan narrowed his eyes at the targets, scanned the heads of the watching lads, and then turned to look at the football chucked around and chased by a pack of dogs on the ground¡­ The former chieftain still clung to life stubbornly, mouth wide open trying to bite the dogs. Suddenly, inspiration struck the current chief, and with a sweep of his large hand, he ordered the nearest cleaver boy, "Throw that head up for me!" "Right! No problem, Boss!" The called Orc scurried away, large feet stomping into the fray of dogs, kicking a dog that refused to let go of an ear, and then grabbing the former chieftain''s head and turned back to his boss, "Here it comes, Boss!" "Whoosh!" With all his might, he threw the head into the sky. Far... Far away... The current chief squinted, craning his neck to watch, and only after a long while did he see a black spot lazily falling down. The hand axe twirled effortlessly in his hand, and without aiming, the chief tossed it into the sky. "Thwack!" The two trajectories intersected in the air; the head struck by the hand axe split instantly, its juice splashed in all directions, like a burst watermelon... Seeing the accurate hit, the ecstatic Orc chief raised his fist and shouted, "Waaaaaagh!" All the subordinates echoed loudly, "Waaaaaagh!" "I knew I could hit it! What''s the point of wooden targets?" The chief, grinning from ear to ear with excitement, turned to look at some puny kids in the corner. Useless weaklings that never grow strong! "Chop their heads off for me!" Suddenly, a swarm of his followers rushed over, repeating the chief''s words, "Chop their heads off for me!" "Chop their heads off for me!" "Chop their heads off for me!" "Waaaaagh!" Numerous heads soared into the sky, each accurately struck by the howling hand axes. "Tsk tsk!" Ren Fengxing, secretly observing, recoiled behind the bushes, "So brutal¡­" They kill their own at the drop of a hat. How did these Orcs become such scourges and enemies of mankind? Is it just because they''re physically strong? A mere underling can throw a head that high... "What kind of crazy thing is this that we''re tasked to fight?" Ren Fengxing cursed under his breath and began to walk back, "Bad luck!" Back in their own territory, Gu Lan remained silent, simply recalling everything she had observed, and then asked Ren Fengxing softly, "Did you notice? That leader is injured." "Injured?" Gu Lan nodded, "That leader, there''s a penetrating scar on his shoulder in the back, he''s been wounded there!" She didn''t believe for a second that the big boss of this mission could be easily killed by a mine; in the end, it might come down to a bayonet fight. Knowing the enemy''s weakness provided an opportunity to launch targeted attacks. "Now that you mention it... there does seem to be one," Ren Fengxing squinted as he recalled, "It looks like a through-and-through wound, light passes through it. Geez, who''s so fierce as to wound that big guy?" "This might just be the opportunity left for us." In games, there''s always a way to complete a mission. Such deliberately given information might be the shortcut or even the only choice to complete a mission; it depended on whether the player could grasp it. Gu Lan had plenty of experience with this kind of setup in past games. "We''ll give it a try when the time comes." Speaking of which, Ren Fengxing, annoyed, shouted towards the distance, "Damn it, can this be any slower, recruiting people takes forever!" "Boss..." one of the followers gulped with wide-eyed shock, staring at a black dot slowly emerging on the horizon, "Looks like a tough nut is coming¡­" Chapter 271 257 stand out "A tough nut to crack?" Ren Fengxing raised an eyebrow, "How tough?"No sooner had his voice faded away than a peculiar sound, carried by the breeze, reached their ears. "Rattle-tattle-tattle-tattle~" The distinctive rumbling sound, which would stand out even among tractors, was particularly grating on the plains of the wilderness. A brightly colored... car was approaching from a distance. "Tui!" Ren Fengxing spat out the dogtail grass he had been chewing on and sprang up from the shabby cart, "Never seen that before..." It wasn''t that he had never seen a car, but he had never seen a player who could afford to own one. Of course, it was a player¡ªthe fact that someone could come from the nearby city with a clear purpose and find this place from afar meant they were undoubtedly here for that quest. Who wouldn''t covet a chance to hit the jackpot? Even the chance to join a group fight for 100 experience points seemed quite tempting. So, it had to be a player. But all players aside... What sort of background does a player need to have to be able to whip out a car so soon after starting the game? You should know that the origin of the dozen or so mines they had was not clean, and it had taken great effort to acquire them, resulting in the death of over ten tools... comrades. Using them up was supposedly part of the task, but there was also a sense of disposing evidence; otherwise, the glaring red warning signs would always be unnerving. Having a show of strength was all well and good, but it could only be used once; it was nothing more than a fluke, not genuine strength. However, a car that could be used continually would undoubtedly strengthen mobility. He had asked about such things... but those cunning NPCs either ignored him or were ready to rip him off big time. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have resorted to the most primitive human relay to carry two heavy boxes of mines across such a long distance. But there had been no sign of a third major player guild existing in Blackwater City in previous events... There are many spawn points for players in the game world; guilds don''t need to cluster together. Perhaps they could bloom in more than one place, but they tended to avoid each other to prevent early conflicts over resources. Black Hole and Thorns are the only two overlords here. Ren Fengxing stood still, his eyes sparkling with a light as he fell silent for a moment before his face regained that aggressively predatory smile. "Let''s go! Brothers, follow me and let''s see which deity this is." Gu Lan curved the corner of his mouth slightly and silently followed. The gathered solo players watched the scene from afar. Being incorporated unwillingly, they wouldn''t be content; however, the advantage of combining two guilds from the start allowed them to be pushed around. If these solo players could truly unite in heart and mind, then they wouldn''t be solo players anymore. But if there was something that could stand against these two guilds, they would be the first to consider switching sides, depending on the situation. "Rattle-tattle-tattle-tattle~" The engine''s roar gradually softened, and Kuang Xin, sitting in the front, looked at the two or three groups gathering in the distance with some excitement, "I''ve found the organization!" Dai Lian''s approach was not as relaxed seeing the players, who had straightened their weapons but had not aimed directly at them or confronted them head-on. Open and covert fights among players are just too common. Murder and looting are all in a day''s work. The car they were driving was their biggest "treasure," and he knew its value. He absolutely didn''t believe that the players gathering in groups weren''t tempted by it. The problem, though, was that the car was too noisy, making it impossible to approach silently and stay hidden. By the time they noticed others, those others had already spotted them first. "Careful," Dai Lian warned in a low voice. "Click!" Gong Yan, sitting in the back seat, promptly showed her vigilance with her actions; she chambered a bullet into her small pistol and then tucked it back into her waistband. Before figuring out how to deal with the orcs, they might have to tussle with other players first. "Whoa~ Whoa~ Whoa! Brother!" Ren Fengxing stepped in front of the car, not far ahead, stretching out his arms and laughing exaggeratedly. As the car''s rumbling finally ceased and it came to a halt just a meter away from him, he approached and patted the hood of the car. The makeshift metal shell trembled violently with a "thud thud" sound. It was empty... The connections were not tight. The condition of this little car didn''t seem great, as could be told from both the exterior and the noise from the engine. Yet, it was for this very reason that it was possible for the current players to have gotten hold of it. But looking at the paint job on the car... Why did it look so familiar? "Hey! Brother! Are you here for the quest too? Where''d you get this thing? Impressive!" Kuang Xin was the first to jump out of the car, leading the way. When it came to taking action, he was truly on it, no hesitation. Circumventing to the other side, Dai Lian was clear about his role; he deliberately went to the rear door to open it for Gong Yan, then moved behind Kuang Xin from the back of the car. His actions were smooth and reasonable, showing not the slightest hint of fear outwardly. "So, what do you say, brother? Are you here for the quest as well?" Kuang Xin took up the conversation promptly, as Dai Lian had taught him. Ren Fengxing''s eyes swept over the three people before him and then gazed into the distance following the direction they came from¡ªno one? Just three of them? Could he swallow them directly? But they didn''t seem at all afraid, and if they really had some skills up their sleeves, acting rashly could lead to an unexpected catastrophe, not to mention if they escaped, it might disturb the guild''s future development. Offending ordinary solo players wasn''t an issue, but to offend players of an unknown origin showing certain strength... It wasn''t advisable. He would test the waters first. Ren Fengxing leaned casually against the side of the car, "We''ve formed an alliance; interested in joining us for some action?" By that time, Dai Lian had also stepped up but still stood half a step behind Kuang Xin, "What are the rules?" Your next read is at empire "Very simple, I have more people, so you listen to me," Ren Fengxing smiled, looking rather radiant. Dai Lian gestured toward the others in the distance with a tilt of his chin, "And them?" "Them?" Ren Fengxing glanced back, "They''re in the alliance too!" "They don''t seem very willing?" "Hey, we''re all brothers here; play together, and they''ll become willing." "We''re not very willing either," Dai Lian said, looking directly into the other''s eyes with a light, faint smile on his lips. It was a bit cold and sharp. "Then... shall we try?" ``` "Give it a try." It was a perfect understanding. No knives, no guns. Once the equipment came into play, it meant they were dead enemies. A follower behind Ren Fengxing, who looked like a bear, stepped forward half a step, clenching his fist until it crackled. In the guild, every member''s role was assigned before entering the game. They focused on differentiated development¡ªwith physical strength and stature maxed out, they played a brute force game. "This is the weakest underling of mine, who among you wants to play with him?" Ren Fengxing said, his eyelids low, lying through his teeth. Kuang Xin stepped forward, looking up at the other side, "I will." His body trembled with excitement; it was his first time facing off against another player head-on. "Kid, I''ll let you go first." The burly man looked down at Kuang Xin with eyes full of disdain. This little grasshopper, effeminate with handsome features, could be flattened into a pancake with a single punch. "You said that?" "I said it." Kuang Xin earnestly gathered power for a punch on the spot. His muscles flexed, channeling startling strength with his more than 14 points of physical fitness. "Boom!" The heavyweight body flew backwards and landed on the ground, raising dust. With a turn of the head, he passed out cleanly. "..." "..." The scene fell silent. "Boss, number three got taken out in a second..." A hint of red-raged mark faintly appeared on Ren Fengxing''s forehead. He said in a deep voice, "I fucking saw it!" "He''s a pro, I''ll take him." Another composed voice came from behind Ren Fengxing. The taciturn man stepped forward, waved Ren Fengxing behind him, and looked fervently at Kuang Xin, "You''re a pro; he didn''t deserve to fight you." He had seen it clearly from the side; number three wasn''t completely surprised, he had sensed the opponent might be more than ordinary at the last moment. However, the hasty block didn''t work. Dai Lian couldn''t stand it any longer and asked from behind Kuang Xin, "What? Planning to fight in turns?" Ren Fengxing, suppressing his voice, said, "Just this one." "It doesn''t matter how many rounds." Kuang Xin''s eyes were ablaze with excitement, what was the point of fighting NPCs in the combat arena all day long? If you want to show off, you need to do it in front of "acquaintances"! He had just learnt a specialized fighting skill from his boss and was eager to put it to use! Interception! Joint locks! Combo hits! He interrupted the opponent''s attacks, reversed his hand to lock the joint, and at the moment of joint dislocation, a barrage of punches came crashing down like a storm. The fight ended in the ninth second after it began... Kuang Xin, blessed with numerous special attributes, was in a league of his own when it came to fighting skills among the players. "..." "..." Switching opponents made little difference to the outcome. For a while, every player who looked at Kuang Xin unintentionally showed a hint of wariness in their eyes. Gu Lan, the mature lady who had been quiet at the back, looked at the young man of average build and handsome features before her and couldn''t help but narrow her eyes. ''So strong...'' Where did this monster come from? "Lost again, boss..." "I fucking saw it!" Ren Fengxing focused on the three before him, his gaze wandering restlessly. To admit defeat would be unsatisfactory. Moreover, those who had already surrendered but were also watching would start to waver. Even a draw would have been acceptable... But to lose without being able to fight back! As dangerous thoughts brewed, even the air seemed to grow stagnant. No matter how strong... surely not stronger than a bullet, right? Even if these three had some skill, could they not be randomly shot dead? He didn''t have much confidence either... Kuang Xin smiled broadly, "Anyone else?" After being thrashed by NPCs all this time, he finally got the chance to thrash others! "Boss! Boss! There''s movement with the orcs!" The sudden cry broke the tense atmosphere on the field. Close observation could be dangerous, but large movements could be seen from a distance. Ren Fengxing had always had people watching the large movements of the orcs since the mission briefing stated these creatures liked to wander around. Blocking them within the assigned area had been pure luck. Now, the orcs seemed to be preparing for some new activity. Ren Fengxing turned his head toward the running underling, "Don''t panic, explain slowly." "They''ve taken everything and left!" ``` S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 272 258 Main Quest - Human Traitor "What are they going off to do?""I don''t know, boss..." "I didn''t ask you!" The orcs suddenly pulled out, seemingly with a purpose, rather than just wandering aimlessly. "Let''s go! Let''s follow them and see..." Ren Fengxing made a decision. The orcs'' abrupt change disrupted his train of thought. The awkward stalemate he had been hesitant to break was now shattered by this unexpected twist. "All together now." Everyone burst into laughter, an unoccurred dispute unable to affect their brotherly camaraderie. ... The orc leader, striding with axes in hand, cast a backward glance and saw those black dots lingering far behind. He snorted in disdain, "Hmph!" These hairless monkeys are slippery like eels, cowardly and irritating. Those not on their own turf would rather avoid combat and cannot be caught up with, nor is fighting them satisfying enough. Only humans backed by their so-called "homes" would cling to something called "home" out of attachment and choose not to leave. His target this time was those humans; using their heads for axe-throwing practice was extremely efficient, and he felt his throwing skills improving rapidly. With more time to practice, next time he met that human, he definitely wouldn''t let himself be shot down by a bow and arrow. But he couldn''t always use the heads of his own people for practice. It was one thing to chop off a few displeasing ones, but he couldn''t well kill them all. So humans it had to be! Especially since on their wanderings, they had stumbled upon a settlement of humans... Next time we meet... Next time, I definitely want to blow up that human''s head with my flying axe! He purposely controlled his shoulder wound to not fully heal, a reminder that the minor injury wouldn''t impede him in any way. He kept it just to remind himself¡ªdo not forget! "Hmph~" The orc leader withdrew his gaze, looking ahead. Those hairless monkeys following behind might just trigger their so-called "compassion," "mercy," "justice," or other such boring emotions when they witness their "brethren" in distress. Capture them all! Every single one! Make a skull flag, and plant it in front of the humans'' city gate! ... [You observe your surroundings with curiosity, realizing this is a whole new unknown world...] "Are you a poor soul who escaped from the city too?" A kind-hearted person came up and asked. Xu Ruoguang patted his head, feeling it heavy and foggy. In fact, ever since he "woke up," his head had been in a constant state of grogginess. Multiple "crossings"... "Crossing"? What "crossing"? "Heh~" He knocked on his head again, and Xu Ruoguang laughed helplessly. He had read too many novels, and it made his mind muddled. He clearly knew his family background, and he had memories of his path of growth. His existence was real, not fictitious; there was no such thing as a special mission. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire "Mission"... "Mission"? "Mission," huh? Heh... I got a hell of a "mission"! Time to play some games. The words of the NPC in front of him helped Xu Ruoguang find his bearings¡ª ''A poor soul?'' ''I''m a poor soul? Escaped from the city?'' [You begin to accept the identity of coming to this world, and a brand new world unfolds before you...] An arrival background with history¡ªcould this mean that he naturally had a quest line attached to him in the game? This identity is just... terrific! Main quest¡ªTake back the city! Kill, kill, kill! Take out everyone who''s looked down on me, despised me, or harmed me in the past! [Activate main quest¡ªHuman Traitor!] [Human Traitor: The Human Emperor has betrayed humanity, never belonging to humankind! His origins have countless ties to demons. Kill the Human Emperor before he ascends to power! The whole Galaxy Human Empire will thank you for your effort! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Quest Requirement: Assassinate the Human Emperor before his coronation 0/1. Quest Reward: 10000000000000 universal experience points, Omniversal Wish Card*1, item reward unknown.] "?" "Tsk tsk!" I get a mission just by entering the game? Buddy is truly the chosen one! The Human Emperor? Who is the Human Emperor? Show yourself! I''ll stab you to death! "Hey! Do you know where the Human Emperor is?" "The Emperor?" The man coming over to talk asked with a start, "I did hear that our empire had an emperor... but it seems he has already passed away a while ago." "..." "..." The two stared at each other, eyes wide. "Passed away?" "Passed away." "Then who the hell is the Emperor?" "..." "..." "Forget it..." Xu Ruoguang waved his hand dismissively. The main quest might require some twists and turns, even if he found the other party, they might not be someone he could contend with at this stage. Just by looking at the string of countless zeros in the mission reward, anyone would know the difficulty of this quest. Although he still didn''t know how much quest experience was generally given in this game, there probably weren''t many games that threw out such an absurd number of digits for a newbie quest. Maybe... it''s better to develop first. "What is this place?" Xu Ruoguang looked around curiously and asked. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The wilderness... we were all driven out of Grey Iron City. What about you? Aren''t you the same?" "Grey Iron City..." Xu Ruoguang murmured softly, remembering the name before saying, "Of course not, what''s it like in Grey Iron City? I was planning to go there, but unfortunately, I got lost and couldn''t find the way." Of course, he couldn''t originate from the same place as the other person; if they were to dig deeper, he wouldn''t know anything and would immediately give himself away. Although this was a game, Xu Ruoguang naturally didn''t consider this world as a real game world. When facing the natives, he could instinctively switch his thinking to adapt to the game''s world, as if it were an instinct. "Oh~" The man coming up pointed in a certain direction, "Grey Iron City is over there. If you want to go, just head in that direction. But I advise you, it''s best not to go." "Oh? Why?" Xu Ruoguang asked with a light smile, "Is there any place worse to live than that?" As he spoke, he casually pointed in a direction. As long as his background was different from the man''s, he wouldn''t have to worry about being exposed. "Over there?" The man looked bewildered, "That way... it seems to be the direction of Blackwater City. You came from there?" "Hmm... not exactly," Xu Ruoguang replied ambiguously, "What happened to Grey Iron City?" "We couldn''t get by there, so we ran out. What do you think happened... I don''t know about the other places, but almost everyone there has to undergo biochemical surgery and modifications. Those who don''t want the surgery are considered heretics, and the side effects of the modifications are so severe that people either cannot survive or have to flee." [Obtained Faction Information (Unidentified): Grey Iron City.] "Oh~" Xu Ruoguang nodded, his tone full of sympathy, "That does seem like a bad place to go." "Hey~ in this era, where is a good place to go, huh?" "True..." Xu Ruoguang sighed in agreement before asking, "Is there anything here that needs help? I''m new and don''t have many skills, but I''m strong. If there''s any way I can help, just let me know. I''ll be relying on you all for my future life here." "Oh, is that so..." The man pondered for a moment, his eyes suddenly lighting up, "We''re actually preparing to build a waterwheel over there. Do you think you can help?" [Triggered side quest¡ª¡ªThe Unfinished Waterwheel.] [The Unfinished Waterwheel: The oasis in the wasteland is full of hope. The people here are attempting to create a waterwheel to start a new life! Quest Requirements: Help the local residents build a waterwheel 0/1. Quest Reward: 100 universal experience points, Science Points *1.] "A waterwheel? That''s what I''m best at!" Xu Ruoguang rolled up his sleeves and headed over. "Great, follow me!" The man laughed heartily, jogging to keep up, looking extremely pleased, "By the way, what''s your name?" [A new life, a new name, you only have one chance, you want to tell them your name is...] "Me?" Xu Ruoguang was taken aback, then replied truthfully, "Xu Ruoguang, my name is Xu Ruoguang, from the Seventh Army... emmmm, just blathering." Where did that slip of the tongue come from? "I''m Xu Ruoguang, just call me Guang," he said. "Alright, Guang, come on! We can live well here, no need to be always scheming with those noblemen in the city." [Welcome, esteemed wanderer ''Kuang Xin,'' you have officially joined the world of Galaxy Online. From now on, please enjoy exploring freely!] "Right, right~" Xu Ruoguang''s face broke into a broad smile. Entering this game world, even the air tasted familiar. Though the real world was good, and his relationships with his parents were harmonious, it always felt somewhat unreal. It was as if only in this game world could he truly be alive... [Triggered side quest¡ª¡ªThe Collapsed Roof.] [Triggered side quest¡ª¡ªHunting in the Wilds.] [Triggered side quest¡ª¡ªDancing at the Campfire Party.] [Triggered side quest...] "Guang~ give us a hand here." "Guang! Come to your sister over here." "Guang... help me carry this rabbit." "Guang..." "Guang..." ... "Guang! Run for it!" On the third day in the game, before his eyes... flames reached for the sky! Green figures wreaked havoc, and lying flat on the ground, Xu Ruoguang''s eyes reflected the shadows of his foes¡ª Orcs! Chapter 273 259 Bullet Time! "They''ve started fighting over there...""Is that orc''s target this human settlement?" The line of players trailing far behind finally realized the orcs'' intention. "Could they be trying to lure us over?" "What do we do, boss? Should we join in?" Many eyes turned toward Ren Fengxing, waiting for his decision. Whether willing or not, since everyone was here to complete a mission, even if temporarily submitting to others was unpleasant, revenge had to be planned for after the fact. Ren Fengxing slightly furrowed his brows, gazing at the makeshift fence that enclosed the wilderness oasis. The calm pond quietly flowed past the settlement, which used to be a peaceful haven but now overshadowed by the dark clouds of war. Scattered sparks from overturned fires accompanied the fleeing and chasing figures, easily igniting the flammable materials used in construction. Endless screams seemed to squeeze into his mind from all directions. This game was made too realistic... So much so that even witnessing this kind of game scenario could make one feel the direct cruelty and brutality. Even though it''s only a game... Humans were being slaughtered by aliens... Right before their eyes, completely powerless to retaliate. The humans settled in the wilderness might have had some weapons, but they were still caught off guard by the ferocious orc assault. The reason this wilderness oasis had survived until now was simply luck... Having the orcs deplete a bit more energy in the process of chasing down game NPCs was undoubtedly the best option for himself and the others. What do the lives of NPCs have to do with them, the players? But... Ren Fengxing clenched the gun in his hand, feeling his palm grow stiff with force. He had yet to voice his decision when another sound exploded beside him. "Damn it! What are you waiting for?" Kuang Xin, holding a pair of axes, charged toward the battlefield. Orcs? Orcs? Is this what they call orcs? These green-skinned, big-bellied creatures that looked like ogres out of legends, these are the f*cking orcs? Where''s my beast-eared girl? Where''s my feisty little Furie? Give me back my orc sister! Looking like a pile of shit! And they dare to invade our human territory! Watching Kuang Xin suddenly rush into action, Dai Lian let out a slight sigh and turned to persuade the others, "They''re resisting too. With NPCs to help us distract them, we should have an easier time fighting." Kuang Xin, who was running ahead, roared back without turning his head, "Why are you talking nonsense with them?! This is just a game! If you don''t dare to fight even in a game, when will you ever dare? You''re all damn cowards!" Ren Fengxing''s eyes flashed; he sensed some restlessness in his team. This wasn''t reality, nor was it about tremendous benefits. In the game, players'' loves and hates were distinct and direct. Passion was always the easiest emotion to infect everyone in the game. Ren Fengxing bit down hard and said, "Damn it! Attack!" Gu Lan had already given orders to her people, her commanding voice crisp and decisive on the battlefield, "Charge!" Accompanying that command was the clear sound of longswords being drawn from their sheaths. "waaaaaagh!" In an instant, the unorganized players issued a charge more frenzied than the orcs'' roar. "waaa..." "Smack!" "Smack!" Two subordinates carrying a wooden box and shouting to charge each received a slap on the head, turning their fervent cries into whimpers stuck in their throats. "Hmm?" "Boss?" The two looked at Ren Fengxing with teary eyes, filled with confusion. "Just because they charge, you charge?" Ren Fengxing glared at them, kicking the wooden box they were still carrying, "Go plant landmines!" "Right away, boss!" The two turned to leave but then turned back, "Boss, where should we plant them?" "Anywhere, find a place that''s not the main battlefield..." halfway through his sentence, Ren Fengxing paused, feeling he should be more explicit, and pointing to a spot he said, "See that? Bury them there! Open the switch once planted, and if things go south, I''ll lead the team to retreat in that direction." "Got it, boss!" ``` "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Gunfire had already erupted from the frontline battlefield. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The orcs knew players were following behind, and the players also knew that the orcs had long since discovered them, so they kept very close. When the decision to charge was made, it was only a moment after that the distance had been closed to within the firing range of the guns. Chaos, gunfights, ambushes, group battles. All the points that got players excited converged together, and those who initiated the charge were so exhilarated that they could hardly contain themselves. However, beneath their frenzied desire for battle, they had not lost their sanity to become beasts that knew only hand-to-hand combat. Only a fool would directly engage in a bayonet fight with the orcs, given their huge and robust figures. If they can shoot, they certainly wouldn''t get up close; it''s better to kite and take half their lives first! The players, spread out along the long frontline, surged forward like a tide, but they didn''t actually get too close except for a few fanatics keen on melee combat who charged right into the orcs'' faces, embarking on 1v1 fierce man-to-man battles. The settlement was not small, and orcs chasing and killing were widely scattered; moreover, their numbers were not that many. So, there were large areas of chaotic combat everywhere, and being in the midst of it, without a bird''s-eye view from above, no one knew whether it was humans or orcs who had the upper hand. Immersed in the chaos and bloodshed, Xu Ruoguang was not faint from the stench of blood filling his nostrils, for even if everything in this game world was incredibly realistic, and the blood splashing on his hands was so wet and sticky, he felt not the slightest discomfort. It was as if he had been born for this. "Huff! Huff!" The orcs'' heavy breathing filled his ears, under the rusted axes were the agonized cries of his kin. They had their own Hunting Team, and they too were armed with both melee and ranged weapons. But faced with these bulky, exotic fellas, the short guns and longswords in their hands seemed all too powerless. "Whoosh!" A flying axe spun through the air. The wind it stirred up tousled his hair. Xu Ruoguang''s eyes narrowed slightly, fully focused on the short axe flying toward a certain spot beside him. The rapidly spinning axe looking like a mini whirlwind, yet in his eyes, it appeared as if it were a frozen animation, playing frame by frame in slow motion; he seemed to be able to see directly the dark red scabs congealed from bloodstains on the blade... Everything in his peripheral vision slowed down, and the sounds seemed unable to break through the barrier of time and space to reach his ears... The world fell silent. Talented skill: Bullet Time. The target of this axe... was the uncle beside him. The man he had met on the day the game began... Xu Ruoguang turned his head quickly; the uncle seemed completely oblivious to the flying axe approaching from behind, his hands gripping a heavy Longsword as he attempted to cleave through an orc''s defense. He wanted to take him away... He won''t dodge this axe... The instantaneous judgment made Xu Ruoguang realize the uncle''s forthcoming fate¡ª the flying axe would pierce his heart, and his head would be chopped off by the orc in front of him. Turning his gaze back to the still slowly rotating axe before his eyes, Xu Ruoguang reached out his hand. Experience tales with empire He grabbed the handle precisely. The surging rotational force was transmitted from the axe to Xu Ruoguang''s hand at the moment of contact. The small axe, carrying a force strong enough to easily toss a person... Such strong power! Xu Ruoguang''s heart jolted, yet it was not completely unexpected. Bullet Time... only sped up his own movements and reactions. In interaction with other objects, one still had to follow the simplest principles of kinematics. He had paid the price in this aspect before... Before? What was he thinking about, all this nonsensical stuff? The moment he reached for the axe, Xu Ruoguang''s body had already synchronized with the movement. As he flipped and jumped, he tried to synchronize his body with the rotational rhythm of the axe. As long as he didn''t let go, the axe would carry his body. And then... change its direction! Just a touch of force... The balanced trajectory of such a flying object was actually quite easy to disrupt! Change... the stars! "Whoosh!" The flying axe changed course, reversing direction with the same force and flying back the way it came... ``` Chapter 274 260 Spiritual Power Enchantment ```xu ruoguang, propelled by the force of the axe, spun through the air four or five times before centrifugal force violently threw him to the ground with a heavy thud. the voices, transcending the barriers of time and space, squirmed into his ears once more, screams mixed with the sound of steel as he hit the ground. covering his right arm with his left hand, xu ruoguang struggled to his feet, feeling as though his arm had been torn apart by pain. of course, the pain was secondary; the nature of players made their perception of pain resemble an indescribable thrill. mainly, it wasn''t just his arm¡ªall the joints in his entire arm were limp and unable to exert any strength at that moment. "clang!" the clash of greatsword and axe rang out behind him; the uncle and the orc were trapped in battle, oblivious to what had happened behind them. "whizz whizz whizz whizz~" the axe returned with a terrifying whistle, and the orc leader who had thrown it while sparing a fraction of his attention to see if his attack was effective immediately noticed that his attack was returned as it came. watching the spinning axe return, his mind replayed the fleeting movement of the human from just moments before. "quite interesting." the orc leader grinned, aimed at the incoming axe, and reached out his hand¡­ "pfft!" the spinning axe, with its erratic trajectory, viciously sliced across his arm, raising a small spurt of green flesh and blood. he didn''t catch it¡­ "swoosh!" "pfft!" the relentless spinning axe struck another orc''s body. an orc, in pursuit of a villager but feeling an axe embedded in his backside, abruptly pulled out the "hidden weapon" and turned around with eyes full of rage looking for the source¡­ it was the boss, huh? then, it''s fine. withdrawing his gaze from the spinning axe, the orc leader turned to look at the human instead. he didn''t care about the minor wound on his arm; he was more curious about the human''s method of returning the attack. i reckon i can do it too¡­ "catch!" the orc leader bared his teeth with a wide grin, striding toward xu ruoguang, their gazes locking over the chaotic battlefield. as he passed an orc about to chop at a human woman with an axe, the orc leader booted him aside, "enough! don''t kill them all!" s§×ar?h the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. he was here to practice catching axes, not to use motionless dead humans as targets. he figured living targets would ensure a 100% hit rate¡ªwhat was the difference between dead ones and wooden dummies? seeing the exceptionally tall orc charging straight for him and realizing that his counterattack had drawn the attention, xu ruoguang, along with the uncle who was entangled with another orc, attempted to flee. "let''s go! uncle! move it!" gunshots rang out from outside the settlement, and some humans were still following behind the orcs¡­ although he didn''t know their exact situation, it was clear that in face of the orcs, everyone naturally became allies. so long as they didn''t die immediately, there was always a chance. "you won''t escape!" the uncle, unmoved, allowed himself to be pulled by xu ruoguang, his hand steadfast as if made of steel. he was fully focused on the orc in front of him, both sides seeking a chance to defeat the other, with no room for distraction. he was the finest warrior in this settlement, yet even against ordinary orc grunts, he couldn''t easily prevail. discover stories with empire aliens were aliens after all, their robust bodies their brazen capital for domination. "bang!" "bang!" he heard those gunshots too. but unless it was the great power of machine guns, sniper rifles, or a massive concentrated barrage, the damage to the orcs was also insufficient. only explosions and fire were the true bane of these aliens! in the absence of those, cold weapons in hand were the only hope for victory. "you go first, i''ll cover you," the uncle said in a stern voice, his gaze fixed on the orc in front of him without daring to be distracted for a moment. ``` "...okay!" watching the massive orc stride across the battlefield, heedless of all, xu ruoguang could only grit his teeth and turn to run. the other party was clearly after him, and if he stayed, he would only bring the danger from that hulking orc to uncle. run! escape outside! linking up with those humans who had come to support was the only way to survive! if those people dared to follow the orcs, they must have some confidence in dealing with them! ducking and weaving, xu ruoguang''s form was exceptionally slippery amidst the chaotic scene. his not fully unlocked talents couldn''t always be effective, but the occasional slowdown of his thoughts was enough to let him plan the best course of action while others couldn''t respond. the chaotic noise of the battlefield didn''t disrupt xu ruoguang''s hormonal balance¡ªhis vision remained clear, his brain sharp, processing all the information he gathered flawlessly. however... faced with almost simultaneous interceptions by two orcs, and the giant hand of the pursuer nearly grabbing the back of his neck, xu ruoguang had no choice but to hurl himself towards one of the interceptors, attempting to use their body for a last-second evasion. "bang!" the muffled sound, whether transmitted through bone or air, first erupted in his ears, then the shockwave through his back that went straight to his vital organs left xu ruoguang feeling like his insides had instantly turned to mush. a bitter, salty liquid was violently expelled from his mouth, but fortunately, the orc''s tremendous strength also sent his not-so-tall body flying a great distance. "glug glug glug..." like a rolling gourd, xu ruoguang''s body instantly rolled more than ten meters on the ground. [you have sustained 49 points of impact damage and have fallen into a critical injury state!] [warning: your internal organs are bleeding continuously, immediate rescue is needed!] "cough cough!" falling to the ground, xu ruoguang couldn''t pay attention to the alerts popping up on his panel, struggling to get up still. the unique mechanism of players meant he couldn''t feel much pain; the attack on his back was more of a relief than pain. but the severe blow to his body put him in an unsustainable state, his limp arms and legs unresponsive, slipping in place a couple of times before finally crashing down hard. "don''t be afraid." a cold and resolute voice came from above, and xu ruoguang squinted only to discover a red figure had, at some point, stood in front of him. long legs emerged from the slit of her skirt, and the woman took out her seemingly petite pistol from the black holster strapped to her thigh, aiming it in a certain direction. looking up from below, xu ruoguang felt as if divine light was shining through her shoulder-length silver hair into his eyes, too dazzling to look at directly. "you won''t get hurt again." the woman said so, and with her left hand, she pulled the trigger. "boom!" the petite silver pistol made a deafening sound like a hand cannon, and the orc hit by the bullet was blown away as if struck by a high-powered shotgun. spiritual energy artifacts, extraordinary. but it could only fire one shot in a short time... watching the two orcs¡ªone large and one small¡ªstriding towards her, the woman held a knife in one hand and drew it slowly through the crook of her left arm, the gray spiritual energy in her pupils burning to its peak as the abundant energy began to radiate a faint pressure. spiritual power enchantment! [spiritual power enchantment: strengthen your spiritual energy output with a specific action, enchanting your weapon with the protection of spiritual energy.] like ren fengxing, gu lan chose a completely different path of development for her guild. where ren fengxing secured two large boxes of land mines through the power of his organization, she... used the entire guild''s strength to forge herself. thorny guild always favored the high-end route of individual combatants, with all the members of the guild drawing salaries from the real world to serve every "leader" completely. in past games, outsiders preferred to call them... the thorn valkyries! noticing the faint scent of danger emanating from the human woman blocking his way, the orc chieftain pursuing them slowed to a halt. gazing at gu lan for roughly two seconds, the orc chieftain''s mouth curled into a grin, "me been waiting for you guys!" ``` Chapter 275 261 Are you the f***ing beast, huh? refining skills with the death of life, displaying one''s martial prowess in battle with other races to elevate one''s prestige within the clan.as long as companions believe that one is invincibly strong and trust in this, they can indeed become truly powerful. growing stronger and stronger... until one becomes the war boss of all orcs! every orc has this opportunity! every orc, even those at the lowest rank, has a channel through which they can gradually elevate themselves by following this path. their bodies can grow indefinitely; the larger their physique, the more formidable their strength becomes. big is good, big is powerful! whether they are consciously aware of this or not, many orcs will act on this instinctively. they never miss a chance to confront a formidable enemy! they never pass up an opportunity to display their martial might in front of their companions! this is their path to ascension! "waaaaaagh!" the orc leader suddenly roared, his fighting spirit brimming as he faced gu lan blocking his path. "waaaagh!" the leader''s war cry elicited passionate echoes from the battling orc youths all around, their response noisy, discordant, and fervent. almost visibly, a red glow adhered to each of the axe-wielding youths, enhancing their actions'' strength and speed even more. "i was just waiting for you cowards to come out and be squished!" the orc leader grinned widely, his smile somewhat simple and hearty. he had not been fighting at full strength, nor had he allowed his subordinates to slaughter wantonly, all for the purpose of... luring out these human youths who had been ghosting around sneakily behind them! now that they were up close, was there any chance of escape? s§×ar?h the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. gu lan snorted coldly, showing no intention of responding. the so-called thorns path... it was about seeking everything undefeatable, challenging all that was unchallengeable, embarking on a thorn-filled path that no one had ever trodden before! they were a group of incredibly bored young ladies from rich families! after having enough of their carefree days, they had to find some excitement! the single-edged longsword slashed through the air, cutting through a drifting spark. "clang!" the clash between the longsword and axe, the first strike was evenly matched. as a "magic swordsman", physical and spiritual energy are two absolute attributes that need to be developed in parallel. the enhancement from spiritual energy made her seemingly slender blade appear indestructible, and in a pure contest of strength, she did not fall far behind. moreover, the lightness of her weapon allowed her form to be more agile; the blade touched and withdrew, then swept toward another orc who seemed a bit "frailer" in comparison. "frail" was relative; the orc leader was almost twice her height, and even this "frailer" one was a good twenty or thirty centimeters taller than her. but with the enhancement of spiritual energy, the gap in strength was nowhere as apparent as the difference in stature. the single-edged longsword easily broke through the frail orc''s defenses, slicing away a large chunk of green flesh from its shoulder. gu lan, with her level 4 expertise in light weaponry, was equally skilled in technique. lying on the ground, xu ruoguang glanced at the silhouette of the woman in red who had come to help, with a strange look in his eyes. who... are they? why does their use of spiritual energy seem so primitive? "..." xu ruoguang suddenly froze. primitive? how could i, a person without spiritual energy, consider others'' use of it primitive? the mind must be going haywire. [your internal organs are continuously bleeding, health -1.] [your internal organs are continuously bleeding, health -1.] [warning: your internal organs are continuously bleeding, urgent rescue needed!] am i going to die? is this the end of my first life in the game? i don''t want to die... even if it''s just a game. i instinctively feel that i shouldn''t die too much in this game, not because i''m worried about falling behind in progress, not because i fear my accumulations since entering the game will be lost. it''s just... i simply cannot die too often. it feels like something bad will happen, although what that is... i don''t know! so, who... who can save me? "clatter clatter clatter~" amid the chaos of the battlefield, the sound of trinkets and a metal box colliding rang out clearly to xu ruoguang''s ears as a girl in wasteland hip-hop style approached from a distance, running towards him. upon arriving, the girl opened the metal box while soothingly telling him, "it''s okay... it''s okay... you won''t have any problems, don''t worry." the girl''s hands seemed to possess a miraculous power, easily halting the internal bleeding in his body. feeling the easing of his injuries, xu ruoguang looked dazed. who... are these people? they are so powerful... are they also players? "rua!" the scrawny orc knew better than to mess with the sword-wielding human woman, mainly because she was the prey their leader had set his sights on. so, he turned his attention to gong yan who was in the middle of a rescue operation. carrying a mallet, he had just approached when he was suddenly sent flying by an immense force. on the ground, kuang xin roared like a madman. the more chaotic the scene, the more exhilarated he felt. ever since fighting in that arena for over a dozen rounds, he had completely let loose of himself in the game. the repelled scrawny orc, also fearless, charged back in with his mallet, and kuang xin, wielding a heavy axe, didn''t even know the meaning of the word ''fear''. faced with these green-skinned monsters, he couldn''t wait to tear them limb from limb, if only to reclaim his beautiful fantasy of orc sisters. "swoosh~" "clang clang clang!" "boom!" amidst the endless chaotic noises, xu ruoguang, lying on the ground unable to move, felt his heart race and feared being caught in the crossfire. however, each time his gaze swept over the eyes of the woman who seemed to be focusing on treating his wounds, all the panic vanished. her hands were so steady... "all right, you''re good to go," gong yan, who had been squatting, straightened up and let out a breath as if to relax. as time trickled by deceptively, xu ruoguang was surprised to find his mobility returning, "huh? am i okay now?" he tried to get up and felt a faint warm current surging in his chest. "you''re okay..." gong yan, subconsciously wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, smiled gently at xu ruoguang, "but you still can''t exert yourself too much. leave this place to us." as she spoke, a green figure was sent flying behind her. following closely was a burly man holding a massive axe, letting out unintelligible roars as he chased after and hacked away. "pfffcht!" "pfffcht!" the sound of the axe cleaving flesh followed one after another, green blood and flesh soared into the air, fires flickered in the distance, and all seemed to become the backdrop for the smiling girl. xu ruoguang watched, somewhat dazed... this scene... was indeed impactful. "bang!" the loud explosion behind him and the sound of a body sliding across the ground snapped the dazed xu ruoguang out of his trance. gu lan, kicked in the abdomen, slid across the ground towards him; her once brightly colored red dress was now tattered and worn, revealing her legs stained with dark soot. it had a certain wild beauty. "cough!" the dignified woman suddenly spat out a mouthful of surging stomach acid and propped herself up with her longsword, intending to stand. "if you''re okay, get out of here fast; this guy''s tough to deal with," she said to gong yan and xu ruoguang. this was the first formidable opponent she''d encountered since entering the game. read exclusive chapters at empire surging battle will empowered gu lan''s sword, and her body thrummed with such excitement that it trembled. maybe it was actually trembling. a player''s body wouldn''t be impaired by pain, but apparently the system simulated the physical feedback realistically; several strong clashes caused her sword-wielding right hand to tremble imperceptibly. watching the mountain-like figure approach, gu lan''s eyes sharpened, ready to fight to the death. just like the muscle-bound gorilla had said at the beginning of the battle¡ª it''s just a game! if you don''t dare to fight in a game, when will you ever dare to fight? [you have strengthened your combat strength in a battle beyond your limits. spiritual energy maximum +1.] "..." the longsword sensed gu lan''s will and hummed softly under the enhancement of spiritual energy. as the heavy axe was brought down on her, gu lan moved to dodge. at that moment, another figure charged in at an angle, his equally heavy axe colliding head-on with the opponent. "clang!" the dull sound of the collision echoed, and the voice of a certain muscle-bound gorilla boomed enthusiastically. "rua!" watching the figure that had suddenly appeared in front of her, the once seemingly goofy silhouette now looked incredibly solid and dependable. "step back, don''t get in the way of a man''s fight!" without looking back, kuang xin exploded with remarkable strength in his hands, lifting the orc chieftain''s massive axe. with the help of the advanced physical training program 3.0, his physical fitness was gradually approaching the critical point of 15, not to mention that his innate talent, brute physique, had long been unlocked through various heavy physical activities and battles. the talent that gave him a +3 bonus to direct physical performance meant he was almost unbeatable in contests of pure strength. "you''re the damn orc here, huh!" Chapter 276 262 Bracing against strong wind (Third watch of the night) the battle unfolded before gu lan''s eyes.the fight between the handsome orangutan and the beastman leader was as wild as two real beastmen going at it. both possessed immense strength and unmatched swiftness. having been the beastman''s opponent herself, she understood the beastman''s power better than anyone else. a brief standoff was manageable, but any longer and she would be no match, especially since she couldn''t see any sign of weakness in the beastman as the fight went on. like its colossal stature, its stamina was far beyond her own. of course, beastmen were of a different race, with attributes hard to estimate. but what about this handsome great ape? also a player, their demonstrated strength and speed even surpassed her own enhanced by "spiritual energy," not to mention his reflexes and skills were on par with hers, honed since the start of the game. she had the backing of an entire guild. the entire guild''s resources were focused on her, to create the gear and strength she now possessed. but now... a player she had scarcely seen before was capable of standing toe to toe with the beastman, whom she couldn''t defeat? strong, fast, with quick reflexes and adequate skills, yet not quite as exquisite in martial arts as what he showed. there was nothing particularly outstanding, but his combined abilities allowed him to stand up to the beastman leader without falling behind. what force had nurtured such an expert? watching the agile figure of the handsome orangutan, awe flickered in gu lan''s eyes. "let me treat your wounds¡­" gong yan had approached gu lan at some point, her eyes on gu lan''s injuries. black ash stained the red skirt at the abdomen where the beastman''s kick had landed, the torn fabric revealing the sculpted ab lines beneath. only now did gu lan have a chance to notice the other things around her¡­ "you¡­ you''re alright?" gu lan''s gaze sharpened upon seeing the handsome young man, unsure if an npc or a player, obediently following gong yan. just earlier, this kid was getting beaten as if he was hanging by a thread under the beastman''s chase and now¡­ her guild didn''t lack members who had learned medical techniques, but none could perform the miracle of healing quite like this. in this world, all knowledge had thresholds, and acquiring such abilities was hardly achievable through the channels she had seen so far. s§×arch* the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the importance of a "healer" to a team was clear to anyone who''d played games. this mysterious trio that had emerged from nowhere... impressive. but could they also treat injuries caused by shock and muscle strain? she had no visible cuts or internal bleeding, just a reduction in combat effectiveness due to muscle fatigue. "is it possible?" her mature voice was straightforward. gong yan smiled gently, "of course, trust me." "then go ahead, what should i do?" "nothing at all, just relax." gong yan took a bottle of orange-yellow essential oil from her medicine kit, warmed it in her hands, and then gently applied it to gu lan''s body. the seemingly simple massage brought a warm flow from her palms to the touch points. like rain nourishing cracked soil, the sore and tired muscles soon recovered to normal under the nourishing power of the mysterious force. "..." feeling the real changes in her body, gu lan''s eyes widened, slightly dazed. could she snatch away this healer! "the power you just used, was that spiritual energy?" xu ruoguang, who stood nearby, couldn''t contain his curiosity and, seeking to confirm his hunch, asked out loud. "hmm?" gu lan opened her eyes from the blissful warmth and looked towards the handsome young man following the healer. "what, do you also have spiritual energy?" xu ruoguang felt a bit shy under the gaze of the goddess and waved his hands quickly, "no, i can''t¡­ but i feel like the way you used it just now was a bit crude." "oh?" gu lan''s eyes brightened. she didn''t know if the handsome young man in front of her was a player or an npc until he revealed himself. if he was a player, he might have access to channels unknown to her; if an npc, even more likely to possess the knowledge about spiritual energy she desperately needed. she certainly knew her approach wasn''t advanced. currently, she only had two ways of using it¡ªone was to amplify her own three-dimensional attribute performance, the other was to enhance the texture of the weapon she held. these two techniques, one an instinct that came with the awakening of spiritual energy and the other a superficial technique learned after a quest. high-end techniques for using spiritual energy were something she needed more than anyone. "what do you suggest?" "energy shouldn''t be held for long. you should learn to control it¡­ like breathing. there should be rhythm, peaks and troughs, so you can exert greater strength when needed, and not waste too much will during downtime." spiritual energy itself was a force governed by will. it stemmed from the soul and was granted by the will. [special information (unidentified): breath of spirits.] "..." gu lan stared at xu ruoguang, her eyes full of questions¡ªwhat next? xu ruoguang looked back blankly¡ªthat''s all i''ve got. seeing that xu ruoguang had no further explanation, gu lan couldn''t help but take the initiative to ask, "is that it?" "that''s it..." are you expecting me to learn some technique of using spiritual energy from just that one sentence? ??? gu lan rolled her eyes and turned to look at kuang xin, who was tangled in battle with the orc leader. although this handsome gorilla could maintain an undefeated stance in front of the orc leader, he also had no way to defeat the opponent. most of the attacks he made were blocked, and the few that did hit the body seemed to have no effect on the thick-skinned orc... the most terrifying wound on this orc leader''s body was still the gash on his arm from the flying axe in the early stages of the fight. this was the handiwork of that handsome young man behind her, and had she not seen that moment from afar, she would not have been drawn to it amid the chaotic battlefield. and obviously, whether it was the efforts of the handsome young man or their current attacks, the effects were limited; perhaps... only the through and through wound on his shoulder was the opponent''s weak spot. stay tuned with empire we need to find a way to target that... "i''ve got your back!" a brisk voice rang out behind kuang xin. thorn valkyrie''s axe and sword together blocked the orc leader''s descending blow, their bodies pressed closely, as gu lan turned her cheek to whisper to kuang xin, "pay attention to that wound on his shoulder¡ªfind a chance to hit it there!" kuang xin nodded silently in acknowledgment. the presence of that steamy, rosy face so close at hand might easily have led one''s thoughts astray on any other day, but right now it did nothing to distract kuang xin. on the chaotic battlefield, instincts easily triggered, this trait not only significantly enhanced his reflexes and insight during combat but was crucial in allowing him to focus entirely on everything happening around him, pondering only on how to take down his opponent. with a burst of force, kuang xin shoved the orc''s massive axe aside and quickly said, "i''ll take the lead, you wait for the chance!" this kind of decisive leadership undoubtedly made him especially charismatic at that moment and gu lan easily disengaged. perhaps her strength, even her speed, weren''t a match for kuang xin''s, but the advantage was in her lightweight weapon. a weapon sheathed in spiritual energy was hard to destroy and could also bring out the speed and agility of a light weapon. for her to look for opportunities to attack the weakness was perfectly reasonable. the two top combatants among the current players separating to attack the orc leader from different directions undoubtedly made it difficult for him, who was still in the midst of growth. but this slightly pressuring battle was exactly what he craved and sought, excitedly roaring out, "waaaaagh!" the deep battle spirit in his voice momentarily caused his body to swell, his momentum increasing even further. this intense bravery spread like a tide, easily enveloping every orc who heard the sound. the aura of rage inspired every orc child, and in an instant, all the cleaver boys'' actions became more ferocious as well. "damn it! tough bastards!" ren fengxing wasn''t directly involved in the front-line battle; he was different from those thorn valkyries. he saw himself more as a commander. he needed to stay calm enough to oversee the whole situation. at that moment, he had found a wooden watchtower to observe the entire scene, and in just a short period of combat, he easily recognized a fact¡ª the players'' bullets were evidently not very effective against those thick-skinned orcs. this was almost all the players'' first time facing orcs, and they hadn''t anticipated bullets failing to penetrate their defenses... to say their defenses weren''t penetrated wasn''t quite accurate; apart from a few homemade pistols, most rifles and shotguns could easily break through, but they couldn''t inflict damage. an orc sprayed in the face by a shotgun acted as if the bullets lodged inside his body were nothing, grabbed a player in front of him with his thick hand, and tore off an entire arm with one bite. although the player who had their arm torn off was still marveling at this special experience in the game, happily running around and flaunting it, it did not change the fact that, with the players'' strength, it was difficult to win. not afraid of bullets... or rather, not afraid of the current level of firepower of hot weapons. those wielding swords and fighting in close combat seemed to have more of an advantage, but it was limited. first, the number of such players was limited; in a game that felt like a trip back in time, which player wasn''t a lurking behind-the-scenes player? if you can hit someone from the shadows, why charge face-first? secondly, even those fond of melee combat, given the current strength of the players, were unlikely to gain the upper hand against a common orc. the physique and body structure of the orcs also made them entirely dismissive of the players'' sneaky tricks. no matter how skilled in infighting, when facing a different species, strength was what ultimately mattered. this slight realization dawned on him, and ren fengxing noted the experience learned from this chaotic battle. in an instant, he raised the horn in his hand, "brothers, code red! retreat!" Chapter 277 263 Phantom... Phantom Sword Dance? "we need to go first," gong yan said as she grabbed xu ruoguang, ready to leave with him.the shapes of the beastmen rampaged in every direction, and this area might have been designated as a hunting ground by the beastmen leader, deterring other beastmen from approaching for the moment. however, the danger would surely increase over time. she trusted kuang xin would fight to the death to protect her, but human strength has its limits, and there are many things one wishes to do but cannot. "you''re going to retreat?" xu ruoguang asked, shaking off gong yan''s hand with some difficulty accepting it. "what are you doing?" gong yan asked with an urgent tone but without panic. "them!" xu ruoguang pointed at the natives who were still suffering casualties at any moment under the chase of the beastmen, "they''re all good people!" good people shouldn''t have to suffer like this! xu ruoguang, who had grown up in this settlement, had interactions with almost every person here. everyone was good! maybe some were outspoken, maybe some had quick tempers, but regardless, everyone was the only support for each other... in this desperate world. moreover, he never saw himself as a player, nor did he dwell on the differences between natives and players; the distinction never seemed to exist to him since he entered the game. they are all humans! all purebred humans! they don''t deserve to die. "you guys go," xu ruoguang said as he pushed gong yan away, not expecting anyone else to help with what he had decided to do, "just, can i borrow your sword for a bit?" "sword?" gong yan was taken aback, looking down at her waist. gong yan, who had learned some swordsmanship from the lady of the arbitration place, had some ability to defend herself, which was why she dared to step onto the chaotic frontline. "no problem," gong yan agreed immediately, removing the sheathed longsword from her waist, "feel free to use it, and it doesn''t matter if it breaks." a person skilled in martial arts naturally needed a suitable weapon to match; the longsword was made of ordinary iron and was not a divine weapon. xu ruoguang held the sword''s scabbard tightly, "if the sword breaks, i''ll compensate you for it." having said that, he turned and left. he had impulsive desires, he had the desire to fight. seeing and hearing fellow humans suffer under the attack of an alien race, a boundless rage burned coldly in his heart, and it was under the roaring will that some fighting "instincts" kept surging uncontrollably from the depths of his memory. the longsword in his hand seemed to naturally begin to conform to the structure of his palm. as his gaze swept over the beastmen, he saw their vulnerabilities clearly revealed... at this moment, it was time for the longsword to leave its scabbard! xu ruoguang''s figure moved swiftly through the battlefield, vanishing behind the corners of the huts in the blink of an eye. "let''s go!" gu lan and kuang xin, who also heard ren fengxing''s voice, began to retreat while fighting. the strategy the two had planned was ready to execute, but they first had to see if the beastmen leader would agree. with a size nearly double that of a human, gu lan found it difficult to reach the wound even when jumping, clearly unable to inflict serious damage immediately. and they all knew ren fengxing''s trump card; the feigned retreat now was surely intended to lure the beastmen into the minefield. when a more effortless way existed, no one was foolish enough to ignore it. the scene was chaotic. the players'' retreat naturally tempted some stubborn-headed beastmen to pursue the victory, while many others were busy capturing the scrambling natives of the settlement. against two human beings working together, the beastmen leader didn''t have much of an advantage. as he watched their retreating figures, the beastmen leader reached to the side, and two relatively small hand axes were passed to his hands. "whoosh!" "whoosh!" after two thrown axes, more followed. a slightly advantageous side view gave a glimpse of a row of other beastmen preparing to throw, now hidden behind the bulk of the beastmen leader''s body. a wave of spinning axes, issuing death calls, struck at the backs of the fleeing players. "thud! thud! thud!" a series of sounds of axes sinking into flesh arose amongst the disorderly fleeing crowd, with players falling and cursing loudly as they hit the ground. the beastmen quickly followed up, striking down those who tried to crawl away after falling. "slash! slash! slash!" flesh was torn and blood splattered. there were only a few screams, though. "stubborn humans!" the beastmen leader pursed his lips and gestured towards the fleeing players, "chase them!" they didn''t particularly enjoy one-sided battles, but the pursuit of prey also brought them genuine excitement. the beastmen had few aspirations in this world; finding pleasures that could excite them was their only mission. the only thing that troubled him was that those hairless monkeys nearly all looked the same to him, sometimes distinguishable by the distinctly colored clothes they wore¡ªlike a stroke of pure white in a sea of black, a stroke of bright red against green... but if everyone wore the same style and color of clothes, he had no way to tell who was who. or, like now, the garish colors everywhere gave his brain a proper freeze. he had just locked onto two figures, but after a few crisscrossing sprints, he had no idea where they went... "tui!" the beastman leader, disgusted, spat out a thick loogie. ... "hurry, hurry, hurry!" s§×ar?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ren fengxing, who had reached the chosen minefield early, stood on a tall rock and frantically waved his hands at everyone. he also saw the last players caught and hacked to death. but it didn''t matter, it was just a three-day gift package. furthermore, players reborn in the game would not change their approximate spawn point and might even experience subtle changes in their identity and surroundings with each respawn; dying and then refreshing their identity was a method his guild used to explore the content of the game. as for people not from his own guild... what did their deaths have to do with him? watching as the pursuing orcs step by step entered the minefield he had laid out, ren fengxing uncommonly gripped the black remote in his hand, his thumb gently brushing over the trigger button again and again, his heart filled with anxious unrest. this kind of "real" game''s landmines were unfamiliar to him, and he had no idea what the blast would look like. nor did he know whose kill experience would count... and could it be a bit faster! dilly-dallying had scattered the pursuing orcs! "the npcs are running out too!" "boss, look over there!" standing behind a rugged and uneven boulder at a slightly lower vantage point, two of ren fengxing''s mine-laying subordinates suddenly pointed in a direction and yelled. the chaotic native troop fled clumsily, gathering into a somewhat substantial force of resistance behind a young swordsman leading them. in addition to the orcs chasing players, most of the other orcs followed the npc troop. and those orcs who had been chasing players also noticed the human escape squad running out from the side, turning their heads to intercept. blocked in front and chased from behind. those npcs probably couldn''t escape. "they''ve been diverted, boss!" "they''re not running toward the minefield anymore, boss!" "i fucking see it, boss!" ren fengxing''s hand abruptly left the remote. a landmine can only explode once, naturally, he had to lure as many orcs as possible into the minefield to catch them all at once! he faced two choices¡ª either he could watch all those natives get slaughtered by the orcs and wait for them to turn their attention back to chase him and his people. or... save them. save the npcs and at the same time guide them to evacuate to the minefield, enticing all the orcs to give chase. neither choice had a distinction of right or wrong, good or bad, but simply a matter of efficiency. after all, regardless of the choice, he first had to entangle with those ten or so bloodthirsty orcs still tangled up with the players. save or watch them die? the decision swung rapidly in ren fengxing''s mind. and this sudden turn of events was clearly noticed by many players who had escaped to the rear or still had spare strength. concern for those npcs rose instantly in the hearts of many players. ... "uncle zeta, you take people to watch the left, ms. zeli, you all cover the right flank; tell those behind to speed up and take care of yourselves¡ªno one can look out for anyone else at this time. everyone, prepare for the final sprint!" "alright! guang! we''re all listening to you!" the natives following xu ruoguang affirmed with conviction. despite the fact that the intercepting orcs had ghastly green faces and looked ferocious, why shouldn''t they believe guang, the young fellow who had only joined the settlement for a few days but was willing to take the lead in the charge? watching those orcs wielding various heavy weapons coming to intercept, xu ruoguang''s world slowed down... slower and slower. slow enough to see clearly each rise and fall of the orcs'' chests as they breathed, and the blood-stained human skin on the raised spike hammers... bullet time! when needed, it appeared. when believed in, it appeared. everything in this world was connected with will, highly concentrated in the moment of combat, will as solid as a rock; everything was possible to create miracles. believe... the power of belief! "with me as the spearhead!" xu ruoguang raised his longsword high, broke away alone from the group, and accelerated towards the dozen or so orcs surging forward. his vibrant voice echoed above the battlefield, "charge with all your might!" "kill!" a phantom dashed through the crisscrossing formation of orcs in the blink of an eye. the sharp edge of the sword effortlessly slashed open the orcs'' weapon-holding wrists. "swish!" nearly in an instant, those heavy weapons, losing the support of wrists, moved forward an inch due to inertia and then plummeted to the ground. completely trusting xu ruoguang, the native troop surged forward, pushing through the slightly stupefied intercepting orcs affected by the unexpected blow. "huff! huff!" the exhausted xu ruoguang appeared behind the intercepting orcs, kneeling on one knee with his longsword planted on the ground, gasping for breath. strength drained, reserve of movement energy depleted. for him at this stage, bursting out such an intense move was still somewhat forced... find more chapters on empire "bang!" the longsword supporting his body also instantly shattered under this heavy load, fragmented metal pieces scattering in the air, falling chaotically and reflecting the sunlight in occasionally blinding flashes. the sword... had broken. the players who witnessed this moment collectively froze. "pha-phanto... phantom sword dance!" a player pointed in that direction, his lips trembling. "bullshit! it''s clearly an alpha assault!" "it was a phantom sword dance, definitely a phantom sword dance!" "so cool!" "damn it! hurry up and save him!" whether he was an npc or a player, saving him was the first priority if there was any chance of learning this cool, explosive skill. compared to surviving, showing off was the foremost affair in playing games. "charge!" "let''s go!" Chapter 278 264 Explosion! with a goal in mind, the previously nebulous idea of fighting for that one quest slot became a much more tangible pursuit.only one person could be the lucky recipient of the quest, but the skill could be learned by many. "cover them!" ren fengxing ordered through the megaphone. he needed to let the indigenous people know who was really in charge among the players. the natives had already demonstrated their strength and effort; what might follow could be the players'' choice. he had been in this game for some time, but his thought process from past games still affected his strategy to some extent. many game plots only unfolded when players arrived. and the choices players made at crossroads would affect all subsequent quests or the progression of the storyline. perhaps these ordinary humans at this wilderness settlement were a special storyline triggered by the players themselves. and each special story point like this one could be hiding an exclusive reward¡ª treasures? skills? quest chains? who knows? the higher the invisible performance score, the more likely it was to be obtained. who would''ve thought that this quest for the prize pool was hiding such hidden plots? truly an unexpected pleasure. ren fengxing suppressed his excitement and jumped down from the large rock. having decided to curry favor, he naturally had to put on a performance. he reached out to the side and said, "give me a gun!" s§×ar?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the gun didn''t have enough firepower to pose a lethal threat to the orcs, but the kinetic energy of the bullets could still impact them to some extent. most importantly, it was loud. after breaking through the interception of a dozen or so orcs, there were no more obstacles between the players and the natives. however, the pursuing orcs didn''t stop. xu ruoguang''s explosive performance might look cool to players, but to the orcs, it was just flashy and superficial. unless he could use it to continuously hack them to pieces, the wounds made by the longsword were insignificant to them. the orcs, whose wrists were severed by the longsword, paused briefly before realizing their hands were gone. the command from their will was transmitted through fungi; the "omnipotent" substance bubbled in the mushroom broth in their chest cavity and instantly began flowing from their "veins" toward the wound. at a pace visible to the naked eye, new flesh sprouted from the severed palms...and kept wriggling and growing until the hands were whole again. ren fengxing, witnessing all this in the vastness, couldn''t help but curse, "fuck!" these orcs were just too freaking absurd! it was hard to imagine how people of this world managed to survive to this day in a world dominated by such monsters. "bang!" ren fengxing fired the gun in his hand, knocking back a slightly slenderer orc. setting down the gun, ren fengxing caught xu ruoguang, who was carried by other natives. he smiled warmly at the somewhat handsome young man, his voice firm and steady, "don''t worry, you''re safe now." without looking back, he waved his hand to the players behind him and commanded, "take them to the rear safe zone. leave the rest to us." as if it were a gentle breeze and passing clouds. players like kuang xin and gu lan, skilled in close combat, stood behind the retreating natives, forming a protective wall for these unlucky ordinary people. "huh~" "huh~" two hot breaths spewed from the nostrils of the orc leader, his heart for brutal slaughter stirring restlessly as he looked at all the humans gathered together. think you can escape? today, not a single one will get away! the larger the stage with more people, the better the opportunity to showcase his bravery. lifting his bloodstained axe, the orc leader roared to the sky, "waaaaaagh!" experience new tales on empire around forty or fifty orcs also spread their arms and howled, "waaaaagh!" "boom! boom!" with each heavy step the orc leader took when charging, the ground shook violently. "retreat! retreat!" seeing all the natives retreat to the back, ren fengxing raised the megaphone, directing everyone on the field as the battle line between players and orcs was stretched just right. players turned and ran with no bottom line, their undisciplined flight making the retreat seem like a real rout, not a calculated entrapment. even those with some tactical sense would find it hard, in the hurry, to see through the players'' real performance, let alone these orcs who were more brawn than brains, thinking only of fighting. "waaaagh!" the roar from behind made the last player to run feel terrified. "don''t bite my ass!" a large hand gripped the back of his neck, and before he could react, he was flung away by an immense force. having issued the order and retreated to the safe zone, ren fengxing stood on a rock silently watching his "prey" ensnared. "almost there... almost there..." there were still a few players bringing up the rear not completely out of the danger zone, but if they delayed any longer, the orc main force would leave the area of maximum explosive impact. some orcs hadn''t fully entered the core explosion area either, but the few survivors after the blast would not be a match for the six or seventy players remaining on site. this battle, it''s in the bag! ren fengxing gripped the remote controller tightly and suddenly pressed the red button! "beep~" "beep~" a series of faint electronic trigger sounds arose from underground simultaneously, with dim red lights flashing in the darkness, trying to break through the soil barrier and see the daylight again. "beep! beep! beep!" rapid warning tones almost went off within a second, and the next moment... a surge of exploding flames filled everyone''s vision... "boom boom boom boom boom boom!" more than a dozen mines went off in near unison across the minefield, their explosions melding into one continuous roar. the intense flame, like an incandescent lamp, almost blinded every watching player in that instant. the wave of heat followed the earth-shattering explosion, blowing directly in their faces. players and natives alike, who hadn''t prepared to stabilize themselves, staggered under the blast of heat, filled with inner turmoil. even in the game, where death wasn''t a reality, such an explosion could easily instill fear. "are they dead?" ren fengxing, who had made thorough preparations, took off the magic glasses from his face and squinted towards the center of the slowly fading explosion. the gigantic orc chieftain at the center of the blast would undoubtedly be the best news for them if he were directly killed. the dark shadows emerged gradually from the flickering flames, their flesh charred, as the orc chieftain loosely released his grip on the great axe, dropping it heavily to the ground. he reached for his chest, peeling off the charred layer like a rigid garment forcibly stripped from flesh and blood. "waaaaaaagh!" the same cry now carried a tinge of sorrow. "crack~" "crack~" crisp sounds one after another, as many orcs regained their movement from the smoky center of the explosion. imitating their leader, they stripped off the burnt "shell", revealing a structure beneath that looked like a mix of fungi entwined with muscles and blood vessels. the brutally bloody scene made many less hardened players shiver, feeling as if their own skin had been peeled off... fortunately, it was green, or it wouldn''t have passed the censor. except for the few unlucky orcs whose bodies were torn apart by the blast wave, this group of orcs... suffered almost no deaths. "they... aren''t dead?" everyone still had hope during the recent retreat, as all knew there was an ace up their sleeve. but now, the ace was played, and the enemy had survived unharmed. the fleeting sense of helplessness against the orcs surged, and many players already felt like retreating. "is nobody there yet?" "the mission didn''t say we had to kill these orcs. just grab the stuff and run..." the players split into two groups. killing the orcs was to vent the players'' desire to fight, but the real goal was the other group sent to seize the "human creations". only, it was uncertain... if they had succeeded. "hasn''t anyone told you, to deal with us, you need to chop us up and then burn us?" the orc chieftain''s right hand, a blurred mass of flesh constructed from fungi, recoiled and grasped the giant axe stuck in the ground. the heat rolling up the axe handle couldn''t cause him the slightest discomfort; instead, it triggered his violent urge to vent. injured, vent. a fight where forces are evenly matched. this is what orcs loved the most! even their methods weren''t so evenly matched... "waaaaagh!" "tatatatatata!" like the sound of a tractor, a vehicle approached slowly from the distance. dai lian rolled down the window, stuck out his head with a peculiar look, and said to everyone, "why are you all standing there? run!" atop the car, they mounted a large, irregular piece of silvery metallic artifact. that was the target of all the players who had taken on the prize pool mission! "we got it!" "let''s skedaddle!" the loot was secured, and now it was up to each individual''s skill. the alliance among players was only until the loot was secured. on the way back to return the mission target, it was everyone for themselves. not good at dealing with other races, but surely they had tricks for their own kind? only the orc chieftain looked oddly at the slow-moving vehicle dragging a large object. ''that car... looks somewhat familiar?'' Chapter 279 265 Rebellion that familiar paint job...those familiar teeth... that familiar moon pattern... wasn''t that tm painted by himself? there''s a thief! oh no, wait... my car was stolen a while back! it was a group of humans. many people. of course, it was mainly those dressed in black... including one with a bow and arrow. the injury on his shoulder was left by that hairless monkey, he remembered it profoundly, the only regret being unable to recall his face. after all, humans all seemed to look the same... thinking of that human with the bow and arrow, the orc leader felt a twinge of pain at his own shoulder wound. even though he did not possess the sense of pain, he still felt the sharpness of a threat. was that hairless monkey here? but it seemed there was no one in those black clothes? "waaaaaagh!" seeing his property reappear before his eyes, the orc leader charged forward as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood. orcs were tall and robust, with powerful legs. they may not have been as agile in changing directions or reflexes compared to humans, but in a straight sprint, their size was an advantage. many of the scattering players were easily caught up to. "save me, save me, save meeee!" "don''t you tm drag me down!" "i don''t care, if i can''t live, neither will you! stop playing!" gu lan was running with one hand on the hilt of his sword, looking back at the individual players falling behind under the pursuit of the orcs, feeling somewhat reluctant, "let''s turn back and fight!" mere running would only lead to their defeat one by one, the so-called running faster than your teammates only worked on beasts that hunted to satisfy their hunger. these orcs, although equally feral, hunted for more than just satisfying their hunger. the road back to the city was still far away, after all, it had taken them nearly an entire day to get there, and such a long pursuit distance was enough for the orcs trailing behind to completely devour everyone. unless these orcs were utterly defeated, no one could leave! ren fengxing''s gaze was conflicted, his lack of knowledge in the game made him less confident in his judgments. the fact that mines were not very useful against these orcs was something he hadn''t anticipated at all! and to think those npcs had sworn those mines would ''blow their ancestors'' graves sky-high''. perhaps it was because of the shockwave mines? tm, a shrapnel mine might have been more effective. as for now, he knew that running away was just a slow death. but the fact that his own men were in the lead was the core reason he hesitated... even if it comes to death, his own people would be the last to die. often, when things haven''t turned for the worst, few people seriously consider the worst-case scenario as a reality to confront. gu lan''s words had intensified the gloom he had also considered deep inside. ren fengxing, who had been running at full speed, suddenly stopped, raised the megaphone in his hand, and stood amidst the crowd fleeing rearward, "tm! stop running! turn back and fight!" no one paid him any attention. solo players didn''t have that much thought, ''every man for himself, full belly for the family'', finding an opportunity to break away from the main group and dart in any direction, surely those orcs wouldn''t abandon the pursuit of the larger group for just one or two humans. there was strength in numbers, and flexibility when fewer. "tm these dumbasses!" ren fengxing stood in place, shaking with fury, but fortunately, he still had a clear head, "you tm think about it! if we die, who''s going to secure the mission objective? even if you run, it''s just a wasted effort!" some footsteps hesitantly paused. their brains, began to turn. "and these... refugees! if they die, where will you go to learn skills? running for nothing, what''s the difference between that and being dead?" some of the players ahead gradually stopped and turned back to observe the reactions of others beside and behind them, only to see that everyone was doing the same. ren fengxing seized on this, striking while the iron was hot, "i, ren fengxing, am putting my words down here today¡ªanyone who doesn''t leave now, regardless of whether the mission is successful or not, whether we can make it back alive or not, you can come to me for a cash reward afterwards! a thousand bucks! a man''s word is his bond! you can go ask around about the reputation of black hole if you didn''t know about us before. if i go back on my word, you can bash me all over the internet!" "tm, if you''d said this earlier, would i not have fought with you?" a player suddenly drew his knife, "i just thought your guild was always dilly-dallying tm like a bunch of girls! i don''t want the money, i''m with you in this fight!" "who tm do you think you''re insulting?" a feisty female player couldn''t stand it, "what''s wrong with being a girl? weren''t you raised by a woman? tm count me in today, i''ll show you what a woman can do." "if it''s death that awaits, so be it, it''s just three days! i''m in with you guys!" with some brave warriors taking the lead, even players who had their own little schemes stopped in their tracks. whether they valued the thousand dollars, the rewards within the game... or perhaps they thought ren fengxing made some sense, under the sway of the crowd, they finally unified their front. and then... the rout stopped as abruptly as it had started. ren fengxing felt a surge of joy and continued to share his thoughts, "they may not be completely unscathed either, i refuse to believe they are immortal. there''s got to be a limit to their recovery. pay attention to the varying degrees of wounds on them. we have a chance!" s~ea??h the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the fact that the orcs were healing at different rates was ironclad evidence; he had realized this earlier, but it was pointless to mention it when the players were unwilling to fight back. but to speak of it now... that was the turning point for the counterattack. enjoy new stories from empire the orc leader, in the midst of a frenzied pursuit, halted, squinting his eyes in confusion. based on his past experiences, these weak, hairless human monkeys could never regroup and counter once they began to falter. but now... what had sparked their courage anew? watching as those scrawny hairless monkeys turned and attacked like they were injected with adrenaline, the orc leader sneered and was the first to charge forward with his battle axe raised. "waaaaaagh!" "waaaaagh!" resistance only made the thrill of the chase more exhilarating for them! "we''re still no match..." ren fengxing frowned slightly, taking stock of the situation. steadfast will was just that - will. the undeniable gap in strength could not be overlooked. the players, compared to the orcs, were still too green, and unless they had access to more powerful firearms, most players who had only recently joined the game were no match for even a single average orc. perhaps after returning, he needed to focus on training melee players? or after a reset? but no matter what, they would not retreat again this time! it was just three days, after all. trading an early wipeout for a major strategic adjustment wasn''t too high a price to pay. ... from the rearview mirror of the car, dai lian, driving the overloaded vehicle that couldn''t go too fast, caught sight of the players turning back collectively. he clenched his teeth with a hesitant look. he obviously knew that if they continued as before, it''d only be a matter of time before disaster struck, with the players being caught and slain one by one. and, owing to the car''s heavy load and the limits of its fuel tank, running all the way back to base wasn''t an option. taking this chance to abscond alone while the players collectively covered the rear might be the most sensible choice. however¡­ looking at the players fighting desperately among the crowd, and at the large gorilla dousing fires everywhere... dai lian suddenly felt uncertain. he spun the steering wheel sharply, and the car made a u-turn. "what are you doing!" a fellow player exclaimed in surprise. it wasn''t just dai lian on this mission to sneak into the enemy''s territory; as a temporary alliance, trust was a rare commodity, and including dai lian, there were four sitting in the car. one representative from thorns, black hole, and freelance, respectively. dai lian didn''t have time to answer his question and simply shot back, "can you drive?" "no... i can''t," the player sitting in the passenger seat said, somewhat dazed. he hadn''t even touched a car in the game before, and this was his first time in one today; he had no clue how to drive. "then when it''s time, just hold on and don''t move." with the direction set, he quickly found something heavy to press down firmly on the accelerator. dai lian pulled the passenger''s hand toward the steering wheel, "hold the direction, don''t move!" having said that, he unbuckled his seatbelt and flipped out of the open driver''s side window onto the roof of the car. "what''s he doing?" "i have no idea..." the three in the car looked at each other with bewilderment. the wind rushed past dai lian''s face as he stood alone on the roof, setting up his longbow and pulling out an arrow. he held the bow against his body while the arrow hung limply on it, his eyes sharp as he scoped out the battlefield not far away, seeking the most suitable angle for an attack from the side. an angle... where as many orcs as possible were aligned in a straight line! the bow was newly purchased. the arrows were custom-made to order. with money in hand, it was only natural to upgrade his equipment, not just for everyday consumption but to have a few reliable, high-quality weapons at critical moments to settle the fight. the skill that dai lian possessed was regarded by the trio as their ultimate trump card! forward, a bit more! just a little further! the howling wind nearly drowned out all other sounds, but dai lian tuned out the roar, focusing entirely on seizing that fleeting opportunity. ''now is the moment!'' as the orc leader launched himself toward the area where the large gorilla and the beautiful guild president were, dai lian''s voice seemed to traverse time and space, reaching kuang xin''s ears. "big gorilla! fall back!" Chapter 280 266 A Arrows Charm "clang!"the familiar sound of metal clashing echoed in his ears once more, and gu lan couldn''t help but instinctively look towards that agile figure moving across the battlefield. in a crowd of players scrambling and fleeing in desperation, only the area around him stood firm, like a mountain. it was not just that he could fend off the attacks launched by the ordinary orcs, he even had the spare capacity to help block the attacks directed at other nearby players. although he was just one person, he played a role on the battlefield that could match the combined efforts of four or five others. "puchi!" the longsword, bolstered by spiritual energy, pierced through the chest of an orc in front of him. gu lan lifted his right leg and kicked the orc''s body away to withdraw his blade, then spun around to evade another orc''s hammer, all the while not forgetting to survey the situation elsewhere¡ª amongst the players, only he and dai lian could consistently inflict damage on the orcs. but dai lian, for one thing, had limited killing efficiency, and, for another, could only make sure to protect herself. not like him, capable of defending a vast area all at once. his amazing control over the flow of battle and his timely assistance to his teammates made his area of the battlefield impregnable. without a direct attack from an orc leader, it seemed like a fanciful thought for any ordinary orc to bypass him and harm his comrades. was it simply individual quality? or perhaps some skill learned in the game? at this thought, gu lan felt somewhat intrigued. she likely couldn''t leave today, and although she could escape at any time by herself, under these circumstances, how could she flee alone? so... before dying, why not ask that guy about his origins and where he learned all his skills? explore new worlds at empire if it was personal talent, perhaps after three days everyone could start over together. if it was learned in the game... they who had already developed a channel once might have derived their own experiences. this game indeed doesn''t allow for infinite respawns, but what players could carry out of the game were their memories, which became their biggest advantage in each new run. no sooner thought than done. when she was alone, she could move freely amidst the ordinary orcs'' attempts to encircle and block her path. "puchi!" "puff!" one sword decapitated, one axe crushed a skull. [you have trained your combat abilities amidst intense battle, physique +0.1, reflexes +0.1.] kuang xin looked towards the hand extended to help him, and followed the longsword to its owner. "how come you''re here?" everyone had tacitly separated before the battle, to stabilize the players'' front lines as much as possible. the battle between dozens of players on both sides wasn''t that big, yet it wasn''t small either; chaos could easily ensue if allies got in each other''s way, and they''d lose without even fighting. spreading out the battle line and then creating small pockets where they could outnumber the enemy was the players'' subconscious cooperation. now... gu lan smiled indifferently; the players were almost twice the number of orcs, which was why they could hold on temporarily, but defeat was almost certain. she didn''t care much anymore and just lifted her damp and disheveled hair due to the sweat from the fight to one side, and gave kuang xin a cool smile. "i have a question for you, and of course, it''s your freedom to answer or not; there''s no pressure." after a brief acquaintance, she understood kuang xin''s straightforwardness. with someone like him, there was no need to beat around the bush or try to coax information out; she could be direct, "where did you learn all your skills?" it wasn''t just saving teammates at any moment; it included his abnormal strength and reflexes, which clearly exceeded the limit of 15 points for the three-dimensional attributes of all players. because her own three-dimensional attribute performance, with spiritual energy enhancement, fluctuated around 15 points. his performance was even above hers, which meant his attributes were definitely not limited to 15 points. either... he obtained the legendary gene optimization solution and underwent a qualitative transformation. or... he learned various powerful skills. she was more inclined towards the latter since even if gene optimization solution improved the attribute limit, it would still take time to train. and even if a player focused on enhancing their basic attributes as soon as they entered the game, it was impossible to reach the 15-point limit in such a short time after the game''s launch, let alone exceed it. the game''s basic attributes were extremely difficult to improve, and as far as she knew, there were no shortcuts. faced with dai lian''s inquiring gaze, kuang xin nonchalantly waved his hand, "our boss taught us." ''our?'' gu lan was taken aback, realizing this was a small group of three, and she couldn''t help but look towards the girl at the rear of the players. "that girl''s healing ability?" "also taught by our boss," bragged kuang xin proudly; after all, he had been the first to discover a great supporter, "yanzi has many more skills, it''s just that you haven''t noticed them yet." "gulp!" gu lan clearly heard the sound of her own swallowing. your boss, does he still want a little brother? a little sister is good too... this somewhat astonished thought leapt forth immediately, and gu lan hesitated, wanting to inquire about the origins of this mysterious "boss." but it seemed too abrupt to ask such a question, so she struggled to articulate it. instead, kuang xin was glancing at her... and then behind her. "that brother over there is about to go down, aren''t you going to help?" gu lan smiled helplessly, "we are all going to go down... it doesn''t matter anymore." "who said we''re all going down?" kuang xin''s eyes were filled with confusion. "huh?" "we still have a trump card!" in his vision, a figure was waving from the speeding car in the wind. the shadow beside him suddenly covered the sunlight falling on both of them, as the orc leader''s massive axe came down with a heavy whistle. he didn''t know which furless monkey was which, but targeting the tough guy on the battlefield meant he couldn''t be wrong. as long as he killed the strongest among humans, he would be recognized as the strongest among orcs! "boom!" axe and sword rang out together, trembling unabated. at the same time, a voice traveled through time and space to them, making kuang xin hear the words made unclear by the wind due to their mutual understanding¡ª s§×arch* the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "big ape! fall back!" ''they still dare call me big ape!'' kuang xin grabbed gu lan''s left hand and, together with her, who had just withstood an axe blow from the orc leader, retreated hurriedly as he shouted, "fallback!" retreat! retreat! the great man had taught dai this arrow with such vivid style that even if he could only unleash half of that man''s power from back then, he would surely be able to easily overpower the enemy. "what?" gu lan didn''t quite understand. but she obediently retreated, pulled by kuang xin. as they retreated, gu lan looked in the direction kuang xin was gazing, her eyes augmented by spiritual energy, allowing her to see the distant scenery with absolute clarity. she saw the car that had turned back from ahead... and the slender figure leaning against the "mission target" on it. he stood tall, bow bent, arrow nocked. like the most professional archer, his eyes sharply fixed on this direction, pulling the bowstring back beside his body. he was the last one remaining of the trio, deeply remembered by gu lan. she hadn''t interacted much with this remaining individual and wasn''t familiar with his personality or abilities. but at this moment, her heart suddenly started pounding furiously. kuang xin had just said... they still had a trump card. yes, this trio, coming from the same place, capable of being companions on the road, each should have their own strengths. and what kind of formidable strength must a skill be considered a trump card by this trio? an arrow? firearms were hardly effective against these orc-like beings, let alone a bow and arrow? yet at this moment, she inexplicably felt a chilling threat from that sharp arrow yet to be released, as if it could pierce her skin. the bow drawn full, the arrow like a shooting star! shoot! this arrow was both fast and slow. the arrow whistled through the orc-like beings, almost drawing a straight line with its slight curve, with the force it carried tearing apart everything in its path in an instant. including blades, spears, hammers, axes, including flesh and blood. the last of the orcs in the arrow''s path happened to be facing directly towards the incoming shaft. in his belated realization, all he "saw" was everything shattering and dodging before his eyes, a fist-sized hole opening up in direct pursuit of the rapidly enlarging metallic arrowhead on an unstoppable straight line. "whoosh!" an arrow passed through, bringing decay and destruction. weapon shards and greenish flesh fell slowly in the wind, and everyone who witnessed this arrow was caught in a kind of slow motion of stunted thought... so they could fully savor the finesse embodied by this arrow. "tsk!" dai lian, having shot an arrow, clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. the lethality was far from the great man''s. lacking the special attribute of anchoring wind, the powerful strike didn''t exhibit its strongest form. the biggest differences were its killing power and range of impact. far less exaggerated than what the great man had shown. so he drew another iron arrow, preparing to aim once more. before setting off and along the way, he had deliberately gorged himself, accumulating enough reserves of energy to support him shooting two arrows in succession. if these two arrows couldn''t secure a victory for the players, that would be troublesome... "waaaaagh!" seeing his arm fall off due to the piercing wound, the slightly stunned orc turned and ran. the orc holding a nail hammer looked at his own minor scrape and, puzzled, watched his fellow suddenly legging it. the youngsters of the fu yue clan are just cowards. is that it? that''s it? they''re running away? he mocked them in his mind with a derisive sneer. then he saw more of the fu yue clan''s youngsters turning their heads and bolting... newcomer orcs were still dazed, while the experienced ones had already run over ten meters away. ''it''s that human again!'' ''it''s that furless monkey dressed in black!'' only today, he wasn''t wearing that black outfit! the orc leader, seeing the huge hole in his chest, felt the memories of being dominated flood back. they didn''t know fear. but the feeling of powerlessness instinctively repulsed them. he hadn''t mastered his flying axe technique yet, lacking the confidence to counter-kill the enemy across such a distance. time to slip away, no more fighting! watching the enemy nock another arrow, the orc leader turned and ran, "waaaaagh!" "..." "..." the voice echoed back from afar, "i''ll be back!" with the boss running away, the youngsters also instantly abandoned what seemed like easy prey right in front of them. "waaaaagh!" a host of orc youngsters followed their leader, shouting messily together, "i''ll be back!" "..." "..." "they ran... ran away?" "they''re scared! hahahaha! they''re scared of me!" "scared my ass, take a look at that expert over there." the car continued to race swiftly, and dai lian stood alone atop it, a silhouette of a master. "handsome, handsome! we''re going to hit a rock! i can''t drive this thing!" shouted someone from inside the car frantically. ''why are they running away? i didn''t even kill that many...'' dai lian snapped out of his daze, promptly responding, "oh, oh, here we go!" Chapter 281 267 Accept People after the orcs left, the real problem began to emerge¡ªhow should the task objectives be allocated? discover stories with empire there was only one task item, and only one ultimate winner in the prize pool task. no one was willing to easily give way, but most solo players realized the gap between themselves and those truly elite players after the battle with the orcs. especially that trio who arrived later... watching the figure jumping down from the vehicle, many solo players'' eyes filled with a touch of yearning and awe. if someone is half a step ahead, you can still find a way to undercut them. but if they''re two steps ahead... go home, wash up, and go to sleep. it turned out, among the players who entered the game in the same period, there were already such formidable experts. "buddy, do you remember me?" a solo player suddenly approached kuang xin and winked at him, "we''ve met during a previous task, remember? you even said you''d ask around if i could join you?" some solo players had seen the trio before and had even noticed their extraordinary strength early on, so they had somewhat casually asked whether they could join the organization that the trio belonged to. after all, when the trio appeared together, anyone with a working brain could tell that their abilities must originate from the same source. as long as one found the underlying reason behind the trio''s formation, even if one couldn''t become an expert on their level, at the very least, they could surpass other players by a large margin. playing a game is all about being above average and treating everyone equally unless they''re beneath you. when showing off, do it downwards; those above are selectively overlooked. kuang xin wasn''t very adept at handling such direct enthusiasm from others and was about to speak when gu lan pulled him to one side. the tall and elegant woman stared at kuang xin with calm eyes, "think carefully before you answer. i don''t know if the force behind you is willing to be exposed. that you were able to get in was due to your own abilities and opportunities; be careful not to be dragged down by outsiders." you should know that every interaction in this game follows a logic, and the biggest realization after entering this game world is not to treat it as a mere game... at least, not when dealing with npcs. having understood a bit of information, gu lan didn''t want this honest young man to be easily deceived by others into revealing core information. keep in mind that the players are a mixed bag, and what appears good on the surface may not truly be good. s§×arch* the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the attentive gaze of the imposing woman in front of him caused kuang xin some agitation. her commanding and attractive presence, far more aggressive than gong yan''s girl-next-door charm, was more than he could handle when not in battle mode. "no... it''s nothing, i have a clear idea," he stammered. ever since the boss set the rules, the three of them had agreed¡ª dai and yanzi would handle negotiations, and he would listen. choosing members had to be done cautiously, as their fortunes were tied together. if a subordinate made a mistake, the blame would ultimately rest on their own shoulders, so it would be a significant loss if that got them kicked out. this prize pool task was their first formal engagement with many other players, and close contact made them acutely aware of the advantages they had over ordinary players under the protection of their patron. not just ordinary players, even the top experts trained by large guilds like black hole and thorn couldn''t match any of the trio. this further proved the generosity of their patron. perhaps in the world of the natives, their patron wasn''t the most formidable one, but he was certainly the most willing to cultivate them as players. therefore, they must not be expelled by the patron! the previously indifferent attitude toward the "order" organization had long since vanished. not to mention his current life, even if he accidentally died one day, he would definitely have to find "order" again after a fresh start. the increasing importance they placed on the "order" organization made them take the rules set by the organization even more seriously. they could recruit new members, but only after thorough vetting. the recruits wouldn''t be official members of the team registered under their names, but external associates without any official title, undergoing personal evaluation. "our organization can take in new people," kuang xin looked back at the player, directly sharing the news that everyone was most eager to hear. in fact, not only the player who came to cozy up but almost all the solo players, including those from thorn and black hole, were resting off to the side with their ears perked up, listening in. the moment kuang xin spoke those words, many were instantly exhilarated. they''ve encountered a good person! someone with such resources and still willing to share, truly a great person! if it were them, they''d definitely keep everything hidden. having a unique advantage to themselves, that''s what''s truly satisfying. "however... our organization has very strict requirements for recruitment." "yes, yes!" the first player who approached nodded vigorously. strict? totally normal! what trials? what assessment tasks? bring it on! "the most fundamental requirement... is to be good and lawful." "huh?" "huh?" gasps of amazement arose. the name of the organization, as well as its core pursuits and philosophies, cannot be revealed for the time being, but some superficial aspects that can be used for screening are always something that can be shared with everyone. "upholding normal order, fighting evil crimes, protecting humanity, and exterminating other races are the basic conditions for joining our organization. if you are willing to accept this premise, then each of us has five spots available to recruit external members on behalf of the organization. of course, although these members are external, they enjoy the same official benefits as us, with no differences. it''s just that in the eyes of the organization, each squad is a whole¡ªsharing glory and disgrace, and collective responsibility for rewards and punishments. for this reason, your actions will determine our status within the organization. therefore, before we take you into our squad as external members, we need to assess those interested for a period of time. we ask for your understanding," he said. this was a plan prearranged by the three of them¡ªwhen encountering other players inquiring, it was kuang xin who would announce these core messages. after all, he seemed a bit more sincere when he spoke... almost everyone listened quietly to kuang xin''s speech. the power that he¡ªor rather, the three of them¡ªhad demonstrated, was the capital they had to command everyone''s silence. "count me in!" "count me in!" "bro! pick me, pick me! i''m an old good guy, a law-abiding citizen with good public standing!" of course, there were also those who were dissatisfied with these seemingly cumbersome rules and regulations, "md, even playing a game one has to abide by the law, to hell with it! i''m not putting up with this!" "exactly! even after joining the squad, we''re still just external members. what benefits we get still have to go through their hands first¡ªwho knows how much they''ll skim off what''s rightly ours? so, we''re just supposed to work for them after all? i knew it was too good to be true to spread such good news! you go if you want, but i won''t be fooled!" their words clearly entered everyone''s ears, and reached all the players. the people who said these things had ulterior motives, but the wills of those players who could be swayed by them were not necessarily very firm. kuang xin and the others didn''t care at all. recruiting people could indeed speed up the process of earning contributions, but it also meant that they needed to put effort into management. whether they recruited members or not was actually fine with the three of them. leaving things to fate often made it easier to find like-minded friends. "count me in," gu lan said with a smile to kuang xin, then turned and walked towards gong yan, who was crouched to the side treating injuries for some players. "i''ll join your team, okay? however you want to assess me, feel free." although she had some of her own channels for advancement, they were not forcibly tied to her personal background; she was free to go wherever she wished. the way these three conducted themselves also made her feel alright, which made her start to find the organization behind them even more interesting. as for why she joined gong yan''s team... she knew she was someone with a brain. being in kuang xin''s team might seem suspicious in the eyes of the three, so it was better to be open with her intentions. it was wiser to join this seemingly smarter girl''s team in a straightforward and honest manner, to demonstrate... loyalty. the ones who should be in kuang xin''s team are a bunch of brainless melee fighters. "sure thing, sis!" gong yan immediately responded with a smile, "welcome to the team, sis!" "count me in too, brother!" from a distance, xu ruoguang left ren fengxing behind and came running over. "hey, hey, brother! the thing i was asking you about..." ren fengxing grabbed his arm, trying not to let him go. ren fengxing didn''t want to join the crowd schmoozing around the trio, and besides, these three did not seem like the kind of people who could be swayed easily. it was better to take a different approach. he still remembered the move "alpha assault". he believed that his action of leading all the players to their rescue must have left a deep impression of gratitude on them. looking puzzled at ren fengxing, xu ruoguang, who was pulled back, said, "i''m a player too, why are you asking me?" "huh?" "huh?" "you''re a player too?" "what else? if you''ve got something to say, go ask the uncle," xu ruoguang said, freeing his arm and running towards kuang xin, "count me in! count me in!" ren fengxing, left standing there, silently watched his retreating figure, feeling an urge to weep without tears. no name and health bar above the head! negative review! he turned his head to look at the real npcs... the uncle with the back-carried sword looked cheerfully towards the direction where xu ruoguang was running, his eyes squinted, "we follow guang''s lead..." "..." "..." "that''s enough; what happens later is up to you. for now, let''s get down to discussing how to distribute the spoils of this mission. that''s more practical," said one of the players, breaking the lively mood that had gathered around with a cold interjection. he was a lone wolf. the lean lone player, holding a handgun tightly, swept his cold gaze over all the eyes drawn to him by his voice, "i suggest that the black hole guild submit the mission''s bounty. they have made the greatest effort and contribution in this mission, and the sacrifices they made were also the most significant. the final reward of this mission should rightfully be theirs. anyone who disagrees is making an enemy of all the players present!" he had not joined a guild because he found the starting point of the normal approach too low. right now was a great opportunity to show his worth. even just helping temporarily could net one a thousand bucks a head; becoming one of his core confidants meant his takeoff was imminent, right? the lean lone player swept his chill gaze over each player looking his way, "what do you all think?" Chapter 282 268 The Rose Teaching Attempt "hehe~""dumbass." with just a glance, everyone turned their heads away and went back to what they were doing. sear?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the atmosphere was lively again. ''dumbass!'' ren fengxing''s face was livid as he cursed inwardly. the evident fact was that the trio had played a much bigger role than he had. so what if there are more people? that''s useless; he wasn''t even planning to compete with them anymore, so why would this weasel need to chirp in? although he coveted the rewards of the jackpot mission, each member of the trio was terrifyingly strong. he was not afraid of the resentment from solo players, but it was best to avoid provoking such powerful players who were clearly a cut above all other players at this stage. after all, his guild wasn''t following a single-core strategy, so missing out on a reward that solely benefited one person wasn''t a big issue... "cough, cough!" being called a dumbass made it impossible for ren fengxing to remain invisible, so he took the initiative to stand out, salvaging the last bit of his dignity, "the main credit for this mission goes to these three brothers, so i won''t fight over the mission item, haha. of course, the one thousand cash i promised everyone still stands." this was his most graceful exit. speaking, ren fengxing just felt a twinge in his heart, a huge loss! but it was his last chance to leave a good impression. he said he didn''t care about solo players, but when the opportunity arose, he still needed to rally them, even if it was just to leave a good impression on the thorns or the trio. "boss, do we get it too?" a discordant voice reached his ears. ren fengxing shot a resentful glance toward his underling, his eyes nearly shooting fire, "yes! everyone does!" everybody was happy! except for the solo player who had spoken up, who watched ren fengxing''s back with a confused face, feeling puzzled¡ª why would his majesty surrender first when his subjects are still willing to fight to the death? "fengxing?" the solo player approached him. "great! you''re really something!" ren fengxing patted his shoulder, his smile somewhat spasmodic. turning away, he quietly ordered his subordinates, "find a secluded place and take him out with two shots! i don''t want to see this dumb fuck ever again!!" "time to go home!" ... [you have completed multiple cycles of the spiritual power breathing skill, increasing your spiritual energy limit by +1.] [rewards from the mission: your insight +0.1, physical fitness +0.1, reflexes +0.1, spiritual energy +0.1, heavy weapons mastery experience +54, ranged weapons mastery experience +41.] it had been a while since he''d received attribute feedback from a mission. indeed, launching different fresh missions tended to elicit feedback from players. any monotonous and repetitive action had a threshold for ability gain, which seemed to be an eternal truth in this world. bai e put aside his thoughts and finished his morning mecha simulation cabin training. today, he was not lonely, secretly training all by himself. his superior had found him a partner. someone familiar... your journey continues with empire rose. it was only natural to choose her. although whoever it was would undoubtedly be seen as a buy-one-get-one-free offer for bai e, the selection itself still had to be excellent. and ideally, it was someone who had cooperated with bai e before and had a similar status... rose was the perfect choice. her control over her body and comprehension seemed to carry over to operating mechas. the speed at which she became proficient was almost unimaginable, only slightly behind bai e. their coordination was also without question, as if they were born to know each other''s intentions; even their operating habits were in perfect harmony. after everyone left, the instructor looked at the detailed results of their first collaboration and fell into thought¡ª perhaps, he should ask hamilton to dig out a few more from the synthetic humans? this stuff was a lot quicker to pick up than natural humans! ... bai e didn''t leave the camp at noon. given the feedback from players, they must still be out on missions, probably encountering orcs by now; otherwise, there wouldn''t be so much feedback on various abilities. and gilder had gone to black street under the guidance of the ratmen to get to know the local customs. it would likely be empty outside too; there was no need to go. it was better to practice the newly acquired spiritual power breathing skill. this technique needed to be practiced often, until it could be performed effortlessly like yueying, who was always running it. only then could he consider himself to have mastered it. looking at rose sitting at the same table, bai e leaned in close and whispered mysteriously, "join me after lunch; i''ve got something good for you." "something good?" rose narrowed her eyes, eyeing bai e somewhat strangely. compared to before, the man now seemed to have more of what natural humans called "humanity." but, since it was bai e, rose agreed immediately, "sure." everyone seized the rare opportunity to rest at noon, and the barracks were silent. bai e adeptly avoided most surveillance and led rose to a quiet, deserted corner. "here, sit down." bai e led by example, indicating for rose to mimic his actions. testing this on rose was his idea. his modified spiritual breathing skill, derived from the elf breathing skill, might not necessarily be suitable for all humans. he had to question its applicability. teaching it to players couldn''t be considered a universal case because their panel systems, just like his, were nonsensical. so, finding someone from the native population who was close to him and would never betray him to test it was undoubtedly a secure backup for his future. for instance... just for instance: if he ever did something outrageous and the military or even the city pursued him, perhaps at a critical moment, he could use this breathing skill, applicable to all humans, to save his own life? yueying had said it, humans had no similar breathing techniques. maybe because they were so numerous, they didn''t bother to research it. but if he directly hit them in the face with a ready-made skill, they would have no reason to refuse. the more trump cards, the better. rose obediently learned from bai e and sat cross-legged, her muscular, wheat-colored thighs exposed under the shorts she wore for training. "what do you want to do?" she asked, puzzled. "teach you how to breathe." rose was even more perplexed, "you need to teach me how to breathe?" "it''s related to spiritual energy." "spiritual energy?!" rose''s eyes narrowed, as she instinctively looked around and, noticing no one was nearby, she lowered her voice in surprise and asked, "you have spiritual energy now?" "shh~" bai e hushed her, "this is something i''ve only told you, it was taught to me by that elf race''s yueying." the details weren''t necessary to elaborate on, having a source was enough. "i just want to see if you can learn it too." "spiritual energy..." rose murmured, sitting up straight with excitement. as a newly created artificial human, she naturally longed for the extraordinary power of spiritual energy she occasionally heard about. however, she had heard that there was a natural prohibition in their artificial bodies, making it nearly impossible for any of them to master spiritual energy. now that there was an opportunity to learn spiritual energy, she had to grasp it well. "what should i do?" "just follow my lead." whether it was the elf breathing skill or the spiritual power breathing skill tailored for bai e''s own use, the essence remained unchanged, and the core concept was always the same. thus, the teaching process was almost identical. the only change was the rhythm. "calm your mind." "concentrate." "empty your brain..." bai e guided rose into a state of grace. if it weren''t for bai e, rose would have been the brightest one among these new recruits. her comprehension was not bad at all. following bai e''s guidance, rose easily entered the zone. bai e, who had begun to develop a certain "spiritual sense," could vaguely perceive the body beside him gradually entering a sublime state conducive to sensing spiritual energy. "breathe out~" "breathe in~" the first step in learning spiritual energy is to perceive. bai e didn''t possess yueying''s powerful ability to externalize spiritual energy, so he could only guide her to feel it for herself as much as possible. if her talent was strong enough... perhaps she could feel that wondrous power herself, right? perhaps... "breathe out~" "breathe in~" bai e, with his eyes closed, also entered the optimal state for cultivating spiritual energy. time slowly passed. at a certain moment, an alarm in his heart silently rang, and the afternoon training session, like an invisible alarm clock, awakened bai e from his meditation. [through the process of instructing others, you have gained a deeper understanding of your own spiritual energy, increasing your spiritual energy limit by +2.] "..." better than a night of meditation for himself? indeed, teaching others appears to be the best time to organize one''s own learning. bai e nodded silently to himself and looked at his companion. rose blinked her beautiful big eyes with long eyelashes. "didn''t feel anything?" bai e felt somewhat embarrassed. "nothing," rose said earnestly, nodding her head and emphasizing her point, "not at all." including watching bai e''s breathing, she didn''t sense any hint of mystical aura from it. and she firmly believed in the existence of spiritual energy, so personal will was not the issue. "maybe my level isn''t high enough?" bai e suggested, looking for problems in himself first. "indeed..." "..." rose burst into laughter, her hearty and generous demeanor unchanged, "of course, it''s also possible i just don''t have the talent. yueying was willing to teach you, which means you have some advantage. it''s alright if i can''t learn; i appreciate that you would teach me!" "alright then..." "let''s go," rose said, patting off her bottom and standing up without a hint of dejection, "the psychic pressure resistance training is about to start, and it''s my first lesson, so i can''t be late." since she had become bai e''s partner in piloting mechas, she had to participate in psychic pressure resistance training as well. "okay! let''s go!" ... watching the soldiers gradually gathering before her, franca''s eyes drifted off. that morning, she received an emergency notice from the headquarters for all enforcement officers¡ª to capture the "demon child"! the so-called "demon child" was just a term. they didn''t seem to have any connection to demons, and even through the professional methods of the enforcement officers, no trace of demonic essence could be found on them. but for some reason, normal humans who came into contact with these "demon children" were highly likely to become minions of demons. these were the devil''s offspring! Chapter 283 269 Son of the Devil! franca''s heart churned with the vague description of the demon''s child contained in the execution order issued by the place¡ªdemon''s child number: unknown abilities: unknown features: of suspicious origin with no definite source, their actions are unpredictable and hard to summarize into patterns, their moods are fickle and their strategies may change at any time, they have a thin regard for rules and regulations, and occasionally speak in "gibberish" incomprehensible to others during conversations; moreover, they grow extremely fast. this ambiguous description undoubtedly made it especially difficult to judge the target. origin, behavior style, temperament, awareness of the law... none of these were enough to definitively determine whether someone was a demon''s child. after all, even without the demon''s child, most people in today''s city would fit this description. at present, the only two conclusive indicators to determine whether one was a demon''s child were not comprehensive, and not all demon''s children were like this. the true number of hidden demon''s children was unknown to anyone. the scope of this definition was too broad, almost indistinguishable from having no definition at all. if the extermination order were to be implemented according to this decree, then perhaps seventy to eighty percent of the city''s population would perish. the most decisive evidence would be to track backwards from the humans who had become demon believers before they had made the transformation and investigate the people they had come into contact with one by one. this task was enormous and inefficient, additionally only being a case of locking the stable after the horse has bolted. the possibility of error was also great, which is why the execution order called for "arrest" instead of the "death" that usually resulted from an enforcer''s intervention. franca felt heavy at heart. the new crisis might not have much to do with her work teaching in the military camp, but it was a crisis that all of humanity must face. existences that had no relations with demons but could still spread the faith of demons... were they those tools concocted by demons, specially designed to evade human arbitration enforcers? she wondered if other cities or settlements of displaced people had encountered such weird phenomena. stay updated through empire the soldiers for the psychic pressure resistance training had finally gathered completely, with the last two walking side by side and taking their places at the end of the line. franca blinked and gathered her thoughts. if the demon''s children really did infiltrate every facet of the city on a grand scale, they might end up needing these soldiers before her, should the arbitration place be short on personnel. training should not be taken lightly, as it was also key to building humanity''s reserve of power. such scenarios had occurred in the past. when the demons entered the real world, they were no longer invincible and beyond comprehension. even if attacks from regular people didn''t have much effect on them, when there were enough of them, they couldn''t be ignored. what''s more, the military''s large-scale thermal weapons posed a considerable threat even to the great demons. the city had endured through storms and turmoil for several centuries. franca believed that as long as everyone worked hard and stayed united, the city would still stand proud, even a hundred years from now when her own bones were long dust. "fall in!" the somewhat youthful voice sounded exceptionally authoritative today. franca wasted no words and directly ordered, "line up and enter the chamber." standing at the entrance of the chamber, franca watched as each soldier passed by. her gaze faltered only slightly for the last two. despite any disappointments from past training, that artificial human soldier known as bai e had a reputation too prominent to be ignored. and the female soldier following him... was a newcomer joining the psychic pressure resistance training for the first time today. franca always held expectations for newcomers'' performances, like unboxing a mystery package. with the activation of the "spiritual energy engine" hidden within the chamber, once again that sensation blurring sound, light, and even space and time enveloped them. this strange assault that affected all senses and the spirit itself wasn''t diminished even though bai e had awakened his spiritual energy. the pressure of spiritual energy was impartial to everyone present. encased within it, bai e felt the space around him begin to distort... so much so that his own body started to ripple like waves. his spiritual energy, which had reached a limit of 4 points, didn''t just sit by idly, but joined the "dance" amidst the chaos. 4 points of spiritual energy didn''t help bai e cope better with this spiritual energy oppression; rather, his uncontrollable personal energy sought its origin from the same source, plunging bai e even more profoundly into experiencing that oppression on his spirit. and within this intense, "intimate" experience, bai e, lost in a distorted field of spiritual energy, discovered details he hadn''t noticed before¡ª for instance, wails? yes, wails. what was the source of the psychic oppressive field in the spiritual energy chamber? bai e certainly had his doubts about this. spiritual energy can only be provided by living beings with psychic power; inanimate objects are absolutely incapable of wielding or even mimicking the effects of spiritual energy. so where did the spiritual energy come from that was necessary for creating the chamber''s oppressive effect? from the instructors? franca? was the chamber actually her spiritual energy amplifier, allowing her to apply pressure on a scale similar to that of the bug race''s rulers? if humans had this technology, wouldn''t it have been employed in battle rather than merely in training? wouldn''t they have already struck at the bug race''s homeland? bai e didn''t believe in this fleeting guess of his. however, at that moment, he "discovered" more tangible "evidence." s§×ar?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. evidence stemming from spiritual energy resonance. wails. this field of spiritual energy was in such agony, it was as if countless tormented souls were crying within it, unable to find peace. the pain was boundless and traceless, ceaselessly tormenting them. only when their will had completely dissipated, and even the last trace of resentment had been wrung dry, would the eternal torture quietly fade away. it was then that they would finally find true rest... or perhaps be completely erased from existence. this sinister speculation sent a chill down bai e''s spine, a psychological "weakness" that made his performance against spiritual energy suppression even more dismal. the distorted sense of space grew more intense, leaving bai e feeling dizzy and utterly disoriented. so much so that he staggered with every step, as if he might fall at any moment. "..." franca frowned upon seeing the slightly moving figure. how could his performance be worse than last time? the results of psychic pressure resistance training should only get better, even for a pig-headed recruit. of course, occasional fluctuations were normal, but when they occurred to this legendary "hero," it was all the more disappointing. franca moved her gaze away, looking instead at the female soldier standing beside him. their eyes met... "..." "..." are you alright? how can you keep your eyes open? franca''s eyes widened, fixating on the other person¡ªdo you like to sleep with your eyes open? rose looked around in confusion, first at her surroundings, then at bai e, and finally at the young woman who was likely the instructor. she said nothing, but her face was blank. who am i? where am i? what am i doing? why does everyone look so pained? why is everyone staggering? what''s wrong with them? why don''t i feel anything? the stark contrast between her experience and that of the others sowed seeds of doubt in rose''s mind. but even filled with doubt, she did not speak out easily, fearing she might disrupt the others'' "important business." it was only after confirming that the new recruit was indeed unaffected by the spiritual energy suppression that franca approached, "you... you... you... you''re okay?" now full of self-doubt, rose, who was usually bold, spoke in a tentative voice, "i... should i be okay?" "you don''t feel anything?" "what should i be feeling?" "..." "..." believer! that word abruptly flashed through franca''s mind. such individuals were natural born nemesis to demons, their presence in the world akin to a "black hole" in high-dimensional space. they could not sense spiritual energy, nor could they be affected by it. wherever they went, demons must keep their distance by three feet! believers were the natural enemies of demons, but they themselves held no potential for growth in spiritual energy. such individuals were extremely rare among humans, so much so that they defied the concept of "proportion." if franca was not from a prominent family that had access to a wealth of knowledge, she might not have thought of this rare species so quickly. every believer was a masterful demon hunter! "stand right there, don''t move." franca decided to observe further. it''s not like she could run away; it was best to confirm before reporting it higher up. otherwise, it would be quite embarrassing! ... bai e had slept until evening, waking even later than last time. it was an exceptionally deep sleep. it was no wonder that psychic pressure resistance training always started in the afternoon and required a full day''s cooldown time; the mental exhaustion was indeed supreme. awake, bai e kept the slight "enlightenment" from before his fainting deeply tucked away in his heart. he was determined to gain clarity about it in the future, but certainly not now. feeling his stomach rumble with hunger, he quickly went to the cafeteria for some gruel, then hurried off to meet yue ying at their usual spot. perhaps due to the late hour the day before, or perhaps because yue ying had something on her mind, the two hadn''t been able to properly communicate after the awakening of spiritual energy. having awakened his spiritual energy for a full day and fumbling with its use on his own, he was filled with countless questions, all waiting for yue ying''s explanations. Chapter 284 270 Spiritual Energy Gift Pack "you''re late," yue ying''s voice was calm, with no hint of blame, merely stating a fact.there was also none of the gasping, intermittent speech from last night. "hmm..." bai e nodded in acknowledgment before explaining, "passed out during the afternoon training, just woke up." "the ''psychic pressure resistance training'' spoken of by your people?" "yes." "..." yue ying said nothing more, but a hint of sadness flickered through her eyes. the human race, with its sheer numbers, could employ some unconventional methods for training that her elven kind could hardly reach in a lifetime. not allowing herself to be distracted by irrelevant matters, yue ying simply commanded, "sit down." once bai e had seated himself cross-legged, yue ying asked softly, "it''s been a day, how do you feel?" "i feel... like they''re not under my control." it was just like the spiritual power breathing skill during that afternoon''s training - his own spiritual energy communicated with the "external enemy," increasing the pressure on himself, a true traitor. ''they?'' yue ying murmured softly, emphasizing ''they'' with a hint of curiosity, "that''s normal; your will hasn''t fully adapted to their presence yet. you might sometimes get the illusion that they aren''t yours before a deeper connection is established." with time, the connection would naturally deepen. deliberate practice would also accelerate this process. "let''s give it a try," yue ying closed her eyes, "sense your body, spread your spiritual energy over it, use spiritual energy to ''understand'' your body, and transform it into the capabilities that your body needs when necessary." enhancing the body''s basic attributes with spiritual energy is the most fundamental application of spiritual energy, a technique known to every wielder of spiritual energy. the difference lies only in the duration and scale of the enhancement. [you are learning skills related to spiritual energy...] enjoy new tales from empire [teaching mission triggered - spirit heart crossing.] [teaching mission - spirit heart crossing: you have just begun to possess spiritual energy, but it''s only the beginning. to properly utilize this power that is uniquely yours, you need to put in much more effort and diligently study. mission requirements: follow yue ying''s guidance to complete an enhancement of your body''s attribute expression 0/1, thereby officially entering the first stage of spiritual energy development - spirit heart crossing. mission reward: spiritual energy limit +1.] sear?h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [teaching: the use of spiritual energy is an entirely new field for you; you must pay a certain price (battle experience/general experience) to follow the guidance of others to acquire the full scope of spiritual energy skills. (cost: 10 points of experience/min)] bai e wasn''t in a hurry to pay with experience; after learning the spiritual power breathing skill, his experience had depleted significantly. his battle experience had been completely drained, and he was left with only 779 points of general experience. he couldn''t be reckless with his spending before getting a new supplement. as yue ying had suggested, bai e tried communicating with the ''little spirits'' that seemed enigmatic. a cloud of spiritual energy enveloped bai e''s body; with a current value of 4 points, the spiritual energy transformed into an extraordinary power, permeating his body in an ineffable manner... into every single one of his cells. "..." yue ying, next to bai e, felt a surprise at sensing the strength of spiritual energy, which was unlike the initial awakening phase. how could one achieve such an amount of spiritual energy within a single day of awakening? she knew that progress in spiritual energy was always a gradual accumulation, difficult to boost significantly in an instant. to have accumulated such a quantity of spiritual energy within a day of awakening indicated that this human warrior''s talent might be even better than she had anticipated. [lucky hit charge +1.] bai e opened his eyes, sensing the additional power surging through his body, and felt a sense of joy. that simple? the fact that he had learned a new ability on his own for the first time without the aid of experience made bai e pleasantly surprised. it seems i, too, am a genius. [spiritual energy stage one - spirit heart crossing: you have mastered the method of enhancing your own attribute expression with spiritual energy. from now on, you can use spiritual energy to enhance your physical strength, insight, and reflexes at any time. you can enhance all attributes simultaneously or focus on a single attribute. (enhancement strength: tiered decline, currently 4%/12%; consumption: tiered increase, currently 1 point of spiritual energy per minute for the first 4 minutes, unable to maintain spirit heart crossing state with less than 1 point of spiritual energy, 10% of ''current spiritual energy'' per minute from 4 to 30 minutes, with at least a 1 point decrement each time, 10% of ''spiritual energy limit'' per minute after 30 minutes, with at least a 1 point decrement each time.)] [you have successfully maintained the ''spirit heart crossing'' state for at least one minute, completing the enhancement of your body''s overall attribute expression and gaining proficiency in the ''spirit heart crossing'' state. reward: spiritual energy limit +1, has been issued.] "it seems you have mastered the application of spirit heart crossing," yue ying nodded, quite satisfied. as a novice to the spiritual energy realm, there was almost no secret bai e could keep from her, as she could acutely feel every slight change occurring within him. spirit heart crossing was a basic skill of the first stage of spiritual energy; it wasn''t astonishing for anyone to master it on their own as familiarity with spiritual energy developed over time. "spirit heart crossing will accompany you throughout your life, as your accumulation of spiritual energy becomes more profound, the assistance it provides will also gradually increase." there was no need for an elaborate explanation on this point; yue ying breezed over it, moving on to the next teaching. Chapter 285 270 Spiritual Energy Gift Pack_2 bai e had just awakened his spiritual energy and there were too many basic spiritual energy techniques he needed to learn and master."next, you need to master some external application techniques," yueying said. augmenting oneself was the basic of the basics, but applying it to things outside oneself naturally presented some difficulty. yueying''s gaze casually swept over bai e before finally resting on his calf, "draw your dagger." other weapons were too cumbersome, only a compact dagger could be carried at all times, ensuring bai e always had a weapon at his disposal. "mm," bai e swiftly drew his dagger, the specially treated matte black blade did not attract attention even at night. "imagine your spiritual energy is an extension of your body, like invisible tentacles... use the tendrils of spiritual energy to sense the existence of the dagger, to delve into its internal structure, and to encompass it within your ''domain''..." [teaching task triggered¡ªspiritual power enchantment] [teaching task¡ªspiritual power enchantment: ...task completion reward: spiritual energy limit +1.] bai e, who had similar experiences with the gun fighting skill, felt that he could easily accomplish this. his spiritual energy, like a grey mist, spread from his body into the dagger in his hand, with the dagger''s every structural property manifesting in his mind as clearly as an "ingredient list." subconsciously, he knew how to make it exhibit the properties he desired. yes, subconsciously. all actions within the realm of spiritual energy were subconscious. there was no need to understand the exact ratios of various elements needed to give a material the desired characteristics, no need to comprehend the mysterious chemical reactions that occurred according to their own laws. one only needed to know¡­ what one desired. the dagger¡­ softened. "???" "???" yueying looked at bai e with a somewhat strange expression. normally, a person''s first attempt would make it harder, but why did you... bai e waved his now limp dagger around, producing a wind-breaking sound akin to that of a soft sword. intrigued by his special attribute "whip tips" from his close combat expertise, bai e found the flexibility of the weapon quite interesting. realizing he could actually make it soft, he couldn''t help but be amazed. what a magical power... [you have successfully used spiritual energy to change the properties of the object in hand. teaching task¡ªspiritual power enchantment completed. reward: spiritual energy limit +1 has been granted.] "making it softer rather than harder is more difficult. it looks like you''re quite proficient in this use of spiritual energy," yueying wasn''t too surprised; these basic skills were also something she had naturally mastered at the moment she awakened her spiritual energy, indeed nothing special. "next... is the full utilization of spiritual energy." [teaching task triggered¡ªspirit''s breathing.] [teaching task¡ªspirit''s breathing: ...task completion reward: spiritual energy limit +1.] when needed, one could burst toward higher peaks, and in moments of relaxation, conserve more willpower. spiritual energy was born from willpower; easing the output of willpower was to conserve the output of spiritual energy. as bai e personally transformed the elf breathing skill into the spiritual power breathing skill suitable for humans, mastering this breathing technique was effortless for him, easily understood. [spirit''s breathing: you have proficiently mastered the method of fully utilizing spiritual energy. from now on, during the continuous "spirit heart crossing" and "spiritual power enchantment," any moment not involved in intense output will build up your potential for a burst and reduce spiritual energy consumption by 33%, while potentially increasing the actual effect by an additional 50% during a burst.] experience exclusive tales on empire [¡­teaching task¡ªspirit''s breathing completed. reward: spiritual energy limit +1 has been granted.] the basic spiritual energy starter pack. it was like levelling up and then clicking on skill points repeatedly; the sensation of rapid improvement was somewhat addictive. bai e looked forward to yueying with anticipation, waiting for her to provide him with more of the abilities he needed. this elf race lady was like a walking treasure trove; just digging out something from her could greatly benefit oneself. yueying lived up to the expectations, nodding in satisfaction as bai e learned another trick, "next, we move on to the actual use of spiritual energy to execute ''miracles''." [triggered teaching task ¡ª spiritual power maxims.] [teaching task ¡ª spiritual power maxims: ... task completion reward: spiritual energy cap +3.] "powerful practitioners of spiritual energy, even the words they speak, possess extraordinary power. the belief mixed within their words can invisibly influence the will of the listeners. of course, language is just one form; any method that can convey your message to others can serve as a medium..." whether it was the military spiritual power practitioners bai e had previously encountered or yueying herself, there was a conscious or unconscious use of this ability. the speaking yueying thought about her "loss of composure" the night before. at that time, it was because she couldn''t control her stray thoughts, which caused her words to unconsciously carry a hint of desire. fortunately, the human warrior before her had a steadfast will and wasn''t infected by her; otherwise... if he had given an enthusiastic response at that time, she dared not imagine what would have happened last night. every moment on the path of spiritual energy carried risks and required the practitioner to strictly control themselves. s~ea??h the n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "... pay attention, as your proficiency in spiritual energy deepens, you''ll need to control your powerful thoughts even more. if every word you utter has the power to influence hearts, you should consider how to prevent affecting the minds of others. the influence is mutual; when you endlessly spread your thoughts, you will also receive the chaotic thoughts of others, which is certainly not beneficial to you," yueying said seriously, with grave emphasis on every word. spiritual power maxims was not only a method for utilizing spiritual energy but also a self-restraint for curbing it. learn to use, then learn to restrain. bai e slowly nodded, "i understand now." this skill was clearly more difficult; the reward given for completing the task increased from 1 point of spiritual energy cap for the previous three teaching tasks to 3 points. rewards are often linked to difficulty. after two attempts, realizing this wasn''t a skill he could master on "talent" alone, bai e directly activated the cheat mode to assist with experience. [you are using general experience to correct your maxims conversion...] [current conversion progress: 35.7%] ... [... teaching task ¡ª spiritual power maxims, completed. reward: spiritual energy cap +3, issued.] the technique of spiritual power maxims wasn''t too simple, nor was it overly difficult; after spending a total of 600 points of experience, he finally mastered it. exactly 10 points. through four tasks, while mastering the basic tricks of spiritual energy, bai e also significantly increased his overall spiritual energy. "alright, that''s about it for today... there aren''t many skills you can learn with your newly awakened spiritual energy. before you increase your power to a new level, boosting your store of spiritual energy is your most urgent task," yueying said. [tip: your spiritual energy isn''t strong enough to support higher levels of learning. quickly increase your spiritual energy total, and after reaching at least 50 points, you can seek yueying for more advanced spiritual energy skills.] "whew~" bai e nodded, stood up, and bid farewell. "ms. yueying, goodbye." "goodbye." as bai e left, he looked at the panel displaying the many newly learned abilities and the fact that he was left with only 179 points in his total experience reserve; a sense of urgency involuntarily rose from the bottom of his heart. need to find an opportunity to harvest. time to crank up the intensity¡ª the bunch of newly learned spiritual power skills, i''ll straight up add them to the second level of the faction shop! gong yan in the trio seemed to have a preference for spiritual energy; the faction shop had never offered spiritual energy-related skills, so he rarely harvested experience from her. the other two were practically sheared bald; time to switch to a new sheep for a sheer. Chapter 286 271 Weird Black Street ```"huh? another update?" the update news from the faction shop filled the three people who were on their way back to the city with surprise. "let''s see what we have here..." "spiritual power enchantment... spirit''s breath... spiritual energy maxims... wow, all related to spiritual energy?" "spirit''s breath?" gu lan, who was sitting in the same car, perked up his ears when he heard this keyword. xu ruoguang and gu lan were currently the only two new friends who had gained the trust of the trio. gu lan had a hearty personality, and even though she belonged to a guild, all her guild members could be said to be workers she had hired with money. saying she was on her own wasn''t exactly wrong. xu ruoguang, although new to the group, had fought tooth and nail for those ordinary refugee npcs, and had also earned their heartfelt adoration. plus, with the "alpha swordsmanship" he demonstrated, he met the organization''s standards in both strength and character. the trio had decided to select one of the two as the candidate for the talent recruitment task assigned by their organization. as potential future companions, everyone naturally traveled together on their way back to the city. at this moment, gu lan, who was sitting in the same car, was more curious about the mysterious organization mentioned by the trio than ever. "what''s this spirit''s breath?" the mature woman asked straightforwardly. she had heard this term from xu ruoguang before, but the guy had only heard bits and pieces about it himself, and when pressed for details, was unable to elaborate. kuang xin, after carefully reading over the description of this new item listed in the faction shop, hesitated before explaining, "it seems to be a way to use spiritual energy, which can reduce consumption and increase power... that''s what it says!" "can you all learn it?" gu lan, looking at the trio, was somewhat surprised. "ah~" kuang xin nodded as if it were a matter of course, "as long as it''s listed in the faction shop, we can all learn it. it''s guaranteed teaching; if you can''t learn it, they''ll keep teaching until you do. however, you have to pay the corresponding faction contribution. and earning faction contributions is quite straightforward, right now we''re just..." "that''s nice..." gu lan said with genuine envy on her face. from what she had experienced since entering the game, it was unbelievable for these three to find an organization willing to nurture them as players. dai lian laughed and sent a voice from the driver''s seat, "no worries, once you join the organization, you will be able to learn it too. the leader treats everyone equally. we''ll take you to meet our boss when we get back, and if he agrees to take you in, then we''ll be comrades in the same pit." "didn''t the boss say he only wants one?" kuang xin spoke honestly, only to be pinched by gong yan, who was sitting behind him. the girl smiled and looked at the two new recruits, "it''s okay. although the leader did say that he indeed only wants one for now, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. our leader''s ambition... is huge." "but, we''ll complete the task first when we get back. holding onto it for too long invites trouble. we can get the task rewards first, and there''s no rush to meet the leader afterwards. besides, it''s so late, it wouldn''t be convenient for the leader to see us." dai lian made arrangements from the front, and then spoke to xu ruoguang, "hey, guang... after we get back, you should take a task first, okay?" dai lian had some unconventional ideas... about this reward pool task, everyone subconsciously thought, based on their past gaming experiences, that there could only be one ultimate winner. but who says the winner can only be one person rather than a group? dai lian decided to try a new approach, testing whether submitting the task as a group would allow them to split the reward pool''s experience fairly. they were brothers after all, aiming for fairness. ... black street was dead quiet at night. it was very late. even the moon was hiding behind the clouds, too shy to come out. s~ea??h the nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the folks living on black street were probably deep in slumber, not even the rumbling engine of the car, akin to a tractor, could wake them from their dreams. no one came out to see what the fuss was about. there was not even a soul to curse. driving a car on the not-so-spacious roads of black street, dai lian curiously surveyed the pitch-dark houses on both sides. no lights were visible inside, nor any sound of people. were they sleeping that heavily? or had they all gone to the arena to enjoy some entertainment? with questions on his mind, the car continued to move slowly forward. they weren''t too familiar with black street; plus, even if there was something out of the ordinary... what''s there for them players to fear? the dim light from the car pierced through the darkness of the night, gradually disappearing into the depths of the street. from afar, as the car drove deeper into the street, it looked as if it were willfully diving into the gaping maw of a monster, and in the corner that sunk into the seemingly bottomless depths, two faint voices arose. "grandpa... shouldn''t we warn them?" the speaking rat person twitched his nose slightly, as if sniffing at the increasingly intense scent of danger in the air. endowed with special abilities by the "benevolent father," he was not only capable of infecting rats, but he also had certain rat-related abilities of his own. like... an acute perception of "danger." there was something wrong with black street. at least there was something wrong today. ``` today, when they came out to explore, the rat sensed a faint but distinct whiff of danger in the air. and as the residents who lived on the street were almost all summoned away by some force using an unknown excuse, that sense of danger only grew stronger. it became so strong that the rat was reluctant to step any closer. insisting on this, the elder gilder didn''t force the issue. they didn''t know what was happening, but leaving now would be too regrettable. if he was tasked to understand black street, how could he say he understood it if he didn''t observe a potential incident from a first-person perspective? so, the two of them stayed at a distance from black street, waiting to discover more "facts" to corroborate the rat''s perception. unexpectedly, what they awaited first was the return of the lord''s three subordinates. to alert or not to alert? the rat''s perceptions were not absolute, and gilder, inexperienced in this realm, couldn''t make an accurate judgment due to his lack of knowledge. after some hesitation, they decided to let the lord''s three subordinates go ahead and scout the situation. since they were subordinates valued by the lord, even though they didn''t possess his level of strength, they were likely not that much worse. find your next adventure on empire if they encountered an incident, escaping probably wouldn''t be a problem. the two, hidden in the shadows, quietly awaited any possible incidents, the rat''s small eyes gleaming like bright black gems in the dark. gazing towards the direction constantly sending out danger signals, the rat''s slender body trembled unconsciously¡­ gilder''s hand reached into his bosom, where a small flare gun was concealed. this was an agreement with the lord¡ªif they encountered something of great impact and difficult to resolve, they could use the flare gun in an emergency to summon him. the lord had promised that as long as it was within the visible range of the flare gun, he would rush over as quickly as possible, regardless of the situation. but unless absolutely necessary, gilder was reluctant to summon the lord for no reason. however, the atmosphere of black street at the moment was truly hair-raising. he was prepared for this... suddenly, gilder''s aged eyes narrowed slightly, and he murmured softly, "someone else is coming¡­" "swoosh!" "swoosh!" two figures leaped out from the unseen dark alley. too far away to hear what they were saying, gilder could only discern through the night''s dim light that they seemed to be holding some special instruments in their hands. ¡­ "such a heavy demonic presence!" "no one''s here, where have all the people gone?" a distinctive insignia of the executors from arbitration place flashed, and the tall, thin man scanned the area with a cold face, "it seems this place has become a breeding ground for demons." usually, when such a situation occurs, it is because the area has been completely seduced and corrupted by the demons'' believers. all the ordinary people would have turned into believers of demons to conjure such an intense demonic presence. this was a judgment based on experience. his medium-height companion shook his head, "don''t jump to conclusions, it could also be the ''demon child'' phenomenon that the place mentioned recently." the demon child was an adversary they had never encountered before. faced with a fresh opponent, no amount of thinking outside the box seemed too much. the tall, thin man shook his head, "anyway, let''s find the main culprit first." while speaking, the tall, thin man channeled spiritual energy into a crystal ball-like object in his hands. this was a creation from the place specifically designed to track demonic presence, albeit with a very small sensing range. it only issued a warning and provided a vague location when it detected a definite demonic presence. in fact, they were alerted by the crystal ball, which suddenly went off, and hurried over from nearby. ever since the last incident where the executor responsible for this area along with a temporary executor returned unsuccessfully, they had taken it upon themselves to watch over this area. an executor''s actions were mostly autonomous. as long as they ensured not to waste too many resources on the same matter or area, their actions were actually quite free. after maneuvering the crystal ball in various directions and triggering it with spiritual energy, it quickly pointed the two men in a direction¡ª the depths of black street. the red dot flashing within the crystal ball seemed to scream at them like a demon. the tall executor put away the crystal ball and said coldly, "let''s go!" Chapter 287 272 Pay for work? as two strange silhouettes penetrated deeper, the long street above fell back into that deathly stillness.the deep silence at the end of the long street devoured all the residents, the vehicle belonging to the trio, and the two strange silhouettes¡ªlike a monster lurking in the darkness, effortlessly swallowing even the darkness itself. gazing along that pitch-black stretch of the long street, gilder strained his aged eyes to pierce through the veil of night, seeking to uncover the truth of the matter¡­ beneath the long street, it was far from the quiet it appeared on the surface. "speak up! do you want to work for our boss or not!" "yeah, yeah! i''ve already said i''ll work for our boss! stop hitting me already..." the man''s face was bruised and swollen as he desperately clung to the other''s thigh, unable to stop whimpering. "you''ve been hitting me for so damn long! when i say i''m willing to work for the boss, don''t you understand?! i want to work! tell me what to do, quick! i''ll do it now!" however, the man asking the questions dared not respond but simply looked back, trembling, with caution, to the man reclining on the peeling russet couch behind him¡ªwho was the true decider of everyone''s fate. wallis chuckled hoarsely in a low voice, as if his throat was clogged with phlegm, full of static noise. reclining on the couch, he watched the "torture" taking place before him with a sideways glance. although he was laughing, his face was devoid of any mirth, only endless coldness. beneath that coldness was a deep fury brewing like the sea''s churning depths. the protruding mechanical eye glinted a blinding red, as if blood was flowing at his feet. the boss was angry¡­ a silent command guided the lackey. the lackey, whip in hand, turned and struck the man on the ground across the face with another lash. "you''re not sincere! that''s for not being sincere! you never really wanted to work for our boss!" "smack! smack!" lash after lash¡­ "i''m willing... i''m willing..." the space opened up, and suddenly the vast underground area was filled with the sound of the whip cracking against flesh. "speak! will you work for our boss or not?" "that''s for being stubborn! that''s for being stubborn!" the orange warm light flickered chaotically, and the messy sounds of whipping strangely composed a mad symphony. "hahahaha!" wallis suddenly clutched his forehead, laughing uncontrollably. not a single one! not a single one! it wasn''t just the people lured in who were unwilling to work for him; even his own men were equally reluctant. unwilling! all of them were unwilling! all lies! even those closest to him, his trusted lieutenants, had never truly followed him! they were only submissive to his power, to his influence, to his brutality. but what was submissive was never to him as a person! all of it was fake! only the bounty hunters! those strange bounty hunters! they were the ones truly willing to work for him. as long as he provided ample reward, they would serve him wholeheartedly and without a single word of complaint. in fact, the benefits he received from them far outweighed what he had given! why? why couldn''t the world be full of such people? only them... only them¡­ he was thankful to the heavens for bestowing upon him these eyes that could see through all falsehoods. having lived for so many years, he had finally discovered what truly deserved his pursuit. only occasionally, in a fleeting moment, did a voice of "regret" in wallis''s heart question¡ª is everything i have now truly deserved? this power within my grasp¡­ this authority obeyed by thousands¡­ this insight to see through the human heart¡­ initially, should i have not been so greedy? even those bounty hunters working for me... i schemed to harvest their wealth under the guise of allegiance rings¡­ why did they agree? wallis suddenly bowed his head, his mood switching from manic laughter to an icy demeanor in an instant. the brief moment of inner weakness lasted less than the space of a breath. his actions had proven that his current path was correct! the people around him¡­ they were all traitors! "clickety-clack, clickety-clack~" a peculiar sound suddenly approached from afar. wallis, whose senses were now extremely sharp, twitched his ear and was the first to hear this unexpected noise. outsiders? or had those bounty hunters returned? the loose skin on the sides of his lower lip formed folds, and wallis''s mood suddenly lifted. soon enough, one of the lookouts outside rushed in with urgent haste. "boss! boss! it''s those bounty hunters! they''ve brought back what you wanted!" "oh~," wallis finally showed a sincere smile on his face, "quick, bring them in!" "yes!" ... the furrows on the brows of the five people who walked into the underground hall were evident. in fact, while waiting in the room above ground, they had already heard the noisy sounds mixed with moans coming from below, but it wasn''t until they arrived underground that they realized things might be even more brutal than they had imagined. everywhere they looked, the spacious hall, originally cluttered with a variety of miscellaneous items, was now filled with figures in the corners. some stood... some lay... large beads of sweat could be seen dripping down from faces... not only from those who lay on the ground moaning, but also from the foreheads of those wielding whips, drenched in sweat. every person was soaked, as if they had been fished out of water. hot? of course it was hot. the orange lamps lit up throughout the underground hall, their glowing tubes emitting a substantial amount of heat radiation. in the hazy warmth of the orange light, even the air seemed to warp, making the entire underground hall feel like an unbearable steamer. but the five newcomers didn''t feel too much of the heat. compared to the heat, it seemed there was something else that made everyone... except the figure sitting on the sofa... feel... fear. because of fear, they were tense. because they were tense, their heart rates increased. because their heart rates increased, their pores contracted. and so... they were drenched in sweat. including those who were acting as the attackers. the object of their fear, of course, was the solitary figure sitting on the sofa¡ªwallis. ''is this a show of power?'' dai lian thought, but then immediately dismissed the idea. they had been here before, and while the leader in front of them certainly commanded a certain amount of respect, he wasn''t so frightening. at least he shouldn''t make his own men feel this way. had something happened that they were unaware of, something so brutal that even his own men harbored such deep fear of him? but what did that matter to them? it had nothing to do with them whatsoever. they were only there to turn in a task, and whether they split the reward pool amongst themselves or one person got all the experience, it made no real difference to them. the experience from the reward pool task might be substantial, but it wasn''t going to determine the future pace of the game on its own. it was just a task. "we''ve brought back the treasure you wanted," dai lian spoke, taking half a step ahead of the others, "it''s on the car upstairs." as the brain of the team, it was his responsibility to handle interactions with npcs during collective actions. wallis''s lips curled up slightly. he slowly rose from the sofa, his tone carrying a strange and eerie inflection, "don''t call it ''treasure.'' you are my treasures. i''m very happy to see you return." kuang xin furrowed his eyebrows, feeling a bit nauseated. hardened! his fists clenched! s§×arch* the n?vel(f)ire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. who the hell is your treasure? wallis seemed utterly indifferent to the disgust shown by the four others besides dai lian, continuing with his own performance, "what about the other children? didn''t they return with you?" was he talking about the other players who had accepted the reward pool task with them? why ask about them? as the question flitted through his mind, dai lian chose his words carefully, giving a cautious reply, "we cooperated to complete the task and came back together, it''s just that some are faster than others. the slower ones might still be on the way, while the faster ones should have already arrived." the vehicle they drove was not particularly fast, as it was loaded with five people and the items for the task. those with quicker means of travel probably arrived near blackwater city earlier than they did. "why don''t they come to see me?" "..." dai lian paused slightly, replying somewhat helplessly, "they didn''t complete the task and feel too ashamed to see you." "hahahaha! no need to be so formal! i want to see them! i want to see all my children!" wallis eyed dai lian with both his normal eye and the red-glowing, protruding mechanical eye, his gaze filled with anticipation, "could you find them for me?" as he spoke, wallis''s tone paused, then he emphasized, "of course, to ensure that you keep your promise, before you find them for me, you''ll need to leave something as collateral, won''t you?" the sinister mechanical eye circled over the five of them, his tone leisurely as he inquired, "what do you think you should leave?" the wandering gaze finally settled on gong yan, "how about, we leave this young lady here? i assure you, i will raise her to be plump and fair! she will become my most outstanding daughter!" [triggered side quest¡ªfind comrades.] [find comrades: your employer is worried about all the "children" who performed tasks for him. as companions who carried out the task together, you have the obligation to ensure the safe return of all comrades. task requirement: find all comrades who took part in the "reward pool task¡ªseize creation" within the allotted time 0/1. task completion reward: -300 blackwater coins, -100 general/battle experience; task failure penalty: -600 blackwater coins, -200 general/battle experience (countdown: 4 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds)] (note: accepting this task requires a "hostage." if the task fails, "hostage" will encounter a special plot.) "..." a negative reward? discover exclusive content at empire they had to pay currency and experience to do a task for an npc? paid work? sounds familiar... the five people who saw the task pop up on their screens couldn''t help but exchange looks, their eyes reflecting a sense of ''never seen before.'' "that''s just outrageous..." "perhaps we''ve encountered some kind of extraordinary quest chain?" gu lan, with her broad experience and in-depth interactions in many games, had seen her fair share of deep game content that ordinary players might never come across in their lifetimes. it wasn''t as though there had never been quest chains that initially deducted experience and money only to multiply the returns in the end. if completed, the rewards were unimaginably rich. after all, it was just a game... what game would let players lose out? did they even want to keep making games? the task might be weird, but... perhaps it was worth a try? gu lan''s gaze held a hint of eagerness to give it a shot. Chapter 288 273 alarm! "and be quick about it~," wallis said with excitement, as if imagining a scene where all "bounty hunters" were working for him, "before dawn! i have limited patience."facing the other party''s urging, gu lan excitedly suggested, "i''m willing to be collateral." the thorn valkyrie wasn''t afraid at all. seeing the hostages would face a "special scenario" if the mission failed only made her more thrilled. "shall we just forget it?" dai lian wasn''t particularly willing to take risks with things he was unfamiliar with. this mission had been exuding an oddness from the beginning, not to mention their current bizarre situation. it seemed that their arrival caused even those who were beating others to stop their actions and turn their heads to quietly watch the five of them. the ones wailing seemed to cease their agony, curling up on the ground while looking on twistedly and expectantly... as if they were the saviors. this kind of silent observation was downright hair-raising, and dai lian didn''t want to stay here a moment longer. moreover, with their backing from powerful figures, they could develop much more comfortably than other players. there was no need to undertake such a strange mission. "what do you all think?" "i think we should drop it too," gong yan said, wrapping her arms around herself. despite the warmth of the underground hall, the gaze from that mechanical eye always made her feel chills down her spine. "i think we should just leave, no need to bother with that disgusting thing on the other side," kuang xin said, finding it irritating even to glance at him. xu ruoguang looked at everyone and nodded in agreement quietly, "i think so too." the hand he used to speak was slightly trembling as it rested on the hilt of his sword at his waist. it was excitement... the other party''s aura was so familiar... familiar to the point where he wanted to go up and slash him with his sword! "alright then..." gu lan could only shrug helplessly as everyone wanted to play it safe. she couldn''t ignore everyone''s opinion; this wasn''t just her guild, "i''ll listen to you all." "my lord... i''m afraid we can''t accept your commission," dai lian said calmly. although he referred to him as my lord, his attitude was already one of equality. different "attitudes" are required when facing different npcs. players are not beings that you can bully at will. "we came back simply to fulfill our duty, to bring you what you commissioned... as for your current request, we truly don''t have time. sorry." "not doing it?" the smile that had been constant on wallis''s face suddenly stiffened, and the only original eye he had left emitted a dangerous chill, "not doing it? how can you not do it?" "my lord, our commission relationship is only temporary. we completed the task, and now you should fulfill your promise," dai lian reminded him. "the items are upstairs; you can send someone to check, then... settle the commission." he didn''t know why, but this time the task reward settlement was proving to be exceptionally difficult. perhaps there was some special plotline, but dai lian didn''t want to delve deeper into content that seemed too bizarre. wallis obviously didn''t want to let go of the five odd "bounty hunters" who could bring him unimaginable power. it had already been proven that their service could enhance his strength, so they must continue doing so indefinitely! how could they renege? your journey continues with empire "how can you renege? how can you renege?" wallis asked repeatedly, each time more heavily than the last, his expression growing more paranoid and frantic, "you should work for me! this is your responsibility in coming to this world!" "bang!" the response to him was a bullet. from behind the five players... came from the stairs connecting to the room on the ground. the ancient double-barreled shotgun fired a slender bullet, with mysterious inscriptions traced upon it, creating patterns dazzling to the eyes. only gong yan and gu lan were able to glance at it briefly, yet they utterly failed to comprehend its meaning. the five players, who were belatedly aware of the gunfire, turned their heads and saw two men in black trench coats, each holding the edge of the floor above with one hand as they flipped down from the narrow staircase entrance. as the two men landed agilely on their feet, two lifeless bodies flopped down from above, making a double ''thump'' as they hit the ground. "we''ve really found a big one!" the man of average height leading the way shouldered his double-barreled shotgun, slowly sweeping his gaze over every creature he could see. a faint grey spiritual energy clung to his eyes, allowing him to differentiate whether the creatures in front of him had any connection to demons. a thick demonic presence had cloaked everyone, endowing them with an ominous and sinister aura. and the most central source... was undoubtedly the figure standing alone in the middle of the hall, dark and profound like a high-dimensional space curvature point. the tall and thin companion landing behind casually surveyed the surrounding architecture and kicked away a device resembling a wrench. with the clanking of gears and chains, the entrance to the ground was slowly sealed by the sliding iron gate. with a ''swoosh,'' he drew his twin silver scimitars, the blades reflecting a warm orange sheen. "no one''s leaving today!" the thin, tall man bared his teeth, his voice rough and deep. the devilish scent filling his nostrils was revolting, yet it excited him immensely. his gaze swept over the two men who had suddenly appeared, and dai lian saw a familiar emblem between the collars of their trench coats, so he murmured a warning to his companions, "it''s the people from arbitration place." they weren''t the same two they were familiar with, but the agents of arbitration place generally acted in the same manner. moreover, since the agents of arbitration place had sniffed their way here, the answer was almost ready to present itself. the abnormal beholder gang leader before them had become a believer of the demon at some unknown time! were they... entangled in some special scripted event? he wondered if there was any benefit to be reaped from it. dai lian''s eyes flickered as he subconsciously stepped back when he heard the two agents of arbitration place, who were deemed capable allies to rely on at the moment, cry out in unison, "don''t come any closer!" "step aside!" x2 "..." the two agents looked at the five players with eyes full of vigilance, "we''ll discuss your matters, children of the demon, after we''ve dealt with him! don''t think about running; you won''t get away!" the stance of the place towards the children of the demon was somewhat ambiguous at the moment. after all, these people were not demons themselves, and according to the information collected so far, their actions also did not tend to serve demons. the reality unfolding before their eyes could also substantiate this, as they had been there for a while, merely observing what kind of relationship existed between the children of the demon and the demon''s believers before they came forward. and quite obviously, the children of the demon and the demon''s believers were not one and the same. hearing the words of the arbitration place agents, the players were utterly befuddled¡ª "???" "the child of a demon?" "how did we become ''children of demons''?" "what even is a ''child of a demon''?" dai lian did not dwell too much on this, he merely urged everyone to move towards the edge. after all, the main players at the moment were not the five of them, but rather the confrontation between the gang leader, who had given himself over to demons, and the two enforcers of the arbitration place. they... might have become camera carriers? realizing there was a spectacle to be witnessed, several players lost their initial tension and instead filled with anticipation for the clash of high-end powers within the game. wallis tilted his head to the sky, spreading his arms wide as if embracing something. "did you think i hadn''t noticed you?" his voice boomed increasingly less human, sounding as though boundless thunder roared behind him, and as he turned his head, the indescribable ferocious face of a monster had replaced his originally mechanically modified one. "i''ve been waiting for you to come in!" the brutal aura spread out instantaneously like a tsunami, and the surging spiritual energy stirred in an otherworldly sense like an underwater vortex, drawing all present uncontrollably closer. as if even their souls were being absorbed... the true form of a demon... descended! "the true form!" "he has directly summoned his true form!" visible horror rose instantly on the faces of the two enforcers. the gap between the true form of a demon and a demon believer was as vast as the heavens and the earth. in their brief investigation, there was only one core demon believer here, the leader of the underground fighting gang... but how could a single person have summoned the true form of a demon! "this is trouble!" ... the terrifying voice of the demon god echoed in the depths of black street like the deep tolling of a bell. it was a shriek that seemed to come from the depths of the human heart, instilling a profound awe from the depths of the soul. like the heart being tightly clutched, unknown terror eroded gilder''s mind wave after wave like a sea storm. no sound... but the voice resounded directly within the heart. gilder was all too familiar with this, as during those endless days and nights of torment, it was this kind of spiritual fear that tortured every one of his displaced compatriots, including himself. it was a demon! another demon had appeared in the world! the moment gilder realized this thought, he pulled his hands out from his embrace. he raised the flare gun, which was covered in the sweat of his palm, and aimed it toward the sky. "whoosh!" the orange firework left a trail in the sky that lasted quite a while, and the sharp buzzing could be heard even from a great distance. ... military camp. seeing the projectile shooting straight into the sky, the soldier on night watch in the tower narrowed his eyes and then shook his head resignedly. "those fighting gangs... they always love to cause a commotion." crying for help when they can''t win in a fight was the most common tactic of those outside gangs. but even if those guys had their brains knocked out, it wouldn''t have much to do with their military camp. only when things got too out of hand would someone notify them to send a few people to handle and intimidate a bit. usually, it wasn''t taken seriously. yet it was still quite unusual to see such a ruckus in the middle of the night... his companion on night watch strained to look in the direction of the flare, then shook his head with some regret, "too far away, can''t get a good view of the action..." "hey, hey, hey? stop looking, it seems like someone''s coming our way?" hearing his comrade''s words, the soldier turned to look back at the military camp. s§×arch* the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. sure enough, a slender figure approached the gate at a brisk pace. "who''s going out in the middle of the night?" raising her hood slightly, the delicate jawline appeared before the eyes of the soldiers at the gate. "it''s miss yueying..." "let her pass!" ... "someone else is coming..." "why is nobody sleeping in the middle of the night?" "...it''s an armored battalion instructor from the arbitration place." "...let him pass!" ... "and another one comes..." bai e, facing the light, showed his pass... Chapter 289 274 Fierce Battle bai e was originally meditating on his bed in his campsite, cultivating spiritual energy.having learned a plethora of skills regarding spiritual energy with yue ying tonight, he needed serene reflection to consolidate them, assisting himself in becoming more familiar with those techniques. of course... the cultivation of spiritual energy itself was also essential. beyond the awakening, subsequent practice did not present images of a sky full of stars or the primordial cosmos as grand visions beyond time and space. bai e''s spiritual energy merely undulated faintly within his body; occasionally, some mischievous energy would leap out from the life magnetic field designated by his body, briefly "peeking" at the outside world. spiritual energy was never a constrained or rigid theorem; it followed the heart''s intentions, the human will, the occasional whimsical ideas... and occasionally, the dark thoughts from deep within, born of impulse, wandering freely in this world. as of now, bai e''s spiritual power of level 10 was insufficient to support him in extended external observation of the "world." however, at the moment the signal shot into the sky, bai e, who had given the order, felt as if he witnessed the entire journey of the flare from dark corners to the heavens. because it was "related" to him, was the energy able to capture it the moment it appeared? realizing this, bai e harbored even more fascination towards the existence of spiritual energy, and the sudden surprise in his thoughts caused a momentary surge within it. the rapid expansion and contraction were akin to a "desire" of the spiritual energy to grow; had he calmed his mind to meditate quietly at that moment, perhaps his spiritual energy would joyfully increase by +1. however, bai e didn''t have the luxury to delve deeper. trouble had struck! he and gilder had stressed the importance of the signal flare, and he trusted the old man knew what he was doing. if it weren''t for something significant, he would never have fired the signal flare to summon bai e. since the signal was launched, it meant something had happened that was related to his own "foundation" and was urgent and inescapable. it had to be resolved immediately! what could it be? the secret underground warehouse discovered? the rat people found by the arbitration place? or something else? but the direction the signal came from was... black street. the faint trail of light in the sky was still visible, allowing one to discern the direction from which the signal had originated. produced by the military, bai e had taken the opportunity to exchange military merits for it and had given it to gilder; its quality was, of course, reliable. so what had happened on black street? after leaving the camp, bai e sprinted through the dim starlight at breakneck speed. black street was the nearest human settlement outside the military camp, but it was still at a considerable distance from the camp itself. ... the basement. the demon revealed its true form. with a distorted face, its muscles were skinless and bulged as though countless tangled sinews had gathered together; shiny fascia wrapped around the body like a layer of bloody sausage casing, and its abscessed head was covered with eyes. those eyes focused simultaneously in different directions on every person present, roving around and emanating palpable malice to everyone under their gaze. in fact, there were not many people left... aside from five players and two enforcers from arbitration place, everyone else in the basement¡ªwhether they were being whipped or the thugs delivering the beatings¡ªhad collapsed limply to the ground the moment the demon manifested. the force that targeted their souls was not something those who muddled through black street without any central beliefs could resist. among the multitude of eyes on the swollen mass, some seemed puzzled by the situation, looking around aimlessly. "thank goodness it''s not an original demon!" one of the enforcers on high alert relaxed slightly upon seeing the demon''s true form. the souls that were being drained had not been sent directly to a higher-dimensional space to become wandering spirits in that bizarre realm, suffering eternal torment, but were temporarily imprisoned within the demon''s body. this opened up the possibility of rescuing them... or rather, the possibility of granting them release. "are you afraid?" the enforcer of average height took a step back, standing shoulder to shoulder with his partner. the standard team of two enforcers could usually only guarantee an advantage over demon believers, provided the group wasn''t too large. but facing the demon''s true form head-on... he wasn''t very confident. the recordings of similar events in the office usually required several or even more than ten teams working together to achieve victory. of course... the scale of demon believers capable of summoning the true form of a demon was often immense; those believers were troublesome on their own, and the summoned demon''s strength would increase with the number of summoners, so difficulty was expected. the current situation, where a singular believer summoned the demon to possess and descend... was unheard of. the tall, skinny enforcer pulled a bottle filled with exorcism essential oil from his chest, "pop" went the sound as he opened the stopper, pouring the slightly viscous liquid onto the crossed blades in his hands. watching the massive, terrifying figure shaped like a mountain of flesh, the tall, skinny man''s body trembled with excitement, "this is the very demon we''ve been hunting!" demons in their true forms rarely appear in the human world for two main reasons. first, the conditions supporting their arrival in this realm are extremely harsh, and under the relentless pursuit of the arbitration place''s full corps of executioners, it is rare for believers who worship demons to amass a sufficiently large scale and sacrifice enough to summon a demon''s true body. moreover, aside from those demons of the primeval source and above, other demons stand a chance of being slain once they come into the real world. purifying even one is undoubtedly a great contribution to the whole of human society. the emotional thoughts and sentiments drifting in higher-dimensional space would not normally harm people in the real world, but it is these "demons," formed and with a will from the entanglement of countless emotions, that pose the greatest threat to human society. they instinctively manipulate emotions to accelerate the corrosion of human minds. external threats like insects and beastmen might also be severe disasters to humankind, but it is often the erosion from within that is more worthy of vigilance and more capable of completely subverting everything humans have. "do you want our help?" a voice suddenly came from the corner. it was dai lian''s. this game was not like the conventional ones they used to play; the players could not just stand by holding the camera. perhaps, they too could do something? the medium-sized executioner glanced over the five players, his expression revealing complex emotions¡ª it was these children of demons that turned normal humans into believers capable of summoning demons on their own, yet now they were willing to fight side by side with him and his partner... perhaps... they could not be labeled as "children of demons"? that title might not be quite fair to them. the fleeting thought passed, and the executioner gently pushed bullets soaked in exorcism essential oil into the chamber of his shotgun. with an explosive blaze bursting from the barrel, the elongated and sharp projectiles were the first to sound the horn of attack against the descending demon. "fire!" the dual-bladed executioner dashed forward with agile steps, as complementary coordination was a must for a two-person fighting team. while his partner was skilled with a gun, infusing bullets with his will to create piercing power strong enough to penetrate metal and stone, he naturally had to be able to entangle the opponent at close quarters, giving his partner enough opportunity to find vulnerabilities and deliver fatal damage. what met the dual blades was a hand hammer resembling a flesh tumor encrusted with metal spikes. despite the executioner''s agile figure, the hammer acted like a lethal magnet, attracting his blades and forcing him into a contest of strength where he was at a disadvantage. the true form of the demon was bizarre, vaguely resembling a humanoid shape, but otherwise, it bore no relation to humankind. where hands should be, there were only two massive lumps of flesh throbbing as if they were breathing. in the instant when the blades filled with spiritual energy made contact with the hammer, an astonishing suction force transmitted from the hammer to the blades. sear?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the spiritual energy adhering to the blades was instantly torn apart like fluid ripped by a giant gravitational source, pulled into the depths of the hammer. spiritual energy is a part of the spirit. the abnormal effects acting on spiritual energy are often felt as if they were one''s own, and the lean executioner instinctively combated this deadly suction. naturally, he found himself overpowered in terms of strength as he focused all his effort on fighting the abnormal attraction. in an instant, his lean body was hurled into the air, smashing towards the concrete ceiling above. the seasoned executioner was not simply defeated; his immediate decision to use the force of his foe to escape the danger zone saved him. the moment he touched the ceiling, he used all four limbs to spring away lightly. however, the foe was clearly unwilling to let him go. the seemingly cumbersome legs burst forth with incredible speed, their acceleration ability in a straight line comparable to the executioner''s agile evasions. and the underground space was only so large, severely limiting the humans skilled in agile combat. "ding!" "ding!" the dual blades resisted with difficulty, while the bullets searched for a chance to penetrate the defenses. but the longer the fight went on, the paler the two executioners'' faces became. they could clearly sense that their spiritual energy was rapidly weakening! or rather, not weakening... but being absorbed! being absorbed by this coreless demon! a demon capable of absorbing the spiritual energy of its opponents for its own use! this was troublesome! "boom!" a massive battle-ax crashed down on the demon wielding the heavy hammer. kuang xin, who was not quick, finally caught up with the brief pause in the "two-person" battle. kuang xin, who specialized solely in strength, was no less capable in terms of strength than the executioners empowered by spiritual energy, and his use of heavy weapons also granted him an additional advantage from the weapon itself. enjoy new tales from empire "rua!" "bang!" the next moment, the fleshy hammer ferociously slammed against the ax face, and kuang xin went flying in response... Chapter 290 275 Adaptive Armor however, kuang xin''s momentary block had allowed both xu ruoguang and gu lan to close in, with longswords that differed in style but were equally fast and sharp.dai lian took down his bow and arrow but did not shoot immediately. in such a complex and cramped environment, with the figures in combat rapidly intertwining and changing, it was very easy to accidentally strike a teammate. the temporary stalemate by the player gave the two enforcers from arbitration place a brief opportunity to catch their breath. "its strength is so powerful..." "and it has special abilities." the two enforcers communicated briefly with the information they had observed. "but there''s only one believer... how is that possible?" experience derived from long-term combat with demons allowed all enforcers to make basic judgments about a demon''s combat capabilities. the strength of demons in high-dimensional spaces varied greatly, but regardless of how strong or weak they were, when they arrived in the real world, they would undergo a certain "rule-based" "combat power adjustment." in simple terms, the more human believers summoning the demon, the stronger the individual strength, life essence... or mainly, the stronger the spiritual energy, the stronger the summoned demon would be. if it''s a possession-type arrival, the human host''s own strength will also have an influence. so sometimes, the summoning process for a demon is also a two-way selection¡ª if the scale of believers performing the summoning is too small, a demon lord with an exceedingly high status in the high-dimensional space might arrive in the real world only to become a laughingstock, a situation no demon would accept. a demon that can be summoned by a weakling must also be a weakling. but how could a demon summoned by only one believer be so troublesome that they were almost no match for it? the enforcers'' gaze drifted, and they saw those "children of the demon" struggling to buy them time... the reason might lie with them. but no matter what, the fact had already occurred, and what they needed to consider was how to counter it. "he can absorb the spiritual energy from our attacks..." the tall and thin enforcer muttered contemplatively. "we can''t use spiritual energy anymore... we need a more tangible form of strength." combat wasn''t just about brute force, especially when fighting demons; intellect was equally important. demons that stemmed from different emotional cores often possessed different types of abilities, some excelling in deceitful schemes, half-truths and half-lies; others in close-quarters combat, fierce and unrivaled. to confront demons with different inclinations, one must choose the appropriate counter-tactic. "tangible, huh..." the enforcer carrying a double-barreled shotgun squinted his eyes and took a step back. he stretched out his hand, and the space about twenty or thirty centimeters in front of his palm began to blur. with the demon''s arrival in person, the space it occupied had taken on some characteristics of the high-dimensional space¡ª partially tangible, partially ethereal, disregarding time and space. this also made it much easier for them to use the spiritual technique that allowed storage of items in high-dimensional space. the black steel creation slowly emerged from the hazy waves, revealing its edges as it was gradually pulled out by his hand. as the object being stored was quite large, it required some time. the tall and thin enforcer didn''t wait relentlessly; the demon''s strength was unimaginably huge, and it could ignore attacks that didn''t exceed a certain threshold. although the "children of the demon" tried their best to entangle it, another had already been sent flying in the time it took to speak. gu lan was suddenly smashed against the wall and fell limply to the ground. kuang xin, who had been sent flying earlier, had not yet recovered, and with gu lan severely hit, only xu ruoguang remained in close combat, his fingers brushing over the longsword with a sharp gaze. a focused will sharpened his perception of time once again, and the bullet-time effect working behind the scenes accelerated not just his consciousness. his recent strikes had allowed him to see some of the demon''s basic attribute information from the system feedback panel¡ª [??? (demon) (chaos): health 193/200; defensive power 99; action power 100%; attack power (type: blunt) 20~???; traits: adaptive armor, ???] [adaptive armor: the living body''s surface defense system allows ??? to adapt to any attack initiated against it. as long as the attack doesn''t exceed its defensive power, all forms of attacks will struggle to achieve effective offense.] in fact, even without the display of the system panel, his instincts, which were more direct in combat, also made him realize something¡ª the demon''s defensive power was beyond imagination, and there were only two ways to inflict genuine effective damage on it: either, use an overwhelmingly powerful attack exceeding 99 points to break through directly. however, given their current weapons only had an energy output of around ten to twenty points, this requirement was far too strict. or... exceed the "living armor''s" response time with the fastest strike and breach the opponent''s reactive defenses in one go. conveniently, what he could do was precisely this ultra-fast strike! the pus-filled boils symbolizing its head, those countless eyes simultaneously watched kuang xin, gu lan, xu ruoguang, and other players, each eye filled with greed and covetousness at this moment. "don''t seek death, children... my children, do not seek your own destruction, you shall be my finest offspring..." the voice that sounded half-demon god, half-human emanated from this terrifying body, its resonant echo as if there were hundreds of people participating in a chorus with his voice. that was the voice of countless ordinary people from black street trapped within his body... that voice made xu ruoguang so angry, the desire for anger driving his longsword. the flash of a sword, the shadow of the blade shattered, the figure flew. the moment he activated it, countless eyes seemed to freeze on him, and xu ruoguang, who locked eyes with the enemy, felt that his next move was entirely within the opponent''s expectation. so he was indeed sent flying by a hammer blow... "cough cough cough!" the heavy blow to his chest had xu ruoguang curled up on the ground, coughing violently. this was the first time, even "bullet time" was ineffective against the enemy! seeing their teammate was no match, the two female gamers, who felt it was time to do something, simultaneously unleashed their spiritual energy. both of them had intrinsic attributes that leaned toward the mysterious, possessing enough mystical base attributes that once they entered the "game," their natural talents were inevitably related to spiritual energy. they didn''t need to cultivate; their grasp over spiritual energy came naturally. this was the path of all human beings with the gift of spiritual energy, and it was their path as well. "don''t!" the tall and lean executor sensed the explosion of those two bursts of spiritual energy right away. too primitive! too crude! these kids'' spiritual energy grew wildly, having the talent but not the control. spiritual energy without control... only brings disaster upon the bearer. especially when around demons... compared to their physical bodies in the real world, the "spiritual bodies" of most intelligent creatures in high-dimensional space are as fragile as thin paper. and the moment a spiritual energy talent bursts forth, it shines in high-dimensional space like a starfire in the dark night. in that instant, just like sharks in the sea drawn to the scent of blood, the demons "draw close", recklessly swimming towards the shine, tearing apart the "spiritual body" of the spiritual energy talent. some with the talent for spiritual energy might occasionally burst forth and, due to "luck", temporarily evade the demons'' grasp, but when they''re near a demon... such luck must not be counted on! the summoned demon god itself had already drawn enough attention of its "kin"! discover hidden content at empire and now... the tall and lean executor, who first raised his voice in warning, gave a slight start at the next breath. the spirited girl who was first struck with a sword could be put aside for now, but... that girl who looked a bit more delicate and cute, how... how... her outburst was so easygoing and concealed? her way of using spiritual energy was still savage, but it wasn''t something a spiritual energy talent who had grown wild could compare to. however... this covert way of using spiritual energy wasn''t something he had seen before. where had she learned such techniques? as the doubt flashed through his mind, the tall and lean executor, wielding dual blades, charged straight at gu lan. no matter what, the cute girl''s spiritual energy outburst was a bit more concealed, and that was somewhat more reassuring. at least... he wouldn''t have to consider saving them both in the high-dimensional space at the same time. with a stride, the tall and lean executor became half visible and half invisible¡ª high-dimensional walking! entering high-dimensional space actively and briefly, which was initially used to dodge some attacks in the real world, could also be applied in combat within high-dimensional space. relying on the direct touch of the magnetic field of life from the real world for positioning, the tall and lean executor arrived next to the formless jellyfish-like "spiritual body" without shape or color. "swish!" dual blades unleashed, severing several tentacles coming from who knows where out of the "darkness". "extinguish it quickly!" an alert voice resounded directly in gu lan''s mind, and she, sensing threat instinctively, complied with the tall and lean executor''s suggestion. the flicker of "firelight" in the dark space dissipated in an instant, and this brief crisis was averted with more alarm than harm. the intentional dispersal of the spiritual energy also meant that gu lan had no more power to resist, and gong yan''s outburst was only to hasten her own healing. but the players'' resistance didn''t stop there. "whoosh!" a pitch-black steel arrow shot out from a corner, dai lian, who had been looking for an opportunity, finally made his move, and indeed, it was this unspoken understanding that made gu lan and gong yan burst forth with spiritual energy simultaneously, trying to cover up their real ace in the hole. this arrow flew as swiftly as lightning. "clang!" sear?h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the sound of metal clashing rang out, and the bent arrow fell to the ground, defeated. a powerful shot indeed would not stop for any obstruction, but when facing a target it couldn''t penetrate, it couldn''t serve its purpose. "this isn''t your responsibility, kids!" a composed voice rose from the direction of the underground hall entrance, and the delays everyone contributed to finally allowed the executor to draw the weapon he needed. a heavy machine gun... one that should be mounted on a vehicle. Chapter 291 276 rout! facing demons also requires hand-to-hand combat.since the individual weapons at hand aren''t deadly enough, and spiritual energy can easily become a power utilized by the opponent in facing this demon, it might be better to directly apply their most powerful heavy weapons. a demon? take this, a magazine of armor-piercing bullets first! the entire gun, over a meter long, exudes a heavy mass as the enforcer, clutching the large firearm, turns red in the face with exertion. spiritual energy isn''t good for direct attacks, but it can be used to amplify one''s own strength; even so, it was extremely difficult for him to operate this steel weapon, originally a fearsome instrument of war. the twin-blade enforcer was the first to spring back, bracing the stand with his shoulder, steadying the gun barrel with both hands to ensure the trajectory wouldn''t be destabilized by the recoil during firing. kuang xin, who had been treated with gong yan''s spiritually energy-boosted medical techniques, also rushed over, and with their combined support, the large machine gun finally seemed less unnerving. amid the countless eyes on the demon''s "head"¡ªsome surprised, some fearful, some arrogant¡ªa red storm of bullets rapidly expanded in their direction. "da-da-da-da-da-da-da!" the roar of the machine gun echoed deafeningly in the basement, with the spent casings easily covering the feet of the enforcer who was shooting. "da-da-da..." the sound gradually subsided as the ammunition belt reached its end. the intense heat traveled along the steel structure to the hands of the two men stabilizing the gun; even the fingers covered with spiritual energy were scorched crimson red, and holding on steadily was all a matter of willpower. the tall and thin enforcer was aware of his own sensations, so when he looked again at the "demon''s spawn" who was also bracing the gun, his eyes showed a hint of respect. he acted out of accusation, out of belief. what about him? the fact that demons were born fearing him was not his intention, but now he could stand firmly alongside him, which proved their own will. and it looked like... his endurance even surpassed his own? with his face unchanging against the intense heat, he firmly braced, demonstrating a resolute will that even he found difficult to achieve. looking around, the other few in the corner supporting each other appeared miserable, yet they held their weapons and vigilantly watched the demon being baptized by the bullet storm, tensely waiting for the outcome. no matter what the group of "demon''s spawn" was like, at least those here were not enemies of humanity. a fleeting thought regarding how to treat the demon''s spawn passed through his mind, and the tall and lean enforcer then focused his gaze on the demon which had nearly consumed all the bullets. "huala-la-la~" the embedded bullets, slightly lodged into the flesh, were easily ejected under the pressure of the muscles, trickling to the ground with a distinct metallic clinking sound of impact. no blood... no wounds. find adventures on empire the demon looked down at its body as the numerous eyes spun round and round. some relieved, some cunning, some believing it should be so... heavy footsteps lightly treaded over bullets-covered ground, with a brutal rumbling noise erupting, "is this the extent of the attacks you humans can muster?" the reason it tolerated the human attack was to gauge its current strength. prior feedback from those bounty hunters endowed it with too much power; the abundance of strength left it uncertain of its own level. it needed a definitive test to ascertain the level of its current power. and now it seemed... invincible! "why aren''t we running?" kuang xin, who stood beside the twin-blade enforcer and saw that the opponent was unharmed, looked confused and asked instinctively. if they couldn''t beat it, why not run and wait for the opportune moment to drag the boss out of combat and finish the job? "we can''t go!" the twin-blade enforcer firmly refused. if it were just a matter of dealing with demon believers, they would simply run if they couldn''t win and come back another time. but confronting the true form of a demon... such beings represented corruption to the mortal world. while they remained hidden, the low whispers and gazes from the higher-dimensional spaces could still corrupt the minds of sentient beings; this temptation towards degeneration intensifies when they appear directly in the real world. every sentient being that looks directly at a demon god is at a much higher risk of falling into depravity than the average person. allowing it to move freely was no different from aiding the demon in spreading its influence! every demon that appeared in the world had to be executed on the spot! "but you can leave!" the gun-wielding enforcer looked at him with a grim gaze, already showing a readiness to fight to the death. "go to the military camp!" it was the nearest urban unit with combat capabilities from here. the city was too far away, and the minor high-dimensional spatial fluctuations here couldn''t be detected by the enforcers from the arbitration place, and notifying them would take too much time. only the military camp! that was the best option to resolve the current problem! [trigger side mission ¡ª seek reinforcements.] [seek reinforcements: you''re engaged in battle with a legendary high-dimensional demon, but the vast mismatch in combat strength makes you realize your current abilities are insufficient to execute this dangerous extraterrestrial entity on the spot. you need reinforcements! mission requirement: notify the military (faction) and lead reinforcements to arrive successfully before the two enforcers from the arbitration place perish 0/1. mission completion reward: information ¡ª "demon''s spawn," prestige ¡ª arbitration place, 200 universal experience points; mission failure reward: prestige with arbitration place reduced to "hostile." (countdown: ???)] "this is our arbitration place insignia! make it quick!" the twin-blade enforcer handed kuang xin a small metal badge, casually abandoning the braced machine gun and once again drew his twin blades to face the opponent who had lost patience and charged at them again. thus, he gritted his teeth on the final word. fatal attraction seemed only to affect spiritual energy; once his twin blades lacked the attachment of spiritual energy, the twin-blade enforcer could instead display his agile skills. amidst flickering forms, there seemed to be a hint of entanglement. "let''s go!" kuang xin chopped an ax down on the hinge, and the simple mechanical device instantly lost its intended sealing function. the gate to the ground slid open, and several players, all wounded, filed out. "cough cough cough!" xu ruoguang couldn''t help but cough violently, "too hard to fight..." "with our current strength, we are still far from enough." dai lian was the one in the best condition, and at this time, his reasoning was still relatively clear, "this kind of scenario is probably just to let us go through the motions and experience what truly high-end power is like in the game." "but these executors don''t seem to be much stronger than us." "that''s why we need to find even stronger allies!" "no more talking, let''s hurry, i hope they can hold on." gu lan didn''t know where the barracks were located, simply urging the others to lead the way. while talking, he glanced back at the underground... the orange warm light at this moment couldn''t bring the slightest warmth to anyone. "boom!" right before their eyes, the concrete ceiling was suddenly pushed open. the cracking process occurred little by little, and the interspersed steel rebar was also squeezed and deformed by the surging force. and all of this was done by merely a pliable body. twin blades fell helplessly from midair, and the fabric-like body continued to smash down towards the ceiling below. "bang!" a heavy, startling sound erupted as the forcefully dropped body now resembled nothing more than a ragged sack. s§×arch* the n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "boom!" another executor didn''t escape either, following in his comrade''s footsteps, similarly blasted from below by a massive force. the two bodies fell to the floor of the first level, twitching slightly, their entire forms boneless and limp, with the outcome of life or death uncertain. "gulp." watching the bodies whose fates were unknown at such close range, kuang xin visibly swallowed. in an instant, dai lian grabbed his bow and arrow, his gaze sharp as he looked down, making combat assignments. "yanzi, go send a message; the rest of us will stay and delay!" the mission stated that before the two executors from arbitration place died, they must bring someone back to witness it¡ªnot only was there a time constraint, they were also supposed to stay and fight alongside them for protection. due to their trust in npcs, they lost the opportunity to cooperate in combat, but staying now might still present a slim chance. after all, they weren''t completely dead yet. although it was risky, it was just a game. seizing every opportunity in battle and missions, they could enjoy gaming and level up quickly. "rumble..." the demon below began wrecking the place; two bursts had already caused mortal damage to the building''s structure, and as the load-bearing walls collapsed, the reinforced concrete floors started to cave under their own weight. "take them and go!" kuang xin acted swiftly, picking up the closest body to him. the five of them retreated in a hurry amid a cloud of dust. in the vast, irregularly collapsed terrain, a body like that of a demon god slowly stepped out from the dust, one step at a time. the fierce form appeared even more terrifying and sinister in the moonlight. dai lian''s gaze hardened, and he shot an arrow, striking preemptively, "fire!" "bang!" simultaneously, a familiar bullet came shooting from behind, its oddly patterned bullet-head glinting with the pale luminescence of spiritual energy. "splat!" a slight sound of piercing flesh rose, and the demon''s numerous eyes seemed a bit stunned as it looked at the spot where it had been shot. the damage wasn''t high. but it was injured? "huff! huff!" propping herself up with her double-barreled shotgun, franca leaned against the edge of the building, taking deep breaths. she had nearly expended all her strength sprinting from the barracks. the demon! the aura of a demon! she too had seen the trajectory of the flare in the sky, but she sensed the demon''s presence slightly earlier than that. this was thanks to the special assault abilities against demons that executors from arbitration place required in training, and it was also because the barracks were the closest location to the incident. she was the first one to arrive! "huff~ huff~" after catching her breath, franca''s clear voice called out from a distance, "hey! arbitration place is handling this case, unrelated people can back off now." Chapter 292 277 Sword Dance! it was someone familiar.the young lady? she came as well? "but my lord..." dai lian pointed towards the battered bodies of the two enforcers they had set aside, "your two colleagues are already injured." "colleagues?" franca was startled, concentrated her gaze, and only then did she discern the familiar emblem on the two unobtrusive black bundles set aside ¡ª a longsword rising with black flames. had two colleagues already come here? and... to be injured to this extent? franca''s brow furrowed in an instant, alarms ringing in her heart. it seemed the target was trickier than she had imagined! indeed... how could the source of the demon aura that she could feel from such a distance in the military camp be anything but formidable? "no matter, leave this to me, and fall back." like a calf unaware of fear, the young lady was completely unfazed, and judging from the feedback, her first attack had already achieved a certain effect. just because her colleagues couldn''t handle it didn''t mean she couldn''t, either. confidence was indispensable for any strong individual who wished to grow. connected to the demonic aura, there were still many active minds underground. sensing the demon''s aura slightly, franca tapped her foot on the ground. "there are still a lot of living people down there; if you have time, you can try to rescue them." whether or not these ordinary humans would fall into depravity after having witnessed a demon firsthand, they couldn''t be neglected because of things that hadn''t happened yet. "understood!" dai lian was the first to respond. gong yan, looking at the young lady from the arbitration place, who seemed unreliable due to her youth and aggression, reminded her in a gentle but swift voice, "this demon has special abilities targeting spiritual energy; you must be careful." the two enforcers from just before had clearly been at a disadvantage in this aspect, and gong yan had also taken the opportunity of the scuffle to secretly fire a few shots with her small pistol. the bullets, endowed with spiritual energy, gave feedback that allowed her to learn some detailed information about the demon from her panel ¡ª [??? (demon) (chaos): ... traits: adaptive armor, shadow envelopment, ???] [shadow envelopment: its craving and greed for spiritual energy allows it to absorb all the spiritual energy it comes into contact with. each time it attacks a target with spiritual energy or is hit by an attack with spiritual energy, it can extract a certain amount of spiritual energy for its own use. the specific extraction efficiency is determined by the confrontation of both parties'' "spiritual energy condensation".] "be... be careful..." the two enforcers hadn''t completely expired. hearing that another had sniffed out the demon''s aura and come rushing over, their faltering spirits seemed to revive somewhat. the enforcer with the twin blades used a broken, decaying voice to weakly warn, "be careful, don''t externalize your spiritual energy." they too were experienced enforcers. after one or two mishaps, they had already figured out a strategy ¡ª keep your spiritual energy completely internal, used only to enhance your own physical attributes, to avoid the demon''s special "authority" somewhat. any slight externalization was an act that would strengthen the opponent. "i know." franca looked at the other party, fully focused. she didn''t have a player''s panel and couldn''t clearly articulate the opponent''s every feature in text form. however, the feedback from the attacks still instinctively informed her about the rough abilities of her opponent. ... even that of the fired bullet. the spiritual energy it bore was an extension of her spirit. you want to absorb my spiritual energy? you''re not worthy! a faint glow of spiritual energy appeared in franca''s eyes ¡ª spiritual energy in one segment, spirit crossing. longsword drawn, franca''s figure flashed, and she charged at her opponent like a phantom. the demon took the new challenger seriously too. she had already demonstrated her attitude and strength with bullets upon her arrival, and this was the first time it had been "injured" since appearing in this world. despite some arrogance still present in those countless eyes facing franca''s longsword, most were now filled with caution and gravity. whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! the sword light was like lightning. the blinding globe of white sword light spun, even the pale moonlight reflected off of it seemed desolate and deadly. moonwater sword dance. this was franca''s specialty she had learned from a human master of swordsmanship. she had also adjusted her genes early with gene optimization solution and had never neglected her training in her three-dimensional basic attributes. as a spiritual energy practitioner had to pay attention to even more aspects than an ordinary person. in private moments unseen by others, franca was unimaginably strict with herself. if it weren''t for her heartfelt and steadfast cultivation, how could her spiritual energy ever become so perfectly unified? even spiritual energy that she externalized still belonged to her! sword light scattered like snowflakes falling, each flake shimmering with a lethal chill. yue ying, hidden in the shadows, shifted her gaze away from two figures also concealed in a corner, silently observing everything unfolding on the battlefield before her. she had arrived earlier, but chose not to reveal herself. this was a matter occurring in human territory and was not of great concern to her. even though demons were enemies of all intelligent beings, in the end, this particular demon was merely an adversary these people were desperately confronting. in the grand scheme of things, an ordinary demon wouldn''t have much of an impact. she certainly could have intervened with ease, but why should an elf solve a human problem? before demonstrating the nobility of her soul, all humans seemed no different from the primitive monkeys in the forests to her. except for that one special artificial warrior... and it was within such exceptional events that those noble souls revealed why they shone so brightly. perhaps, if the situation truly spiraled out of control, she might consider taking action to save the day. but not just yet... yue ying remained quietly hidden, undetected by anyone. "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" the cold light of the sword swept through the air, and the clashing sound of steel could occasionally be heard. among the multitude of fallen souls, one dominant will showed signs of retreat in the battle. ''maybe we should withdraw?'' wallis''s soul was beginning to feel a hint of losing control over the current situation. the growing commotion was drawing more and more attention. even though the power he had gained from those bounty hunters was considerable, and the demonic abilities from another realm were indeed formidable, drawing too much attention too soon would be fatal if it attracted the truly powerful warriors among humans. ''what are you afraid of?'' the demonic whisper echoed in wallis''s soul, ''the more attention we attract, the stronger our power becomes. what is there to fear?'' ''but have we not already exceeded our current limits?'' ''limits? why do you think we have limits?'' human greed knows no bounds! a surge of willpower fueled a sudden intense burst of spiritual energy. "boom!" the wild aura exploded in an instant, and the fleshly fist struck the longsword dead center. even though the longsword, enhanced by spiritual energy, was as solid as an iron barrier, the transmitted force was still like a battering ram, sending franca flying. sea??h th§× n??el fire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. the sudden outburst of spiritual energy stalled franca''s movements, giving her adversary the opportunity. "hiss!" franca, sword in hand, skidded backwards for several yards before dissipating the force, every sensation of acid tearing at her arms and chest eroding her senses. the body is always the foundation that supports will; the decline of physical strength and spiritual energy affects her resolute will to some extent. this demon... is terrifyingly powerful. find more chapters on empire its strength is unimaginable, and its defensive power makes even her effective attacks limited. this was her first direct confrontation with a demon in its true form. indeed, it was the kind of monstrous creature of legends! the stories of a demon of the source being defeated single-handedly by a mere soldier seemed like fairy tales in comparison. franca, catching her breath, had undiminished fighting spirit in her eyes. no matter what, she was the last line of defense here. she must not allow the demon''s range of activity to widen, that was a rule to adhere to when dealing with demons! and those people of unknown origin were taking bodies, devoid of souls, one by one from the collapsed ruins; there was still hope of saving these people. if she didn''t quickly eliminate this demon, the souls it had held captive would likely fall into corruption even if they eventually returned to their bodies. any human without protection who was exposed for an extended period to higher-dimensional space or faced a demon, the concentrated embodiment of such space''s power, would have those unimaginable forces permeate their very marrow and soul. in every dream, every moment of drifting consciousness, every lapse of focus, the contamination experienced would spread from the depths of the mind like a living darkness, engulfing the entire spirit. and each of these spirits would become a conduit for demons to invade reality. the longer they stayed hidden, the greater the danger. "hum~" the longsword resonated. the edge became even sharper with the infusion of spiritual energy. mastery of advanced skills was not exclusive to bai e; all natives had the potential to learn or even create such legacies. skill¡ªsword dance! Chapter 293 278 Bow Shadow on the Long Street "she''s so amazing..."players with their souls torn from their bodies were occasionally pulled out from the ruins with difficulty, and even they would occasionally turn to watch the duel that was unfolding. gu lan, who was also a swordsman, watched the unfamiliar npc using sword techniques and felt such envy that his eyes turned red. dai lian couldn''t help but sigh softly, "i didn''t expect her to be so powerful." in their previous two encounters, this young mistress from the arbitration place seemed loud and reckless in her actions, giving off an unreliable impression. it was only at moments like these that one could truly witness the true strength of the young mistress. facing an opponent against whom her two colleagues could hardly put up a fight, she was still able to attack vigorously, which was unbelievable. but that was all. the drastic output of spiritual energy caused franca''s spiritual energy to be significantly weakened. once accustomed to the presence of spiritual energy, the fluctuation of its intensity began to correlate with the firmness of one''s will. the lack of satisfactory results in battle and the rapid decline of her spiritual energy started to shake franca''s confidence. no breach in defense! completely unbreachable! the attack was effective. the fine sword breeze left countless tiny cuts on the body that seemed to lack skin... but that was all. even at the moment she stopped her attack, those tiny wounds began to heal themselves as if breathing with life. in the blink of an eye, the wounds disappeared, and the body was as good as new. not fast enough! the damage inflicted exceeded a certain duration, so much so that the enemy''s defense "reacted"? either be faster, or deal higher damage to pierce through! from the feedback received during the attack, franca roughly guessed the strategy needed to defeat the enemy. she figured her two colleagues had also thought of this battle tactic, but simply... their abilities were limited. in a pure contest of attack and defense, this demon specialized in these and also had special countermeasures against spiritual energy, making it an almost unsolvable predicament at the moment. "hahahaha!" the demon, seemingly just snapped out of a trance, stood in place and burst into loud laughter. the human voice intertwined with the demonic one, creating an eerie chorus of laughter from countless directions. "is this all you''ve got! is this all you''ve got!" wallis'' restless soul had finally succumbed completely to that arrogant ambition at this moment. "this is the level of an arbiter''s executor from the arbitration place!" ''too pathetic! too pathetic!'' come on! come on! let us turn this world upside down, where everything will serve me! "come at me!" wallis'' mechanical right eye''s phantom and the demon''s fierce will both roared madly in the direction of franca. "come at me!" consequently, even the innocent souls imprisoned within began to feel a sense of "honored involvement." under the expansion of the insane will, the demon''s stature seemed to grow a few inches taller under the moonlight. franca''s brow furrowed slightly, ignoring her opponent''s insane growth. ''it seems that the civilians'' decision wasn''t wrong...'' she witnessed that, even after her command, they still sent someone running in the direction from which she had come... which was the direction of the military camp. in the face of such a powerful demon, more reinforcements were certainly needed. so before that, it was up to herself to buy them time! franca stretched out her hand, and the space in front of her became hazy. a pair of gauntlets materialized swiftly. spiritual energy creation¡ªbig fighting gauntlets. using a sword was her inherent skill, adept at attack but weak in defense. wanting to change tactics and engage in prolonged combat, she naturally needed a strategy more suited to defense and evasion. as the most talented offspring in her family, she was armed to the teeth by her clan. she might not use her equipment in normal times, but when necessary, no one could bully her. enjoy more content from empire franca, with the gauntlets on, moved nimbly, and the skills of a master fighter from the gauntlets covered her instincts. ten minutes! in ten minutes, no one could catch her! she could only hope that the young girl who went to report moved quickly. withdrawing her gaze from the dark path behind her, franca''s face bore a warlike expression as she looked towards the demon''s true form approaching with large strides. this body, belonging to the demon god, was grand and imposing, shaking the ground with every step, and the air grew dim, "join me! join me! you, too, will become my finest daughter!" "tui!" franca laughed boldly, "do you even qualify?" one minute... two minutes... nine minutes... ten... minutes. her bright eyes grew dull, sweat drenched her tousled hair, and even her usually delicate makeup was a mess at this point. franca was panting heavily; even though the skill came from an external source, the physical strength needed for her movements was still her own. she expended far more spiritual energy than usual to counter the opponent''s bizarre attraction to spiritual energy, and the immense drain both physically and mentally had reduced her to an extremely poor state. and most importantly... the time for the gauntlets was up. external aid always has its limitations; it can only be used for burst moments, not for sustained combat. yue ying''s eyes flitted upwards, scanning the surroundings. no reinforcements. the young girl fought alone. "it seems she''s not a bad seed either." yue ying murmured softly, hesitating whether to intervene. suddenly, her gaze shifted towards the path they had come from. a dark figure had appeared at the end of the long street from nowhere. extremely distant. and obstructed by the winding black street architecture. hidden in the dark, only yue ying with her exceptional vision could see through the night''s darkness and notice the newcomer who had just entered her range of observation. "another person coming?" was it the reinforcements found by that human girl? but why only one? yue ying''s thoughts flashed by, only to see the figure standing still in the original spot, drawing the bowstring... ... five minutes earlier. "gong yan?" as bai e hurriedly sprinted, he saw the figure rushing toward him slow down, and he asked in confusion after recognizing the person. was she there too? does that mean the players have returned? with gilder? upon seeing bai e, a joyful smile blossomed on gong yan''s face, "my lord!" my lord actually came too! as long as my lord is here, nothing is a problem. although she hadn''t seen my lord take action many times, this game npc seemed to exude endless reliability and mystique. it felt like as long as he was around, no hardship or danger could threaten anyone. this substantial feeling of security was something she had never experienced before from anyone... even in reality. bai e controlled his breathing to prevent his voice from trembling after the intense run, and calmly asked, "what happened over there?" sear?h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "demons," gong yan replied succinctly and quickly presented the facts, "we encountered a demon. the arbitration place''s enforcer is currently helping us buy time... oh, and that lady from the arbitration place we met before, she''s here too." because of the ratfolk issue, if it got exposed, who knows what might happen between my lord and the arbitration place. gong yan, remembering this, did not panic due to the sudden event and cautiously reminded. bai e nodded. she''s in the army too, yet she reacted faster than myself? "what are you planning to do?" "an enforcer told us to go seek help from the barracks." bai e''s brows furrowed slightly. that serious? an arbitration place enforcer who specializes in hunting demons can''t resolve the situation and needs urgent reinforcement? just how strong is the opponent... the weight in bai e''s heart grew heavy. he thought of letting gong yan continue seeking help while he would go first to check the situation, "then you..." before he could speak out, he heard gong yan wiping the sweat from her forehead, murmuring to herself as if relieved... "now that my lord is here, they should be out of danger..." "..." that much trust in me, huh... it seems that my previous performance in front of them was quite satisfactory? but what should i do to make you continue to look for reinforcements? "..." after a slight silence, bai e quickly stepped forward, asking as he walked, "what was the situation when you left?" gong yan, following behind, jogged as she replied, "two enforcers are seriously injured, the four of them are basically no match and can''t help, and it''s only that lady who is buying us time alone. oh right... that demon has imprisoned many souls of the black street residents inside itself. there are many bodies of residents who have lost their souls buried beneath the ruins, and kuang xin and the others are rescuing them." "what''s distinct about the opponent?" "high defensive power, vast strength, quick in straight-line acceleration, and... it has a special ability to absorb spiritual energy." a bruiser immune to magic? bai e rapidly sketched an image of the opponent in his mind. gong yan provided the insights they gained through their attacks, carefully offering information to my lord, "based on the feedback from those two enforcers and our attacks, we believe that we need a high-energy, instantaneous impact to break through the opponent''s defensive power. but as for the actual method to injure the opponent... we still aren''t clear." so far, all their attacks couldn''t break the defense, and no one knew whether breaking it would indeed allow them to kill the demon. "got it." clearly, the players didn''t know of gilder''s existence. there was no mention of gilder or the ratfolk from the beginning to the end of the conversation. as bai e briskly walked, his gaze swept through the cluttered corners of the buildings, for the signaling gilder must be nearby. "my lord~ my lord~" suddenly, a call came out from a concealed corner. the ratfolk''s stealth abilities made them truly hard to notice unless they made a sound themselves. ''someone else?'' gong yan, following behind bai e, was slightly stunned. could it be that my lord had already arranged for people in advance? indeed! i hadn''t even reached the barracks, yet my lord had already rushed over. my lord''s network of informants indeed seemed to be everywhere... bai e quickly walked towards the corner, "the clothes, give them to me." in this situation, taking action was essential. only, that young lady was also there, and currently, i was even training under her command, so a face-to-face encounter might result in some unpredictable circumstances. it was necessary to disguise myself appropriately. moreover, there was no need for me to show my face in this battle. according to gong yan, this opponent had high offense, high defense, and magic resistance; lethal force was the only way to achieve a breakthrough. currently, archery was my strongest offensive method; there was no need to get up close and personal for a brawl. it would be both dangerous and ungraceful. with players present, nothing could be done that would risk lives and lose face. luckily, i now possess a full ten points of spiritual energy, plus a full reserve of action power and the ability to restore that reserve once with no. 3 supplement. i have explosive power in spades. not to mention, i still have one "lucky strike" opportunity that should be enough to break through the defense. after changing clothes, bai e stepped lightly to the middle of the long street, standing tall and straight, facing towards that darkness... he drew his longbow... Chapter 294 I have an arrow gilder and the ratfolk were not very close to the site of the battle, but certainly not too far away either.the sound of the wind carried the noise of the battle from afar, relatively clear in the quiet night. bai e listened quietly with his ear tilted. sparks from damaged circuits ignited a flame... heavy footsteps trembled upon the earth... rolling irregular rocks slid down from the top of the ruins... under the collision of flesh, bones imagined dislocating and cracking... the silhouette of time and space seemed like a silent movie happening before his eyes, suddenly shrinking from a far-off street directly into bai e''s gaze. now was the moment! bai e suddenly let go, and the arrow shot forth like a fish darting through water. with spiritual energy enhancing his strength, his physical abilities exhibited an additional 12% effectiveness, while the extra stamina consumed by overlimit drive manifested as 150% effectiveness integrated into this single arrow. what was more important, was the "instant kill hundred heads", a skill he had strenuously trained to perfect. the complete combustion of 10 points of spiritual energy allowed this arrow to display unprecedented power. previously, due either to the limitations of spiritual energy or the reserves of mobility, bai e had never displayed the maximum output of his strength; only after a significant increase in spiritual energy was he able to unleash his strongest attack during this night''s long-distance sniping. the arrow crossed hundreds of meters instantaneously, with countless shadowy afterimages that resembled the arrow''s soul trailing its tail feathers, following the same trajectory. the lightning-fast shot was even too swift for yue ying''s eyes to track its motion, barely discerning a complex, variable s-curve as the arrow flew. "pfft!" the arrow pierced through the air and penetrated its target. an almost unbreakable demon god body now bore a hole clear through from front to back. through it, one could see the firelight that had been hidden behind this demon god''s form... franca, who had just been sent flying by a punch, was gritting her teeth, preparing for the next onslaught, when she noticed the gigantic figure standing motionless in its spot, inert. the hole in its chest was conspicuously obvious. it... was injured? where did the attack come from? what had wounded it? completely focused on the battle, franca had almost no awareness; only the four players, who were moving corpses upward from underground, shared a brightened expression, all turning to look behind franca. system notification, was the mission accomplished? had reinforcements arrived from the camp? was yanzi so fast? read new chapters at empire yet... why was there no sound? shouldn''t an army camp''s deployment come with tanks and artillery pouring out? why was the darkness so silent? gu lan was somewhat puzzled, catching a glimpse of a confident look on his teammates'' faces from the corner of his eye. kuang xin murmured softly, "it''s the boss!" "it''s the boss!" the hole in the demon''s body was undoubtedly the masterpiece of an arrow. an arrow, the army camp... one arrow to vanquish a demon! who else could it be but our own boss? "our boss is here," dai lian said with a long sigh, his whole body relaxing. the body he was carrying suddenly dropped to the ground, and dai lian himself sat down abruptly, as if all his strength had been drained from him at that moment. never adept at physical activities, dai lian had nearly used up all his strength, just like the brutish kuang xin hauling one soulless body after another out of the rubble pile, and now that they had someone to rely on, his vitality seemed to ebb away like the tide. "the boss?" gu lan''s eyes were full of confusion. xu ruoguang also cast a curious glance. "yeah... the boss," dai lian said with a sigh. with the boss''s arrival, they had someone to rely on. although reluctant to admit it, in the presence of their own boss, dai lian knew there was nothing for them to worry about. this game''s npc character always seemed to give people endless confidence and strength. "it''s our leader, you guys should be able to see him soon," kuang xin said, taking a seat, bursting into laughter at the distant demon, "wait to die, you stupid fool!" "impossible!" "impossible!" the demon looked down, its countless eyes trying to make sense of the hole in its chest. how could it possibly be wounded? "how could i be injured?" "impossible!" "impossible!" "come on, hit me again!" among the numerous pupils, one pair seemed particularly ferocious. a strand of conflicted thought within wallis''s soul resonated again within the demon''s amalgamation. ''shouldn''t we be leaving?'' ''we can''t defeat him! we can''t defeat him!'' ''if he can injure us, he can kill us, let''s leave! let''s leave!'' [leave? why should we leave?] [what a great opportunity this is! if we absorb him, our power will grow even stronger!] [have you forgotten? we... have no limits!] [and don''t you forget, we... still have a hostage!] driven by the demon, faces emerged from the surface of its body, those twisted visages protruding and emitting indescribable cries of agony and pleading for help¡ª "save us! save us!" "i feel like i''m dissolving... i feel like i''m fusing with him... i don''t want to! i don''t want to become a monster!" "kill me! kill me! just end my misery!" "such warmth... such a warm embrace... like a mother''s arms... like the amniotic fluid of a womb..." ``` the chaos of those voices tangled together, the sinister spectacle enough to plunge any onlooker into severe spiritual turmoil. franca instantly turned around, looking back into the darkness. the darkness was silent. no one knew where the arrow had come from. nor did anyone know where the attacker was. the overlapping shadows of the buildings obstructed her view, those pitch-black structures sat in the darkness, watching without a sound... "if it''s possible... i hope you can save them! they''re innocent!" the lady in distress placed all her hopes on this new mysterious expert. she hoped he could save everything, although it seemed difficult. the demon might get killed, but before its death, it had the power to take all the souls inside it to its grave as well. "come out!" the demon''s voice was loud and brazen, filled with a final hysteria. "come out!" countless voices followed the thunderous sound, resonating in frenzy and cowardice. there was silence in the darkness. the mysterious master who had come from nowhere seemed to be caught in a moral dilemma. s~ea??h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. yue ying''s gaze stretched far into the standing silence of the shadow, curiosity evident in her eyes. this was also the ethical choice she would face if she took action. she was confident she could easily kill the demon, but she wasn''t certain that she could save the souls imprisoned by it at the same time. saving people would be akin to killing people. this potential conflict was the core reason she was reluctant to act. on their human territory, as an elven character, making such a controversial move was always inopportune. ... "..." bai e did not respond. with a single arrow, the information on the panel now displayed the demon''s basic data¡ª [??? (demon) (chaos): health 141/200; defense power 99; activity 100%; traits: adaptive armor, shadow wrapping, soul black hole...] its defense power was high, and with cheat-like abilities such as adaptive armor, no wonder the attacks of these people couldn''t break through. any attack that wasn''t completely beyond the opponent''s defense power couldn''t deal effective damage. and you should know, aside from personal ability, the most powerful weapon bai e could access... the explosive power of a combat blade machine gun also peaked at only 15 points. faced with 99 defense power, it would hardly leave a mark. however, facing the maximal burst that could instantly kill a hundred, even this level of defense was as feeble as paper. a nine-times attack was far more devastating than three triple-strength attacks or nine single-strength attacks. besides, burning spiritual energy clung to the arrow, and even if used in a special way, the power of spiritual energy remained an extension of one''s will, providing bai e with more feedback. for instance¡ª greed. the essence of this demon was greed. at the moment the arrow pierced its body, the core of the demon was perceived by the spiritual energy. greed? what is greed? bai e''s eyes slightly drooped, his inherent understanding of the maxims of spiritual energy allowed him to comprehend all the unspeakable strange sensations he felt at that moment. he also felt what was... "greed"! greed is betrayal. betrayal of one''s judgment, betrayal of one''s will. knowing it''s not for you, yet still wanting to take it. knowing it''s beyond your own limit, yet still pursuing it. knowing the situation is going out of control, yet still harboring unjust dreams. the lord of fear trapped by fear. the demon of greed done in by greed. the demon controlled the core emotions, but was also trapped by those same emotions. bai e pinched the arrow, whispering to it softly. the wind would not scatter his will, spiritual energy would connect their souls. the expression of the maxims of spiritual energy didn''t have to be words. this word, this language, placed upon the arrow! i have one arrow, would you care to listen? "whoosh!" ... the arrow traced a curve. yue ying''s eyes narrowed slightly. arc shot! such a familiar arrow, such a familiar feeling... she too had taught a similar bow-wielding "apprentice" among humans, but... their strengths couldn''t possibly be related. being too far away, yue ying could only vaguely see the figure and not the appearance concealed under the clothes. the drab brown cloak the person was wearing was full of the scent of human poverty, not at all like the neat and trim uniforms worn by elite soldiers coming from that military camp. yes! they should not be the same person. this arrow... from it, yue ying sensed a hint of "death"¡ª meaning if she didn''t dodge, shield, or protect herself, even she might suffer no small injury from being hit by this arrow. furthermore, with the speed of the arrow and the fact that it was launched from the shadows, it would be hard to preemptively protect against it unless one was warned by a keen sense of killing intent. yue ying didn''t see the result of the arrow''s impact. considering the effects of the previous arrow, this mysterious master''s attack could easily break through defenses. but in the end, could he only choose to kill? ``` Chapter 295 280 Graceful Release from hundreds of meters away, the arrow shot through the darkness was like wind, like lightning, instantly piercing the demon''s body.the tearing force that accompanied it easily ripped apart what seemed to be indestructible flesh, leaving a gaping, bloody hole for all to see. the monstrous body, as large as a small hill, suddenly stiffened, with the twisted faces on it instantaneously freezing. the scene fell silent. the mysterious savior in the dark had used just two arrows to subdue the demon that had come from a high-dimensional space. what they had been powerless to defend against, the master in the shadows took down as easily as if it were mere paper. an indescribable terror rose in franca''s heart, and she instinctively turned her head to look back, but darkness obstructed her view¡­ there weren''t many in the city with such strength, but franca, who was proficient with the bow, really had no idea who it could be. a flash of lightning crossed her mind, and the mysterious master who had rescued the rat people in the sewers leaped to the forefront of her thoughts. but it seemed¡­ the pressure from that master then wasn''t as intimidating as the one from this mysterious master now. to subdue the demon that had left them at a loss with just two arrows was simply inconceivable. but¡­ had they been killed? franca couldn''t help but worry subconsciously about the fate of the innocent civilians. under everyone''s silent watch, the demon''s body trembled slightly and started to move again. "come out!" "you come out!" "i want to see you!" "i want to see you!" different voices from the same body echoed one after the other. one like the desperate cries of a drowning person before their demise, the other like the final killing intent of a demon god. a demon? a demon? have i become a demon? the flesh that was torn away by the arrow also took with it wallis''s wild and ambitious desire, which hadn''t been all that great to begin with. his soul "awoke" amid the turbulence, and was terrified by what had already happened and what was happening now. i have become the embodiment of a demon? has my body been controlled by the endless desire of a demon? yes! it''s all the demon''s fault! ...i wanted to be greedy, but i didn''t want to be this greedy. i wanted to grow and expand, but i never wanted to be an enemy to all of humanity. i did want power, but i didn''t want to achieve it in the form of a demon... so, you said you would give me salvation, give me a final resting place. then come out! let me see you with my own eyes! ''i want to see you.'' ''¡­and then devour you!'' the silent darkness remained wordless, as franca stared intently into the shadows. would he come out? the sound of clear footsteps echoed from the end of the long street. "tap~ tap~" the sound of metal shoe soles tapping on stone slabs as a figure slowly emerged from the darkness. the fervent flames surrounding him fell on his body but could not penetrate his earth-brown disguise, nor could they reveal his face hidden in the shadows. franca instinctively stepped aside to make way, while the somewhat lucid arbitration place officers and players scattered quietly around, watching as the flames crackled fiercely. the night was welcoming its king... standing about ten meters from the demon, bai e stopped, lifting his head slightly to look at the monster whose appearance was beyond words. a demon? this is a demon? of course, it was a demon, as the loot subtitle clearly displayed its origin¡ª [wallis/??? (human/???) (chaotic/chaos) (normal/elite)¡ªkill with "lucky strike" for a guaranteed drop: (bio-component (inferior) x 200, battle experience 8000 points); possible (skills: soul black hole, spiritual energy (greed): 50)] "i have arrived," he said softly. the steady voice echoed quietly over the long street, instilling boundless confidence. compared to the demon''s mountainous body, bai e''s figure appeared frail and thin in the flickering light from the flames in the distance. standing before the demon, he seemed like a solitary boat before a tsunami, ready to capsize at any moment. yet, the reality was quite the contrary. the demon''s numerous eyes swept over the pitch-black bow in his hand, filled with fear. ... that voice is so familiar! the moment franca heard it, the sealed memories surged from the depths of her consciousness. where had she heard it before? darkness¡­ dampness¡­ rats¡­ the underground sewers... the night he rescued the rat people! it really was him! back then, did he simply spare their lives? no wonder¡­ no wonder he spoke with such arrogance then. nothing¡­ nothing could challenge him! clutching her injured arm, franca''s eyes burned with passion as she looked at his silhouette. "exorcism essential oil," franca suddenly saw him stretching out his palm toward her from afar. "¡­" exorcism essential oil? oh right, normal powers may hurt a demon that has come to our world, but to thoroughly annihilate a demon, the help of exorcism essential oil is essential. this stuff is basically only stably produced by the arbitration place; outsiders almost have no way to obtain it. just now i thought this mysterious expert would directly make a deadly move, but he even forgot the constraints of the essential oil. "oh oh~" franca hurriedly took out half a bottle of essential oil from her bosom. on her way here, she''d already used quite a bit to enchant her weapons and only half was left. bai e caught the flying glass bottle steadily, casually tossed a bullet into it, and the surface of the bullet that was soaked in essential oil immediately became covered with a faint spiritual glow. bai e''s movements were precise and executed with utmost seriousness. the demon, who had made up its mind to kill bai e as soon as he appeared, found it difficult to control the current body. a summoning demon always faces interference from the original owner''s will; under normal circumstances, almost all believers who summon their "master" submit to the "master''s" will in every way. however, at this moment... the will of the demon and the human were endlessly struggling for control over the same body. the huge figure, as large as a hill, trembled slightly, and the regretful yet cowardly voice of wallis rang out, "you said you could save me!" faced with the power that could truly "kill" him, he was afraid. fear overtook greed; facing a power he could not contest, wallis recoiled. however, he could sense that a part of his soul had already "permanently" connected with the core of the demon. the demon he summoned wasn''t one of those high-ranking original demons; these demons can be truly killed. after their death, they cannot return to the high-dimensional space to wait for a chance of revival. perhaps "greed" will give birth to new demons, but it won''t be the one at hand. there may be thousands upon thousands of demons with "greed" at their core; the one he summoned was not particularly special among them. but what of it? when it''s spirit returns to oblivion, where will he go? having been swept by the core of "greed," even if this demon perishes, a part of his soul will dissipate along with the "emotions" and return to the high-dimensional space, becoming a chaotic orb there that lacks any capacity for action, has only perception, and endures endless suffering and torment. the moment he was linked to the "core" of the demon, wallis thoroughly understood this knowledge related to the demon. he refused to be dragged down by the fate of the demon, much less become a chaotic orb in that strange so-called high-dimensional space, devoid of any capacity for action or self-awareness, where only perception exists to endure eternal torment! bai e looked steadily at the other party, his eyes, the only part of him visible, devoid of any emotion. "i never said i would save you, but only to give you a release." people must be responsible for their own actions. having chosen greed, having complied with his inner desires, he must also bear the dreadful consequences of when desires overflow. "i will send you off... to die as a human. that is all." the spirit dissolves, free from eternal torment. ''do you still wish to turn back?'' ''you can''t turn back now!'' ''devour him! after we eat him, we can become stronger!'' the voice of the demon, trapped within, roared in madness. fear firmly suppressed greed, and human rationality regained control over this body resembling a demon god. countless eyes were fixed on those merciless pupils, as the body of the demon slowly kneeled, completely submissive... with difficulty, wallis controlled the body, his abject and cowardly voice trembling to its limit, "please, kill me." "click!" the bullet, soaked in exorcism essential oil, was chambered as bai e stepped forward gently. "goodbye..." he said. [activated "lucky strike".] "i don''t want to die... i don''t want to die..." wallis''s voice came out as a soft murmur from beneath the demon''s body. "bang!" the gunshot rang out, and smoke drifted away. [loot acquired: bio-component (inferior) *200, combat experience 8000 points, skills: soul black hole, spiritual energy (greed): 50).] [would you like to absorb the core "greed" of spiritual energy to make it your own power?] [warning: the current spiritual energy to be absorbed is far greater than the character''s own level of spiritual energy, absorption will alter the character''s spiritual energy effects. the new attribute "greed" will bring a brand new special impact to your spiritual energy; the direction of influence is unknown.] [skill¡ªsoul black hole: your will is strong enough to bear all ethereal souls, all empty spiritual bodies will have a place in your ''domain'' temporarily. from now on, you can briefly store or slowly absorb rootless souls. if you wish, you can even dissipate their self-will...] soul black hole. that was one of the abilities concerning demon powers he had obtained from the feedback of the attack just now. s~ea??h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. for them, it might be a basic instinct, but for the current bai e, it was the core ability for wallis''s redemption and for digesting foreign attributes of spiritual energy. the antidote always coexists with the poison. bai e extended his hand, his palm like a black hole. those invisible dissipating strands of "emotional core", carrying its newly captured prey, about to return to that strange, unpredictable higher-dimensional space, were suddenly gathered together by a vast suction force. the remnant souls that had not yet dissipated lost their complex reactions to changes in the outside world, retaining only a hint of instinctual spiritual awareness. ''the sun... the warm sun...'' the voice fell silent... free from the constraints of imprisonment, the body not far away called out as countless points of light burst from the fallen demon''s body on the ground, tracing curves through the air and ultimately returning to itself. stay updated via empire many of the lights even burrowed into the fallen debris... hence a moan arose from below. there were still people underground. those whose consciousness had returned to their bodies were gradually waking up. they couldn''t fully grasp what had happened during the soul plunder, but there were bits of chaotic, distorted memories. although they woke up dazed, some were hesitant to look at the figures standing on the scene. the first two enforcers to arrive got up quietly with the support of gong yan and dai lian, and while bai e was carrying the whole scene, gong yan wasn''t idle. as the team''s medic, she was very clear about her role, and even though simple treatment couldn''t restore the enforcers to their peak, it allowed them to move a little. both of them scanned the waking figures with a heavy look in their eyes. too much time had passed... although saved, the risk of corruption was high for these people in the future. so... "what should be done with them?" franca''s gaze left the silent figure and turned to the two seniors, asking proactively, "should we clean up?" Chapter 296 281 Francas Proposal the words were ice-cold, yet this was the most rational choice.rather than allow these people to turn into followers of chaos due to the corruption of high-dimensional space in the future, it was better to clean up now and remove future troubles. the two executioners with more seniority furrowed their brows tightly, their eyes sweeping over the civilians who were gradually regaining their consciousness, with a hint of reluctance in their gaze. although the likelihood of corruption was high in the future, at this moment, they clearly had not truly reached that point. to cleanse them now... some civilians with sharp ears who were nearby heard franca''s words and the ones who had just stood up immediately knelt down again, pleading for mercy repeatedly. "no... please!" "don''t kill us! my lord!" "it was wallis who threatened us! we''re not on the same path as him!" the voices were in disarray; every person was arguing from their perspective, trying to secure a chance to live. bai e stood to the side, silent. even considering slipping away. the demon was dealt with, the benefits reaped; the rest... probably had nothing to do with him, right? but his curiosity about the emergence and cause of the demon, as well as how the arbitration place conducted its business, made bai e want to stay and see how they would handle the situation. the multitude of pleading voices echoed in his ears, representing the tiny will of each ordinary person who had suffered, striving to live. the two slightly more experienced executioners, even after having executed countless demon believers, still softened and hesitated whenever they faced moments of mortal pleading. to kill, was for the greater good. otherwise, in such a lawless settlement outside of the city, if these corrupted humans secretly organized together, who knows if they might cause a bigger mess than today, and that would be a major problem. but at least at this moment, right now, these people were only innocent victims. they were not the so-called "purists" of the institution, not yet crazy enough to mercilessly kill without discrimination any who had slightest contact with anything related to "demons." "..." the two old partners exchanged glances, speechless. it was hard for them to make this decision. franca didn''t press them further, merely looking at the demon''s corpse with a hint of wariness. "additionally, what''s the situation with this demon?" a regular-level demon had exhibited such formidable strength. franca was naturally quite clear about the definitions of strength for summoned demons; theoretically, a large group of believers must have summoned it, otherwise it wouldn''t be so difficult to handle. but there wasn''t one. although franca arrived late, observing the battlefield was a basic skill that every master who faced combat needed to possess. she hadn''t found any traces of large-scale sacrifices at the scene, which indicated that the group of believers who summoned this demon might not be as large as she had imagined. this was abnormal. all abnormal situations were valuable for analysis and documentation. "it''s a demon offspring," the dual-blade executioner said with a complex look as he glanced towards kuang xin, xu ruoguang, and others who were still conducting rescue operations not far away following the sound of wailing underground. in fact, one was right beside him¡ªgong yan, who had helped him up. hearing this term, not for the first time that night, gong yan''s eyes flickered, bracing herself internally. demon offspring, was it referring to them? was it specifically about her team, or... the entire community of players? from the moment gong yan discovered that this game was as real as a true existing world, they had already been quite curious in their private chats about how the original inhabitants viewed them, these players who had suddenly appeared. after all, the behaviors of the players were very discordant with the background style of this world. now... perhaps they finally had an answer. bai e stood still and also quietly pricked up his ears. players? demon offspring? what was this another world insider''s information he didn''t understand? "demon offspring?" franca watched kuang xin''s back as he tried to move a huge rock, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowing, "they are the demon offspring?" she had already recalled meeting three of the people... she had seen them, and had even given them a bottle of exorcism essential oil. and now... these demon offspring clearly knew the mysterious master who had appeared abruptly; otherwise, they wouldn''t have looked so relieved at the first shot, even before she was aware of it. perhaps this mysterious master was the same ''lord'' they had mentioned before? yes... everything matched up. franca''s eyes once again swept over the kneeling pleading civilians and returned to the present. the dual-blade executioner was looking at gong yan beside him, making good on his promise, "i said that i would explain everything to you in detail after it was all over... you are the demon offspring." "... all the people you come into contact with have a high probability of becoming demon believers, not all, but compared to normal circumstances, the probability is at least ten times higher." "... meanwhile, those humans who turn into demon believers after coming into contact with you, their strength surge is unimaginable compared to their original level, far exceeding any demonic favor acquired by believers in the past, which is quite abnormal. the demon we just confronted was clear evidence. according to records in our arbitration place, a demon summoned by a single person should never have such strength." "... i don''t know if this situation is your intention, or an unfortunate event that simply happened to you without your knowledge. but i must fulfill my responsibility¡ªbring you back to the institution." indeed, the institution didn''t have a blanket death sentence for demon offspring. without a clear understanding of the cause, such a drastic measure was too extreme. they needed extensive research... to be taken away, and labeled with an ominous title, this very likely meant the loss of freedom. gong yan visibly took a subconscious step back. dai lian, who was supporting another executioner, also stepped back, his eyes even more overtly filled with a cautious hue. "hey, hey, hey! we just fought together, we don''t need to fight another battle, do we?" franca raised her eyebrows, glancing to the side, "this gentleman, they are your people, right? how should we deal with this, want to give us some advice?" franca deliberately led the conversation towards this mysterious person. the other party was powerful, and perhaps had discovered characteristics of the demon''s children earlier than they had, otherwise, why would he coincidentally choose such a group of demon''s children as his subordinates? it''s just that the other party''s allegiance was unclear. at this moment, he could kill demons and had previously saved a demon believer right before their eyes... plus, the ideas about his goodness, even innocence, they heard from his subordinates... such a strange stance. compared to the demons they had dealt with and the wondrous demon''s children, franca was more curious about the mysterious organization leader with whom she had crossed paths several times. bai e stayed motionless, listening from start to finish to the words the enforcer revealed to the players. the children of demons? all the npcs that came into contact with players would turn into powerful demon believers... is it because... of the feedback mechanism that reflects player''s strength? but why was he unaffected? plus, the demon centered around "greed" they had just dealt with... a myriad of connections flooded his mind, and bai e had a vague guess, but he dared not confirm it. "i support their own choices," bai e replied softly. "you have already made an enemy of us at the arbitration place once," franca said, with a flickering gaze that was elusive. the two barely-standing enforcers were desperately signaling to the young, reckless lady¡ª have you lost your mind? the enforcers were just more focused when hunting demons and dealing with demon-related affairs... or one could say paranoid. but that didn''t mean they were fools. the expert before them had just easily slain the high-dimensional demon that all three of them had been helpless against; how could these three defeated and wounded officers provoke him? if they angered him, their ashes could be scattered by him. and even the institution wouldn''t seek revenge against him because of this. that''s the rule. the reason why they at the arbitration place had such immense privileges in handling demon-related affairs was that they had virtually no rights elsewhere; when a human hadn''t breached any demonic taboos, the enforcers had no reason to attack a powerful human. franca, reckless, merely curved her lips into a strange smile. bai e did not look at her directly but his tone became dangerous as well, "what''s on your mind?" from their few encounters, he knew that franca wasn''t the paranoid type; she must have an ulterior motive. "how about this..." franca''s gaze swept over the scene, the civilians were still kneeling on the ground, incessantly kowtowing. everyone had heard about the arbitration place''s actions; they were utterly merciless when it came to eradicating anything related to demons. they could even hunt down to the ends of the earth. offending the battle gang, one could always survive by moving elsewhere. being targeted by the arbitration place... there was probably no safe place left on the planet. perhaps burying oneself in a grave might be somewhat more peaceful. fear came from deep within; by this point, many had already broken their foreheads from kowtowing. "them..." franca''s finger shifted focus, landing on the players, "and them... how about you help us manage them?" all the words spoken were intended for bai e. whether they were civilians or the children of demons... franca had sparked this entire conflict with the aim of binding all these issues to the mysterious expert. if he truly was as glorious and upright as his subordinates claimed, if he truly had the determination to implement those bright ideals... then let it begin. from this moment on! step out! step into the sunlight! no more sneaking around! through this corner of the world, let the masses recognize your existence. enjoy new chapters from empire sear?h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. let me see... just what kind of person you really are! franca''s eyes burned intensely, fixating on the figure beneath the dark brown robe. "what do you say? the demon''s children are dangerous, these people are destined to decay. without a strong figure to oversee them, you know... we won''t feel at ease, and we don''t have enough manpower..." the answer was obvious, and franca paused for a moment before continuing, "so from this day on, this territory... shall be governed by you, or your subordinates. the demon''s children... the civilians who have witnessed demons, we''ll no longer interfere, we just need your assurance! they... will all be safe." with that, franca turned her gaze to her two colleagues, "seniors, this approach is acceptable to you, right?" "agreed!" "agreed!" they couldn''t agree more. as long as they didn''t start fighting right then and there, everything was not a problem. the issue of the demon''s children could be discussed later; the civilians who had personally experienced the demon calamities didn''t necessarily need to be executed on the spot. and franca''s proposal actually hit right at what they desired; having the mysterious expert in front of them oversee this district was incredibly reassuring. even if another demon calamity occurred, it would be just a matter of two arrows¡ªvery comforting indeed. franca''s lips curled slightly and she looked back at bai e, "so... your answer?" [hint: the rise of a faction''s reputation also requires support from a physical territory. you''re standing at the edge of a decision with enormous influence. faced with the opposite party''s proposal, you decide...] Chapter 297 282 Level 2 Prestige the power prestige had been stuck below level 2, so the core issue lay here.even if one annihilated numerous black street powers, without a tangible "territory" of one''s own, they would always seem ethereal in the eyes of others. however, acceptance meant taking responsibility for this entire unattended block. various small chaotic forces had been rampant on this land before; if one were to take control... how to establish rules? what kind of order should be set up? what means are needed to stabilize one''s management? the most important thing was, from the moment of taking over, it meant being responsible for them... responsible to the arbitration place. from then on, any incident involving demons that occurred on this land must be dealt with immediately by oneself and any spread caused by them must be prevented. everything was a problem. yet, if one did not take over... when would the power prestige rise to level 2? opportunities like today were rare; to declare one''s presence to the world with a real domain, without an opportune moment, it would be difficult to boost one''s prestige level. bai e did not have many chances to experiment, the opportunity at hand was probably the only one in the near future. only by raising the power prestige to level 2, could his main mission be completed. not to mention the numerous rewards, bai e was also quite curious about the next phase of the main mission. "..." the silent bai e became the savior in the eyes of the black street civilians. the elders of the arbitration place had already said, no matter what, it was only with this lord taking over that they would have a way to live. if this lord did not manage it, then the elders of the arbitration place would directly strike hard, with no escape. s~ea??h the n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "lord! save us please!" "lord! you will be our master from now on, we are willing to listen to whatever you say, our lives are yours, lord!" "lord..." franca folded her arms, just staring at bai e''s figure. from his past actions, it was clear he preferred not to be ostentatious, but with so many lives in front of him, would you save them? as for what those people said... just listen. now, for the sake of survival, they would say or do anything. but in the long days to come, loyalty can''t feed you. and to expect these lawless people to obey one person''s command... is not very realistic. perhaps there are some who truly mean to follow, but they are after all in the minority. if the other party is not a fool, they should be quite clear on this. so, they are but a bunch of pure burdens. managing them would almost only involve giving without receiving. it tests both philosophy and methods; franca was very much looking forward to this mysterious organization leader''s choice. the earth-brown robe fluttered lightly, and bai e''s voice rose softly. the volume was not loud, but the world had to listen. "i agree," he said. there might be many difficulties, perhaps even more responsibilities to bear. but since coming to this world, there were certain responsibilities one ultimately had to fulfill. life itself was meaningless; it was only one''s personal ideals that added a sheen of glory to one''s life. someday one would always need to expand, and though the "territory" before him came somewhat unexpectedly and abruptly, it... could serve as a first step. one needed to learn to coexist with this world, and also to learn to cultivate a core management team. the future... was still far off. "their lives, i''ll take them on," bai e looked towards franca, only a pair of eyes visible outside. he knew she wasn''t the type to kill for the sake of it; even if he refused, she might not lay a hand on these people, but it didn''t matter. fate had already pushed him to this juncture, so he might as well stride forward. "from now on, we will share honor and disgrace, and be bound by the same fate. their mistakes are my mistakes. their responsibilities are my responsibilities. from now on, this place, black street, belongs to ''dawn.''" "dawn?" franca murmured softly. she had never heard of it. but finally... she knew "their" name. bai e then turned to look at the civilians of black street prostrating before him, their eyes¡ªwhether filled with relief or adulation¡ªfixed on him, the joy of having narrowly escaped death filling each of their hearts. the previous chaos of their pleas had quieted down, and now they just stared at bai e... at the future ruler who would decide their fate. at least at this moment, their gratitude and adoration couldn''t be more genuine. ["lucky hit" charge +50.] bai e spoke slowly, his gaze methodically sweeping over each submissive head. they were sprawled on the ground; the gray-black earth spread beneath their feet, in the distance, sporadic flames crackled as they burned, players were still trying their best to rescue civilians from the ruins, and a pale backglow of dawn floated in the sky. the world was quietly listening to the first words he was about to say. a steady voice began to sound. "my demands of you are just three." "order, order... and still order!" "from this day forward, in black street, no groups or organizations of more than three with no blood relation shall exist." "from this day forward, i require every one of you to work every day." "from this day forward, all resources of black street will be allocated according to need." "you will engage in foreign trade." "you will engage in animal husbandry and agriculture." stay updated with empire "you will reclaim the land." "i want all of you to have aspirations in life from now on!" "i want all of you to be happy, joyful, and free from now on!" "i don''t have much time, some things i''ll say only once." "ji lande!" bai e suddenly called out loudly. "here!" gilder instantly emerged from the shadows behind, jogging forward to stand half a step behind bai e. since the soldiers accompanying him had seen him and knew his real name, bai e had asked him to disguise himself when operating in black street. "perhaps i won''t always be present before your eyes, and he... he is my plenipotentiary. all affairs of black street will be overseen by him; if you have any difficulties, you can report them to him. he will resolve what he can, and what he cannot, report to me." "you only need to remember one thing!" "a crown may elevate the one who wears it above the rest, lofty and above, as a symbol of status." "but the true meaning of a crown is this: when disaster descends from the sky, i will shield you from everything; i will stand here, forever letting you see only the golden hope." [due to your outstanding performance, the faction you''ve established¡ªdawn¡ªhas officially come into public view, and black street has become your territory. the faction''s (dawn''s) prestige level has risen to level 2.] [main quest¡ªiron curtain, completed.] [quest rewards: 3000 general experience points, potential points *3, skill points *3 (cannot be raised above level 6), have been distributed.] [main quest¡ªiron curtain, concluded.] [iron curtain (epilogue): through wide-ranging exploration of this world, you have broken through the confusion of your birth period, torn apart the world''s iron curtain that shrouded you, and gradually begun to make your voice heard in the world. during this process of gaining experience, you have witnessed the unrivaled power of an individual and explored ancient ruins that the world had forgotten. your exemplary performance has established the groundwork for an emerging force. through this long process, you have gradually solidified your pursuit of what your heart yearns for, and in the coming journey, you will need to decide in which direction to develop further.] the pale blue text interwove line by line before his eyes, and the three-option multiple-choice question finally appeared before him¡ª ruler¡Ì¡Á ranger¡Ì¡Á warlord¡Ì¡Á unlike iron curtain, this next, yet-to-be-begun main quest will be a true choice. bai e turned and left, melting into the darkness. Chapter 298 283 Three-stage mainline Gazing into the direction of the disappearing figure, Franca''s eyes shimmered with stars, unable to shift her gaze for a long time.''So cool....'' That was the only thought in the girl''s mind at the moment. Perhaps the current choice was not part of the other party''s plan, but even when faced with sudden and unexpected changes, the series of detailed arrangements and measures seemed orderly and unflustered. And the audacity was truly unparalleled. Those decisions, whether premeditated or made on the spur of the moment, each were surprisingly bold, and this... was exactly what was needed here. People who had just stepped out of the shadow of demons needed not only blessings from heaven but also... change. Change, that was what they needed most now. Adapting to a new life would consume all their energy, only then would they have no time to recall everything they had encountered and known today. Useful or not, but even if it reduced the slightest chance or delayed the time by just a little, it was good. "So long, then~" Franca looked towards the "children of the demon," "You have a very impressive leader." She took a final glance at everything around her and, with hands clasped behind her back, turned and left. The remaining matters had nothing to do with her, after all, she was now just an instructor in the camp, teaching the new recruits... Having collected the corpses of the demons with a special tool, the two executors also approached the "children of the demon" and sincerely said, "We owe you a lot this time, but we might need to study your secrets later on, so we''ll need your cooperation." While speaking, the medium-statured executor smiled, "But rest assured, with such a person behind you, we wouldn''t do anything excessive to you, just cooperate with the research, and there might even be a reward for you." The Arbitration Place had no specific way of conducting affairs, only each executor had their own unique style of doing things. They were not those obsessive "puritans," and the "children of the demon''s" issue had not yet been defined. For friends who had just fought side by side, even if these people carried the name of "children of the demon," they preferred to use a gentle policy. "Phew~" The long street quieted down once more; looking at the Black Street civilians lying all over as if all their strength was drained, the five players exchanged glances. "That''s the boss you talked about?" "Yeah." "Gulp~" Xu Ruoguang swallowed, "That''s riding on some sturdy legs!" No matter how Kuang Xin and the other two had described earlier, nothing was more convincing than the real achievements witnessed just now. The same opponent, a monster that the game''s official organizations struggled to handle, was taken down by their leader with just two swift arrows. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This overwhelming strength was a clear-cut indication of the levels. Gu Lan couldn''t snap out of it for a long time, her mind continuously echoing with that arrow shot from the darkness, along with the promises made to all the Black Street civilians. Is this the person she was going to follow? If previously it was for tangible benefits, then this extraordinary first encounter undoubtedly solidified her decision to follow. Such a leader, with extraordinary charm and strength, even knowing it was a virtual character in a game, one couldn''t help but yearn for them. "But why did he leave..." Xu Ruoguang belatedly watched Bai E''s departing direction, "What do we do now? Didn''t he say he was going to take us in?" "Emmm..." Kuang Xin scratched his head and explained with a goofy smile, "We usually meet at noon. Our boss is very busy, usually doesn''t have time; this time he probably just spared a moment because we couldn''t handle it, just to lend a hand." Although not knowing why the boss appeared in time, Kuang Xin, who blindly worshipped his leader, had already imagined his boss''s wise and mighty feats. Xu Ruoguang nodded somewhat disheartenedly, "Alright then..." ... Two figures returned to the camp soon after one another, leaving the gatekeeping soldiers scratching their heads in confusion. "Did they even go to the same place?" Leaving and returning to camp in the middle of the night, it didn''t seem right if they didn''t go to the same place. But if they did go to the same place... an executor from the Arbitration Place and an ordinary soldier from the camp, what could they have been doing together? And leaving separately... was it to deceive others? "Tsk, tsk~" Just about to close the gate, the soldier then saw a slender figure gracefully make her way back. "It''s Yue Ying..." Done. "It''s quite lively tonight." Walking into the camp and into a shadowed area, Yue Ying gently lifted her head to look towards the soldiers'' dormitory in the darkness. She had followed the whole way, and the other party had not noticed her presence. Thus she followed them all the way into the camp, and after avoiding the executor from the Arbitration Place who came later, she finally made it back to the camp last. So it could be confirmed that the mysterious expert was a person from the camp? And he used arrows... even the skills were in a style he was familiar with. Find adventures at empire Except for that power, it wasn''t at all what he had taught. Where had that warrior learned it from? Yue Ying''s eyes flickered, and then she stepped away. Maybe she could ask tomorrow night. And... a human top warrior with his own secret plots and ambitions was much more interesting than a simple cannon fodder. "Tsk tsk~" Watching the dark silhouette vanish among the shadows of the tents, the guarding soldier felt tonight had really opened his eyes. "It''s still a triangle..." "Don''t talk nonsense! Miss Yueying is my goddess!" "A foreign goddess? You are not loyal!" "You''re full of it!" "You are not loyal." "You''re full of it!" ... Bai E flew back to the camp. The items dropped from killing demons were relatively too many. The choices after completing the main quest needed quiet contemplation, and he urgently needed to return to a safe place to digest them. The barracks dormitory was his warmest haven. Everyone in the dormitory was resting quietly. It was now the deepest part of the night, even close to sunrise. Everyone was sleeping peacefully, but Bai E''s Spiritual Energy pulsed in spurts. Spiritual Energy is a magical force; there are almost no precedents of plundering others'' Spiritual Energy for personal use. Spiritual Energy that lost its original master''s control would dissipate into the air immediately, becoming once again a free existence in that magical high-dimensional space. Yet the 50 points of Spiritual Energy controlled by the underlying logic of "Lucky Strike" could not dissipate. They were kept around Bai E, surging left and right trying to break free, but unable to escape the invisible bonds. Bai E dared not open his mind to directly absorb the Spiritual Energy with alien attributes, but thankfully his newly acquired skill¡ªSoul Black Hole¡ªwas helping him with this trouble. This skill seemed less like a skill and more like a rule of power possessed by demons. Bai E could actively stimulate the black hole to absorb all the rootless souls nearby. It was like snatching food from the jaws of a demon''s authority, absorbing the soul of the gang leader who had turned into a demon, and finally relegating him to nothingness. Or it could exist passively... Bai E could feel that the existence of this skill had permanently changed his Spiritual Body. It was as if a vortex had emerged in his mind. The alien Spiritual Energy was struggling as if caught in a giant grindstone. The special attribute of "Greed" was gradually crushed by the "Black Hole," leaving behind only the purest essence of Spiritual Energy itself. [Your "Skill¡ªSoul Black Hole" has digested a strand of alien Spiritual Energy and converted it into your power, increasing your Spiritual Energy limit by +1.] [...Spiritual Energy limit +1.] +1 +1 +1 From the end of the battle to his return, this "+1" had jumped many times. His Spiritual Energy limit had reached an impressive 27 points and was still increasing rapidly. The newly added Spiritual Energy was even more abundant than what Bai E originally possessed, giving him a sudden sense of swelling that put more pressure on his soul. It was somewhat uncomfortable, but he reveled in the pain. Spiritual Energy was indeed the tangible incarnation of extraordinary power. Its presence allowed Bai E to feel a surging sense of fullness and power throughout his body. Every bit of growth was as direct as an increase in base attributes. Now, he felt... almost omnipotent. The surge in power was subtly affecting him. Even if the sensation in his Spiritual Body was peculiar, it did not prevent Bai E from maintaining clear thinking. Compared to the purely beneficial surge in Spiritual Energy, the biggest impact on him was the completion of the main quest. After finishing the second phase of the main quest, the third phase began to emerge, calling for his active choice. Conqueror... Ranger... Warlord... Three distinct paths lay before him; Bai E could even use his consciousness to click through the light-blue subtitles in front of him, examining the future development requirements of each... Chapter 299 Leaders Will Overlord: The genetic optimization level must reach at least 20 points, and at least three specialized skills must reach level 9, with their skill trees fully unlocked¡­Ranger: Explore at least 1 ancient ruin, 3 large ruins, 5 medium ruins, 10 small ruins¡­ Warlord: Control at least 51% of the actual power within the current dominant force (current: Blackwater City, the subject can be changed). After delving into the specific requirements of the three options, these clear objectives lay before him, yet Bai E felt hesitant and lost. Overlord? The Gene Optimization Solution must reach 20 points... It took getting a Gene Optimization Solution for himself to increase it to 3.3 points, and it''s said that the effects of the Optimization fluid will only get worse with subsequent use. How many doses of the fluid would he need to reach 20 points? Aside from that, unlocking the remaining specialized levels and skill trees seemed to be relatively less difficult. As for being a Ranger... The abandoned town he had explored last time qualified as a small ruin, which seemed rather easy to explore, and even after fighting through a bunch of giant spider guardians, it wasn''t particularly challenging, making the task seem not too demanding. But that was just a small ruin. What about the medium ones? The large ones? The ancient ones? The internet servers he had evaluated before were only considered large ruins, and to find two more of the same scale and even larger ancient ruins... He had no clue where to start. As for being a Warlord... The powers within the city were complex and entwined, making the grasp of at least 50% of Blackwater City''s real power... as difficult as reaching for the heavens. "Huh~" Bai E took a deep breath, feeling lost for the first time in his heart. The tasks of these three paths, each one''s completion... seemed to be no easy feat. Of course, no one was forcing Bai E to complete them. The missions were there, to do or not to do, what would it change? But... Were these missions really just missions? Bai E recalled the past... All the side missions seemed to pop up abruptly without introduction, yet they also appeared to align with his own desires. All those side missions seemed to manifest only when he "wanted to," and when others wanted to witness, they would appear. As for the two phases of the main mission, they seemed to guide him to understand this world. Bug Race, orcs, demons... Electronic demons, hearts of ghosts and tricks... What did he really want to do in this world, and what did he need to do? Could it be that as the most unique being in this world, a mission naturally rested on his shoulders upon his arrival? S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After seeing all the elements of this world, did he have a clear goal or plan for the future? Yes? No? It doesn''t matter. The world will force you to make a choice. Continue reading at empire Right now, before the world presents its malice clearly, a wake-up call from the task system arrives first. Bai E''s gaze inadvertently drifted across the pale blue subtitles in front of him. When his eyes focused on one, those words seemed to magnify slightly, affirming his selection¡ª Overlord¡­ Ranger¡­ Warlord¡­ The three do not conflict with each other, nor are they mutually exclusive. Just like the second phase of the main mission, one must make some achievements on all three paths to complete the ultimate task. It is the same at this moment. While developing personal military power, he could also explore the unknown, the ruins. And while exploring the ruins, he could also develop his own influence on the other side, gradually eroding the city and bringing it completely under his control. The three not only do not conflict but complement each other. He just needed to determine a primary mission objective. Or rather, to determine where his heart lies. In the past, some minor detours were automatically chosen by the system sensing his heart''s desires and appeared in the form of missions. Now... the choice at this major crossroad was solemnly handed over to him. Bai E''s gaze became distant as a series of images he had seen since "waking up" began to flash through his mind¡ª The initial selection and division of every artificial warrior at birth¡­ The first meeting with teammates, the encounter, the caution¡­ The collective training at the training ground, sweating like rain¡­ The subconscious quick reaction when bugs invaded the military camp¡­ The collective fall on the battlefield facing the Bug Race dominators¡­ The activated mainframe pressed the core of the electronic demon into the human body for the last time¡­ The numb "wild dogs" numbed life with deadly fights¡­ People hidden underground longing for a peaceful life¡­ The frenzied bloodlust for battle in the orcs holding machetes¡­ The endless ambition that spawned demons dragging the world into the abyss¡­ Every promise he made to different targets, he remembered them all deeply in his mind. Those memories in his mind were eternally fixed at the most profound moments, playing through his mind like slides at a consistent pace. This world¡­ was terribly messed up. Crisis existed in every day, every moment, every city, every wilderness¡­ every time one fell asleep in peace, every time one engaged in battle¡­ External enemies, internal troubles. Those stretching out the slaughter knife to him were not only the Bug Race and orcs, even the companions he lived with day and night¡­ were potential dangers. The power of an individual was ultimately limited; even someone as strong as Yue Ying couldn''t eliminate a bug nest alone on the frontlines. Exploring ruins required a strong team for protection; any danger could occur in the wilderness. Population, manpower, allies, teammates¡­ To carry out his will, to save the world from suffering, to fulfill the promises he had made to various individuals along the way¡­ First, he needed an invincible team! I want to be a warlord! Bai E''s gaze drifted towards the sky outside. The full view of the tent, supported by iron frames and gradually enlarged, became clearly visible, rows of tents resting quietly in the dark, irregular walls marking the military camp, black-gray steel walls standing tall upon the earth, the grayish-brown plains like diseased psoriasis, the thick black clouds ultimately blocking the view, a gray-blue planet finally became a "pearl" against the pitch-black backdrop. The world of Galaxy Online was not limited to this one tiny planet. The stars of the universe awaited his harvest. Myriad races wove exciting, magnificent epics among the grandiose stars. Bai E didn''t know who the sacred entity that released "Galaxy Online" in the original world was, but the information he posted on the official website would not be without aim. This world was very, very vast¡­ The present was just the beginning; the road ahead was still long. The military camp? Blackwater City? Too small¡­ all too small¡­ I don''t know why I was pulled into this world that''s half game-like, but since I''m here¡­ wouldn''t it be too boring if the canvas of the starry sky lacked my signature stroke? I want to be a warlord. Bai E''s consciousness forcefully clicked on that "¡Ì", and thus, a brand-new future unfolded¡ª [You have now gained a clear understanding of your pursuit for the future, main quest¡ªAbsolute Dominion, activated.] [Absolute Dominion: You have decided your future development path. Blackwater City, as the starting point where you have spent the most time managing, is undoubtedly your best choice to rise from. (Current selected target: Blackwater City, target can be changed, but it must be an entity of equivalent influence.) Quest requirements: Control at least 51% of the real power in all domains within "Blackwater City". Quest rewards: 100,000 general experience points, Starship blueprint *1 (details can be customized).] "Huff~" The subtitle finally settled before his eyes, confirming the direction of his future development, and Bai E relaxed, letting out a deep breath. The most difficult moment was always the time to make a decision. The rest¡­ we''ll see how it goes. Not knowing how long the inner struggle lasted, a streak of dawn''s light gradually spread across the sky. The golden sunrise shot out like golden arrows, awakening the sleeping land. Daylight had come¡­ Bai E sat on the edge of the bed, shouting to his four teammates with a smile, "Daybreak has come, time to get up." Chapter 300 285 Sortie Mission "Yawn~"Hamilton stretched widely, yawning and sitting up from his bed. He was surprised to see that it was Bai E who had woken everyone up. "Bai?" Bai E''s mouth held a smile. "Hmm?" "..." Hamilton scratched the back of his head, feeling uneasy all over from the smile on Bai E''s lips. Strange... It was like he was a different person. Had Bai E ever been this expressive before? Yue Ying awoke calmly and started to change his clothes as he spoke. "I was just about to greet you. The time has been set. We''re going on a mission tomorrow morning. Prepare anything you need in advance." Because of the progress of training and individual development, Bai E didn''t train with the rest of the team, but since the higher-ups had said the special squad''s composition would remain unchanged, they would still go on missions together. "Got it, no problem," Bai E agreed readily. He remembered the mission to track Sandworms that Tiger had mentioned before; it had stayed on his mind. Tomorrow? That seemed just right. Bai E had always been concerned about those Sandworms of the Bug Race that could burrow underground, the ones they encountered on the way to the Internet server ruins. Actually, it wasn''t just the Sandworms. The behavior of the "Overlord" on the battlefield had also been strange. No matter how reasonable the explanations were, Bai E, who had directly experienced it all, did not think the bugs'' actions were due to a lack of ability, but rather... it seemed as if they were deliberately letting humanity off easy. If those Sandworms truly appeared on the front lines, their ability to suddenly burst from the ground would be a devastating strike against the human military forces, which were still primarily composed of army units. Even if it were a suicidal attack, the chaos it would bring to the human formations would be enough to swallow them whole, a clear advantage for the Bug Race. What made them choose not to fully devour humanity? Were they afraid of pushing humans into desperation and triggering some powerful countermeasure? Or were they concerned about Blackwater City itself or the empire that existed more in name than in reality? It wasn''t clear. Once he set his sights on higher ambitions, concerns that had been deliberately ignored before, or considered irrelevant for the time being, all came flooding back. The answers wouldn''t just jump out at him; he had to actively seek them out. Despite the dangers, Bai E was actually looking forward to the mission to track the Sandworms. "Then, we''re off," Tiger tilted his head and walked briskly out of the tent. The solid gains from rigorous training were real. Even if they couldn''t see incremental data increases, the boost in "confidence" in their own bodies after training was the tangible change they could feel. They had a mission tomorrow, and this time, they definitely couldn''t hold back the newest member of their team again! ... The morning''s training session was as usual in the Mecha simulation capsule. The moment he saw Rose, Bai E asked with a light laugh, "Where did you go yesterday afternoon?" People who underwent Psychic Pressure Resistance Training normally passed out for the entire afternoon until the evening, especially since it was Rose''s first time. Her performance should not have been great. But when Bai E woke up, he didn''t find her among those who had fainted. "Me?" Rose''s voice was lively and cheerful. "The instructor took me to do some research and said I''m what... a Nullifier?" "A Nullifier?" "Ah~" Rose nodded. "It''s someone who''s completely unaffected by Spiritual Energy. That stuff... doesn''t work on me." She spread her hands, affirming, "So, it wasn''t your problem yesterday. I just can''t sense that stuff." [You have obtained the extraordinary information: Nullifier.] S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh~" Bai E nodded and suddenly realized something. "Wait a minute! Then, that time we went to the Bug Race battlefield..." Rose looked at Bai E helplessly, "Before that evening, I got stabbed through by a mantis bug. When you guys were on the battlefield, I was laid up in the hospital." Human medical technology was indeed impressive, but her injuries that day were also very serious. It wasn''t possible for her to fully recover overnight. "Oh, I see..." Bai E understood. That explained it. No bug then. The instructor Rose mentioned must have been Franca from the Arbitration Place. "The Arbitration Place sent someone? Did they say what use a Nullifier has?" "Well... they said it''s about being able to hunt demons while being unaffected by Spiritual Energy but only in the real world, unable to enter higher-dimensional spaces. So the training methods of the Arbitration Place don''t suit me. They just let me continue studying in the military camp~" Rose shrugged nonchalantly, "Nothing special really, just that with the support of the Arbitration Place the military agreed to invest more resources in me. If nothing goes wrong... in a couple of days, I''ll also be injected with the Gene Optimization Solution." "..." "..." Looking at the smug look in Rose''s eyes, Bai E felt somewhat astonished. All the life-and-death struggles he''d gone through for the credit to get one Gene Optimization Solution, and Rose just skipped straight to the end? There wasn''t really any jealousy, just... the world is too damn wonderful! Rose sidled up to him, affectionately wrapped her arms around Bai E''s neck, and made faces, "So, anything I need to pay attention to with the Optimization fluid injection?" "Those staff members from the Scientific Research Institute who handle the injections are more professional than I am." "But I just want to hear it from you, is that not okay?" "..." Never noticed that a burly one like you had learned to play this game too? Bai E disdainfully pushed her arms away, "Today I''m on Mech Pilot duty, so you''d better run fast." Gun, so hot! Just want to operate! Rose gave him an exasperated glance, "Okay! Got it!" Whenever Bai E was the Mech Pilot, she felt like her hands and feet, her entire body, seemed to have minds of their own... Prompting her to follow the advance, completely inverting the natural order, as if to shatter the basic mecha operating principle which dictates that Mech Pilots must follow the lead Mech Pilot''s decisions. It made one doubt whether he could manage this large mecha that theoretically required two people all by himself. ... "How''s the training ground?" At some point, a burly figure arrived beside the Mech Pilot training instructor who was monitoring everyone''s training status. The familiar voice made Brandon tense up, "Sir!" "Hmm~" Hamilton stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze wandering, trying to find the two artificial human warriors he had struggled to obtain from others, "How are they doing in training?" Speaking of the two newly-added artificial human warriors, Brandon couldn''t help grinning, "They''re very impressive." Pursing his lips and noticing that Hamilton had a pleased expression as well, Brandon cautiously voiced his own opinion, "Sir... how about we try bringing in some more artificial humans?" With both of their performances being so good, recruiting more would make them soar, right? What''s the difference between natural and artificial? Now that Sir has already started breaking the chains, what''s there for him to be wary of? Hamilton squinted his eyes and thought the suggestion... wasn''t without merit. But he couldn''t rush things. He had just pried a couple of rare treasures from the jaws of others, a War God with no equal and a Demon Killer. Now all those guys with artificial human resources were guarding against him, so for the time being, he probably couldn''t steal any good seedlings. "We''ll see~" Having gotten the answer he wanted, Hamilton left contentedly, his departure brisk. ... "Tsst~" With the sound of the air valve, the device that held the Mech Pilot in place released him onto solid ground. Rose rubbed her sweat-drenched golden curls with a hint of dissatisfaction and looked at Bai E, "Next time just train by yourself. I feel superfluous." Bai E just waved his hand, "How could I manage alone? I''ve tried, it simply doesn''t work." [Current "Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm" experience 17/1000, reach 1000 points to master "Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm (4/7 level)".] [Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm (3/7 level):... (Current conversion rate: 40%)] As the level of expertise improved, the experience needed to train his mecha manipulation skills became increasingly vast, and only after spending 4000 points of combat experience did Mechanical Rhythm grudgingly rise by one level. If it hadn''t been for the fresh 11,000 points of experience from last night, he really couldn''t have afforded this level of expenditure. "Let''s go." Rose gestured and turned to leave. Unlike Bai E, she hadn''t maxed out her other abilities yet, especially her physical fitness. Apart from the mecha operating training, she also needed to do some conventional training, since in terms of time, she still fell under the category of "newbie." So she probably also needed the methods of Advanced Physical Training 3.0. For some reason, Helen hadn''t yet announced it, possibly because it wasn''t perfected to the degree that everyone could use it. But as the original improver of this 3.0 training, Bai E thought he might try to use these skills to benefit those who had a closer relationship with him first. Watching her departing figure, Bai E called out from behind: "Later..." Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire Late won''t work... later it''ll be noon, and he needed to meet Franca to plan out their next tasks. "Tonight..." Tonight won''t work either... he had to go learn from Yue Ying. "Tomorrow..." Tomorrow morning he was out on a mission. "Next time I''m free, I''ll look for you, got something for you." "..." Rose paused, turned her head slightly, "People normally invite others for a drink." "...Let''s have that drink the time after next." "..." Chapter 301 286 Level 2 Prestiges new function "The Lord is coming soon, right?" Xu Ruoguang rubbed his tiny hands together, full of anticipation.After all, last night''s battle had clearly demonstrated to them the distinct hierarchy among the high-end combat forces of this world. Our Lord > High-Dimensional Demon High-Dimensional Demon > Elite Executioner of the Arbitration Place S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Elite Executioner of the Arbitration Place > Regular Executioner of the Arbitration Place After all, the young lady who came later performed much better than the first two, which shows there is also a disparity among executioners. And then there are players like us. Of course, this ranking system is neither authoritative nor clear. There might be a difference of ten thousand and eight thousand levels between our Lord and a high-dimensional demon, after all, a one-sided massacre doesn''t seem just a little bit of victory. So this time, the leg we''ve clung to might just be the ceiling of combat power in this game! And such a character might... perhaps... possibly, also know some information related to the main-line mission they bear, like, knowing who the Emperor of Mankind is and where he is. "But the Lord mentioned before that he will only take one for now, and it''s okay if he doesn''t choose us temporarily. At worst, we''ll start as teammates and then become official later," Dai Lian preemptively inoculated the two of them. He was quite satisfied with his two teammates, who at least seemed to have a certain tactical mind, and weren''t like the muscle gorilla Kuang Xin. "Mm... No problem, we have an understanding," Xu Ruoguang said with a bright smile, the very image of a sunny young man. Not far away, under the midday sun, a figure walked over at a steady pace. With the boost from last night''s achievements, even the three old players who thought they knew their Lord inside out couldn''t help but subconsciously hold their breath. "My Lord..." "My Lord..." Bai E''s gaze easily swept over them, pausing noticeably on Gu Lan and Xu Ruoguang. Last night, Bai E had spotted these two unfamiliar new players who were likely brought in as new recruits. And even to have two at once for him to choose from... "These two..." "Are our companions," Dai Lian stepped forward half a step to phrase his words for the critical moment, "They aspire to the Lord''s ideals, so they want to follow the Lord''s guidance in our glorious pursuits." "But I already said I only want one..." With the limited capacity to issue missions, Bai E didn''t want those at the same level to feel he was showing favoritism, so it was better to define the hierarchy right from the start. "That''s fine, Lord. They just hope to work behind you, official titles are not important," Dai Lian interjected. "..." So sensible... A visible pleasure flashed in Bai E''s eyes as he looked straight at Gu Lan and Xu Ruoguang, "I saw your performance last night, and you did very well." Even though the unfolding events at the beginning were not witnessed and all he saw was two people struggling to dig trenches in the ruins... Bai E didn''t let that stop him from praising them. Indeed, the approval of the mighty always seems to stir people''s hearts more easily. Even Gu Lan, a lady who had grown up surrounded by luxury and adulation, felt her mood elevate at Bai E''s praise. This game is too realistic, and the Lord before them seemed so high and lofty, praise from someone far above one''s own status was always gratifying. "Thank you, Lord..." "It''s what we ought to do." "What are your names?" "Gu Lan." "Xu Ruoguang." "Mm," Bai E nodded, still wearing a light smile on his face, his tone calm, "They must have already mentioned to you¡ªdue to the current design development policy, our plan will not change to recruit only one core member. One of you is bound to be temporarily unable to learn the organization''s core secrets." While speaking, Bai E''s gaze swept over the trio of old players, "Even they, before certain matters are made public, cannot share more core information with you." "We are aware of it, Lord." The game''s full realism gave them the pleasure somewhat akin to role-playing make-believe. The sense of superiority over their two-dimensional characters also prevented them from feeling truly inferior. If you really piss me off, I''ll just unplug your power! So, with complete immersion in their role-play, both showed visible anticipation, "So, Lord, if you could consider..." "You," Bai E said, looking at Gu Lan with a slight smile, "Welcome to ''Dawn''." In the slight daze of the two, Bai E stepped forward and patted Xu Ruoguang''s shoulder with a light-hearted tone, "Don''t be discouraged; she is just richer than you." Under the puzzled gaze of the players, Bai E kept a calm expression, unflustered, "The organization is still in its development phase; a lot of times, we need everyone''s effort. Your own social status and wealth can also help the organization achieve its goals more quickly. For this purpose, we sometimes have to learn to compromise." Whether it was in terms of attire or the weaponry she was equipped with, Gu Lan was clearly not just one notch above Xu Ruoguang. Not to mention that over the course of a night, her Spiritual Energy had reached the terrifying threshold of 60 points. The increased power of Spiritual Energy allowed him to sense more about Spiritual Energy-related things¡ªlike the small, delicate black pistol that was faintly visible at the root of Gu Lan''s thigh. Clearly, this female player had uncovered more content in the game and had more resources. With the conversion function of the warehouse, the players'' money is the organization''s money, and the organization''s money is my money... No problem there. [The other party invites you to join the faction: Dawn (Prestige Level: 2), do you accept?] Gu Lan decisively confirmed. [Yes!] [Gu Lan has joined your faction.] Having joined Li Ming, Gu Lan, who had long anticipated the legendary Faction Shop, immediately clicked to enter it. [Temporary members cannot view the Faction Shop.] "..." Huh? Facing Gu Lan''s somewhat blank look, Bai E sipped his lips lightly, "You still need to work..." Behind him, Kuang Xin, recalling the experiences of himself and others in the past, suppressed a laugh and comforted, "We all came up this way..." "Let''s go, let''s check out our secret base." Arriving at the spacious underground base, it was almost no different from the last time he was here. Bai E hadn''t been here these past two days, and the players had gone out to do tasks. Turning to see the four people following him, Bai E twisted his head and called out, "Xu Ruoguang, come down." Looking at Xu Ruoguang, who only came down after being called, Bai E was satisfied with him; the lad was quite self-aware... Looking at the five people before him, as well as the Rat People and Gilder standing behind them, Bai E knew these were the core members of his group for the time to come. After a brief moment of calm, he began to speak. "Last night everyone was here, so you know some unexpected events took place beyond my expectations." "It happened suddenly, and for the sake of everyone, I had to accept the proposal from the Arbitration Place to take over Black Street from that moment on." "Of course, even after taking over Black Street, our organization must still and will certainly be divided into ''Light and Dark'' sections." "The Dark Department is the true core of the organization, still centered around this secret base... We always need some cards that others don''t know about." "But we must also do well with what we have promised. Furthermore, our organization will have to surface eventually, and Black Street is not a bad opportunity to test the waters. As our starting point, everyone can freely try without pressure. Should any situation arise, I can cover for you." At the moment when the faction''s reputation level increased to level 2 last night, Bai E received a notification from the panel¡ª [As the reputation level of the faction you created (Li Ming) has increased to level 2, the number of faction tasks you can issue to members of Li Ming has increased by 1, the total number of faction tasks you can now issue is 2.] The previous faction task was to build the underground base, and Gu Lan, having joined the organization, automatically accepted it without needing to say more. And now... [Generating mission description automatically...] [Side Mission¡ªBlack Street Protection (Combat-Type Task): Black Street is now your turf, and it''s a just cause to defend the Order on your own ground. You need to maintain all the established Order within the "Black Street" area, and when outsiders initiate unjust "aggressive actions" against the original residents of the territory, you must step in to protect them. Successful defense will earn rewards, while failure will also incur punishment. (This task can be executed by up to five people jointly) Task requirements: Maintain Black Street Order for the day 0/1 (Daily), Resolve external conflict incidents 0/??? (Extra). Task rewards: Daily (Each Day): General Experience ¡À50~100 points (adjustable), Faction Contribution *10; Extra (Each Incident): General Experience 100~200 points (adjustable), Faction Contribution *10~???.] (Note: "Auto-complete" allowed; after confirming the commission, "permissions" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) [Do you want to issue the current task?] Faction tasks are not subject to the permission restrictions of individual task issuances, and the type doesn''t matter. Bai E maximized the range of adjustable rewards and chose to issue the task. "From now on, Black Street will be the place we all need to protect together. The specific public order regulations will be arranged by Gilder, and what you need to do is... to protect this Order." As faction members, the task was automatically accepted. Experience more tales on empire The four players, upon understanding the task description, immediately felt their blood boiling with excitement. Maintaining the basic Order... is the same as doing nothing, and they would earn a net of 100 general experience points and 10 faction contribution points per day. If there''s trouble caused by outsiders, they would need to take action, gaining 200 general experience points and an unknown amount of faction contribution points for each incident. Isn''t this a skyrocketing opportunity? The trio knew all too well how difficult it had been to earn faction contribution points before; without taking any action, they would definitely not make any. And now, as long as there''s no trouble, they would have contribution points credited daily even while lying down, not to mention the "surprises" they''d get for each incident where they repel outsiders causing trouble in Black Street. Awesome! The expansion of the organization indeed affected their own benefits, and if the organization''s influence were to expand further in the future, the benefits they could receive as members of the organization were simply unimaginable. For Gu Lan, it was an even bigger surprise. She had heard from the trio about their ways of earning contribution points¡ªstarting from construction work, which was somewhat torturous for her. And now, upon joining, she had a "basic guarantee" to rely on, soon able to earn enough contribution points to learn many skills they talked about. This organization is brilliant! Only Xu Ruoguang was anxiously watching the four elated players, fidgeting like ants on a hot pot, but without an explanation, he could only look upset, "Did I miss something..." Bai E looked at the four with a smile, waiting for them to digest the new task. The future of Black Street was unclear to him as well. Whether this job was tough or leisurely, who knew? As the four gradually calmed down and looked back at him, Bai E chuckled before speaking. "There''s one more thing." Chapter 302 287 Governance ```The task of guarding Black Street was just a new mission qualification that emerged after the prestige level of the forces had been raised, and the original task qualifications were still in place. Bai E needed to design new tasks for them. For instance... Clearing the danger sources around Black Street. In this world, it''s not just the Bug Race, beastmen, demons, and intelligent machines that are the four major disasters. In this era of chaos among machinery, souls, and genes, it''s not only humans that have been affected, but also all sorts of native species in nature, which have become unpredictable under the disturbance of various pheromones. The wild beasts of nature are constantly undergoing mutations at any given time. Today, they may still be naive newborns, but tomorrow, they might transform into unnameable abominations covered in blood with spikes and tentacles. Only the city walls can completely isolate the madness of those wild creatures. Around Black Street, and even farther places, you can see bodies from time to time¡ªboth human and beast. Before, no one did this because there was no benefit to doing such things, and besides, those things were unpredictable. Unless something happened to oneself, the strong wouldn''t care, and the weak were simply handing over meat to their mouths. But now, seeking out these dangerous creatures and clearing them out could serve as combat-type missions for the players. "The wolf packs I previously sent you to clear in the Black Forest were just to train you when your strength was just starting. Now that you have the capability to deal with more crises, I think you should also bear greater responsibility. The conflicts within humanity certainly require attention, but external threats are happening all the time." [Mission description auto-generation in progress...] [Side Mission¡ªThreat Elimination (Combat-Type Mission): The humans living outside the city are constantly threatened by the wilderness. You, with your increased strength, can now try to actively track the traces of numerous dangers and attempt to eliminate them. Mission requirements: Clear sources of danger 0/3-5 (adjustable). Enjoy exclusive content from empire Mission rewards: Universal experience points 50-200 (adjustable), item rewards (undecided).] (Note: "Auto-complete" allowed; after confirming the issuance of the mission, "authority" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) [Release the current mission?] As he spoke, Bai E looked at Kuang Xin, "How do you feel about the battles in the arena? Do you still see hope for further improvement?" Kuang Xin''s eyes lit up, "Yes!" Definitely yes! In that place, he could let loose completely, do whatever he wanted. The crazier he got, the more it excited others¡ªas if he were back at home. Now, just staying near the city at night without going to the arena to fight a few bouts made him feel like he had lice crawling on him¡ªit was irritating. He was itching for a fight, craving for combat! "Good," Bai E nodded. The players'' improvement meant his own improvement¡ªperfect! "Then you continue to enhance your strength in that arena, but also be more vigilant. I always feel there''s something not quite right about that place." Thinking back carefully, the burst of murderous intent displayed by the opponent during Blood God''s death match felt too abrupt, and Blood God''s outburst was also somewhat strange. Furthermore, the demonic powers he later exhibited in the Pit of Fear, and the abilities of the Lord of Fear seemed to stem from different sources. Also, his actions at the time were very peculiar, not at all like someone controlled by the Lord of Fear. Perhaps... The demon that blessed him was not the Lord of Fear. Instead, the atmosphere of the arena had some sort of connection with the powers he displayed. Kuang Xin''s missions continue. Another type of mission was resource-oriented¡ª "Those residents of Black Street have been in chaos for too long, they may have forgotten how to live normally." Farming? Husbandry? Crop cultivation? Crafts? Trade? It''s not that no one had tried to do these things before, but those who did were plundered; they starved to death, while those who did nothing lived comfortably. Starting anew now, they might not know how to proceed, and efficiency is another issue. "You need to set an example for them." [Mission description auto-generation in progress...] [Side Mission¡ªEssentials of Survival (Resource-Type Mission): Find tameable wild beasts for Black Street, locate suitable land for cultivation, and try cooperative production. Mission requirement: Enhance the procurement of materials necessary for survival. Mission rewards: 1 Technology point*, item rewards (undecided).] (Note: The current mission involves the submission of physical items and cannot be "auto-completed"; it requires "inspection completion". With the increase in force level, a "spokesperson" can be designated for inspection; after confirming the issuance of the mission, "authority" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) [Release the current mission?] Pretty intelligent... Release! "Gilder, I''ll have to ask you to pay a bit more attention to what they''re doing. You should have experience in this area, feel free to give them some pointers when you have time." ``` "Okay, sir!" Gilder nodded full of conviction. The sir''s arrangements were well-organized; if he cared so much for Black Street that he had just taken over, then in the future, if the people he had led out of the oasis were not doing well, the sir certainly would not let anyone be disappointed. Devoting oneself wholeheartedly to the sir may have been the best decision of one''s life. ["Lucky Strike" charging +3.] "Furthermore¡­" Bai E''s tone paused briefly, glancing at Xu Ruoguang, who stood at the back of everyone and seemed out of place. Not having joined the organization and not having received a quota for a personal mission, he looked somewhat pitiful. "You all must improve your strength as quickly as possible. The future is still far away, and developing just around the outskirts of the city is not our only way out." Perhaps one''s task was to control at least 51% of the real power in Blackwater City, but as a lowly soldier, how long would it take to slowly move up the ranks? Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, these were all powers within the city. Even if they were temporarily under one''s command, the power given by others could be taken back at any time; only when one held power truly belonging to oneself could one ensure their voice would be heard by everyone at a crucial moment. Ever since he had set his goal, Bai E''s way of thinking had changed. "I''ve discovered a set of ruins in the wild, the foundation is still there, and with some minor repairs, it could be brought back into use. When your strength has developed to a certain point, we can begin to organize and develop it. In this era, too many people live difficult lives; we must create a warm home for everyone..." "Yes! Sir!" Xu Ruoguang''s lips trembled as he was the first to respond loudly. Too childish! He loved it too much! That''s exactly what he was into! This elicited some weird glances from the other players ¡ª was this kid getting too absorbed in the role? "If there are no problems, you can go ahead and start your tasks," Bai E said. Dai Lian took the hint to dismiss them and actively responded, "Yes, sir!" After the players left, Bai E turned to Gilder, "The issues with Black Street will need more of your attention from now on. Yesterday I only set a general tone, have you thought about the specific management details?" Gilder was cautious and very humble, "I''ve thought of some, but I''m not sure if there''s anything I''ve missed. Could you please take a look, sir?" "Let''s hear them." "¡­" "¡­" Set up a patrol guard comprised of Black Street residents, start cooperative handcraft workshops, and organize people to learn productive capabilities. Born in the wilderness, Gilder could be said to have maxed out his tribe''s survival skills. Not only was his organizational ability outstanding, but his ability to create various necessities for life was exceptionally brilliant. He had a firm grip on management and practical operations. After listening to Gilder''s thoughts, Bai E nodded with satisfaction, "You''ve considered this very thoroughly. We can adjust to actual problems as they come up, but let''s proceed with your plan for now... Just be careful with your approach." Previously, Wallis could almost be seen as the leader among Black Street''s powers, although the "leader''s" gold content was not solid and not universally acknowledged, he was definitely the biggest. He had quite a few followers, and even if they had to listen to Bai E due to external factors, the nature of these people hadn''t changed ¡ª they were bullies, feared the powerful while oppressing the weak, idled around, and were lazy gluttons. Gilder chose to put these people through the paces as the lowest-level hard laborers, while Black Street''s Li Ming Enforcement Team was comprised of the ordinary people who had been oppressed in the past. Gilder''s intentions were good, but in practice, he had to be careful of the resentment that might sprout from those who were used to being influential and powerful. Evil thoughts attract the attention of higher-dimensional demons the most. While forcing these people to work, it is also important to focus on educating their minds and spirits. "I understand, sir..." "I believe in you." Bai E looked into his eyes earnestly, "But if there''s anything inconvenient for you during management, you can get them to do it. Protect yourselves well; Black Street is just a pilot, you are the core." Bai E then looked up, indicating the direction of the dungeon entrance. If there''s a task, let the players handle it; they are not afraid of death or offending anyone. To manage well, means are necessary. "That will be all for now. Communicate with me promptly about any situations. If you cannot come back often, let Fernandi deliver the message. Unless something unexpected happens, I will come by every day at noon." "Yes! Sir." "Oh, and I have to assign a task tomorrow. I''m not sure how long it will take. If you encounter any issues that you can''t resolve, try to delay as much as possible." Only after arranging everything did Bai E leave, satisfied. "Let''s go!" In the afternoon, there were no specific training courses scheduled; Psychic Pressure Resistance Training was held every other day. However, considering the objectives of the task, Bai E wanted to learn some skills that might be useful. Chapter 303 288 Anatomy For instance, "dissection."The corpses of Bug Race can yield the so-called "Zerg Purification Extract," which is the core material for making Gene Optimization Solution. Bai E still isn''t clear about the specific details of production, but having more raw materials is definitely not an issue. Since he has the desire to establish a large-scale organization, he certainly cannot allow others to choke off his access to core resources. Technical issues might depend on his own future opportunities or the efforts of the players, but raw materials¡ªthat''s fair game for whoever wins them in battle. One cannot always rely on a lucky strike for resource acquisition; it''s not stable and is too wasteful. Experience tales at empire By mastering the method of harvesting materials directly from cadavers with skill, players can also organize hunting teams to accumulate resources for their own organizations. There is still a considerable distance to the location of the dissection teaching, but the stench of blood and decay already fills Bai E''s nostrils from the air. It''s still early, and the course hasn''t started. There is only one person, clad in a leather coat so soaked in blood that it cannot be fully washed clean... a butcher? He seems to be preparing the cadavers for dissection for the soon-to-arrive students, and his gaze, filled with lethal intent, sweeps over Bai E as he arrives. That look made Bai E think for a moment that the man was contemplating where to start cutting from his own body... "I haven''t seen you before, and I didn''t receive any notice of new students joining," the other said indifferently, speaking as if the scent of blood lingered between his teeth. Bai E cautiously inquired, "I heard that anyone interested could come to listen in?" Dissection is unlike the "dressing" skills he learned before; incorrect treatment could lead to death. Therefore, one must be arranged and connected to join the student group; a doctor''s qualification is fixed, without any concept of a guest appearance. Dissection, however, is different. Sometimes after a battle, the enemy''s reinforcements could arrive at any time. At such moments, every second counts, and you take what useful spoils you can, even if the unorthodox methods mean the spoil''s quality is poor or scarce, it''s still a profit. Every military campaign for humans is a massive expenditure, and wars cannot be sustained long without war feeding war. Even learning a little brings profit, and the barriers to entry are not high. Moreover, for the individuals among the soldiers, those who can manage to sweep the battlefield post-combat and bring back useful resources for their camp evidently can earn more military merits, making it a win-win situation. Thus many soldiers like to master more skills in their spare time that can bring them profit. It''s not surprising that many visitable courses cover such skills. "Fine," the butcher nodded and went about moving one cadaver after another onto the dissection tables. Bug Race''s... beastmen''s... mutants''... wild beasts''... The military base hosts countless small units that embark on missions nearly every day, either for reconnaissance or patrol, and these alien species never rest, always presenting opportunities for an encounter. Soldiers captured by the enemy are naturally buried in the wilderness, while the corpses brought back dead or alive by the soldiers can also be converted into military honors for humans. Upon this land, sworn enemies hunt each other. Bai E stands quietly to the side, waiting for the official students to gather. He actually wanted to lend a hand, but was refused... The butcher, busy with preparations, occasionally glanced at the figure standing to the side. The serious and patient attitude was somewhat satisfying, but such waiting was destined to be in vain. Many of the secrets of dissection aren''t demanding, but he wasn''t there to teach entry-level knowledge every day. As the course progresses, some deeper knowledge points require hands-on practice to learn. The bits picked up by listeners, unverified by practice, aren''t of much use. And without the foundation laid prior, one has no room for imagination, making listening from the side a waste of time. Shaking his head privately and noticing the time had come, regardless of whether all the official students had arrived, the butcher shouted, "Gather up!" A surge of murderous aura exploded from him, causing some of the faint-hearted to involuntarily turn pale under the roar. "Last lesson, we talked about what to watch out for when dissecting corpses of different species." The butcher holding a bone-scalpel scraped it across the smooth steel spike, producing a shrill sound. His eyes scanned the warriors in front of him as if calculating who to cut first, "This lesson, we start with practical combat! Of course, for those observers..." The butcher''s gaze flicked over Bai E, along with two or three other soldiers. As the course deepened, the number of observers had dwindled, those who kept coming with Bai E had a certain foundation from the start. Only Bai E... was a completely unfamiliar face. "...they can cut as much as they can, even if what they cut cannot be used, it''s not a loss. But you!" The butcher''s eyes coldly swept across the group of official students, "The superiors have invested time and effort in training you to achieve the best. Your operations cannot afford a single mistake, every usable part of the organ must not be wasted, and every unusable part must not be contaminated!" Just like the toxin glands inside the bodies of Bug Race, if punctured carelessly during dissection, the blood soaked with toxin immediately becomes unusable. Moreover, species like the Bug Race and beastmen, even though their wills have perished, the strong vitality in their bodies lets their dead carcasses still retain a kind of stress response. Without paying attention to these feedbacks, precious spoils will be wasted. "Now... begin!" The official students teamed up in pairs and approached the dissection tables with various corpses laid out on them. The butcher surveyed the scene, measuring each apprentice''s performance while casually explaining some of the basic points of knowledge. "The most essential part of the bug is the tender meat that includes its heart. Their essence extract is refined from here. When making the incision, be careful not to let their acidic blood contaminate the surface tissue, or the extract will be rendered useless." "Orc chest cavity''s fungal broth shouldn''t be wasted. It''s the most precious part of their entire body. Once processed, it can be used as fertilizer for crop cultivation, with an extremely terrifying increase in yield." While claiming indifference, the butcher could still manage to share some knowledge in an understandable way for the bystanders, without wasting time. [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Dissection," progress 1%¡­] "The orc''s brain is also the core part for extracting their genetic material. However, you can be a bit more rough, to save time, since the fungal tissue isn''t as delicate as it appears and is hard to damage." [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Dissection," progress 19%¡­] Dissection isn''t just about cutting a few pieces of meat from a corpse, and the meat cut off isn''t just for eating. The dissection itself requires familiarity with the target''s structure and an understanding of how the by-products can be utilized, which are all part of the knowledge needed in "dissection." The amount of information can be much more overwhelming than simple bandaging. "Some mutants form a ''genetic seed'' in their heart, lungs, brain, or other organs, carrying their core abilities after mutation. They''re extremely fragile and must be handled with the utmost care during dissection!" "When dissecting, you must plan ahead, prioritizing the parts you need. Don''t neglect the rest for the sake of the core piece, causing everything to go to waste in the process. Our resources are limited, we must utilize every recoverable resource as best as we can." Bai E focused intently, his ears tuned to the instructor''s lecture while he craned his neck to watch the appalling operation by two apprentices fumbling around in a foul-smelling thoracic cavity at a dissection table. Luckily, today''s formal apprentices were not performing very smoothly. The butcher moved around, continuously giving guidance, his expression growing increasingly stern. "That''s wrong! Follow the muscle fiber, if you cut down hard like that you''ll not only exert unnecessary effort, but also risk losing control and hitting parts you shouldn''t!" [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Dissection," progress 50%¡­] [Learning "Knowledge ¡ª Dissection" has reached the minimum requirements; instructional mode activated.] [Instruction: You''ve already grasped quite a bit of basic knowledge on dissection. Observing others is now your best teacher. You can pay a certain cost (combat experience/general experience) to learn the operations showcased by others to round out your understanding of dissection. But since the experience level of your targets is lacking, you''ll also need to pay an additional experience cost for automatic correction of mistakes. (Cost: 20 points of experience/min)] Is there even a question? Just learn it. After all, Bai E, with his tens of thousands of experience in storage, doesn''t mind this trivial expenditure at all. [You are paying combat experience to learn others'' dissection experience¡­] [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Dissection," progress 55%¡­] [¡­Dissection experience +1.] [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Dissection," progress 61%¡­] [¡­Dissection experience +1.] Dissection is a skill that combines time and knowledge. Bai E roamed the crowd, learning from the strength of many, and eventually mastered the knowledge of dissection. [Current dissection experience 0/300. At 300 points, you can master "Level 2 Dissection."] [Dissection (1/4 levels): Your familiarity with the dissection targets now allows you to have a high probability of extracting "Easy Difficulty" resources from complex bodies.] Not bad... It cost less than 200 points of experience, a bit more wasteful than direct upgrades, but not by much. [Detected that the character''s current combat skills are outstanding. Your familiarity with the physical structure of combat targets allows you to have a "very high probability" of adding +1 to base proficiency and +1 to base damage when initiating attacks with (small arms, ranged weapons, melee) and other forms of attack.] Is there also a synergy? What a score! Bai E felt a tinge of happiness in his heart. The butcher, also patrolling the area, was now standing beside a dissection table, watching two apprentices in the same group fumble clumsily. The butcher''s voice even carried a hint of murderous intent, "How long have you been learning! You''ve had real practice in the past, how can you still be so disorganized now!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The butcher''s stern voice made the two apprentices tremble all over. However, the instructor, who seemed to have a short temper, did not stop the criticism, "You are too crude for this kind of delicate work, you should be on the battlefield wielding big swords to chop people up!" "Sorry... sorry, instructor," muttered one apprentice in a low voice. The reason he avoided the front lines and applied to learn these specialized skills, which didn''t require immediate combat deployment, was exactly that. Even logistics soldiers are soldiers, with an official designation and no need to risk their lives. The butcher didn''t cease his attack, "Useless! Even those bystanders could do better than you!" Another natural-born soldier, worried about losing his "rice bowl," mumbled under his breath, "I don''t believe that..." "You don''t believe it?" The butcher''s voice suddenly rose, glancing at three bystander apprentices who were gathering around to watch the commotion, "Come here! All three of you, come over!" Chapter 304 289 Essence Extraction Equation! The two auditing students who were called over had bitter expressions and looked at the outspoken natural-born soldier with a bit of resentment in their eyes."Brother, what was the point of talking back? Now you''ve gotten yourself into actually having to do the practical operation too." If us and others don''t perform well, won''t we also be scolded? Moreover, if these regular students who have the opportunity to practice can''t do it right, how can they expect us, who just occasionally come by for a splash of soy sauce, to manage? And the instructor, why did you have to drag us into your bragging? It''s tough! So tough! The two auditing students glanced cautiously at the Butcher instructor, only thinking about how to tactfully decline. "Why are you standing there, go on, you''re up." "..." The auditing students timidly looked towards the Butcher instructor, their eyes carrying a hint of retreat. "Instructor..." The Butcher instructor stared at him with a strange look, "Are you not up to it? I remember you''ve attended the classes without missing any." Who could be so serious if not someone who can really learn? As the course deepened, from the bustling crowd of auditing students to now just a few kittens, those remaining are truly dedicated. The Butcher had a deep impression of him. At that moment, the voice of the auditing student was even weaker, "I... I just have some spare time..." Just watching... watching the excitement. The rest of the words he didn''t dare to say, but his timidity was clearly a profound disappointment to the Butcher instructor. "Hey!" "May I give it a try, instructor?" A pair of bright eyes looked straight into the Butcher''s, and the instructor looked with some surprise at the "newcomer" he was meeting for the first time today. "You?" Bai E''s lips bore a faint smile, "Having listened to the instructor''s explanations and watched everyone''s operations, I think I might give it a try." Ambitious, proactive. Since he had decided that he wanted to become a warlord and claim 51% of the real power of Blackwater City, he had to start from the ground up, slowly but surely. Once all the key players of the city were on his side, the city would bear the name Bai. Conversely, even if he was unparalleled in strength, he wouldn''t forcibly be able to seize power. If a tyrant represented the brute force of unilateral actions, then a warlord symbolized the convincing power of influence. He needed to become familiar to everyone and be remembered, even if he hadn''t been asked, he had to volunteer and show off a bit to get his face known. There might even be some energy credits coming in, a win-win situation. "Are you sure?" the Butcher squinted his eyes suspiciously. "It''s your first time here, right?" "But I think I can give it a shot." Bai E''s face was full of confidence, which even influenced the instructor to some extent. The confident and bright smile made the Butcher''s thoughts waver slightly, ready to see what this new face was capable of. "Come on then." The Butcher nodded his head and stepped aside, revealing the autopsy table behind him. "If you need help, just say so." [Triggered side quest¡ªAutopsy in Action.] [Autopsy in Action: Your proactive approach has the instructor brimming with anticipation for your performance. He is waiting for an outstanding show. Be aware! Your performance will determine your reward, so try to demonstrate your most exquisite skills. Quest Requirement: Complete one autopsy 0/1. Reward for Completion: Variable based on performance.] Another quest? Oh~ now it''s a triple win. The corpse on the autopsy table was a worker from the Bug Race, specifically a Vanguard Shield type, bulky and heavy-looking. The reason for pairing up two people was so that when one person was cutting, the other could provide a bit of support, making it easier for the cutter to exert force. But... No need. Since a perfect performance was the goal, it had to pack a significant punch. Similarly, for a perfect show, Bai E maxed out his autopsy skill in one go. [Autopsy (4/4 level): Your proficiency in dissection now allows you to perfectly extract "Easy Difficulty" resources from complex bodies, have a high chance of extracting "Medium Difficulty" resources, and a chance to extract "Hard Difficulty" resources, ensuring that everything you extract is "Absolutely Flawless"!] [Detected that the character''s current combat skills are outstanding. Your familiarity with the physical structure of combat targets allows you to inflict attacks (light firearms, ranged weapons, melee) with "at least" a +2 increase in base energy output and +2 in base damage inflicted; "a certain chance" of a +4 increase in base energy output and +4 in base damage inflicted.] From level 1 to 4, it was just a matter of 1,800 points of universal experience, completely affordable for the current Bai E. For a perfect performance and unknown rewards, it was absolutely worth the gamble. There might even be a technology reward for making Optimization fluid, hahaha~ Bai E stepped forward, his expression solemn. Although knowledge and abilities covered the body like instincts, facing something on the first try, one must never be careless. In this real world, an individual''s subjective performance is equally as important as the abilities they wield. Bai E''s movements were slow, yet steady. Like a novice learning the ropes, he was filled with reverence for the actions he was about to take. This cautious attitude was not like the confident ease of an expert, which even if feigned would be difficult to pull off. "Seems it really is his first time handling this?" That thought flickered through the butcher''s mind as he watched Bai E''s movements with interest. If it was his first time, what gave him such confidence? Was it true skill or just the fearlessness of the ignorant? Bai E, holding a sharp boning knife, slowly made the first cut... Parts of the Bug Race''s flesh, once the acid glands and poison sacs were removed, were edible after special processing and contained protein six times that of beef; as the instructor had mentioned, the tasty mush they usually ate occasionally included this substance ground into paste. The parts of the flesh that could harden were not pleasant to eat and less nutritious; there was no need to extract them. "Snap!" "Snap!" Two large chunks of intact flesh were casually tossed by Bai E to the side of the dissection table, emitting a dull sound. The butcher moved in closer, surprised and intrigued, pinched the flesh, and observed meticulously¡ª The cutting technique followed the muscle grain perfectly, not only smooth but also enhancing the texture to a degree; holding the meat in his hand, the butcher felt as if he could see "Flavor +1," "Flavor +1" indicators popping up before his eyes. Perfect! The acid glands and poison sacs were not entirely useless, either; these natural biochemical weapons from the Bug Race could be converted into perfect toxic agents after a bit of extraction, and some of their components could even be processed for medicinal uses. But one must be careful, careful, and then careful again! Bai E performed the extraction of each gland and the surrounding muscle tissue with precision, neatly arranging the few organs from the worker creature''s body, a total of twelve, on the table. The butcher examined each one and the only word echoing in his mind was¡ª Perfect! Then came the most crucial part, the prized flesh, key for refining Essence Extraction fluid. The amount one worker creature could provide was perhaps not even a drop, but little accumulates to become much; given time and technique, each creature was worth extracting from. "Snap!" After Bai E first cut away the usually discarded acid glands and poison sacs, the process of excising the prized flesh became much easier. As the entirety of a creature was almost perfectly dissected before their eyes, with all its tissues presented in different forms amidst the bi-section, the spectators were so astounded they could only gape and stand frozen in place. A perfect piece of art! "Is this really his first time?" However, as earnest as his movements were, they lacked the effortless air that seemed to emanate from the very bones of those who truly possessed such skill. "Badass!" The butcher swallowed hard. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He could do it, too, but how many years had he spent mastering this craft? And how long had this seemingly young warrior been exposed to it? Could his innate talent truly be so terrifying? And it wasn''t just the few nearby, but almost all the soldiers in training turned their heads after noticing the instructor''s mouth shut and the quiet environment. And so... [ "Lucky Strike" energy +43. ] [ Your outstanding performance has deeply impressed the instructor, raising the mission reward to the highest tier, now drawing the reward. ] [ Side mission¡ªDissection in Action, completed. ] [ Mission reward: Technology - Essence Extraction Equation, distributed. ] Chapter 305 290 Initial Disguise Removal [You have mastered "Technology - Essence Extraction Equation," and now you can improve the technology level by investing "General/Scientific Research Experience."]Technology... This was the first practical, complete technology Bai E had obtained; as long as he paid with experience, he could unlock its applications. The 1000 points of Scientific Research Experience that he had amassed earlier from collaborating with Helen on the Advanced Physical Training Program 3.0 had been lying unused. Now, it seemed they could be put to use to see the effects. [Payment: Scientific Research Experience 1000 points.] [Current "Technology - Essence Extraction Equation" experience 1000/1000, continue to pay "Technology Points*1" to unlock "Level 1 Technology - Essence Extraction Equation."] [Payment: Technology Points*1.] [Technology - Essence Extraction Equation (Level 1): You have mastered the basic biological essence extraction process and are familiar with the related materials and equipment involved in the extraction process. From now on, you can oversee the construction and management of essence extraction production lines, and you can somewhat reduce the losses during production. Production Loss -10%] The biggest difference between technology and knowledge is that one is knowledge you can apply yourself, while the other enables you to mobilize others, completing assembly-line production to expand productivity. That''s why the experience it requires is ten times that of equivalent knowledge... Using the universal General Experience instead of the specialized Scientific Research Experience feels like quite a loss. Having satisfied his curiosity with Level 1 technology, Bai E instantly dismissed any further plans to develop in this aspect for the time being. Such an endeavor was too resource-intensive, something he wasn''t ready to handle yet. Mission accomplished. Time to slip away! Bai E gently set down the bone-carving knife and politely bid farewell, "Instructor, if there''s nothing else, I''ll be going now." "Wait." The butcher gently caressed the knife Bai E had used, looked him in the face seriously, and asked, "To which unit do you belong?" "Me?" Bai E smiled, "Just an ordinary one, operating mechas." "..." As he walked away, Bai E pondered his future plans in the military camp; scenes like today''s were worth frequenting. For one, there was Energy Charge to harvest, and for another, it was an opportunity to make his presence known amongst various personalities in the camp. Perhaps these numerous grassroots characters couldn''t decisively influence everything, but on the odd occasion, support from these different unit grassroots characters could provide an undeniable force. Who knows... Moreover, these non-combat capabilities could surprisingly also enhance his combat abilities. Just this fact alone made this learning experience absolutely worthwhile. The enhancement to combat abilities provided by dissection was a basic numerical increase, which, when coupled with abilities like instantaneous killing or powerful shooting that multiply damage, could cause the base numbers to increase exponentially, significantly boosting the lethality. The only strange thing was why only "Light Firearms, Long-Range Weapons, Hand-to-Hand Combat"¡ªthese three specialized abilities¡ªprovided enhancements? Is it because of... the level of proficiency? The other specializations were only at levels 1 to 2, while these three were at levels 4 to 5. So, perhaps the minimum requirement to trigger enhancements was Level 3? Or was it Level 4 proficiency? Not important, there''ll always be a chance to verify this in the future. Having achieved his set goal, Bai E hastened to the dining hall, quickly ate a few bites, and then rushed to the secluded corner he had arranged to meet Yue Ying. After slaying the high-dimensional demon and absorbing all the Spiritual Energy it dropped, Bai E''s total amount of Spiritual Energy had reached a full 60 points. Yue Ying once said that he could learn new techniques once his total amount of Spiritual Energy had improved; he wondered if 60 points would be considered sufficient. Brimming Spiritual Energy kept Bai E''s mind consistently lucid; for the past few days, he felt as though he had an inexhaustible supply of energy, hardly feeling any fatigue or exhaustion. It was still early, Yue Ying had not arrived, so Bai E sat down to meditate on his own. A one-time transaction was, after all, occasional; there weren''t many targets that could burst with Spiritual Energy, and he couldn''t always rely on killing to improve his abilities. Regular meditation was an eternal necessity. Supported by a force both illusory and real, Bai E''s body floated lightly as if he were transcending mortality. The silent figure, who had arrived unnoticed, watched the seated warrior intently. He seemed to be sitting on the ground, yet he was actually afloat at least two or three centimeters off the ground. In other words, his Spiritual Energy was already powerful enough to lift his own body. How long had it been since he first encountered Spiritual Energy? Yue Ying pursed her thin lips, her gaze complex as she watched the meditating warrior. Even among her own race, the Elf Race, such a gifted talent was rare to see. Few, apart from his own sister, could achieve such rapid enhancement. "Yue Ying?" A gentle call roused Yue Ying from his momentary distraction. Feeling an oppressive sense of a foreign object approaching, Bai E opened his eyes and saw Yue Ying looking at him; his bottom had returned to the ground, and he hadn''t even realized that he had briefly floated. "Mhm~" Yue Ying hummed, his elongated, willow-leaf-like eyes fixed intently on Bai E, cutting straight to the point, "Were you the one last night?" "..." Bai E was startled, having not expected that last night''s event would alarm the young miss. A fleeting thought crossed his mind, and without any hesitation, Bai E nodded in agreement, "Yes." There was no need to lie to Yue Ying, and it would probably be impossible to deceive her anyway. If she was asking him this question so firmly now, it likely meant that she had watched the entire event last night. As for why no one had noticed her presence... Could someone at the peak level of combat power that Bai E currently recognized, who chose to hide, really be discovered by others? When Yue Ying heard Bai E''s almost instant agreement, a slight joy stirred in her heart¡ª ''He doesn''t want to lie to me.'' "Actually, I also felt that someone like you... I didn''t expect it to really be you." Yue Ying spoke with a tone of slight lament, even though she had guessed and was almost certain, when the person himself confirmed it, she couldn''t help but feel a wave of surprise. The memory of last night''s two arrows and their style flashed through her mind again; these were skills and abilities she had never taught him. Such remarkable comprehension. And... a leader with enough charisma. On the long street, faced with everyone''s worship, he accepted it nonchalantly and thereafter shouldered the responsibility of managing them. This was not about glory, but sacrifice. Just as he said, the meaning of a crown lies not in being above others, but in eternal guardianship. Such a person would surely rise to a high position in their human cities soon, wouldn''t he? S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for the internal affairs of humans, Yue Ying, feeling like an outsider, had no interest in further understanding or interfering; she only wished to deeply connect with the souls that she found interesting. This human warfighter before her seemed to already possess the qualifications to be accepted by the Elf Race. For the first time, Yue Ying actively removed the hood that shrouded her head. Her hood was not tight, but it always prevented one from clearly seeing her face underneath, which felt more like a spiritual energy block. Only when she performed a specific action... like removing her hood, did it imply that she was lifting this block. A delicate and charming face appeared suddenly before the eyes, the crystal-pink thin lips parted slightly, shimmering like dusted with gold, irresistible to the urge of drawing closer to passionately indulge in a kiss. In terms of sheer beauty, even the most captivating and stunning Helen could not compete with the beauty of an elf on the basis of pure looks alone. Beautiful to the point of surreal, yet tangibly real. "..." The impact of the breathtaking beauty so close by made Bai E involuntarily space out for a moment, as if the air itself became still, and his heart uncooperatively paused for a split second. Then it resumed once again. Using self-restraint to control the secretion of exciting hormones in his body, the light of reason reclaimed its place in Bai E''s eyes. "I finally understand why you have always worn a disguise." This level of a femme fatale, who wouldn''t be enraptured by her looks? She was a walking aphrodisiac; letting her wander around, Blackwater City would transform into a den of carnal demons by tomorrow. Yue Ying''s lips curved lightly, a smile gracing her features; no one dislikes praise, provided they themselves are not dislikeable. Her gaze stayed focused on Bai E; under the boost of her attractiveness, such gaze was especially heart-racing. Yue Ying was aware of her lethality to most humans. But satisfyingly, she couldn''t detect a hint of desire in the eyes of the human warfighter before her. As expected... After all, she believed that someone who could resist her spiritually-charged desire on that night would not easily be corrupted by mere beauty. "The policies you implemented yesterday are quite interesting, why do you require them to work?" Yue Ying asked, still locking eyes with Bai E, as it was her habit. Eyes seldom lie, especially not under her scrutiny. Chapter 306 291 Spiritual Energy Curtain Heaven knows there is a kind of satisfaction in being intently stared at by such a beautifully unreal girl.Yes, that''s right, a girl. Yue Ying''s actual age is unknown, and by the Elf Race''s standard for adulthood, she was certainly older than Bai E''s apparent age by several cycles, but the trait of this race is to keep their appearance forever young. Once they reach adulthood, they are forever frozen in that most youthful and beautiful moment, until death. The slightly juvenile visage combined with Yue Ying''s sincere, inquisitive eyes would be unbearable for anyone. Though Yue Ying might be powerful, and her age meant she had considerable experience, the race''s understanding of "the Way" ensured that a part of "sincerity" always remained in their character. Even if they were vastly superior in status and strength, when faced with something they did not understand, they could still seek guidance with the utmost sincerity. This kind of completely heartfelt gaze was so powerful it was unimaginable, so much so that even Bai E, who had suppressed his emotions and sealed away his heart with concrete...couldn''t help but feel his heart tremble and his flesh quiver. The true thoughts swirling in his mind thus blurted out, "Create." "Create?" "Humans cannot stop creating. When a person stops creating, they start to become narrow-minded, start to select, to stagnate, and to exclude anything that does not fit their cognition. Work is not the goal, but first, I need to get them moving." The people from Black Street do not engage in production. They only think about plundering, only about encroaching, so the seeds of greedy desire grow within them, waiting for an opportunity to erupt. The feedback from players'' tasks may have accelerated and amplified this process and outcome, but the essence still originates from their hearts. War gang leaders like Wallis are merely the ones who are most gravely affected and most likely to encounter players issuing large-scale tasks, and therefore the most prone to fall, but he is definitely not the only source of danger. The extreme of any emotion, if taken to its limit, can become twisted and extreme. Will all the native inhabitants who have interacted with players and issued tasks to them fall into depravity? Bai E does not think so. Demons are amplifiers of emotion, but they cannot create something out of nothing. Bai E''s gaze was somewhat distant, as if recalling something. Perhaps falling into memories was the greatest weapon against the close-at-hand beauty of Yue Ying. Looking up at the moonlight in the sky, Bai E spoke softly, "The weapons to fight demons are never the blades and swords of the Arbitration Place, but the inner peace and contentment that come from people''s hearts." After coming to this world, having witnessed many things related to demons, Bai E had developed a bit of his own understanding of this seemingly idealistic existence. Because this world is too terrible, people''s hearts are always restless. They need the golden hope to fight against the instability of life; they need a fulfilling life to stand against the nullity of existence. The order given in Black Street at that time might have been a spur-of-the-moment impulse, but it was only after calming down and talking to Yue Ying that Bai E truly sorted out the core logic behind each of his thoughts. "So, I want them to be happy, free, and blissful. To face demons, this is the only and not everlasting countermeasure. Every day I am here, I will exert my utmost effort." Black Street is just the beginning; this grand ambition will eventually sweep across the universe. Bai E''s whisper settled, and Yue Ying was profoundly moved. Her Spiritual Energy Capacity was incredibly powerful, and she could sense the bit of will conveyed by the Spiritual Energy emanating from Bai E''s body. Speech can deceive people, but the faith intertwined with Spiritual Energy cannot lie. In a trance, in her consciousness, it seemed she could only see a cold, golden sun rising in the distant dark space, its eternal radiance offering peace to the souls of countless beings. The only pity is... that radiance is too far from her, too far. Far enough to cross time and space. Far enough to be forever out of reach. As time ticked by, Yue Ying blinked, coming back to her senses. Her absolute sensitivity to time made her aware that only three seconds had passed, yet it felt like a century. Looking at the human warrior before her, Yue Ying''s eyes carried a hint of reverence. There are not many who dare to commit to such grand ambitions. A determination firm enough to be recognized by Spiritual Energy and that seeks to emerge in the world only needs...absolute execution. And last night, this ability had already begun to show itself. A bold idea suddenly rose in her heart¡ª Perhaps, under his leadership, humanity could return to the Golden Age? But no matter what, the first thing needed was sufficient strength. Yue Ying''s tone became indifferent once more, "Since you want to protect everyone, the first thing you need to do is ensure you won''t be taken down first. How is your progress with your Spiritual Energy?" More advanced Spiritual Energy techniques required a higher Spiritual Energy Capacity to support them. She hadn''t felt much Spiritual Energy fluctuation during Bai E''s intervention last night, and given he had only recently come into contact with Spiritual Energy, it seemed likely... "Hoo!" Spiritual Perception sensed a breeze blowing towards her. The wind wasn''t fast, nor was its force strong, but it was enough for Yue Ying to feel an unusual sensation. The slightly sensitive touch made her subconsciously part her lips slightly, and immediately after, she realized what she had just witnessed. Spiritual Energy! The gathered Spiritual Energy had created a breeze out of thin air, which was perceived by her Spiritual senses. The amount of Spiritual Energy required to achieve this effect... was at least over 50 points! Was this something a person who had been in contact with Spiritual Energy for only two days could achieve?! What kind of monster had she actually taught?! ["Lucky Strike" Charge+5.] "Not bad," Yue Ying controlled her emotions, trying not to let them become too sensitive, "Since that is the case, you also qualify to learn how to establish your own defensive system." 10 points of Spiritual Energy was considered the official entry level, with subsequent growth in powers of ten marking major stage advancements. However, within each Spiritual Energy stage, there were some finer thresholds. For example, between the first stage of 10 points of Spiritual Energy and the second stage of 100 points, 50 points of Spiritual Energy was also a threshold for learning techniques. "When a Spiritual Energy practitioner burns their Spiritual Energy, it causes their Spiritual Body in high-dimensional space to light up like a torch, and this unusual glow may attract the attention of wandering demons from high-dimensional spaces. You should be aware of this, right?" Bai E obediently nodded, "I know." Although he hadn''t felt anything unusual when using Spiritual Energy the night before, perhaps... probably... it was just good luck? "There are currently two strategies for dealing with high-dimensional space demon attacks: one is to establish defenses, and the other is to evade." "Bright" light? Then reduce its "brightness." If you''re likely to be attacked, then actively respond to the attack. These were the different strategies chosen by humans and the Elf Race to deal with the dangers of burning Spiritual Energy. Humans were more aggressive, keen on confronting head-on. The Elf Race, having suffered great losses, preferred to conceal themselves. "However, the so-called evasion is not about physically reducing brightness, but rather a dim and hidden state of one''s own Spiritual Energy, which we refer to as a Spiritual Energy Veil." [You are learning Spiritual Energy related skills...] [Triggered teaching mission¡ª¡ªSpiritual Energy Veil.] [Teaching Mission¡ª¡ªSpiritual Energy Veil: As you delve deeper into the field of Spiritual Energy, you need to be aware of the dangers this double-edged power brings you. Only by learning how to protect yourself can you go further on the path of Spiritual Energy. Mission requirement: Follow Yue Ying''s guidance to completely establish a veil for your own Spiritual Body 0/1. Mission Completion Reward: Mystique +0.1.] Familiar missions popped up, and Bai E felt a sense of comfort. Mystique was the base attribute determining Spiritual Energy. The higher the Mystique attribute, the more sensitive the perception of Spiritual Energy and the more skillful its invocation. This attribute, unlike physical fitness or reflexes which could be steadily improved through training, was extremely precious with every tiny increase. "Close your eyes, focus on your ''inspiration''." To establish a protective veil for oneself, one first needed to recognize the existence of one''s own Spiritual Body reflected in high-dimensional space, and from there observe the veil established by the mentor''s connected Spiritual Body due to their life force fields being closely interconnected in high-dimensional space. Any learning''s first step always started with observation and imitation. Bai E and Yue Ying sat facing each other, their fingers interlocking. When Spiritual Energy was not particularly strong, the life force fields trapped within the body could only be guaranteed to enter "the same area" of that mysterious and strange high-dimensional space when the physical bodies were in actual contact. Under Yue Ying''s guidance, Bai E''s Spiritual Energy began to explore "outside." Not the "outside" space of the physical world, but the "outside" beyond the world''s layers... sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 307 292 First Experience with a Spiritual Body The high-dimensional space was chaos, and under Yueying''s guidance, Bai E, who was beginning to make contact with this space, had not directly perceived what this peculiar space itself should look like in all its splendor.Without full preparation and powerful cultivation, "directly viewing" the high-dimensional space itself is an extremely dangerous act. Those immersed in the spiritual energy system for a long time find it hard to control the impulsive desire to roam this mysterious space constantly, and the whispers lingering around their ears are constantly guiding them to explore deeper into this world. Fortunately, Bai E had not been in the field of spiritual energy for long, and even the whispers of the high-dimensional space had not yet had a real impact on him; naturally, he also lacked the desire to explore prompted by the whispers. Yueying''s guidance allowed Bai E to focus solely on his spiritual body, so he did not observe more unknown territories that he should not come into contact with at his current stage. Bai E''s first perception of his own spiritual body was incredibly stable, a stability that comes from the one-on-one cultivation of the Elf Race. The spiritual body... was like a soft, defenseless jellyfish. Translucent, faint glow, fragile... yet variable. Bai E really didn''t know how to describe it; the only image that came to mind that came closest was those elves in the sea. The only difference was that his own spiritual body roughly still had a human silhouette. Although it was his own spiritual body, it was as if he was observing with an indifferent third-person perspective. It was like an eye independent of the body was observing his entire body, a feeling so wonderful that it was somewhat beyond normal cognition, with a kind of forbidden beauty. In contrast, Yueying next to him had a spiritual body with graceful curves. In the high-dimensional space where the concept of clothing didn''t exist, her spiritual body reflected in this space was as alluring as her body concealed by clothing in the real world, a sinuous and buoyant twist that made her seem as lively as a mermaid living in water. A faint glow outlined her form, with light of different colors and intensities creating detailed parts, and at the core, there was a point like a radiant ice crystal shining brightly in her chest. Yueying''s voice rang in the real world by his ears, and immersed in the spiritual body, Bai E only felt the voice become clearer and more moving, as if a tangible entity had penetrated directly into his body... into his thoughts. "The presence of the veil is not about physically dimming the brightness, but about deceiving the perception of demons. It''s a layer of consciousness deflection built outside the spiritual body. You need to be clear about this point first in order to learn," she said. Yueying''s spiritual body fluttered around Bai E''s spiritual body like a nimble fish in the "dark ocean," and the distant yet deeply penetrating cold voice from the real world continued to be received by Bai E, "Now, ''observe'' this layer with your spiritual body. I know it''s difficult, don''t worry, we have plenty of time." [You are paying battle experience to analyze the veil constructed by the target spiritual body...] [Current Analysis Completion: 0.3%] ... There is no concept of space-time in the high-dimensional space, and the passage of time does not correspond to the real world. However, the sense of the passage of time perceived by the spiritual body is the only standard for judging the expenditure of experience. The flow of "time" was like water, slow and gentle yet irresistibly flowing softly through the two spiritual bodies. Time took nothing away, leaving behind... only tangible change. [You are paying battle experience to analyze the veil constructed by the target spiritual body...] [Current Analysis Completion: 32%] "That''s about it..." Yueying''s voice lightly arose directly in the consciousness, like being suddenly pulled up from deep underneath the sea, Bai E gasping for air only felt an ineffable thrill of the moment of release from suffocation. "Huff~ Huff~" Bai E breathed deeply out of instinct. "Establishing a deflection veil is a long process, not something that can be learned overnight. Before you fully learn it, you must be restrained in using your spiritual energy." Of course, it''s difficult to control oneself from using already possessed power, but when using it, one must pay attention¡ª Careful! Even more careful! Reduce the frequency of use, and reduce the intensity of use. Before establishing the veil, every use of spiritual energy is akin to dancing on the edge of a knife, and even after the veil is established, it can only hide a certain degree of spiritual energy intensity. Excessive burning or active intent would still break the concealment effect of the veil. "I understand," Bai E nodded cautiously. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The realm of spiritual energy was mysterious and unfathomable, yet adhered to certain rules. The partial analysis was not enough to support him in establishing his own veil, but at least he had grasped some of the keys to this technique. Without sufficient progress in the realm of spiritual energy, it is indeed impossible for a beginner to establish an effective spiritual body defense system. And before growing to the point of being able to establish one''s own defense system, the growth process of a spiritual energy practitioner is always accompanied by the covetousness of demons; indeed perilous and fatal. Safety during one or two instances of spiritual energy burn doesn''t mean it''s always safe, caution is indeed needed in the future. Just, Bai E wondered if this mission mentioned by Ying would be troublesome, and when the time came to burn spiritual energy, he would still need to control himself... As they spoke, a dim light had already begun to spread in the peripheral vision of Bai E. Bai E stood up and respectfully saluted, "Thank you for your efforts, Miss Yueying." On this lady from the Elf Race, Bai E had not noticed any trace of utilitarian motives. She had devotedly taught him all of these abilities without asking for anything in return, as if her sole purpose was to teach. Such a pure person... elf, deserved respect. "However, I might not be able to come tonight," Bai E turned to look at the edge of the sky. The day had fully broken, he hadn''t slept at all throughout the night, but he did not feel tired. The mission that Hu and the others talked about was scheduled for today; he didn''t know how tracking sandworms would compare to the last mission of aiding refugees, but chances were that he wouldn''t make it back tonight in time. It was better to inform Yueying in advance to prevent her from waiting in vain through the night. "Alright," Yueying nodded, slowly extending her hands to reshuffle the hood from behind and put it on, instantly concealing herself in a shadow, "Goodbye." "Goodbye." Bai E turned and left, for on the day of a mission, Hu and the others got up very early. Watching Bai E''s retreating figure, Yueying, hidden in the shadow of the hood, squinted her eyes. For some reason, perhaps because she had pointed out his external identity, or maybe due to some change in his own state of mind, today''s Bai E seemed a bit... proactive? Or should it be said, more ambitious? Compared to his previous "humility," there was a stronger sense of assertiveness. But it didn''t make anyone feel uneasy; instead, it brought a closeness... was it because he became more genuine? "..." Pressing her lips together, Yueying turned and walked away with her hands behind her back. She moved lightly, appearing somewhat cheerful. ... "Whoa! Where''d you go so early in the morning?" Da Shan, who was organizing his gear, asked in surprise upon seeing Bai E return. "Training..." Bai E replied briefly. He felt it was not yet time to reveal the Spiritual Energy he had been learning from Yueying. A synthetic humanoid capable of cultivating Spiritual Energy... Moreover, having learned the Breathing Skill from an elf, who knew what kind of ripples it could cause. After all these events, he indeed no longer had the worry of being dissected, yet some things could always be advanced in more favorable ways. A synthetic humanoid warrior capable of cultivating Spiritual Energy?¡Á A synthetic humanoid warrior who had modified the Elf Breathing Skill to suit the human body! ¡Ì The surprise needed to be explosive enough to attract attention, regardless of whether or not the human high command valued it. So, during ordinary times, a little concealment was still necessary. Bai E''s current vague responses left his teammates thinking he was just exercising in the early morning. "Awesome!" Da Shan exclaimed in amazement, "Amazing!" They hadn''t seen Bai E when they went to sleep, and they hadn''t seen him when they woke up. Surely, a person couldn''t go without sleep, right? Setting aside the impossible, it could only mean that the kid was incredibly dedicated! They were already trying hard, so why didn''t their "hard work" seem as "hard-working" as someone else''s? "Damn it!" You bit her lip in secrecy, her cat-like stubbornness making her pride all the more intense. "Alright, get your own gear ready. We''re preparing to gather and set out," said Hu as he casually tossed a small black circular electronic device to Bai E, "Attach this to your chest. It will monitor your vital signs, allowing the base to keep track of your condition at all times." "Ah?" Bai E puzzled over the small device in his hand, noticing that it bore a small indicator light, blinking red in a regular pattern. Song Ying seemed more interested in the tech equipment and took the initiative to explain: "It''s new gear from the information department for us to test out. They say it allows the base to monitor the vital signs and approximate positions of those of us out on missions so they can generally determine if the task is completed. More complex sensors are still in development; this is just a basic model. Anyway, just wear it, and consider it providing them with test data." "Oh~" Bai E nodded in understanding. This kind of device that surpassed current local area network data transmission ranges was undoubtedly a result of the technological innovations stirred up by the recent reboot of the internet root server. Major technical changes might be temporarily out of his reach, but such technology, likely already in existence, now simply needed a switch in the signal receiver to make it work, bringing rapid innovation. Chapter 308 293 Level 6 specialization ```Having put on his own gear, Tiger glanced over his teammates, all suited up in their combat equipment, before he began to formally discuss the specifics of the mission¡ª "Considering the range the sandworms can appear in is vast and their exact location is uncertain, this mission will involve a total of ten squads, each responsible for a different area. We will each set off separately..." As he spoke, Tiger paused, looking solemnly at his teammates, "The sandworm is a new type of bug, and although there are no strict requirements from above, they only require our five squads together to bring back at least one sandworm corpse, even if it''s just broken remains. But we cannot rely on others for anything, we must catch at least one sandworm ourselves, preferably alive. The more we do, the more military merit we earn; you all know this, so I won''t waste words." "The time limit for the mission is three days. Be prepared for prolonged tracking and fierce battles. Everyone got it?" "Understood!"¡Á4 "Good!" Tiger nodded coldly, took a step forward, "Let''s move out!" Considering the sheer size of sandworms, bringing back their bodies, even dead ones, would require adequate space or carrying capacity. The massive transport vehicle, with at least a ten-meter-long carriage, lay quietly before everyone''s eyes. The camouflage-painted carriage was enclosed but also easily dismantled to meet different requirements. This was the first attempt at capturing such new types of sandworms, and no one knew the proper method yet. "I''ll drive," Dashan volunteered as he jumped into the driver''s seat, while the two and a half row carriages in front had ample space to accommodate the rest of the teammates. "Boom!" The engine roared, and the massive dual tires screeched against the ground. Numerous tracks left the camp almost simultaneously, with comrades rolling down the windows to exchange blessings before parting ways. Tiger sat in the middle, took out a map, and pointed to a spot, "Here, including this entire area, is our mission range. Of course, if we track down the exact location of the target, there are no restrictions when pursuing it; completing the mission objectives is our priority." Bai E scanned over the map and noticed the marked ranges were outrageously vast, far beyond the plains he had passed that day. On every tunnel dug by the sandworms, there was an important notation on the map. The entire range practically encompassed all the territories within a radius equal to the distance from the Bug Race hive to Blackwater City. No wonder ten squads were dispatched at once, and almost from the beginning, they parted ways. As for the area their squad was responsible for, it lay to the northwest of the Bug Race hive, which Bai E had never before encountered. The journey was silent and shaky. The teammates were fully focused, and once they left the protective range of the city, they could be said to have entered the potential activity range of the sandworms. Facing completely unknown new types of bugs, no one knew their abilities or habits; every patch of yellow sand they passed over seemed like a den in which the sandworms might be hiding. Bai E, however, was not as tense; with the experience from last time, he knew the advantage his hidden trait "Will of the Bug Nest" had in detecting bugs. It was as if he had covertly hacked into the Bug Race''s internet, a black user unnoticed. Although he currently couldn''t use the Will of the Bug Nest to command those lower intelligence bugs to act on his will, as long as there was a Bug Race node network, he could somewhat sense the location of every lower-level individual following the commands from the node network. Just like the premonition he had before the sandworms appeared last time, this ability stemmed from instinct and would rise to the forefront of his consciousness at the moment of occurrence, alerting him without any need for deliberate effort. Bai E, with his built-in early-warning system, kept his spirits relaxed, even having the leisure to check last night''s efforts from the players¡ª [Feedback from the assignment: your Insight +0.2, Stamina +0.1, Reflex +0.2, Mastery of Light Weapons Experience +57, Mastery of Light Firearms Experience +18, Mastery of Ranged Weapons Experience +32, Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +750, Knowledge - Human Body Modification Project 1.0 Experience +44.] The addition of newcomers along with a brand-new mission resulted in skills improvement feedback from the tasks far exceeding the usual. The long-silent Wen Jie seemed to have also opened up a new field of research, and the experience feedback also allowed Bai E to master a complete set of technological capabilities¡ª "Current ''Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing'' experience 1250/1000, continue to pay ''Tech Points*1'' to unlock ''Level 1 Tech - Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing''." Free technology should not be wasted, and with his accumulated dozen or so tech points looking for a use, Bai E directly paid up, following the principle that if there''s an alert, it must be clicked. "Payment: Tech Points*1." "Tech ¨C Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing (Level 1): You have mastered the basic manufacturing and processing flow of electrical appliances and are thoroughly familiar with most details of manufacturing and assembling basic electrical components. From now on, you can supervise the construction and management of basic electrical assembly-line production, improving production efficiency to some extent. Production speed +10%" Not bad... The accumulated technological skills would always find their place when building one''s own territory. Bai E felt a profound sense of fulfillment as he gradually amassed various capabilities. He also reviewed the rewards from the last main mission he had completed, taking the opportunity to sort through what he had gained. The main mission''s reward was not just experience and potential repair points but also 3 points that could be used to increase a specialization up to level 6. The higher the specialization level, the more experience needed to upgrade, so the proficiency points that could directly raise a specialization by one level were undoubtedly most cost-effective when used from level 5 to 6. At the moment, Bai E''s only specialization that had reached level 5 was Combat Prowess, and he had learned quite a few special attribute bonuses under this specialization. Bai E didn''t know if there was a limit to the special attribute bonuses for each specialization, but he had no interest in pursuing a perfect limit. After reaching a decent foundation, he preferred to leave the rest to chance. Go ahead and add it up! "Learned ''Level 6 Combat Prowess,'' and concurrently received Potential Repair Point*1." "Combat Prowess (Level 6): Punching power +12%, Evasion +6%, Blocking +6%, Combo (Special) +6, Reinforced Defense (Special) +250%, Opportunity (Special) +10%, Joint Techniques (Special) +100%, Intercepting (Special) +20%, Pressure Points (Special) +4%, Whip Tail (Special) +4." "Current Combat Mastery experience 0 (137)/5500, at 5500 points ''Level 7 Combat Prowess'' can be mastered. (Note: Specialization level 7 can unlock the secondary skill tree.)" "Alert: Your specialization level has reached the limit of a normal human body. It will be difficult to make further progress until your abilities exceed the physical limits. To continue improving your specialization level, you need to enhance your strength and reflex attributes to beyond 15 points." The promotion to level 6 specialization provided Bai E with plenty of new information¡ª The abilities provided by level 6 specializations have become impressively powerful with the accumulation of levels, but unfortunately, level 6 is a threshold¡ªthis level represents the limit of skills that a normal human body can attain. Higher specialization levels require stronger foundational attributes for support, and it''s not just the limits improved by the Gene Optimization Solution that matter, but one''s actual attributes need to be exercised to that level in order to support the training of higher-level specializations. The core foundational attributes required for Combat Prowess are strength and reflexes. Bai E''s strength has already reached 14.9, just a step away from surpassing 15, but his reflexes are still far behind. Improvement in attributes definitely can''t rely solely on oneself; motivating players more is also necessary... Reaching the attribute standards sooner and upgrading specialization levels will enable one to experience the glory of the secondary skill tree. ... "This is the first remote signal collection of our newly established signal base, a trial to test the stability of our base signal. Everyone must be vigilant and not miss any detail of the feedback information," said Minister Likok, his figure slightly emaciated and his eyes dark and sunken, but his expression was vibrant. Ever since the internet Root Server was restarted, he had been working tirelessly on the reboot and innovative research of new informational technologies, never stopping. The sensors provided to the military were both the agreed "reward" from the previous deal with Marshal Weslin of the military district and their first experiment. "Yes, Minister!" His subordinates responded energetically, but one researcher, without a word, looked a bit oddly at a row of red lights that had flickered a few times right in front of his eyes. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was... the life feedback light of one of the ten squads out on missions... Chapter 309 294 Strange Flicker The red light symbolizing the life of the personnel wearing monitors was still on, which meant their owner''s life was safe and sound.It could only detect whether a person was alive, unable to monitor more detailed information¡ªthis was a temporary technological limitation. After all, high-volume information transmission technology had been cut off for more than four hundred years; picking it back up wasn''t so easy. Therefore, the information that could be transmitted back through sensors was limited¡ªfirst, the fairly accurate life feedback, and second, the not quite real-time map location. Logically, the red light symbolizing life should always be on... or to say, it should either be on or off without flickering. Their research center''s voltage was absolutely stable, unlikely to cause the lights to flicker due to voltage issues. An illusion? But the researcher was sure there was no hallucination; for that brief moment of a second or two, the five red lights symbolizing the entire team flickered rapidly twice. Now it had returned to normal... After hesitating for a long time, the researcher still raised his hand hesitantly, shouting without turning back to Minister Likok, "Minister, I think I just noticed a problem here." "What problem?" Accompanied by the muffled sound of leather shoes on the floor, Minister Likok''s voice echoed from afar. "Just now this light, it seemed to flicker twice." "Seemed to?" The researcher gritted his teeth lightly, tone firm, "It did flicker twice, I''m certain." "Tap tap tap!" Minister Likok arrived at the researcher''s console, tapped a few keys on the desk, data streams reflected a fluorescent green light on his glasses, his eyes scanned quickly, and a trace of confusion appeared on Minister Likok''s face, "I don''t see any issues... " "Could it be that the signal isn''t stable enough?" Someone nearby offered their opinion. Gazing at the data stream in front of him, Minister Likok crossed one arm over his chest and pinched his chin with the other hand, pondering, "It''s not without that possibility..." The signal station had just been established, and it was normal that some old technologies had not been fully recovered. Plus, the occasional natural phenomena that occur in nature could also interfere with signals. Over the past few centuries, everyone had been using close-range local area networks with limited transmission rates; encountering some issues while rebooting this branch of technology was nothing out of the ordinary. "Continue observing; we can''t overlook any doubts," ordered Minister Likok. Not long after, another researcher''s voice rose from a corner of the now quiet room, "I just saw the light seem to flicker twice." It was another squad. "I saw it too," another researcher''s voice confirmed conclusively. With their teammates'' support, they were convinced of what they had observed. Minister Likok, frowning, gave a cold command, "Take note of the time." "Yes!" ... "I''ve noticed it too." "I saw it as well..." As time passed, voices rang out everywhere. The red lights symbolizing the life of the members of ten squads had the same occurrence. Minister Likok seemed to be waiting for this moment, standing in the middle with a serious expression, "Pull up the log records of the flickering times." In the waiting time, Minister Likok muttered softly, "Position..." Before long, on the large central display of the room, summary data transmitted from each computer was received¡ªnamely the positions on the map where the squad members were when the red lights flickered. Of course, not very accurately. Without accurate global satellite positioning, the distances calculated by other means appeared on the map only as a rough and vague collection. ''Not on a straight line?'' The rate of advance of the ten squads varied in distance; naturally, everyone was responsible for different areas, the terrain was different, and the linear distances covered after departure were also different. "See if there''s a central point for these circles." "Tap tap!" Upon hearing this, the operator manipulated the controls, and simulated circles flashed into existence, trying to incorporate all the locations into a collective whole. However, they failed very easily. "Is it the influence of some natural minerals?" Some natural minerals in the wild have a natural shielding effect on electromagnetic signals, so it''s normal to experience some fluctuations when passing through their range. In any case, there were too many influencing factors, and it wasn''t possible to make a determination with so little information. ''Once this team returns, ask the military to dig deeper at these locations for exploration...'' Likok decided and then moved on from the matter. "Continue monitoring, and report any other anomalies just the same." ... Sitting in the vehicle, Bai E suddenly lost focus and subconsciously looked back in the direction of the base. Just now, he felt as if the connection with the base had momentarily severed, but this intuition flashed by in an instant, and without any evidence, it was purely a profound and mysterious "feeling". "We''re almost at the nearest marked location." You, holding a map, identified the current location of everyone. Places where worm-like creatures had been active and left burrows were marked as key points, and they were the first spots everyone needed to investigate and make contact with. No amount of reading could compare to witnessing it in person, even the traces left by the worms helped everyone to establish a more concrete understanding of them. "Look! Ahead!" Ying, who had the best eyesight, spotted the faint traces of holes on the horizon from afar. "Vroom!" Dasheng stepped on the accelerator, the tires whirling up sand and stones as they sped towards the nearest signs of worm activity. "Hiss!" The large vehicle slowly came to a stop, and five agile figures quickly jumped down from the high sides of the cabin. The team gathered around a hole made by the burrowing of the worm, peering down into it together... "Wow~" Dasheng was the first to express his astonishment. The deep hole had no visible bottom, with darkness so impenetrable that not even the sunlight could reach, twisting and turning into the obscure depths. The first thing they guessed was the depth, and only then did they have the capacity to observe more details¡ª The edges of the hole were not smooth, and the overall shape was not a perfect circle but a slightly flattened oval. The brown sand and rocks did not seem to be of a hard rock structure, yet where the sunlight could reach, there were silver "threads" attached to the rocks, appearing like residual secretions that had dried out. Looking at the large hole wide enough to fit two or three soldiers walking through at once, Bai E''s mind seemed to conjure an image of the worm that had once dug this tunnel, speeding through the pitch-black underground accompanied by a rapid whooshing sound. "Click~" The sound of metal gear rang in their ears. The teammates decided to go down for a look. Dasheng and You had thick ropes tied around their waists, while the other end hung from You''s body. She was the team''s master in outdoor tracking and searching, with full skills, plus her small and light frame meant Dasheng and You could pull her up directly in an emergency, making her the ideal candidate. The tunnel was not exactly straight; its winding walls gave You ample leverage. Fully geared up, You delved deeper under the guard of Dasheng and You, with the rope gradually letting her out of sight. "How is it?" The close-range walkie-talkie was of course operational, and You softly asked after You disappeared from view. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A bit dark, the smell... a bit strange, nothing else." You''s crisp but buzzing voice came through Bai E''s earpiece. "The walls are hard; these silver threads must be the worm''s secretions. They use this viscous substance to stabilize the tunnels." "Keep going..." "Found a piece of broken bone blade." "Keep going..." "Not long enough..." You reminded softly. "Oh~" You''s voice sounded muffled for a moment, as if making a final observation, "Far away, it seems to have collapsed. Their secretions seem to decompose naturally over time, so the tunnels won''t last forever." "The direction... towards the south, veering west about 15 degrees." "Alright, pull me up." Of course, the team would not follow the tunnel dug by the worms; that was too dangerous, as underground was not humans'' home territory. Determining a rough direction was the primary goal. Chapter 310 295 Spiritual Perception You''s deep underground exploration hadn''t encountered any danger; those sand worms seemed to only occasionally drift past, and not many other traces were found in the tunnels he had dug."In that direction, that is where the underground tunnel leads, let''s go there to confirm again," said You, who was pulled out, pointing in a certain direction, providing guidance for the team. "Okay! Let''s set off." "Drive slowly," You reminded. Continue your adventure with empire Sitting in the vehicle again, Tiger curiously examined the half-piece of bone blade fragment found by You. The bone blade, separated from its host, appeared somewhat dull and even brittle to a significant degree; it felt as though it might snap with just a little force. "Living bone armor¡­" Tiger shook his head, "How could there be such a perverted species in the world." The vehicle slowly advanced, and Song Ying soon discovered the existence of the underground tunnel again. "Over there." "Good." Following the same procedure, You went down alone once again. A couple of forays couldn''t confirm the true direction of activity of those sand worms; even if there were some collapses in the underground tunnels, it was still possible to follow them to a certain extent to determine where the sand worms had gone. "So chaotic¡­" "It seems that it''s not just one sand worm¡­ let''s extend a bit further." "Hmm~ indeed it''s not just one, at least three... four of them." Arriving on the surface and taking a deep breath, You pointed another direction, "That way." ... "That way." ... "That way." The creatures'' pattern of behavior was to have no pattern. Each time You descended into the tunnel, he was adjusting the team''s direction of advance. The passages that the creatures occasionally dug out from beneath the surface were the core source of information for tracking them. Bai E had been enjoying the spectacle, as his teammates'' training time was much longer than his; in some professional capabilities, they were far more outstanding than he was. Moreover, he possessed the ability of "Hive Mind," thus being able to infiltrate the enemy''s ranks. If there were any creatures lying in wait underground, it was very likely that he would detect them in advance. Comparable to a humanoid early warning system, he was safeguarding You''s personal safety. However, the tracking efficiency definitely could not be considered high; occasionally, when there was a long distance, and the sand worms did not leave the underground to burrow up, You would doubt his judgment. Occasionally adjusting, occasionally continuing forward, turning back and forth, advancing little by little. Before understanding the responsibility of the evolved new type of creature of the Bug Race and its general characteristics, nobody knew what the purpose of the sand worms'' usual activities was. Maybe they were just hunting? Maybe they were expanding the underground world of the creatures? Who knows. Fortunately, the direction of tracking was not heading towards the nest of bugs; otherwise, whether to continue following this clue or not would still be a matter of discussion. As time passed, the light gradually dimmed. The transport vehicle quietly sat upon the earth; with the poor visibility of the players, nobody intended to continue the pursuit. "It seems that these sand worms, just like us, also possess the concept of ''organization,''" You concluded based on the findings at hand, "Within a certain area, there may be occasional independent actions, but their overall direction of movement is consistent. And the squadron of sand worms we''re tracking, looks to be at least around eight." Bai E, seated in the back, offered his opinion, "Maybe it''s not because of ''organization,'' but rather their ''Hive Mind''?" Bai E, who himself possessed the "Hive Mind," felt that he might have a deeper understanding in this aspect than anyone else. The creatures seemed immensely powerful, but during the battle on the Bug Race battlefield last time, Bai E also noted a weakness of theirs which couldn''t exactly be called a weak point. The existence of the Hive Mind allowed the creatures on a battlefield to follow the commands of node creatures, responding and adapting at any moment. However, if they lost the management of the Hive Mind, the creatures'' own intelligence was quite low. Their bloodthirsty instincts could even lead them to attack indiscriminately; if they were released beyond the range controlled by the Hive Mind, those low-intelligence creatures acting purely on instinct probably wouldn''t take long to endanger themselves. Were the sand worms of high intelligence or low? There was no definitive answer, but given the encounters from last time and the conclusions You observed this time, there was probably only one reason for these creatures to appear in groups¡ªthey needed a central brain. Node creatures capable of holding the central command of the Hive Mind were rare even among the Bug Race; every group of sand worms venturing out needed the guidance of a node creature to ensure they did not completely break away from the control of the nest after being released. The fact that the sand worms showed a higher rate of experience from the subtitles seen last time also corroborates this inference from another angle. These creatures gained experience only slightly more than the common bee-type creature, far less than the mantis-type creature that could be called a squad commander among the node creatures. And this was still under the premise that they were larger in size. It was not that they didn''t want to, but they were not permitted to operate alone. This was, of course, good news for humans; if each of these elusive sand worms underground possessed their own intelligence and could fight in a dispersed manner, it would be much more troublesome for humans to deal with their attacks. But if they were just low-intelligence beings similar to bee insects and worker insects, then their greatest advantages¡ªstealth and surprise¡ªwould be lost if they had to act in groups under the control of node insects. "Bai speaks from a deeper root," Ying said. Insects do not have the messy problems of human management, status, or worldly wisdom; they act solely for basic efficiency, with no reason to restrict their own actions for the sake of unnecessary "regulations." Zhou scribbled in his notebook, his personal conjectures could also be submitted. The intuition of front-line soldiers is sometimes more accurate than the calm calculations of strategists in the rear. "So, sand insects aren''t node creatures themselves, but they''re accompanied by another, more powerful node creature?" "Is it a mantis insect?" "I''m afraid not," Song Ying shook his head. The scene of a mantis insect racing through underground passages was just too low, and whether it could keep up was questionable. "Perhaps we should broaden our scope." Listening to the chatter of his teammates, Bai E remained silent, his eyes somewhat absently fixed on the entrance to the underground tunnel left by the sand insects. ''The node creature of the sand insect¡­ Did I see it last time?'' Like slides in a projector, scenes from the last time they navigated through the sea of insects flickered in Bai E''s mind. Although the situation was tense then, and Bai E focused on evading, the scenes captured by his eyes would never disappear, only buried deep in memory, seldom unearthed. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After gaining Spiritual Energy, Bai E found his memory management had greatly improved. When recalling something, those memories passed through his mind as if they were happening live. So, every sand insect that emerged from the ground at that time was filtered through his mind, one by one. Bai E tried to recall if there was one that stood out, significantly different from the other sand insects. ''No¡­'' ''No¡­'' ''No¡­'' As Bai E''s gaze became distant, the fleeting Spiritual Energy escaped from the surroundings of his brain. It seemed to entangle briefly with the echo of space-time left in the air, and in a mere instant, a vague dark image flashed through his mind. Fierce¡­ Massive¡­ In that brief glimpse, Bai E had no time to remember more details, only these two keywords resonated slowly in his mind. "Bai?" "Bai?" Soft calls came to his ears as Dashan shook Bai E''s body. "Ah?" Bai E blinked and came to his senses, seeing his teammates looking at him with concern. "What''s wrong?" "Nothing¡­" Bai flashed a bright smile, recalling what Yue Ying had said¡ª "Premonition¡­" Spiritual Energy communicates with all things, occasionally tapping into the memory fragments of space-time or other creatures during highly focused thoughts on matters closely related to one''s own fate, thus obtaining information never experienced before. Of course, sometimes it was also proven that so-called "premonitions" were closely related to the "unclean whispers" of higher-dimensional spaces. Such completely non-scientific phenomena had no consensus, and the content seen varied from person to person. Bai E shook his head, trying to recall the vague image he saw in that moment, but found it had dissipated like a dream upon waking in the morning, impossible to remember at all. Only that feeling lingered in his heart. Premonition¡­ Premonition¡­ Premonition! With a start, Bai E suddenly remembered the distraction he felt earlier that day, shortly after setting off in the car. At the time, it felt as if something had snapped¡­ Now in hindsight, could it have been a premonition sounding the alarm? Bai E''s eyes darted around, his dubious gaze making his teammates somewhat curious. "What are you looking at, Bai?" Chapter 311 296 Ready to hand rub Bai E retracted his gaze, suddenly lowered his head, and looked at his own chest.Without a word, he quickly unfastened his combat suit, lifted the black combat vest he wore underneath, and revealed the small, sleek black circular device that clung tightly to his skin. The red light that had been blinking all morning had long since gone out. The gray bulb dimly sat there, silent. "Eh? Why did your light go out?" Dashan hadn''t realized what was happening, but curiously asked as he had been intently watching Bai E''s movements. "Check yours." Bai E didn''t answer his question but spoke sternly instead. In fact, even without Bai E''s order, everyone else also suddenly tensed up and lifted their own vests. Only You turned away... Within moments, five sensors that had long stopped blinking were gathered together. "They said this light would keep blinking, and as long as it blinked, it meant it was working." "Didn''t they say this gadget is powered by our heartbeat and movement... It shouldn''t run out of power." "If it''s broken, doesn''t that mean we''re already dead?" Dashan tried to lighten the mood amidst the strange atmosphere in the carriage. "Isn''t it normal for a new product from the Scientific Research Institute to sometimes fail?" You didn''t speculate wildly, but instead stared intensely with his glossy eyes at Bai E, who had been silent ever since he first noticed the situation, "Bai E?" Bai E squinted his eyes, "Not dead yet, but probably not far from it." "Don''t scare me..." "What did you find?" Tiger also frowned. The peculiar behavior of a small new product couldn''t unsettle a seasoned warrior like him. Just as Song Ying had said, new products from the Scientific Research Institute weren''t always reliable. "The signal has been interrupted." Remembering the brief moment of dizziness he''d felt and coupling it with the current performance of the sensors, Bai E was certain. "How do you know..." "A guess." Bai E didn''t delve into his "sixth sense," only explaining with an icy look, "This sensor is an old product; the Scientific Research Institute only changed its signal reception route, turning it from a local network device into an internet one. Its essence hasn''t changed, so it shouldn''t be a quality problem. And even if they were to break, would all five of ours do so simultaneously? Of course, the most important point is¡ªpreparing for the worst... is never wrong." Tiger looked lost in thought, murmuring to himself, "If the signal was deliberately interrupted..." A sour and numb chill surged up everyone''s spine in an instant. Everyone''s eyes subconsciously looked outside the window. The gradually darkening night sky seemed like an unbounded prison, enveloping the tiny space inside the carriage. The dim light turned on inside the carriage was the only hope they could cling to. They were tracking the Bug Race, and it was hard not to immediately associate this signal interruption experience with the bugs. In this era, there weren''t many complex powers in the wilderness, and even fewer possessed such technological means¡ªin fact, it should only be humans. But had the Bug Race not previously displayed the ability to cause electronic disturbances in the field with their Plasma Cannons on the frontline? So, would it be surprising if they showed such capability now? This race, which possessed the potential for unlimited evolution, was a miracle of the universe. And if they were deliberately engaging in this action, did it imply... that the bugs had set their sights on them? "Isn''t it...something we can test?" Bai E did not get lost in endless speculation; his eyes swept across the carriage. "What are you looking for?" Song Ying was curious about Bai E''s gaze. It was a search with a clear purpose. Find exclusive stories on empire In these circumstances, what else could he do? Bai E didn''t respond, as if instinctively, his knowledge and technological ability allowed everything he laid his eyes on to reveal its most fundamental form. Once he had a preliminary plan in his mind for something to create, he clearly knew which items could be used, which couldn''t be, and what could be used after being dismantled. "Give me that." "Give me that." The world''s technology sometimes seemed very advanced, sometimes quite primitive, but regardless, whenever they went out on a mission, they all carried various high-tech tools such as remote-controlled reconnaissance drones, walkie-talkies, remote-controlled bombs, and other small tech devices. From these items, he should be able to craft something he needed by hand. Was it specifically targeted at these sensors to blast them or did it create a shielding field that covered a certain area? One test would tell. Level 2 Knowledge ¡ª Computer Hardware Maintenance, Level 1 Technology ¡ª Basic Electronics Manufacturing and Processing, that''s the confidence supporting her attempt. Of course, whether it was going to work was still something that had to be tested to know. Bai E never anticipated that the ability she had recently acquired would be put to use so soon. With a bunch of seemingly chaotic items, including five temporarily "broken" sensors, Bai E dived into the enclosed carriage at the back. "What is he doing?" Dashan was completely clueless, "I have no idea~" Song Ying, stroking his chin, had some suspicions, "He isn''t planning on assembling a long-distance communication device by hand, is he?" "..." "..." Everyone fell into a silence. Could such a thing really be done by humans out in the wilderness with nothing but their hands? "Instead of talking about that, shouldn''t we consider what we should do next?" The actions of Bai E broke the previous silence; her series of movements as she opened the door and entered the carriage from the back also dispelled the chilling numbness they had felt upon realizing the unexpected turn of events. They started to think rationally about what they should do if everything Bai E said was true. "Retreat and go back to send a report?" Dashan inclined toward the more conservative approach. "But what if it''s just a natural phenomenon affecting things?" Song Ying, who had his interests in electronic devices, had spent time and effort studying these matters and was aware of more possibilities. Heading straight back could easily attract charges of insubordination, as soldiers on the battlefield cannot abandon their responsibilities and missions based on some nonsensical guesses. "Plus, if it really was the work of the bugs, we should have been targeted already." You''s tone was cold, and the way the girl thought about things seemed always to be from a pessimistic perspective, "If that''s the case, we should first think about how to get through this night." And... where the enemy was. "You, did you really find no possibility of any bug ambush during your daytime scouting?" Hu asked in a deep voice. "No," You was quite certain, as a comparison of the degradation level of the bodily fluids secreted by the sandworms before and after clearly showed that these tunnels had been long abandoned. Moreover, the tunnels were dry and sealed. There was a strange smell, but it was not strong. Whether it was the unfamiliar but massive sandworms or the familiar worker bugs and bee bugs, there was little chance of a large-scale ambush below. "Then... let''s wait for Bai E," Hu turned his gaze to the carriage at the back. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E was the first to detect the problem, and she remained calm after the incident, seemingly having a thorough plan in mind. If it wasn''t for her checking the sensors first, they might not have found out that the sensors on them had already lost their effectiveness until after the mission was completed and they returned to camp. It was better to wait for her to confirm whatever she needed to confirm; then they could all make a decision. "Before that, should we try to get closer to other squads?" Everyone''s movements were pre-planned, and since it was only the first day of tracking, even if the tracking deviated from the planned area, it couldn''t be by far. "That works..." "Then let''s set off tonight without resting," Hu''s voice grew firm again. If they were really being watched, it was just as dangerous to turn off the lights and rest here than it was to start moving closer to their teammates. By comparing their encounter with other teammates'', they might be able to identify the problem more clearly. Even if they decided to go back to camp to report, they would have a better reason to do so. Not to mention that, based on their current location, the cost in time to return to camp was far higher than moving towards their teammates. "Alright!" "Bang Bang Bang!" Song Ying knocked on the window facing the back, and asked via the intercom, "Bai, we''re preparing to move towards other teammates, will that affect you?" "No problem, you guys drive," Bai E replied simply. Chapter 312 297 Confluence The car''s rear compartment was cluttered with miscellaneous items.Everyone had prepared for a maximum three-day mission, bringing plenty of logistical supplies such as weapons, ammunition, food, and medicine, all of which were piled up in this section of the car. Fortunately, everything was well-organized and sorted into categories. Bai E cleared a space by pushing aside the clutter and spread out the jumble of items on the floor of the carriage. After accessing the relevant knowledge and technological skills, the potential uses for various objects became as instinctive as nature. Holding those things in hand, subtitles explaining how they were directly related to the device he intended to craft based on his own thoughts sprang to the front of his mind¡ª [Inoperative Information Gathering Transmitter (Sensor Type I): This small, black, round metal disc can transmit your vital signs and current location to a pre-set channel''s fixed reception center, albeit imprecisely, provided it hasn''t been damaged. Your only option now is to attempt to extract the pre-set signal emission module, which may assist you in crafting the long-range communication device you need.] Technology is a capacity for mass production through the collective skills of many people, to say nothing of an individual''s handcrafted efforts. Armed with both information technology and electrical manufacturing skills, Bai E wanted to see if he could create a communicator capable of contacting the urban information reception base using semi-finished materials... even if it could only transmit simple signals. [You are attempting to assemble a machine...] [Free Creation Mode: You are employing your knowledge skills to attempt to create an entirely new unknown object. Based on your expertise, the current success rate is "low." You can assist your effort by paying a certain cost (General/Scientific Research Experience). (Consumption: 20 points of experience/min)] No more nonsense, start the burn! Bai E concentrated deeply and began to work. [You are paying General Experience to assist your creation attempt... (Consumption: 20 points of experience/min)] The attempt was far from smooth sailing. Like the Sensor Type I in his hands, the instincts granted by technology and knowledge merely let Bai E "know" that a particular module within this gadget "might" be useful for his own experiment. The useful parts provided by other small electrical devices were even more elusive. Even the control panel''s assessment of the creation possibility was "low," meaning that this manual endeavor was not as simple as reading a bar code. [You are attempting to assemble a machine...] [You are paying General Experience to assist your creation attempt... (Consumption: 20 points of experience/min)] [Free Creation Mode: ... current success rate "medium"...] The carriage shook gently, not violently. The difficulty did not come from the outside; the abundance of choices and ideas was the real challenge troubling Bai E. Lacking relevant experience, he could only attempt every idea through trial and error, but thanks to the natural "progress bar" that could determine the right and wrong, he could continually move in the right direction. ... Luckily. The ten squads, spread over a wide area, were indeed thinly dispersed, but during the first day of exploration, they had not strayed too far from the initial planned area. Considering the potential encounters and coordination between squads, each squad''s vehicle was equipped with a local area network center that would automatically include any walkie-talkies entering the communication range into the contactable channel. In other words, when two squads approached each other closely, they could connect through voice communication, allowing them to meet even without a direct line of sight. "Tch~" Da Shan drove up next to another quiet resting squad''s vehicle. The other side had already opened their window and shouted across, "What''s the matter, brother?" "Did you guys find something big you can''t handle?" The other side''s tone was somewhat excited. They had been tracking for a day and had eaten dust the whole time. Almost no traces that could provide information were found in the tunnels left by the sandworms, and they could only track the past locations of the sandworms using primitive methods, just like Bai E''s squad. When another squad came rushing over all of a sudden, did it mean that they had found the target and they would soon be able to complete the mission? "No," Da Shan replied through the rolled-down window, with an urgent tone, "Quick, check your sensors, are they still on?" "Sensors?" The person on the other side was taken aback. That thing was stuck close to the skin, hidden beneath layers; they didn''t even need to shower during the mission, and in these few days, they wouldn''t even take off their combat suits¡ªwho would check this? However, Da Shan''s tone sounded ominous, and while instructing his teammates behind him, he casually asked. "What exactly is going on?" Da Shan remained silent, waiting for the other side to provide an answer. A quick self-check was all it took, just a lift of the shirt. "It''s not lit." "It''s not lit." "Mine''s not lit either..." The data were combined, and as the opposing squad leader stuck his head out of the vehicle window, his expression immediately turned serious, "What''s going on here?" As he spoke, his eyes were fixed intently on the mountain, "Are you guys experiencing the same thing?" "Yeah... We are too." Even if something were to go wrong, it shouldn''t all happen to everyone at once. The items from the Scientific Research Institute might occasionally be unreliable, but they couldn''t possibly be unreliable to this extent. Everyone instinctively understood this clear reality, so the current situation indicated that their sensors had all been attacked by a mysterious force without their knowledge. None of them were technical experts, and they neither cared nor understood how their opponent had managed to do this. What they did care about was... "Who did this!?" Da Shan spread his hands helplessly, "We just discovered the problem ourselves and thought to check with you for confirmation. Now it seems... it''s not just us." When it became ineffective... they didn''t know. Where it became ineffective... they didn''t know. They were completely in the dark. The unknown was always more terrifying, and the opposing team leader asked with furrowed brows, "What do you plan to do?" "Continue the mission?" Da Shan looked bewildered, "We don''t know either..." They hadn''t come to any conclusion from their recent discussion. In their minds, fulfilling the responsibilities they were tasked with was certainly the top priority, but returning to report the anomalous situation seemed equally valuable. "How about you go back to report, while we continue with the mission?" Song Ying leaned out and offered the plan he had been contemplating. "That''s one way to do it..." the other side nodded, thinking it was not a bad idea. If one team experienced this, it might still be a coincidence, but if two separate teams both encountered the same issue, it was hard not to be vigilant. "Shh!" Song Ying, seated behind Da Shan, suddenly spoke out. The teammates'' unspoken understanding immediately silenced the whole team, and Da Shan, sitting by the window, also signaled the other team to stop talking. Even the engines that had been running were instantly turned off. "Rustle, rustle, rustle..." Song Ying''s sharp gaze turned to the other side of the opposing team''s transport, his head poking out with a look of surprise and uncertainty, "Where is the tunnel you discovered?" There was no need to wait for a response; the members inside the opposing vehicle had also noticed the anomaly. "Captain!" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following a shout, the large transport vehicle was flipped over in an instant. Right before Da Shan and the others'' eyes, the other team''s transport, positioned at a right angle, was lifted off the ground by an immense force, followed by a storm of sand and stones flying about like bullets. "Boom!" The flipped transport rolled several times on the spot, but the commotion it caused was no longer a concern for Da Shan and the others. More pressing matters lay before them¡ªthe bugs! Experience more content on empire The sand worms bursting from the ground screeched menacingly in the air. The deep droning of the worms overpowered everyone''s eardrums. Was it a premeditated attack? Or had their unusual gathering behavior triggered the vigilance of the Bug Race, which had been secretly monitoring them by some means, leading to an early outbreak? But one thing was certain: the masterful sabotage of their sensors was indeed the handiwork of the bugs! These subconscious thoughts spun through different minds as a chilling voice rose from the back of the vehicle. "Engage the enemy!" Bai E stood by the open door of the carriage, glancing back at the assembly apparatus he had crammed into a bundle of soft materials. The palm-sized device, connected in an ungainly fashion with cables exposed to the air, was blinking with a red light inside the dark cabin, as a stream of data beyond human perception was being sent through a special channel in a certain direction. The pre-set signaling device would be just as faithful in performing its duties in a different location. [You have completed an assembly of a communication device, Computer Hardware Maintenance Experience +12, Basic Electrical Manufacturing and Processing Experience +8.] One could only hope that it would alert the base to the unusual situation of the squad out on the mission... "Bang!" Bai E slammed the metal door shut and, with a machine gun in hand, sprayed a burst of fire at the sand worm flailing in the air. Chapter 313 298 Sandworms! Bai E immediately perceived the rapidly burrowing movements of the sandworm underground. Possessing the trait "Hive Mind," he could sensitively detect the signals sent and received by his kin when they initiated actions within this network.However, he didn''t have time to warn anyone. By the time he sensed it, the sandworm was already too close for any reaction. Unless he was in a quickly moving vehicle where he could take the wheel at the first opportunity, there was no way he could avoid the sandworm''s charge. In a stationary vehicle, even he could do no more than protect himself by jumping out. Not to mention that he was alone in the rear compartment, and even his work at hand had reached its critical final stage. Almost at the same moment the sandworm flipped his teammate''s transport, Bai E succeeded in welding the last solder point and received the completion prompt. The so-called communicator he had rudimentarily assembled couldn''t be very powerful, after all, even the original sensors given to them by the Scientific Research Institute''s information department couldn''t transmit much more information, let alone the makeshift transmitter he cobbled together from a pile of scrap. Sending out his location to the signal reception center was the only function this hastily assembled rudimentary transmitter could perform. What remained... was left to fate. Bai E hoisted a machine gun with one hand while firing at the same time, his other hand grabbed the handrail on the outer edge of the carriage, and with a twist, he flipped onto the roof. Vision! Facing a sudden attack, it was more important to quickly understand the configuration and position of the opponent. The "Hive Mind" network''s messages were vague and undoubtedly less useful than his own eyes and ears during a direct fight. Before his eyes could catch sight of information, his expertise in blind combat was already gathering intelligence from the vibrations in the air. One... two... three... four... five... six... Six! Standing alone on the roof of the vehicle, Bai E held his machine gun, his gaze icy as it swept around. There were only sandworms, eight in total, and for the time being, no other types of creatures were seen. The subterranean burrowing of the worms meant that no other type of creature could easily keep up with their movements. At that moment, the flailing gestures of the sandworms in the air seemed to be an instinctive venting, but the reason they didn''t take any extra action right away was revealed in the data of the monsters he had been firing at_ [Sandworm (Bug Race): Health 199/200; Defensive Power 20; Mobility: 30% (Overdrawn State); Traits: Symbiotic Weapon, Chitin Armor, Large Creature, Distributed Nervous System...] [Large Creature: Their colossal size gives them strong resistance to damages that do not exceed half of their body size, and no single injury can ever be more than 10% of their maximum health value!] [Distributed Nervous System: To control their immense bodies, they don''t have a central brain to govern their entire body. Numerous neural nodes are scattered throughout multiple parts of their structure, ensuring they have no absolute weak point.] A volley of bullets didn''t cause enough damage to the opponent. The sandworms might not have levels as high as the mantis worms, but their chitin bone armor surface defense was even stronger than the mantis worms'', being the ones responsible for subterranean excavation. The reason they flailed in the air without attacking immediately was likely because they had become unavoidably stunned after burrowing and then colliding with the heavy transport. Even lifeforms like worms, seemingly indifferent to logic, must follow the basic principles of mechanics when interacting with anything in the world. Perhaps the armor on their bodies was hard enough, but concussive strikes had enough penetrative power to directly affect the worm bodies beneath the chitin armor. "Fire!" As Bai E surveyed the battleground, his teammates opened fire in sync, with the heavy machine guns atop the vehicles unleashing a more terrifying roar than the combat machine guns held in their hands. "Thud thud thud thud!" The occasional bullet that penetrated the sandworms'' massive bodies through a weak spot in their carapace emitted a dull sound, but most bullets struck their chitin shells, ringing out like shots against a metal plate. "Ssssss!" Two of the sandworms, not involved in overturning the transport, burst straight out of the ground, their centipede-like bodies rapidly scurrying forward with countless sharp claw blades crisscrossing. The sharp scythe-like jaws on their heads reflected a fierce, chilling white light under the not-so-bright moonlight. Hu sprang out of the door; armored in heavy combat gear, he clutched his chainsword and leaped at the head of one of the approaching sandworms when the moment was right. The rapidly spinning chainsword struck the chitin carapace, sparking a blinding series of flashes. Da Shan and You also joined in the fray, both warriors inclined towards aggression, charging fearlessly out. Da Shan, favoring strength, shouldered his Tower Shield and charged forward, while You, more agile and reflexive, dashed towards the overturned transport. A simple overturn couldn''t kill the skilled members of the special forces squad inside, and rescuing them to join the fight first was a strategy more advantageous for the battle''s development. Song Ying cradled a heavy machine gun, standing rooted at the top of the vehicle like a turret, unleashing a storm of angry bullets. The price paid by the other squad, losing their vehicle, couldn''t be wasted lightly! Yet as Bai E scanned, his brows just furrowed deeply. The teammate''s adaptability was fast, and their decision-making couldn''t be faulted, even if their killing power was limited. Whether it was the team leader or Song Ying or even Dashan, their attacks struggled to breach the sand worms'' defense and deal substantial, effective damage. Not to mention the "large creature" trait of the sand worms, which naturally reduced the impact of all small-scale strikes and wounds. Did it have a weakness? Yes! While chitin armor was advantageous for the Bug Race against piercing and slashing damage, the resistance it offered against blunt force trauma was significantly less. Bai E shouted to Song Ying at the vehicle''s front, "Use the grenade launcher! The machine gun isn''t very effective!" Unlike the last time they went out to meet the refugees, this time they had the carrying capacity of a transport vehicle, bringing along various convenient heavy weapons¡ªgrenade launchers, mortars, flamethrowers, and so on¡ªto meet different needs. "Okay." Song Ying also noticed something was off. Lacking Bai E''s display panel, he immediately realized the machine gun was ineffective after laying down a barrage of fire. This wasn''t the time to confront a sea of bugs; machine gun fire was hardly enough to penetrate the defense of the numerically few but heavily armored Bug Race, while the concussive impact of heavy artillery might be more effective. A concussion grenade launcher was shouldered by Song Ying, who aimed at a sand worm that was nearly incapacitated by a "stunned state" and fired. "Boom!" Flames scattered, and a blinding flash exploded into the deep night. "Hiss!" Taken by surprise, the sand worm''s body stiffened dramatically as countless blade-like claws swung wildly before it fell backward. Bai E fired another shot, only to find the worm was still far from death¡ª181/200. "What a nuisance!" Bai E swore through clenched teeth. Even though these sand worms weren''t as highly ranked as the mantis bugs, their immense size alone posed trouble. Dealing with one would have been manageable, but with a total of six, taking them down quickly wasn''t going to be easy. Bai E scanned the battlefield, especially the creeping black line spreading from the dim horizon¡ªa sign that they needed to dispatch these sand worms quickly¡ª The small-scale bug swarm was following right behind the sand worms, as lower-ranked bugs hidden in the sands started their charge! Bai E quickly reviewed his abilities and realized none was the perfect fit for his present predicament. Strong shooting paired with Instant Kill Hundred Heads was undoubtedly Bai E''s most damaging combo to date. But when dealing with such large creatures, arrows as a medium for strong shooting inherently suffered a disadvantage¡ª Bai E''s strong shot coupled with Instant Kill Hundred Heads could easily pierce through the sand worms'' defenses, but even if he shredded a part of their bodies, such massive creatures wouldn''t die instantly. Continuous outbursts, moreover, would consume too much energy combined with Instant Kill Hundred Heads, and even exhausting spiritual energy and mobility might not be enough to finish off all the sand worms. This was the tricky part about their "large creature" and "distributed nervous system" traits. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Large creature" meant they virtually ignored minor penetrating wounds, while their distributed nervous system negated a central weak point, preventing a decapitating victory. You had to chip away bit by bit at most of their massive bodies! Or more precisely, at the inner body beneath their chitin shell! What to do? Bai E hesitated slightly as the night breeze gently brushed the hair on his forehead. His eyes moved swiftly across the panel, and at a certain moment, his gaze fixed on a line of text¡ª Unarmed combat specialized skill tree... Unlearned, unlockable: Blessing of Liberation, Tactical Evasion. Of course, the current situation had nothing to do with Tactical Evasion, but Blessing of Liberation... Focused on enhancing a significant amount of striking power, could pairing with Blessing of Liberation enable sustained outbursts, rapidly resolving the fight? Not to forget that his unarmed combat proficiency was a full 6 levels, the highest of all his specializations. Close combat face-to-face? Bai E licked his lips, his eyes fervent... Chapter 314 299 Graceful Relief Having made his decision, Bai E no longer hesitated.Each skill in the same tier of the skill tree requires double the experience to unlock than the last, starting with a thousand points; learning a second would cost two thousand. Fortunately, he had saved quite a bit from the fight in Black Street, with exactly 2,000 points of battle experience remaining to the dot. [Payment: Training Points*2, Battle Experience 2000 points.] [Acquired Skill ¡ª Blessing of Salvation.] [Blessing of Salvation: Having fought countless battles, you can gradually identify your opponent''s weaknesses during combat. From now on, you can keenly exploit these vulnerabilities with precise strikes. Attack speed +30%~100%, critical hit +10%~30%, armor break +10%~30%. All bonuses will incrementally increase to the maximum as the fight progresses. (Reach peak after engaging the same target for over 3 minutes, when switching to a similar target, bonuses start at half.) Consumption: 10 Spiritual Energy (100 action power reserve) /min.] A youth''s version of a lucky strike which consumed Spiritual Energy and wasn''t entirely stable¡ªthat was why Bai E hadn''t been keen on it before. But under these circumstances, this skill was the most suitable one. He activated it right away. Not only that, under the same Combat Proficiency skill tree ¡ª Absolute Defense, Bai E activated that as well. Blessing of Salvation merely enhanced burst damage; against creatures like bugs who relied purely on physical strength, Bai E still needed to consider his own safety. Squeezing his fist, Bai E felt the surging power coursing through his body. Nonchalantly dropping his machine gun, he stood atop the vehicle, waiting for the perfect timing. He then saw the sandworm charging towards him and with a powerful leap from his legs, soared through the air! "Bang!" Following the moment his heel hit the ground, a pair of iron fists solidly smashed into the head of the sandworm. "Crack!" A crisp sound rang out for an instant, and crack lines emerged on the sandworm''s slightly dark red carapace as if it had been cracked open. The powerful blow ignored the hard chitinous outer shell, continuing to reverberate through to the muscle tissue beneath. [Used close combat attack to hit target, triggering "Armor Break", Combat Mastery Experience +2.] [Dealt 10 points of blunt damage to the target!] Worms have touch sensitivity, but their sense of pain is not sharp. Bai E''s punch hadn''t caused much injury to the creature; its enormous body was what it was bred for. Instead, the awareness of "food" jumping right above its head brought its hunger to a peak. The giant head swayed left and right, trying to shake off Bai E who had landed on top of it. The carapace was smooth, and indeed slippery underfoot, as Zhou¡ªwho had rushed onto the bug holding the Chainsword as well¡ªcan attest to the difficulty in keeping one''s footing. Fortunately, Bai E came empty-handed, and it was much easier for him to adjust his center of gravity within his body. Moreover, the foundational bonus from his level six Combat Proficiency greatly enhanced his self-control over body coordination to nearly its limit. As the worm tried to shake him off, Bai E, after observing it earlier, precisely pinpointed that one spot on the sandworm''s body that wouldn''t move during its writhing. The sandworm, after all, wasn''t like those purely soft-bodied creatures that could twist their bodies at will, even tying knots... It had to maintain some rigidity in motion, and in that brief observation, Bai E had easily noticed this characteristic of the sandworm with the boosts from his various combat abilities. Striking a snake''s vital point followed the same principle. Raising his right fist, Bai E targeted the spot beneath his foot that would allow him the strongest leverage for his punch and smashed down once again. "Bang!" "Bang!" The small figure moved swiftly on the sandworm''s back, striking with his fists, which was far more efficient than other attacks capable of breaking defense. And as long as Armor Break was triggered, the damage wouldn''t be low... [Used close combat attack to hit target, and simultaneously triggered "Critical Hit", "Armor Break", Combat Mastery Experience +5.] [Dealt 20 points of blunt damage to the target!] It seemed the massive force directly shattered a nerve node beneath the carapace, and the nearby bladed limbs visibly lost control in an instant, twitching reflexively at their tips. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" By comparison, the small figure was like a black whirlwind, rapidly moving across the sandworm''s body. The chitinous carapace''s raised spikes provided the ideal anchor point for Bai E to maneuver. Twelve seconds! The huge sandworm''s body slowly collapsed behind Bai E... "Boom!" Sand and dust were flung into the air. [Consecutive hits on the target, causing 18 points of fatal damage!] [You have completely killed the target, gaining 40 points of battle experience.] "..." Observing everything happening around oneself during battle is a basic skill for any mature warrior, especially since Bai E''s actions were not merely a flash of lightning. Twelve seconds were more than enough for every warrior engaged in battle to notice the swift and forceful advance here. The teammates who witnessed this scene, including those from another squad saved by You, all had a moment of stunned silence. The impact of the contrast, under the huge difference in size, was particularly shocking. "So... so strong..." The warrior lying on his side in the overturned carriage, twisting his head around, even forgot for a moment that he was still trapped and unable to move, muttering to himself while looking in that direction. You, who hastily glanced back, had her eyes round with surprise and shouted a warning from afar, "Careful!" ... ["Lucky Strike" charge +7.] The experience wasn''t high, and it was quite hard to kill. Bai E frowned, pausing for a moment of thought. The shadow behind him advanced, and like pincers, the lethal jaws closed in from both sides, attempting to bisect Bai E in an instant. "Careful!" You''s voice traveled across the space, almost arriving simultaneously with the closing jaws. The jaws sped up as they were about to close in. "Squeak~" The muscle tissue strained to clench, but discovered they couldn''t bite down no matter how hard they tried. The human in front of them spread his arms wide like forged steel, effortlessly holding back the sandworm''s jaws, preventing them from moving forward even a fraction of an inch. Bai E looked down at the pair of jaw-teeth curling around his back like curved blades, a cold light flashing in his eyes. In a large military march, it might be difficult to detect the movements of sandworms underground, but on a small-scale battlefield, the "sibilant" sound they made while slithering through the sand was hard for an individual to miss, not to mention that he possessed the "Blind Fight" talent. Even amidst the chaos of the battlefield, he could easily detect the approach of a sandworm attack from behind with his ears. Giving the opponent this chance was to see how its attack power stacked up against his defensive power. Absolute Defense! There was a faint blood mark on his arm, the worm''s jaw-teeth adorned with numerous tiny spikes had punctured his skin slightly under the immense pressure, but that was all. Having gathered more data from a direct confrontation with the sandworm, Bai E immediately felt confident. With a rapid change of his palms directly supporting the jaw-teeth, Bai E''s complexion turned a slight red as he exhaled, "Heh!" Upon a light shout, the pair of jaw-teeth, which seemed monstrously ferocious and nearly half the size of Bai E''s body, were forcibly pried open. The "squeal" from the muscles signaled they had reached their limit. It wasn''t Bai E; it was the sandworm. Overlimit Drive! "Bang!" Fractured bone splinters flew in all directions, a few grazing under Bai E''s eyelids, which reflexively closed, leaving the bone splinters to scrape futilely across his skin as hard as city walls¡­ Holding the forcibly broken jaw-teeth in his hands, Bai E swiftly turned around. In the worm''s enormous lantern-like eyes was the reflection of the imposing human man facing it. The corners of Bai E''s mouth wickedly curved upwards as he took a step forward and punched directly towards the sandworm''s face! "Crack!" The sound of bones shattering echoed in the stillness, the carapace crumbling under his fist... "Gulp." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The soldier from the ally squad, who had already opened the dump truck door, climbed out with a flamethrower, and was attempting to set it up, swallowed hard. "Who the hell is the monster here..." Chapter 315 Furious Bloodlust 300! Bai E''s sudden outburst invigorated all the warriors who witnessed it.With such a tough guy on the team, who would fear these mere bugs? "Shan Meng, you go help them too! Buy us some time!" Hu commanded in a cold voice. The approaching swarm of smaller insects was also a threat, but the biggest threat was still right in front of them. If these sand insects weren''t dealt with, they would always be the biggest threat to their vehicles. The transport vehicles were hefty, unable to maneuver as nimbly as smaller cars. If they were attacked by sand insects from underground, they would overturn and roll like their teammate''s vehicle, with no chance of escape. They had to eliminate these sand insects for a chance to flee in their vehicles. At the same time, the bodies of these sand insects were the core of their mission. The main issue was that against opponents like sand insects, with great strength and size, Shan Meng''s capabilities were not suitable for combat. Raising a shield like a punching bag and purely enduring hits was entirely disadvantageous. "Alright!" Shan Meng, knowing he was not very useful against the sand insects, turned and ran towards the other side. The bug wave was drawing closer, and it was visible to the naked eye that there were no large units within it. All bees and worker insects? Shan Meng felt the pressure on him lessen somewhat. Unlike the two thousand new soldiers caught unawares by the insect invasion at the military camp, elite soldiers equipped with sufficient heavy firepower weren''t very fearful of a bug wave composed of worker and bee insects. The most important aspect of human combat wisdom is learning to use weapons. Shan Meng picked up the flamethrower that had just been assembled by another squad''s teammate and stepped in front of him, "Wounded to the back, don''t wander up front." "..." The soldier didn''t talk nonsense and turned to rummage through the overturned carriage. Flamethrowers, mortars, grenades, land mines... they had brought plenty of these. A bulky supply line had its inconveniences, but during position warfare, ample supplies often meant that firepower could overcome everything. "Swoosh!" "Boom!" "Swoosh!" "Boom!" The set-up mortars fired one death-bringing bomb after another. The "tide" rushing from afar was hit by the first wave of precise sniping from the soldiers. With You''s entire team rescued, even though some were still wounded, operating these long-range heavy weapons wasn''t much of an issue. The advantage of seasoned special forces team members was that, apart from Mechas which required qualifications, there were hardly any weapons they couldn''t handle. Shan Meng, cradling the massive flamethrower, glanced at You, who seemed to be covered in grenades, "Are all the land mines buried?" "Buried?" You looked at Shan Meng strangely. Against those insects, was there a need for this word? Worker and bee insects, such low-intelligence creatures, were driven by an extreme bloodlust. Upon seeing an enemy, their shortest charge path was a straight line. As for detailed tactics? There were none. All you had to do was turn on the land mine and throw it in the line between the insects and themselves; those bugs would step on it on their own accord. While the sky was ablaze with gunfire on one side, the battle against the sand insects was left solely to Bai E and the other two. The mortars dared not fire at the sand insects close to the transport vehicle, and without vehicles in the wild, it was hard to imagine how they would "get home." Hu held the Chainsword, which was almost as big as him, and watched the sand insects with a fierce gaze. In the past two missions, they always faced special opponents who launched psychic attacks, leaving them no room to demonstrate their hard-earned strength. After all, it was not easy to qualify for a special forces team. The fact that Hu became the team leader was something he had fought for with real guns and bullets. He tore off the combat suit that served only as a restraint, his muscles bursting with explosive power. Song Ying fired grenade shots from behind, always precisely helping Hu interrupt some action of the sand insects. The tacit cooperation between old comrades made them instinctively aware of each other''s combat abilities and tactical choices. "Squeak squeak squeak!" The Chainsword''s teeth gnawed at the weak spots in the sand insect''s carapace, sparks flashed for a brief moment during the struggle, and the greatsword entered the body with difficulty. It cut a swath, leaving behind shredded flesh and blood! "Hold off two for me!" Bai E shouted from a distance. There were six sand insects in total, with one already dealt with and another showing signs of decline under Hu and Song Ying''s coordination. However, the four sand insects that initially flipped over another team''s transport vehicle were gradually recovering from their "dizzy state," leaving not much time for him to execute them one by one. If his teammates couldn''t entangle at least two of them, it would be difficult to kill them all before the sand insects inflicted greater damage. "Okay!" Hu responded sharply. Everyone''s opinion can be ignored, but Bai E''s must be heeded. On the battlefield, the more powerful always have more say, provided they have demonstrated clear tactical and strategic thinking. Bai E refocused his attention, his well-trained qualities allowing him to take care of his teammates'' situation even amidst the battle. Even as he made arrangements while distracted, his assault on the sandworms in front of him never ceased. An indestructible steel warrior, every punch he threw could cause tons of damage, making the seemingly large sandworms almost powerless against Bai E. The sandworms, driven to desperation and attempting to burrow away, found themselves grasped firmly by Bai E, who clutched the hardest thorns on their bodies. The ferocious will, along with a terrifying force, was unleashed to the extreme; "Overlimit Drive" combined with "Instant Kill Hundred Heads" centered a punch on the body of a sandworm. "Boom!" The explosive power released, the cracked Bug Race carapace fragmented outward from the center, and the flesh beneath was turned into a mass of mush from that single punch. Without neural node control, the claw blades that intended to dig and flee stopped their action, merely trembling unconsciously on their limbs. Without the time to finish it off completely, Bai E once again lunged towards another sandworm that had awakened and was trying to destroy the transport vehicle. The size of these sandworms was comparable to their transport vehicles, allowed to wreak havoc unchecked, the vehicles could certainly not match the resilience of his flesh which was now shielded with "Absolute Defense." "Bang!" "Bang!" Each punch landed with a heart-shockingly dull thud, occasionally mixed with the sound of cracking carapaces. The distinct rhythm, even amid a battlefield ablaze with gunfire, sounded incredibly jarring. The warriors, adjusting their firing angles continuously, couldn''t help but steal a glance at the lone figure battling the sandworms. ''Meng!'' ''So fierce!'' The squad captain watched the approaching tide of bugs, his face notably less relaxed. "Prepare to assist." Mortar fire was useless! The enemy''s numbers didn''t seem endless, only a vast swarm rushing up together. Even if most were blown to pieces, the remaining tide of bugs closed in. Next to them was the overturned transport vehicle, with nowhere to escape. "Kill!" Flamethrowers and machine guns opened fire in an instant, and the brave warriors stood their ground without faltering; the fiery glow even lit up the night as if it were day. As the bugs, swinging their symbiotic weapons, closed in, the mountainous Shan Meng with sword and shield in hand, suddenly charged forward. Like a bulldozer, he cleared a swath of space. But the bugs'' segmented noises were sticky and greasy, dense and numerous. Once they closed in, these bloodthirsty, maddened bugs seemed to move even faster. When faced with the tide of bugs that surged up close, the blades on the machine guns stood as the ultimate, strongest weapons. "For the Empire!" "For the City Lord!" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The warriors cried out their beliefs, and then... went to their honorable deaths. Bai E''s heart shook at a glimpse of this scene, as a surge of savage rage instantly invaded his mind. The ever-burning Spiritual Energy seemed to add a blood-red border to the edge of his vision. Endless power seemed to burgeon from that boundless blood-red... "Boom!" Bai E''s punch came down, shattering not only the body of the bug before him but also the blood-red border in his vision. Power... I will acquire it myself. [In the fierce battle, you have shattered "The Gaze of the Gods," Mystery +0.1.] A whip-like kick sent the approaching sandworm staggering backward; Bai E''s eyes coldly focused as he swiftly drew the Compound Bow that had always hung at his waist. The mechanism quickly unfolded, and Bai E targeted his shot even while still midair. Behind the sharp arrowhead were Bai E''s eyes, cold and cutting as knives. Slight draw back... "Swoosh!" A hurricane swept through, artificially clearing a desolate path through the densest part of the bug wave. Blood and flesh rained down through the sweeping hurricane, piece by piece. Mixed with the blood rain and the stench of the wind. Still not enough... The danger is far from over! Bai E''s spirit remained tense, not relaxing in the slightest. Chapter 316 301 Hope Whether it was the small-scale Bug Race tide composed of worker bugs and bee bugs that had surged up, or the sandworms currently entangling with him, they were all low-level creatures within the Bug Race.They did not have the capability to serve as the core of the Bug Race''s nodal network; behind all the crises at hand, there must be a "commander" of the Bug Race. This was determined by the structure of the Bug Race, and there could be no mistakes. And the Bug Race individuals who could serve as commanders definitely possessed extraordinary strength. Mantis bugs could only command small, low-level units such as worker bugs and bee bugs; sandworms were probably not under their control. The "commander" lurking in the dark was very likely to be even more formidable than the mantis bugs! Perhaps markedly more so. As long as the enemy did not show itself, Bai E''s heart could not settle. Indeed, up to this moment, there were no "orders" fluctuating within the "hive mind''s will." The low-level bugs, as soon as they encountered humans, naturally had a desire for flesh and blood that surpassed everything else, completely obviating the need for detailed commands, which meant Bai E couldn''t discover that hidden "commander." Of course, if the enemy consisted only of these present forces, and the hidden commander in the dark still did not wish to show up, then it was indeed a stroke of fortune. He was about to eradicate all six sandworms by himself and would soon be able to free up his hands to deal with the remaining half of the Bug Race tide; victory was within sight. Although the battle had been tough, the end result was going to be satisfactory. The corpses of the six sandworms, even if they couldn''t be transported in one trip, would be fine if they could be carried away one at a time by two transport vehicles; it would be a mission perfectly accomplished. Experience new tales on empire The premise was that nothing else unforeseen would happen... Wait a second! As Bai E slammed down his fist, his heart skipped a beat, and the grayish-black images nearly flashed through his mind. "Fuck!" Bai E turned to look at Song Ying beside the transport vehicle, "Old Song, run fast!" And more! Not just six! Although these large bugs likewise craved flesh and blood, it seemed that their purpose in being created by the Bug Race hive was specifically to target humans'' steel constructions. Human steel constructions, though robust, had mechanical structures that were quite easily damaged; just one or two distorted or broken components could cause the entire construction to lose its intended function. The intelligent master of the Bug Race hive knew this well, and so the sole objective of the sandworms'' actions was to destroy all human large-scale steel constructions. Trusting in Bai E completely, Song Ying, upon hearing Bai E''s warning, almost instinctively hugged his grenade launcher and desperately retreated from the vicinity of the transport vehicle. The vehicle was certainly important, but the assault of the sandworms was not something his flesh and blood body could withstand. As long as he was alive, there was always a chance. One second... two seconds... three seconds... To the fleeing Song Ying, the battlefield fell so silent it was as if only his own heartbeat was echoing in solitude, and time dripped away in this slow perception. Until a thunderous boom exploded behind him¡ª "Boom!" Bai E and the others'' transport vehicle even flipped higher than their comrades'' had just a moment ago, spinning in the air before tumbling to the ground and rolling over. A vehicle body not made of Elementium series metals could not withstand such a high-intensity impact; the cabin twisted and deformed, and the back door of the cargo hold, which Bai E had no time to completely secure, flung open in the collision, and most of the cargo spilled out during the roll. Bai E shattered the last inch of the sandworm''s body in front of him with a punch and turned his head for a quick overview¡ª Eight! A shade of grim despair unconsciously rose in his heart. He indeed wasn''t afraid, but he was powerless to stop these bugs from destroying the vehicles and slaughtering his comrades. He could run, but... "More and more are coming!" "Fuck!" The commotion easily caught everyone''s attention, and the eyes of the warriors still fighting showed a gray tinge of despair. Even if the battle was hard-fought, they had at least seen the glimmer of hope for final victory. But now... A calm voice rang out across the battlefield, loud and firm, wielding a power that inspired the spirit. "Do not fear, await support." Standing on the head of a sandworm that had raised its body high, and with the ongoing duration of battle, the formidable power from skill enhancement had made Bai E quite familiar with the characteristics of the sandworms, and he took the opportunity of the short stun from a newly arrived sandworm''s attempt to ram open the transport vehicle to climb on top of it. To speak, you had to stand in the highest place to be heard by everyone... Bai E supported himself with one hand on a spine on the sandworm''s shell, his entire body exuding a powerful build-up of energy, his gaze sweeping the battle scene where the remaining human soldiers were resisting ferociously. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At such a moment, what was needed was hope! "I have solved the issues with the sensors, and the information has been sent to the base reporting our position." "Protect yourselves well, the achievements we have gained in this battle are already excellent." "Guard well the fruits of our labor; victory will ultimately belong to humans!" Standing on the lofty body of the worm, Bai E''s figure was almost immovably towering relative to the worm''s body. He raised his fist high with one hand, calling out in a deep voice, "For the Empire!" The warriors'' eyes bulged and veins popped as they shouted, "For the Empire!" ["Lucky Strike" charging +7.] "Kill!" Bai E slammed down his fist! "Kill!" The warriors raised their weapons high. ["Lucky Strike" charging +7.] Chapter 317 301 Hope_2 Scattered goods on the ground were wrapped in a bundle of soft materials, and inside, the simple assembly of instruments flashed with a glaring red light."Tick tock tick tock tick tock~" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The red light quietly flickered, signifying that it was at work. ... Explore stories at empire "Beep beep beep~" The buzzer emitted a slight alarm sound. In the quiet and tense environment of the Monitoring Center, this unexpected noise was immediately noticed by the intensely focused researchers. The man with glasses and dense hair showed a puzzled face and muttered to himself, "Where is this signal coming from?" Looking at the sudden string of messages that appeared on the monitor, the man scratched his head in confusion. The channel used by their reception center''s signal tower had undergone special processing, ordinary signals should not have been relayed to this analysis center dedicated to sensor research... Something''s not right, this is the place specifically for receiving internet signals! Even they in Blackwater City had only just recently picked up this technology again, where else could such signals come from that would be sent to their specific channel''s reception center? "Minister!" the researcher suddenly stood up, but before him, more excited voices nearly simultaneously erupted. "Report to Minister Likok! The lights for Squad 1 have all gone out!" "Report to Minister Likok! The lights for Squad 2 have all gone out!" "Report to Minister Likok! The lights for Squad 3 have all gone out!" ... "Report to Minister Likok! The lights for Squad 10 have all gone out!" All lights out! This shocking news made all the scientists in the Monitoring Center feel a sudden chill. In this rhythm, the researcher who had first discovered the unexpected signal was instantly drowned out. Minister Likok stood in place, feeling his head spinning. All lights out? And all at once? What had happened? Had all the soldiers died in an instant? That''s impossible! The collective death of soldiers from ten squads operating in different areas, even the dominant Bug Race they had once encountered did not possess such capability. Distance was an insurmountable hurdle, there might be many unbelievable things in this world, but some fundamental laws had to be followed. It was more believable to assume that some power had instantaneously severed the connection between the sensors carried by all the soldiers and this reception center. However, who possessed this capability that leaned more towards the technological side? Other human forces? Could there be other cities developing internet technology faster than Blackwater City, which had just unlocked the server seals? Or perhaps¡­ the Bug Race? The soldiers'' mission on this operation was to target the Bug Race, making it easy to immediately associate it with the Bug Race. Minister Likok first picked up an internal communicator, intending to contact the Military Department to investigate this eerie event. Whichever force it was that had managed this, it warranted their attention and an investigation was necessary. Others had the ability to intercept their internal communication even though they had not completed their research on internet technology? However, the moment Likok picked up the communicator, he froze. The ten squads had moved into different areas, where exactly did the incident occur? Without a specific direction, the large forces sent by the Military Department would only waste time like headless flies. In an instant, Minister Likok remembered that strange flicker he had initially ignored. That seemingly insignificant abnormality might have been the moment when the signal was replaced. The soldiers hadn''t died at the same time, but instead had been attacked separately after the signals were replaced, not giving their base time to react. Was this an ambush by the Bug Race against humans? How did they know humans were sending out squads to capture their new type of sandworms? Of course, that wasn''t really important, low-level Bug Race individuals might indeed lack intelligence, but it was no secret among humans that the Bug Race''s brain bugs possessed intelligence, perhaps the sandworms roaming about were baits sent out by them. The pressing issue was to investigate the reason behind the collective death of the soldiers, or rather, the collective disconnection of information. Should they start from every location where the signals flickered separately? The places where something had happened would definitely leave some clues behind. "Pull up the locations of their signals when they flickered and mark them on the map to send to the Military Department," Likok ordered immediately. The voice in the corner hesitantly spoke up, "Minister¡­ Minister¡­ I might have found something special." As all the signals were cut off, this researcher finally started to take the information he saw seriously. "I''ve discovered a strange signal here," said the researcher, standing up amid some chaotic voices. Minister Likok immediately looked over, "What?" "An unexpected signal was sent to our receiver." "Have you decoded it?" "It''s a location, the decoding method of the information is exactly the same as what we use." The researcher had not been idle even during the commotion. Minister Likok''s eyes lit up instantly, "Bring it up quickly!" The location information was displayed on the big screen, which immediately caused an uproar... "...At the boundary area between two squads'' territories?" "Where is this signal from?" "How is that possible!? This is an encrypted channel we just started using!" "Perhaps our soldiers, realizing something was wrong, tried to notify us through other means." Chapter 318 301 Hope_3 The signals they had internally set up could not easily be interfered with by outsiders, so the signals they received must have been from soldiers who had found themselves cut off from the base and had sought out a method to actively establish a connection.It was unclear how those soldiers had managed to do this, but it was evident... that among those soldiers there was a specialist who had additionally trained in information technology. "This..." Some researchers were momentarily at a loss for words, a sense of unbelievable shock rising in their hearts. Without any technological basis in the wilderness, to create a communicator capable of supporting internet technology use with bare hands, could such a thing be done by an average soldier? "No need to worry about that." After ascertaining the specific location, Minister Likok issued another order, "Send this location to the military, our soldiers are battling alone, and we must launch a rescue operation at the earliest possible moment!" "But it could also be a trap." The first researcher to discover this abnormal situation expressed his cautious opinion. "Whether it''s a trap or not, I''m more inclined to believe that our soldiers have found hope in a desperate situation." Likok''s gaze was resolute; in this world, humanity often needs a bit of reckless courage to survive. "..." In the midst of speaking, a flash of light crossed Minister Likok''s mind, and he finally opened the internal communication channel to the Military Department, "I am Minister Likok of Information, get your Marshal Weslin on the line." "...Marshal, I need you to send me the list of soldiers sent out on this mission to capture sandworms." "Hmm?" Weslin sounded a bit surprised but did not refuse. After instructing his subordinates to comply, he continued to question the communicator, "Is there anything else, Minister?" "We have a major problem," Likok said solemnly, "The life signals of all our soldiers who went out on this mission have been wiped out." "What!" Weslin was shocked. The large-scale loss of soldiers, especially the failure of well-planned operations, felt like flesh being torn from his body. "But based on our observations and conjecture, the signals seem more likely to have been cut and replaced, rather than our front-line soldiers dying outright." As he spoke, Likok''s gaze swiftly swept over the list, pausing on a particular name and revealing a look of realization. ''Bai E!'' S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With him there, the situation seemed somewhat reasonable. Back at the site of the Root Server''s ruins, this youngster was also a main contributor to repairing the damaged servers. "One of our soldiers on the front lines has discovered the enemy''s conspiracy and provided their location," Likok said with a serious expression. "Marshal Weslin, it is imperative for you to deploy troops to investigate, whether it''s to rescue our elite soldiers or to uncover the enemy''s abnormal technological power." "This..." Weslin hesitated slightly. "This is the will of the Scientific Research Institute." There was an unusual pressure in Likok''s tone, "I have already submitted a request to the head institute, please ensure your cooperation." Weslin no longer wasted words and agreed at once, "Alright." Stay connected via empire After disconnecting the communicator, facing the puzzled gazes of his subordinate researchers, Minister Likok smiled at them, "Among the soldiers who went on the mission, I know one person. His name is Bai E..." In his mind, the image surfaced of that incredibly reliable figure with whom he had once traveled. In that heartbreakingly ancient ruin, it was he who had secured the final victory, and now, facing the conspiracy of an alien race, it was he who provided the glimmer of hope needed for humanity to break free. If the internet technology his team had just newly developed seemed like a mere plaything in the eyes of the ''bugs,'' it would no doubt be a devastating blow for them, just starting again from scratch. They had to find the core reason for this signal interruption and research countermeasures, otherwise, the internet they had struggled so much to restart, along with all of its related information technologies, would be as if dashed to pieces. What truly leads to despair is not hardship or adversity, but the lack of a direction for effort. Humanity has been trapped in this dark age for too long, they must stride forward boldly to reclaim their former glory! ... ["Lucky Strike" charging +12.] Chapter 319 302 Double-fronted Operation! Bai E felt a slight surge of excitement upon receiving the prompt.There was a traceable pattern to the several times energy had been credited before, but did the last 12 points of energy credited mean that the base had received his distress signal? The encouragement of the other warriors was just a lie he had to tell under these circumstances, whether the communicator he made himself through those materials would work sufficiently was still unknown. So was how the potential base that might receive his signal would consider his distress signal. He too had no confidence in his heart. But there was no choice, this was all part of what it took to become a leader. What did it mean to be a leader? It meant having to lie. To call for calm when one himself was overjoyed; To bring hope to everyone when one himself was in despair. His Spiritual Energy was rapidly depleting; in a minute and a half, he had killed five sand bugs, plus the one that Song Ying and Tiger had killed together. The initial six sand bugs were all put down. The cost was 30 points of Spiritual Energy he had expended, plus one shot at supporting the bug tide, leaving him with only 27 points of Spiritual Energy. Not enough! Not nearly enough! With eight sand bugs left, even at the rate he was going, plus his own action power reserves, he would likely have trouble clearing all the enemies quickly. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even though he had absorbed a wave of magic power from the demons recently, the time he had spent practicing Spiritual Energy was still a bit too short. If he had enough Spiritual Energy, relying on his own skills, he would definitely be able to quickly and completely settle the current predicament! As for the current 210/100 energy charge for the critical hit, that is, two chances for a critical hit, he couldn''t use them for the time being. Whether it was the sand bugs, worker bugs, or wasp bugs, they were all low-level units in the Bug Race, and it would be a waste to use it on them. Before the hidden commander made an appearance, this precious opportunity to use it wouldn''t be readily used. Bai E clenched his fists, smashing down the second punch at the sand bug beneath him, driven by a mix of unwillingness and fury! Die, all of you! Whether reinforcements could arrive in time or not, he couldn''t count on anyone else for the battle that was taking place right now! [In battle, you''ve fully harnessed and used Spiritual Energy, which has trained your will, increasing your Spiritual Energy limit by 1.] [The souls of the warriors deeply trust you; your "Soul Black Hole" has absorbed their scattered fighting spirit and successfully converted it into 5/5 Spiritual Energy, which has been added to your reserves.] Add 6 points to the limit, and 5 current Spiritual Energy points. The sudden increase in Spiritual Energy in the midst of battle reinvigorated Bai E''s diminishing fighting will. 5 points of Spiritual Energy wasn''t much, but it was enough to support the consumption of the Gift of Relief for half a minute. At such moments, every second is crucial. However, the eight sand bugs were still not something Bai E could handle alone. With five sand bugs overturning a transport vehicle and dazed for a moment, and the remaining three, even with Bai E, Tiger, and Song Ying entangling two, there was one wrapping its huge body around the vehicle. Its claws, as hard as steel, scraped the not particularly thick metal of the vehicle, making an unpleasant screeching noise. Seeing that the small bug nest he was facing had cleared more than half, and although the remaining bugs were still troublesome, they could put up some resistance, at least, with You and the remaining three members of the special squad. Zhou gritted his teeth and charged towards the unattended sand bug. "I''ll help!" Bai E couldn''t handle so many sand bugs alone; even when six appeared just now, it took the captain and Song Ying all their strength to entangle two for Bai E. Now there were eight... "Zhou!" You called out hoarsely. As comrades who had cooperated for a long time, she heard a hint of deathly resolve in Zhou''s tone. Zhou didn''t look back, trying to sound as cheery as possible, "Don''t forget the results of my hard training these past few days!" On those occasional moments, his fists... seemed capable of smashing through those ceramic combat suits designed for bulletproofing. Even though his performance wasn''t stable... even though his body was nowhere near as strong as the captain''s or Bai''s, there was always a chance for entanglement. Rushing madly forward, Zhou swung his right fist from the side of the shield he held in his left hand. "Bang!" "Bang!" Punch after punch. The sand bug, focused on destroying, still circled the transport vehicle, trying to completely demolish the human creation, not even glancing back at Zhou. "Bang!" "Crack~" The sound of the fist hitting the bone armor and the slight crack almost arose at the same time, and hearing this sound, Zhou felt a surge of joy, finally feeling like he wasn''t working in vain... Completely cast over by a black shadow, Zhou woke from his moment of joy and looked up. The sand bug''s lantern-like eyes were staring mercilessly at him... Before the appearance of a sufficiently threatening target, destroying human creations was their primary goal, but when a threat to their own safety emerged, prioritizing the elimination of the threat was the goal. These simple preset instructions seemed to be the only operating guidelines for these low-intelligence sand bugs. "Whoosh!" Countless sharp bone blades chopped down together, as if several top-tier swordsmen attacked at once. Zhou, who lacked the defensive power of the captain and Bai, rolled away with a start and defensively lifted the shield to protect his surroundings. The fierce struggle left his arm tingling with a tremor. Chapter 320 302 Double-fronted Operation!_2 ''So ferocious¡­''Only those who have faced the enemy themselves can understand the pressure placed on Bai E and the team captain. And even faced with such formidable foes, the captain''s performance was still comprehensible, but what about Bai E? How skilled must one be to kill a sandworm every 15 seconds on average? Unimaginable! Yet, the reality was right before his eyes, and he could no longer afford to lag behind! "clang, clang, clang, clang!" The shield, forged from yuan-series alloy, blocked every bone blade swung by the insect. This shield, obtained after a long accumulation of military merit, showed incredible reliability. "Argh!!!!!" Dashan clenched his teeth tightly and made a sudden charge forward after withstanding a series of slashes. Leap forward with a punch! A threat! He must pose a threat to the opponent! He cannot allow the enemy to damage the vehicles, nor can he let this sandworm attack and disrupt his teammates! Everyone has their duty, and stopping this sandworm was his sole responsibility at this moment! "Ah!" A warrior engulfed by a swarm of winged insects involuntarily let out a final, desperate scream. The densely packed sound of articulated limbs emitted a chilling, viscous noise. In the last moments of life, the warrior pulled the pins from a string of grenades attached to his body. A trap made with human flesh always inflicts greater damage! "Boom!" The explosion sent flesh and blood scattering evenly in the air, the remains of humans and insects indistinguishably intertwined¡­ The dying cry of his comrade-in-arms further stoked Dashan''s fighting spirit; fear and anger surged in his heart as he unconsciously shouted and launched a reckless attack on the sandworm before him. "Ah!" The human warrior never feared death; fulfilling the missions entrusted by their superiors with their lives was their only purpose. A flash of bloody hue swept across Dashan''s vision without leaving any trace. "Bang!" With a punch thrown, Dashan heard a voice near his ear¡ª "Dashan!" The voice was distant and cold, vague as if a chant from the sky, barely audible. But it seemed to be Bai E''s? He turned his head and, unexpectedly, saw a headless body appear out of nowhere. The body, with fists clenched, tried to pound towards the monstrous insect in front of it, but it seemed it hadn''t succeeded. So whose body was this? Consciousness forever froze at that moment. Dashan, with eyes wide open, felt light as a feather, as if drifting freely in an infinite world. The world was a vast expanse of white, like the clouds seen on an occasional clear afternoon. As his vision gradually adjusted, a cold, white sun rose from the end of his sight¡­ "Dashan!" Song Ying shouted loudly, the natural-born soldier who seldom showed much emotion was now extraordinarily agitated. As a natural-born human, he should have been the most emotionally rich in the squad. However, having witnessed the loss of too many lives, he had sealed away his intense emotions. The lively artificial soldier Dashan had become his projection of his own other side. But now¡­ "Boom!" A blast of flames emerged from the darkness in the distance; another squad member, following in the footsteps of his comrade, used his body as a trap to launch a final assault on the alien species when surrounded by insects. "TM it!" Song Ying grabbed a grenade launcher, scrambled up the overturned carrier quickly, and took over the unfinished target of Dashan. "Open your mouth!" Song Ying charged close to the head of the sandworm, lifting the grenade launcher. "Boom!" A roar sounded as the sandworm let out an unintentional shriek. Flames swept over Song Ying''s body, but the physical impact of the concussion couldn''t repel his frame, which he had hastily strapped together with the insect using emergency straps. "Click!" The grenade was fixed in place, and the close-range heat from the Concussion Grenade burned his skin until it blistered, yet Song Ying''s face was cold with determination. "I, TM, am going to make you! Open your mouth!" "Boom!" The point-blank grenade launcher fired the last Concussion Grenade into the open mouth of the sandworm. The tail-flame-carrying grenade burrowed down the wriggling esophagus, the massive impact driving it into unseen depths¡­ "Boom!" Below the muffled noise, the sandworm''s body visibly expanded rapidly. After a brief struggle against its chitin bone armor, a violent explosion tore through the softer underside of its body. Flames mixed with flesh blew apart most of the sandworm''s mobility. Falling bone blades flailed wildly, dragging down Song Ying, who hadn''t managed to untie the straps in time. "Fuck!" Boundless rage rose from Bai E''s heart as the bloody fringe surfaced again on the periphery of his vision, evaporating a vague aura as if alive. "Get lost!" The aura of Spiritual Energy exploded in an instant, and the yet-to-be-formed Spiritual Body shone brilliantly in a dark, high-dimensional space¡­ And in that hazy, elusive space, countless prowling shadows swam towards the only light like fish. "Snap!" Standing atop the sandworm, Bai E suddenly extended his right hand to the side, his palm virtually grasping as if he had caught some invisible entity. In another reality, invisible in this dimension, a twisted tentacle emerged in the palm of Bai E''s Spiritual Body. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 321 302 Double-fronted Operation!_3 Swinging up and down, as if its tip had a mouth, wanting to take a bite out of Bai E."Pfft!" With a forceful effort, the tentacle burst instantly, splattering juices everywhere. The direct contact with the high-dimensional being allowed Bai E to catch a fleeting glimpse of a corner of the Otherworldly Space at this moment. Those indistinct shadows that even lacked a fixed shape were wandering around, like a group of sharks circling their prey, waiting for the fatal moment to pounce and take a vicious bite. Had it been an ordinary soul, they would have swarmed without hesitation. But the dazzling light from this soul was too blinding, and the one who had initiated the attack first was easily crushed to pieces. The danger and unknown of the target temporarily deterred these greedy high-dimensional beings. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, the deterrence wouldn''t last long. Beings born from extreme emotions are not only the masters of those emotions but also slaves to the emotions themselves. Fear wouldn''t last long, their craving for souls was like insects'' thirst for biomass. The next moment, a shadow swooshed forward, and in an instant, it was again grasped by the glowing Spiritual Body. The twisted and withered arm stared at the eye in the palm while writhing in terror. "Pfft!" Bursting! After getting past the initial discomfort of the Spiritual Body and the physical body being able to perform different operations, Bai E''s will and physical body were simultaneously fighting in two levels of the world, with the Spiritual Body fending off those high-dimensional beings while the physical body was also swiftly in action. At this point, Bai E was no longer calculating the output of Spiritual Energy. In the midst of activating both "Absolute Defense" and "Graceful Liberation," he even initiated the first phase of "Spiritual Heart Crossing." The fundamental three-dimensional attributes surged instantly, bringing with them an all-encompassing combat capability. "Bang!" A red fist violently smashed towards the face, but in the real world, Bai E didn''t even blink, just emotionlessly delivered a fatal blow to the sandworm he firmly pinned beneath him. In the high-dimensional space, the Spiritual Body countered the coming fist with its forehead. [??? (Demon) (Chaos) ¡ª¡ª Using "Lucky Strike" to kill can drop: Definite (Battle Experience 5000 points); Possible (Spiritual Energy (Envy): 30)] A proper adversary had finally arrived. The tentacles and arms that were just crushed to bits didn''t even bring up a combat record, unclear whether it was due to the special nature of the high-dimensional space, or because those things were not considered individuals but rather part of the background in the high-dimensional space, or perhaps even... environmental factors. It was like air and water vapor in the real world. Only this high-dimensional demon with a definite entity was the first real opponent Bai E had encountered. On the shining Spiritual Body, the visage belonging to Bai E stretched his lips into a somewhat happy smile. He''d been worried about running out of Spiritual Energy to burn, but the reserves of "Hidden Energy" just came like that. "Skaha!" The envious demon lit up with spikes all over and roared at Bai E. The shining Spiritual Body stretched out both hands and grasped the slender wrists, and in the evidently surprised and confused gaze of the demon of envy, Bai E launched a headbutt. "Bang!" [You dealt 3 points of Spiritual Energy damage to the target.] [Due to the backlash of Spiritual Energy resistance, you took 3 points of Spiritual Energy damage.] "Bang!" [You against the target...] [Because of the Spiritual Energy...] [Activating "Lucky Strike".] "Bang!" The body shattered. The crimson demon was smashed to pieces under a barrage of headbutts, the fragments that scattered about trying to revert to the essence of high-dimensional space couldn''t escape. Under some indescribable force, those fragments revolved around Bai E''s Spiritual Body, the red pieces gradually ground down by a vortex-like force, losing their original color, turning into the purest and flawless primal Spiritual Energy. [Your "Skill¡ªSoul Black Hole" digested a strand of alien Spiritual Energy and transformed it into your power, increasing Spiritual Energy cap by +1.] [...Spiritual Energy cap +1.] +1 +1 +1 Brimming Spiritual Energy flooded into Bai E''s soul, which had already weakened considerably, but was now abundantly replenished. It''s my turn now! The surging Spiritual Energy drove Bai E''s body, with flames of revenge blazing fiercely upon his soul. Chapter 322 303 Rescue! The ground was littered with wounds and debris.Bai E had speculated about the presence of a hidden "commander," but it never showed itself. After dealing with two waves of the sand creatures and one small Bug Race swarm, there were temporarily no more enemies. Fighting for many years, the Bug Race had a quite accurate understanding of the human combat strength. If nothing unexpected happened, a wave of sand creatures combined with a small Bug Race swarm would be enough to easily annihilate a human special forces squad, which was a trap by the Bug Race. Of course, even knowing it was a trap, humanity would still explore the unknown with the lives of their soldiers. Sacrifice was the foundation of the Empire; courage was the anthem of humanity. Facing any unknown, to explore with lives was what humans had been doing for thousands of years, and it had never changed. You looked at the silhouette of Bai E, who was urgently treating their captain, now left with only one hand and one foot, with tears glistening in his eyes. Gone. All gone. Of the other squad, only their captain remained, while his own squad... Dashan and Song Ying had left, and the captain was crippled too. Sacrifice was the cornerstone of the Empire; artificial humans were inherently meant to die, and witnessing death was nothing new to them. However, seeing comrades with whom he had grown close die one after another still brought unbearable pain to the emotions You had developed. Bai E carried out everything coldly. Dissecting the corpses of the creatures, sorting out the intact supplies, it was as if he were completely unaffected by the battle. Overturned vehicles were impossible to right with his strength alone, and neither the slightly injured captain of the other squad nor You could help, and as for Hu... he couldn''t even stand. Since they couldn''t leave by vehicle anyway and the injured were limited in their ability to move, it was better to rest here for the night. In the dead of night, wandering aimlessly was futile; it was better to rest well on the spot. By dawn the next day, it would be clear whether the military had received their distress signal and was coming to assist. Even if they were not considered a priority, with a night''s rest, they would be more confident walking back during the day. In the dark and deep night, the only sound was Bai E quietly dissecting corpses, which made the scene all the more ghastly. The captain of the other squad lay among the messy supplies, his eyes empty. You curled up in the shadow beneath a vehicle, his features unclear. Hu was silent, half-lying on the ground with something propped under him by Bai E; he just turned his head to watch Bai E, who was busy nearby. "He is a perfect captain." After watching for a while, Hu suddenly said softly. Explore new worlds at empire You lifted his tear-streaked face from the crook of his arms on his knees, looking somewhat dazed at his own captain. "After we return, we probably need to reorganize the team." He himself was already broken; he didn''t know what awaited him once they got back. In this era, there were prosthetic limbs, but prosthetics far less adept than a normal body were not sufficient to support him in continuing to fight as a soldier. Whether the military would be willing to outfit this ''useless'' him with prosthetics so he could continue to live as a civilian was also uncertain, but he had no thoughts on this and calmly accepted whatever came, after all, the military''s decisions were always made considering all of humanity. Amidst the intense pain all over his body, he was only thinking about the future of the squad. Whether it was his own squad or the other one, with such a loss in personnel, it was inevitable to recruit new members once they returned, and if those remaining were not qualified enough, even disbanding the unit was possible. In the future, there may be more special forces squads, but Squad A97 would be forever buried in the annals of history, becoming a corner of the city''s military history that had passed away. The squad he took over from the previous captain, was it to be lost under his command? He was unwilling, and so was Bai E. You''s capability was still decent, but far from enough to become the captain of a special forces squad in the eyes of the military. Of the two remaining, only Bai E could shoulder that responsibility. To become a captain, of course, strength was necessary, and Bai E had proven his prowess far beyond the average soldier. What was also needed was military merit. Up until now, the merits Bai E had achieved in numerous battles might have been used up for the Gene Optimization Solution, maybe there was more to come, but it was never certain. Dissection! Completing the dissection of all the creature''s corpses at this moment, bringing back those core resources needed by the military was also a way to earn military merit. Bai E was doing his best to increase his "odds of winning". Even now, just after a brutal battle, his cold rationality drove his actions - this was what made one a most qualified Imperial warrior. Talented individuals should proactively seek advancement, to take on more responsibility. "You..." Ying gasped for air, stifling the pain from his injuries silently, "from now on, Bai E is your captain. Support him with all your heart, he is the best." "Yes..." You''s voice was as cool as ever, but this time, it trembled noticeably. "What are you thinking?" Ying gave a smile, extending his left hand, shakily trying to reach out toward You. You knew he couldn''t be reached, so he moved closer proactively, allowing his slightly coarse palm to touch that young face that bore traces of both valiance and immaturity. Looking at that tear-streaked face, Ying suddenly laughed, "Still too young..." You bit his lip, his expression somewhat lost. "Do you still remember what the officer said on the day you were born?" "..." "Sacrifice is the foundation of the Empire. You should have anticipated that a day like this would come. Aside from Bai, you''re the last one to join the team... Learning to cope with the departure of teammates is also something you must learn in this world." As he spoke, Ying smiled, "Don''t worry about me, who knows, I might even start a new life..." The only way for an Artificial human to leave the military barracks was to suffer irreparable bodily harm on the battlefield while still clinging to life. Amputated limbs, deemed not worth the military''s investment for prosthetic replacements, and a living breathing person too complex to simply "dispose" of, would be expelled from the barracks to fend for themselves. For many veteran Artificial soldiers, this was even a long-coveted escape route, as Artificial humans weren''t privileged with natural persons'' right to retire and enjoy a normal life after serving for a certain period. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As long as you don''t forget me and occasionally come to visit, I will be more than content." "You''ve lost a lot of blood, we don''t know when we can get back yet, it''s better to talk less." Bai E came back from afar at some point, advising Ying softly. His voice was calm, as steady as ever. "Did you find anything?" Ying laughed off what Bai E said and instead asked about something else. He saw that Bai E had done more than just dissect; he had also gone towards the direction from which the small Bug Race tide originated to investigate something. "Nothing much..." Bai E shook his head, "These bugs were an ambush hiding in deep concealment, waiting for the attack tonight. If we hadn''t arrived, those six sandworms and the batch of bugs would have been the foes that their squad had to face alone." And if it was a trap, without exception, every squad might have been treated the same. It was only because they whimsically changed the location that the sandworms and bug tide that were supposed to attack them missed their chance. The sandworms could quickly follow through the underground, but the small Bug Race tide, composed of worker and wasp bugs, lacked this ability. So the subsequent attack by the eight sandworms was likely the "trap" originally prepared for them. As for whether there would be further attacks... who knows. Even now, humans do not fully understand the command patterns and scope of the Bug Race''s internal structure. If a group of bugs was tailing a group of human soldiers, those bugs targeting their assigned enemies likely wouldn''t come looking for them once they completed their task, meaning they could be safe. But if the "commander" that Bai E had been worried about remaining hidden contacted its kin, what would happen next was unpredictable. "Hm..." Ying nodded, acknowledging Bai E''s explanation. They could only wait... Exhausted to the extreme, the three of them fell into a deep sleep while Bai E sat cross-legged beside them. His practice of the Breathing Skill seemed to replace the need for normal sleep, and he also needed to recover his depleted Spiritual Energy through the Breathing Skill as soon as possible to face any potential dangers that might arise. The corpses of bugs strewn about and the stench of blood and putridity in the air that lingered for a long time didn''t affect Bai E''s meditation at all. [From Commission Feedback: Insight +0.1, Physical Ability +0.1, Reflex +0.2, Light Weapon Mastery Experience +54, Light Firearm Mastery Experience +14, Long-Range Weapon Mastery Experience +30, Knowledge - Human Body Modification Project 1.0 Experience +55.] The feedback from the player''s mission came belatedly. Bai E woke with a start upon receiving this information and instinctively covered his eyes with his hand as the harsh light from the distance assaulted his eyes. It was overwhelming... Accompanied by the rumbling sound of mechanical engines. Reinforcements had arrived... "Phew~" Bai E finally let out a sigh of relief, his mind that had been on edge relaxed at long last. The three who were asleep awoke in a daze, seeing the reinforcements from the base for real, and realized that Bai E had never deceived them. With the glaring light behind him, Likok, wearing a long coat, was the first to hop off the yet unsteady vehicle and walk over, "Is anyone still alive?" "Here." Bai E stood up, raising his arm. Chapter 323 Worms purpose? Looking at the mountainous piles of corpses, particularly the huge bodies of the sand bugs that rivaled the size of transport vehicles, the accompanying officers could only stare agape in astonishment.So many Bug Race bodies, yet present were only... two special forces squads! Ten people! "Damn!" Since when did our soldiers become so strong in combat? "Basically, he killed most of them," reported the captain of the other squad honestly to the higher-up who queried about the situation. All eyes then converged on the soldier whose figure remained upright, his body covered in blood yet hardly showing any other injuries. That soldier was calm, as if the great battle had nothing to do with him. However, the reality heard from the survivors was that he had nearly single-handedly exterminated the many huge creatures that ambushed the humans. People might lie, but corpses don''t. The fresh corpses of the Bug Race were the best evidence, even if the feat sounded like a tall tale. Thus, even the reinforcement soldiers who knew nothing of the incident could only feel deep reverence when they looked at the silent and upright figure under the glow of the lights. ["Lucky Hit" charge +50.] Sitting in the vehicle on the way back to the city, everyone''s bodies swayed, and Likok knew that the soldiers urgently needed rest, but curiosity regarding the full details of the operation tormented him terribly. "You may ask." It seems Bai E, who appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, had opened them at some point. After a substantial consumption of Spiritual Energy, areas like his temples and forehead had always felt a bit swollen and bouncy; even after some rest, he still didn''t quite feel accustomed to it. But considering the eager eyes of the minister who had chased after his own vehicle, full of desire for knowledge, Bai E took the initiative to speak to him. The moment he received affirmation, Minister Likok immediately became excited, "How did you realize that your signals were being jammed?" Bai E took out several disfigured sensors and said, "The lights went out." "Do you know when it happened?" [I know.] There was a moment when Bai E had a feeling, but this sensation was too metaphysical; he had not checked the status of the sensors at the time, so it could not be concluded definitively. Bai E shook his head, "I don''t know." "Did you encounter any unusual circumstances before the sensors failed?" "No... The other squad didn''t either." After a pause, Bai E proactively looked towards Minister Likok and asked, "What about the other squads?" "They... their situation was probably like yours. We have sent out scout squads to find them, but they didn''t send out their location signals like you did, so finding them is going to take some time." "Oh~" Likok didn''t care about the battle outcome; how the special forces soldiers encountered the attack and how they responded was something for the military officials to consider. As the minister of the information department, he was more concerned with the only technology that bypassed the special blockade in this battle and transmitted their location back to the military district. "What did you use to send your location back to the reception center?" "This." Bai E took out the modified device he had prepared earlier. It was an indescribably ugly creation connected with irregular circuits, but could such a thing have broken the informational blockade? Likok held it in his hands like a priceless treasure, unwilling to let go. Research into the object in hand would of course wait until after returning to base, but the excavation of the talent before him could begin now. "Did you make this yourself?" "Um..." "Where did you learn the technology?" Minister Likok asked eagerly. Everything done in the barracks left records; Bai E discarded the idea of claiming he had learned these skills in the barracks. "Black Street..." Bai E took out his badge that permitted him to leave the barracks anytime, "I have permission to leave the barracks at any time. In my spare time from training, I would go out and learn some new things." "Have you considered joining our information department?" Likok looked intently at Bai E, waiting for the soldier who had impressed him twice to respond. "I''m afraid I am not qualified enough." Bai E modestly lowered his head, "I only assembled it from those ready-made materials; in essence, it''s still something you all manufactured." In the process of creating it just now, Bai E knew he hadn''t done anything special. The thing pieced together from various parts probably didn''t hold much value. As for why they were able to bypass the blockade and send information back to the base, perhaps it was because... it''s a one-time thing? Indeed, that was the only explanation. To prevent Minister Likok from feeling disappointed after analyzing the composition of the modified object, Bai E directly took the initiative to lower his expectations. "I see..." Minister Likok nodded, quite agreeing with Bai E''s statement. One couldn''t always possess technology superior to that of their city''s Information Department, let alone learn anything of real value from Black Street. He was simply impressed by Bai E''s comprehension, "But you really catch on fast. Have you considered developing your career with our Information Department? Plus, it''s relatively safe here..." As he spoke, Minister Likok paused suddenly, remembering that the warrior before him was an artificial human, probably indifferent to danger, life, and death. "No need, Minister," Bai E shook his head, "I still prefer fighting on the front lines." The atmosphere grew slightly silent, as Minister Likok was not particularly gregarious by nature. In the quiet, Bai E spoke up again, "Minister, what are your plans regarding the technology after you return?" "First, to find the source," Likok said softly with a sigh, sounding somewhat melancholic, "This was just a minor special operation with only ten squads involved. If a major operation that we''re really counting on is compromised due to misinformation, causing all our arrangements to fall apart, that would be a real problem." Having their newly rebooted information technology intercepted right off the bat was undoubtedly a tremendous blow to their confidence. Bai E was stunned upon hearing this. Yes... This was just a minor military operation. Even if the enemy were to annihilate all ten of their squads, what significant advantage would they gain? The Bug Race''s intelligence would not fail to see such an obvious fact. Revealing this trump card during a critical large-scale battle to instantly sever human communications would undoubtedly be more effective in crushing humanity''s foundation. Logically speaking, if they willingly exposed this ability, it was either meant to instill fear in humans, To tell humans that the Bug Race was strong in this regards, discouraging any further development in this area from humankind. Or... Bai E thought about his last retreat from the Bug Race battlefield. "What if we can''t find it?" Bai E asked subconsciously. "Can''t find it?" Likok murmured to himself before shaking his head decidedly, "If we can''t find it, we''ll keep searching. Our hard-won technology that we''ve finally picked up, there''s now no threat from the electronic demons, so there''s no reason to give up. Moreover, our predecessors'' technology has never been afraid of any competitors aside from the electronic demons. If our technology is still insufficient to shield against any influences, it simply means our current technology isn''t enough. Regardless, we cannot give up the information technology we''ve finally reclaimed." "..." Another possibility highlighted itself at that moment. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E, who had faced the Bug Race''s attacks twice, seemed to have a far more intuitive understanding of their purposes than others. With rational consideration, the Bug Race would never engage in futile acts. A trump card capable of effectively striking at human strength would definitely be used in an even more suitable, larger scenario. Unless their purpose was indeed to make humans wary... to prompt humans to value and elevate their technological advancement to higher levels. Just like how that dominant behemoth Bug had allowed him to rescue so many human soldiers in the previous battle. Exterminating humanity was never the primary objective of those Bugs. They must have some demand from humans, unfathomable to them for the time being. The train carriage fell silent for a moment. Bright headlights pierced through the darkness on this deep night, as the massive rescue convoy carrying the fourteen sand worms that Bai E and the others had killed drove back to the military camp. The journey was swift. The trembling of the ground traveled deep into the earth, and as if feeling these vibrations, a pair of mountainous "crystals" suddenly lit up in the deep underground... ... "He killed eleven sand worms by himself?" "He extracted the essence of the Bug Race all by himself too?" "Even the distress signal was his handiwork?" The officer in charge of recording military merits was somewhat vexed, tugging at his hair. "How much merit is that worth..." Experience more on empire "No, wait, it''s this kid again!" ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] Chapter 324 Captain qualification 305 "The operation achieved decent results,""Although there were significant personnel losses, with ten squads dispatched and only two squads totaling four people returning, one of those is disabled." "We also uncovered what is likely a new aspect of the Bug Race¡ªthey have a certain capability in information technology, which we''ll need to guard against in the future. Minister Likok from the Information Department of the Scientific Research Institute is already focusing on this research." "Hmm..." Weslin nodded, indicating he was aware of the general outcome of the operation. "Additionally, of the two squads that returned, one is left with only its captain, while the captain of the other is disabled, leaving just two members. How should we deal with their unit assignments?" "Deal with such matters yourselves¡ªjust follow the standard procedures," Weslin could not be bothered with these trivialities. There were set rules and regulations in place for this kind of thing, no need for his attention. "Yes, sir!" The aide-de-camp nodded in response. "Knock, knock, knock!" Suddenly, there was a knocking at the door, and a visitor had arrived outside the closed door of the office. A guard at the door loyally announced the visitor, "Camp Commanders Carlos and Hamilton request to see the Marshal." Weslin''s brows furrowed slightly, and he replied, "Come in." Hamilton was the first to enter, taking hurried and heavy steps, "Marshal, I heard that the soldiers sent on this mission have returned?" Carlos, following behind, watched the speaking Hamilton and kept silent. What the other man said was exactly what he wanted to ask. "Yes, what about it?" "One of the mech pilots from our armored battalion was a reserve. Although he survived this mission, I think such military operations are still too dangerous for him. As you know, it''s not easy for us to train any mech pilot capable of maneuvering a mecha, and dying in such a place would be a waste of talent." It was no secret among high-ranking officers that the team capturing sand worms had been ambushed by the Bug Race and all communication signals with the base had been severed. The large-scale deployment couldn''t be hidden from them, and with a little inquiry, they would know why there was an urgent mobilization. Before coming here, Hamilton had already inquired about the surviving combatants who had returned. He was relieved to hear that the unique artificial human soldier was still alive, but the next moment, he thought to come to the Marshal to voice his opinion. After hearing a few words, Weslin knew what the other was aiming for and prompted, "So?" "So, I''m applying for his removal from the special forces unit assignment and for him to become fully integrated into our armored battalion." Having two unit assignments was rare enough in the military you could count such individuals on one hand. Bai E. Only that special artificial human soldier enjoyed such honor. Weslin hadn''t seen the personnel list for this mission, but now knew who Hamilton was talking about. This caused a troubled expression to form, "Him... That was a conclusion we all discussed and agreed upon at the time. I''m afraid it''s not good to change it on a whim." "Even if he is a mech pilot from your armored battalion, he should still see some action, right?" Carlos, who had been standing behind, finally spoke up, "Last time on the battlefield if just one of your men had a firmer will, they wouldn''t have led so many with Titan-class armaments to total annihilation." Carlos never opposed letting Bai E take risks. In this era, no one could grow up safely without facing danger. This era had not only physical enemies like bugs and beastmen but also spiritual adversaries like high-dimensional demons. Without confronting these kinds of difficulties and dangers while honing their skills and minds, human warriors would never be able to truly stand on their own. In this era, there were no indispensable people. For the future of all humanity, every human was expendable. "You..." Hamilton''s face darkened, but Weslin interrupted. "So, Carlos, what brings you here?" Weslin did not want to deal with Hamilton, a forceful officer who, once set on something, would use all means to achieve it, occasionally becoming quite a headache. "I came to ask if the natural human status reward we talked about for Bai E still stands?" "Of course it does." For a warrior he also valued, Weslin was more than willing to help. "Great. He has made significant contributions in this battle, and he himself is also interested in promotion. Given that his squad captain has been seriously injured and disabled in this battle, why not let him become the squad captain, also granting him the highest coordination rights at the same level and priority in personnel selection?" S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Highest coordination rights at the same level meant that during joint missions by special forces squads, one could directly exercise command over everyone involved. The reason why the hierarchy of command between the three special forces squads that last went to support the refugees was so readily established is precisely this. When separated, they each command their own squad, but during a joint mission, it equates to being a mid-level officer. As for prioritizing the selection of personnel... it''s that when a new team is formed, the captain can freely choose from the regular roster the people needed, generally only newly assigned unit captains have this privilege, while reconstructed units simply get what they are given. Weslin furrowed his brow and asked, "Are the military achievements sufficient?" Carlos nodded, "Sufficient." "Then let''s do that," Weslin waved his hand, and seeing Hamilton wanting to say something, he hurriedly interrupted, "That''s settled then, there are established regulations for this, no need to report these routine matters to me in the future." "Yes! Marshal!" ... Tiger was leaving the camp. Leaning on a walking stick, he moved with difficulty; in his bones he had a bit of stubborn pride and would not want his former teammates to support him, he wasn''t that frail yet. "Let us take you there," You said with some reluctance, looking at her former captain. Even after Bai E''s emergency rescue and subsequent treatment in the medical bay, Tiger''s face, due to the significant blood loss, still looked abnormally pale. "No need," Tiger smiled cheerfully, surprisingly looking forward to future life, "My old comrades are all waiting for me outside, they''ve been living on Black Street for so long, I can go straight to them, there won''t be any problem." Even if they didn''t know each other or had never met, just by virtue of being disabled veterans driven out by the military, they were naturally brothers, and occasional contact meant they were aware of each other''s existence. "But you right now..." You''s character was just as stubborn, her eyes fixed on Tiger''s empty trouser leg, biting her lip trying to insist. "Go back!" Tiger''s expression darkened, his authoritative captain''s demeanor on display once again, "Remember! You are warriors of the city, personal feelings should not waste too much of your time. Every second you have should be spent for the sake of all humanity." You''s lips trembled, she firmly responded, "Yes! Captain!" Tiger looked back nostalgically at the neatly arranged tents in the distance, that was his past life. After one last glance, Tiger turned decisively, "I''m off." "Captain..." Bai E, who had been silent until now, stepped forward with a smile at the corner of his mouth, "You can recover and be normal." Bai E never spoke without purpose, Tiger''s heart skipped a beat, he waved his hand, "We''ll talk if there''s chance... I''m off." Watching Tiger''s staggering figure leave, it was a long time before Bai E said to You, "Let''s go back." Find adventures on empire "Yeah..." You nodded obediently. After they parted, Bai E turned and left the camp. As for Tiger going to live on Black Street, Gilder would look after him somewhat, so he wouldn''t be at a disadvantage, hence he was not too worried. Regarding the body... He had received feedback from Wen Jie concerning human modification technology, and among the items that dropped during the two surges, there were biotechnological components for human biomechanical modification. With both the technology and hardware available, restoring normal human mobility might not be so far-fetched. Noon, Bai E, facing the sunlight, arrived at the underground storage facility in the wilderness. Gilder and the Rat People had begun to reside permanently in Black Street, and players habitually waited here. "My Lord..." "Hmm~" Bai E nodded, his gaze serene, "How has Black Street been these past few days?" "Black Street..." Dai Lian repeated softly, recalling the management of Black Street in the past days. Chapter 325 Do you have a dream? Managing Black Street was a novelty not only for its original residents but also for the players.At the start of their jobs, the players were full of interest; besides meeting their daily work targets, they roamed around Black Street with nothing particular in mind. Once they donned the uniforms provided by Gilder, several players felt like they were part of a city management team, consciously wielding supreme authority. Black Street was neither too big nor too small. Explore hidden tales at empire All kinds of small workshops cooperating with each other were nestled among the households, while farming the land and raising livestock required venturing even further afield. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These tasks had always been undertaken by someone, just not on a large scale. Moreover, they were susceptible to being undone by various natural and man-made disasters. Those involved in production never enjoyed the fruits of their labor, while the idle and arrogant could squander resources at will. Black Street had not been without order or rules in the past, but they were so fragile they could be shattered with a single poke, like a sheet of paper. That''s why the old Black Street always seemed so gloomy and grey, suffused with a deathly stillness. Picking everything up again, there was suddenly a vibrant and thriving vitality. Of course, doing things they had never done or were unaccustomed to always required learning. Everyone needed to undergo military drills and standardized training; the sheer number of miscellaneous tasks was overwhelming. However, everything was arranged in an orderly manner. That elderly man named Gilder was truly remarkable. The adult organization was indeed teeming with talent, with each member pulled out at random possessing such managerial skills. A few patrolling players sighed to themselves until they reached the edge of a piece of land being cultivated, where Gong Yan suddenly stopped. She watched a few people swinging hoes in the field and noticed the red glow above their heads. Hatred... But one among them did not have it. These were the underlings of the previous gang boss, Wallis. The more evil acts they committed or assistance they lent to tyranny in the past, the heavier their current burden of drudgery. A person must always pay the price for their actions¡ªwhether now or in the future... That was the origin of their identity. As these pieces of information flashed through her mind, Gong Yan maintained a gentle smile on her face. She removed her delicate leather boots, paying no mind to the damp black mud of the cultivated land, and walked barefoot towards them. With each step sinking deep or just grazing the surface. The others considered following, but, glancing at the black mud under their feet, they dismissed the idea. Yanzi was driven by curiosity; let her be... Gong Yan, with hands clasped behind her, approached the only colorless man. "Hey!" The stray dog looked up and was momentarily dazed by the radiant smile of the girl before him, "Sir... Sir." "Tired?" Gong Yan giggled, her eyes tenderly focused. The man in front of her didn''t look very old, his face still showing some youthfulness. However, long-term malnutrition made him appear rather frail. "Not tired... not tired..." The breathless stray dog quickly tucked his mud-caked hands behind his back, and his dark feet attempted to burrow into the ground as he pressed them downward. Soon after, the stray dog realized how dirty he was. Even his clothes were filthy... "You can rest if you''re tired," Gong Yan said cheerfully, "From what I''ve seen of the work targets you need to meet, the six of you working together should have it easy." The stray dog cautiously looked back and, without seeing anything, knew that several burning gazes were fixed on his back. "Not tired... I enjoy this work," the stray dog replied earnestly, flashing a simple smile with slightly yellowed teeth. "Hmm~" Gong Yan nodded, neither approving nor disapproving, but then she asked, "Do you know what the purpose of the work you are doing is?" "Purpose?" The stray dog blinked in bewilderment, recalling the words of the "spokesperson" from the morning assembly¡ª "The purpose of your work is to make sure each of you can eat a meal, wear clothes that fit, and then continue working, eating better meals, wearing better clothes. Until one day, you won''t have to struggle for your livelihood, finding your true pursuit in life. Remember, your work is never for us adults! It''s for yourselves!" "The production reports you produce every day will be posted on the bulletin board for all to see. How much work you do, how many resources you use, everything will be clearly displayed. No one can slack off, but nobody will be treated unfairly either. Everything that comes from you will ultimately be for you!" The spokesperson''s words were straightforward, without any complex and incomprehensible jargon. Compared to the words about "equality, freedom, happiness" that the adult had mentioned the night he saved everyone in the street, these seemed far more substantial. Of course, the adult must have his purposes; it was only that he didn''t understand them at the moment. The only thing he did understand was... "The purpose of work is to support myself." "Cough cough cough!" A few coughs suddenly came from behind. The stray dog''s gaze flickered with panic for a moment, and then he looked down, not daring to meet the eyes of the "Law Enforcement Team" again. "Sir, you should leave now; I need to get back to work." His voice was low, tinged with guilt. "One last question..." Gong Yan raised her tender, jade-like index finger, grinning as she asked, "Do you have a dream?" "A dream?" The word left the "stray dog" staring blankly. A dream? What is a dream? Money, guns, women! Who on Black Street wouldn''t envy someone like the previous gang boss Wallis? But... is that kind of life really what I want? He must be very lonely too, right? When he looked at someone, they subconsciously looked away. When he wanted to talk, others would just hum and haw in response. He had money, guns, and women. But it didn''t seem all that enviable. Maybe it was enviable before. After all, compared to the days when I followed the boss like a lapdog, grovelling behind the underlings'' underlings, and punching and kicking the even more lowly common folk while laughing and cursing, a life like boss Wallis''s was certainly better. But compared to now... every day I wake up with a purpose, and after finishing our tasks, we can all gather and chat and boast as equals. The brave ones can even try to strike up a conversation with the girl... the girl they admire. The same goes for girls... the girls now seem more attractive than the disheveled women in the boss''s arms back then. Why is that? Wild Dog couldn''t figure it out. But regardless, this kind of life was much more interesting than before. Work was always fresh. Each day was new. Not like before, when I lived a single day like it was a lifetime. Now, a day is just a day. Wild Dog didn''t want anyone to disrupt these fresh new days, so he was always reluctant to get involved in the things his companions discussed privately. This new life is so good, he didn''t understand why those people weren''t happy. But dreams... What are dreams? No one ever taught him that word. "I don''t know, ma''am..." Wild Dog said with a pair of confused eyes, blankly staring at the bright girl in front of him. ''She is so pretty... prettier than all the women I''ve seen before.'' "Set one for yourself... maybe one day, it''ll really come true~" Gong Yan waved her hand and turned to leave. Arriving at the clear flowing stream, Gong Yan stretched her feet into the water to wash off the dark mud, her fair feet gradually returning to their original appearance under the water''s flow. "What were you talking about with him for so long?" Dai Lian asked curiously, standing aside. When everyone was together, Yanzi rarely had her own opinions, but whenever she took action, there was definitely a deep meaning behind it. Gong Yan turned her head back, smiling radiantly in the sun, "It''s exciting... the only innocent flower among some unaccepting rebel rousers¡ª isn''t that a fun thing?" "There are rebels?" Kuang Xin immediately picked up his axe, "I''ll go chop them down!" Maintaining the stability of Black Street was their mission. "They haven''t actually done anything yet." Gu Lan, the older sister character, rolled her eyes at Kuang Xin. After spending a couple of days together, she had learned about this guy''s straightforward nature. If they were to punish without due cause before any wrongdoings had been committed, it would be a minor issue for the Law Enforcement Team''s prestige to be damaged, but losing the trust of the residents of Black Street and shaking the foundation of E''s governance would be the real trouble. As for how Gong Yan discovered it... Gu Lan took a deep glance at the girl''s back, being a woman herself, she understood all too well the little schemes of this woman. In the presence of others, she always allowed others to show off, and to some extent, Dai was the "puppet" she had pushed forward, yet the development of any event had never escaped her control. Impressive. But not detestable. One could only say... admirable. The friends I''ve made in the game, each one indeed has their own excellence. "So what should we do?" Kuang Xin asked, looking bewildered. "Ask the boss~" Gong Yan shrugged, "The boss will see things more clearly than us." ... Faced with the question posed by Dai Lian, Bai E slightly furrowed his brows. Unaccepting? Normal. People who were wild and suddenly shackled would naturally feel resentful. But as Gu Lan had said, without any actual facts of wrongdoing, others would certainly not comply if they were punished. "Don''t worry about it," Bai E instructed softly, "Be vigilant, watch out for people who might be involved, but until they actually act, do not disturb their normal lives." "But, sir... what if they cause some sort of loss we can''t accept?" Bai E smiled, "It''s okay, we can accept anything." Chapter 326 307 Black Street Veteran After assigning the players their tasks, Bai E made his way straight to Black Street.Since the captain had ventured into Black Street, it was only proper to drop by and give him special attention. Watching the man leave, Dai Lian simply pinched his chin and muttered to himself, "Why do I feel like the boss has changed a bit..." "Right?...I think so too." Kuang Xin nodded earnestly. "The look in his eyes." Xu Ruoguang, who had been silent up until now, pointed out the key issue from behind, "The boss''s gaze is more murderous than last time we met." "Murderous... what are you reading so many novels for?" Gu Lan tapped Xu Ruoguang''s head with his finger. But Xu Ruoguang stubbornly pushed back, "That''s exactly it." "It''s the look in his eyes." Dai Lian also agreed. With this reminder from Xu Ruoguang, he too realized where the unsettling feeling came from¡ªit was indeed the look in the eyes. When confronted with the man''s gaze, Dai Lian felt an unprecedented pressure. The boss today seemed unusually calm, like the deep sea brewing a colossal wave, or a volcano poised to erupt. Was the boss angry? Why? "But he''s cooler now~" Kuang Xin''s eyes sparkled, admiring how their boss was becoming increasingly stylish. So lovable~ ... Gilder was dealing with a significant amount of data. He needed to tally the daily consumption of everyone in Black Street and the volume of work completed each day; he didn''t trust anyone else with this job. Mainly because there weren''t any trustworthy individuals yet. The management of Black Street had just started, and it would take some time to assess the local people before choosing those who were capable and wouldn''t harbor ulterior motives. Until then, it was only him who could complete the boss''s tasks. Fortunately, he had the help of the Mouse People. Despite not having systematic training or the corresponding experiences, these creatures were intelligent by nature, learning casually from following along, and they could handle simple data summarization and processing without any issues. This kind of work consumed a large part of his day. When Bai E arrived, Gilder was still buried in his work at the desk. "Bo... Boss?" When Gilder lifted his head from the desk, his mind was still sluggish from the data, and his eyes took a moment to focus. "You''ve worked hard." "Not at all!" Gilder promptly responded, "The greatest fortune of my life is your willingness to trust me." Being able to dedicate oneself to an area of expertise and toil happily was undeniably a source of happiness. The words the boss spoke might be incomprehensible to the average person, but Gilder took them to heart. Perhaps, only after coming here, did his aging life truly start to take shape. ["Lucky Strike" charge +3.] "..." Bai E pursed his lips, not expecting that a high "loyalty level" could increase his charge from just a casual remark. Read new chapters at empire "I''ve come to ask you something." Bai E didn''t waste time with pleasantries. Business didn''t require it. "Speak." "Is there a group in Black Street made up of veterans who''ve retired from the military? All of them with disabilities?" Gilder, who by now had completely grasped the structure of Black Street, confirmed without hesitation, "There is! Are you looking for them, Boss?" "Not necessarily," Bai E lightly shook his head, "I''m just inquiring about their condition. A comrade from my military days just retired from the barracks today and will likely join the old soldiers, so I wanted to understand their situation." "They..." Gilder frowned, seemingly unsure how to explain before he finally asked, "You should know about the secret deals between the military and Black Street, right?" "I do." Gilder nodded, "The main people handling those were that group of veterans." Handling such business meant that those people were no longer as "pure" as when they were in the military. Soldiers born as Artificial Humanity start with a blank slate, but stepping into a dog-eat-dog place like Black Street, if they don''t learn some cunning, they would be the first to die. So even though these are old soldiers who left the battlefield due to injuries, their current situations are actually pretty complicated. "Dealing with them is also tricky. For now, we only let them manually craft firearms and bullets, refine gunpowder, while those with prosthetic limbs can also take on hunting and the like. You have said that no organization of more than three people is allowed in Black Street, but personally, I think these veterans still keep in touch privately." After all, they are merely managers installed by the Arbitration Place due to pressure, and many of the original residents have their own life paths and won''t completely obey instructions from such appointed managers. Yes, managing, not ruling, The control Gilder, including the guard comprising players, had over the place was far from being absolute. "However, those veterans are clear-headed; they abide by our decrees and even help us maintain order voluntarily. I do plan to select some of them to form a guard unit for Black Street." The affairs of Black Street should be managed by its people. Relying solely on the boss''s subordinates, who are somewhat odd and naive youngsters, was never a long-term solution. After all, the management of Black Street is just beginning. Bai E nodded. A group with strong cohesion that outwardly follows commands but privately sticks together for warmth? That''s pretty normal. This management will likely require more attention, but for individuals who can join, it might still be a good thing. Tiger shouldn''t suffer any hardships... Gilder observed cautiously, "You have a good relationship with your comrade?" "Yes, quite good." "For him, that veterans'' community should be a good place; they really take care of their own. And when they make some money, they often help others get fitted with prosthetics. Although the quality of those prosthetics isn''t great, at least they''re usable." That''s good. Bai E nodded. Everyone has their own life path. If the tiger could have his own life outside of the barracks, that would be a decent outcome. ... "Dong dong dong~" The tiger, following the address, found the legendary "Veterans'' Nest". He had only heard of it, and this was his first visit. In truth, the words he had said were meant for You to hear. As for the arrangement of his own life... he had never considered ending his life in this way. He was a warrior, meant to die on the battlefield. Having cheated death, he found himself plunged into confusion. Perhaps... those experienced veterans could help him find a new meaning in life. With a sense of trepidation, the tiger knocked at the gate. "Squeak~" The gate opened, revealing a tall man with visible metal prosthetics gazing coldly outside. Upon seeing the newcomer, with one hand, one leg, leaning on a crutch... and especially the black iron tag on his chest inscribed with characters, his face instantly lit up with a comforting, amiable smile. "You''ve come..." Even without having met before, the bond between veterans dispensed with any sense of strangeness. The tiger also saw the iron tag on the other man''s chest and the smile on his face, which instantly soothed his slightly anxious heart. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes... I''ve come." "Come on in!" The man stepped aside, making room without any attempt to offer support. They all came from that same tough stage of life; veterans had their own resilience and needed no pity for their perceived weaknesses. "Alright." The tiger stepped over the threshold with difficulty, taking in the arrangement inside. The so-called Veterans'' Nest was a small courtyard with individual houses for everyone. "Come, let me take you to meet everyone." The host led the way with warmth. As they walked, the tiger heard mechanical operations and grinding noises, looking curiously in that direction, only to have his view blocked by walls. "We''re making guns and ammunition," the leading veteran explained considerately, detailing everything about the place, "It''s not safe out there. Everyone needs a means to protect themselves." "Oh~" The tiger nodded. "The brothers you''re about to meet aren''t all of us; some have formed a hunting team and gone out to hunt wildlife for the whole of Black Street." The tiger was taken aback, "The whole Black Street?" "Yes..." the veteran laughed heartily, "Due to some unexpected events, we now have a unified leader here. Everyone living here needs to work daily, serving all people." Although that day Wallis didn''t dare to provoke these veterans out of the barracks, they were witnesses to the demonic incident. Living here, none could escape it. "Oh~" The tiger, not a man of many words, simply nodded again to show he understood. He had been to Black Street a few times before but had never heard of any unified leader. But someone who could bring the entire Black Street together must be an extraordinary figure. "Pat pat pat~" The leading veteran arrived in the open space in the center of the courtyard and clapped his hands, his voice resonant. "Brothers, a new brother has joined us." The courtyard consisted of many houses, none of them large, and even though everyone had their own space, the habits developed in the barracks were never forgotten. At the leading veteran''s call, the mechanical noises abruptly fell silent. Figures emerged from all directions. "A new brother?" "Hahaha, another brother has come?" Standing in place, the tiger slowly turned in a circle, his eyes meeting the sincere, welcoming gazes of the other veterans, and his eyes inadvertently began to fill with tears. In the midst of a bustling welcome, the leading veteran patted the tiger''s shoulder, "Brother, it''s rare that you''ve managed to snatch your life back from the battlefield. From now on, this is your home." "Home..." The tiger''s mind felt a bit foggy. He had no clue how he might start his new life, and his brothers'' enthusiasm overwhelmed his thoughts for a moment. Before he realized it, he had been led into an empty room. "Sit." The room had only a simple bed and two chairs. The leading veteran pulled out a chair for the tiger and sat down first, patting the adjacent chair, saying, "Hmm." "Where did you get injured?" The other''s eyes were fixed on the tiger, full of seriousness. The warm welcome was one thing, but now that they were going to be brothers, it was time to get to know each other. "Catching bugs." "Hunting for the Scientific Research Institute?" A cold light flickered in the leading veteran''s eyes. Chapter 327 308 Conspiracy From where do the raw materials for the creation of those Gene Optimization Solutions come?It''s still reliant on soldiers occasionally going out to "hunt." After all, not every battle is a decisive major confrontation, and such small-scale military operations are commonplace. However, the soldier who brings back the most raw materials almost never gets to enjoy the final products made from those materials... Tiger didn''t notice the fleeting resentment in the other party''s tone. He knew what was being said, but he spoke with some conflict, "Yes, and no. The target is a kind of new insect, never seen before. We''re responsible for capturing them or bringing back their corpses." "Hmm?" The veteran leading the way was startled, sounding slightly worried, "New types of insects again?" No matter where they are or what they''ve gone through, a sense of responsibility for the fate of all humanity has always been a commandment ingrained in them at the genetic level. "Yes... Ones that can burrow underground. They seem to have evolved specifically for the purpose of launching surprise attacks and destroying our vehicles," said Tiger, his tone filled with sighs, hardly able to imagine how humanity''s armies would face the sudden assaults from these creatures emerging from beneath the ground in future battles. "..." The veteran leading the way remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and scoffed, "It doesn''t concern us anymore." "..." Tiger didn''t make any sound in response. Doesn''t concern us anymore? Perhaps... The other didn''t inquire further, instead shifting the topic, "Which unit were you with before you came here?" "The special squad... as the captain." "Whoa! Impressive, brother! They don''t care about someone of your level? Don''t you have much military merit left?" "..." Tiger was silent for a moment before responding, "I''m from the physical enhancement series." Stay tuned to empire A ruined body means no more value. If abilities mainly rely on the physical form, and the physical form is no longer intact, replacing it with cybernetic limbs also becomes meaningless. The leading veteran sighed, "... That''s how they are." Tiger shook his head, "The military really shouldn''t waste resources on me." The old soldier''s gaze scanned Tiger''s face carefully, said nothing more, only patted his shoulder, then stood up and walked out. "I''ll go get you some living supplies. As for your body... we''ll find a way." "..." Watching the other walk out through the empty doorway, Tiger''s eyes became somewhat sharp. He wasn''t foolish. In his words, the other seemed to be deliberately or unintentionally stirring up his resentment. Of course... it might also be possible that they themselves harbored resentment, merely unable to hold back their complaints after seeing him. But no matter what, artificial soldiers should not have such thoughts! ... The old soldier who left the room ran into another one, "How''s it going?" "Quite loyal." "Loyal? Who isn''t loyal..." The other veteran sighed as he approached, "He''ll understand in the future... Let''s hold off on the limb issue for now, and don''t contact the ''doctor'' just yet." "I know..." ... Finally, a period of stable growth arrived. The Lord of the house had no missions, and the feeling of being able to see him every day was terrific! Clearing small BOSSes in the wild, patrolling Black Street, constructing secret underground bases. The schedule was packed, and every two days, there was enough contribution and experience to learn new skills. The only regret was... why hadn''t Wallis''s former subordinates staged a rebellion yet? According to Yanzi, their resentment was nearly bursting through the skies, and occasionally when they looked at them, members of the Black Street Patrol Guard, it was as if they were shooting daggers with their eyes. What are they waiting for? What are they waiting for? Hurry it up! "What are we patrolling today? They''re all resting." This was Black Street''s first day off, working six days and resting one in a week. During the continuous patrol days leading up to it, no incidents had been spotted, making the contribution points for managing Black Street seem like a giveaway, so much so that Kuang Xin didn''t want to waste any more time on it today. After the novelty wore off, patrolling every day without any incident became truly dull. "What if something happens..." Dai Lian became even more cautious, firmly believing that there is no such thing as a free lunch in the game. How could there be such benefits every day? The more nothing happened, the more anxious and nervous he felt. Even if this game was ultra-realistic, it still had to abide by the basic theorem of games: no reward without effort. "And it''s precisely because today is the first day off that we must be even more careful!" The daily work consumed a great deal of everyone''s physical and mental energy, many things could not be done even with the willingness to act. Today, with everyone resting for the whole day, might be just the opportunity those with ulterior motives were waiting for. We must be even more vigilant. "Look, over there." As they walked, Gu Lan''s calm voice suddenly rang out. The few people who were talking looked in the direction she was pointing. It was indeed Wallis''s men, four of the former gang leaders. ... "Hey! Stray Dog! I''ve seen that chick from the guard frequently looking for you these past few days, she hasn''t fallen for you, has she?" "No, no!" Stray Dog hastily waved his hands, the vivid smile of a beautiful figure appearing involuntarily in his mind, "How could I dare think that." A girl like that was simply angelic, someone he couldn''t even dream of coveting, even considering it felt like committing a crime. "I don''t care if you have or haven''t!" The other man grabbed Stray Dog by the collar, "The things we told you, you haven''t spilled them, have you!" "No! Cough, cough!" Stray Dog felt his chest tighten but dared not resist, just managed to respond with difficulty, "No! I haven''t!" "That''s good!" Stray Dog was thrown to the ground and heard the other''s threat, "We haven''t done anything yet, it''s all just talk, they have no evidence against us. But if they hear something from you¡­ Hmph! The first one to die will be that chick! I guarantee it." "Hey! What are you doing?" A voice came from afar, Kuang Xin, with an axe in hand and a cold look in his eyes, walked briskly towards these scumbags. If they wanted to stir trouble, they should just do it; this dawdling made them anxiously on edge even when carrying out tasks elsewhere, and it was not pleasant. "Hmph." The leader of the three men who had gathered gave a cold snort, gave Stray Dog a warning look, and then turned and walked away. "Are you okay?" Gong Yan approached, her voice gently coming in close to inquire. Remembering the warning from the blond man, Stray Dog kept his head low and did not dare to look at her. "No... no problem, my lord, we were just chatting and joking." Saying this, he ran off towards a direction without purpose, not daring to look back. Only at a corner far from his former companions and away from the guard did Stray Dog lean against a wall, panting heavily as if out of breath. "Huff~ Huff~" So annoying! So annoying! Why, when life was now so wonderful, were these people still thinking of rebellion? Could it really get any better? How could it! "Hello~" A lilting clear voice suddenly reached his ears. Stray Dog looked up and saw a bright, stunning girl wearing a red and black tight long dress, holding a longsword, and looking radiant. ''Looks familiar.'' That was the first thought that jumped into Stray Dog''s mind. But he didn''t recognize her. His gaze swept indifferently across the girl''s face, and Stray Dog quickly looked away, not daring to take another glance. "Excuse me, are you a resident here?" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ah yes... I am." "I''m from elsewhere..." Franca smiled brightly, using her Spiritual Energy to create a disguise that gave these people a vague cognitive barrier to her identity, allowing her to observe Black Street under the "mysterious lord''s" management as a completely unknown person. Chapter 328 309 Happiness At least a week had elapsed under the management of that esteemed individual since the last demon incident on Black Street.So regardless of what kind of policies the "mysterious figure" had put in place, by now they should have already manifested tangible effects. Your next read awaits at empire She wanted to see what Black Street, once tainted by demons, could become under the governance of that individual. "I wish to settle down here, but I simply do not know what life is like for everyone here," Franca said with a smile brimming with laughter, as she looked at the man before her whose complexion was sallow and whose body was emaciated from hunger. "Life, ah~" The Stray Dog was stunned and a silly smile spread across his face. His mind was not burdened with many thoughts and could not entertain considerations on multiple threads. Talking about current life, the minor annoyances he had were instantly forgotten, "It''s wonderful! Life is now so good, miss!" More people were willing to join the big family that was Black Street, and the lady appeared to have quite the temperament¡ªwasn''t this all a good thing? Perhaps in the future, we might all become friends... Heh heh! Friends! The Stray Dog enthusiastically introduced the current way of life to the potential friend before him. "Now we all have to work every day. The boss says..." Before he had finished speaking, the miss interrupted him impatiently, "But I haven''t seen you work all day as I walked by today... Everyone was chatting, resting." "Because today is a day off. We work six days and rest one day. Only with ample rest can we perform better at work. The leader said this is called a balance between work and leisure." "Oh~" Franca only smiled, eyes narrowing. That seemed to hark back to the Golden Age¡ªnowadays... nowadays those "rules" were no longer followed. "And actually, each day''s work does not require much time. Miss, do you know? In the past, we didn''t need to strain ourselves every day just to survive. If each of us works for a period of time every day, it is actually very easy to sustain everyone." "Oh?" Franca raised an eyebrow, "How do you know that?" As someone from Black Street with limited horizons, it should be difficult to observe the living conditions of every other person from a higher perspective. "We''ve got ledgers, miss," the Stray Dog said, his eyes dancing, and his typically timid personality seemed to radiate with light at the moment, "The bulletin board lists our daily output and consumption. It is updated daily, always reflecting the statistics from the previous day." Resources produced¡ª Food and daily necessities could be stored for use. Handicrafts could be traded abroad, and the money from trades could purchase resources needed on Black Street. Resources were managed and stored collectively. Gone was the money, gone were the trades, gone was the competition, gone was the idea that if someone else had more, one would have less. As long as everyone completed the daily production, the resources needed for a normal life could actually keep on growing. That was too unbelievable! The Stray Dog learned for the first time that life... didn''t have to rely on taking survival materials from others to be fulfilled. "Come come come! Let me show you," the Stray Dog said enthusiastically, leading the way and proudly presenting everything Black Street had as if he were showing off his own home. "This is just the beginning. The food we had in the past was quite inferior, and the variety was very limited." Mostly some plant tubers and animal meat, or a small amount of synthetic food produced within the city. "But we''re cultivating land now. Yesterday they brought seeds, and seeds can grow into grains, can be used for brewing, can make bread... We''ve also installed nets in the lake so our fish fry won''t stray outside... The Guard is clearing threats from the surroundings every day, and the game they catch can also be added to our food reserves..." Humans are amazing. We are amazing. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It turns out that life is really simple when people work together... "Look, this is the land we have cultivated..." "Look, this is the spinning wheel we use for weaving garments..." "This is the water wheel..." "This is the workshop..." All of this, we''ve built with our own hands. The Stray Dog ran around with Franca, introducing every little detail of his home with exceptional care. A gentle smile hung on Franca''s lips as she listened quietly to the ramblings of this ordinary, but happily hearted Black Street resident until she finally spoke softly, "So this boss that you''ve been talking about, do you like him?" "Like him! I think everyone probably likes him... The boss doesn''t come by often. On the few occasions he has, he talked to us a lot... A lot of what he said I didn''t understand, like things about life, goals, freedom, and stuff. But I don''t know why, I just enjoy listening to the boss talk. Whenever I see the boss, I feel happy, as if everything is good. To be more concrete, his spokesperson says that I like to hear the boss say those incomprehensible words... just listening to them is very... very... very joyful! Yes, that''s the feeling... I wish the boss could visit us more... But a person as formidable as him probably has many places that need him more." "Oh, miss, where do you plan to stay?" The Stray Dog seemed to finally remember the substance of the matter, a bit embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head¡ªblaming himself for getting excited and forgetting the time, which caused it to be already late. The sun had set. But the sun will always rise again. "We might have to start work tomorrow only." "Okay~" Franca smiled, her eyes narrowed, and she readily agreed. As an officer of Arbitration Place, she was accustomed to dealing with the ugly matters related to demons. This kind of ordinary and pure happiness was something she was encountering for the first time, filled with a novel feeling. ... The spokesperson''s house was not more impressive than ordinary houses. Nor was it much larger than ordinary houses. However, at the moment, shadows crowded the entrance. Those shadows stood silently in the darkness, like so many walking corpses, wordless and creating a heavy atmosphere. "Sching!" The Longsword half-drew from its sheath, revealing a glint of cold light. Chapter 329 310 Betrayal The crowd that silently watched the spokesperson''s house on the street remained utterly silent, the atmosphere was as still as death¡ªnone of the silent figures even spared a glance for the two wild dogs who had brought Franca along.The mood was eerily bizarre. Leading them was the group of ragged henchmen the wild dog knew. One of the henchmen, with a slovenly posture and a hunched back, leaned against the door of the spokesperson''s house, knocking on it languidly as if drained of all strength. While knocking, he shouted, "Old man! Open up! Old man! Open the door! We''ve got business with you!" "Bang Bang Bang Bang!" The force of his knocking grew stronger, causing the door to resound with thuds. Gilder, who was inside the room tallying accounts, suddenly looked up, his aged face revealing a look of worry. A familiar feeling¡­ The Master was right, those who had lived through the demon disaster were more prone to corruption, but he had already asked the Master''s guard to keep a strict watch over these people¡ªhow did they The rat-man immediately scurried to the corner wall, his keen sense of danger making him instinctively flee from any threat that could endanger him. It was only because he remembered he had to obey the Master''s order to protect the old man, otherwise, he would have already been digging a tunnel three feet deep to escape¡­ Gilder straightened out his clothes and stood up. He indeed used to be an ordinary person, but through his long experience of managing others, he had self-taught how to carry himself and adjust his tone of speech to be persuasive and commanding. Now, as he stood up and walked toward the door, he carried the air of a noble family''s senior butler. "Creak~" The door opened, and Gilder stepped out from the shadows of the eaves into the twilight, his gaze calmly sweeping over the silent figures standing around. Twenty-seven, not too many¡­ What are they trying to do? His mind whirled with thoughts, and Gilder''s gaze finally rested on the blond man standing close by¡ªthe former henchman of Wallis, the one that the Master''s guards had warned to be wary of. Had they finally decided to cause trouble? The man''s sneering, upside-down triangular eyes held a disdainful look, "Hey, old man, you''ve gotten used to bossing us around these past few days, haven''t you? I''m telling you, today¡­ your good days are over!" "Slap!" An unexpected slap struck the old man''s face, and blood immediately trickled from the corner of his mouth. "Ah!" Wild Dog, standing in the middle of the street, let out a cry of shock, standing frozen on the spot, "What are you doing!" The blond man sneered and glanced back at him, then kicked the old man''s knee. "Kneel down!" Gilder''s knee bent, but he forced himself to stand upright again. The two companions following the blond man also joined in, one of them giving Gilder a kick from behind, "Kneel down!" After delivering their kicks, the two exchanged a glance and saw a glint of surprise in each other''s eyes. Power¡­ They felt power! "Come on, come over!" The blond man wasn''t in a rush to kill this so-called "spokesperson"¡ªhe was the source of their newfound power; how could they kill him so easily? The first one to beckon the stunned Wild Dog was the blond man, "Come on, come on! Little wild dog! Don''t say that Big Brother doesn''t take care of you! Come! Give him a slap, and from then on, whatever you want, you''ll have it!" ''After betrayal, you can have everything¡­'' ''After betrayal, the world is vast and open¡­'' ''Betray your Master, betray Order, betray everything, and you will regain control of everything¡­'' ''You are your own Master, no one can control your destiny¡­'' ''Betray! Betray!'' The messy whispers echoed in his ears, the voices filling his mind prompted Wild Dog to instinctively cover his ears, trying to block them out. However, the characters buzzed like tadpoles, ceaselessly burrowing into his ears, and the inhuman cacophony gradually took on clear meaning¡­ "I don''t want this!" "I don''t want this!" "Tsk!" The blond man scoffed with disdain at the sight of Wild Dog struggling in pain on the spot and didn''t insist; instead, he turned to the others, "Come on! Everyone, take a turn! One strike to him, and this is our first step towards freedom!" The sound spread like an aura, rippling through the very space. Franca''s right hand clenched the hilt of her longsword, her eyes narrowed in silence, but she did not make a move. As an enforcer from the Arbitration Place, she could disregard any rules and simply purge these manifest heretics. However, each enforcer has their own way of operating, and there is no protocol for dealing with heretics¡­ she wanted to see if the "Mysterious Master" had any contingency plans for this. Indeed, humans who had witnessed demons firsthand were more susceptible to corruption, as she had once said. Thus, was that Mysterious Master prepared for everything that was currently unfolding, and did he have any emergency plans in place? Even if he was not here at the moment¡­ "Brother Three, should we take action?" The magnified image in the binoculars captured everything happening in the distance; the old soldier, after lowering his binoculars, turned to ask the older soldier who had led them this far. Brother Three frowned and pondered for a moment before deciding, "Wait and see¡­" They didn''t dislike the person who had recently set the rules, but they weren''t opposed to seeing Black Street return to its former chaotic state. After all, compared to the great pursuits they had in mind, these current events were insignificant. "Yes, sir!" "There''s no ''sir'' anymore¡­" Brother Three lit a cigarette. In the swirl of smoke, there was quiet anticipation for what was brewing in the distance. "Smack!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ptooey!" "Tui!" Some slapped a face, some kicked, some spat, others just made a show of it without daring to do more. The Rat-man crouched in the shadow behind the house, watching Gilder''s back intently. The old man had told him that he was the adult''s face, and that running away on a whim was not allowed. Unless he signaled with a gesture, he must not lead him to escape. Gilder''s body trembled slightly, seemingly indifferent to the various strikes that were neither light nor heavy and were more like humiliations. He asked in a calm tone, "What do you want to do?" "What do we want to do?" The blond man sneered. Nothing in particular. Just feel like betraying. Just don''t want to listen to you. Who do you think you are, always demanding they do this and that? I''ve got a gun in my hand and a strong punch, why should I be the one to do all that? "Tui!" A wad of thick spit hit Gilder''s face and slowly slid down. A roar erupted from the end of the street as Kuang Xin, with an axe in each hand, rushed over with bulging eyes, yelling, "What are you doing!" "We should first understand the situation..." Dai Lian attempted to analyze. Kuang Xin and Xu Ruoguang charged out like battering rams. "Screw asking! Knock them down first, then ask!" "See that? These are the lapdogs!" the blond man shrieked, his voice growing more distorted, "Kill them! Brothers, kill them!" God''s authority granted him the ability to communicate with everyone at the spiritual level, and his will, amplified like through a loudspeaker, was directly cast into the minds of every "traitor." Everyone''s disgust for "lapdogs" was so intense, those so-called "loyal" dogs were the biggest enemies of "betrayal"! Discover more stories at empire "Go to hell!" Kuang Xin kicked over the resident who rushed at him, trying to stop his advance. Still rational, he didn''t kill indiscriminately; the axes were used more for slapping than chopping. Up to now, while their power as players might still be far from touching the limits of the combat power of this game world, against these ordinary people... "Hum!" Dull purple light emanated from the eyes of two residents, and Kuang Xin instantly felt an invisible force restraining his ankles. His body, running at full speed, lost its balance and was abruptly tripped. The voice of Gu Lan from behind warned, "Be careful, they''ve got Spiritual Energy!" A different use of Spiritual Energy, more like a Spell from legends. Demons! Gu Lan drew her Longsword, Spiritual Energy blazing fiercely as it clung to the blade. In these few days, she had already learned "self-restraint"; although burning Spiritual Energy was still dangerous, it was at least not as vulnerable as a Spiritual Body without any resistance in a high-dimensional space at the start. "Fuck!" The fear of that powerful person''s bodyguard eroded the blond man''s mind, but the more perilous and thrilling the moment, the stronger the beat of his traitorous heart became. "Smack!" The blond man suddenly slapped Gilder again. [Physical Strength +0.1.] Not enough! Not enough! The blond man, unable to see the panel but sensing a slight improvement in his power, grew increasingly frantic. Any act of betrayal would bring strength, but repeated actions didn''t bring additional gains. Too little! Too little! The root of it all was that "great person" they spoke of! That mysterious lord! "I know you have a way to contact him, and the guy behind you! Bring him here! Bring him here! I want to chop off his head with my own hands! Tell him who my true master is!" Boom! An astonishing power exploded in the perception of the non-real world, and the blast swept the souls of everyone present. The dim purple glow of Spiritual Energy burned like substance in the blond man''s eyes as he turned to face Xu Ruoguang charging at him. In that moment of "bullet time," Xu Ruoguang felt as if a battering ram had smashed into his chest, and he was sent flying instantaneously. Without looking back, the blond man continued to urge Gilder, "Hurry up! Hurry! I want him to witness the death of his lapdogs with his own eyes! This is the first gift I''m giving him!" "Boom!" Following Xu Ruoguang, Kuang Xin''s body was also blasted away. "..." Gilder, witnessing everything that was happening, realized only when he saw those who served the powerful person couldn''t counter this crisis, that they couldn''t resolve the situation on their own. So, he hesitated slightly before reaching into his chest. The next moment, however, the item was violently seized by an invisible hand. "Is this it? Is this it? Hahaha!" Holding the signal gun, the blond man examined it briefly, then suddenly raised it towards the sky. "Whoosh~~~~~~" "Pop!" Chapter 330 311 Golden Dream At last, they welcomed a rare period of calm development.Without any missions, every day was filled with training¡ªMech Suit Piloting Training, Psychic Pressure Resistance Training, Psychic Power Training, Physical Reflex Training. The newly reformed squad, with Bai E and You at its core, brought in Rose and Stone, two artificial warrior friends of Bai E, and one more...Zero. The first soldier Bai E had rescued from the praying mantis creature during the bug attack on the camp. A talent specialty in shooting. Bai E could see his talent for ''Weakness Detection''¡ªa high burst rate ability. His skills were quite impressive. Apart from Bai E and Rose who had their own training schedules, the other two rookies were undergoing all the expedited special training needed for the squad under You''s leadership. After all, these good days of training wouldn''t last long, and a mission could arrive at any time. Not to mention whether missions could be refused, even if they could be, Bai E didn''t want to refuse them. Battle, that was what excited him now. As he survived longer in this world, combat had become an indispensable part of Bai E''s life. And just as the evening ended with physical training, Bai E saw a bright trajectory line rising into the sky in the distance. A signal flare! From the direction of Black Street! What happened? Bai E didn''t hesitate, grabbing his equipment and heading straight out of the military camp. ... More and more figures were gathering above Black Street. The will to betray spread at the level of souls, causing all affected residents to gravitate towards this place involuntarily. Perhaps their minds harbored similar thoughts, or perhaps not. But the force of will from higher dimensions made them gather here uncontrollably, like moths to a flame. Blondie stood with one foot on Kuang Xin, who was trying to struggle beneath him, leaning over to look into the eyes of Gilder, who had knelt down because his legs could no longer bear the weight, "Where''s that big shot behind you? Why hasn''t he shown up? Is he scared? He better not be scared." Gilder tried to puff out his chest, as if to maintain the dignity of an adult. His old lips quivered slightly as he gritted his teeth and said, "If you turn back now, the boss might still spare you." "Smack!" Gilder''s gaunt face instantly reddened. "Ptooey!" Blondie spat disdainfully onto his face, "Spare me? Do I need him to spare me?" He then turned to look at the figures watching from not too far away. For a moment, he saw shimmering souls flickering before his eyes. Souls... so many souls... His mouth was practically watering. Join me! Join us! "Come! Offer your betrayal to our lord as evidence!" Blondie forcefully stamped on the back of Kuang Xin, who was still struggling, and casually whipped Gong Yan, who was beside him with his whip. "Smack!" He raised his left hand high, his voice filled with frenzy, "We are born of chaos, we are untamed souls! Nothing can bind us! Betray everything, embrace freedom!" "Buzz!" A thick grey mist condensed in Gu Lan''s eyes, burning with psychic energy that seemed to ignite his entire body. However... "Boom!" An unworldly force crashed down like a thousand-pound boulder. Several subordinates, their eyes flickering with a purple glow, looked at Gu Lan, who lay submissive on the ground, with an evil smile on their faces. "See? See?" Blondie sneered, "Betray! After betrayal, you will have everything! The world will be at your feet! Come! Tell me, what do you want?" What do you want? What do you want? ''You can live any life you wish, attain everything your heart desires.'' The infinity of formlessness towered within the heart, the warm whispers enveloped the ear, and the stray dog lowered its head, calm in expression. The soul, captured by the demon, had lost the will to struggle. Betrayal... Can everything be obtained after betrayal? In the blank expanse of my mind, there appeared the land, the waterwheel, the work of the past few days, and that girl from the guard. What is it that I want? Are these the things I want? No! No, they are not! "Do you have a dream?" That girl had asked me once. "Go and set a dream for yourself!" A dream? What is a dream? I don''t know. No one ever taught me this word. I am a stray dog, a nameless stray dog. Ever since I can remember, that''s what everyone has called me. I can''t speak grandiose phrases; the words of adults are incomprehensible to me. I also don''t know how to think, for no one has taught me how. But at this moment... You ask me what I want? What do I want? In my heart. In my soul. If the mighty lord knew everything, if he could see through my barren soul, then please look at my heart! I have never sold my soul to anyone, you are the only one to bear witness to it! It is entirely mine, a soul that belongs wholly to a human! It is definitely not something dark like what''s happening before me! Go to hell! I don''t know anything at this moment! What do I want? How the hell would I know what I want?! Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Find more chapters on empire Aside from what that lord once said¡ª "I want everyone in this world to be happy, joyful, free!" The stray dog, with eyes closed, yelled like mad. Announcing his heart''s intent to the world. Far away, across numerous buildings, Bai E, who was closing his eyes listening to something, relaxed his arms slightly, and finally lowered his bow-carrying arms. Franca''s aura of spiritual energy paused briefly, her gaze turning to the stray dog in surprise, as the partly drawn longsword halted mid-motion. She could feel it, the devil''s aura, had diminished a bit... Swaying figures, as if enlightened, began to emerge from the shadows of each corner. Coming out to greet this sunshine, to join this radiance. "I want everyone in this world to be happy, joyful, free!" "Everyone should realize their self-worth in coming into this world!" "Everyone should fulfill their dreams!" Life is a pilgrimage accumulating suffering, but the unforgettable journey always shines as brightly as the stars. No matter how many times we face separation and sorrow, we will always rejoice in the joy of reunions. "The world isn''t perfect, but it is certainly not bad." The stray dog "saw" the figure seated cross-legged on the stump at the center, surrounded by everyone. He sat there without any pretense, like any ordinary person taking a break from work, a slight smile on his face, speaking calmly as if chatting with friends, quietly addressing everyone. "So you see... in our lives, we might encounter many things that bring us sorrow, even more darkness, but don''t be sad, don''t hesitate, don''t wander. When the possibly once-in-a-lifetime choice presents itself before your eyes, follow the guidance of your hearts." "Shout out your dreams loud and clear! That golden dream, I will help you achieve it!" Chapter 331 312 dilution A drop of ink can easily contaminate a cup of pure water.However, if you pour a pond''s worth of water into it, the color tainted by the ink will fade significantly. The demon''s breath had been dispersed... Not expelled, not purified... but merely diluted. Franca could feel many things happening on the level of Spiritual Energy perception. Of course, from a practical standpoint, regardless of the principle, what was ultimately demonstrated was... The demon''s power had been weakened! Blondie felt his power rapidly diminishing, the strength bestowed by the true God washing away like by torrential waters, not even one in ten remained. What had happened? He did not know. Everyone had already been taken into the domain of the true God, and their feeble minds had long lost the capacity for rebellion under the influence of long-term, high-dimensional murmurs. With their first step toward betrayal, they would fall into the authority of the adults, never to escape. They had already believed in the true God and were already envisioning their hopes for the future. But why... why! He did not know, and there was no need to know. It must be the result of everything that was happening right now. Mangy dog! This lowly mongrel! Your broken dreams! Broken dreams! Broken dreams! Who cares about your broken dreams! Take your broken dreams and die! A thick, purplish glow condensed in his pupils, but unexpectedly, an arrow zipped through his chest without warning. His Spiritual Energy scattered, Blondie dumbly looked down at the large hole in his chest. His Spiritual Energy had detected the object attacking him and even managed a brief resistance¡ª An arrow. An arrow... Just an arrow, how could it make such a big hole? Huh? How could it make such a big hole? I don''t accept this! I don''t accept this! "Fuck your mother!" Blood foam bubbled from the corners of his mouth as Blondie''s gaze slackened and he fell. "Fuck!" The first sound of a body hitting the ground erupted. Feeling the suppression on his power disappear, Kuang Xin slapped his hands on the ground, flipping up from where he lay in an instant. While still in mid-air, Kuang Xin twisted his body and kicked like a whip, knocking down the two nearby "traitors." The slightly lean figure of Xu Ruoguang also seized the opportunity to break free; drawing his Longsword, his figure blurred past several traitors in an instant, leaving behind only faint traces of blood. "Crack!" Franca sheathed her Longsword, tracing back from the arrow that had pierced Blondie''s chest, looking towards that dark direction. Her gaze was complex. Is this your answer to the erosion by high-dimensional demons? Using the purest human yearning for goodness to smooth out the ripples in those high-dimensional spaces caused by extreme negative emotions. Yes, ripples. The birth of all demons is actually the ripples produced in high-dimensional spaces. As a descendant of a deeply-rooted and prestigious family, Franca had all the various classics memorized by heart. In the past, researchers of human Spiritual Energy practitioners admitted that high-dimensional space itself was not an absolutely evil place; it merely existed quietly there, as a natural attribute of the world. Nevertheless, any extreme fluctuations of negative emotions would cause disturbances in that space, leading to changes. And the core of those perturbations would materialize into demons themselves. Killing demons could smooth out these ripples. Smoothing out the ripples could also weaken the demons'' influence. Both affected each other, merely different manifestations of the same phenomena. So in theory... just in theory, if the happiness, contentment, and joy from sentient beings could endure persistently and peacefully, then the high-dimensional space would ultimately be purified into an empty land of tranquility. Besides a few native creatures of the high-dimensional space and the occasional space storms, there would be no more waves in the desolate land. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But... is it possible? "..." Franca backed into a corner, standing with the wall at her back, her eyes reflecting the chaotic battle unfolding before her, while her mind pondered humanity''s future. The power of demons had already been significantly weakened; even without that lord or herself taking action, the guard squad composed of the children of demons would have been sufficient to deal with the fallen that had truly embraced the demons. She was pondering something much more profound¡ª Has anyone ever done this? Yes. But all had remained at a na?ve and simplistic stage. In their early stages of growth, everyone believes they are the most special and powerful person in the world, capable of accomplishing what predecessors never did, confident in forging a golden age never before seen. However, as soon as one encounters a more genuine and vast world, they would realize how impractical this idea is. Humans are inherently chaotic creatures. Franca didn''t deny some shimmering qualities that glow brilliantly, but the inevitable presence of scum and degenerates could not be avoided either. Not to mention that the current world situation is plagued by internal strife and external threats. For humanity to simply survive and maintain its current scale might not be an easy task, let alone caring for the personal feelings of every individual within the system. The clamor around her gradually subsided, and Franca let out a soft breath. "...huh~" No matter what, the fact that someone attempted to do it was a good thing. What previous generations had not achieved, our generation can try. That lord... was truly interesting, and self-confident. With his power, he was certainly not an inexperienced greenhorn who had never encountered the world, and yet, he still naively believed that humanity could save itself. The events of today, even without his arrow, this demon calamity would not have caused much loss. The people of Black Street, relying on themselves... had defeated the demons! "Heh~" It has never changed... never changed. Stay updated through empire Since the moment she first came into contact with those "Children of the Demon" who served under him, their organization has been such a purely idealistic existence. And after many events, they remained the same. Under such a brightly shining flag, there was a group of followers devotedly heeding the will of the flag. What a wonderful thing it was... Franca''s eyes swept over the guards of the children of demons, subduing every traitor. With the diminishing demon strength, the traitors gradually awoke from their frenzied descent, realizing what they had done. "Stop hitting, stop hitting, I surrender, I surrender!" "Didn''t I just kick you once? Kick me back ten times! Ten times!" "Lord, I am innocent, Lord! We were just controlled by demons, it wasn''t genuine, Lord!" "Genuine or not, don''t talk to me about it." Kuang Xin said sternly, pinning the "traitor" beneath him, "Everything will be judged by the lord!" "Lord... Lord..." Some saw the figure emerging from the shadows, their eyes filled with fear. Chapter 332 313, stand up! Bai E''s gaze swept calmly over the figures on the long street.Those who loudly proclaimed their dreams seemed as if they were waking from a dream, standing bewildered in their place. And the betrayers who had committed acts of betrayal and enjoyed the blessings of demonic power looked at themselves with eyes full of fear, knowing well what they had done and that they were probably already branded as heretics. Should they make a last stand, a desperate fight with their backs to the wall? No! That possibility did not exist! Facing a person as powerful as a god, there was only pleading. "My lord! My lord!" someone was on their knees, crawling over with their knees, kowtowing non-stop to Bai E, "My lord! My lord! I didn''t mean to do it! I was just bewitched by demons! It won''t happen again! It won''t happen again!" More people were infected, all crawling towards the feet of Bai E, "My lord! Please spare us! Please spare us! We won''t do it again! Never again!" They were accustomed to groveling; in the past, under the dominance of other gang leaders, they could only survive through such humility. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn''t. But in the face of absolute power, they could only exchange their humility for a tiny possibility of mercy from those above them. "Stand up!" Bai E spoke calmly, his eyes indifferent. The moment the voice sounded, the place went silent. At such a moment, no matter how loud the pleas for mercy, what everyone was most concerned about was the decision of their lord. Stand up? What did it mean? Not accepting their pleas? "..." "My lord?" Someone carefully lifted their head, looking up at the face of the great person before them, who seemed incredibly tall. With a bit of firelight behind him, the lord''s face was stern, his pupils shimmering with thoughts they couldn''t understand. "I told you to stand up," Bai E repeated. Without waiting for everyone to speculate, he took the initiative to explain, "The world makes you kneel, I tell you to stand! You are people! You have your own thoughts, your own dignity! You shouldn''t live so humbly, real strength comes from within. If you continue to act as you do today, then the future you speak of will never happen again, it will all be empty talk. Demons are everywhere, and you have seen that kind of thing twice... so you should know¡ªyou need to have your own thoughts! Your own personality! Your own steadfastness!" "I tell you, stand up!" Bai E repeated. His voice was light, yet carried a heavy weight. And so the figures hesitantly got up, still feeling uncertain about their future. They had committed acts of betrayal that would not be easily forgiven anywhere. Even if the death penalty could be waived, the living punishment was hard to escape. And the more gentle the treatment, based on their past experiences, meant... the death penalty! Bai E''s gaze was gentle but filled with helplessness, "You live in this world; you cannot expect a savior to rescue everything. Facing any crisis you encounter, only you can be the one to change your destiny. They have just shown all this through their actions, you are not insignificant, nor do you need to be humble. Stand up, try to stand up. I am willing to give you a chance, but please, do not give up on yourselves first." ["Lucky Strike" +50.] "Yes... my lord." "I understand, my lord." "..." Bai E turned his head away, not speaking further. Change doesn''t happen overnight, nor is it reversed by mere words. Everything requires time to ferment, and for now... A group of old soldiers fitted with prosthetic limbs was slowly coming from the far end of the street, and several old soldiers without prosthetics were stumbling behind them, leaning on walking sticks. Tiger was also among them, looking at the unmasked Bai E with complex eyes. This was his first time seeing the great person spoken of by the people of Black Street. Unexpectedly... it turned out to be Bai E. Ha ha ha ha ha... It should be Bai E! So that military medal he took with him was used in such a place. No wonder they could never find him... Their gazes intersected, understanding unspoken. The leading old soldier, followed by a group in neat rows of those with prosthetics, came forward; even those disabled soldiers could still manage strict discipline, forming an orderly line. "Attention!" "Salute!" The military uniform on Bai E''s body was all too familiar to them; normally, Bai E would appear before them in disguise... and only on this day of urgent matter did they see Bai E''s true identity. Of course, this wasn''t important. Simply sharing the identity of soldiers wasn''t enough to unconditionally gain their trust, what really made them willing to step forward was what Bai E had said... From the words of this comrade, they heard what they wanted most¡ªfairness, personality, dignity. If he could treat these soulless commoners from Black Street that way, then... what about artificial humans? ``` I don''t know, but we can try to make contact first. Bai E stood still, his face devoid of any expression as he accepted the salutes of these veterans. Explore more at empire He didn''t speak, quietly waiting for them to express their purpose on their own. The leading veteran stood straight as a javelin and said with a stern face, word by word, "Starting today, we are the sword in the hands of the adult! The order of Black Street, from now on, will be our responsibility!" "..." Bai E was noncommittal, waiting for them to state their demands. "Under the leadership of the adult, may humanity shine again!" "..." Eyes slightly downcast, Bai E knew they would not reveal their true intentions at such a moment. But nevertheless, it could be considered a preliminary subjugation of these veterans, an unexpected pleasure. "Arrange the follow-up, don''t delay everyone''s work tomorrow." Bai E ordered softly and turned away. With the chief culprit of the rebellion now dealt with, the rest seemed to have concluded. But everyone knew the impact of this rebellion was far from over. Personality, dignity... Every person can be someone who lives openly and honorably... a person? The Ratfolk huddled in a dark corner, their deep black eyes gazing at the light outside. The adult''s words echoed and wound around in the depths of their heart, eventually fading into another soft and indistinct murmur. That voice was warm and calming, with the same power to soothe the heart¡ª ''Don''t lose heart~ Even the smallest germ can destroy an empire. You''re important too.'' ¡­ As soon as Bai E returned to the camp, he saw You standing by the tent entrance with someone beside him. "Captain, he''s looking for you." After the major changes and handling all kinds of odds and ends in recent days, You, still with that cold youthful complexion, had undergone a complete transformation in temperament. "Hmm~" Bai E looked at the visitor¡­ one of Minister Likok''s subordinates, whom he had seen a few times. Since he had decided to take the warlord path, Bai E naturally would not miss any opportunity to make contact with the city''s major powers. Last time, he didn''t agree when Minister Likok invited him to join the information department of the Scientific Research Institute, but neither had he completely severed the connection. In these idle days, he often accompanied the department led by Likok in the name of wanting to learn, participating in research. Getting his face known and understanding the city''s highest level of technology at the moment were both extremely meaningful activities. And now... "Our recent research is basically complete. The minister has invited you to participate in the final summary and analysis," the other said with a smile, his tone warm. In the few interactions they had, the people from the information department had discovered that this boy Likok wanted to recruit was indeed exceptional. Despite his unorthodox background, he was no less adept at the research and understanding of the revived communication technology than any of their professional researchers, often even surpassing them, which was simply inconceivable. Bai E nodded and answered immediately, "Alright." The first step was to dissect and analyze the simple communicator he had made, then propose different hypotheses and dispatch various military squads to verify them within the "Bug Nest Domain"¡ªthat''s what the information department had been doing these past few days. Of course, the concept of the "Bug Nest Domain" did not exist before. Now... that boundary where electronic signals were replaced became what everyone referred to as the "Bug Nest Domain," an area covered by the Bug Race''s will. It might be that the "Bug Nest Will" is just as sensitive to electronic signals as humans are, or there could be some other reason why human electronic signals would be intercepted and replaced the moment they entered the "Domain." These days they had been researching the core reasons, as well as looking for countermeasures. So now is the time when the fruits of their labor are truly revealed? Bai E, following behind the researcher into a car heading straight for the city''s information department, felt a sense of anticipation. ... The vast room contained rows of consoles and several huge screens. Likok saw Bai E enter through the door, nodded and smiled at him, but did not engage in much action. Clapping his hands, Minister Likok sternly spoke to everyone in the room, "Everyone is here, we will now officially start the fourth summary of the countermeasures to the Bug Race''s signal-jamming technology and the subsequent operational plans¡­" "The known facts are as follows:" "One, any remotely transmitted signal will be cut off the moment it enters the ''Bug Nest Domain'';" "Two, signals re-established within the ''Bug Nest Domain'' can be normally transmitted;" "Three, changing channels or receiving bands have been proven ineffective;" "Four, whether the ''Bug Nest Domain'' exists only near the Blackrock District Hive or not is currently unknown." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Based on these reasons, it has been decided to restart the signal relay stations around the world. The first step is to begin with station B13 inside the ''Bug Nest Domain.'' If successful, we will contact other cities to restore all global internet signal stations." The constructs of the Golden Age were sturdy and reliable, and even after hundreds of years, unless deliberately destroyed, the main structures remained largely undamaged. Perhaps slight repairs were needed, but overall they were definitely capable of being put back into service. Reactivating old facilities is always more cost-effective than rebuilding from scratch. Minister Likok, continuing his address, turned to Bai E with a grave tone, "Captain Bai, I would like you to lead the mission this time, if you are willing?" ``` Chapter 333 Overcome others by force ```Bai E had already demonstrated his technical abilities in several operations, and although he would also deploy professional technicians to follow the operation, having a backup option was always more secure. Furthermore, even if we set aside the technical aspects, the combat power Bai E displayed was at the top of his recognition. With such a person in charge, the success of this first attempt could be ensured. "No problem." Bai E accepted the offer without hesitation. Going on a mission? Of course, that was no problem. And he could even curry favor with the information department in the process, killing two birds with one stone. "Just submit the application to the Military Department on your end, and I will accept proactively." After becoming captain, Bai E had also dealt with a variety of miscellaneous tasks. A captain had many privileges. In addition to randomly assigned tasks, they could occasionally apply proactively for some yet-to-be-assigned missions. And a captain with the highest level of synergy like Bai E had even greater authority in this realm, allowing for considerable flexibility in action. His team had been sidelined for a while because of the reorganization, which was time the military gave them to learn to coordinate and adapt internally. Now, it was about time for them to embark on a mission. Seeing Bai E agree, Minister Likok''s face visibly brightened with pleasure, "Good, I will apply to the Military Department right away." "I''ll go prepare." There was no need for pleasantries; they were all practical people who got straight to the point. Within the "Bug Nest Domain" there was a ruin of a signal base station, a certain distance from the Bug Nest in Black Rock District. Those signal base stations, even in the Golden Age, were considered precious creations. Their main structures were deeply buried underground and isolated with steel. As long as there was no deliberate damage, the main structures should be well preserved. But since they had not been usable before, the military wouldn''t constantly monitor the target base station. "We depart tomorrow morning. Our mission target is an ancient ruin near the Bug Nest. The enemies may include, but are not limited to, bugs, beastmen, and mutated creatures¡­ Everyone should prepare individually." In the once familiar tent, Bai E calmly commanded the gathered squad members. "Yes, Captain!" The atmosphere relaxed slightly as Rose approached with a smile on her face, "This time, you just stand back and let me see how much those bugs and beastmen are worth." Rose''s development trajectory had been much safer compared to Bai E. Before joining the special squad, she had always trained in the military camp, and even missed the previous major battle with the Bug Race because of severe injuries she suffered the day before. Having heard so many stories of Bai E''s encounters with alien races, she was itching for a fight. Moreover, since they were in the same special squad and even trained in the same armored camp, Rose had plenty of time to interact with and even spar privately with Bai E. She believed no one else in the camp knew how strong Bai E was at this moment, except for her. If Bai E took action, what fun would there be in this mission? Bai E shook his head with an amused smile, "As you wish..." Unless he encountered the same Overlord as before, ordinary opponents now hardly caught Bai E''s eye. In these calm days, not only were players furiously learning skills from him, but he was also rapidly increasing his own strength. [Your Insight +0.4, Stamina +0.6, Reflex +1.0, Mystery +0.2, Light Weapon Mastery Experience +154, Light Firearms Mastery Experience +72, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +90, Combat Mastery Experience +60, Knowledge - Human Body Modification Project 1.0 Experience +312, Universal Experience +600, Expertise - Mechanical Rhythm Experience +1200, Spiritual Energy limit +3.] Through his own training and feedback from player missions, his strength steadily increased over these days. The efficiency of this improvement naturally wasn''t as dramatic as from life-and-death battles, but the results were undoubtedly pleasing. Expertise differed from specialization; training it required a large investment of experience. Without harvesting experience from players, with his own reserves, he wouldn''t have been able to sustain such spending. Meanwhile, his basic attributes were also progressing bit by bit; there was no shortcut for such things. The basics were always the hardest to improve but also the most reliable. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And now, nearly all the attributes of his body were approaching the limit of an ordinary person without genetic optimization, roughly equivalent to the level of the original ''Blood God''. Coupled with Bai E''s unthinkable specializations, expertise, and skills for a commoner, those were the core elements composing a person''s combat ability. [Stamina]: 15.5/24 [Insight]: 13.2/24 [Reflex]: 14.2/24 [Mystery]: 10.8/¡Þ The only regret might be the 99-point limit on Spiritual Energy. According to Yue Ying, he had reached a bottleneck. Training in Spiritual Energy wasn''t smooth sailing. An overly large Spiritual Energy could oppress one''s own spirit; without a moment of sufficient determination, the ordinarily calm Spiritual Energy might not support further increases... or more accurately, sustainable increases. He hoped to encounter an opponent in this mission stimulating enough to inspire his spirit¡­ ... The next day, Bai E, along with his team, waited early at the agreed-upon gathering site. Explore more at empire This mission naturally wasn''t just Bai E''s own team; such a relatively large-scale mission generally required multiple special combat squads to join forces. Three squads, totaling fifteen people. A standard size for a joint unit. Before Bai E''s arrival, one squad was already waiting at the gathering point. ``` Everyone sized each other up, not too familiar to greet warmly. Another squad arrived swiftly amidst the silence between the two teams. Seeing everyone had assembled, Bai E cleared his throat softly, garnering everyone''s attention, "I''ll be leading this mission, and I believe everyone has reviewed the relevant information in advance. Of course¡­" Suddenly, someone interrupted Bai E. The good-looking man with a sunny demeanor scanned the faces of the youthful-looking soldiers before him, and with insincere aplomb, asked, "Excuse me, is this¡­the captain?" Bai E pursed his lips and nodded at the other, "Yes." "You''re the captain?" The man asked formally, but his eyes betrayed a lack of respect. His gaze swiftly passed over the badges on their chests and finally settled back on Bai E''s face, "Judging by their numbers, they all seem to be synthetic humans from the latest batch?" If it were not for the fact they were in a military camp, seeing the little girl and boy in this squad, he would have thought it was some kids playing outside. The blond woman and the simple-looking, grinning large man appeared slightly more mature, but not by much. The gap between battle-hardened veterans of many missions and fresh recruits was stark, and those chosen for special units were usually the elite who had clawed their way up through the ranks, their bloodied essence discernable with a single breath. But this bunch... was really too green. Young in looks, immature in demeanor, "fresh off the assembly line"... too green. Only this "captain" carried a somewhat composed air, and unlike the others, he bore no identifier of artificial humanity... Maybe that''s why he could be the captain of this special squad, even the captain with the highest authority to coordinate? Privilege of natural humans? ...Why should a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears kids lead this joint squad? "Yes." Bai E simply responded expressionlessly. The captain of the other early-arriving squad, who had been observing, now stepped forward, "Brother, let''s make a deal. How about you give us command this time, and you guys can take a back seat? What do you say?" Bai E frowned slightly, "You should know that I have the highest coordination authority." The first captain to speak wore a smirk of assured victory, resorting to regulations generally meant a guilty conscience. Yet another natural-born high and mighty looking to gild their resume? But he did not want to entrust his life to a bunch of rookies. "We say that... but in practice, there are always unexpected situations, right? Brother, don''t worry, just follow our lead. We''ll ensure this mission goes off without a hitch." "¡­Ah!" Bai E just sighed, disheartened, and put down the files he was holding. The two captains exchanged meaningful glances, both slightly smug. To wrestle command from a privileged captain, the boasting rights would last for years. "Rose." Bai E suddenly spoke up. "Present!" "Convince them." "Yes!" Rose clenched her fists and walked towards the biggest guy among the two squads, beaming with enthusiasm. "Hey! Fancy a spar?" "Huh?" The big fellow was momentarily stunned by the radiant woman approaching him, then replied in a daze. "Norwitz, she looks down on you, wants to beat you up," the large man''s captain saw the intent behind the green captain''s command. A show of force? Fine by him. In any place, fists are always the most persuasive truth. "Roar!" Norwitz let out a ferocious shout, looking angrily towards Rose; nothing infuriated him more than being looked down upon! "Norwitz is going to hit you!" Norwitz raised his hefty fists. The large man''s captain''s lips curled into a cold smirk. Let them understand the disparity in strength, for the better... "Ouch! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts¡­" Pinned to the ground with his arm twisted back, Norwitz was on the verge of tears, "I give up! I give up!" Still beaming with her bright smile, Rose stood up and even gave Norwitz''s butt a pat, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, "Train harder, you''re wasting all that physique." She turned to the two captains, "How about you two? Want to join in? Our captain is in a hurry." "¡­" The two captains glanced at each other, instinctively turning to Bai E. Bai E was looking into the distance, not sparing them a glance, with his arm around "Zero," walking towards a parked off-road vehicle, his voice trailing from afar. "If you''re afraid of losing face, I''ll leave three. Knock down any one of them, and I''ll follow your lead for this mission." Chapter 334 315 The Buried Site of the Golden Age Nine against three, and it''s about the team''s command rights, there''s no reason to be scared, right?"One¡­" "Two¡­" "Three¡­" "Nineteen¡­" "Twenty¡­" "Twenty-eight¡­" "Twenty-nine¡­" "Captain, what are you counting for?" Zero asked with some curiosity. Bai E, who was sitting in the vehicle organizing the documents in his hands, said nothing. He heard approaching footsteps¡ª Three of them. "Click!" Rose yanked the car door open and casually clapped her hands, her voice warm and slightly exhilarated, "Got warmed up, not bad." Getting warmed up was about herself; not bad was about the opponent. "Are you impressed?" Zero curiously moved around Rose''s body to try to look outside, only to find that the others seemed to deliberately avoid his gaze. Didn''t get a good look... "Impressed." Stony said flatly, then a bit discontent, "Rose, you moved too fast... didn''t let me have a real go at it." "Hahaha~" Rose laughed heartily, "Next time, definitely next time." "If you''re impressed, get in the car." Bai E shook his head, "We''re leaving." When I used to be a team member and got pushed around, I just took it, since I didn''t have the strength or status to stick my neck out without meaning. But now that I''m the captain, how can I allow others to disrespect me? Besides, this is the military. A place where fists do the talking. Don''t talk about seniority¡ª it''s not about being an old soldier to be bossy, it''s about strength granting that right. Not convinced? A beat down will convince you. Leaving behind three people was simply a courtesy to the reputation of the other two squads; in fact, in this kind of skirmish without equipment, Bai E believed that Rose alone could take down both opposing squads. After all, Rose had been injected with the Gene Optimization Solution, and Bai E had also taught her the Advanced Physical Training Program 3.0, her strength advancing rapidly in recent times. In these past few days of close combat, without using any trump cards, Bai E, relying purely on his base attributes and his level six combat specialization, found it hard to beat her. In a real fight to the death, Rose''s level probably wasn''t below that of the Blood God from before, and handling two squads where not all members could be combat experts should be more than manageable. Plus, Stony and You''s close combat skills were certainly not lacking either; Stony might still have been a bit unpolished in combat, You had become even more dedicated to her practice after the last big change, and Bai E had taught her the advanced physical training plan as well. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Adding these two was yet another layer of insurance. Bai E certainly didn''t want to actually lose command rights because of showing off. "Vroom!" The engine started, and off it roared. In the two obedient off-road vehicles following behind the lead car, the group that had been beaten to a pulp watched with surprised and wary expressions as only a trail of dust was left in the wake of the vehicles ahead. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Sss~ Captain... who the hell are they?" "Sss~ Yeah, Captain... they''re so fierce. Are they really the newly produced artificial humans?" "Sss~ Damn, did we miss out on some new high-tech stuff developed by the brass?" The captain, who had been given special attention, had both cheeks swollen high, and his speech was buzzing, "How the hell would I know! Sss~ That woman... she really hits hard..." Only Norwitz sat at the back, a silly grin on his face, as if he was still savoring the taste of that punch that had hit his face... "Hehe~ Hehe~" "Anyway, just listen to them obediently, and it''s done. MD, with minions like this, worthy of the offspring of those big shots." The stronger the minions, the more it seemed to affirm Bai E''s position in his heart. Having such a group of fierce subordinates, even a pig could rack up a heap of military achievements! ``` ... The desolation of the wilderness remained as constant as ever, only a few vigilant wild beasts ran far away because of the noise of the vehicles. Of course, owing to the influence of alien genes, even the planet''s native beasts had long since become bizarre and deformed. For those without experience, it was very easy to be overly suspicious and see threats that weren''t there. Learning to distinguish between the natural environment and enemy surveillance was also something that a mature special forces soldier needed to learn and master. Bai E drove the vehicle, his eyes indifferently sweeping past the view outside the window. The location marked on the map... which was the site of the signal station, was actually not too far from where they had encountered trouble that day. Roughly the same distance, they encountered no dangers just the same. As he was about to pass the boundary where he had felt a palpitation that day, Bai E intentionally concentrated his mind. This was also his first time returning to the scene of the incident since the last mishap. And quite obviously... personal experience spoke volumes¡ª The same position, the same feeling. Bai E took out a communicator that he had prepared and noticed that the indicator light had turned into a dim, gray blur. Indeed, the moment they passed this boundary, the link between the communicator and the city''s information station would be blocked and replaced by some mysterious force. As to whether or not this was the doing of bugs... that was truly unknown. So, this was the reason why the Information Department had decided, after this attempt proved effective, to just restart the global signal stations directly? With signal stations spread all around the world making multiple transfers of signals, this so-called "Bug Nest Domain" would no longer influence the communication. Gathering his thoughts, Bai E pressed the accelerator. Not encountering enemies was naturally a good thing. He did indeed long for battle now, but if he could complete the mission smoothly without trouble, it would also be a responsibility to others'' lives. Even after having witnessed death countless times, he would still feel sadness upon the arrival of death the next time... With a clear goal in mind, he did not stop along the way. The ruins were hidden beneath a layer of wind-blown sand, the tough steel corners of the structure stubbornly jutting out from the earth. It was a trace that the group had found after half a day of crawling around the ground, following the map. The power of the Golden Age was extraordinary; the outer walls of the base station, made from a series of primary metallic alloys, were indestructible. Even after nearly 500 years of neglect, nature''s erosion wasn''t able to shake the foundation of this base station in the slightest. Of course, the main reason was that for both bugs and beastmen, there wasn''t much interest in stubbornly fighting against a massive iron block that couldn''t be broken from the outside. Without these two biggest threats, nature''s erosive force on human technological constructs was limited, so when Bai E and his team arrived, even the corners of the outer walls of the station looked as if they had never suffered any damage. The only problem was... "Where''s the door?" The soldier who had jumped off the truck from behind kicked at the metal corner that was poking out of the ground. Bai E opened the car door and took a shovel out of the storage compartment at the back of the vehicle, casually tossing one to the team member who was muttering to himself, "The door is in my hands... Start digging." [Hint: Discovered a small "ruin" that can be explored. Current Exploration Progress: 0.1%...] "Heave-ho!" "Heave-ho!" Over four hundred years of changes and the successive appearances of various creatures had resulted in the Golden Age ruins being completely buried under the earth. The ground was particularly hard... And digging it up was also especially strenuous. "Damn, who knew how big this base station could be?" They were elite special forces soldiers; when had they fallen so low as to become engineers digging the earth? The soldier looked at the blisters on his hands and felt an aching pain. Of course, such minor injuries were nothing; what truly hurt was not seeing any hope. The more they dug, the bigger it got... the more they dug, the bigger it got... A broken base station, how big could you possibly be? "It would be nice if someone could give us a hand..." A soldier leaning on his shovel took a brief rest. While indulging in wishful thinking. ``` Chapter 335 316 Bai E paused while digging the trench, as a shadowy image flashed through his mind.He helplessly glanced at the warrior who had spoken... Had that kid''s mouth been touched by the divine? He didn''t utter a warning, for the sandy movements of the worm weren''t clearly indicated in his mind; he could only roughly sense that the sandworm was attacking from underground but couldn''t discern the exact spot it would emerge. Perhaps near the vehicle? "Boom!" The sandworm burst forth from the earth, its ferocious bone blades revealing their sharp curves in mid-air. "Ah!" The warriors, engrossed in their digging, trembled as they turned to look at the giant worm that had just landed. "Sandworm!" "The worm!" They cried out in unison. Having undergone training about the newly emerged sandworms, related information sprang to their minds¡ª Its weakness is blunt-force trauma. Concussion Grenade! "Quick, grab the grenade launcher!" The captains of the other two squads commanded their members immediately. Rose reacted even faster, pressing her hand against Bai E''s chest. In the next moment, she shot out like an arrow, "Don''t you intervene!" Barehanded! Having heard that Bai E had killed so many sandworms with his bare hands, she wanted to give it a try too. Bai E leaned on his shovel, standing in place without any rush to act. It was just one worm; they were more than capable of handling it, so it didn''t matter whether he stepped in or not. "Snap!" Facing a sandworm as massive as a transport vehicle, Rose was the first to charge forward. Her tiny frame contrasted with the monstrous beast, creating a strikingly impressive scene. The warrior holding the hastily assembled grenade launcher hesitated to shoot, as the worm hadn''t fully emerged from the ground, and its visible body was in a straight line with Rose and himself; he feared hitting a friendly. "Move!" Without turning back, Rose gestured with her hand and then flipped in the air, landing a kick on the sandworm''s lower jaw. The intention to engage in hand-to-hand combat was crystal clear. "Damn!" The captains of the two squads cursed quietly, each directing their own close-combat experts, "You guys help out!" The soldier with the grenade launcher began to move in an arc based on the sandworm''s emergence point, trying to circle around Rose to reach the creature''s back and land a couple of shots. Another captain, also quite skilled in close combat, had approached Rose by this time, watching her ¨C still with a passionate smile on her face ¨C striving to outmuscle the sandworm. In his eyes sparkled an uncontainable mixture of fear and envy. "Big sister, how about you join our squad? I''ll make you the captain." So fierce! So fierce! How could such a formidable person be underused and under someone else''s command? What virtues and abilities did that kid named Bai E have to deserve commanding such a powerhouse? Rose glanced at him, "You guys? Far from enough." "But still better than that kid..." the talking captain looked back, noting Bai E still digging the trench not far away... ??? Why was he still digging? Didn''t he see the fight had already broken out? "That kid..." Rose followed his gaze back, then burst into laughter, "You''d better pray that kid doesn''t take action." If it came to a situation where he needed to get involved, then this mission would no longer be so easy. Rose focused again and with a soft shout at the spot, forcibly snapped off the two bone blades that were slashing down. The captain next to her with his shield felt his throat constrict. Is this really a newbie from the last batch? It''s been a month since the last batch; has she become this fierce already? ... Bai E diligently continued to shovel dirt¡ªadmittedly, the object was buried quite deeply. They had been digging around the gradually emerging metal exterior wall, going down in circles to reach at least two meters deep, but still hadn''t found the entrance to this base station... It would be nice to have some help. Bai E glanced at the sandworm not far away, now being gradually driven back under the siege of a bunch of melee brutes¡­ especially Rose. He felt a bit of regret that his "Hive Mind Will" wasn''t powerful enough; otherwise, he could simply command these sandworms to dig for him, and that would be the end of it, right? "Ssshhh!" The dark imagery assaulted him once again, and Bai E raised an eyebrow. The next moment, a colossal force overturned the soil beneath his feet, and Bai E''s body was propelled high into the air by some unseen power. "Flying... flying up?" The first warrior to witness this event stared dumbfounded, the evening sky''s sunset serving as the backdrop for the figure being hurled into the air. Bai E, in mid-air, quickly adjusted his center of gravity; plummeting from a height of dozens of meters, he showed no sign of panic. Overcome by weightlessness, Bai E nonetheless managed to adjust his posture in an instant, even sparing the effort to glance at Rose¡ªwho was also looking his way¡ªand spread his hands open. There was a hint of helplessness. ''This was them coming after me, not my fault.'' "Boom!" Bai E, falling from the sky, landed a punch right on the top of a sand worm''s head, the unparalleled force spreading out from the core point of impact. Charged with power, even using the one-punch strength that could instantly kill a hundred, the explosive force penetrated the insect''s chitin shell and traveled downward. "Crack~" The shell cracked inch by inch, gradually widening. The shattered Chitin Armor could no longer protect, or rather confine, the flesh beneath it, which was shockingly blasted open by the astounding force, the flesh and blood exploding first. "Pfft!" Gore and blood were ejected in all directions, but conspicuously avoided one. It was as if an invisible barrier stood before Bai E, the jetting flesh and blood unable to cross the boundary by even half an inch. The most vital central nervous system was smashed by one punch, and while it wasn''t fatal, the momentary weakness caused the sand worm to slump down limply. The creature, having just emerged from underground, didn''t even get a chance to show off its might before carrying its king, it lay down collapsed. Bai E lightly hopped down, landing on the ground from over a meter high on the sand worm''s body. "I''ll leave this one to you." "Crack~" Bai E pulled out the shovel stuck in the ground and, full of excitement, ran towards the direction of the large hole made by the sand worm. Let''s see if this sand worm has been helping with the work... "Gulp~" The sound of swallowing saliva was exceptionally clear in the quiet scene. Rose, grinning, reached out to lift the chin of the team captain who was gaping, "It''s a regular performance, relax a little." That kid... that kid... What kid? That''s obviously my dad. The captain, who had tried to poach Rose, shut his mouth, his gaze steely. All the soldiers in the city are brothers; once this battle is over, he would seek guidance from this good brother, this good father. ["Luck Strike" energy charge +13.] And by now, the good father in his heart had already jumped into the underground tunnel made by the sand worm. The sand worm naturally couldn''t drill through the base station walls made of metal from the Origin Alloy series, yet its path stayed close to the wall''s edge. Following its tunnel all the way down, Bai E actually saw a noticeable door gap at a winding turn. The silver-gray metallic door seam was still mostly covered in dirt, but just the exposed part was enough to bring delight¡ª Finally found the door, heh! Taking advantage of the ongoing fierce battle elsewhere, Bai E began to dig immediately. "Shush, shush, shush!" "Shush, shush, shush!" Dark silhouettes appeared one after the other. Two more? Bai E pressed his earpiece and whispered inside, "Do you need help?" Rose''s voice, panting through clenched teeth, rejected outright, "No need!" Three teams, and they can''t take down four sand worms? What face would she have to be with Bai E''s team? "Just try not to have any losses," Bai E whispered back, not saying anything further. Sacrifice was indeed the cornerstone of the Empire; human warriors needed the stimulation of blood to maintain lasting combat strength, but since he was present, it was best to avoid injuries if possible. "Understood," Rose replied tersely, with the sound of a violent clash of steel in the background. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Trusting Rose''s judgment, Bai E was somewhat reassured. Since she had given her word, he didn''t need to worry too much. As the disturbances above started to subside, Bai E''s solitary excavation was also nearing its end. A pale artificial light source illuminated the underground hole, where Bai E brought the only technician in the team to the silver-gray door. Bai E patted the smooth wall with his palm and said to him, "It''s up to you now." The ruins of the Golden Age invariably had concepts of locks, and the methods to unlock them often survived, held by the various crumbling cities. As long as the civilization hadn''t declined too drastically, creations from that era were absolutely reliable and robust. Even after more than four hundred years, the vestiges of the Golden Age still sheltered all mankind of this era. The technician pulled out a small bag he was carrying, taking a small, silver-gray mechanical key from the innermost compartment. The gate, almost impossible to break with external force, could be opened easily by hand once the key was inserted. The sliding doors opened to the sides, which was necessary given the limited space that might have been obstructed by the underground soil otherwise. Both holding flashlights, they walked inside. The interior of the base station was pitch black, and at the center illuminated by the flashlight, there stood a semi-transparent crystal pillar that reflected the light. The crystal pillar was located in the middle of a circular tower base, looking fragile yet exquisite. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire There were some cables around, but the overall technological style was quite different from what Bai E had anticipated. The technology of mankind''s Golden Age was certainly quite different from the present... "It''s taken care of upstairs," Rose''s voice came through the earpiece. "Mm~" Bai E hummed softly in reply, "Let them regroup, package the bodies, and if there''s nothing else, you can come down and have a look." "Yes." Chapter 336 317 Ancient Ruins? This mission turned out to be unexpectedly simple.Apart from the interference of a few sandworms, the whole process went smoothly. Even those four sandworms delivering vegetables, it''s hard to say whether they came to help or to cause trouble... Bai E and his team successfully restarted the base station. The entire base station was divided into two levels, the upper level being the main body of the base station with crystal columns at its core, as seen by Bai E, while the lower level contained a small nuclear reactor. The decision to disconnect from the network, made during the Golden Age, was orderly and composed, and the shutdown of these base stations was also under well-managed conditions, with almost all facility functions perfectly preserved. As long as one had the secret key left from those times, restarting it was a simple matter. [Current exploration degree of the ruins: 100%. Ruins authorization expanded, you can leave your identity information in the ruins backend to obtain the highest authority, ensuring that you can always transmit messages through this base station in the future.] [Hint: Ancient "ruins" available for exploration discovered. Current exploration degree: 20.1%...] "..." Ancient ruins? The unexpected popup message surprised Bai E. He had simply restarted a small base station; how could it be linked to ancient ruins? Was there more to this place than meets the eye? But the fact that it started with a 20.1% exploration degree indicated that these ancient ruins weren''t very large. Did a small base station occupy one-fifth of it? Or was it that... the root server explored last time was also included in it? This seemed like a more reasonable explanation. Bai E''s thoughts were nimble, instantly linking together potentially related content. However, no matter what, it didn''t have much to do with the current situation. Stones'' exclamation of surprise came to his ears, "Wow! So beautiful." Yes, beautiful. As the power turned on, rings of flowing lights gradually illuminated, and the soft lighting brought the over four hundred-year-old ruins to life. Not at all... In fact, it looked much more high-end than all the modern technology Bai E had seen. The metal with high-tech soft corners and the central crystal column emitting a faint blue light painted a picture of the future. This was a scene rarely seen in this era. Even You, whose eyes were usually clear and alert since the team''s reformation, had sparkling, crystal-clear light in her large eyes as they swept over the various facilities here. The four members of the team looked around but didn''t dare to overstep, facing those exquisitely intricate objects, they hadn''t the courage to reach out and touch them. "They''re not that precious." The technology of the Golden Age was outstanding for its reliability and practicality, which was what Bai E had learned from Minister Likok these days. Furthermore, the moment the ruins exploration degree was fully unlocked, Bai E also saw from the panel''s transformation how to obtain the highest authority of this base station. While speaking, Bai E came up behind Rose, wrapped his right arm around her waist from behind, and lifted her right hand to press it against the crystal column in front of them. The crystal column emitting a faint blue glow fluctuated the moment the two pressed their hands against it, projecting their rotating headshots in the changing light. [Current highest authority holders: 2. Authority reset channel has been closed.] "What''s this?" Rose asked, tilting her head to look back at Bai E with questioning eyes as her sticky lips parted slightly to ask in a low voice. Bai E, who was very close to her, gave her a mysterious smile, "Shh~ don''t make a fuss." The two lowered their hands, and the technician, who had finished his testing, looked up excitedly, "Captain Bai, it''s done." After restarting the base station, he had tried to use it to transmit a simple message to the base and almost instantly received a response. To prevent interception by the "Bug Nest Domain," they had deliberately devised a dynamic message interface that varied, and the result was precise and accurate. It proved that the information base stations established around the world could effectively eliminate the influence of the "Bug Nest Domain" and continue to perform their intended functions. The mission was a great success! Bai E smiled reservedly, "Good that it was successful." The technicians stayed behind. No matter how sophisticated any high-tech creation was, it could always suffer damage; despite the reliable technology of the Golden Age, it could never exist independently of human beings. And now, without the aid of artificial intelligence, the system wouldn''t repair itself if a problem arose. Without human intervention, a tiny BUG could directly crash the entire system; the presence of maintenance personnel was necessary. Luckily, the small base station had a complete life support system to accommodate up to five maintenance personnel, providing water, air¡ªall the essentials. Only food was not supplied. However, the three off-road vehicles that had come were mostly loaded with food, which was also prepared for this purpose. Leaving enough supplies for three squads to use on the way back to the city, the vehicles were almost completely emptied, and the freed space could now also accommodate some sandworm flesh¡ªkilling two birds with one stone. Swift and decisive. After confirming the success of the operation, the three special squads returned to base, traveling both day and night. ... The next day, around noon, the convoy arrived back at the camp. As per the original plan, once the action to reboot those information relay stations had been confirmed successful, the Scientific Research Institute concurrently advanced its demands to the military. Within the city''s radiative reach, numerous abandoned stations awaited revival, thus bringing a spring to the special joint squads. Tasks were endless. "Rest up, we set off again early in the morning," Bai E casually instructed his team members upon return to the camp and immediately stepped away. It was noon, a good time to meet with players to update a quest. Watching Bai E''s departing figure, Stone touched the back of his head somewhat naively, "Why is our captain in such a hurry?" "Isn''t it normal to want to contribute more to the military district?" Ever since Bai E saved him from beneath the blade-arm of a praying mantis bug, Zero had regarded Bai E as his War God. A god''s actions are always seen with a halo of beautification. "Maybe it''s for military merits?" Rose''s gaze flickered as she watched Bai E walking away. Military merits? Or perhaps rank? In the eyes of the higher-ups, Bai E''s identity was that of a completely natural human, and a natural human with outstanding achievements and sufficient military merits could rise smoothly through the ranks within the military. Through regular interaction, she had gradually realized that Bai E''s inner self was far from the inflexible persona he presented to others. This man had his ambitions. Whether it was the hidden Spiritual Energy or the electronic prompt voice she heard yesterday when touching that pale blue crystal column during the mission, both elements confirmed this. Mysterious and dangerous. The thrill of these realizations excited Rose and she became entranced. She wanted to follow Bai E to see what plans this man really harbored in his heart. As for reporting him¡­ As time passed, every artificial person formed their own understanding of the world and their distinct personalities. The essence of her being still flowed with dedication to humanity; this had never changed. However, exposing a comrade''s secrets to the so-called military or even city''s higher-ups did not equate to contributing to humanity. Bai E trusted her, and she would never betray his expectations. ... Construction of the underground warehouse was complete. Bai E hadn''t yet decided on the next construction project, so construction work paused. Yet in their free time, a few players still gathered here to rest and socialize; it was their territory. Only in this concealed corner could they feel utterly at ease. And making it a habit to meet here every noon had become their routine. Upon seeing Bai E''s arrival, the players who were working on crafting proficiency stood up in unison, "My lord." "Hmm¡­" Bai E nodded, "How has Black Street been these past two days?" Two days had passed since the betrayal incident. Bai E had no time to observe personally and could only listen to the players'' narratives. "Not bad, they''ve shown a clear change in attitude, and these past two days, they''ve become... quite enthusiastic." "My lord¡­" Xu Ruoguang, mingled among the players, suddenly raised his hand like a student, "I wanted to ask when we could arrange for a large bathhouse? Or at least some cleaning facilities. Some people... have a strong odor." Dai Lian glanced at him, thinking the kid was acting a bit like a brown-noser. Just today, the mature lady Gu Lan coughed twice from being too close to a resident with a pungent body odour, and right away, this kid took note and even directly brought it up with the lord. A child who could be taught¡­ "Fine," Bai E nodded, physical cleanliness and mental purity were equally important, and maintaining good hygiene was key to remaining healthy and strong. Moreover, the body and will were often interlinked; most people''s willpower weakened when they felt physically weak, which also needed attention. "I will discuss it with Gilder later." Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire "Anything else special?" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Nothing else¡­" Dai Lian touched his chin as if pondering, but he had a plan in mind for things that needed to be reported to the lord¡ªif there was nothing, then there was nothing. Seeing this, Bai E smiled, "Well, I do have something here. Let''s see who''s available." [Your jurisdiction has now established its first guard team native to the territory. You need to select a captain with sufficient experience and strength to ensure the guard team can perform its duties effectively. You may choose either a "native" or a "non-native" for this responsibility. If the target accepts your invitation, their relationship with you and their abilities will directly affect the functional attributes of the guard team. Please choose carefully: ¡­] This was the panel message he received while leaving Blackwater City to carry out the mission, most likely triggered by those veterans officially registering and beginning their duties under Gilder. The choice of targets was limited; it was basically a few players, as well as Gilder, the Rat People, Rose and You of the team members, Morphie, Kiro Lan, and other natives with whom he had somewhat closer relations. There was even Yue Ying¡­ Of course, whether she''d accept was another matter entirely. Chapter 337 318 Second Veteran Barracks Clicking through those names, Bai E could even see a preview option: the potential impact on the guard team''s functions after these people took office. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Kuang Xin: Decree+???, Majesty+??? Gong Yan: Coordination+???, Decree-???, Happiness+??? Gilder: Majesty-???, Kiro Lan: ??? Yue Ying: ??? The specific details were not clear, and the impact was quite vague, serving only as a simple reference. In fact, even without these reference data, Bai E had his own judgments in mind. The options of the natives were not considered at all, whether they were teammates in the military camp, or known individuals like Kiro Lan and Yue Ying¡ªthey were not suitable. They all had their identities and lives and could not stay in Black Street year-round. Gilder and the rat people were indeed residents of Black Street all year round, but one managed all the matters of Black Street as a major steward, and the other was a demon Believer who was not convenient to make public appearances. Equally unsuitable. Only players could take on this function. A special functional institution required a specific director, whose abilities would significantly influence the entire institution. Bai E found the sensation of a management simulation game, and was quite interested in selecting a suitable target for himself. Having clarified his needs, Bai E looked forward to seeing the players before him. "I wonder who of you is interested?" To become the ostensible team leader of Black Street''s veterans? The few players exchanged glances. Desiring freedom, they hesitated for a moment. The obligation to patrol Black Street daily as a task already made them somewhat irritable; now, they were to be completely tied to Black Street by official duty. Even if they were not thinking of leaving Black Street and the adults to play, the heavy word "responsibility" undoubtedly made them want to naturally escape. For a time, no one spoke up. "Let me do it! Sir!" Xu Ruoguang looked at Bai E with eager eyes and voluntarily raised his hand. For some reason, he felt as if he were naturally supposed to take on such responsibilities. Bai E glanced at the preview effect of his assuming office¡ª Xu Ruoguang: Heresy-??? "..." Well, that was fine. Having someone was better than no one. Bai E wasn''t comfortable using a guard team composed entirely of outsiders; inserting a "person of our own" could at least serve as a pair of eyes and ears, so as not to become deaf and blind. Although the territory under his jurisdiction was still small, Bai E was gradually beginning to feel that heavy pressure characteristic of ancient emperors. When one could only understand the living conditions of their subjects through the relay of others, the fog filling that space was enough to make one feel bewildered and uneasy. [You have invited "Xu Ruoguang" to become the captain of your territory''s (Black Street) guard team.] [The target has accepted your invitation.] [You currently have: Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire Management Center¡ªGilder: Productivity+10%, Collaboration+5%, Foreign Trade+5%, Financial and Internal Affairs Stability Increase;] Guard Team¡ªXu Ruoguang: (Developing...).] "..." Just having taken office, his personal characteristics had not yet taken effect. Bai E nodded, mentally closing the panel. Regardless, just don''t leave it hanging. Bai E, who was used to playing all kinds of games, absolutely detested those "red dots" and felt uncomfortable all over if he didn''t click them. After making arrangements on the players'' side, Bai E made a beeline for Black Street. Greetings also had to be sent to Gilder''s side¡ªthe players were right, personal hygiene couldn''t be overlooked either. An unhealthy body could also invite disaster, and the tiniest, most insignificant details on an individual could have their consequences magnified countless times when applied to group management. In this conflict and feedback, both Gilder and Bai E were gaining experience in management. Having made the arrangements, Bai E stepped out from Gilder''s doorway, his body slightly relaxed in the sunlight, his gaze sweeping over the squad of old soldiers currently patrolling the long street, his eyes becoming a bit distant. He didn''t see Tiger. He wondered how Tiger was getting along among these old soldiers. ... The barracks for the old soldiers had not only the courtyard that he first saw when he arrived but another one as well. Tiger had never been there; he could only occasionally see some old soldiers delivering food, water, and clothes there. "Are those guys also our brothers?" Seizing another opportunity, Tiger stopped a soldier who was delivering things and asked. "Yeah." The soldier with the prosthetic limbs smiled indifferently, moving somewhat awkwardly; he patted his right leg, which had shrunk so much the muscles were nearly invisible, "Not everyone is qualified to get prosthetic limbs; those who still refuse to accept reality are just left to live slowly together." "Oh~" Tiger responded in a seemingly stiff manner, asking nothing further. The old soldier smiled and passed by Tiger. After turning the corner, out of Tiger''s sight, the soldier who originally guided Tiger stopped the soldier Tiger had questioned and asked, "How did he react?" "Seems like... no reaction." "No reaction?" The guide frowned, disbelieving. The one who could reach the position of a special forces squad leader wasn''t someone with only muscles in his brain; such an obvious hint couldn''t be missed by him. Yes, a hint. Tiger had been at the old soldiers'' barracks for a while now, and seeing everyone else with prosthetic limbs, he should have been anxious about not receiving his own. In fact, he actually asked twice, but the guide, who saw no color of "comradeship" in Tiger, wouldn''t offer the precious prosthetic limbs to someone not on the same path as themselves. Today, he intended to lay his cards on the table. But now it seemed, those cards weren''t clear enough? Or was the other party simply feigning ignorance, living day by day? While the other party could afford to wait, he was unwilling to wait. If one couldn''t firmly stand on their side, then off to the neighboring courtyard they should go, to rot together with their eternal loyalty! They did value the camaraderie among comrades, but first... everyone had to be real comrades indeed! "Huh~" The guide let out a light sigh, straightened his clothes, and walked past the corner. "Tiger!" Tiger turned his head, his eyes revealing some understanding, but his face still showed a simple and honest smile, "Here." The other party walked over quickly and wrapped an arm around Tiger''s shoulder, "Let''s talk." "Alright." Half an hour later... The personal belongings previously arranged in the room were moved, and Tiger walked with a limp, leaning on a crutch, into the other old soldiers'' barracks through the gate, amidst the sighs of the guide. "You think about it here, we''re not trying to harm you." The soldier who brought Tiger placed the items on him, sniffed the odd smell coming from inside the open gate, and even as a war-hardened warrior, felt somewhat uncomfortable, so he turned quickly to leave. A distant voice floated back, "Think about it. If you have a change of heart, you can get in touch." Chapter 338 319 Intelligent machine! They set off once again. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.This time, their target was a base station to the west of the city, approximately at the edge of Grey Iron City''s urban radiation range. It was the same three special squads uniting for the mission, everything seemingly no different from the last time. "...but be careful of those Zhenche nearby," Bai E said, sitting in the vehicle, making overall combat arrangements to the other two squads via the team''s short-range radio. Although the internet had been reactivated, corresponding products hadn''t caught up in time, so they were still using the vehicle-mounted short-range radios for communication within the team. External threats also existed. In this era, there were no absolutely safe outdoor environments, with orcs, bugs, humans, Zhenche, and even wild beasts and so on, all forces mutually hostile, ready to fight on encounter. The current world''s situation was in such a dynamic equilibrium where no one could subdue the other. Thus, all neutral resources in the wild would have a power nearby that could influence it. The base station, being the objective of this mission and said to be at the intersection of the radiation ranges of Grey Iron City and Blackwater City, was only so for humans themselves. The other races didn''t take seriously any radiation range without control capability. "Roger that!" "Roger that!" The leaders of the other two squads instantly responded. The joint squads for each mission were randomly assigned; the teammates for this mission were not the same as the last time, but that did not hinder Bai E from convincing Rose to reason again. If one is in the right, one can travel across the world without a hitch; without reason, one finds it hard to take even a single step. That''s precisely the point. The longer distance, compared to the last time, also took more time. The journey nearly took a whole day, and by the time they approached the target, it was thoroughly late at night. Clouds shrouded the sky, and dim stars hung high. The visibility was extremely low. "We''re five kilometers away from the target. Should we approach tomorrow instead? Rest for the night?" Rose, sitting in the co-driver''s seat, offered her suggestion. "Hmm..." Bai E looked at the darkness outside the window. Apart from the areas lit by the beams of the two headlights, all else was enshrouded in darkness. Approaching the target in such conditions was indeed not a good choice. As a base station capable of undertaking the duty of an internet signal relay center, its allure to those Zhenche was probably not small. In the past, it wasn''t noticed, and there was insufficient surveillance of such places; no one knew what this place had become. Now that they had decided to restart it, the risk at this base station was not insignificant¡ªthis was the core reason Bai E took on the task of reactivating it instead of it being actively assigned. With risk comes greater military merit. Bai E was not afraid of challenges, but he wasn''t reckless either. After all, facing potential adversaries¡ªthe Zhenche¡ªhe was not completely familiar. Before departure, the military camp had provided relevant information, but documentation could only ever serve as reference, not as an on-the-spot combat manual when encountering enemies. "Turn off the engines, rest here. We continue at five in the morning," Bai E commanded through the team''s voice communication. "Roger that!" "Roger that!" The obedient squads instantly replied. The night passed swiftly. At dawn, as soon as the sun rose from the horizon, the people resting in the vehicles opened their eyes under the first rays of sunlight. "Move out!" The five-kilometer distance was covered in a blink, and the target rose up from the horizon. Unlike the base station near the bug nest, geological activity wasn''t frequent on this piece of land, and there were no human or other biological disturbances, so the base station still stood erect on the ground. But at the very moment Bai E could barely make out the base station, his brows furrowed, and he stepped on the brakes. "What''s wrong, boss?" "Officer, what''s happened?" the two vehicles following close behind immediately asked over the team voice communication. "Someone..." Bai E answered succinctly. More accurately, not someone, but... machinery. The main body of the base station is neither particularly large nor small, but at this moment, the perimeter had been expanded quite a bit. The seemingly solid metal walls enclosed the entire base station, and the oil-stained black steel walls presented a substantial texture under the sunlight. Small machine gun turrets were mounted on those steel walls, with accompanying red scanning beams moving in a fixed cycle along the barrel, gauging all potential enemies outside. Intelligent machines! They had already occupied this place and even operated it for some time! Given the unknown strength of the opposition, a frontal assault would be no different from seeking death. "Retreat for now." Memories regarding the intelligent machines flooded Bai E''s mind before setting off, prompting him to issue the command. The existing intelligent machine entities originated from the Golden Age several hundred years ago, but during these centuries, their scale hardly expanded, and as time eroded their numbers, they only decreased. These intelligent machines were also known as the first generation, being those that rebelled alongside the birth of the electronic demons, powerfully demonstrating a certain extent of the human capabilities during the Golden Age. Apart from the first-generation intelligent machines inherited from the Golden Age, the subsequent generations produced for resource collection and maintenance of combat abilities were far less formidable than their predecessors. Even the most powerful technology requires a stable environment and almost infinite resources. Without the resource-gathering and manufacturing abilities of humans from the Golden Age, the intelligence and mechanical structural strength of the intelligent machines created by the first generation saw a significant decline. But no matter how much they declined, the method by which machines observe the world undoubtedly involves various light and temperature scans, and their alert distances far exceed human eyesight and hearing. A brief encounter like the one just now might have already been noticed by the enemy. But the enemy might not necessarily react... The significance of electronic demons to intelligent machines lies exactly here; however intelligent they might be, they are ultimately just programs that react to different external stimuli. They will never possess the subjective capacity to act on what''s known as "desire." Without electronic demons, they would remain silent. And if they had any single pursuit... it would be the last order given by the electronic demons before their silence¡ªmaintain themselves, collect resources. To sustain their daily consumption, these intelligent machines tirelessly scavenge for usable resources like a swarm of indefatigable worker ants and bring them back to their fortresses. Their scale won''t expand but won''t contract either; undisturbed, they could stay the same for thousands of years. Of course, if they suffered heavy consumption due to a skirmish, they would gather materials even more frantically to replenish their strength. In short, these are a bunch of... tin cans that generally won''t bother you unless you disturb them. Similar to those green-skin lads, impossible to eradicate completely; the more you fight, the weaker you become, the more at risk you are of other species taking advantage of your vulnerability. Thus, humans can only choose to ignore these beings as much as possible. And now... The direct conflict has arrived! The three vehicles stopped and gathered together, and the captains of Team 5 and Team 6 looked at Bai E, asking with a somewhat worried expression, "What should we do?" They''d just undertaken an ordinary mission; how could they have encountered such a formidable calamity? Encountering an intelligent machine resource gathering squad was fundamentally different from directly assaulting their well-developed fortresses, with just their three small teams? "Let''s see the situation," Bai E, biting his fingertip and gazing thoughtfully, decided after a moment. "Let''s circle around the fortress first to assess the situation." Humans need material supplies, and intelligent machines also can''t live on air alone. Aside from those large first-generation intelligent machines, not every intelligent machine entity has an almost limitless small-scale nuclear reactor for energy. They also need to replenish energy, even engine oil, and replace damaged parts and the like. Encountering this legendary opponent for the first time, Bai E could only rely on limited information and his own wisdom to analyze the situation and make decisions. Seeing the still worried faces of the other two team captains, Bai E smiled, "We can''t just turn around and run, can we?" If there weren''t large first-generation intelligent machines in place, seizing this fortress that has become an intelligent machine battlefield wasn''t entirely hopeless. Even if they couldn''t conquer it, gathering information was a duty they had to perform as special squads. They couldn''t just come for nothing. Their job was to roughly determine the threat level of this point of danger and report it upward. The military would then decide whether to dispatch a large force based on the ratio of the necessary effort to overcome the difficulty versus the benefits afterward. Find exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire The prerequisite for these decisions relied on the information gathered by their small teams, known for their mobility. "Let''s go," Bai E decided, "We''ll split up and move!" Chapter 339 320 Grey Iron City warriors Unless they came face to face, the Wisdom Machine army generally wouldn''t charge senselessly into battle like the green-skinned boys would.Therefore, Bai E wasn''t too worried about the safety of the other two squads. Moving separately was undoubtedly beneficial for quickly gathering intelligence. The three vehicles traced different paths across the earth, steering around that steel fortress and heading in different directions on either side. ¡­ "Someone''s coming?" Atop the crimson Gobi, a black shadow flickered and vanished. The man who put away his binoculars asked his disguised teammates, "Did the city deploy other squads?" Her pupils rapidly contracting, a woman who was next to the binocular-clutching man peered out, took a brief look, then shook her head and withdrew, "Even a second glance would tell you that''s not a vehicle from our city." The standardized heavy machine gun and flamethrower mounted on the roof were neither something ordinary forces could manufacture nor possess, and their models were completely different from those they used. Without a doubt, this was a team dispatched by an official organization from another city. "Other cities are coveting this base station too?" "Isn''t that fucking obvious? With the internet reboot, which city doesn''t want to fight for control of these base stations?" The burly man, who was half-lying on his back and looking at the sky, glanced at the binoculars man with a mocking smile. "So where did they come from?" The binoculars man couldn''t help wanting to look back, but he was worried about revealing their squad''s position and didn''t dare to actually do it. "Besides us, who''s the closest if not Blackwater City? Who else could it be?" the burly man said with a sneer, apparently very disdainful of the new kid in the team, "If you want to look, just look, don''t fucking dawdle." "But I''m afraid we might expose ourselves..." "We are hiding here not to avoid other humans but to stay out of sight of those metal clunks. Besides¡­" The burly man''s ears twitched, he suddenly stood up, waved his hand down, and shouted loudly, "Hey, guys! Look over here!" As he spoke, he glanced down at the boy with the binoculars, "Did you think that just because we''re hidden, they can''t find us?" ¡­ "There are vehicle tracks¡­" Bai E''s eyes narrowed slightly as he patted You, who was responsible for driving, on the shoulder, signaling him to slow down. "Mhm~" You nodded, "Fresh, hasn''t been long since they passed." She was the tracking and reconnaissance expert in the team, and could instantly discern evident facts. And they definitely weren''t from a teammate. Everyone had split up to explore different directions; there''s no way they would have passed through here so soon. "And the load was heavy." The vehicle was similar to the off-road vehicle they were in, but the tracks were deeper, indicating either a heavy load or many passengers. Following the direction of the tracks, one could see they led near the Wisdom Machine steel fortress on one end and extended towards a distant ravine on the other, gradually disappearing under the horizon. "There are outsiders." "And they are organized." And bold enough to conduct a survey on Wisdom Machines. Aside from Grey Iron City, a city of comparable size to Blackwater City, he could think of no other possibility. Grey Iron City was also interested in this base station? And they, too, hadn''t made a move yet. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire Where were their people? Had they already surveyed enough information and evacuated? Or were they, like Bai E and his team, still in the observation stage? A flurry of chaotic thoughts streaked through Bai E''s mind, as suddenly, a black figure energetically waving its arms jumped onto a distant red hill. "Hey, bro! Look over here!" "¡­" Surprise filled the vehicle, and everyone exchanged glances. It appeared that the people from Grey Iron City were quite enthusiastic? "Let''s go over and take a look," Bai E decided. No matter what, in the face of foreign species, humans stood on the same side by nature. "Okay," You turned the steering wheel, heading straight for that hill. ¡­ The burly man standing on the high platform looked back at the boy with the binoculars and said, "Just now, their vehicle already slowed down, clearly they''ve noticed the tracks we left. Even if we don''t approach them, they would eventually find us. Better to make the first move and show good will. Got it, kid?" Speaking thus, the brawny man took a step forward. Beneath his feet... there was a drop of several meters. "Whoa!" Shi Tou, sitting in the vehicle, witnessed this scene and subconsciously let out a cry of alarm. The next moment, he found that the person from Grey Iron City who had jumped down easily squatted to dissipate the impact and then stood up as if nothing had happened, casually dusting off the dirt on his hands. Even smiling and waving at them cheerily, his robust voice drifted in through the open window, "Drive over there, hide, don''t let those iron clads detect us." There was some silence in the vehicle after witnessing this scene, Rose and Bai E exchanged glances, each revealing a hint of interest in their eyes. Was this person from Grey Iron City showing off his strength? Listening to the other''s words, You slightly turned her face towards Bai E''s direction for instructions, "Captain?" "Do as he says." The other party had shown goodwill, so it might be worth it to play along with his approach. "No need to stop, no need to stop." Seeing the vehicle slowing down, the brawny man jogged over. "Bang!" A dull sound erupted as the brawny man grabbed the luggage rack with one hand, his whole body hanging off the side of the driver''s door, grinning broadly as he quickly scanned the vehicle''s occupants, extending his free hand energetically beside him, "Over there, over there, there''s a slope. Drive down and hide in the rift." "Okay." You didn''t ask any more questions, returning the enthusiastic smile and did as instructed. "Are you also here to restart this base station?" Hanging outside the vehicle didn''t prevent the brawny man from warmly asking about their purpose. "That''s right." Bai E took over the conversation, drawing the other''s gaze to himself. "You''re the captain?" "Hmm." "Impressive." The man''s eyes swept over Bai E, a faint red light flickering up and down Bai E''s body. Among the five people from Blackwater City, it was this captain and the blond woman who hadn''t spoken yet whose physical prowess and aura were the most formidable. Calling himself the captain probably wasn''t a lie. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E smiled modestly, "Not bad." Then he asked, "Have you been here long?" "Not too long, arrived a couple of days ago," the brawny man replied quite casually. "Found anything?" "Something, yes. I''ll explain in detail later." "Oh? Is there a chance?" Bai E asked curiously. "Of course there''s a chance. Haven''t seen any First-Generation Wisdom Machine Bodies so far, just some derived offspring intelligence machines, not hard to deal with." "So what are you doing here..." "Waiting for a chance." The brawny man bared a set of white teeth, gleaming as if they were made of porcelain. The image of bloodied teeth being flung away by a pair of pliers flashed by, accompanied by a heart-wrenching scream... Bai E had a momentary distant look. "...Waiting for their logistical team to pass by." "Oh~" Bai E, snapping back to reality, nodded, and when he looked at the brawny man again, there was a trace of complexity in the depths of his eyes, "Can we join forces?" "Of course!" The brawny man laughed heartily, "If we weren''t joining forces, why would I call you over? We''re all humans, we''re brothers when faced with other species! Plus, once the task is done, both of us can report back, isn''t that killing two birds with one stone?" "That makes sense." Bai E pursed his lips and smiled, "How many people do you have?" "Five." As the vehicle slowly drove downhill, the brawny man let go of his arm, "I''ll go call them over, you guys find a place to hide below, remember to completely extinguish the fire and turn off all electromagnetic devices, those iron clads have very keen ''noses''!" "Okay." Bai E agreed without hesitation, watching the other''s figure recede in the rearview mirror, then gestured silently to You. Understanding this, You raised the car window, and tranquility enveloped the inside of the vehicle. "Inform our position to them, have them maintain distance and stand by. We''ll... play it by ear." "Captain?" Shi Tou looked at Bai E with some confusion, "I think they seem quite nice~" Bai E shook his head and chuckled, "When you''re out and about, it''s best to keep your wits about you." Chapter 340 321 strategy The intentions of the other party were still unknown, but their strength was definitely formidable.[??? (Human) (Alliance) ¡ª¡ª When killed with "Lucky Strike", it drops: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*1800, Bio-Component (Imitation)*150, Combat Experience 2800 points); High Probability (Mastery: Combat Specialization Layer +1, up to layer 6, Mastery: Heavy Weapon Specialization Layer +1, up to layer 6); Possible (Trait: Adaptability Implant, Trait: Biomechanical Body (False), Trait: Death Defiance).] Just from the drop rate panel, it was no less impressive than the Blood God from before. And it clearly stated the source of the opponent''s combat power ¡ª¡ª biochemical modification. They followed the same combat power route as the soldiers stationed at the Root Server ruins of the Internet we explored before, just that today''s technology differed greatly from that of the Golden Age. Grey Iron City¡­ After becoming the team leader, Bai E unlocked quite a few privileges. In the past few days, besides basic training, he had also gone to the citadel''s Knowledge Hall to cram a great deal of common knowledge about this world. Naturally, there were detailed records about the current world order and the nearby cities relatively close to Blackwater City. Since the demise of the last Emperor of the Empire, the Empire was only a name, fragmented and fallen apart. Each city governed itself, each becoming its own overlord. In short, the Empire "went bust and split the assets"... Of course, due to the covetous gaze of foreign races, the process of splitting assets was relatively peaceful. Each city chose different development paths according to its strategical inclinations, including its natural resources, among other factors. Blackwater City was relatively moderate, mainly focusing on machinery and biotechnology, eventually becoming a city whose primary warfare weapons were artificial humans. Grey Iron City, on the other hand, did not entertain the concept of artificial humans. Although their situation was not as perilous as Blackwater City''s, they faced another danger ¡ª the poison fog. Or to be precise, toxic spores. Once a city takes root, it cannot simply pick up and leave. The perpetual poison fog meant those born there suffered from it from a young age, with less than fifty percent of newborns surviving initially. And even those children lucky enough to survive were not immune to the toxic fog that permeated the air. Therefore, biotechnological modifications in response to the environment were extremely important to Grey Iron City. This was the backdrop hundreds of years ago... Even four hundred years after the remnants of the Golden Age had been left behind, the long-term coexistence had already led to the locals of Grey Iron City developing resistance to the toxic spores. This inherited habit of body modification also continued to persist. It was said that their body modification techniques were barbaric and wild, with the process often accompanied by unimaginable pain. Every individual lucky enough to survive the modification gained tremendous enhancements in combat strength. Focusing on biochemical modification at their core, they had their own methods of increasing combat effectiveness tailored for bio-modified bodies. Every one of their bio-modified warriors was regarded as a superhuman in the eyes of ordinary humans. In fact, their goal was precisely this: to create a city-state where every citizen was a superhuman. Apparently, so far, they had developed numerous body modification surgeries, with each completion being a leap in quality. However, according to the limited information obtained by Blackwater City ¡ª much like the limitations of the Gene Optimization Solution on the human body ¡ª there had yet to be a person who successfully underwent all the surgeries. It was just uncertain how many surgeries this seemingly amiable Grey Iron City warrior, who was quite the manly prowess, had completed. ... "He''s lying," said the burly teammate, glancing towards a tall and thin, pale figure of indeterminate sex in the group, his eyes filled with a hint of awe. Blackwater City was aware of Grey Iron City, and Grey Iron City also knew about Blackwater City. Unlike Grey Iron City''s absolute elite strategy, Blackwater City preferred to create a rabble. ``` For any significant mission, they would definitely not just dispatch a squad of five. The five-man squad I saw must be only part of their operation, the rest... they chose to hide. And hiding... typically signifies malice. "Oh?" said a gender-neutral, raspy voice that also couldn''t be identified as male or female, the white-haired creature looking towards the direction of the rift, "It seems our allies don''t trust us." "But no matter..." the white-haired one extended its crimson, slender tongue and licked its lips, its gaze shining with a bloody glow, "I will eat them up!" The boy with a telescope, who had recently joined the squad, couldn''t help but shiver at these words. Just like witnessing a human chew on duck necks, he could almost see his squadron leader crouched over the corpses of his kin, gruesomely gnawing at his own kind. Before joining the team, he had heard that the captain he was assigned to was not normal, and now it was clear he was far from it. "Let''s go, meet them," said the only member of the team who could be certain was a woman, striding with her long legs toward the direction of the rift, "Let''s see if these people from Blackwater City can be of any help." ... Bai E saw the entirety of the opposing five-man team. Three men, one woman, and one who was indistinguishable. Apart from the boy who seemed nervous and timid, the other four... judging from experience, seemed to have comparable strength. "We are all here for the base station, let''s skip the small talk and get straight to the point," said the one woman from the five, stepping forward and extending her right hand towards Bai E. Bai E looked up and asked with a smile to the female warrior who stood half a head taller than himself, "Are you the captain?" The female warrior looked quite aged, with sallow skin, thick lips, and did not wear a full-body combat suit, but a sleeveless black jacket and shorts, appearing more like a carefree mercenary. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Acting captain," the female warrior turned aside, giving way to the white-haired figure whose half body was blocked by her silhouette, "She''s the real captain." The white-haired creature''s eyes, hidden beneath the uneven white bangs, glanced at Bai E, a flash of dark red shooting through them. There was no smile, nor any intention to speak. Bai E nodded towards her in greeting, then turned his attention back to the acting captain, "Have you already figured out a plan?" "Hmm..." the female warrior nodded, "We''ve been observing for two days..." The purpose of the mechs dominating this place was the same as what they had always been doing¡ªaccumulating resources. Or rather, mining. Much like extracting oil, iron, rare earth minerals, and other tangible resources, within this Golden Age relic of an information base station, the mechs could also mine a resource called "Computing Power Module." It would be crafted into "logic chips" and implanted into each new-born mech, acting as their "brain." This was their purpose in building a fortress here. And precisely because of this, even though the mechs'' actions were equivalent to restarting the information base station, it could not be connected to the human internet network and function effectively. It was necessary to destroy their extraction equipment to free the "trapped" base station from its cage. Of course, understanding their purpose was just essential intelligence gathering; it was more urgent to ascertain the enemy''s strength and configuration. "They also need supplies, and the ''Computing Power Modules'' they mine need to be transported to their true lair. They will have a dedicated transportation team for this task, and it will pass through here every day." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ``` Chapter 341 322 Ambush! Then the answer is quite simple."Retribution must be exacted" is a rule set within the artificial intelligence''s logic. Attacking their transport team would easily lure out those artificial intelligences hiding in the fortress ready to strike back as the nearest force capable of counter-attack. In any era, storming a stronghold is always the least favorable option. "When the time comes, we''ll just rush them and take down their transport team. Captain Bai, what do you think?" It sounds pretty simple. Of course, many things in the world are simple¡ªit''s just a matter of strength, after all. "To be frank, we have no experience in combating these intelligent machines," Bai E admitted candidly. The other waved their hand, "We haven''t dealt much with that stuff either." Who would want to mess with those unkillable things? If it weren''t for this mission, most people would probably never come into contact with artificial intelligence in their lifetimes. "You''ve prepared EMPs, right?" "Of course," Bai E replied with a laugh, patting the off-road vehicle beside him. "Then we''re good. That stuff works against the AIs." The female warrior seemed quite bold in nature. Being disconnected from the internet would undoubtedly be a huge blow to the artificial intelligences, but due to the special powers granted to them at the moment of their "awakening" by the electronic devil, the electricity running through their bodies had subtly transformed into what humans called "mechanical force." Within a certain distance, the interweaving of mechanical force formed a kind of electromagnetic network similar to a human local area network. With this network, the artificial intelligences could also communicate small-scale intelligence information, even more efficiently than the local area networks used by humans. To block the conduction of mechanical force, the first task in attacking the transport team is to seal off the entire combat zone with an EMP bomb. "They should be coming soon." The female warrior glanced at her watch, "Let''s go ambush them in advance... Remember, shut down all electronic devices. Normally, they wouldn''t care about human observation, but for transport teams carrying important materials, they would also actively attack any detectable enemies within range." It was like turning from a yellow-named monster to a red-named monster. Bai E found his mindset somewhat odd as he responded, "Hmm~" Some information he was aware of from the documents he had read, while some were new to him. No matter what intentions these people from Grey Iron City harbored, they had indeed provided him with some assistance. If they had no malice, after completing the mission together, it wouldn''t be a problem for everyone to go back and report independently. After all, they were allies... They could even share signal base stations, as there was no intrinsic hostility between them. Bai E waved his hand and instructed his team, "Grab your gear and prepare to ambush." "Yes!" ... The sun cast a not-so-intense glow, hanging aloofly in the sky like a cold, white disc. The sunlight in winter was the most comfortable¡ªnot hot, yet warm enough. Two red craggy highlands stood guardian like teeth over the plain they bracketed. Although they couldn''t see each other, both Bai E and the opposition knew the other was camouflaged and lurking on the opposite highland. Everyone was draped in a "Camouflage Magic Carpet." Knowing the potential adversaries they might face, the military had naturally prepared all possible supplies for the squad going on the mission. Even the most powerful individual cannot fight alone without the support of the group and technology. After all, each opponent they face has its traits, and each action goal always has varying needs. The artificial intelligences didn''t perceive the world solely through ordinary light and vibration, but also optics, heat signatures, and sound¡ªall of which had to be camouflaged as much as possible. An excellent ambush should only reveal its fangs at the moment of eruption. The cold disc slowly moved westward as Lingling, who had been monitoring, suddenly became alert. The high vantage point allowed for a further view¡ªthe black caravan appeared at the edge of sight. The scale wasn''t very large, almost equivalent to the size of Captain Bai''s combined team when they set out, perhaps slightly larger. No wonder the people from Grey Iron City observed for two days but didn''t choose to act; considering they were also not very familiar with the artificial intelligences, they probably weren''t confident they could quickly overcome the AI transport squad with just the five of them. "Shall we make our move?" Rose lay beside Bai E, tilting her head to look at his profile. No matter how fanciful the opposition talked, any apparent agreement was just a provisional tactic. The actual decision on whether to engage would be made after Bai had assessed the situation. Her warmth was palpable from up close, but Bai didn''t make a sound, focusing instead on observing the information. ...There were a total of fourteen visible targets. Judging from the drop rate, each had experience points of somewhere between one thousand and under two thousand, with one big black lump boasting a full three thousand points. A tough fight? A bit. But as long as the people from Grey Iron City were sincerely joining forces, taking down this transport team wouldn''t be a big problem. Without radio, Bai E could only gesture through the terrain''s gaps toward the diagonally opposite direction¡ª"Shall we move?" The other quickly responded¡ª"Move!" Bai E crouched down and hugged his Anti-Material Sniper Rifle close. He did not intend to show too much combat ability in this battle; it was a sniper who could engage in close combat that he wanted to appear as to the others. "Wait for them to make the first move, then we follow!" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes." "Tick-tock, tick-tock~" Just before making a move, the atmosphere was terrifyingly quiet. Other than the heartbeat close at ear, there was only the sound of a watch''s hands ticking... and the rumbling of caterpillar tracks moving. The mechanized convoy used caterpillar tracks, with armor so thick and a carrying capacity so strong. Alongside three tank-like armored vehicles were five smaller single-soldier caterpillar machine gun cars, all operated by humanoid mechanized beings. And trailing at the end was a heavy humanoid mechanized being as tall as two armored vehicles, which was the most troublesome presence Bai E had seen. "They''re close~" Zero, listening to the noises, whispered gently. Two hundred meters... One hundred meters... Fifty meters... Ten meters... Right beneath them! "Whoosh!" The brawny man diagonally opposite sprang to his feet, launching an EMP projectile from the launcher in his hand straight at the mechanized transport convoy below. Zero, who had been watching the other side closely and remembered Bai''s reminder to follow suit, raised his launcher and fired as well. Whether it was Blackwater City or Grey Iron City, the resources provided for the squad''s sortie could not possibly be supplied infinitely. The resources provided must be based on the personnel configuration and size of the squad; a five-person team could not be equipped with five EMP projectile launchers, and no doubt Grey Iron City would be the same. Whether the simultaneous electromagnetic interference field could instantly cover the entire mechanized transport team was the core of this ambush attack. Meanwhile, the mechanized beings continued to advance due to inertia, as the brawny man and Zero reloaded quickly, and two more EMP bombs exploded on the path where the transport team was moving. A single team''s equipment was not enough to achieve this instant interference, but two teams working together could easily accomplish it. "Zzzt zzzt zzzt~" "Zzzt zzzt zzzt~" The dense electric currents, like substance, instantly enveloped the area where the bombs had exploded. In the "world" only the mechanized beings could sense, there came a burst of static¡ª The voices of their kind, gone? For ordinary electrical equipment, a single EMP was sufficient to paralyze them entirely, but for the mech-blooded mechanized race, this special weapon against electrical devices could only sever the connections between them. They could still ensure their own combat capabilities... within their limited feedback loops for responding to external changes. All the mechanized beings nearly stopped their forward motion at once, their electronic eyes instantly locking on the humans who had suddenly appeared on the elevated platforms on both sides. [Target detected, hostile status confirmed!] [Request to activate fire control system...] [Request granted!] [Request for temporary extermination protocol...] [Protocol initiated!] [Open fire! Open fire!] A series of feedback commands flashed through their circuits, and, visibly slower than human reaction, these iron clods turned their weapons, trying to aim at the ten targets they had locked on. At the same moment the brawny man and Zero fired, Bai and the others threw off their Camouflage Magic Carpets. Holding an Anti-Material Sniper Rifle as tall as a man, Bai effortlessly lifted it with both hands into the air and aimed at the enemy''s armored vehicle, then ruthlessly squeezed the trigger. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire "Boom!" The powerful recoil numbed Bai''s shoulder, but the terrifying kinetic energy of the Anti-Material Sniper Rifle easily tore through the target''s armored vehicle. At the same time, the enemy''s counterattack unfolded instantly. Ten or so red dots aimed at the nearest stone, and the man holding the Blast Shield, inherited from the mountain, stared dumbly at the dense red dots on his shield¡ª ? In the next moment, a torrent of bullets baptized him. The man barely had time to grunt before the kinetic energy carried by the countless bullets knocked him off the other side of the platform. "Ah~~~~~~ puh!" Quite melodious... Bai didn''t worry about the man; although the fellow''s strength was the lowest in this team, his advantage was his toughness and ability to take a beating. A fall wouldn''t kill him. Reloading, Bai took aim at another armored vehicle. Looking through the scope with one eye, Bai targeted the rotating cannon barrel of the enemy. Another massive bullet, carrying a scorching whirlwind, burst from the barrel in an instant. "Boom!" Fireworks bloomed. The five-person team from Grey Iron City quickly scanned Bai holding the sniper rifle, a flash of surprise in their eyes. Chapter 342 323 Biochemical Modified Warrior Their flesh, no matter how strong, could not possibly be harder than the armored vehicles of the mechanoids, unable to withstand such firepower.This captain of Blackwater City, indeed, needed special attention. Although his combat power came from human technological creations, being able to use such creations proficiently was a part of a person''s combat abilities. Moreover, unlike ordinary people who could only mount their guns on fixed supports for limited angle sniping, this damn captain could easily carry a sniper rifle as big as a cannon, shooting wherever he pointed, comparable to a tank''s gun barrel that could charge at anyone without needing to rotate for aiming time¡ªthat was deterrence! Must be cautious! As for themselves... they might be able to lift such a weapon, but to say they could move evasively while maintaining precise shooting was clearly unrealistic. The surgeries had robbed most of them of the delicate precision of a scalpel, leaving only a violent desire in their blood to vent all the pain they had endured during the modifications. There was no doubt that the enemy had better control over their bodies. The four individuals with other thoughts subconsciously exchanged glances, reaching a unanimous agreement¡ª S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they really had to turn against their allies, they must not let him get his hands on the Anti-Material Sniper Rifle, or rather, they should take him out first. In this era, an individual''s combat strength, no matter how formidable, was always characterized by stronger offense over defense. Even a mighty War God couldn''t endure a barrage of rocket launcher bombardment. The prerequisite was the War God standing still, taking it head-on... So a surprise attack was always meaningful. However, at the moment, it was time to join forces to wipe out the mechanoid transport team; everyone was definitely a grasshopper on the same line. The brawny man, holding a giant sword almost as tall as a person and almost entirely made of blade, shouted loudly and leaped down from a platform more than ten meters high. So the countless red dots that had been aiming at the rocks instantly shifted to him. The brawny man in battle mode revealed his true nature, a bloodthirsty smile on his lips, feeling genuinely thrilled by the danger signified by the red dots. Dragging what might have been a sword even heavier than himself, he weaved through the stationary formation of mechanoids, his giant sword dancing in tandem with his body, sweeping across the seemingly clunky mechanoid robot heads. "Snap!" Cables came loose, sparks flickered. Metal heads flew high into the air, followed by a swift kick from Rose, who had also leaped down from above, directly smashing into the machine gun swivel of a small tracked vehicle. Rose, choosing almost the same mode of combat as the brawny man and wielding heavy weapons, were excellent at charging into battle and could easily cause chaos within enemy lines. If the enemy had something akin to morale... The initial targeting of the rocks and the chaos caused by the charge of the brawny man and Rose were consequences of individual mechanoids'' insufficient computing power. Without the "local network" of mechanical strength to communicate with each other, they were like a central controlling will that had lost its core, unable to distribute the combat power each individual possessed. "Optimal choices" for an individual might not be the "optimal choices" for the entire transport team. This is also the core reason why humans had to use EMPs to control the field as their first action when facing them. But these beings, capable of becoming a worldwide disaster, were not just this level of threat. Efficient learning was their magic weapon that allowed them to dominate the world. Simply through the training based on the unfolding events before them, these mechanoids inlaid with different grades of "Logic Chips" spontaneously drew enough "experience" to grow from the ongoing battle. Facing the two close-combat humans causing trouble in the formation but with clearly insufficient lethality, instantly, four silver-black humanoid mechanoids surged from the back doors of deployed armored vehicles. "Swish swish swish!" A dazzling array of blades gleamed in an instant, as each silver-black humanoid mechanoid unfolded a dozen finely forged blades. "Fuck!" exclaimed the brawny man from Grey Iron City, seeing this and swearing eloquently in anger. Their words about the people of Blackwater City were half true and half lies, but there was no deception about their lack of battle experience against the mechanoids. This was the first time he had seen such a scene. But he had no time for any thought of how to respond. The rapidly approaching blades already caught in his eyes. "Da da da da da!" Bullets from the supporting fire rained down from the platforms on both sides. You and Zero could only provide long-range support and cover with the guns in their hands in this level of combat. The young boy on the other side seemed to be doing the same. But they were not having an easy time of it. The intelligent machinery, learning and adapting to this type of combat, had already switched to a more effective strategy, no longer concentrating their firepower exclusively on the closest threat. The purpose of firing was not necessarily to kill, but could also be suppression. And since these iron lumps had no fear of life or death, nor pain, it was always the humans who needed to dodge first when it came to a shootout. Thus, their pursuit fire became even colder and more precise. The intelligent machinery fought in silence and coldness, yet exuded a precise and coordinated murderous intent. Bai E, fighting intelligent machinery for the first time, was also not accustomed to such opponents and could only intermittently return fire amidst relentless dodging. This performance caused the remaining three of the opposing team to frown uncontrollably. To carry such a heavy Anti-Material Sniper Rifle while dodging and firing with precision, each shot causing definite damage, was indeed impressive. Up until now, the one who had caused the most damage was undoubtedly the captain from Blackwater City. Even if they had unusual thoughts about the opponent, a deep-seated arrogance would not allow them to be outdone, making them reveal their true capabilities without hesitation. Their captain, Bai E, his eyes flickering with a faint blue light, and the acting captain, already gripping a long-handled power axe, roared and leaped down from the platform as well. The last one, who had never spoken, with a scarred and remarkably cold face, ripped open the thin vest he was wearing. During an angry roar on the spot, his body seemed to inflate and grow larger. "Roar!" His chest expanded with his breathing, and the ribs, which are only prominent in those with extremely lean bodies, also surfaced on his chest, gradually connecting into a flat plate. His entire chest was flat and protruding, as if a plate of iron had been implanted beneath his skin¡­ Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire This Gorilla, who had grown significantly larger than any brute in their team, let out a skyward roar, even pounding his own chest with both fists like an actual gorilla, producing a dull "thump thump" sound. Then, empty-handed, he leaped forcefully towards the battlefield below, like a mountain crashing down! "Bang!" The falling body landed squarely on an iron lump operating a tracked vehicle, striking it squarely and sending it flying. The first brute to be attacked also demonstrated his abilities¡ªslashes from countless blades seemed to do him no harm as he roared and swung his great sword, releasing pent-up energy. The wounds left by the blades on his body could never last more than a few seconds. Deeper wounds simply took slightly longer to heal, and no blood could be seen seeping from his wounds at all. As for the acting captain whirling with his power axe like a dark tornado, he exhibited terrifying strength. The iron lumps struck by the axe head all underwent startling deformations, even the three armored vehicles bearing a blow were left with a deep dent. Defense¡­ Recovery¡­ Strength¡­ Every member of Grey Iron City displayed their phenomenal abilities, yet all were fundamentally based on their physical prowess. Were these the changes brought by bioengineering? Bai E withdrew his observation, his eyes reflecting a hint of surprise. What kind of monsters had Grey Iron City bioengineered? They seemed to be on a completely different path from the bioengineered soldiers from the Golden Age he had encountered before. It was unclear whether it was an improvement or a regression¡­ "Zz¡ªBoom!" A violent explosion erupted from beneath his feet. Even deep in thought, Bai E had not neglected to keep an eye on the entire battlefield. With a forceful push from his legs, his body sprang into the air. The next moment, the violent explosion burst forth from the very spot he had just been standing on. It was from the most dangerous war machine positioned at the rear of the entire intelligent machinery formation! Its pair of crimson electronic eyes stared intently at Bai E. Though its charged shot from the heavy cannon had missed, it obviously hadn''t given up targeting him. In its brief analysis, the most threatening thing on the entire battlefield was this human who could wield an Anti-Material Sniper Rifle for precise shooting! Chapter 343 324 Tough Little BOSS Bai E, soaring into the sky, did not lose his footing. The anti-material sniper rifle, as tall as a man, seemed like a large toy in his hands, deftly maneuvered. As his body was blasted backward by the explosion, Bai E also stabilized the sniper rifle with both hands."Boom!" The huge recoil even caused Bai E''s body to shift a few inches in midair, avoiding a barrage of bullets fired by the war machine that followed closely behind. At the same time, the bullet Bai E fired hit the war machine''s right arm joint with precision. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was Bai E''s first encounter with such a large intelligent mech, and he didn''t have much experience, so he could only fire a shot to see what happened. The vital parts of the enemy, like the chest and head where important electrical components were housed, were covered with extremely thick armor. The gloss of the pitch-black material suggested a defensive power even stronger than that of their armored vehicles. Only the joints, which for the sake of nimble movement were not covered with heavy armor, seemed likely to be more effectively targeted... However, a visible flash of light at the point of impact was fleeting. "Hum~" In the brief confrontation, the slender bullet from the anti-material sniper rifle ultimately failed to penetrate the target''s defenses. Still, the direct encounter allowed Bai E to see the enemy''s basic attributes¡ª [??? (Intelligent Mech) (Hostile): Health 500/500; Defensive Power 75; Mobility 100%; Traits: Electromagnetic Shield, Repulsion Shield, Alloy Armor, Gather Energy Cannon¡­] "¡­" All TM shields! The display from the loot chance was completely different¡ª [??? (Intelligent Mech) (Hostile) (Elite) - Killing with a "Lucky Strike" will drop: Guaranteed (Steel*5000, Battle Experience 3000 points); Possible (Technology: Basic Steel Smelting Process, Technology: Basic Parts Forging Process, Knowledge: Energy Shield Science, Trait: Body of Mech)] It was also¡­ The content displayed by the loot chance is typically something that can be directly utilized by oneself, or even if it can''t be used immediately, it can be kept in reserve for future activation. But the multitude of shields, armor, cannons, and such possessed by the intelligent mech adversary would only be applicable if there was sufficient hardware support. It''s not like he could burst the enemy and become Iron Man on the spot, right? Looking at the many exciting technologies displayed, Bai E felt somewhat tempted. This one has got to burst! Now with a large enterprise to support and the endeavor to grow and expand, technology was essential for humans. He had long wanted to blow up the fences, the hodgepodge machines, and the turrets in the military camp. This target was clearly more appropriate. The only trouble was... before the enemy''s energy was exhausted, even the output from his anti-material sniper rifle would hardly penetrate the defense. An energy-type shield enveloped the enemy completely, any hit below its maximum energy acceptance range could not inflict direct damage on it. Unless¡­ he used his true strength. Bai E''s eyes swept across the battlefield, unhurried. The situation was still clear, apart from this little BOSS, the other lower-level intelligent mechs couldn''t cause too much trouble for this makeshift alliance. Even intelligent mechs must deal with the difficulty of resource limitations; their creations could not simply be a pile of materials. In fact, if the losses were of no concern, either team had the capability to take down this intelligent mech transport squad on their own, so... perhaps he didn''t need to rush? Maybe the enemy was in more of a hurry than him? Bai E suppressed the urge to burst forth and decided to wait and see if the squad from Grey Iron City could pull some ace out of their sleeves, giving him a pleasant surprise. As he pondered this, Bai E saw the armor on the chest of the little BOSS open up suddenly, and two small missile arrays appeared before him in an instant. The dense warheads emitted intimidating cold glints, causing Bai E''s hair to stand on end. The next moment, along with a buzzing sound, missiles shot out one after the other, tracing unpredictable arcs in the air, all homing in on Bai E. Are they just targeting me? "Damn it all!" The moment Bai E discerned the direction of the missile attacks, he couldn''t afford to provide fire support from the high ground any longer. Clutching his anti-material sniper rifle, he leaped backward, jumping down from behind. And those small warheads, evidently equipped with limited-angle, directional tracking capability, mostly exploded on the high ground. Debris cascaded down, and the "front tooth" that had stood on the desolate plain for who knows how many years was abruptly broken off. ``` Fortunately, both Ling and You were quick-witted. After the first gather energy cannon aimed at Bai E, they knew that staying with him would only bring misfortune. They had already scurried down the rope, so the blast''s aftermath didn''t reach them. Meanwhile, the remaining rocket heads, still half successful in swerving past the pillars, continued to pursue Bai E behind them. "Boom Boom Boom Boom!" A series of explosions erupted behind the stone columns, causing the already crumbling "front teeth" to collapse even further amidst violent shaking. "..." "Captain!" The intense commotion drew everyone''s attention, but only Stone called out in a somewhat sorrowful voice. Rose just glanced over and then hacked down on the machine gun mount of a tracked vehicle beside her with her knife. Not only humanoid machines were AIs; these vehicles also had their own independent operational capabilities. Watching the ally being focus-fired, an uncontrollable smirk surfaced on the face of the hulk from Grey Iron City, but it faded as quickly as it appeared. Because after "eliminating" the most significant threat, he, being closest to the mini boss, had now been targeted. Facing those blood-red electronic eyes, the hulk felt as if the phantom pain of countless missiles chasing his tail and exploding was actually happening to him. "Captain!" the hulk bellowed. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire He was just a tough punching bag, quite clear about his own role, but couldn''t handle such tough and tall opponents. The blue light in Captain Bai E''s eyes had intensified to the extreme, as if ready to burst forth at any moment. The next moment, her body shot out like an arrow, crashing directly towards the direction of the mini boss. The anti-aircraft gun on the shoulder of the mini boss instantly targeted her, but the chaos in its targeting prevented it from firing. She successfully closed the distance. Bai E extended her right hand, pressing it onto the lower half of the mini boss''s back. The dense energy flow gathered in her hand like a solid mass, the blinding white light pulsating as if ready to explode at any moment. "Huh!" Feeling a throbbing in her temples, Captain Bai E grimaced in pain, her lips tightly clenched. After holding on for the last possible moment, feeling a sudden release of gravity, Bai E pushed with her feet and flew backwards. The energy bullet collected in her palm could no longer be controlled, and she couldn''t even direct it, so she smashed it in the most convenient direction. "Whoosh!" The air compressed, the world went silent. The next moment, the shockwave spread out, and the condensed energy bullet exploded into a mushroom cloud on the plain... The dust billowed into the sky. [Warning, Warning! Insufficient energy! Shield system cannot operate normally!] During that brief moment, Bai E, who hadn''t taken any action until then, was not merely watching the situation unfold. Fully aware of which was the greatest trouble, she had from the start focused her gaze on the most challenging target. With the help of the spiritual energy connection, she had managed to analyze the minimum requirement to break the shield¡ª She hadn''t been able to completely deplete the mini boss''s energy reserves, as the shield system itself required a massive supply of energy. Without sufficient energy, the system would collapse on its own. But that was all... Using human will to forcibly extract the energy from an intensely concentrated mechanical body, her spiritual energy could only manage so much. After laying the foundation for victory, Bai E retreated immediately. However, the shockwave from the distant energy bullet swept over methodically yet urgently, the rumbling noise re-entering her ears. The fierce shockwave effortlessly lifted her slight body, throwing her several meters high before she heavily smashed onto the ground, rolling more than ten meters away. Like a torn rag... her life or death unknown. ``` Chapter 344 325 close-range DPS No one knew that the energy bullet that was drawn out could unleash such terrifying power.However, amidst the raging hurricane, everyone was too preoccupied to care about anything else. Fortunately, the group of melee brutes had heavy machinery companions at hand, and by grabbing the corners they were not blown away by the explosive blast. Even so, the assortment of iron shards, stones, and sand whirling in the blast hit their bodies like a hail of bullets. A broken piece of iron swept across Rose''s face, leaving behind a deep bloody gash. As for Zero and the boy from Grey Iron City, it was even worse; while they were shooting, they were blown away. Only You, as if having anticipated the danger, managed to dodge by swiftly moving to the backside of a stone pillar relative to the explosion point and found cover, successfully escaping disaster. "Huff, huff, huff~" As the violent winds died down slightly, You shook off the sand and dust from her short hair and then saw Bai E sitting next to her, looking ragged... along with a rock. "Captain!" Her eyes lit up with surprise. Even knowing Bai E was formidable, the sight of him being chased and bombed by so many missiles still had her worried. Seeing Bai E with his clothes in tatters but no visible serious injuries, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all... No matter who the opponent was, or how troublesome, it seemed that as long as Bai E was there, nothing was a problem. ["Lucky Strike" Energy +3.] Bai E was startled briefly, then smiled warmly at You, even instinctively stroking her head. "It''s okay, I''m here." He was hardly hurt at all, thanks to the protection of Spiritual Energy along with the "Absolute Defense" pushed to its limits. Since no missiles hit him directly, he suffered no serious injuries, and the minor wounds healed up quickly under the effects of "Regenerative Blood" and "Quick Recovery." He also provided some quick first aid to the rock that had been knocked down and knocked out by countless bullets. His original intention to hide was to use the missile strikes as a diversion to observe the real strength of the people from Grey Iron City. But the current changes... Were too fierce... Simply too fierce... While speaking, Bai E cautiously peeked out and, seeing the devastated battlefield, was left somewhat astonished. The enemy, relying on their own strength, might not have been able to unleash such terrifying power, but extracting the high-density energy from the mechanical body to release the power had caused this devastating damage across the entire battlefield. Fortunately, the simple burst of energy did not come with heat or radiation effects; otherwise, these people would have been severely injured, if not dead. Even so, they were by no means in good shape. Was it time for him to take action? No. The voice of the Grey Iron City gorilla who was easing up from an old injury was still full of vigor¡ª "It''s going to recharge with an energy block! Stop it!" What the mechanical transport vehicle was carrying remained unknown, but as a core resource for mechanical beings¡ªenergy... just like water, food, and air are to humans, who doesn''t carry some spare energy when going out? Energy drained? No problem, just swap in another concentrated energy block! His reminder wasn''t particularly useful. In fact, the impact of the explosion had limited effect on Grey Iron City''s three melee brutes and Rose. Without the gorilla''s reminder, the remaining four also noticed the small BOSS''s intentions. In an instant, the four who had recovered from the shock each grabbed their distinct weapons and together assaulted the enormous war machine from different directions. The solid clash of steel rang across the battlefield, but with limited effectiveness. Facing the war machine''s hefty 80-point defense capability, the damage they could inflict with melee weapons was truly limited. Bai E, out of the blue, fired a shot with his pistol, only to find that the thing was still at full health. Even if the shield had dropped, its armor was robust enough. Now he decided to change his previous thought... If he wasn''t there, either team might not be able to overtake the mechanical transport team. Did the people of Grey Iron City have any other tricks up their sleeve? Bai E didn''t intend to keep waiting. What if the other party had no ill intentions? What if they were truly sincere in cooperating? At this moment, the enemy had already shown a sufficient level of striking power, and it felt somewhat insincere to just stand by as a spectator. "Rest well." Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire Bai E picked up the anti-material sniper rifle in his arms and stood up, moving out from the cover of the stone pillar. "Click~" The bullet was chambered. "Boom!" Orange flames exploded. The bullet crossed the space, making the air itself hot and dry. "Boom!" The power of the anti-material sniper rifle remained formidable, as the bullet lodged into the connective area of the enemy''s neck, setting off a shower of electrical sparks. [Succesful "Heavy Strike," penetrating enemy armor, +2 experience in light firearms expertise.] [Enemy takes 38 points of damage!] "..." Damn, only that much damage. Bai E narrowed his eyes, feeling somewhat displeased. But he also noticed another trait in the enemy''s attribute information: Mecha Energy Fullness. [Mecha Energy Fullness: Mechanical soul, can replace damaged mechanical cables and components to maintain original functionality, and is capable of self-repair over time.] The EMP bomb only paralyzed their shared mecha energy connection; the mecha energy within those mechanical beings was still exerting its intended effects. A disrupted cable couldn''t set off a domino effect that caused the entire machine to lose control; minor destruction was merely a scratch to its whole body. A trait not present in those lower-level mechanical beings. No wonder humanity''s main forces don''t really have a strategy against these things. But at this moment, they were just the enemy! "Click!" Bai E''s bullet was chambered again. The enemy''s small cannon was also aiming over. Sworn enemies glared at each other intensely. As the number one threat, Bai E became the war machine''s first target to eliminate the instant he reappeared. Even though the shield system couldn''t be used, its other systems were still fully operational. Bai E smiled lightly at the crimson electronic eyes and his figure swayed. ["Gun Fighting Skill," activate!] He had no intention of taking a direct hit again. The damage from the energy main cannon was much greater than his missile array. Just being close to the blasts from the missile array''s shockwaves meant he had to catch his breath not to mention a direct, solid hit from the enemy''s main cannon¡ªunthinkable. Holding the anti-material sniper rifle, which was almost the same size and even heavier than himself, Bai E demonstrated unimaginable agility, so much so that the war machine''s lock-on system kept reporting errors internally. The scene was somewhat bizarre... The war machine''s raised right arm, equipped with the main cannon, tried to aim at Bai E. However, it couldn''t fire, continually thwarted by Bai E, who was changing positions constantly and closing in rapidly. Make Bai E the primary target to be eliminated! Attacks with less output than the missile array were insufficient to take down this opponent! sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The gather energy cannon needed time to charge! The judgment made from synthesizing numerous feedbacks resulted in this scene. This was the logic of artificial intelligence in action¡ªeverything was based on probability. If there was no assurance of exceeding the predetermined success rate threshold, they would cease firing. And thus, they appeared... somewhat sluggish. Bai E with his gun had already rushed close to the enemy. Who says a gunman can''t deal damage up close? Chapter 345 Phoenix 326 Even the mightiest gun is still a gun, and all guns fall under the dominion of Gun Fighting Skill.As Bai E moved with agile grace, he climbed swiftly up the surface of the war machine, stepping on its clearly defined steel armor plates. With both hands wrapped around the barrel, the gun''s muzzle nearly pressed against the spine at the back of his opponent, Bai E suddenly pulled the trigger. "Boom!" Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire Due to certain practical constraints, even artificial intelligence found it difficult to create a fully armored individual that was both heavily armored and as flexible as the human body. The massive war machine had its own vulnerabilities, which were obviously easier to target for a critical hit when up close. "Boom!" "Boom!" Shot after shot, each one hit its mark. Nevertheless, the adversary did not sit idly waiting for demise, but its close combat weapon modules and support modules clearly could not cope with Bai E in his Gun Fighting Skill state. The only trouble now was the health bar. Even with every shot being a critical hit, facing an opponent with a high as 500 health points, Bai E would still need a dozen or more shots to take it down. Whether Bai E would run out of steam first, or whether the war machine would be destroyed, became the final bit of suspense left in this battle. Realizing that their attacks neither breached the armor nor did the enemy pay any attention to them, the three members of Grey Iron City squad finally faced a hard truth¡ª This ambush''s final BOSS battle might not have much to do with them after all. Nevermind dealing damage, they weren''t even up for taking it. What does it feel like to have a front-liner with high evasion? Well, the answer is quite evident. Watching the figure skillfully navigating atop the war machine while holding a ridiculously large gun, larger than his own body, the three warriors from Grey Iron City, who had just snapped out of their frenzied wartime state, sat on a low-level AI each, looking somewhat dazed and lost in thought. "This lad is definitely one of us from Grey Iron City." "With that kind of strength, wouldn''t it be more straightforward to pick up a knife and hack at people like we do?" "Our captain doesn''t use knives," Rose, who was sitting beside them, chimed in with a smile, playing along with the lie Bai E had prepared in advance, "He only shoots." "Oh~" "I see~" The Grey Iron City trio voiced their understanding. But Rose''s gaze drifted to the distance, to their white-haired captain still lying on the ground, her condition unknown, with a strange look in her eyes, "That''s your captain, right? Don''t you care at all whether she lives or dies?" She''d been lying there forever. Might as well consider her dead... But not even a person to collect the body? "She won''t die..." "Even if we all died, she wouldn''t die." The people from Grey Iron City didn''t seem worried in the slightest, not even bothering to glance back, leaving their captain lying on the ground. "Probably just knocked out temporarily by the backlash of Spiritual Energy, she''ll wake up on her own in a bit," they casually speculated. "..." What a nonchalant response. Rose was speechless. Yet, she found that the white-haired captain indeed started to stir before her very eyes. First fingers, then toes... bit by bit, her entire body began to awaken as if from sleep. Eventually, she sat up abruptly on the spot and then let out a yawn... "Eh?" While yawning, her body stiffened, and she looked around. The outdoor environment made her tense instantly, as if recalling past memories. She turned sharply to look at the battle happening behind her and caught sight of Rose watching her. Her wandering gaze quickly took in the entire battlefield, and the white-haired woman''s eyes finally met the curious ones of Rose. "I''ll ~ eat ~ you ~" The smile that crept across the white-haired woman''s face seemed sinister and frightening. The message she mouthed towards Rose¡ªa verdict or perhaps a challenge¡ªwas full of bloodthirstiness. However, in the next moment, as if it were all an illusion, her face switched back to a sweet and obedient smile. On that delicate face, whose gender was hard to discern, it looked quite convincing. Rose bit her lip, feeling dubious about everything she had witnessed. ''Either she''s gone mad, or I have...'' "Is there... something wrong with your captain''s mind?" She wasn''t one to mince words and simply asked what was on her mind. The Grey Iron City trio chuckled, "You noticed so fast, huh? She''s not a normal person." "Every time she wakes up from losing consciousness like this, it''s like she becomes someone else. You''ll get used to it..." "Just don''t know what she has turned into this time." "..." The normally fearless Rose felt a chill down her spine and silently shifted her seat a little closer to where Bai E was fighting. Bai E''s battle had also reached its final stage. The 99 points of Spiritual Energy reserves made his endurance in battle extremely terrifying, and his thick health bar merely delayed the inevitable death of his opponent. When the health bar reached its final moments, Bai E silently recited¡ª "Activate ''Lucky Hit''." The first intelligent-machine mini-boss he encountered possessed quite a bit of seemingly decent knowledge and technological capabilities; not looting it would be a disservice to all his strenuous efforts. The long barrel of the gun pressed against the war machine''s forehead, the dark muzzle radiating a ferocious bloodthirsty intent. Squeezing the trigger, the bullet roared out of the chamber. "Boom!" Shrapnel exploded, scattering across the sky. In the instant of the last shot, Bai E noticed a new trait in the enemy''s battle attributes: self-destruction. You motherfucker, why didn''t you say so earlier?! He urgently activated "Absolute Defense," as the detonating energy source already unleashed an unimaginably powerful shockwave, carrying with it shards of steel. Fighting intelligent machines meant one explosion after another. These entities, powered solely by energy, carried lethal threats all over; even in death, they could inflict tons of damage on the enemy. Explosive damage! "Pfft," a broken piece of metal shot out instantaneously, striking the dead center of the forehead of the white-furred team captain, who had been turning her upper body and smiling sweetly. Her body stiffened and she fell once more. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "..." Rose, who had been carefully observing the situation, awkwardly hid behind the body of an intelligent machine she had lifted, witnessing this dramatic scene. Dead again? Um... knocked out? She must be dead now, right? The explosion came quickly and left just as fast. The battlefield was a mess, with the surviving fighters awkwardly rising, dusting off their clothes. The two consecutive explosions nearly destroyed the area, but fortunately, such area attacks lacked precision. Those close to the explosion''s center could mostly withstand it, while fragile characters like You and the boy from Grey Iron City took cover behind barriers. Despite everyone being injured and disheveled after an ambush, fortunately, there were no casualties... right? Rose, her clothes somewhat tattered, walked over to the white-furred team captain, kicked at the unresponsive foot hidden under the combat boot, and looking at the piece of metal deeply embedded in the forehead, she asked with a hint of curiosity, "Is your captain dead?" The Grey Iron City gorilla, who had returned to his normal form, cast a sidelong glance at Rose and unusually retorted, "If your captain is dead, ours can''t possibly be." "..." Rose crouched down, touched the other''s neck incredulously, and then looked up excitedly, "But she''s cold as ice..." "Rose..." Bai E went up to pull Rose aside, whispering a reminder, "She''s not dead." The loot subtitles were still there; the opponent was indeed not dead. Seeing how the Grey Iron City people ignored their captain and even intentionally kept their distance, Bai E knew they must have suffered because of this aspect. Probably they were just waiting to laugh at Rose for getting close to their captain... "...It''s likely (Trait: Phoenix...)" God knows how far Grey Iron City''s biotechnological modification had developed, for such an abnormal ability to appear. Their captain, unlike her three subordinates, did not have a body that could take damage; almost anything could break it, but she could come back together again, which was a bit outrageous. Bai E wondered if this ability was common among them or if it was a special case that varied from person to person. Bai E glanced at the Grey Iron City folks and sensibly chose not to ask more. He just pulled Rose aside and gathered his team of four again. "Everyone check your equipment and recover your condition," Ambushing this squad of intelligent machines was just the first step of the plan, next... Bai E brought an intentionally preserved, undamaged intelligent machine to the area just outside the EMP lockdown zone. Leaving a live one to send out a distress signal to the nearest intelligent machines was also part of their plan. An invisible mechanical force fluctuated through the air. Once out of the EMP blockade area, in one-millionth of a second, the network of mechanical forces reconnected, and the alert was sent out immediately. That was the limitation of intelligent machines; even if Bai E and his team outright spilled their plan, non-original intelligent machines would still faithfully execute every programmed reaction to outside changes. Even if they knew it was a trap, they would still call their companions to step into it. They might be called intelligent machines, but they were not so "intelligent." Just like their combat style, cold but precise, invariably responding to any change with unchanging stability, their cruelty occasionally veered into dullness. Without the manipulation of electronic demons, they were nothing but soulless husks. Allowing the low-level intelligent machine by his hand to send an alert to the fortress, Bai E turned to check the loot he had just critically hit... Chapter 346 327 Mechanical Body [Loot acquired: Steel*5000, 3000 Combat Experience, Technology: Basic Steel Smelting Process, Technology: Basic Component Forging Process, Knowledge: Energy Shield Science, Trait: Mechanical Body.] Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library EmpireThe 5000 units of steel in the Consciousness Space were far more spectacular than the mere scattering of bullets at the beginning. Rows of perfectly textured steel were neatly stacked on the ground, piled higher than a person, and filled with a satisfying sense of fulfillment. There was no need to elaborate on combat experience. Technology and knowledge were merely acquired; further mastery or upgrading of their levels would require the payment of general experience or special research experience. Without sufficient research experience, Bai E was reluctant to use general experience that could enhance combat capability for direct level-ups. Set aside for the moment. As for the last one¡­ [Trait¡ªMechanical Body: Your familiarity with mechanical properties allows you to understand the structure of machinery like the back of your hand. From now on, you have a talent for all mechanical-related knowledge and technology, with a -20% reduction in experience consumption when investing experience to upgrade levels; and you can more easily bring out the original capabilities of mechanical structures when operating them ("You can resonate with a ''mechanical structure'' by selecting it, and after more than 48 hours of close contact, you will establish a resonance link with your target, with the resonance level growing continuously with contact time until it reaches its maximum value"), and mechanical restrictions are greatly reduced. (Note: Reaching the maximum resonance level is a prerequisite for the birth of ''Machine Spirits'').] The description was rather ambiguous, but Bai E''s eyes locked onto the last line at a glance¡ª Machine Spirits! A necessary condition for their birth! Heavens! So Machine Spirits really exist in this world? By relying on looting, Bai E guessed that some high-ranking individuals in the city were also gifted and could obtain similar abilities through their own understanding, which is why they were so certain of the existence of Machine Spirits. It''s just that he didn''t know what specifically they were used for¡­ Mulling over his personal development, Bai E heard a noise coming from behind him. "Boom!" A violent explosion erupted not far behind him. According to Bai E''s memory, the location of the blast should be where the white-haired team leader from Grey Iron City was lying. So this was why those from Grey Iron City deliberately kept their distance from their team leader? Thus, within a single breath, Bai E suppressed the nearly triggered stressed reaction due to the unexpected situation, showing a somewhat unruffled demeanor as he slowly turned around to observe what had happened¡ª A pit had appeared next to the white-haired team leader. With her as the epicenter, the entire ground had sunk in, except for the piece of ground she was sitting on, which was left standing lonely like a tower under her buttocks. The first thing the newly awakened white-haired team leader saw close up was a myriad of metal slag and even some shattered mechanical bodies still sparking. The subconscious reaction of being on the battlefield led the white-haired team leader to perform an indiscriminate surge attack, pulverizing the soil and rocks within a one-meter radius into even finer structures. Such expressiveness caused Bai E''s pupils to contract. The energy reserves he had extracted from that war machine had given him no substantial feeling yet, and what was displayed now was her own actual attack power. Such formidable Spiritual Energy, probably of a second-tier level. Having followed Yue Ying and learned for many days, Bai E had some understanding of the levels and divisions of Spiritual Energy¡ª A hundred points of Spiritual Energy is the threshold for the second tier, but having a hundred points of Spiritual Energy does not mean one is at the second tier. This type of outward impact ability, even among those with second-tier levels of Spiritual Energy, is rare to see. Very impressive¡­ Worthy of a team leader. "Tch!" A member of the Grey Iron City squad, who had been closely observing the reactions of the Blackwater City team, spat out with a somewhat lackluster interest. Every time their team leader "fainted" and woke up, it was as if she had become a different person, which naturally often resulted in a "grumpy" personality. The current outburst was quite normal, they had long been accustomed to it. What they found more interesting¡­ was the reaction of those from Blackwater City. Watching people unfamiliar with their team leader make all sorts of strange actions due to the team leader''s outburst was one of their few sources of entertainment. Unfortunately, those team members were indeed startled, with the bulky one even going so far as to hold up his Blast Shield, trembling like a frightened quail at the first sign of trouble. However, their team leader... Had no reaction. He turned nonchalantly and cast a casual glance... "Is he slow to react, or just confident?" the large ape, now back to its normal size, stroked its chin, somewhat curious. "First, let''s rule out slow reactions..." The acting team leader looked at Bai E with a wary eye, "This guy is big trouble." That was the first time she had seen anyone wield such a big and heavy Anti-Material Sniper Rifle and fire from close range. This fighting style was a bit wild. So it really was crucial not to let him get that sniper rifle; they had to strike while his hands were empty! As the "true *core brain" of the team, the acting team leader made a covert decision. Meanwhile, the captain with white fur at the center of everyone''s attention stood there in a daze for quite some time before realizing the battle had ended. His fragmented memories from before gradually surged up, and from those past memories, he found his rightful place¡ª An Angel Envoy for Dr. Sabos! Then he remembered he was the captain of the elite squad from Grey Iron City. With a cold look in his eyes, the white-furred captain glanced at the five prey without a hint of "kindred" spirit on them, blinked, and hid the malice in his eyes that no one else could see. Putting on a calm face, Bai drew the bloodless piece of metal from his forehead, and the wound healed immediately. Standing up lightly, he looked down at the vast expanse of pale skin exposed by the tattered combat suit and directed a chilly gaze toward his acting team leader. The blur of memories made him forget where his off-road vehicle was parked, which had spare clothes in it. "Where''s the car?" Facing their leader''s suddenly chilly gaze, the acting team leader from Grey Iron City visibly shivered, "Over there..." Saying this with some hesitation, he trotted off, "I''ll lead the way for you." Watching the acting leader walk away with their leader, the remaining three members of Grey Iron City huddled together and murmured. "Not sure what personality we got this time..." "Looks pretty scary..." "Shh-shh~" Bai E stepped on the sand disturbed by the explosion, strolled over casually, looked at the three from Grey Iron City, flashed them a big white-toothed smile, and cheerfully asked, "Does your captain change personalities with each death?" "What death?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Which eye of yours saw our captain die?" "..." Full of confidence, their gaze sincere, they didn''t seem to be pretending. Were they just psychologically strong? Or were they also unaware of the truth? Bai E raised an eyebrow, but didn''t press further. "Come on, let''s see what kind of treasures are inside their transport vehicle?" Chapter 347 328 Decisive Battle Although ambushing the transport vehicle was meant to lure the enemy out, field battles were generally easier than sieges.But the materials intercepted could also be valuable, bringing some back could be exchanged for military exploits... or perhaps devise a way to use them? After all, much of the tech tree of the mechanical beings was inherited from the Golden Age, and despite some changes due to their individual differences, most of it presumably blended seamlessly with the current human tech tree, likely causing no issues if used directly. As a low-level artificial intelligence, although the armored vehicle also had some of the mechanical beings'' characteristics, it wasn''t as integrally robust as the war machines, and with its central control system shattered, it couldn''t keep Bai E out, turning into a neutral unit just like any ordinary armored vehicle. "Tch!" Bai E yanked open the bat-winged doors, and beneath the unfolded iron doors lay the materials it was transporting¡ª Transparent blocks that looked like chunks of ice, somewhat similar to the central crystal pillars seen previously at the information base. This artificially synthesized crystal material, identified as the most frequently used material science technology during the Golden Age, was not commonly utilized by current humans, although the mechanical beings continued to cherish the glory of the Golden Age. Bai E casually picked one up, cradling it in his hand, as subtitles aptly appeared above the block¡ª "Logic Cube: capable of supporting a ''Computing Power Module'' excavated entity, an information technology inherited from the Golden Age, extremely expensive to manufacture." Perhaps this was why the current humans hadn''t adopted similar technology on a large scale. Too expensive... Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only the mechanical beings, with it at their core, would mine and manufacture these things at any cost. What if it was destroyed? A thought crossed Bai E''s mind, and another subtitle popped up¡ª "Logic Cube (Neutral)¡ªUsing ''Lucky Strike'' to destroy may yield: Guaranteed (Logic Cube*60, Scientific Research Experience 3000 points); Possible (Knowledge: White Stone Material Science)." Wow, could it actually yield knowledge? For a moment, Bai E was slightly tempted. But given that the system rated them as expensive to manufacture, even if he learned how to create or obtain these things now, the cost was probably more than he was willing to accept at the moment. Not to mention, he had no immediate use for them, and with only 130 energy points left¡ªenough for one "Lucky Strike"¡ªBai E was reluctant to waste his chance on something that currently had no use. Hmm... maybe he could covet one to take back and destroy when there was time. Then there were the two large black metal boxes. Bai E didn''t dare to mess with the mechanical beings'' things, but just by placing his hand on the surface of the boxes, a line of subtitles appeared¡ª "Energy Core Suppressor: The extracted energy cores pulsate and surge, their contained energy constantly radiating powerful emissions. Only a specially manufactured suppressor can inhibit the activity of the energy cores." Undoubtedly, inside the black metal boxes, there lay the energy source that the war machine had tried to replenish itself with. Although small nuclear reactors are an option to provide sufficient energy for small machines, the technology that extracts energy into a semi-physical form known as energy cores offers another solution for small machines to obtain enough power. Why are human mechas so huge? That''s because current humans are unable to mass-produce small nuclear reactors reliably, and the large size of the mechas is mostly to accommodate their nuclear power sources. Bai E wondered if destroying the mechanical beings'' extracted energy cores would yield their technology, but there were no subtitles to help with energy cores that he couldn''t directly see or touch. Given the previous two explosions, Bai E was now somewhat traumatized by these things. Perhaps he could bring them back to the Scientific Research Institute and find an opportunity to observe them later? The energy cores and Logic Cubes were the only two visible items inside the armored vehicle, with the rest being open space. The interior volume of the armored vehicle was evidently much smaller than it appeared from the outside, with the scant materials it carried and the mechanical soldiers that had jumped out from inside being all of its contents. Beyond that, there was only a display screen hanging in the central position at the front of the vehicle. The vehicle itself had no control panel for operation, after all, the armored vehicle itself was a kind of mechanical being, able to move on its own. The mechanical beings had no obligation to create machinery that others could control... In other words, Bai E and the others couldn''t drive these large machines back. Their massive mass also made it impossible to drag or transport them back; they could only take away the logic cubes and the suppressor metal boxes that contained the energy cores. "Split them fifty-fifty?" "Split them fifty-fifty." The division of the spoils was easily agreed upon by both sides. Now that the convoy had been attacked, there was no need to hide their tracks, and the off-road vehicles that the two teams had hidden were driven over. They loaded their spoils into the vehicles, pulled out the mortars and land mines to set up ambushes, and all the while, they didn''t see anything stir on the distant horizon. Not coming out? Actually, there wasn''t a soul inside that fortress... The mechanical beings? Or did those in the fortress have higher order commands to ignore these attacks? The decision-making processes of the mechanical beings were completely different from those of humans, often limited to the two options "yes" or "no," without considerations like "let''s see" or "let''s discuss it." The absence of action for so long implied they were letting the matter slide. So... "Have you considered the appropriate response in this scenario?" The two refreshed squads once again converged, and Bai E was the first to ask a question. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire The Captain with white hair kept a cold face, the eye not covered by hair seeming distracted, without saying a word. Bai E didn''t expect her to answer, her unstable personality made her unsuitable to be a true brain, her existence probably only served to guarantee combat strength. The decision-making power of this squad probably lay in the hands of the acting Captain, so Bai E''s gaze merely politely swept over the white-haired Captain''s face before fixating directly on the acting Captain. Confronted by Bai E''s inquiring gaze, the warrior woman from Grey Iron City slightly furrowed her brows, her already aged face looking momentarily heavier like a forty-something old lady, "I don''t know." Away from combat, the warriors from Grey Iron City appeared much more composed, but their answers were still unexpected. "..." Such an honest answer. The acting Captain looked sincerely at Bai E, "Our initial plan actually only had one step, to attack the transport team and lure them out. If we found the transport team too tough or if the troop size from the fortress exceeded our capacity, we planned to retreat any time." If we can''t beat them, we run. For the tasks assigned by the city''s Military Department, Grey Iron City didn''t place as much importance on them as Blackwater City next door. After all, for Grey Iron City, every human who could endure several rounds of surgical modifications was precious, their combat power couldn''t be wasted as casually as Blackwater City''s artificial solider warriors. For some tasks with greater risks... either go back for reinforcements or simply give up. The underlying logic of decision-making was clear and straightforward. "In fact, if we hadn''t encountered you, we might not have really gone after their transport team." After a great battle, there seemed to be a sense of camaraderie formed between the sides, and the acting Captain seemed quite sincere when speaking. "..." Bai E frowned, feeling a bit troubled. He was reluctant to easily give up any task he received. Moreover, for the warriors executing missions outside of Blackwater City, the military could tolerate failure, but not ignorance of failure. Either die out there, marking the danger level of the target task or region with their lives. Or gather intelligence, articulating the danger level of the target task or region with precise data. Merely "feeling" that the fight was too tough and then planning to run, meant facing a military tribunal upon return. "What if we insist on pushing through?" Bai E looked at the acting Captain, his eyes conveying a sincere inquiry, "Would you be willing to join us?" The people from Grey Iron City were quite strong, adept at charging into battle. When storming a position, it''s exactly these types of cannon fodder we need; indeed, they played a significant role in restraining the enemy during the recent ambush. Even with Bai E''s individual strength, he sometimes needed the restraint his teammates provided, otherwise the previous encounter with the sandworm and sea of bugs, which nearly resulted in their annihilation, would have been a lesson forgotten. "..." The acting Captain didn''t answer right away but hesitated, glancing at the other members of his team. Undercurrents rippled and after observing his teammates, the acting Captain turned back to Bai E and replied honestly, "Could you give us some time to discuss it?" No one absolutely convincing as the core brain, eh? Bai E nodded, responding with a smile, "Of course, no problem." "..." "Maybe we should just let it go? Their Captain is quite formidable, and we don''t have full confidence in fighting against him," Feeding every other living creature they encountered to their own Captain, if they were sure they could silence them or preclude any follow-up implications, was an unspoken command they had always carried out during missions. They had long become accustomed to this practice. "This time, there is indeed a risk, let''s just retreat." The Blackwater City squad Captain, who had leaned in and dished out damage with his big gun, had left them with a lasting impression; even they who always felt invincible harbored a hint of fear. That''s why their attitudes softened much after the combat; once they stopped seeing the opposition as prey, the shift in mentality went unnoticed even to themselves. Looking at his teammates whispering their differing viewpoints after avoiding the others, the normally silent white-haired Captain suddenly scoffed with a cold laugh, "Agree to it." "Huh?" The gorilla was the first to look at their Captain with confusion, wondering if he had hallucinated. A cold gleam flashed across white hair''s brow, "I said, agree to it." "Sure! Sure!" The gorilla instantly cheered up. Looks like the Captain rolled a 9... Every time the Captain fainted, she would change personalities and occasionally exhibit those categories with high intelligence. They couldn''t discern intelligence, but they could recognize assertiveness. When intelligence and assertiveness combined, their Captain tended to become more proactive and willing to make decisions. Whenever such personality emerged, it brought them an immense sense of reliability and calm. "Then let''s agree to it." The acting Captain nodded, looking fearfully at the true Captain. "However..." the white-haired Captain''s voice was indifferent, continuing, "our target isn''t that fortress..." Chapter 348 329 Go! The negotiation concluded.Bai E heard the opposing team''s acting captain give the answer he wanted, "We can move with you... but if it''s not feasible, we will cooperate with your retreat as much as possible after giving you a heads-up." "Sure!" Bai E readily agreed, "No problem." Voiced decisions were always better than abandoning one''s own in the heat of battle. Bai E hadn''t expected the other party to fully share his enthusiasm, but their sincere articulation of their thoughts was surprisingly unsettling... "Pack everything up, the supplies we won''t be needing for now should be stashed somewhere to reduce our load. Prepare for the assault!" Bai E glanced at the battleground they had just set up for an ambush. With a curt tone, he issued orders. "Yes, sir!" ... As they truly neared the enemy fortress in their vehicle, the voice of the opposing team''s acting captain rang out through the radio they had successfully synced. "Captain Bai, you must realize that there are only two reasons they could act against the supporting base settings¡ªeither they have received pre-input superior commands, or there is an original generation of artificial intelligence commanding. Aren''t you afraid it''s the latter possibility?" Bai E was well-versed in these facts about AI since becoming a captain and was of course no stranger to them. This time, he just chuckled softly, calmly responding, "I know... but if we can''t obtain enough information, our city''s understanding of this remains a blank slate." "..." The other party was silent for a moment before asking softly, "Is Captain Bai an artificial person?" "...Yes." ... The fortress was situated against a crimson backdrop. The sunlight was slanting from the west in the sky, but there was still some time before it would set completely. Bai E raised his wrist to check the time, "4:32 p.m., we have at most one hour of combat time left." Nighttime was never the domain of humans. The AI, with its various means of observation, had far superior capabilities to discover and pinpoint targets in the dark compared to humans, and if they couldn''t take it within an hour, it would also mean the enemy''s tenacity and continued nighttime operations would offer them no advantage. "If we can''t take it down, we retreat; now is our last chance." As the leading advocate for the combat plan, the combined operation of the two small teams defaulted to follow Bai E''s commands. Hence, his speech became even more decisively commanding. The attack on the transport team had been broadcasted; the lack of response from the fortress did not mean the AI at large had no reaction. They might have already dispatched reinforcements from their more distant base, currently en route. So the hour before nightfall was their last period of combat, and if they could not take it tonight, they could not hope for tomorrow. To seize it directly! Or to gather enough AI information to inform the military were his only two choices. "Big Mountain, move aside, I''ll drive." It was an unwritten rule in the military that soldiers skilled in close combat were prioritized for learning to drive, as those adept at ranged attacks were more effective aboard a moving vehicle. However, at this moment, Bai E trusted his own skills more. Sitting in the driver''s seat, Bai E buckled his seat belt and gave terse instructions. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We''re charging directly." Facing an unknown fortress, notions of tactics were irrelevant. Nothing was as straightforward and decisive as a frontal charge, the reason they had dumped all unnecessary vehicle equipment was for agility in this very moment. The performance of the all-terrain vehicle was fairly good, and in evading the turret attacks, the vehicle could move a greater distance than a human, making it easier to dodge. The sunroofs were open, Zero and You both holding the barrel, aiming at the fortress in their line of sight, ready to fire at any moment. Rose took Bai E''s large gun, resting it on the unfolded and secured car door, waiting to handle critical firepower points. Her talent was all-around; she had recently dabbled in long-range shooting skills, which, though not as proficient as her close combat skills, were useable. "Hum! Hum!" The engines of the two stationary all-terrain vehicles began to roar violently; amidst the tremble of the car bodies, they sounded like beasts poised to strike with piercing roars. "Charge!" Bai E''s voice tersely fell in the communication channel, and then the brakes of both vehicles released at the same time, the primed cars shot out like arrows. Across the vast land, two tiny black dots charged towards the distant black steel fortress in a lonely assault. "Squeak squeak squeak~" The AI''s fixed machine guns and turrets, under their independent but interconnected intelligent systems, immediately began to swivel and aim precisely at the two charging vehicles. Facing the rapidly moving and position-changing vehicles, their internal systems were quickly analyzing and summarizing the vehicles'' movement patterns, including any limitations on maneuverability due to mechanical quality, which determined the performance ceiling of the two all-terrain vehicles. The AI''s mechanical force linked them together, and the powerful integrated network soon perfectly distributed the performance data represented by the actual behavior of the two all-terrain vehicles to every independent system. And because of the mechanical force communication, the different roles of each gun position were also unified and harmonized. Prediction, interception, pursuit. One third of the turrets and machine guns arranged for the two all-terrain vehicles'' charge immediately opened fire, with bullets and shells of various sizes and specs drawing different trajectories at different speeds, targeting the same speeding vehicle. Chapter 349 329 Go!_2 The members of the Grey Iron City squad turned pale as the barrage targeted them. Their exceptional neural reflexes might not allow them to instantly analyze the landing points of all bullets and shells to steer their vehicle out of the way, but at least they could quickly discern the direction of the incoming attacks."Why are they all firing at us!" The burly man gritted his teeth and gasped for breath. "Are those AI units blind?" The gorilla was equally indignant. The firing machine guns and cannons were all aimed at them, while the vehicle hurtling forward in the next lane was completely ignored. Only Captain Bai, silent, stared deathly at the trajectory of the incoming projectiles from beneath his white, irregular fringe. The trajectories were so dense and well-sealed that even with Lin''s skills pushed to their limit, some unavoidable hits were bound to land on the vehicle. To expect a regular SUV, unequipped with human shield technology, to stand against the long guns and heavy artillery of AI? It would be quicker to dig a hole and reincarnate on the spot. "Try to avoid the artillery fire," Captain Bai ordered softly. "Yes!" The fully focused boy snapped back, teeth clenched tight. The wheel was spinning wildly, explosions echoed by their ears, the ever-present danger of being hit looming in their minds. The pupils of everyone in the combat-ready Grey Iron City squad appeared slightly constricted, their breathing heavy. "Damn it, dodge!" A bullet whizzed over the roof of the car, making a "zzt" friction sound. Startled, the gorilla slapped out with his hand, but under the guidance of his last shreds of reason only hit the backrest of the driver''s seat, not the boy who was driving. "I''m doing my best!" The boy''s forehead throbbed with veins as he raised his voice for the first time in response to his teammate. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Faster, faster, faster, faster!" The acting captain stood in the middle, head out the sunroof, holding a shoulder-launched grenade launcher, mumbling to himself. Their weapons had clearly shorter ranges than the mounted armaments of the AI, and their personal skills weren''t exceptional either. Until they got close enough, they were just sitting ducks. "I know!" The boy pressed the accelerator to the floor, his eyes filled with a thick resolve to perish together. If I can''t live, then no one will! A silver-gray bullet abruptly enlarged in their view. "Buzz!" A bullet capable of piercing the vehicle''s front windshield suddenly appeared in focus and dramatically expanded in the boy''s pupils. However, as it approached the windshield, it seemed to hit an invisible barrier, visibly vibrating as it struggled fiercely. What would have felt like slow motion in his mind happened in an instant in the real world. The bullet that could have passed through the windshield and struck him between the eyes fell impotently to the vehicle''s hood due to the mysterious force, rolling down with a thud. "Don''t get distracted, focus on driving." The calm and steady voice of the captain rose from the back seat, as Captain Bai focused intently without saying much else. Only occasionally did his peripheral vision glance over his other three teammates, the pupils involuntarily revealing a hint of emotion that might be called "confusion." "Damn it, why only attack us and not them!" The gorilla, muscles tensing, seemed on the verge of transforming right there in the car. Captain Bai glanced at him, then turned his eyes back to the vehicle racing alongside them. The transparent windows at the front didn''t block the view, and the figure gripping the steering wheel on the driver''s seat came into his view from the side... Perhaps... it was just because their skills were stronger, right? Their more unpredictable and bizarre driving patterns had led to the AI''s analytical capabilities being unable to formulate a new attack plan with a high enough success rate. Hence it had yet to strike. This was an inherent defect in AI, similar to encountering a software bug. Without the active intervention of higher-level AI, they would always remain silent until they had sufficient assurance of their actions. But that captain from Blackwater City wouldn''t have it easy either. Driving patterns also have inertia; he had to maintain this unpredictable path. Once his actions slowed, the barrage from the AI cannons would follow. And they... didn''t have their own Spiritual Energy shields. ... "Help them out," Bai E, in the driver''s seat, glanced at the neighbors taking a beating and spoke concisely. The newly-acquired "Machine Body" trait gave him absolute familiarity with any mechanical system he touched, though its description was vague and didn''t have the precise data bonuses that most powers did. Even without establishing a resonant link, his control over the vehicle he was handling had improved a notch. Road feel, wind resistance, the vibrations from the vehicle transmitted clearly to his body, even the threats from the AI targeting systems felt like tangible lines enshrouding the vehicle''s path. All he needed to do was to avoid those "lines." "Can''t aim..." Rose gritted her teeth in response. Although she had some shooting skills, she wasn''t proficient enough. In this frenzied, rapidly changing tempo, it was good enough that she hadn''t thrown up, let alone aimed. Bai E''s driving had a bidirectional impact on shooting accuracy. "..." Bai E tapped the brakes lightly, slowing down the pace. Since they were temporary teammates, he couldn''t let them suffer too much damage before they really got close, leading to unnecessary exhaustion. The enemy captain''s Spiritual Energy was strong; it wasn''t worth wasting it on blocking bullets for the vehicles. So, in an instant, Bai E''s vehicle and the two-thirds firepower coming from the mechanical fortress fired almost simultaneously. The intensity of the barrage, now doubled, turned the faces of the four people in the Grey Iron City squad''s vehicle green. But the next moment, as they realized the fire wasn''t aimed at them, their expressions turned from shock to joy. "Right, right, right! Blow them up!" "Blast those fools to death!" In the heat of battle, the group''s language was uncensored, their words spilling out without restraint. "They can''t die," murmured the white-haired team captain, his eyes tinged with worry. Living flesh brings the potential for improvement; charred, cannon-blasted meat is nothing but waste. ... Seeing the barrage of shells coming at them in an instant, You and Rose showed no fear. They had complete trust in their captain. "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" Only when they were close enough could their weapons unleash their true range and power. The three of them fired one after another. The captain was fulfilling his duties, and it was their turn to execute his commands perfectly. Yet, even though Bai E had slowed down the frequency changes, their teammates'' hit rate was still pitifully low. Fortunately, humans don''t act on success rates alone. The enemy''s cannons and machine-gun positions were fixed, so as long as they kept firing, there would always be a chance. The charge path, neither long nor short, became the stage for both sides'' gunfire exchange. Trails with tail flames from various projectiles crisscrossed in the air, drawing different arcs and falling around the moving vehicles, kicking up gusts of heat. From the flaming chaos, guns protruded from the sides of the vehicles, bullets swiftly advancing through them, shooting forward with scorching blasts of heat. Hundreds of meters passed in the blink of an eye... "Boom!" The suddenly exploding cannon became the first flower to bloom on the walls of the fortress. Watching the cannon that had just been firing at them, the emotionally charged bruiser paused, turning his head back towards his companions in search of affirmation, "Are they helping... us?" The gorilla stood with its mouth open, "Probably... yeah?" "But they themselves..." "They don''t need to counterattack," the white-haired captain said, his eyes sharp, now filled with an increased mix of desire and wariness for the driver of the vehicle. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire Yet, a tiny bit of human emotion beneath the surface voiced a "suggestion." Complicated sentiments flickered in his heart before being washed away by the flow of orders. The eyes that had just wavered steadied once again... All excellent "parts" would ultimately become the strength of the Doctor! Chapter 350 330 First-generation AI ["Lucky Strike" charge +5.]"..." Bai E, who received the prompt, felt a bit strange. He glanced at his teammates... It seemed like everyone was seriously shooting, too busy to pay attention to him. So... were the five people from the neighboring team the ones? It looked like this assistance hadn''t been in vain. Bai E felt somewhat relieved. The final exchange of gunfire didn''t last long, with the hundreds of meters passing in the blink of an eye. Several flames rose on the fortress walls¡ªthose were the remains of the destroyed. Underneath the flames of relentless artillery fire, You rolled out of the vehicle and scattered a large number of grenades towards the back of the fortress. With the reaction time passed, more active smart-robot soldiers had undoubtedly poured out from inside the fortress, ready to defend their "home." The alliance team''s adversaries weren''t just the fixed cannons and machine guns; the emerging multitude of smart-robot soldiers was also a significant nuisance they had to face. The far-weapon specialist combat soldiers, adept at long-range shooting, and the close-weapon specialist combat soldiers with melee combat modules were the two most common types of smart-robot soldiers that everyone had encountered in the ambushes before. Because of their loading capacity limitations, their individual destructive power might seem less significant than fixed cannons and machine guns, but for some peculiar reason, the intelligence level of these humanoid robots was notably higher. When connected by machine force, they could even act completely disregarding "success rates," and the distance close enough made it harder for the off-road vehicle to evade completely. "Abandon the vehicle!" The charge towards the smart-robot fortress was a one-way road, and at the last moment, abandoning the vehicle was inevitable. This meant that if they couldn''t take the fortress entirely, their purely physical extraction would face the baptism of countless bullets. The difference lay only in the extent to which they could damage the fortress''s robotic warfare capabilities. With a Blast Shield in hand to protect those around him, Bai E and the others rolled off the speeding vehicle and got to the base of the fortress. The only advantage at this short range was that the fixed cannons on the other side lost their intimidation power. "Boom!" The moment they jumped off, the off-road vehicle met its end in a violent explosion. Shielded by the Blast Shield and waiting for the fierce explosion to subside slightly, Bai E, crouched at the foot of the not-so-high fortress wall, pressed his earpiece and clearly asked through the voice channel, "Anyone hurt?" "No." "No." "Just grazed." "My hand''s a bit numb..." The Blast Shield could indeed stop the bullets, but the accompanying kinetic impact was solidly endured by their bodies. Zhou, the least agile of them, had resisted countless bullets to get to the base of the fortress. "Then use your foot as a boost, and I''ll pull you up last," Bai E quickly decided. The walls of the smart-robot fortress were not very tall, about the height of two people, but the surface was smooth and curved, making it difficult to climb directly; they needed someone beneath them for a boost. Zhou, tall and sturdy, was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate. After glancing at Grey Iron City''s team, which was a mere ten meters away, and finding they too had successfully reached the base of the fortress wall, Bai E opened the channel to them, "Get ready to climb." The rough voice of the opposing team leader responded in time, "No problem." "I''ll lead the charge; follow me," Bai E instructed, wielding the Blast Shield above his head to thwart the shots of the few far-weapon specialist combat soldiers who showed themselves. He backed up a few steps along the wall, then burst into a sprint. Stepping on the Blast Shield held up by Zhou and with Absolute Defense and Gun Fighting Skill activated, Bai E, one hand with the shield and the other with the gun, dashed up in an instant. In mid-air with a flying somersault, his left hand with the Blast Shield covered most of his body while his right hand''s machine gun opened fire at those smart-robot soldiers inside. "Dadada!" The spewing flames were effective against those mechanically constructed soldiers. Low-level robot soldiers faced inherent limitations in technology or resources in all respects. The materials making up their bodies certainly weren''t exceptional, so their impact resistance was limited. Lacking standard materials and intelligence levels, their mechanical power was equally limited, unable to compensate for or repair any damaged structures throughout their bodies. Perhaps the defense capabilities of smart-robot soldiers might be notably stronger than bare human warriors, but against heavy firearms, they were just as limited, and their movements were rigid, far less capable of seizing opportunities than humans. If an average frontline human soldier had defensive C and offensive B abilities, then these low-level smart-robot soldiers might only have defensive B+ and offensive C abilities. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They could take a hit a little better... That''s about it. Bullets hitting the armored parts might only leave a deep dent, but those hitting the less armored parts easily penetrated, sparking a flurry. With a level 4 expertise in shooting, augmented by an extra level of performance provided by Weapon Master, and the additional boost from Gun Fighting Skill, most of the bullets fired found the weak spots on the robots for critical hits. A barrage of fire in mid-air, and as his metal combat boots landed on the metal walls of the fortress, the flames exploding from three combat robots served as Bai E''s dramatic backdrop. Zhou, who also "flew" onto the wall, averted his gaze, his eyes heavy with solemnity. Chapter 351 330 First-generation AI_2 She directly used her externalized Spiritual Energy to repel all incoming bullets, even more brutish and violent, yet the opponent''s skillful and evasive maneuvers were equally pleasing to the eye. What was more critical was¡­She saw that the opponent also had moments when evasion failed, with bullets hitting his body, making direct contact with the skin, only to feeblely deform and fall away. It wasn''t the externalization of Spiritual Energy, but merely¡­ the strength of his own flesh. Comparable to the physical strength of a transformed gorilla on her team, perhaps even surpassing it? What kind of monster was this? The more challenging the target she devoured, the better, but if the target was too strong, she might break her teeth without being able to bite off a piece of meat. The more she observed, the more her heart raced. The hunger brought on by the supreme command kept her mind in a state of cold frenzy, yet the rational part of her that discovered more facts told her the target was by no means an entity she could easily handle. Conflicting wills battled in her brain, as if two little figures wearing different colors were fighting a melee on the brain as their battlefield, the intensity of the struggle was so great it even caused her nerves to ache faintly. "First, destroy the gun emplacement," came the instruction from the Blackwater City squad leader through the earpiece. At this range, the emplacements obviously couldn''t threaten them anymore, but considering a possible retreat later on¡ªnow that the vehicles were damaged, those fixed machine guns and gun emplacements would become their biggest trouble when retreating. Anticipate defeat before victory, that''s the way to remain invincible. The artificial soldiers from Blackwater City weren''t creations solely seeking death. They, too, were in pursuit of "living" itself. ["Lucky Strike" charging +2.] "Swoosh! Swoosh!" Figures leaped onto the surrounding wall one after another. Bai E and the white-haired captain were the first to rush up, laying a solid foundation for their teammates, and Rose and the transformed gorilla who followed closely were also beings of exceptional quality. As long as they could secure their footing on the wall, breaking through was only a matter of time. "It doesn''t seem like there are that many of them," Rose, who followed closely behind Bai E, scanned the mechanical warriors that were stationed behind the wall, besieging them. The positions were sparse and scattered, not the sea of steel they had imagined. "Times are tough for everyone." The attack they received wasn''t fierce, and it seemed very likely that this assault would succeed. Bai E even felt a bit like joking. The mechanical intelligences were competing with humankind for resources, and each of their creations had an extremely high value, so it was reasonable that their numbers weren''t as overwhelming as the bugs. A mere "mining" fortress, it''s probably quite normal to not have abundant forces garrisoned, and maybe this was also the core reason why they didn''t opt to assist the "attacked transport team". "Zzzt! Zzzt!" Broken sparks began to ignite everywhere. Both Bai E''s squad and the Grey Iron City squad excelled in close-combat. The long-range artillery couldn''t stop them, and now that they had cut into the inner parts of the fortress like ravenous tigers, they could only rely on those freely-moving warriors to resist. And the freedom of movement often meant that their firepower wasn''t fierce enough. Even the combatants equipped with close-combat modules, who had some ability to resist, seemed stretched thin in the face of these ultimate elite human warriors. The joint squad advanced triumphantly, leaving nothing but a trail of steel wreckage behind them. The fortress was not large in scope, essentially just an expansion around the original information station. [You have completely destroyed the target, battle experience gained: 20 points.] The experience provided by ordinary mechanical warriors wasn''t generous, proportional to the difficulty of destroying them. When the final warrior that rushed to defend fell at the muzzle of Bai E''s gun, silence fell over the not-so-large steel fortress. "That''s it? Is it all over? That was hardly satisfying!" "Thought it''d be more trouble, but this was it?" "Not enough fighting! Absolutely not enough!" The warriors from Grey Iron City hadn''t yet exited their battle state, and being somewhat unruly, they spoke arrogantly. Then, accompanied by the sound of electric motors, the tall silver-grey alloy gate opened, and a humanoid intelligence that wasn''t particularly burly but had a sleek and graceful form slowly emerged from within. Its bright golden shell immediately highlighted the exceptional status of the newcomer. "..." Everyone glanced at each other and eventually all eyes turned to the last gorilla who had spoken. "Look at the nonsense you''re spouting." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The bright yellow exterior shell, daring to use such an eye-catching color, obviously wasn''t ordinary goods. Not to mention the opponent''s beautifully streamlined body, which already possessed quite a bit of human aesthetics. It was rumored that high-level intelligences would use the mechanical force within their bodies to remodel their forms, including body shape and paint color, to match their increasingly sophisticated and human-like intelligence. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire So now... They had hit the jackpot? Even within the intelligence community, such entities were rare, and over time with the passage of time, there was inevitable degradation and the extremely difficult replenishment of first-generation intelligences, which were now before their very eyes. Was their luck so bad, or was this information base station just that important to the intelligences? They didn''t know. But in a close encounter, the brave would go first. No matter how the warriors of Grey Iron City talked, at least in their war-ready state when faced with such an opponent, they would definitely do more than just spout empty threats. Pounding its chest that boomed like a lump of iron, the first gorilla warrior of Grey Iron City charged forward. First-generation intelligence? So what about first-generation intelligence? Does first-generation intelligence mean invincibility? Take my blade! "Swoosh!" The bright yellow afterimage was too fast for Bai E''s eyes to catch all the details, and the little yellow figure closed the distance to half a step in front of the gorilla in an instant. The visibly built-in, micro-powered Power Fist smashed onto the gorilla''s chest, which he took pride in as if it were armor made of steel plates. "Crack!" The crisp sound was belatedly captured by everyone''s ears, but before that, the gorilla''s body had already been smashed away by that punch. "Boom!" The huge body crashed against the steel wall and slumped to the ground. "Cough!" Broken flesh spewed from the gorilla''s blood-stained mouth as he propped himself up with one hand, his attempt at a counterattack as arrogant as ever even as he issued a throat-tearing roar, "Ahhhh!" The brutal killing power brought clarity to the dazed minds of the two remaining Grey Iron City warriors. The violent desire to lash out faded from their brains, and they truly realized what their opponent was¡ª First-generation intelligence! Endowed with the technological bonuses of the Golden Age, enhanced by hundreds of years of mechanical force evolution. These were not beings that conventional military strength could compare with. A look of wariness filled their eyes. Both the brawny man and the acting team leader simultaneously turned to their own captain, the look of inquiry obvious. It was as if they had previously agreed that if they truly faced an impossible situation, they were planning to flee. As survivors who had painfully made it through the many who underwent surgery in Grey Iron City, they were not willing to lose their lives on a mission that could be dismissed as optional. Bai E''s gaze was heavy as she stared at the bright yellow figure, with a faint mist in her eyes and Spiritual Energy fully mobilizing, trying to analyze the opponent''s core capabilities and potential weaknesses. "We''re not leaving," Bai E said, not even glancing at the pleading looks from her team members. Her real goal was certainly not the fortress itself, but since there was not much damage visible on her true target yet, retreating now meant she could forever lose the opportunity to make her move if the other side also retreated. From her observations since she first met him to the present, she didn''t think her squad stood much of a chance against the fully empowered captain from Blackwater City. Only by leveraging the hand of the first-generation intelligence before her, could she possibly inflict serious damage on her target, thus achieving her goal. Risk? Of course, there was risk. But even her own team members were just tools to her, their casualties never weighed heavily on Bai E''s mind. And besides, she was "immortal," what was there to fear? "Fight!" Chapter 352 331 Unlock Skill - Firepower Suppression Bai E, fully aware of how formidable the opponent was, was the first to launch a fearless assault.The aura of Spiritual Energy enveloped her body, and the strong protective field undeniably played a certain role. Facing the opponent''s renewed attack, the little minion had no concept of holding back, yet as it entered the radius around Captain Whitefur, the surging Spiritual Energy and its sprint clashed violently. Also endowed with Spiritual Energy, Bai E could distinctly sense that area becoming like an inflated balloon, squashed into the shape of a platelet under the pressure of two opposing forces¡­ "Boom!" The solid breeze dispersed, Whitefur''s Spiritual Energy field ultimately failed to completely withstand the minion''s charge, but it did slow down the original intelligent machine that even Bai E found difficult to track. Whitefur''s Spiritual Energy was formidable; although it couldn''t suppress the opponent completely, fighting within her domain of projected Spiritual Energy could at least mitigate some of the minion''s combat power. Equivalent to a support bestowing debuffs. In the heat of battle, a faint concern flickered through the cool brows of Captain Whitefur as she calmly warned, "I can''t hold on for much longer." Make your move! Of course, Bai E would not sit idly by and let his teammate''s effort go to waste; it was evident that Captain Whitefur alone could not defeat this original intelligence machine. He could see the loot drop rate caption above the enemy''s head¡ª [??? (Intelligent Machine) (Hostile) (Lord) ¡ª "Lucky Strike" kill drop: Guaranteed (Steel*3000, Combat XP 8000 points); High probability (Tech: Advanced Steel Smelting Process, Tech: Advanced Part Forging Process); Possible (Knowledge: Miniaturized Kinetic Theory, Trait: Mechanical Mind)] The experience points were the highest Bai E had seen thus far in a conceivable target. In a sense, it also indicated its strength. Only with true teamwork could they have a chance of defeating this powerful intelligence machine, a relic from the Golden Age. "Go," Bai E commanded curtly, and Rose responded instantly. "Yes!" Bai E didn''t rush forward but stuck to his "character" by taking a shot first, just to see where he stood. Seizing an opportunity when the enemy pursued Captain Whitefur, Bai E quickly drew his pistol and fired a shot. [Attack hit, but failed to penetrate the target''s armor¡­] Damage wasn''t important, but the visible feedback provided Bai E with a clear display of the target''s combat abilities¡ª S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [??? (Intelligent Machine) (Hostile): Health ???/???; defensive power 70; Action Power 200% (Overclocked State); Traits: Energy Shield, Super Alloy Armor, Nano-Repair, Throne of Machine Power, Strong Energy Punch¡­] Each ability detailed came with a comprehensive explanation, but the function of many abilities was apparent just from their names. The stat panel was so luxury it was terrifying, and that wasn''t even all of it. As the battle progressed and the opponent revealed more abilities, it was clear the display panel would update. Most notable among them was the "Throne of Machine Power," highlighted in a special golden font, as if the panel itself was alerting Bai E to pay extra attention to this particular ability¡ª [Throne of Machine Power: An endless current of mechanical energy floods its body, and any intelligent units "fallen" within a certain radius become part of it. The abundant mechanical energy allows it to increase the output of all its abilities exponentially. Once it has acquired enough "fallen" intelligent machine units, it will briefly enter an "Overclocked State," destroying everything! (The duration of the "Overclocked State" depends on the number and quality of the "fallen" intelligent machine units.)] "Damn it!" Sacrificial offerings of teammates! Even Bai E couldn''t help swearing outright upon seeing the opponent''s capabilities. No wonder the defense intelligent machines were so easily eradicated, as if they were completely mismatched with the level of this intelligent machine fortress. It turned out the true trump card was this unique original intelligent machine! Can they delay for time? Or, is a forceful kill necessary? "Boom!" The deputy captain watched helplessly as his axe was blocked by a not-so-burly arm all by itself, the blade, forged from monometal, easily shattered upon impact, and the lengthy pole''s linkage didn''t need mentioning, breaking at the same moment the blade flew off. "Snap!" A seemingly unanticipated kick swept across, and the burly man launching the surprise attack from the side let out a sound of bones shattering and contorting as his body twisted and flew backwards, following in the large gorilla''s wake. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Even within Captain Whitefur''s domain of projected Spiritual Energy, the performance of the little minion was unbelievably strong. Not to mention, standing against the explosive power driven by a small nuclear reactor and in an overclocked state, Captain Whitefur, at the second level of Spiritual Energy, probably couldn''t hold out for long. They couldn''t delay! Or rather, they couldn''t afford to plan on just buying time. "Gun!" Bai E reached back and called out, and Stone, who was responsible for carrying miscellaneous items and had just come up last, finally handed over the newly assembled Anti-Material Sniper Rifle to Bai E. The basic killing power of the Anti-Material Sniper Rifle far exceeded his own bow and arrows, and under the premise of not using "Instant Kill Nine Heads," the most powerful arrow barely matched the inherent killing power of the Anti-Material Sniper Rifle. The adage that technology is humanity''s greatest strength was no empty talk, with sufficient proficiency and the freedom to use such firearms, their power to boost humanity''s combat effectiveness was undeniable. Chapter 353 331 Unlock Skill - Firepower Suppression_2 Of course, the power of an anti-material sniper rifle is not limited by an individual''s skill level, nor can it enjoy bonuses from personal abilities.This is precisely the key reason Yue Ying once mentioned that the upper limit of firearms will always be lower than that of melee weapons: Bai E cannot use techniques like "Instant Kill Nine Heads" to amplify the basic lethality of his weapon. This causes the inherent performance of firearms to become their limit in terms of causing damage, with the potential bonus from personal abilities being extremely limited. To achieve a true over-the-limit burst, one must rely on the ultimate archery skills. However, before the opportunity for a truly fatal shot presents itself, one cannot always rely on archery skills for regular output. Bai E''s current Spiritual Energy reserves are insufficient to support continuous bursts; for sustained output, the use of firearms like the anti-material sniper rifle is more enduring. "Bang!" The narrow bullet skirted the underside of Rose''s entangled arm, causing the air to heat up so much that even golden strands of hair began to curl. "Hum!" The various energy shields, which are possessed by the more formidable next-generation mechanoids, were naturally not absent in this early generation mechanoid, preventing the bullet from truly reaching the opponent''s alloy body. But clearly, this process was not easy. In the split second of countering the bullet, not only did the rate of the Minion''s punch towards Rose slow down, but the punch itself also lost much of its force, to the extent that Rose was able to forcibly pry open the incoming metal fist. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire A mechanical body does not require distance or time to build up force like humans do. Its kinetic energy punches often only start to exert force when in close proximity to the body, somewhat similar to the Inch Punch technique in hand-to-hand combat, and right now... "His output power is limited!" This is a core issue that mechanisms can never avoid. A first-generation mechanoid with a small nuclear reactor may seem to have nearly endless energy, but the amount of energy available at any given moment is limited. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In order to counter Bai E''s bullet, the Minion''s energy shield system momentarily drew a massive amount of energy, causing the kinetic punch to lose its energy supply and turning it into nothing more than an ordinary punch. The containment is effective! Only the firing rate of the anti-material sniper rifle is too slow... Bai E recalled the skill tree associated with the long-neglected Light Firearms Specialization. The choice of one out of three initial skills was made due to limited experience. Now, with more than ten thousand experience points saved¡ªand with a "Lucky Shot" chance in hand¡ªif he were to blow up this first-generation mechanoid in front of him, his experience storage would nearly reach twenty thousand. A simple skill that doubles experience? Easy! [Payment: 2 Potential Points, 2000 Combat Experience.] [Skill Acquired¡ªFirepower Suppression.] [Firepower Suppression: Open fire at full force! From now on, you can achieve maximum efficiency when firing any firearm you wield, forcibly increasing the fire rate by 50%, extending overheating time by 30%, improving shooting precision by 30%, increasing output level by +1, and base attack power by +2. Consumption: 10 Spiritual Energy (100 action power reserve)/min.] This is the perfect skill for using machine guns and similar firearms. Aside from the enhancements to attack speed and overheating time, the added kinetic impact and base attack damage from the skill itself may not seem like much. However, if it''s applied to a machine gun or other high-rate-of-fire weapon, this kind of bonus would amplify the efficiency hundreds or even thousands of times over. Each bullet fired would carry additional damage, becoming frighteningly efficient when mowing down hordes in large-scale battlefields. There''s a reason why the skill tree of Light Firearms Specialization level 4 has three distinct paths. It doesn''t seem quite suitable for the current situation. To debuff the Minion, Captain Bai needed to be in close range due to the limited range of her Spiritual Energy projection, so someone had to engage in close combat. In a situation where there are more allies than enemies, high-rate-of-fire weapons like machine guns were clearly not suitable, hence the need for a sniper rifle. The slow firing rate of the sniper rifle clearly can''t maximize the effect of the damage bonus, but it doesn''t matter... Bai E is only interested in its increased firing rate. Another skill in the three skill trees¡ªPrecise Shooting¡ªwould normally be a more suitable choice for sniping, emphasizing armor penetration and range. However, at this moment, these effects seemed somewhat inappropriate, not as substantial as a real increase in rate of fire. Machine gunning at point-blank, the main appeal was abstract. Bai E hugged the huge sniper rifle in his arms, firing round after round of scorching bullets at the Minion, who kept moving at high speed. Dodge? Useless! The 15% precision bonus from level 5 specialization, combined with the 30% bonus from the activated skill, and the firearm''s own 12% accuracy bonus, resulted in a total precision bonus correction that reached +57%. With Bai E''s adequate strength and reflex control, each shot was a headshot, hitting exactly where aimed. [After multiple occurrences of precise shooting at high-speed targets, Light Firearms Mastery experience +21.]£¨High probability of awakening special attributes.£© [Your "Light Firearms Specialization (Level 4)" has gained a new special attribute bonus: Overload Mode.] [Light Firearms Specialization (Level 4): Shooting Accuracy +12%, Critical Hit +2%, Arc Shot (Special) +5%, Quick Reload (Special) +1, Overload Mode (Special) +1.][Overload Mode +1: Increases shooting speed by 10%.] An unexpected delight. The special attribute that had given signs of awakening a long time ago had finally unlocked at this moment, and the added attributes were brutally simple. For a while, the firing from the heavy sniper became even more frequent. Facing Bai E''s harassment, if the intelligent machines truly felt human emotions, they would be utterly annoyed. A more sophisticated analysis system had already pinpointed Bai E; however, the main force responsible for the fight¡ªRose and Captain Bai with white hair¡ªwere not to be underestimated, and the many other team members could also provide a slight diversion, not to mention Bai E himself, holding the heavy sniper and slipping around like an eel. Simply uncatchable. Bai E''s attacks constantly required it to divert a substantial amount of energy to maintain its shield system. Then... stop relying entirely on the shield! The bright crystal-like eyes of the little yellow figure flashed with a dangerous red glint; after the decision made by the intelligent analysis changed, every system within immediately underwent transformation¡ª [Decision Core Changed: Graceful¡úDeadly] [Shield Module''s power output limitation reduced to 60%.] [Armor Self-Repair Module preheating.] [Lethal Weapon preparing...] If it could no longer eliminate these humans invading with the most graceful posture... then, let them witness the true power! ... The fully recovered strongman from Grey Iron City charged again, raising his greatsword and swinging it towards the little yellow figure''s forehead. The opponent''s fist was closing in, but it didn''t matter, because Bai would intervene. The bullet from the Blackwater City captain would surely appear at just the right moment, in just the right place, forcing the little yellow figure to split its energy to respond. The support from his teammates filled his heart with courage, and the lost fighting spirit was surging back! "Snap!" "Pfft!" Two distinct sounds almost synchronized. The crisp sound of flesh being penetrated occurred right before his eyes, as the strongman holding the greatsword looked down in disbelief at the iron fist that had gone straight through the center of his chest. It... went through? Incredible speed! Tremendous strength! What about the bullet? Couldn''t the bullet save him? Oh, the bullet did hit. The yellow figure''s side helmet was charred black, even revealing slightly perforated alloy helmet beneath which black components lay hidden. Yet, right in front of him, the scorched, damaged spot was rapidly repairing itself at a visible speed, and in just a few seconds, the damaged area had returned to its original state. "Pfft!" With a rip by the little yellow figure, the human body before him split in two, blood raining down from the sky, splashing on the approaching Bai with white hair and Rose... Chapter 354 Miracle It''s even more... dangerous now!The moment the blood rain burst forth, it wasn''t just the stench of blood that hit the nose; there was also a bone-chilling cold that reached straight to the crown of the head. Facing the danger stimulated the senses almost to the point of constricting the pupils of Bai E and Rose, who were the closest; the little yellow beings had more energy to supply other combat systems since they were no longer using their shield systems to fully block damage. Moreover, when facing potentially higher kinetic outputs, the little yellow beings could freely allocate the strength of their shield resistance to ensure their repair speed was fast enough to keep up. A more flexible combat strategy brought unparalleled combat capability. They were the deadliest weapons of war, even a collection of human technology achievements from the Golden Age. Even though the strong man possessed considerable self-healing abilities in Grey Iron City, facing such devastating injuries where his body was torn apart, it was clear he wouldn''t survive. The strong man, not falling short of a warrior''s final glory in his warlike state, astonishingly used the last of his will with his only hand and foot, to cling onto the little yellow being''s legs. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire "Kill!" His last breath burst forth with an intense fighting spirit. It was unknown whether it was due to an overload in the system from using too much energy to tear apart the strong man or if the grip of the strong man, now torn in two, had taken effect, but the little yellow being''s body experienced a significant temporary rigidity. The arrow was on the string, it had to be released. The strong man''s life for a chance, and the experienced fighters wouldn''t miss it. "Hoo~" Rose took a deliberate breath through her mouth and nose, the surging power pulsated in her fine yet resilient muscle fibers, and she launched a straight punch from her lower back with full force. The invisible shield system briefly resisted for a moment, only to be scattered by the tremendous force. One punch, solidly hitting the chest armor of the little yellow being. "Crack!" The sound of the alloy armor splitting and cracking echoed, such extraordinary force causing even the human technology alloy to admit defeat. The gift of liberation wasn''t solely Bai E''s specialty. Apart from the strange skill called "lucky strike," everything Bai E had mastered could be familiarized and mastered by any native through their own training and combat. The difference was that the natives needed talent whereas Bai E, with the aid of his abilities panel, could control more effectively the acquisition and enhancement of all these abilities. "Hoo~" Rose withdrew her fist and swiftly retreated, feeling an empty loss in her body after throwing the punch; she knew this technique couldn''t be used for long. But for now... "Swallow it." From a distance, Bai E''s voice sounded, along with an object wrapped in silver foil thrown over. Bar No. 3. As Spiritual Energy filled him, Bai E gradually lost his extreme dependence on Bar No. 3 during combat. But for Rose, who had not yet awakened her Spiritual Energy, this was the best replenishment for her combat strength. Just like it had been for him previously. "Mhm." Rose grabbed it, casually tore open the wrapper, and swallowed it in one bite. Bar No. 3, made from an unknown substance, transformed into countless peculiar molecules the moment it reached the stomach, spreading a warm current throughout her body from her gut. With a twist of her neck and a light "crack," Rose''s eyes were full of fierce and soaring combat spirit. Battle was right before her, Bai E was right behind her. Could there be any moment more stirring in this world than the scene before them now? With one hand, Rose ripped open the combat suit offering slight protection, only wearing a military green tank top as she extensively warmed up her limbs. Her body yearned for the fiercest battle; this primal desire excited her beyond measure, yet she remained as calm as possible. "Whoosh!" Powered by explosive strength in her legs, Rose caught up to the little yellow being, which was in pursuit of the gorilla, in a display of speed that belied her delayed start. "Before you hurt my teammates, ask me first, scumbag!" Rose, leaping high, drove her knee into the face armor of the little yellow being, and the penetrating power of armor-breaking immediately sent a small piece of alloy flying, causing damage that turned out to be far greater than Bai E''s rifle shot earlier. "..." "Goodness." Zero watched from not far away, her eyes almost bulging out, "Rose is that fierce?" Considering that the little yellow being could take a hit from an Anti-Material Sniper Rifle, nobody had seen Rose incapacitate herself during their private sparring sessions within the team, had they? "..." Bai E remained silent, but even he seemed a bit taken aback by Rose''s performance. He knew she was fierce, but he hadn''t anticipated she''d be this fierce. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rose, without the panel and even the cheat-like skill "lucky strike" that Bai E had, had come this far, perhaps even surpassing the Blood God of the past, purely on her own talent. It seemed the Arbitration Place''s high regard for someone like Rose, who was cut off from Spiritual Energy, was not misplaced. The people of the Arbitration Place knew just how terrifying the enhancement of personal abilities through Spiritual Energy was; leaving aside the clever uses of Spiritual Energy itself, many of the skills Bai E now possessed also required the consumption of Spiritual Energy to support and perform. If those cut off from Spiritual Energy truly could not utilize it or have a similar power, only relying on their basic attributes, how could they compete against high-end opponents? Chapter 355 Miracle Read new chapters at My Virtual Library EmpireIn the days they spent together, Bai E would listen to Rose share things she had been privately taught by the people from Arbitration Place, as well as the characteristics of her unique "spiritless" constitution. Spiritless individuals didn''t lack souls, it was just that their Spiritual Bodies were not projected into higher-dimensional space, but fused with their physical bodies instead. Therefore, for them, it was not that they couldn''t sense the power of Spiritual Energy, but that they couldn''t sense the Spiritual Energy from the outside world. As for the energy within themselves¡­ Could someone accustomed to their own strength really distinguish between Spiritual Energy and physical strength? Her fervent will stimulated Rose''s Spiritual Energy, and the special constitution of a spiritless person only allowed the Spiritual Energy to take effect in the form of physical strength within her, the violent outburst far surpassing her base attributes¡ªa short-lived eruption caused by the turmoil of her spirit. This was the true talent of a spiritless person! "We can''t fall behind either," Bai E said with a smile tugging at his lips, looking at Zero beside him with eyes full of encouragement. He hadn''t chosen any of his team members blindly. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zero was also formidable. "Yes." With a somewhat youthful face set in determination, Zero hugged his red-dot sniper rifle tightly, aiming as accurately as possible at the ''little yellow people'' being entangled by several melee experts. The battle unfolding before his eyes gradually faded and was soon engulfed in darkness. Green dots of light began to converge from behind his field of vision, slowly assembling and outlining a world that transformed into a mesh of points and lines. The mesh was chaotic, filled with distorted curves, and it was constantly changing, like a fine fishing net underwater, revealing an unpredictable pattern due to the flow of the current. And the bodies engaged in the real-world combat appeared in Zero''s special vision as faint yellow outlines. These yellow-outlined figures tangled with the green mesh in Zero''s field of view, similar to dropped frames, with the ''little yellow person''s body occasionally revealing key "points" that briefly overlapped with the green net lines or dots. Those opportunities were fleeting and without any pattern, difficult to seize. Whenever Zero tried to aim, those overlapping "points" would repel each other like magnets of the same polarity, splitting apart instantly. Veins on Zero''s temples bulged as he strained his eyes, peering through the sniper rifle''s scope and chasing after that sliver of a chance. ''Face?'' ''Line?'' ''Point?'' "Not enough! Not enough!" Zero murmured under his breath. The more precise he was, the greater the opportunity! Twisting red lines seeped from the corners of his eyes. A strand¡­ A line¡­ A thread¡­ Flowing down the contours of his cheeks, eventually converging on his jawline. In the moment the surface tension of the blood-red liquid could no longer balance its own weight, a droplet of blood gently fell. Drip~ "Bang!" Zero pulled the trigger forcefully, shouting at the same time, "Captain!" "I see it," Bai E''s calm voice rose beside him. He had already put down his Anti-Material Sniper Rifle after instructing Zero, switching to his Compound Bow instead. The battle had escalated in intensity in the instant the ''little yellow people'' switched modes. Without knowing the full extent of the little yellow people''s capabilities, all previous attrition had been mere probing of the opponent''s hand. Seeing that the opponent had now gotten serious, he could no longer hide his own cards. If they continued to probe, it would be their side who would falter first. While Zero was taking aim, Bai E had already drawn his bow fully, ready with an arrow notched. Zero didn''t need to call out a reminder, and in truth, there was no time for it. The moment Zero decided to pull the trigger, Bai E, having sensed this, nearly acted in unison with him. Surrounding Spiritual Energy often brought a moment of "insight" concerning matters close to oneself. The scene of Zero pulling the trigger was possibly more vivid in Bai E''s mind than Zero''s own sensations... Therefore, aimed at by the sniper rifle''s red dot, a slender brass bullet hurtled forward, followed by a dark metallic arrow launching from another direction, preemptively striking the target before the bullet hit. A seemingly inconspicuous point on the ''little yellow person''s body, equivalent to the position of a human''s right rib. "Zzt!" The arrow, infused with techniques like "Steady Wind," "Power Shot," "Slay Hundred with a Blink," "Overlimit Drive," and the Spiritual Energy finesse¡ª"Spiritual Heart Transfer," held the mightiest force Bai E could muster at that time. Its kinetic impact, amplified layer upon layer, reached hundreds of points in magnitude, unlike missiles capable of a similar level of impact¡ªdispersed and dealing blunt damage. An arrow''s damage was more penetrating. Given the same kinetic impact, it far exceeded the damage from a blast with a wider impact surface, as long as it could penetrate the defense. Even the shield system crafted in the Golden Age operating at its peak power could not withstand the onslaught of this arrow. The defensive power of the shield system could not even put up the slightest resistance, and was penetrated in an instant. As for the body made from special alloys... against this exceptional arrow, it was equally powerless. Carrying the whirlwind in its wake, the arrow whistled as it pierced through the mechanical body. Chapter 356 Miracle ``` S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Crack-crackle!" Numerous electronic components shattered into a lament under this strike, and due to the internal energy flow conflicts, space-time speckles, energy disturbances, and many other factors combined, the impact of this hit was far more terrifying than the gaping wound from that punch. [Your attack successfully crushed the opponent''s core system, causing the target to fall into mechanical disarray¡ªself-repair function temporarily damaged, shield system collapsed, requiring entry into a dedicated repair bay.] [Your attack inflicted 354 points of comprehensive damage on the target!] Previously, everyone''s attacks were unable to cause sufficient damage, so much so that the target only revealed its true life values now¡ª646/1000. Compared to the previous war machine, it was directly enhanced by double. Bai E''s strike was highly damaging, but still not enough, not even able to take away half. Fortunately, the subsequent effects were decent, with the core disarray causing the minion to crash momentarily, the most critical being that both of its core systems had been compromised. Even mechanical power could no longer connect them. Next, aside from the intrinsic strength of its armor alloy, its defensive capabilities were far less aberrant than initially. This is Zero''s gifted ability¡ªMiracle. It consolidated all possible conditions, gathered all those conditions that were almost impossible to occur simultaneously, and then applied a sufficient external force at the right moment. With Zero''s strength, it was certainly hard to shatter the armor of high-defense enemies, but as long as Bai E''s response was quick enough, they could launch a burst attack somewhat like a combination move. "Maintain your fighting strength and avoid further injuries; it can no longer outlast us," Bai E encouraged. Like a cornered beast still fighting, the opponent, having lost core functions, would be more "impatient" than themselves, if these original intelligent machines possessed such emotional modules. Be wary of the opponent''s retaliatory outburst, as an injured beast is even more dangerous. Because they have nothing left to lose. "Buzz!" A dangerous red glow emanated from the minion''s crystal-like eyes, and although void of expression, everyone felt a piercing murderous intent. But everyone knew it was because the enemy had truly sensed danger. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire "Another arrow!" Morale in the allied forces soared, and Rose watched Bai E intently, full of anticipation. ["Lucky Strike" charge +2.] "Zero?" Bai E turned to look at Zero, who stood beside him, cradling his gun. But met only a pair of eyes covered in blood. Zero, having tried to use his ability to its fullest for the first time, also suffered the massive backlash of this terrifying talent and was clearly unable to repeat it right away. Bai E diverted his gaze, making no demand. He simply bent his bow and nocked another arrow to its maximum draw. At this very moment, the minion, having locked onto Bai E as its primary threat, moved in a flash, and its aesthetically pleasing alloy fist aimed a blow at Bai E''s face. With no energy being spent on shield systems and repair systems, the minion''s offensive became notably more exaggerated. Rose and the white-furred warrior struggled valiantly to intercept, but couldn''t halt it even by half a step. Bai E watched the incoming fist intently, stepping back early as anticipated, his eyes free from any panic. His "Extreme Sensory Sharpness" awakened from the injection of Gene Optimization Solution and "Fury Surge" obtained from the Blood God greatly amplified his insight and reflexes, allowing him even the surplus to observe the entire situation on the battleground¡ª As the minion''s silhouette intersected with that of the white-furred team captain, Bai E caught a pair of eyes filled with apology. Apology? Why apology? Why did I ascertain that as an apology? Is it... a hint from Spiritual Energy? Is the opponent about to do something regrettable to me? Bai E narrowed his eyes, and as the long arrow left his hand, he slipped and fell to the ground. "Huff! Huff!" Bai E sat collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. Sweat deliberately exuded from his forehead, dropping in large beads, his acting utterly convincing. [Your attack inflicted 332 points of comprehensive damage on the target!] The damage had little variability, just missing the "special effect" bonus from Zero. And Bai E, who achieved such a terrifying output, rightfully bore immense pressure, lying half on the ground, seemingly at the brink of weakness. "Thwack!" The arrow pierced the minion''s body, and Rose, who was closely following it, also landed a kick on the minion''s thigh, causing it to stagger involuntarily. "Are you alright?" Rose, who had forced back the minion, flashed over to Bai E and extended a hand to help him retreat, her concern genuine and heartfelt. "I''ve got this!" The white-furred warrior stood out, positioning himself between Bai E and the minion. He blocked their line of sight and also the faint blue light flickering on the minion''s metallic arm... ``` Chapter 357 333 Lethal Weapon, and Apologies "Swoosh!"A dazzling beam of light, seemingly brighter than sunlight itself, flashed momentarily across everyone''s field of vision. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two azure beams shot out from the Minion''s arm-mounted devices, the recoil so tremendous that it had to flick its wrist upwards at the exact moment of deployment. "Zzzt!" The beams emanating from both arms drew a perfect circle around the Minion''s position, revealing the long-prepared lethal weapon''s imposing power. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire The ground over which the beams passed turned pitch black, with only two finger-thick gaps revealing an abyss so deep that not even sunlight could penetrate. Divide! Divide! Everything in the path of the beams split into two distinct halves, clearly demarcated. The stone ground nearby, the metal walls in the distance. Even the Grey Iron City gorilla, standing behind the Minion and about to bring down its great sword, was bisected by the beam. Under the high-temperature, high-energy beam, not even blood appeared at the site of the wound. The halved Grey Iron City gorilla stood motionless for a long time; with a gust of wind, it seemed to realize it had become a creature of the dead, and its two halves fell irregularly to either side, forming an "eight" shape. In front of the Minion, Bai E and Captain Rosehair, almost in a direct line, could not escape either. Two halves. Two halves. This was a strike poised against Bai E for a long time. The activation of the high-energy beam required a considerable charge-up, and at this unimaginable moment, the beam swept out without any warning, shocking everyone present. Even if Bai E had been fully alert, it was doubtful he could have reacted in time to an attack from such a light weapon. The lethal weapon from the original intelligent machines indeed possessed the fatal ability worthy of its name. Rose held the body she had supported by its shoulder, feeling the mass in her hands instantly lighten by half, and her eyes became somewhat dull. The sudden strike left her mind blank; no matter how much she trusted Bai E, it was hard to believe that someone could be saved after being split in two. Not to mention that besides Bai E, no one else present had any medical... "You!" "You!" The moment she thought of healing, Rose thought of You. It had been she who recommended Bai E to go and learn medical capabilities, and she herself had explored the subject long ago. You looked over from afar, a mournful shake of the head conveying, "I can''t do it..." I can''t do it... Once again... Once again witnessing teammates die before her eyes, and she was powerless to help! You stood rooted to the spot, clenching her teeth, her whole body trembling. Her fingers tightly gripped the submachine gun in her hands until, with a fierce motion, she charged toward the Minion, now in a brief state of overload. Die! Let them all die! Within You''s seemingly calm and cool eyes, a cold, deadly stillness had settled. "Ratatatatata!" Each bullet carried the flame of rage. It was like a flickering spark... "I can''t die! I cannot die yet..." The figure standing there, split in two, struggled to maintain the balance of its bisected body. Invisible, intangible grey mist, like some sticky, gluey substance, desperately tried to draw the two halves of the body together, preventing them from completely falling apart. Formidable Spiritual Energy tenaciously bonded the body back together; the body, which tended to disperse, was once more united inch by inch under this force, and a piercing light shone in Rosehair''s eyes, her will to survive never having been so fierce. "This is my mission! I must complete everything! Let me finish it all!" All the souls that had once resided within this body were merely temporary passengers, their ethereal lives ending at some unimportant moment, just as no one cared when the current soul had begun. And no one cared now. But there was something that had to be done now. The captain from Blackwater City was very formidable, and a kind person... So, he must be devoured. This task had to be undertaken personally. I must completely settle matters with this soul here and now. Then... freedom. May the next soul that takes over this body be free from this moment forth. No longer bound by the doctor''s orders, no longer killing and devouring fellow beings for the sake of slaughter. There are so many new things in this world. Go see, go witness. Go play, go laugh. Go embrace this world! "Swoosh!" The formless mist instantly gathered from the crevices of the body, and with it, the body that had been split in two merged back into one. The white-haired neck gently lowered from its thrown-back position, the eyes now shining with their restored lively gleam. "Let me live a little longer..." she whispered softly, turning to look behind her. "I can save him." White Hair hurried over and crouched down, her eyes sincerely looking at Rose, and the eye that was always hidden under the half-length white fringe also became visible, joining in the gaze upon Rose, "You go help. We can''t let the proto-intelligent machine get its breath back." ''The other party is not to be trusted.'' Rose always remembered the words Bai E had privately said to her before. So she hesitated... "Squeak~" There was a strange sensation in the palm of her hand. As if fingers were mischievously scratching at her palm. In a place White Hair could not see, Rose''s left hand was covering the fingertips of Bai E''s left hand... Rose was momentarily stunned, then suddenly overjoyed, yet she showed no sign of it on her face. Seeming to have made a tough decision, Rose stared intently at the White Hair in front of her, her eyes serious and ice-cold for the first time, "Alright! But if anything happens to our captain, you all will join him in burial... even you." White Hair looked straight into Rose''s eyes, unflinching, "If he is in trouble, I''ll be the first to join him in burial." In terms of souls... shouldn''t everyone be equal? "I''m sorry..." After Rose left and watched as the original proto-intelligent machine, having entered a temporary overload state from the use of lethal weapons, gradually regained most of its mobility, turning the battle chaotic once again, White Hair then leaned down beside Bai E''s ear and whispered so gently. "You are wonderful, but I can''t resist the doctor''s orders..." The doctor''s orders were like the deepest brand of thought, innate. This body wasn''t naturally grown; she was one of the doctor''s finest creations. "I will try my best to suppress the doctor''s orders, from after my time..." For some reason, maybe because the awakened soul this time was firm and intelligent, or perhaps it was because of getting "close" to that warm yet cold "sun"? This body had never wavered during a mission like it had today. Every target that perished in her mouth seemed as inconsequential as pigs or dogs, bringing her no sense of burden whatsoever. But no matter what, this was the first time... For the first time, the temporary occupant of this body started trying to resist the inborn mission of this body. Yet that would only be a result visible to the next soul... Change starts with me, yet I won''t see the future that change brings. "I''m sorry... I''m sorry..." Large drops of tears fell one by one onto Bai E''s face, and White Hair, with a usually expressionless face, couldn''t stop crying. For the first time, emotions overcame the brand, and White Hair looked at the serene, sleeping face so close to her, apologizing for the last time. "I''m sorry..." But I can''t delay any longer. A recently deceased body is still useful; if we delay further, it won''t satisfy the mad craving for consumption that comes from the brand in this body. "I know you can''t hear me, but I really want to say to you, face to face... I''m sorry." "I heard you." Chapter 358 334 quick recovery to 100% Bai E whispered back, then slowly opened his eyes.He certainly hadn''t died. The lethal weapon was indeed terrifying, and even if Bai E had detected the attacker''s intention, he would have had trouble avoiding it in time. Taking the hit head-on was out of the question, even with Absolute Defense activated, it absolutely couldn''t withstand the damage from that ray weapon. Split in two, that was the only fate for a target attacked, or rather, locked on by a ray weapon. Against such a terrifying adversary, perhaps only human lives could fill the gap. Every first-generation smart machine possessed extraordinary combat strength beyond ordinary human imagination, and this was only one, unable to cooperate with others. If they operated in groups, even if first-generation smart machines like themselves and Zero''s combination technique were hit, they could retreat behind their companions for rapid repair. They truly were mankind''s great enemy. But fortunately, there was only one opponent this time. Its ray weapon also couldn''t be used routinely. Today, for the first time, the "Defiance of Death" obtained from that ancient warrior exhibited its heaven-defying effect. For a normal body, the wound was so severe it was beyond horror, but under the super organ capable of "deceiving death," Bai E''s body still clung to a sliver of life. Even under the effect of the regenerating blood, the health bar wiped out in one hit by that terrifying ray weapon was slowly recovering. [You have taken a fatal attack, health points -200.] [Under the effect of the "Trait¡ªDefiance of Death," you have successfully retained 1 health point. You will maintain your current action state until the next high-value fatal damage is taken.] [Under the effect of the "Trait¡ªBlood of Regeneration," your cellular vitality has been greatly enhanced, rapidly repairing damaged body tissues, health points quickly recovering... Health points +1.] S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [... Health points +1.] [... Health points +1.] ... And it wasn''t just these acquired abilities from various sources, the innate talent and expertise that had come with Bai E''s birth had finally completed their final metamorphosis at this moment¡ª [Your body is rapidly repairing the wounds, don''t worry! Warrior!] [Injury repair progress 40%, Rapid Recovery (unlocked) unlocking progress 100%.] [Innate Talent¡ªRapid Recovery (Genetic Optimized Version): Your body has become familiar with nearly all forms of energy in this world. From now on, your body can draw from any perceptible and imperceptible, usable and unusable forms of energy. It will draw all usable components to restore every status of your body (including but not limited to your physical health, stamina, willpower, Spiritual Energy, etc.). For pure energy forms of external forces (including attacks), you can also absorb a "portion" for recovery.] At the moment Rapid Recovery was successfully unlocked, Bai E could even feel every cell in his body come to "life." The clean-cut, piercing wound that had divided him was "fatal," but the attack was straightforward, and the damage area was not extensive, making it simpler to repair. A mere "fatal wound" is nothing to speak of. In the gap between conversations, newly formed cells had already pushed aside the charred black debris burnt instantly by the high-energy ray. The squirming flesh buds, as if possessing their own consciousness, stretched out their tendrils toward the other half of the body. Amid the sticky "sizzling" of cells, the split flesh finally reattached. Bai B looked at the scene unfolding before her eyes, filled with disbelief, "You... how did you?" She could sense that the other party also had Spiritual Energy and that normally the other''s vitality was quite robust, but when it came to something more private like the last breath of life, her Spiritual Energy wasn''t sufficient to make a more precise judgment. By all logic, it was her Spirit Energy¡ªstrong enough to be considered formidable even among the secondary stage¡ªforcibly keeping this last breath of life, so how could he? "I heard it," Bai E slowed his breathing and calmly sat up. It was as if the strike that could destroy any creature had no effect on him. Of course, that wasn''t actually the case. [Current Health: 32/200.] This health ratio could certainly be considered critically low. Resisting death could only maintain a certain basic level of action for Bai E, but another power from the Blood God, "Extreme Pain Suppression", was the real reason Bai E could ignore those bone-piercing, lung-drilling, heart-twisting pains and maintain the ability to fight. Moreover, he had deliberately hidden and reserved his Spiritual Energy just now, and about half of it remained, which was enough to cope with danger. He was critically injured, but his combat power had not diminished. This was where Bai E''s confidence came from. And seeing Bai E in front of her, seemingly unaffected, Bai Mao''s eyes revealed a visible sense of fear. She felt guilty towards this captain of Blackwater City, but to satisfy, or rather, to quell the frantic devouring desire within, she had to consume the one in front of her. Only at the moment of satisfying that brand would she have the chance to seal it with her Spiritual Energy, thus freeing the later soul from the brand''s control. The better the opponent''s condition, the smaller her chance. The opportunity to inflict serious injuries on him with the Hand of Primordial Intelligence came only once and must not be missed! Her eyes hardened, and Bai Mao drew a dagger from behind her waist. This was the first time she had revealed her weapon¡ª A creation of Spiritual Energy capable of easily penetrating all defenses. Her purpose for being created was never to target heretics; even her true combat strength was assassination against humans of the same size. "Snap!" "Snap!" Almost instantly, the two who were in close proximity exchanged multiple blows. The close-quarters combat was fierce and dangerous, equally perilous for both sides. The dagger''s cold light flickered, bringing with it the chill of piercing skin as it passed over. Fortunately, Bai E''s own level-6 proficiency in hand-to-hand combat was equally remarkable, and even against the opponent''s second-level Spiritual Energy suppression, he was still able to hold his own. Knowing that Bai E''s teammates could discover the change behind them and come to his aid at any moment, Bai Mao realized within two breaths of combat that the Blackwater City captain''s close combat skills were also extraordinary, and her eyes suddenly filled with a thick mist. "Boom!" The psychic attack in the mental realm came swiftly and stealthily, like countless spikes suddenly thrusting towards the vulnerable brain, or like a heavy steel weight smashing down hard. The violent explosion echoed in his mind, yet under the influence of something like a filter, the abrupt assault on the spiritual realm did not greatly affect Bai E''s movements. [With the help of "Self Restraint", you have successfully passed a mental resistance check, and your resistance to similar origins of assault increases for a short time.] "..." It was still self-restraint. Bai E felt somewhat relieved. The next moment, he explosively attacked. Annihilating a Hundred Heads! Chapter 359 335 explode! Afterimages flared, limbs coordinated in rapid succession.To instantly kill a hundred, one could strike the same spot several times in an instant, counting as "a single hit," or attack multiple areas simultaneously, considered "at the same time." With Overlimit Drive and the Gift of Salvation activated, Bai E''s moves were fierce and caught his enemies off guard. Under his short-range burst, White Hair was caught by surprise in an instant. "You¡­" He was clearly a sniper specialized in long-range combat, so how could he be so ferocious up close? ¡­ "How did they start fighting?" The incident in the rear did not remain hidden from the others for long. The acting team leader of Grey Iron City and the boy flashed an understanding look, instantly recalling their captain''s earlier reminder. "Don''t come over!" Before they could act on their indecision, they heard their captain''s icy command, "Deal with the artificial intelligence, it''s also an enemy." White Hair multitasked, directing her teammates while plunging a dagger down. She was above, Bai E below, holding a natural advantage in position. But she had neither the strength nor the skill¡­ Bai E, without a word, easily blocked White Hair''s dagger with what seemed like a wider palm, then delivered a hard chop to her jaw, sending her flying with his top-notch strength. He also took the opportunity to quickly stand up from his disadvantaged semi-reclining position. Her intent to kill was clear, and he was equally decisive, even if the intent was mixed with apology, Bai E did not soften in the slightest. After all, not far away, Rose and You were still dealing with that dangerous first-generation artificial intelligence, who knows if that little yellow minion could emit another fatal ray weapon in a short time. Another hit like that, and he wouldn''t be able to take it. Resisting death also had an internal cooldown, the mysterious organ inside needed time to recover after one use, and if he was hit by rays again before that, he had no chance of survival. This was the first time Bai E truly felt the immediate threat of life and death, and it could even be said he had narrowly skirted the brink. After quickly dispatching White Hair in front of him, he would be free to deal with that first-generation artificial intelligence completely. Bai E sprang to his feet with an explosive boost from his legs, his body surging forward to lunge again. With the help of Spiritual Energy, White Hair barely managed to stabilize her form only to watch his fist steadily grow larger before her eyes, and eventually, it landed squarely on her face. "Crack!" An alarmingly sharp snapping sound echoed, emanating from White Hair''s neck. Her body might be able to resurrect infinitely, but her physical defenses were just average, and as long as her Spiritual Energy field could be breached to land a hit on her body, the captain''s physique was like an easy target. "Swoosh!" Bai E didn''t let his guard down, spinning around to deliver a whip kick, and upon landing, he followed with a sweeping blow. His raw power unleashed furiously. [Your attack hits the target, dealing 0 points of strike damage.] [Target''s breathing has ceased, basic life signs lost.] [Your attack hits the target, dealing 0 points of strike damage.] [Target''s breathing has ceased, basic life signs lost.] But no experience points notification popped up. Her body was like a limp sandbag at the mercy of anyone''s abuse, yet no matter what he did, there seemed to be a force maintaining her rough form. Spiritual Energy! An immortal body could nourish the existence of the soul, and an undying soul in turn supported her Spiritual Energy. ¡­ She wouldn''t die! I won''t die! Bai E narrowed his eyes, his fingers caressing the pistol at his waist. He considered whether to use "Lucky Shot" and blow her away directly. But even with "Lucky Shot," it might not be possible to kill the white-haired captain in this state. It was a gamble. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Moreover, the most crucial issue was that he only had one chance left for his "Lucky Shot." If he used it on the white-haired captain, he wouldn''t be able to deal with the original model artificial intelligence that was behind him. The drop rates of these two enemies were equally alluring to him. Even the threat of the original model artificial intelligence seemed higher. "..." Bai E''s gaze intensified as he made his decision. A kick exploded from his foot, and the sound of cracking bone was even more distinct. The more severe the injury was, the longer it would presumably take for the opponent to repair itself. Within that time, he would have more than enough time to first eliminate the threat posed by the artificial intelligence. "Snap!" The powerless body was kicked by Bai E against the metal exterior of the signal base station, producing a dull sound. Bai E turned his back, and as he looked toward that little yellow person, his hands once again closed around his compound bow. A limit of 99 points of Spiritual Energy meant that he could now burst forth several times. And each burst would be a terrifying blow that his opponents could hardly withstand. The endless gale coalesced at Bai E''s fingertips, as the tumultuous force eager to be unleashed swirled at his fingertips, ready to strike. The little yellow person seemed to sense the source of danger and became visibly more agitated. Far from the composure and elegance it displayed upon first appearing, even the exposed electrical beams and sparks now had a hint of panic. As it increasingly adopted thought patterns similar to those of humans, even the artificial intelligence began to develop primitive cognitive circuits of "fear" and "confusion." Unfortunately for it, under the restraining efforts of the ferocious Rose and You, with significant damage sustained to its body, the original model artificial intelligence was also unable to escape the entanglement of these formidable women. "Whoosh!" The wind howled, the arrow disappeared. [Your attack has caused 300 points of comprehensive damage to the target!] A sizeable hole now appeared in the middle of the delicate yellow carapace''s chest. Through the hollow, one could see the flickering sparks from the severed electrical cables, along with the mini-core reactor¡ªessentially the heart of the machine. The most critical parts naturally had the strongest protection, and even Bai E''s arrow could not destroy the protective casing of the core. As a result, the corner of the nuclear reactor protruded awkwardly through the perfectly round hole. Life Value ¡ª 8/1000 A true candle in the wind. But for an artificial intelligence, as long as the damage to their body doesn''t exceed a certain threshold, they won''t lose the ability to move about as severely injured humans would. Even if all they needed was to enter a repair pod, they could swiftly be restored to their original condition. The artificial intelligence with only 8 points of life left also had the capability to threaten and turn the tables. Of course, Bai E wouldn''t give it that chance. He drew his pistol. [Activate "Lucky Shot."] For the first time, the eyes resembling rubies made brief contact with Bai E before the brass bullets, spinning, shattered the transparent lens. As pieces of the fractured crystal lens scattered, Bai E also received the comforting prompt ¡ª [Loot acquired: Steel*3000, Combat Experience 8000 points, Technology: Advanced Steel Smelting Process, Technology: Advanced Component Forging Process, Knowledge: Miniaturized Kinetic Theory, Trait: Mechanical Mind.] Chapter 360 336 died again... [Resurrection process ongoing...]''I cannot die!'' ''I cannot die!'' In a pitch-dark world, a lone soul curled into itself as if residing in a womb, fists clenched, biting hard on the front teeth. Of course, perhaps she wasn''t alone. In the nothingness surrounding her, it seemed as if countless chaotic tombstones stood tall, and she... might become the next addition in a moment''s time. Only a few memorable aspects of this experience would be passed on to the next host of this body. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every former owner of this body had come to be in the same manner. Unconscious birth, meaningless death. It was as if only the brand imprinted on the soul itself was the true "soul" of this body. It shouldn''t be like this... "It shouldn''t be like this!" No one lives like this, "I" shouldn''t either. Of course, perhaps "I" might no longer be able to see what true "freedom" is, but maybe I can spare the next "me" from the torment of this insubstantial life. I might be the first to realize this. The true end might need to begin with me. Let me bear this lucid pain! Let me bear the sin of hurting others! Let me be the final end of this painful life! And then, embrace rebirth! "Boom!" The stubbornness of the soul stirred up Spiritual Energy, and the remaining members of the two confrontational squads felt that spirit-level tempest, turning their gaze in its direction immediately. White fluffy hair moved on its own, spreading as freely as if floating in water. The petite body lazily floated in the air, supported by the Spiritual Energy she exuded. The arms dangled unconsciously, as if she had not yet awakened from her "dream." The interim squad leader and the little boy, who had been ready to surrender, were instantly invigorated and rushed over, "Captain!" The people of Blackwater City are terrifying; without their own captain, how would they survive? "Old Bai?" Rose looked towards Bai E, seeking guidance subconsciously. The white-haired captain had already made a move against Bai E once, and someone who had shown their true colors was undoubtedly an unequivocal enemy. While the other party had not fully revived, why not fire another volley? Bai E with an intense gaze, took a moment before shaking his head, "Wait and see." She had indeed acted, and even though her words conveyed regret, the earnest killing intent was anything but illusory. Her apology was not really aimed at him but appeared more like redemption for herself. It was as if... she was realizing her actions were wrong for the first time, but still had no choice, hence the mentality of owing the victim. It wasn''t her goodwill towards him; it was her goodwill toward herself. It wasn''t her apology to him, but rather an apology to every life lost at her hands. Realizing this, Bai E had resolved to strike fatally, and considering the characteristic of the opponent changing personalities with each death, what kind of being was now presenting itself? Since the opponent was no match for him, Bai E didn''t mind waiting to see what new tricks were in store. This world''s secrets were still plenty... The deputy captain and the little boy from Grey Iron City, who had approached closer, didn''t dare to touch but also didn''t dare to distance themselves and just kept calling from a steady gap, "Captain~ Captain?" The body with all limbs hanging limply as if unresponsive, seemed to have heard the calls from the outside world. The next moment, a pair of eyes clear as gems snapped open, and the body suspended in mid-air slowly straightened from its slanted position. Those eyes met with Bai E''s, a ravenous hunger to devour surfacing instinctively, overshadowing the original crystal-clear sky blue of the irises. "Whoosh!" Seemingly relaxed and waiting, Bai E drew his bow, and an arrow launched almost instantaneously, embedding itself directly into the forehead of the white-haired figure before anyone could react. The arrowhead halfway in, feathers sticking out. Just the right strength, a perfect center hit. "Crack!" The body that had just awakened and hung in mid-air once again crashed to the ground like a clump of mud, its head propped at an odd angle by the metal arrow sticking through it. The two survivors from Grey Iron City stood dumbfounded beside, staring at their captain who had once again become a "corpse," disbelief written all over their faces. The captain... had died again? "..." "..." "?" "?" "?" All eyes turned to Bai E at once, and in the eyes of the two surviving members of Grey Iron City, there was no longer much fear, only deep confusion¡ª Why would you wait for our captain to fully wake up before making your move if you can''t stand to see her alive? Bai E''s fingers caressed the comfortable body of the compound bow twice, knowing that Rose was looking at him with confusion, so he explained without shifting his gaze. "It''s still her." Yes, it was still that same personality... or perhaps, soul. She wanted to attack him, so of course, he couldn''t indulge her. And Bai E was quite curious¡ªif this phoenix-like ability could really allow her to resurrect without limit? That would be way too overpowered. He just didn''t know if swapping souls after each death was a side effect of this ability, but the current soul hadn''t changed even after several deaths, had it? Bai E wasn''t without the intention of using Bai Mao to test things out; after all, she couldn''t die, so he could mess around as he pleased. If this ability really was useful, couldn''t he steal it for himself to have as a trump card? "..." "Drive your vehicle over here." While waiting for Bai Mao to come back to life, Bai E didn''t forget to order the two surviving members of Grey Iron City. "Ah?" The boy sounded as if he didn''t understand and responded blankly. He knew Bai E was talking to him, but he wasn''t sure if he really was commanding him. "You have a vehicle, drive it over." You had discovered this based on the tracks, discussing it privately with Bai E beforehand. Even if the other party tried their best to disguise it, they couldn''t escape the eyes of You, the master tracker. "I..." The boy opened his mouth blankly, wanting to say something in rebuttal, but ended up saying nothing. He just felt completely bewildered¡ª You killed our captain, twice! And now you want to boss us around, as if it''s the most natural thing? What do you take us for? Traitors? Although there''s nothing wrong with being a traitor... after all, if our captain couldn''t win and was still stubborn about it, under the circumstances of already revealed hostility, not surrendering would probably mean a certain death. "Alrighty!" The acting captain responded more promptly, evidently much more aware of the situation. She seemed incredibly cooperative and lacked any semblance of arrogance when not in a combat state. "Don''t think about escaping, we have companions nearby," Bai E casually reminded them. Having had a conflict with the people of Grey Iron City, Bai E would have, of course, preferred to eliminate all witnesses if possible. But if he could incorporate them into his own ranks, that wouldn''t be bad either; there were plenty of grey figures in the world, and abducting a few for the rebirth of Li Ming didn''t seem like a big problem. The acting captain paused, her lips twitching before she reluctantly agreed, "...Yes." Indeed, the people of Blackwater City never moved in such small groups. But if you''re already so damn strong, why do you need so many people? "Go open the door," Bai E nodded to Zhou. Once the Minions had come out, the gate had closed again, requiring authorization or a key to open. Zhou had an interest in technological stuff and had made an effort to understand it during his free time. When they decided to split up, Bai E had used the goodwill he had recently garnered to con a key from a fellow communications and research officer. One must always plan ahead for all eventualities; since they were going to separate, Bai E thought it was better to keep the key items in his own hands. "Yes." Zhou, who had somewhat recovered from his bloodied eyes, immediately ran over cheerfully. "Should we call those two squads over?" Rose leaned in close to Bai E''s ear and asked quietly. She knew Bai E had many secrets and sometimes needed to avoid the prying eyes of others. "No need, we''ll summon them after everything is settled." With Bai Mao''s case yet to reach a final conclusion, Bai E preferred not to let the military''s spies know too many of his secrets for the time being. As for the final treatment of Bai Mao, Bai E currently had two plans in mind¡ª If her ability really was impressive and he also found a way to kill her for sure, he could temporarily take her back and keep her safely, waiting until he had saved up enough for a lucky critical hit before executing her. If her ability was not so great, or if there was no way to completely eliminate her, apart from killing her again and then running away, what other good plan could there be? Perhaps, he could also see what personality she would end up with next time? If there was no danger, maybe she could be persuaded to join their side? Everything still depended on the upcoming tests... Chapter 361 337, I killed... "The door is open," Zero reported with swift efficiency. After opening the gates, he first scanned the interior of the information base, discovering that, aside from some devices he couldn''t understand, there was no threat of any independently thinking intelligent mechanisms. Therefore, he returned immediately to inform the others."Hmm," Bai E nodded, quietly watching the timer on his wrist, unhurried to deal with the base''s affairs. Only Bai E possessed the technical skills to integrate the information base with the human internet network within the team. Zero, still new to learning, hadn''t yet managed to handle the complex, cutting-edge technology from the Golden Age. But connecting to the network took time, and Bai E was uneasy with the possibility of the white-haired captain resurrecting when not within his sight. After all, the white-haired captain''s ability to resurrect over and over was far more critical. "There''s movement." Rose, who was squatting beside Bai E, twitched her eyelids before suddenly speaking with a hint of excitement. "Hmm," Bai E saw it too. This resurrection was not as dramatic; the metal arrow squeezed forcibly out of the skull by some mysterious force, the white-haired captain, now lying sideways on the ground in an odd posture, once again opened those sky-blue eyes. He sat up and looked at Bai E. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire A powerful urge to devour immediately took hold of her senses, allowing no resistance. "..." "Whizz." Bai E was quick-eyed and nimble-handed, releasing an arrow in a flash. The white-haired captain fell at the sound, ending it cleanly. "..." "..." Rose blinked, "You didn''t even let her say a word..." "No change, what''s there to say," Bai E retorted and, remembering the other''s resurrection time, got up from the ground and walked towards the open gate of the information base. The brief span of over three minutes was ample time for him to integrate the base into the human internet network, time that should not be wasted. Difficult for those who don''t know, easy for those who do. Once you have the technology, the practical operation is quite simple... What appeared to be a complicated and flashy panel was, in front of Bai E, who was familiar with the process, nothing more than a two to three-minute task before the base was once more incorporated into the human internet sector. "Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?" After testing the linkback to base and ensuring no issues, Bai E finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew~" By completing the restart process, even if intelligent mechanisms regained control of the base for "mining," they couldn''t prevent humans from using the base to transmit information. These signal bases came from the Golden Age, and their ability to convey information was almost an inherent feature, one which the intelligent mechanisms, even those originated from the same era and sharing the same ancestry as the signal bases, couldn''t stop from functioning. Unless they destroyed it... But if they chose to destroy, they would equally be unable to mine. A lose-lose situation. Of course, the "mining" performed by the intelligent mechanisms would definitely interfere with the transmission speed of human information. As such, whether the military would counterattack the nearby Intelligent Mechanism Base and station a significant force here depended on the opinions of the high-ranking military officials to whom he would report back. It wasn''t his concern... "Captain, she seems to be waking up soon." Stone, who had been watching the white-haired captain from Grey Iron City outside, suddenly ran in to report. "Oh?" Bai E nodded, "Understood." With that, Bai E gave the base one last look. The main structure was no different from the first base he had explored, except this one, having been in continuous use, was not a "ruin" and therefore didn''t trigger the exploration process of a ruin. Besides that, there were some "mining" devices placed by the intelligent mechanisms¡ª Long legs like that of high-legged spiders stood throughout the base, with the core crystalline light rings encircling the base''s own crystal column as if they were a natural formation. Below each mechanical arm was a blank logic cube embedded within a fixed slot, waiting for the "core" to be infused. In a corner, there was a neatly arranged stack of logic cubes already infused with the Computing Power Modules, glowing blue, crystalline tendrils stretching and changing within them, slowly rotating, exuding a mesmerizing magical allure. These were the core existence of every intelligent mechanism. Just put a "metal shell" on the outside, and a brand-new intelligent mechanism is created. Of course, humans neither knew the specifics of the manufacturing technology nor had any interest in learning it. Looking at those crystalline blocks, Bai E felt as though he was looking at embryonic cells awaiting development and growth, like...artificial humans? sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Take it apart," Bai E ordered softly, then turned and stepped out. No matter whether the intelligent mechanisms would rebuild or not, since he had come, he might as well leave something behind, not to mention he needed to take pictures to report back... ``` "How do you take it apart?" Stone touched the back of his head. "Violent dismantling? Don''t you know that?" Bai E stopped, glanced at him. "Oh?" Stone''s eyes lit up, "Oh!" He got excited! The daylight outside had already begun to dim. The white-haired captain lay on the ground, furrowing her brows lightly, but still hadn''t woken up. "Is she having a nightmare?" Rose asked softly. Setting aside the absurdity that came with her peculiar personality when she was awake, the one lying in a "coma" was evidently just a delicate-looking little girl. It was even hard to tell her gender. She was merely an underdeveloped child with a delicate appearance, devoid of any gender characteristics. Yet, such a child possessed such tremendous power. Against Bai E, this captain from Grey Iron City seemed to have no power to fight back, but facing the current Bai E, how many could truly confront him? So, why did this "child" attack Bai E in the first place? And how the hell did she become the captain of a special squad in Grey Iron City? What kind of nightmares was she having? Rose blinked her eyes, somewhat curious. She was uninhibited in her personality, but it didn''t stop her from also having the meticulousness that came naturally to women. ... "Pain..." "So painful..." Every time she was killed, she had to endure the agony of death once more. The pain in her body was secondary; she had already been through countless such episodes during past modifications, and she was the only one among the kids who underwent the same process to make it to the end because only she had endured each extraordinary torture. The physical pain had become familiar to her body, even to the point where it seemed to bring "satisfaction." But the soul... The soul hurt so much too... Every killing blow was like a shattering of the soul. As if a piece of exquisite porcelain was smashed on the ground, shattered to pieces... And she had glued it back together with sheer willpower. In the past, a new soul was used with each death because none of those souls had the determination to continue living in this world. If life had no meaning, death was equally meaningless. It was just that this time, she had a reason she absolutely had to keep living! But... it really hurt so much. So much pain, so much pain, so much pain, so much pain!!!! "Huff!" Like a drowning person suddenly rescued from underwater, nearly suffocating, the white-haired girl abruptly sat up. Memories rushed back as she got up, and the first figure she saw upon opening her eyes once again triggered the judgment criteria of the brand, an astonishing desire to devour interfering with her thoughts at first sight. Every following action had to be centered around the goal of devouring him... one cannot deceive oneself. This time, however... that impulsive desire seemed to have faded slightly? "Poof!" Without the chance to think, darkness enveloped the white-haired girl''s vision once more. "..." Rose glanced sideways at Bai E. "She died again..." "I killed her." ``` Chapter 362 Gold Seed 338 Bai E didn''t believe that there could really be people who never died, even if every rebirth involved a soul exchange, a flaw. For humanity as a collective, that was a terrifying existence.Not to mention that this person had already died several times. What happened to the promised soul swapping? Such a defy-nature individual couldn''t possibly exist, and even individuals with a limited number of rebirths were unlikely to appear on a large scale. This Captain Bai, even in Grey Iron City, was probably a special existence. Bai E was interested in seeing her limits¡­ Against a definite enemy, there was no need for mercy. ... Four minutes later¡­ "Pfft!" Five minutes later¡­ "Pfft!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Six minutes later¡­ "Pfft!" Seven minutes later¡­ "Captain Bai¡­" The two remaining warriors from Grey Iron City had returned. "Hmm! Stay aside." "Pfft!" "..." "..." "That¡­ Captain Bai." The acting captain gulped nervously, looking at his own captain who had just met an unnatural death right before his eyes. He was somewhat at a loss, cautiously observing Bai E''s profile and asked in trepidation, "May I ask if Captain Bai has any¡­ orders for our next move?" Or rather, processing. "Orders?" Bai E furrowed his brows as he looked at the fallen white-haired corpse and pondered for a moment. He found the changes in the eyes of the opponent after waking up somewhat strange. It seemed¡­ not so fierce anymore? But still fairly fierce, killing was certainly the right decision. Assured that his actions were justified, Bai E turned to face the two survivors from Grey Iron City and waved them over, "Come here, I have some questions to ask you." "You see¡­" The acting captain and the boy stiffly moved closer, their faces reluctantly ingratiating. "Tell me, what would your city normally do if they found out you were missing out there?" In their Blackwater City, it was no big deal; squads going out on missions and disappearing in this dangerous world was all too common. The vital signs monitoring sensors they had tried were not yet widely implemented, and depending on the dangerousness of the mission, going missing for a certain time was equivalent to being considered dead. No one cared about the lives of a few cannon fodder. But in Grey Iron City, it might be different? They were already implementing an elite strategy and perhaps valued the life of every warrior more. When Bai E asked the question, the two squeezed their buttocks tighter, rather panicked. What did that mean? Were they about to be "missing"? "Captain Bai, to tell the truth, we are not that loyal to Grey Iron City." "..." "..." Bai E looked bewildered as the acting captain revealed his determination, "You don''t know, Captain Bai, but the surgeries that most of us in the city must undergo are extremely painful and compulsory. Surviving once doesn''t guarantee survival the next time, and each surgery is a torment we can hardly bear. We couldn''t stand that damned place any longer!" The acting captain grew more agitated as he spoke, his face growing red with emotion. "Frankly, we''ve been planning to live independently outside the city for a while now, it''s just¡­" "It''s just what?" The acting captain''s face was uncomfortable to look at, not quite sure how to continue. ''It''s just that I haven''t made up a story yet¡­'' Although they hated the pain endured during each surgery, the sense of power that came with the transformation after each operation was obvious. They loathed the city, yet craved power. Selected to join the official forces of Grey Iron City, they were already chosen for their mental resilience. To say they hated it was one thing, but actually, they''d never entertained the thought of leaving. "Stabilizing Repair Fluid¡­" The boy beside suddenly spoke up. "Right!" The eyes of the acting captain lit up, seizing the perfect excuse, "Our bodies have been transformed surgically, those additional organs or mutations have become an integral part of us, but since they aren''t original expressions of our genes, they sometimes cause rejection reactions, requiring regular injections of Stabilizing Repair Fluid to prevent our bodies from collapsing." As he spoke, the acting captain emphasized, "If Captain Bai wishes to take us in, we''re gonna need enough Stabilizing Repair Fluid for sure!" "Oh~" A city that uses such core resources to guarantee a high-pressure rule? ``` Was the rejection reaction just a result of immature technology, or an intentional backdoor left behind? Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire A simple suspicion flitted through Bai E''s mind. He nodded, "But all I wanted to ask was about the city''s possible contingency plans after your disappearance. That''s my actual question." "Ah?" Could it still be an attempt to silence them?! Damn! A trace of ruthlessness appeared in the acting captain''s eyes. Bai E smiled warmly, "Don''t misunderstand, I''m merely asking about the consequences, I have no intention of harming you." The acting captain looked skeptically at Bai E, hesitated for a long while, and then replied in a hesitant tone, "We''ll try our best to recover... Alive, we want the person; dead, we want the body." They had all carried out many similar missions in the past and understood this all too well. Bai E raised an eyebrow, appearing to ask casually, "Recover what?" "Each of us who has undergone surgery has a certain probability of generating a special ''seed'' in our bodies. That ''seed'' is the result of coordination between our modified organs and our original genes. The person who accepts this ''seed'' won''t have a rejection reaction when they receive the surgeries that the ''seed'' provider has undergone. It''s also known as ''Gold Seed''." "Gold Seed?" Bai E murmured softly. It seemed to be a side-effect-free version of human modification technology. So, does the rejection reaction in modified humans occur merely due to technological limitations? Perhaps the higher-ups of Grey Iron City also enjoyed seeing such limitations... Bai E smiled amiably at the two, "So, what about the body modification surgeries you mentioned earlier?" Blackwater City isn''t the only city in this world, and the technologies of other cities might also have something worth learning from. Since he had determined his goal was to be a warlord leader, he naturally couldn''t overlook any technology that might mass-produce military strength. If their technology truly works, he might as well make use of it in the future. "Our modifications..." The acting captain narrowed his eyes, revealing everything honestly, "Each surgery comes with a certain increase in physical base attributes, and sufficient physical base attributes are also a prerequisite for the next surgery. Our bodies also need time to adapt to the enhanced functions post-modification." After all, these weren''t really secrets; anyone in Grey Iron City could easily find out about them with a little inquiry. The gorilla had undergone surgeries for: heart, multiple lungs, skeletal modification, and sweat gland modification. The acting captain had surgeries for: heart, multiple lungs, muscle enhancement, and nerve junction. The burly man had surgeries for: heart, multiple lungs, blood modification, and a preset stomach. The boy had surgeries for: heart, multiple lungs, modified eyes, and taste detection nerves. Heart and multiple lung surgeries were basic, and everyone starting modification had to begin with these two. After that, the choice of surgeries varied according to individual differences in physique and personality, with no priority in the remaining procedures; everyone''s path was slightly different. For example, the gorilla''s defensive power came from his modified skeleton which could form bone plates at the right moment, and his sweat gland modification was designed to conserve energy for more sustained bursts of power. The burly man''s preset stomach allowed him to draw adequate energy from various sources to fuel his recovery powers, complementing each other. The acting captain''s muscle enhancement gave her an incredible surge of strength, while her nerve junction modification allowed her to restore her spirits without needing to sleep. The boy''s modifications were more functional: his modified eyes allowed him to see in infrared, like a thermal imager, and his taste detection nerves made his sense of smell even sharper than a dog''s. Only those who had undergone at least three surgeries qualified as warriors of Grey Iron City. All of them had been through four surgeries, making them elite. As for their white-haired captain... it was unknown. As the acting captain spoke, her gaze drifted to their leader, who seemed to be in a silent slumber. A visible reverence flashed in her eyes. Everything about this captain was a mystery; even though they had been on several missions together, there was little interaction or understanding between them. All that was known was that this captain seemed to have some connection to Dr. Sabos, the most revered figure in the city, but no one dared to ask about the specifics. "He''s awake..." As they spoke, the bullet hole in the white-haired forehead gradually healed. The two survivors from Grey Iron City instinctively stepped back and turned away, not wanting to witness their captain meet a gruesome fate again. After all, it was rather awkward from their perspective... If they didn''t have to watch their captain getting killed by someone else, maybe they wouldn''t have to bear the responsibility of avenging their captain, right...? Their captain''s voice as he awoke clearly reached their ears. One breath... Two breaths... All was silent. The captain from Blackwater City hadn''t made a move? The two, who had deliberately avoided looking, cautiously exchanged glances before daring to look back. But they discovered that the two captains were merely looking at each other in silence, as if they had come to some sort of understanding. Seeing the calm in the eyes of the man who had died several times yet never switched personalities, Bai E finally smiled, "Can we talk?" The white-haired nodded calmly, "We can." ``` Chapter 363 339 Reborn "Why did you attack me?" Bai E got straight to the point, he could only see the obvious malice in the other''s eyes, but he never understood why someone he was meeting for the first time wanted to put him to death.Even in the words he heard during his "death" when he was split in two by a high-energy ray, there was no clear indication of this. Rose stared at Bai E quietly, her cold demeanor somewhat eerie, like an invisible monster roaring inside her petite body, "To¡­ eat you." Before Bai E could ask any questions, Rose explained first, "Genetic extractor." It was also one of Grey Iron City''s cybernetic enhancements, yet most of the warriors could hardly endure the surgery, so not many warriors knew about it. Only she... someone born with an "undying physique," could successfully undergo the surgery and allow her body to finally get used to that sinister and powerful special ability through a long series of regenerations and dissolutions¡ª Devouring. By devouring the organic tissue of the target, one could gain the abilities the target excelled in, and even memories, knowledge, and so on; the theoretical effect was incredibly powerful, but there always seemed to be something lacking in practice. Anything extracted was almost always a damaged version, but with enough substances absorbed, it could lead to subtle and pervasive improvements. "As far as I know, I''m the only one in the entire city who has successfully completed this surgical transformation and survived," Rose said quietly as she watched Bai E, "so I''m of great value to them, and they will spare no expense to track down and retrieve my body." Bai E narrowed his eyes, "Are you threatening me?" "No," Rose said earnestly, shaking her head, "I hope you can appreciate the significance of this and provide the technical support to help me remove the tracker inside my body. I can''t do it myself¡­ and I can''t rely on them." Rose glanced at the two survivors beside her while she spoke. They didn''t understand Rose, but Rose, who had the memories, understood them. Their stance was quite chaotic, their minds disturbed by cybernetic enhancements, always on the verge of doing something unexpected impulsively, capable of anything. Unreliable. "But you just attacked me," Bai E said, staring intently into her eyes. Eyes are the windows to the soul; they also speak. "It''s the brand the doctor etched into me; I couldn''t resist." "And now?" "The repeated deaths and resurrections in a short period seem to have diluted the brand''s hold over me; that''s the only explanation, otherwise, it would be difficult for me to sit here and talk to you calmly now." "How can I trust someone who just attacked me? Even under the assumption that we are comrades¡­" Rose smiled, like a cloud floating in the sky. She stood up slowly and carefully in the least suspicious way possible, bowed seriously to Bai E, "As a form of atonement, after I have fulfilled my responsibility, I will vanish completely. All the sins of the past will have nothing to do with the next master of this body. I only wish to give the next successor absolute freedom." "What if I intend to pursue this to the end?" "Although I don''t believe Your Excellency to be a person of such cruelty, if you really can do it, an eternal calm, I suppose, is something every transient guest of this body would like to see." Rose''s gaze was calm, and her quiet recitation of these facts made her as trustworthy as the most rational sage. "¡­" Bai E said nothing more. It was clear what Rose meant; she wanted to follow him and have him help her completely escape the control of Grey Iron City. He might gain a subordinate with endless potential, but at the same time, a ticking time bomb. Grey Iron City placed great importance on her; they would surely pursue her relentlessly. If the hiding was good, then all was well, but if it was not and they were exposed... The variables involved in an inter-city conflict were too numerous. With his current status, he couldn''t even judge what stance Blackwater City would take towards a neighboring ally. And if he didn''t wish to take her in, walking away after a slap on the backside probably wouldn''t be a problem... provided that the big wigs of Grey Iron City didn''t mind everything that happened since Rose attacked him. Probably... they wouldn''t mind, right? As long as he didn''t take away Rose, whom they valued greatly... "What should I do?" Bai E whispered softly, as if seeking advice. Only Rose, who was close at hand, heard his voice and turned her head, her bright eyes focusing on Bai E''s profile, "You know what kind of person you are, don''t you?" What kind of person am I¡­ Bai E let out a snort of laughter and sighed. Looking at the white-haired figure sincerely gazing into his eyes, Bai E asked, "Will your successor remember all this?" "Bits and pieces, all unclear; anything is possible." "How do you plan to ensure that your successor can achieve true freedom?" "Spiritual Energy¡­" the white-haired one asserted firmly, "That''s the only power I can control freely. I will use a part of my Spiritual Energy to eternally seal the current indistinct branding. I''m not sure if this attempt will be effective, but it''s the only effort I can make." "¡­" A marvelous world where anything can happen. Everyone is taking risks. Bai E nodded and finally asked, "I could carry a few words for you, to your¡­ successor." "¡­" The question seemed to stump the white-haired one, as if she had never considered this. After a long pondering, she looked at Bai E seriously and spoke word by word. As if standing opposites her was the same body being manipulated by another stranger''s soul¡ª So her gaze was soft, as tender as water. "Milk tastes good, so do chicken, duck, and fish, and synthetic food is nice at first, but it gets tiresome after a while. Exercise regularly, ensure you rest, and remember to brush your teeth. Don''t trust others too easily, but don''t give up on trust; having someone you can fully rely on is very fulfilling. Read more, think more. Regardless of what you study, what you think about, just ask yourself one thing¡ªwhat''s the fact. Never let what you want to believe, what others want to believe, or what is beneficial to the majority influence you, but simply scrutinize, what''s the fact. And last, but most importantly, remember this¡ªlove is wise, hatred is foolish." The white-haired one pursed her lips, looking at the other self''s apparition, and said goodbye: "Farewell¡­" In the slight quiet, Bai E spoke softly, "What if I suddenly change my mind? You could go on living¡­" The white-haired one blinked, smiled with a spectral sort of misery, "I still remember the thing about the branding¡­ I have to disappear completely. Only a thorough and clean rebirth can possibly bring about real freedom." "What is your name?" "I have no name¡­" the white-haired one''s eyes were filled with confusion, "They always called me Alpha, or Captain. But¡­ Feier Ade, you can call me Feier Ade. It''s the name I gave myself." Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire Also called¡­ "Freedom." "I ask of you¡­ don''t let this body''s next owner die again, it really hurts." "¡­I promise." "Heh~" The white-haired one smiled brightly and then collapsed thunderously. When the persistence that drove her actions disappeared, Spiritual Energy could no longer sustain this soul''s "life." ¡­ "Hiss hiss hiss¡­ it hurts, it hurts~" Not long after collapsing, the white-haired one woke up again, holding her head and grimacing in pain every few minutes. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 364 340 The dead "Bang!"Having slammed the trunk of the car shut, Bai E instructed Zero, "Call them over." With the situation here resolved and Grey Iron City''s trio turned into supplies stuffed into sacks and tossed into the trunk, it was time to call over the other two teams who had won without lifting a finger. Bai E didn''t want to hand over Grey Iron City''s "prisoners" for the time being, due to the too unique existence of the white-haired one and the city''s upper echelons'' decisions being too chaotic and unknown. Bai E planned to swallow this windfall himself. The two dead bodies and the "seized" vehicle would serve as proof of this battle... anyway, the photos had already been taken. Under the still-intact floodlights of the smart fortress, the two squads called in over the regional radio saw the remnants of the battle littering the ground and, with incredulous glances at the unscathed Bai E and his four companions, eventually swallowed hard in silence. The traces of battle were still very fresh, and they were all experienced veterans who could roughly reconstruct the combatants involved through the scene¡ªa basic skill. Which was why the fear in their hearts grew. ["Lucky Strike" charge +10.] "My goodness, you guys took all this down?" Even after confirming it, Squad Leader 5 still asked in daze. "A few friends from Grey Iron City lent a hand," Bai E said, widening his eyes as he stated the fact. "Oh~" Squad Leader 6 nodded and asked, "Where are they?" "Over there," Bai E pointed, and the two corpses on the ground "greeted" them. "..." An "8" and a speckled star, both quite ghastly. Neither looking like the work of humans, which somewhat proved the horror of this battle. So, how did a team with only five members manage to survive to the end without losing a single one? How strong exactly was this squad? "Gulp!" The two squad leaders exchanged glances, once again grateful that they hadn''t been too unruly when they first met. They were quite amenable to "advice"... "So, do you need us to clean up the battlefield?" Squad Leader 5 rolled up his sleeves, feeling that he and his people needed to do something to not look so useless. "Has the base station been rebooted yet?" The technician following the two squads also stepped forward to ask. "No need," Bai E said, smiling at them, "I just wanted you to take a look. Let''s prepare to retreat." "What?" Bai E looked at the increasingly dark sky, heavy as if about to pour down a torrential rain, and then glanced in the direction of the smart machine transport team''s approach. "If nothing unexpected happens, the smart machines'' main force should arrive soon. Does anyone want to stay here?" "..." "Smart machines?" "Main force?" After scanning the horribly battle-damaged debris on the ground, the team members from both squads shivered, "That doesn''t seem to be part of our mission." "That''s fine then," Bai E said cheerfully, clapping his hands while pointing to a corner not too far away. A series of logic cubes were stacked in the corner, which were the spoils of war Bai E had the two survivors from Grey Iron City drag over from where they previously stored their supplies, "Could you move those to the vehicle and pack them up? Those are important resources we''ve captured, and they''ll count as military achievements when we get back." "Us?" Squad Leader 6 asked with a hint of luck in his voice. Bai E smiled slightly, "Us." ["Lucky Strike" charge +3.] "Deal!" The two squad leaders immediately beamed with joy, hustling their members to get to work, "Hurry up, hurry up, once we load up the stuff we can head home!" ... "Boom!" Out of nowhere, a thunderclap struck the empty space behind the three SUVs. The weather in this era was far more temperamental than during the Golden Age; one moment it could be clear skies, and the next, overcast with dark clouds. The thunder dragons surging in the dark clouds, under the influence of an unknown compound, actually sparkled with a hint of purple flash. Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire The harsh weather made Bai E think of the day he was "born." Speaking of which, since he "awoke," he hadn''t encountered such severe weather many times. The heavy dark clouds pressed oppressively on the earth, making it almost suffocating. Soon, the curtain of rain caught up from behind, pattering against the metal shell of the vehicle like pebbles. "It''s acid rain!" a teammate''s voice came over the radio, and the window that had been open instantly closed. The downpour shrouded the world... Thus, the inside of the vehicle felt even quieter. A head with soft fur popped out from the trunk of the car, resting on the backrest of the rear seat, "Phew~ I was about to suffocate." Next to her, the other two "prisoners" from Grey Iron City, wrapped in bags, also wriggled out of the bags on their own. Sitting in the backseat, Bai E glanced at the white-furred head next to him and said in an unrippled tone, "Didn''t I tell you not to come out until we reached our destination?" "But it was getting so stuffy~" the white fur''s tone was soft and sticky, and her lively eyes spun around, "So where are we going now?" "To the military camp..." Bai E didn''t peep, so Rose took over the conversation. "What is the military camp?" "A military camp is where we live?" "Where do you live?" "It''s the military camp..." "..." "Rose." Bai E suddenly spoke up, interrupting the conversation between Rose and the white fur. If he let the two of them talk, they could go on for a whole day. In the brief awakening exchange just now, Bai E had already realized this. "Nova, have you forgotten all the things your sister told you?" Nova, was the name that the new owner of the white-furred body had given herself, and she seemed to be quite opinionated. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for Feier Ade, who had left her some memory inheritance including those words, she was considered a sister. "I remember..." Nova placed her hands on the back of the chair and counted on the tips of her fingers with her right hand, "Stay vigilant, don''t trust others easily, observe more, think more, express less, be less impulsive..." "So..." "So, are you guys bad people?" Nova moved closer to the side of Bai E''s face, her eyes blinking rapidly. "..." Unable to answer. Bai E sighed and compromised in resignation, "At least don''t talk so much, it''s noisy..." So Nova instantly narrowed her eyes, curving them like a crescent moon, "Got it, Bai." Watching their squad leader now looking obedient and sweet, and then recalling Bai''s past capriciousness in front of them, the two remaining members from Grey Iron City looked at each other and couldn''t help but shiver. It was too strange... Fortunately, the personality that had come out this time was quite good, and she seemed to be completely unaffected by the stigma. Feier Ade''s experiment had really succeeded... The girl with clear eyes appeared again in front of Bai E, smiling softly before leaving. ... "The sun?" The ethereal girl with white hair looked down at her semi-transparent palm curiously, her body felt as light as if she were floating on clouds, not subject to gravity. In the distance, a massive white orb emitting a cold light hung firmly in the sky. What was that? "The sun?" "And where is this?" Chapter 365 341 tracking "Whoosh!"Under the onslaught of the downpour, countless newly destroyed mechanical debris were washed by the rain, extinguishing their last bits of light. Numerous figures in black raincoats stood silently around a towering figure over two meters tall, loyally guarding the deity of their hearts. "Where is the person? Where is the person?" The center of the slightly coffee-colored eyebrows was deeply furrowed, and the tall man in a white coat grew more impatient as he watched his subordinates search around and finally bring back the news. "Where is the person! Find the person for me!" The tracking signal was lost right here! Even if dead, his most perfect test subject should have died here. Besides... how could she possibly be dead? How could she be dead? This was an exceptional test subject bestowed by the heavens, surpassing the technology of the Golden Age, irreplaceable by anyone! Prototype wouldn''t die! Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Doctor, we have searched everywhere, really, there is no..." Boom! The officer reporting the news was instantly grabbed by the neck and hoisted up, his choking pain causing his legs to kick unconsciously in the air. With gray-white pupils that seemed murky due to age, the doctor stared at the struggling officer with an expression filled with icy death, "If you can''t find her, you all deserve to die!" "Snap!" With a casual throw, the officer was tossed to the ground in the distance, rolling several times, but he didn''t dare take any time to alleviate his pain and immediately got up on his knees to express his determination, "Yes, Doctor!" The doctor didn''t utter a sound, his gray-white eyes just silently swept over everything before him. A large number of mechanical bodies were eradicated after he arrived, but it was clear that a great battle had taken place here before that. Whether it was the mechanicals that came later or some unknown individuals involved in the earlier battle, the battlefield had been cleaned up neatly, leaving too few clues to prove the identities of the previous combatants. But based solely on the damaged yellow first-generation mechanical body found, the identity of the unknown combatants could be roughly determined¡ª Soldiers. First-generation machines were generally hard to destroy, and even if they were damaged in battle, they would be sent to the mechanical core base for repairs quickly; the damaged mechanical corpse left here was obviously destroyed in that battle. Every first-generation machine was unimaginably powerful, and a mechanical fortress with a first-generation machine at its core was probably not something that "Prototype''s" squad would dare provoke. Even if they had launched an attack without prior knowledge, with their fighting strength, it would have been absolutely impossible to completely destroy a first-generation machine. Unless there was another team of equal size or even greater strength coordinating the attack. And who would actually lift a hand against mechanicals, a foreign race from which little benefit was to be had? Perhaps the signal base station here could explain something. The human cities that had only just restarted internet technology. And which city was closest to this base station? Apart from Grey Iron City, there was only Blackwater City. If they really couldn''t find many clues, perhaps... he himself needed to take the time to visit Blackwater City. Dare to take Prototype away? Anyone in contact with Prototype, they all must die! Similar incidents had occurred in the past, and so-called "self-awakening" was not the first of its kind, but never before had Prototype truly escaped from his control. Prototype might not know where the sensor inside her body was hidden, but her powerful Spiritual Energy could unreasonably shield anything she wanted to shield. Of course, this couldn''t last long. She wouldn''t be able to escape! ... "Sis said you would help me, okay~" Nova rested her chin on the back seat, gazing expectantly at Bai E, "I can''t hold on for long, the big villain will come looking again." "Or should I dissect you right now?" Bai E glanced back at her. Simple dissection might solve the problem, but the violent dismantling might be more than the new soul can bear, risking its rebirth from the unbearable pain. Let''s not even mention that Bai E had promised Feier Ade not to let Nova be reborn again; as for the current personality named "Nova," Bai E found it quite decent. The character he had rolled this time was a good one; there was no need for Bai E to want to switch it out. And thanks to the feedback from Wen Jie, he now possessed body modification technology that was nearly level 2, making his work a bit more technical. Paired with his own maxed-out dissection skills, it wasn''t entirely impossible for him to operate on his own. However, it wasn''t perfectly safe; without professional equipment, the success rate had to be discounted to some extent. If he could increase the level of his modification technology skill, he would obviously feel more confident when operating. Having heard about the follow-up treatment from Bai E, Nova immediately shrank her body and revealed a visibly fearful expression, "Don''t... I''m afraid of pain. You said you could be gentle, you can''t start now." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E rolled his eyes, "Then why are you rushing me." Nova instantly grinned, "I was just looking for an excuse to talk with you~" "..." He had fallen for it after all. This girl was a real chatterbox; even without anything to say, she''d find a topic and forcibly start a conversation. Bai E didn''t pay her any more attention but appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, starting to take stock of his gains this time¡ª The biggest one was obviously from the blown-up minion, from which he acquired "Mechanical Mindset." [Mechanical Mindset: Your familiarity with machinery allows you to fully immerse your thoughts into the properties of machines. From now on, you will find it easier to establish connections with machinery and receive the acknowledgment of the "Machine Spirit". Moreover, your own thought process can become similar to that of machinery logic when needed (you can multitask with no burden, simultaneously running multiple unrelated processes without interfering with one another).] In combination with the previous "Body of Machinery," he already had both the hardware and software related to the "Machine Spirit" fully equipped. As for the other knowledge and technology, he wouldn''t consider them for the moment; lacking sufficient scientific research experience, Bai E did not want to waste precious Universal Experience by simply adding points. Apart from that, the most important thing was actually his own Spiritual Energy. The breakthrough of 99 points of Spiritual Energy required an intense burning of the soul. Only the eruption of will caused by certain matters could possibly break through this final step. Combat was one of the simplest methods. This is what Yue Ying had taught him before. Regrettably, this battle only grazed the threshold, but the ensuing ripples were not strong enough. Was the opponent too weak? Or were the core emotions involved insufficient to make him truly "boil with passion"? Bai E leaned towards the latter. The battle was difficult, and if he hadn''t possessed the "Resistance to Death" trait, he might have been instantly wiped out. But overall, there was no strong emotional fluctuation. The smart machines were adversaries to humans, but that was it. They were like neutral map mobs, not powerful enough that he had to rely on bursting seeds to fight them. It would have to be those demons that could better stir up emotions from the bottom of one''s heart. Perhaps on his return, he should find trouble with that colosseum... Bai E''s thoughts drifted off, returning to his true foundation. [From the commission''s feedback, you gained +0.1 in Insight, +0.1 in Physique, +0.1 in Reflex, +0.1 in Mystery, +21 in Light Weapon Mastery Experience, +12 in Light Firearms Mastery Experience, +20 in Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience, +15 in Combat Mastery Experience, +52 in Knowledge - Human Body Modification Project 1.0 Experience.] "..." Pretty stable. While he had no time to train, others continued to shoulder weights and advance on his behalf. Gradual feedback from players was always a significant channel for improvement. Chapter 366 342 Pray "It''s raining again..."The lame old veteran leaned on the doorframe, watching the heavy rain pouring down outside the window, his tone somewhat wistful. Moisture breeds bacteria, and the room smelled musty. Along with the decay of bodily wounds and the foul stench of uncleanness, the air seemed to sting the eyes. However, the pouring rain from the sky, mixed with a cool breeze, was cleansing the earth and also dispersing some of the murky air that seemed tinted with color. It made it easier to breathe. Tiger hopped on one foot to the door and took deep breaths of the fresh air outside. The room was always stuffy, and ordinarily, even standing at the door brought no fresh smells¡­ the air circulation was poor. We were all decaying together in this room. Although they were not short of food and drink, these retired veterans with limited mobility could not move freely and were confined to this large courtyard. The open yard at the center of the courtyard was the greatest extent of their world. Staring at the rain crashing down from the sky, Tiger''s eyes slightly glazed over¡ª Is this what the future held? A piercing pain suddenly shot through his amputated leg and spread along his nerves to his brain. The pain coursed through his entire body, felt acutely by every cell. "..." Tiger furrowed his brow and endured this sudden onslaught of pain, his remaining right hand gripping the door frame so tightly it turned white. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The change caught the attention of the fellow old veteran beside him. After Tiger''s stabbing pain subsided, the old veteran patted his shoulder, "What? Does it hurt again?" "Mhm~" Tiger responded softly, his lips pale and chapped from dryness, looking utterly disheveled. After another pat on the shoulder, the old veteran let out a sigh, "That''s normal, we all came through pain." The medical services in the army dealt with the injuries of these soon-to-be-forgotten veterans in a very simplistic way. Just being alive was already the greatest blessing; one couldn''t expect much for the treatment of their injuries. Without perfect care and therapy, even though the wounds from amputations had long healed, there would always be pain due to internal injuries in the years to come. Every old veteran had gone through it. Tiger would be no exception. "I see that most people... don''t seem to suffer like this?" With the sharp pain gradually fading, Tiger narrowed his eyes, asking curiously. Do you become accustomed and numb to the pain? Perhaps. But Tiger felt otherwise. This pain was from the body, occurring sporadically, difficult to grow accustomed to. He did not know how others felt, but he believed that even after ten more years, he would still find it unbearably painful during attacks. Soldiers are not without fear of pain, but they have responsibilities far more sacred than the torment of suffering. What about now? Forget pain, Tiger glanced behind himself¡ªfacing the extremely turbid and nauseating air in the room, the others behind him seemed content. Not to grasp this rare opportunity to get some fresh air was, to him, inconceivable. "Us?" The old veteran hopping on one foot found a more comfortable position against the door, his yellow-brown uneven teeth showing as he smiled, "We got used to it." "But..." The old veteran hesitated, glanced at Tiger''s relatively clean appearance, and said with some hesitation, "If you truly feel the pain is unbearable, you could also... pray." "Pray?" "Yeah... pray." The old veteran looked distantly through the window, "Pray, and there will be an answer." "To whom should I pray?" "I don''t know..." "You don''t know?" "I don''t know," the old soldier nodded, "The merciful God of Life will treat every creature in pain equally." "Snap!" On the fence of the courtyard, a yellowish-brown shadow flashed by, with only a large package thrown over by a powerful force. It brushed over the Tiger''s head and crashed heavily onto the floor inside the house. The old soldier who had been standing by the door immediately laughed even more joyously, as if he had been waiting for this moment to happen, "This is a blessing..." Hopping on one leg, he bounced towards the direction of the big package, and at the same time, other old soldiers who had been resting around the room also crawled over. Their bodies were feeble, but the scene was somewhat sensational. Tiger couldn''t help but shiver, even though the piercing pain from earlier hadn''t made him feel cold, now an astonishing chill crept from his tailbone all the way to the top of his head. "Who is that?" Despite this, Tiger mustered his courage and slowly moved closer, asking the chatty old soldier. "I don''t know..." The old soldier casually responded to Tiger''s question while unwrapping the package made of waterproof oiled cloth. The contents spilled out: they were items that were not particularly refined but sufficiently practical¡ªwater, food, bedding. None were particularly clean, but they were enough to provide warmth. Especially on this rain-drenched cold night. Continue your journey at My Virtual Library Empire The supplies normally provided by the managers could ensure their basic survival needs, but nobody disliked additional resources... and the "goodwill" that came with them. "Who is that?" Tiger asked again. "I don''t know," the chatty old soldier replied once more: "It doesn''t matter. All we need to know is that someone still cares about us waste of space, and that''s enough." "Why would he do this?" Tiger asked instinctively. It was a question for the others and for himself. "Why?" The old soldier paused while distributing the supplies and then smiled, "I''d also like to know why..." More frightening than being abandoned is no longer being needed. If someone truly needed them, these useless individuals... that would be wonderful. ... "Open the door!" Wearing a rain cape, Xu Ruoguang pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, standing in front of a decaying black wooden door and commanding with a stern face. The old soldier equipped with a prosthetic limb attempted a negotiation with an embarrassed expression, "Captain... do we really need to check this place?" Xu Ruoguang, with a frosty look, glanced at him sharply, "Do you think the regulations set by our superior are just for show?" "But this is where our comrades live..." the old soldier''s face turned slightly ugly, yet he dared not argue fiercely. Xu Ruoguang was the captain assigned by their superior to manage them, an airdropped authority figure in such a vast Black Street with no confidants in the guard was certainly unsettling, and they all understood that. But under the overt and covert struggles of these few days, they unexpectedly discovered that this airdropped captain had some tricks up his sleeve. He seemed youthful, but he was quite capable. His execution was on point, decisions were decisive, and he had some authority among them. Just that now... the inspection had come to their own heads. "Captain... we just fear soiling your eyes," another old soldier approached from the side, "The place inside smells very bad; we usually don''t like to go in." Xu Ruoguang maintained a stern face, "Working for our superior, no hardship is a hardship. Do you wish for the chaos of the other day to happen again? Open the door!" "...Yes." Chapter 367 343 Rotting corpse "Creak~"Accompanied by the grating sound, the thick, dilapidated black door slowly opened, and a pungent mix of rot and mildew assaulted the senses. Xu Ruoguang frowned slightly, bypassing the veteran who automatically stepped aside after opening the door, and entered first. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The veterans behind exchanged a look and reluctantly followed suit. They weren''t afraid per se; as former soldiers themselves, they could move freely with their prosthetics, while these veterans were all crammed together here waiting to "rot." This stark contrast made it easy to draw certain conclusions, particularly when the team leader, a confidant of the local administrator, did not want to present a bad impression to that administrator before their true intentions were exposed. As for this Block No. 2 Veteran Camp itself, they felt there was nothing to hide... "Shing!" As he set foot inside, Xu Ruoguang''s longsword slid partially from its sheath. He glanced over his shoulder with peripheral vision at the veterans following him and said coldly, "Is this the ''absolute safety'' you spoke of?" For some reason, even though it was only a game, Xu Ruoguang had zero tolerance for any heresy in this game world, beyond humankind. Any human tainted by heresy needed to be utterly eradicated, which was the only way out for mankind. Cutting off the rotten flesh, even at the cost of harming sinew and bone, was the only way to ensure the health of the whole body. OCD? Or too strong a sense of immersion? Xu Ruoguang didn''t know; he was just acutely aware of the presence of heresy. In the past few days, he had led the Black Street Guard, composed of veterans, to purge many residents of Black Street who were still consorting with demons. These people, who had witnessed the existence of demons with their own eyes, and even encountered them in person twice, had an extremely high rate of corruption. During every moment of distraction, during the nights of sleep, those insidious whispers eroded their wills unseen. Not every common person had a will strong enough to resist. And now, the high-dimensional demons revealed their fangs once more with their corrupting influence on mankind. The foul stench of undead flesh hit their nostrils, and bolstered by some unending authority, humans had become "immortal" monsters! "Eh~" "Eh~" Uncontrollable groans rose from the rotten throats; their gray-white eyeballs bulged unnaturally, and their faces melted like wax, barely maintaining a human shape. The sound of the door had disturbed these mindless wanderers, so they all turned their stiff bodies to look over... "Click!" The veterans following Xu Ruoguang drew their pistols and rifles at the sight of their former comrades turned grotesque and instinctively turned off the safeties. Bullets chambered. The deputy team leader, one of their own, cautiously stepped forward with a frown and asked, "Old Lin, what happened to you all?" The decayed faces still bore traces of their original appearance; the deputy team leader, who was very familiar with every comrade, attempted to communicate. But all they got in response was saliva dripping from the corners of their mouths, and guttural growls like those of rabid dogs. "Haven''t you realized? Your companions have fully enlisted in the demon''s ranks!" Xu Ruoguang''s longsword was unsheathed, its blade glinting against the wall. The target confirmed, humans who had joined the legions under the Eternal demons would become these ghastly, undead corpses. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Not every Eternal demon could benignly bestow equal blessings upon every believer, often just fortifying them with some "life" authority instead. They would not lose life due to infections by bacteria and viruses, immune to sickness, but both their bodies and minds would be corrupted by high-dimensional powers into forms unacceptable to mankind. Against such adversaries, the only recourse was... to kill! Xu Ruoguang flashed into action, activating bullet time. The longsword swept across throats but did not bring about the withering of life. As they turned into undead, these bodies had lost the vulnerabilities they possessed as normal humans. Their lives had been fully "digitized," and only by depleting their health points with sufficient damage could these inhuman creatures be thoroughly purged. "What are you waiting for?" As the blade''s light fell like snow, Xu Ruoguang''s frosty voice also rose. Urging the veterans behind him to take action. Although they left their comrades here, these veterans merely wished to use the constraints of the mundane world to make their brothers fully recognize this harsh reality and join their noble cause. They never truly wanted to abandon these brothers who emerged from the same predicament... On the contrary, they held deeper respect for those steadfast in their beliefs. The more resolute a person''s belief, the tougher they become upon switching sides. But no matter how they yearned to learn why their former comrades had become what they were now, under Xu Ruoguang''s command, they had no choice but to pull their triggers. The harsh reality was laid bare before them; brothers corrupted into demonic henchmen could no longer turn back... "Bang!" "Bang!" Guns handcrafted by Black Street themselves discharged single shots, the random gunfire tearing apart several undead corpses. Yet the gunshots undoubtedly attracted the attention of more undead deeper in the Veteran Camp, and more twisted figures rushed towards them with their seemingly broken bodies. Chapter 368 343 Rotting corpse_2 The undead''s movements in confined spaces were not very agile, but their linear speed was quite astonishing.Their numbers far outstripped the patrolling squad, and the oppressive force when they charged one after another was overwhelming. Moreover, their decaying claws carried lethal pathogens, and a single scratch could send you back for months of rest and treatment. The veteran holding a gun instinctively retreated, moving the battlefield to the more spacious streets outside. Fortunately, it was nighttime, and the curfew order on workdays also meant that the rainy streets were devoid of any human presence. "Bang!" "Bang!" The sound of gunshots carried far in the quiet evening only disturbed by the pitter-patter of rain. Residents hidden in their homes were startled awake, their eyes glazed over, murmuring to themselves, "They''re purging the dissenters again..." Every day it''s like this... every day it''s like this... Who knows whether those they''re killing are actually heretics or just fellow citizens they simply took a dislike to? When will such days ever end? Alas~ "Stop talking, the guard are all following orders from the higher-ups..." His wife tugged at the man''s sleeve but was roughly pushed away by him. "Don''t touch me! I''ve seen you making eyes at the young man leading the guards for a long time now, don''t you start defending them!" "I..." Tears glided coldly down her cheeks as the woman huddled in the corner, wrapping her arms around her knees, just quietly weeping. The rain washed everything away. Including the pus oozing from the bodies of the undead. In the curbside gutters clogged with grease and overgrown with moss, the pale yellow pus washed down by the rain flowed toward lower ground. As an undead charged forward heedless of death, it was suddenly yanked back by an overwhelming force and slammed against a door. An emaciated figure in a flaxen poncho, unbeknownst to when, had placed himself at the center of the conflict between the veteran and the undead. "Stop!" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Ruoguang flicked his sword to shake off the rain coursing down his face, his expression icy as he addressed the figure blocking the way, "What do you think you''re doing?" "They..." The Believer''s voice trembled, his whole person lacking confidence due to facing matters he was not adept at, "They are harmless." They lived secluded, and as long as they weren''t startled into mutation, they wouldn''t turn into undead, let alone attack other humans. Like the compassionate Heavenly Father who watches over all His children, the Believer was aware of the ordinary lives of these common believers, perhaps even more humble in status. Reverence for that Heavenly Father didn''t require calling His name, offering sacrifices, or even acknowledging His existence. The merciful Heavenly Father would bless every poor soul who sought escape from suffering yet had no means to do so¡ªthat was the definition of a "Believer." And only the more favored "Elect," like him, who possessed special "random blessings" and could maintain their form through consciousness, were such beings. Everyone was of the same origin. This was also the core reason he took the initiative to help these battered veterans after settling into Black Street, drawn by the scent of "kin. But now, even these "harmless" commoners were being cruelly exposed to the light of day? "Harmless?" Xu Ruoguang sneered, his sword pointing toward the earthy-yellow solution flowing with the rainwater in the sewer, "Look at that foul pus! How many people have fallen ill because of it in recent times? As the personal guard by the master''s side, you must not be insulated from these critical figures, right?" After the master had decreed the building of bathhouses and consumption of hot water among other measures, the illness rate in Black Street rose instead of falling, a strange development that put Xu Ruoguang on alert. This was the very reason for his unscheduled inspection tonight. Perhaps these undead had no intention to harm others, but their mere existence was a threat to humankind. That was heresy! Their very existence was a blasphemy! "Stand aside!" Xu Ruoguang flicked Longsword, throwing off the rotten flesh attached to it, then pointed the sword at the Believer, "You are a trusted confidant of the master. I won''t deal with you today! But once the master returns, I will demand an explanation from him! But for now... do not obstruct my execution of duty!" "They are innocent!" The Believer was at a loss for words, not knowing how to argue. His simple mind could not conceive that his "status" meant nothing to the other party, so with a blank mind, he extended his arms protectively over the undead behind him, slowly retreating. "Bang!" A gunshot resounded from behind him. Tiger, limping with the support of a cane, hurried out from the far end of the yard. The gunshot had come from the cane in his right hand. "There are still survivors?" Seeing normal people emerging from the nest of undead, Xu Ruoguang''s gaze sharpened. He signaled to the veteran guard behind him, "Prepare to protect!" To eradicate all heresy and protect all humankind. This was the creed he was determined to uphold. ``` "Look at yourselves!" Tiger''s eyes were wide with fury as he looked at those companions who had just been chatting casually with him. Right before his eyes, these companions had rapidly decayed from their normal human forms into their current state of corruption under the stimulation of gunshots. Was the transformation sudden, or were there early signs? Tiger didn''t know. All he knew was that this blasphemous existence was the enemy of all mankind. "Look at what you''ve become now!" Tiger''s gaze swept over his former companions, who turned their attention to him because of the sound of gunfire. Their ruined faces with those pale, bulging eyes seemed utterly repulsive. "Our duty is to protect this world for humanity!" Even if these chaotic heretics were not the usual foes for ordinary soldiers, they were still enemies of humanity! "You are becoming enemies of humanity! Who gave you the right to desecrate the duty you were born with!" Tiger stood in the rain, not knowing whether it was rain or tears that were mingled on his face, cascading down. Facing the living humans close at hand, the rotting corpses showed no desire to attack. Those pale eyes blinked slightly, a deep ink color slowly emerging from their centers. It was as if their own consciousness was trying to gain control of their bodies. "I know we may never have the chance to go into battle for humanity again, but that''s no reason for our downfall!" Tiger spoke passionately, the things he had seen and heard recently filled him with sorrow and rage. "We may no longer have the capability to fight for humanity, but we must never turn against mankind. If needed, I can bleed out every drop of blood for the city." Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire In the days since leaving the military camp, even if life hadn''t been great, the memories of fighting for humanity shone like gleaming gold. It was the most honorable cause of their lives. "Just a bit of suffering has made you lose the pride of being human warriors. Do you still remember the blood and sweat you once shed for that struggle?" "Click!" The defensive pistol was reloaded, Tiger tucked his cane under his arm, raised the pistol with a steady hand, and pointed it at his comrades of old, "Must we really confront each other with weapons?" "No..." came a strangled voice from the decaying throats. The bodies of the rotting corpses visibly began to tremble. "No! It won''t happen!" "We... are brothers." "We... have never, ever been enemies." The decaying old soldiers shed bloody tears, their corrupt faces conveying a profound apology unique to humans. "I''m sorry..." "Sorry, brother." The rotting corpses knelt, begging for death. "Kill us." "Kill!" Xu Ruoguang''s cold command resounded. Tiger frowned deeply. He didn''t want to see his brothers turned into this, but he didn''t want to see them die either. The old soldiers also remembered their innate camaraderie and hesitated to strike. Seeing this, Xu Ruoguang''s brow furrowed deeply as he snatched the rifle from one of the old soldiers, kicking away the stiff body. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" The sound of gunfire formed a continuous volley before a short and clear voice could be heard through the curtain of rain from a distance. "Don''t kill them!" ``` Chapter 369 344 Expedition Plan However, it was already too late¡­Bullets had shredded the body, and the corrupt flesh scattered on the ground. It was only after seeing who had arrived that Xu Ruoguang, with a puzzled look, asked the newcomer, "Miss Franca?" This lady came from the Arbitration Place in the city, and ever since the last incident, she frequently appeared on Black Street, and thus was well-known to everyone. Even many of the heretical and world background-related contents known to the players came from her. She was the demons'' greatest enemy, and also a warrior who walked on the frontline against demons among humans. And now, this enforcer from the Arbitration Place was telling them to stop¡­ what did she mean? Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire Franca did not respond immediately, but only looked at the scattered remains on the ground with a slightly sad gaze. She closed her eyes, holding back the tears welling up at the corners, and only then did Franca reopen her bright eyes to address Xu Ruoguang, who was leading the group, "They could actually have been saved..." Ever since she witnessed how that noble figure resolved the demon corruption, those "naive" thoughts she had once personally quashed in her heart began to stir once again¡ª Perhaps, even those humans who had embraced the demons, could be attempted to be rescued? With that idea in mind, she had gone back to read through old texts. Reading was really just for confirmation; she had long memorized those recordings in her heart. The mysterious manager of Black Street relies on the human heart''s willpower and self-discipline to combat the constant whispers from high-dimensional space that are indiscernible to humans. This was cutting off the source. But for humans like the ones in front of her, who had already unwittingly become the claws and teeth of demons, no matter how strong their will was, they could only end up like they were now¡ªsurrendering without a fight, willingly allowing normal humans to kill them. Afterward, their souls would return to high-dimensional space and become one of the lowest existences within the domain they had devoted themselves to, suffering eternal torment and pain... The reason lay in the fact that their Spiritual Bodies, which were projected into high-dimensional space, had already fallen under the domain of the demons without their own awareness. So, the solution to save them was actually quite simple¡ªinvade high-dimensional space and rescue those bound Spiritual Bodies from the domain of the demons! Simple to say, yet as difficult as ascending to heaven in practice. Humans have always held high-dimensional space in awe, with very few daring to actively enter that enigmatic dimension. Not to mention organizing enough Spiritual Energy wielders capable of "High-Dimensional Walking" to collectively enter the demons'' home field for a battle. Should anything unexpected happen, the very foundation of humanity, or rather the city, would be utterly shaken. "High-Dimensional Walking" is an ability that only Spiritual Energy wielders of at least the second stage can master. To form an army out of these originally precious high-level Spiritual Energy wielders, similar to how ordinary people might, and invade high-dimensional space to initiate combat against a certain demonic authority, such a bold and insane idea had never been dared to be brought to the table by anyone, as nobody could bear the responsibility that came with it. Furthermore, even if they successfully rescued those True Spirits belonging to humanity, without a physical entity in the material world and insufficiently strong Spiritual Energy, they could neither survive independently in high-dimensional space nor return to the material world. The final outcome awaiting them was merely a complete and utter rest... an end in which they would rest free from demonic control. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But what do the sufferings of millions of ordinary people have to do with "me"? The tormented ones are not me; those who willingly degrade themselves aren''t me... Humans had never launched any kind of initiative assault on high-dimensional space. So this idea... was both bold and naive. Franca did not know whether her thoughts would be agreed upon by the other enforcers, nor whether such an action would be successful. But if there were a day when this action is taken and proves successful, those who had not been destroyed and still possessed a physical entity in the material world¡­ would again have the hope of continuing to exist as humans. But now that they were dead, all was resolved. "Rescuable?" Xu Ruoguang''s eyes narrowed. The shallow knowledge he had gained since entering this "game world" left him unable to fully understand the key points behind it. Currently, with full trust and an attitude of seeking teaching, he sincerely asked the enforcer lady from the Arbitration Place, "How can they be saved?" He always had this subconscious feeling¡ªthat anyone who had embraced the embrace of demons and fallen was beyond redemption. This unspoken subconscious conviction drove his firm action to eradicate heretics. However, the compassion and kindness inherent in his personality, stemming from his fellow humans, made him harbor a subconscious hope for what the enforcer in front of him said. Even if these old soldiers had been annihilated without any chance of turning back, what about future encounters with similar situations? His enemy was the heretics. Any heretic who could revert to their human identity was no longer an enemy. Franca''s gaze dimmed as she shook her head, "It''s just a possibility... but for these ''harmless'' heretics, we could first try to completely isolate their influence on normal humans. Whether they can be truly saved will depend on future developments." "So, the method you''re speaking of is specifically¡­" Xu Ruoguang''s gaze was fixed intently on Franca, with a determination to get to the bottom of it. Franca sighed softly, feeling that in front of these non-colleagues, she might as well share her ambition, "Expedition into high-dimensional space, counter-attack against the demonic domain..." Chapter 370 Expedition Plan_2 "But there are so many demons..." Xu Ruoguang instinctively voiced his doubt.Clearly, Franca''s plan was not just a fleeting thought. For the action that would follow, she already had a rough outline in mind, "That''s why we need a corrupted guide with the same origin as the demons to ''lead the way'' for us." As she spoke, Franca shook her head, her gaze once again sweeping over those corrupted corpses on the ground, only to sigh and say, "It''s come to this, no use talking about that now." A discreet voice suddenly interjected from the side, gently asking, "So, you need someone to lead the way, do you?" Franca looked straight at the speaker, the fact was she had noticed their presence long before. This was their first official meeting since the person had been rescued last time. That... "Eternal" elector who had caused the Tide of Rats. Of course, she had never really intended to execute the person on the spot, and now she was even less keen to pursue the matter. Arbitration Place had no style of action, the style... lay in each individual arbiter. But Franca still found it strange that the person dared to speak up at such a time, "You..." "As long as someone leads the way, you can save everyone... is that right?" Having received kindness from this world, the person wished to repay the world with the same kindness. The rodent-person lifted their head, their somewhat childish face shimmering under the dim light, "Is it?" "Yes..." Franca faced those fervent eyes, seeming somewhat unaccustomed, "But this is just an immature idea of mine." The rodent-person didn''t care, a glimmer of hope was enough to unleash their full effort, "So... what do I need to do to lead the way for you?" "You..." Franca found herself at a loss for words. "I share their origin, I can sense their presence..." Once the rodent-person resolved to do something, their tone became firm and succinct, all their words served to achieve their goal, "Tell me what to do, I can do it!" "..." Franca parted her lips, then after a long pause, fixed her gaze on the rodent-person''s eyes, and whispered softly, "Burn." Burn one''s will, burn one''s soul, burn everything that is oneself. A soul burning fiercely is like a bright flame in the pitch-black Sea of Distortion, capable of easily piercing through the endless darkness. Especially when such burning is accompanied by a kind of firm belief, based on the fundamental utility of Spiritual Energy, the Spiritual Energy users on the human side can clearly feel that intense call. And use it as a beacon to guide them. "... Burn yourself completely when you''re in that demon''s domain," Franca continued. But the price... is utter annihilation. Like a candle, after intense burning, what''s left is only ashes. Saved souls may find peace and rest, but complete combustion leaves only absolute emptiness. "..." The rodent-person pursed their lips tightly, and after a pause, gave a nod, "I understand." After another pause, they asked, "When do we act?" "It''s still just an idea for now..." "..." The rodent-person was silent for a moment, then added, "When it''s time to act, remember to call me. I''ll be here." They turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness. Watching the direction in which the figure vanished, Franca''s eyes flickered slightly. Was it that the mysterious manager of Black Street saw the fervor and kindness in the bones of that demon elector that led to the rescue, or was it the act of rescue that engendered this sense of duty? There was no way to know. But it seemed that these characters with pure ideals were all coming together, which was a good thing. Including the present one... the captain of the Black Street Enforcement Team. Xu Ruoguang gripped the hilt of his longsword tightly, only then realizing the foresight of his superior. Even a heretic could be a useful heretic to humankind. ``` Perhaps, when it comes to purging heresy, it does not need to be taken to such an extreme. After all, even the lord himself believes in and uses these heretical powers. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s only on the occasional fleeting thought that a certain obstinacy or prejudice, arising from an indescribable place deep within the heart, always raises a question¡ª ... Can heresy truly be trusted? Kicking the decayed corpse at his feet, Xu Ruoguang ordered softly, "Clean up the scene, don''t let those ordinary people see." Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Preventing those ordinary people from seeing what they were dealing with could breed doubts in their minds, but if they were to see these corrupt things... Those already suffering from the corruption of whispers from high-dimensional spaces would undoubtedly tread further down the path of decay. Withholding the truth is also a form of protection. [Power Information Change: Guard Squad¡ªXu Ruoguang: Heresy -99%.] "¡­" The lad is working quite hard. Receiving the message, Bai E pressed his lips together and shook his head with a light chuckle. As the territory developed step by step, these players were also stepping onto a larger stage. When the small confines of Black Street could no longer satisfy their needs, nor the players'' desire for exploration, it might be time to unlock a larger map for them. The small town ruins discovered earlier could undeniably serve as a larger development platform, and the machines they lacked seemed like they could be manually crafted or stolen from the intelligences? If they couldn''t beat the forces with his help, and he couldn''t beat them either... Then let be. He would lead the way in opening up new maps for them and, by allocating tasks, guide their exploration and development in this world¡ªa choice that seemed rather good. Particularly in the rain, the tranquility fostered reflection, and Bai E contemplated his future plans as the vehicle sped along the muddy road, made more treacherous by the downpour. The headlights of three off-road vehicles tore through the night''s mist, speeding towards their base. ¡­ It took almost a whole day and wasn''t until dusk that the three off-road vehicles finally returned to the base. Bai E drove the latter half of the journey, calculating that they had entered the city''s area of intense radiation where no further incidents were likely to arise. He intentionally sped up to shake off the two companion vehicles behind him. After all, it was not good to let the others in the barracks know that he had returned with a hot potato in tow. He drove directly to the vicinity of Black Forest, flung out three black burlap sacks without barely slowing down, and continued racing back to the camp. The standard debriefing procedure played out smoothly, with the other two teams that had been slacking the whole way fully cooperating. They didn''t have any thoughts of their own, and whatever Bai E said was final. Together they happily received the hefty reward for this mission. Due to encountering the most formidable first-generation intelligence and an entire intelligence fortress, the military honors for this mission were exceptionally generous. Everyone''s face bloomed with joy, foreseeing a bright future ahead. Without pausing, Bai E immediately left the camp after completing the necessary post-return procedures. Though the three individuals dumped in Black Forest claimed they would follow his orders to the letter, with so much time having passed, who could guarantee they would obediently wait in place? He needed to sort out their arrangements sooner rather than later¡­ primarily to verify their true loyalty, as Bai E never felt completely at ease. At the same time, it wasn''t early anymore, with the day nearly over. He hadn''t yet sent out the tasks for today, and while he didn''t know if the players were obsessed with daily tasks, he certainly felt a bit like he would die if he didn''t send out tasks. Moreover, the plans he had designed before returning could set the players in motion, and conveniently it was evening¡ªthe busiest time for the Underground Colosseum. After sending out tasks, he could head straight to his destination without wasting a moment. Contemplating these thoughts, Bai E sprinted towards the edge of Black Forest. ¡­ "Why isn''t he here yet..." Nova sat bored on a wooden stump in the tree shade, propping her chin with both hands, her gaze lost in the distance. The stump was fresh, recently cut. But not today. Two subordinates squatted next to Nova, glancing toward a dark direction in the jungle, "Captain, do you feel like someone is spying on us?" ``` Chapter 371 345 No fight, no acquaintance Nova didn''t even glance in that direction, just carelessly pursed her lips, her small hand rested on her knee, patting it with "pats". "What''s it to us? Whenever Bai decides to come, he''ll come, he''ll come..."It was as if a demon''s chant filled their ears. The acting team leader had never imagined that their own leader could be such a chatterbox. But just as the leader had said, what was it to them? Only if the other party wouldn''t actively cause trouble, would they be bothered to pay any attention to anything like local customs around Blackwater City. And if they really were looking to pick a fight... against the formidable special squad leader of Blackwater City, they might stand no chance of retaliating, but against ordinary people, they had never been intimidated. So, after one last glance in that direction, the two from Grey Iron City stopped paying attention and let the others surveil them. ... "Did they notice us?" "Could they be enforcers sent by some other power?" Kuang Xin and his group lay hidden in the bushes, peering through the dense foliage at three distant figures fragmented by the evening shadows. They were there to complete a task. Black Street was undergoing major construction and development. It wasn''t just from their own boss that they could accept tasks; they could receive various assignments from many residents of Black Street, even including the spokespeople for the "Black Street" power. The spokesperson wasn''t just the old butler¡ªmany ongoing projects had their own main person in charge, who were key NPCs they could interact with on a regular basis. Of course, even if their roles had already reversed, and even if when they met in Black Street, almost all the residents, including those project managers, had to respectfully address them with a title of honor. But just as players find it hard to truly revere the game world, they didn''t have much genuine feeling of respect or fear for game characters. As long as one could assign tasks, that made for a qualified NPC. Completing additional tasks from other NPCs to supplement their experiences and skills, as well as to unlock new content, was all part of the game for them when their own boss wasn''t around or after they had completed his missions. Not to mention, Black Street was, in some psychological sense, their own property. Since it was all work that needed to be done, having their own people issue tasks to their own people, and then rewarding their own people, offered a certain privilege and thrill of the left hand passing to the right. Right now, they had returned to their old profession¡ªchopping wood. But it seemed there might be an unexpected new find. "They don''t look like good people..." "Their uniforms are uniform; they look like part of a significant power." Since Black Street came under the jurisdiction of the adults, its main style had changed drastically, and this naturally attracted the attention of forces from nearby, even farther away gathering spots. The endless tests of various sizes, and the possible unrest from the "outside" in the tasks released by the adults, came from those ambitious grey forces. After all, in this barbaric age of production, reason is never as effective as a fist. In recent days, they had already repelled quite a few "enemies" who had been provocatively keen. Now, whenever they encountered someone suspicious, labeling them an "enemy" was almost never wrong. And now, was this another group of strangers they had not encountered before? With the way they eyed Black Street with that despicable look, were they secretly hatching some vile plan against it? Kuang Xin tightened his grip on the axe, unwilling to wait any longer, "Who cares what they''re planning, let''s just go up and ask!" "But the adult instructed us not to start trouble." Gong Yan gently advised from behind. This wasn''t Black Street territory; they weren''t so brazen as to impose their will out in the wild. Kuang Xin waved his hand dismissively, "We''ll definitely start with courtesy before resorting to force, if talks fail, then we''ll fight." "I actually agree with that," Gu Lan rose to her feet, her slender legs faintly visible amid the shade, "A chat isn''t stirring trouble." "Exactly!" Kuang Xin, hefting his axe, strode out, "Hey, buddy!" To avoid any misunderstanding, he revealed his presence from afar with a loud voice, "What are you looking at over there?" ... "They''re coming out..." Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire "What should we do now?" "Bai said not to talk to strangers arbitrarily." ... The two from Grey Iron City looked at their own team leader with strange expressions. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Were the leader''s words an instruction? Or an instruction? Or an instruction? In fact, when it came to dealing with their current leader, they were uncertain of how to proceed. The fact that their leader seemed to switch personalities at the drop of a hat was already baffling, but this new personality was even more unpredictable than their usual erratic one. In fact, compared to the team leader of Blackwater City, it was these two who had spent more time with their own leader since the change, so they felt they had a deeper understanding of their leader than others. To say she was dumb... there were occasions where she seemed quite the opposite. To say she wasn''t dumb... her behavior always resembled that of a simple and naive child. What mattered most, though, was power. As long as the leader''s power wasn''t stripped away, she''d always be the leader; that was an unchanging truth. When the leader was indecisive, they could naturally do as they wished. But now that the leader had spoken, it seemed they had to follow orders. "Ignore them," the acting team leader instructed the little boy. The boy nodded, "Yeah! Ignore them." Chapter 372 345 No fight, no acquaintance_2 ```... "Hey!" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Can you see us?" "Hello hello hello?" Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire Kuang Xin jumped in front of the three people, but found these three living persons were like three logs. "We mean no harm." "Are you guys bad guys?" "Are you harboring ill intentions towards Black Street?" "Are you brewing some evil plan?" The other party remained silent, and Kuang Xin''s self-amusement grew. After all, this was a game world, and their actions as players need not be so by the book. "We are the Guardians of Black Street, and if you have any ideas about Black Street, I might have to attack you, rawr." The seemingly daydreaming eyeballs rotated. Nova kept silent, and the acting team leader finally couldn''t help it. "Why are you getting all excited, you little chick?" "Huh? Who are you calling a little chick?" "I''m calling you a little chick." The acting team leader looked disdainfully at the little man holding an axe. He looked so charming and delicate, not at all like a rugged, muscular man, yet he was wielding such a big weapon. Who was he trying to scare? Believe it or not, I''ll go after you tonight? Mocked by an NPC? Could he endure it? Kuang Xin glared at the other person, "Come on! Let''s spar!" Cautiously glancing at his own team leader, seeing she made no sign, the acting team leader then stood up, spitting the dead grass he was chewing out of his mouth. "Just bored out of my mind. I''ll use you for some exercise!" "Tsch!" Kuang Xin suddenly smashed the battle axe down, the blade deeply chopping into an older stump beside him. The confrontation was only verbal, there was no need for weapons. Barehanded combat was more suitable for a friendly sparring match. The axe cutting three inches into the wood made the acting team leader raise his eyebrows. It seemed it wasn''t just for show, and that axe wasn''t some cheap toy, but... So what? The little chicks from Blackwater City are just that, little chicks. Except for the leader from Blackwater City... oh, and that blonde woman under him, the rest... are all weaklings. "Smack smack smack!" The sounds of physical collision resonated on the edge of the Black Forest, intense at times and gentle at others. Both being strong contenders who favored powerful and unrestrained styles, the collisions between them were very spectating and full of conflict. Moreover, resilience was the primary asset for these types of power fighters; even if they fell slightly short in occasional exchanges, as long as they promptly distanced themselves, both could quickly recover. Yet subtly, Kuang Xin seemed to be at a slight disadvantage. The three players behind him watched with some surprise. Everyone had seen Kuang Xin''s growth, and his close combat strength had far surpassed the others after training every night at the Underground Colosseum. While the underground colosseum might not have many masters, it still collected quite a few elites that were accessible at their current stage. The starting point for a task target or mob resources would have to be an elite of a small boss level, and Kuang Xin had made a name for himself there. His strength was considered outstanding even among NPCs. Yet now, he bumped into an unknown NPC and was still being pressured. The power that could casually dispatch a fighter of this level of strength must be an unimaginable opponent. Not to mention... the female warrior who appeared, didn''t seem to be the strongest amongst them, at least not the leader. ``` Gong Yan''s gaze drifted, finally settling on the seemingly leading white-haired woman in the trio. The delicate contours of her face and the smooth white hair spoke volumes of her distinctiveness; to maintain such a striking appearance in this era suggested her strength was anything but ordinary... Only Kuang Xin, engrossed in battle, was completely focused, without distraction. [Triggered sparring mission¡ªProvocation.] [Provocation: A stranger''s challenge is brimming with contempt. You''ve decided to knock down this opponent to clear up who is really the boss! Note, your opponent is unlike any you''ve faced before. You must adapt to their attack rhythm and learn from their combat experience to win this battle. No hero is always victorious, nor is a spectator always defeated! Mission Requirements: Learn the opponent''s combat philosophy in the sparring 0/? Reward for Completion: Special Experience *?] [Sparring Mode: You observe an opponent whose skills surpass your own, studying their attack patterns and are willing to pay a certain price (Combat Experience/General Experience) to learn their fighting style. You can initiate a learning path by allocating 20 experience points/min (with a chance to learn the opponent''s personal fighting style) and trade every 2 points of Combat/General Experience for 1 point of corresponding Special Experience (to improve your specialized skill level). Both must be carried out simultaneously, or the current mode cannot stand.] A brand new mode, undoubtedly a significant discovery in the game content. Is it special because of this opponent, or did I meet some special built-in criteria? Kuang Xin had no time to ponder during combat, as the pressure from the opponent was intense; he had to give it his all to barely maintain an unbeaten stance under such duress. Experience points drained away swiftly like water. Of course... alongside it, his specialized combat experience was rapidly improving. "Snap! Snap! Snap!" Fists and feet were as fast as lightning. Fists, palms, elbows, knees, foreheads¡ªall could be weapons. Agility honed through unscripted brawls on the wild streets met its match, needle against wheat stalk. Sadly, the needle was a touch too soft... But it was quickly hardening. The acting team leader could sense that the opponent was growing swiftly through the fight. The desire to play a little longer with this handsome fellow faded. The right hand, like a soft whip, teasingly brushed the opponent''s chin. The next moment, the acting team leader suddenly released their full strength, as the modified organs inside her body began providing an overabundance of power. The already surging force became like a flood bursting its banks, thundering forth. "Bang!" The dull thud of impact was piercing to the ears; the unprepared Kuang Xin was blasted away. "Pfft!" "Cough, cough!" With his chest feeling heavy, Kuang Xin clutched at it, struggling to his feet, his eyes blazing with fervour, "Again!" In that brief moment, he''d acquired a special attribute bonus for his combat specialization¡ªDamage Resistance. A special NPC capable of uncovering treasures, her efficiency in teaching the special attribute even surpassed that of his own master. He couldn''t let her get away. The acting team leader eyed Kuang Xin''s face, and licked her lips with greed, "You''re done for today, kid. Maybe later we could have another go somewhere else." "???" Was that an indecent proposal she just made? It must have been an indecent proposal! Kuang Xin wasn''t sure, but Gu Lan had already curled her lip in disdain, sneering, "Pervert!" With Kuang Xin, their strongest combatant, unable to beat even one of the opponents, Dai Lian, with furrowed brows, stepped forward to the one he took to be in charge. He spoke evenly, neither servile nor overbearing, "We mean no harm. We''re only here to fulfill our duty to guard that street. If you have no interest in that street, we''ll leave immediately and won''t trouble you. If you have any demands, we can convey your messages." Nova looked at Dai Lian, who had positioned himself in front of her, and her calm facade finally fell, "I''ve already said not to talk to strangers! Why do you insist on bothering me!" "Boom!" A tremendous pressure abruptly fell upon everyone, as if an invisible mountain were pressing down on their backs. Even the triumphant acting team leader, caught in this indiscriminate assault, bent her waist instantaneously, her lips struggling to form words, "Captain, friendly... friendly..." She dared not resist. To resist the materialization of Spiritual Energy was to pit her own physical strength against the will of the captain. Not resisting was bad enough, but resisting might prompt the captain to intensify the pressure... She had learned that the hard way. However, the inherently proud players wouldn''t concede easily. The initial oppression nearly brought them to their knees before they rallied all their strength in defiance. While Gong Yan and Gu Lan may not have been able to project their Spiritual Energy outward, still, in the face of this substantial spiritual oppression, their own Spiritual Energy could well be combined with their physical strength to resist, and they ended up performing the best. The pair, both practitioners of Spiritual Energy, exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying a single message: "So strong!" Where did this white-haired woman come from? S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 373 346 Gladiatorial Doubt Undoubtedly, in the face of Nova''s Spiritual Energy release field, Kuang Xin, who had just fought a tough battle with the acting captain, was the most disheveled, pressed heavily by an invisible force to the point where his limbs were almost touching the ground, his eyes burning with strong discontent¡ªSpiritual Energy again! Spiritual Energy again! The damn yellow-haired rebel from Black Street had used Spiritual Energy to completely overthrow him once before, and now, Spiritual Energy again! As his time playing in this game gradually lengthened, his pursuit within the game became clear¡ª An invincible War God! Power, treasures, technology¡ªnone of those were what he sought. To become the supreme War God with a human body, unbeatable, invincible! That was his pursuit. The power of Spiritual Energy... Even if he couldn''t achieve greatness in this area, he was determined not to be powerless against it ever again! ... "Isn''t... don''t you know each other?" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A gentle voice suddenly sounded not far away. Bai E, steadying his breath from the sprint he had just taken, calmly interrupted the minor dispute between the two groups of strangers. He could certainly tell that their first encounter in his absence might not have been the most cordial, so he now introduced them naturally, as if he had noticed nothing, "I was about to introduce you all to each other, but since you''ve already met, that''s even better." The moment they saw Bai E, the suppressive Spiritual Energy pressure atop everyone vanished instantly, Nova''s face as tranquil as if nothing had happened. But she suddenly jumped up and rushed to Bai E, hanging a sweet smile on her face and looking up innocently, "You''re finally here?" The players, relieved of the pressure, finally caught their breath, looking with uncertain glances at the white-haired woman who was now acting docile before Bai E. Was this really the same terrifying enemy who had effortlessly suppressed them all, making resistance difficult? Was such a powerful Spiritual Energy user... really just like this in front of their own boss? Our organization really is a place full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers... "My lord..." Dai Lian hesitantly stepped forward, his eyes glancing at the white-haired woman in front of Bai E, speaking with a tone of doubt. Bai E smiled calmly, explaining without mentioning the conflict that had just occurred, "She is also a member of our organization and might be stationed near Black Street from now on. I had planned to introduce her to you today." "She''s also a member of our organization!" Gu Lan blinked in surprise from a distance. Though she had anticipated this from the demeanor her boss had shown from the moment he appeared, hearing the confirmation from him still caught her off guard. Bai E''s might was well-known to all, but other members of the organization, even those like Kuang Xin who had joined earlier, had rarely been seen. There were only the old butler and the rat people. It was said these two joined after Kuang Xin and the others, and privately, they even speculated that their lord''s organization might really be just him by himself. Who could have imagined there really were such significant figures, even such strong presences. And to be stationed near Black Street in the future... Does that mean, besides our lord, they finally had a strong leg to cling to any time? Joyous news! Exceptional joyous news! Bai E pursed his lips and scanned the four players, softly introducing to Nova, "These four are my favorite core members at the moment. You''ll be stationed around here in the future, and you can ask them if there''s anything you don''t understand or need." "Mhm~ okay." Bai E looked at Nova, who now appeared very obedient, with a smiling gaze and then led the way, "Come on, let me take you to see your new home." "New home?" Nova''s eyes lit up, following closely behind Bai E with a little jog, "Our new home?" "It''s everyone''s home." The underground base... The players hadn''t neglected the base just because they completed the construction phase; the entrance had gone from the rough wooden boards of their last visit to a thick iron door covered with turf. The rope ladder that led into the base had been removed, replaced by a newly constructed steel staircase. The inside of the base was cleaned and even had a layer of limewash over the rough concrete walls. It might not look incredibly high-end, but at least it was more formal and didn''t resemble a child''s playhouse anymore. The players were quite thoughtful, weren''t they? Bai E nodded satisfactorily and promptly distributed some rewards¡ª [Task Reward (Phase): Organization Contribution Points (Dawn) +50, Distributed.]¡Á4 The amount of the reward wasn''t the important part, but rather to let the players know he saw their effort. Feedback must be timely; no attempt is meaningless, for that motivates them to work harder. Indeed, the faces of the players who received the reward notification lit up with joy. Gu Lan''s face showed the most pride, glancing at the others as though claiming credit. Having joined the organization last, she missed the initial large-scale development phase, so she looked for ways to catch up from any possible angle. It was her idea to improve the base''s construction. Now it seemed her decision was absolutely right. The more formal base was not only satisfactory to Nova, seeing it for the first time, but also to everyone else. Sufficiently secretive, sufficiently safe. Chapter 374 346 Gladiatorial Doubt_2 Although they did not say it aloud, they had ultimately "defected" from Grey Iron City. Having such a hideout far from prying eyes, and one that seemed to have relatively decent conditions, was naturally a cause for joy."Later, we''ll dig out a few more living quarters," Bai E instructed casually. The task quota was still posted on Black Street, but even if it was just a verbal command, he could issue rewards too, providing they were willing to trust and take action, they would not be at a loss. "As you command, my lord!" Dai Lian hesitated slightly, but Gong Yan had already agreed without delay. The fact led by Gu Lan had already been verified once, and it seemed that occasionally acting beyond the scope of their tasks did not result in being shortchanged. Hearing the players'' affirmative answers, Bai E nodded in satisfaction before turning to Nova to explain, "This is actually just a warehouse. If you guys are going to stay here regularly, we''ll need to dig out another dwelling next to it." "Okay, we''ll do as you say," Nova simply stared at Bai E, her face full of a compliant, beaming smile. Utter trust could also be quite pressuring. Bai E took a deep breath before gesturing to one side, "¡­You must be tired after the long journey, find a place to rest for now." In the corner, there were soft mattresses and bedding left by Kuang Xin and the others, prepared for those occasional moments when they wanted to lie down and rest in a clean spot. Although Bai E did not quite understand why they needed to "rest" in the game¡­ "Sure~" The clever Nova knew that Bai E had instructions to give his subordinates, so she consciously stepped aside. In fact, within this sealed warehouse, it would be very difficult for any sounds to avoid the attention of others. Looking back at the four players standing obediently in front of him, Bai E''s expression became somewhat serious, "In the days of my absence, has anything happened?" The responsibilities of Xu Ruoguang could not simply be a line of text displayed on the panel. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dai Lian took the initiative to speak, "We dealt with some potential heretic risks and probes from outside forces. However, it seems that the attitudes of two forces are somewhat ambiguous, presenting themselves under the guise of collaboration. The steward said that we should wait for your return to make a decision." The four of them, unlike Xu Ruoguang who was bound to Black Street, were free to roam, but they would still make trips there twice a day. After all, they were all tasked with maintaining the order of Black Street. As it was related to contributions, they would not entirely wash their hands of the matter, so they were informed about the affairs of both the steward and Xu Ruoguang. "Hmm," Bai E nodded, "Later, I will meet with him to understand the situation in detail¡­" Since there were no special significant events, he could now proceed with the plans he had previously set in motion. "I have a task for you to carry out¡­ You should all know about the Underground Colosseum where Kuang Xin has been competing in the boxing matches, right?" [Task description auto-generating¡­] [Side Mission¡ªColosseum Suspicions (Combat Assignment): The largest Underground Colosseum in the nearby region always gathers characters from all places. Each time a match occurs, the atmosphere in the arena is filled with a strange vibe, and the hosts of the Colosseum seem to be intentionally leading something¡­] Mission Requirements: Investigate the truth of the Colosseum 0/1, and if the host of the Colosseum is plotting something evil, you will also need to completely destroy their schemes 0/1. Mission Rewards: General Experience 100~200 points (adjustable), item rewards (undetermined).] (Note: "Auto-complete" allowed; upon confirming the release of the assignment, "authorization" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) [Do you wish to issue the current assignment?] With two potential outcomes for the mission, there was no way to widen the gap just through experience rewards; the difference could only be reflected in the tangible rewards. Bai E searched his own person, finding suitable items that could be offered as rewards¡­ a bio-component, and a sub-par bio-component¡ªthe drive comes from comparison. [Confirm Release!] Brand-new tasks always invigorated players eager for something fresh. "It''s getting late, you can start your mission now," Bai E said as he took out a signal gun from within his clothes, the same model as the old steward''s, both of which were extra supplies he had redeemed with military merits, "Take this with you. If you encounter any enemy you truly cannot defeat, use it to notify me." [You have obtained the mission item: Signal Gun.] ``` [Signal Flare: A one-time use item that can be used to request help from the indigenous population in critical moments. This opportunity can only be seized once, so handle with care! (Not limited to the current mission, can be retained if not used in the current mission.)] Clutching the signal flare, Dai Lian''s face lit up with excitement, having snagged another powerful item. The signal flare itself wasn''t much, but the character it could summon was the key. Even if it wasn''t needed for this mission, wouldn''t he just breeze through any tough boss in the future by summoning his own boss directly? "I will not let you down, my lord!" Bai E nodded slightly, "Go." Following his eager teammates who were rushing out of the underground base, Kuang Xin suddenly hesitated, "Wait, I was planning to learn some skills from the lord..." Dai Lian asked with some curiosity, "What skills do you want to learn?" They had exchanged information on the abilities each could learn from one another, and Dai Lian knew that Kuang Xin had already learned nearly all the skills that were suitable for him from their lord. The rest of the contribution points could be completely saved for the fourth-floor store or for exchanging goods in the warehouse. "Self-restraint," Kuang Xin stated firmly. He had been hindered by Spiritual Energy when facing opponents with such abilities on several occasions. The protection offered against Spiritual Energy in the self-restraint skill was something he valued. It was the only ability they had encountered so far that could strengthen their protection in this regard, and it was also the foundation for learning the path of Spiritual Energy. With the contribution points he had saved up over the past few days, plus the 50 points just awarded by the lord, his contribution points had once again reached 140, more than enough for the 100 points needed to exchange for the self-restraint skill. As it involved factors of Spiritual Energy, Dai Lian did not dare to make a decision lightly. Kuang Xin''s close-combat strength was indeed fierce, and he was a qualified Vanguard Shield, but when facing opponents with Spiritual Energy, his combat abilities were significantly diminished under their suppression. It was difficult for them to judge at the moment whether it was better to specialize in one area or to dabble in every aspect with their current understanding of the world. And Spiritual Energy wasn''t something you could just learn on a whim, could you? None of their initial attributes included a special focus on "Mystery," and according to the indigenous people of this world, this meant they had no talent for it. They weren''t like Gong Yan and Gu Lan, who had improved their "Mystery" attributes and could awaken their Spiritual Energy on their own. Even with effort, mastering Spiritual Energy was still uncertain. "Let''s ask the lord for advice when we get back..." pulling Kuang Xin along, Dai Lian said, "It''s getting late, let''s do the mission first." "Oh, right~" Kuang Xin immediately switched his train of thought, "So, what should we do later on?" The lord''s mission provided only the basic objectives and offered no completion strategy. With no constraints, there was also no guidance. How to complete the mission would depend on their own wit. "We''ll see when we get there..." Dai Lian shook his head. Aside from Kuang Xin, the others hadn''t visited the Underground Colosseum much. Counting on Kuang Xin to come up with a combat plan wasn''t very realistic. They would need to observe the situation on-site before making a decision. "Just register for the competition as usual, and we''ll play it by ear. Pay attention to the cues we give you from outside the arena." "Got it!" ... After making arrangements for the players, Bai E returned to the three individuals from Grey Iron City. Seeing their expectant looks, Bai E smiled warmly at them, "Since you''re idle anyway, I''m in need of a real manager for my warehouse right now, any of you interested?" This was originally Gilder''s job, but ever since he was reassigned to Black Street to deal with various tasks, it became difficult for him to handle the warehousing duties as well. It was necessary to find a replacement to facilitate the functioning of the warehouse. Existing functions couldn''t just be discontinued, even if they might not be needed often. Otherwise, it would amount to a breach of trust with the players. One should always be prepared for any eventuality. Bai E had far more to consider every day than what appeared on the surface. ``` Chapter 375 347 Death fight? "I''ll handle it," said the proxy team leader, his eyes lighting up. "Captain Bai, those people need to collect things from the warehouse, and I''m in charge, right?" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Yes..." "Great! I''ll do it!" The proxy team leader seemed quite eager, even licking his lips with an impatient look. With such enthusiasm from the other party, Bai E naturally wouldn''t disappoint him. "Alright, I''ll leave it to you." Immediately, Bai E began to "come to life." The bio-components that had burst forth earlier and the 8000 units of steel materials had been piled up in the system space all this time. Virtual items never provide the same satisfaction as having the actual materials in front of you, and this time Bai E intended to fill the warehouse to the brim, making it truly worthy of its name. "Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Accompanied by slight ripples of spatial distortion, large quantities of finished steel material materialized out of thin air and were systematically stacked on the concrete floor of the warehouse. The high-quality steel materials reflected the warm yellow light illuminated in the warehouse, the metallic sheen showing an oily glint that suggested their reliable quality. Two henchmen from Grey Iron City watched the scene with their mouths agape in astonishment... The materials themselves were secondary; although having them pile up before one''s eyes was impressive, their value did not amount to much for any high-ranking official in any city. What truly surprised them was the way Bai E took out these materials¡ªSpiritual Energy storage! In their minds, the ability to conjure materials out of thin air from the void could only be done in one way, through Spiritual Energy storage. And the capacity of Spiritual Energy storage wasn''t measured by the same value judgment in human eyes; in the realm of Spiritual Energy, the only factor involved in Spiritual Energy storage was "size." Large swathes of steel that could take up half the warehouse appeared before them, not only appearing massively and simultaneously, but this continued at a pace that filled much of the warehouse. Observing Captain Bai''s relaxed demeanor, it seemed that if it weren''t for the limited space of the warehouse, he could have produced even more. Just how monstrous must the level of his Spiritual Energy strength be? No wonder even their own team leader couldn''t suppress this Captain Bai from Blackwater City with their strong Spiritual Energy. They wondered what kind of high-ranking official Captain Bai would be considered in their own military camp... But with such a person around to solve their problems, it should be a piece of cake, right? "It''s done," Bai E said, clapping his hands in satisfaction. Filling half the warehouse didn''t even use up a small fraction of the steel he had obtained, and these large chunks of steel could be used in various aspects of the construction after further processing. Whether it was for building this secret base or constructing Black Street, they would come in handy. Bai E set a relatively low exchange price for it but restricted it to non-tradeable binding to individuals, with immediate expulsion from the organization upon any discovered trading activity. "Let''s leave it at that for now, I have things to do, so I''m off." Although the mission was assigned to players, Bai himself was also considering his breakthrough in Spiritual Energy, so naturally he intended to check it out. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire If the Underground Colosseum didn''t have any hidden troubles, or just a few small fries, it would be fine. But if there was something big... Then he would give it a try. "Uh..." The boy who wanted to say something as he watched Bai E climb the stairs got pulled back by the proxy team leader. "What are you doing?" The boy''s lips moved nervously. "I wanted to ask Captain Bai about our Stabilizing Liquid." "No need to ask; Captain Bai knows what he''s doing," the proxy team leader waved dismissively, his aged face exuding convincing maturity. "Huh?" The boy looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" "Captain Bai has even arranged work for us; he can''t just be using us temporarily." When the regular captain didn''t switch to a wisdom type persona, she usually acted as the core brain of the team. Although not extremely cunning, she had some experience. Captain Bai''s treatment of them clearly showed that he saw them as comrades with whom he could continue the journey. Therefore, naturally, as a leader, he would also consider the welfare and lives of his team members. Just trust and it''s settled. Maybe, that was also their own team leader''s choice... "It seems Bai and the others are off to do something big," said Nova, her eyes sparkling bright, "Should we go check it out?" "..." The proxy team leader''s expression stiffened. "We''re new here and don''t understand much; isn''t that a bit too rash?" "It''s because we don''t understand that we need to go out and get in touch more!" Nova said, hands on hips, full of righteous vigor. "But Captain Bai said before the details of Grey Iron City are settled, it''s better not to show our faces..." "Then we cover our faces!" Nova grabbed a head covering from beside her. "Look, this is what Bai prepared for us; he wants us to go out and explore on our own." They were planning on going out, and just then there happened to be head coverings at hand¡ªwhat were the chances? The proxy team leader looked on resentfully, his heart noting that just a moment ago there had been none. It was you who materialized them with your Spiritual Energy storage skills, wasn''t it? ... Between seven and eight in the evening, the Underground Colosseum reached its peak of excitement. No matter the day, it always seemed to be a scene of cacophony and hormonal explosions. Any terrible mood could be unleashed without restraint here, and the same went for the violent urges¡ªothers'' flesh-and-bone skirmishes could be the outlet for a complete venting of aggression. Chapter 376 347 Death fight?_2 Whether it was Gong Yan, Gu Lan or Kuang Xin, they were all too conspicuous in such a place, so they all donned disguises."You go straight in to compete, we''ll wander around and see if we can find a chance to mix into their backstage," Dai Lian made a general plan outside the door. "Okay." Kuang Xin clenched his fists, and upon hearing those familiar restive tunes, his body had already begun to excite subconsciously. But on second thought, the few people he was most familiar with in this game would also see his performance on stage, and he felt somewhat resistant. What should he do if he couldn''t completely let himself go? Before the little thought could even ferment, Kuang Xin''s steps had already habitually carried him to the registration desk. The weird headdress on his head declared his identity, and during the days he had been competing, the idea that "the Gladiator never takes off his mask" had echoed in people''s hearts, even spawning many crazy imitators. But the original and most abstract headdress that belonged uniquely to Kuang Xin, no one dared to imitate. It had become his personal unique symbol here. Upon seeing the familiar headdress appear before him, the registration staff immediately perked up, sitting up straight and alert. "Gladiator sir." "Hmm~," Kuang Xin, not in the arena, seemed somewhat reticent; in such chaotic situations his "cautious" nature always took the upper hand, now simply nodding briefly with a lift of his chin, "Register." "Right away!" The staff members nodded and bowed, responding eagerly, then looked up to ask, "Sir, will you be participating in a deathmatch today?" For every regular and slightly famous Gladiator, as long as they weren''t the kind that could explode in anger from one question, the registration staff would casually ask this during the registration. After all, compared to regular matches that only determine the victor, deathmatches that disregard means and solely decide life or death have better spectatorship, they are more bloody and violent, and they more easily stir up the audience''s emotions. "No..." Kuang Xin habitually wanted to refuse, but as the word reached his lips, he suddenly hesitated. Today he was here on a mission, and perhaps the deathmatch he had been refusing all along was the real key to starting this mission? Once away from the others, his keen gamer''s instincts as a veteran began to work, his brain whirring at high speed. After a moment of hesitation, Kuang Xin still cautiously asked, "Do I need to decide now?" "Not at all, not at all!" The staff member''s face was piled with a fawning smile, "You can change your mind anytime before you go on stage, deathmatches have the highest priority." Whether or not he truly agreed wasn''t important; that the Gladiator''s attitude softened was what the Colosseum''s staff were most eager to see. Through daily data collection, the management of the Colosseum had their judgments on the personal circumstances of each regular star competitor¡ª Generally, there were only three kinds of people who came to the Underground Colosseum to compete¡ªthose who honed their skills, released their desires, and earned money. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire The Gladiator''s strength wasn''t great at first, but it was clearly growing rapidly through competition. At the same time, he wasn''t lacking money, having a quite casual attitude towards it. Violent in battle, yet seemingly restrained in speech and actions at other times. In summary, he was a warrior who came here to improve his skills while venturing to a certain extent to vent his suppressed desires. Such a person being moved by the idea of a deathmatch now definitely wasn''t for the higher prize money of a deathmatch; it was either to seek more improvement from the battle itself, which is more stimulating, or... it was the craving for slaughter and blood. Many of the long-term fighters here eventually take this path. The rampant expectations of all the spectators were like poison slowly seeping into the marrow; rather than say that those who participated in deathmatches were of their own personal will, it was more like they were a collective embodiment of everyone''s violent desires. Now, another powerful warrior had taken his first true step towards ascension under this subtle, long-term influence. The staff member''s face radiated with an enthusiastic red glow, so fiery it was hard to believe, "We haven''t had a deathmatch for several days now, the accumulated prize pot is much larger than the prize money of previous deathmatches. If you''re willing to participate, we can start promoting you immediately." Deathmatch participants not only enjoyed a fixed prize, but they also got a share of the betting pool; the more spectators there were, the larger the bets, and the more considerable the winner''s monetary reward would be. Even fighters who weren''t short on money cared about the "more than others", a kind of invisible honor. Money sometimes derives its significance not from itself, but from the emotions it brings about. "Mobilization?" Kuang Xin muttered to himself. Another key term. A grand performance always needs an audience, and mobilization means more spectators. A duel to the death? Could that be the true heart of activating this mission? Indeed! Why else would his lord have had him constantly compete here since so early on? Bear in mind that not just anyone can participate in a death duel, or rather, not everyone is worthy of the term "mobilization." Or to put it another way, even if ordinary people wanted to join, they''re merely considered expendable fodder, sent to slaughter like pigs. Only the long-established star contestants have the credentials to be heavily promoted and mobilized by the Colosseum organizers. In truth, his seniority wasn''t all that great, but it was his unique and insane fighting style, and the remarkably swift progress he made in combat, that allowed him to rise rapidly in this Colosseum. Therefore, the reputation he built in the Colosseum might also be a hidden condition to trigger this mission. Everything was in his lord''s plan! "I need to consider it further." Even though he was almost certain, the cautious instinct still dominated Kuang Xin''s actions under normal circumstances, "If I don''t participate in the death duel, how long will it take for me to get into the ring?" "Currently, there are three matches before yours, my lord," the staff member checked the schedule before giving an accurate answer. "Then I''ll come back later," Kuang Xin turned to leave; he needed to discuss with Dai Lian and the others. "No problem, my lord! Just keep an eye on the time, my lord!" the staff member called out respectfully from behind. Normal registered contestants are expected to wait backstage obediently, but those familiar star contestants always have more privileges. As the staff watched the "Bullfighter''s" back disappear into the crowd, the smile on his face immediately faded, and he turned to activate his headset, contacting the person truly in charge of the Colosseum, "Boss, ''Bullfighter'' seemed somewhat inclined to join the death duel today..." "Oh?" There was silence on the line for a while, as if weighing the pros and cons. After a moment, the reply came, "Stabilize him, I''ll figure something out." It had been too long since there had been any blood brave enough to serve as a sacrifice... The last great hope, the "Blood God," who had undergone a meticulously crafted sublime battle, had not been heard from since that event. According to some informal sources from soldiers with whom they had decent relations in certain military camps, it seems the Blood God had unfortunately died in combat on an external mission. For a master''s loyal soldier to die in the material world is not entirely bad news, since being able to return to the master''s embrace allows the soldier to feel the master''s glory even more. But the master seemed... not quite "pleased"? As the master''s most loyal servant, he certainly did not dare to speculate upon the master''s mood, but judging from the blessings he himself had received, it appeared the master had not been granted any special favor for acquiring the Blood God''s soul. Therefore, he, of course, must work doubly hard. Yet, unfortunately, the Blood God''s battle had killed several of his aces, and recently no particularly promising star contenders had emerged. The ones he had previously pinned his hopes on, "White Ghost" and "Wild Lion," had not been seen since their battle against each other, leaving him quite troubled. If things continued like this, his Colosseum''s reputation and popularity might be snatched away by the other arenas. And now, this "Bullfighter," though not the most senior, had quickly attracted a fanatical following owing to his strong and distinctive fighting style. Using him as the first blood to please the master after such a long interval might be a good idea? S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 377 Fight 348! Kuang Xin found Dai Lian and the others weaving through the crowd."Let''s talk outside." As they brushed past each other, Dai Lian''s lips barely moved as he delivered his words into Kuang Xin''s ears. They had never appeared together at the arena, so the people there were unaware of their connection. Keeping their relationship hidden might give them an advantage in their operations; it was always better to keep some cards close to the chest. "Hmm." Kuang Xin nodded in agreement and moved past. After circling around aimlessly for a while, they left the arena, resembling a drafty, abandoned factory, from different directions, and made their way to the prearranged meeting point. "What''s the word?" Dai Lian, who had been waiting, asked softly as soon as he saw Kuang Xin. They had wandered the venue for a bit and noticed that although there were many bystanders roaming chaotically around the venue, appearing completely ungoverned, the control in certain areas was actually very strict¡ªa floor above, underground... Any average visitor trying to head in those directions for whatever reason would be explicitly forbidden to proceed. The upper floor seemed to be the management center of the organizers, where, through the completely open gaps between floors, one could glimpse the edges of monitors and figures moving about. But as for below ground... it was unclear what purpose it served. Even when they intentionally observed, they felt as though they were being watched... In the chaotic gladiatorial venue where one appeared able to act without restraint, the situation was complex, with countless eyes watching. In the short term, they couldn''t think of a way to sneak in and investigate. Seeing Kuang Xin approaching them on his own volition, Dai Lian knew that the big brute must have come across some findings of his own. "An idea, not necessarily correct." Before speaking, Kuang Xin braced himself to avoid being ruthlessly dissed. "To have an idea is already impressive." Gong Yan looked at Kuang Xin, encouraging him with a smile, "We haven''t even got a clue yet." "Hmm..." Kuang Xin pursed his lips and shared the thought he had just come up with, then looked at the group with hopeful eyes, "Does it seem feasible?" "Can you fight?" Instead of addressing the issue directly, Dai Lian looked at Kuang Xin with contempt, "It''s a fight to the death. The opponent they arrange for you is likely to be of the same level. Don''t you go dying in the arena..." Players weren''t overly fearful of their characters'' deaths in games, but that didn''t mean they could die at will. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially in this game, with its severe death penalty; not to mention the three-day cooldown period, one had to start all over again. All the attributes and skills acquired would vanish, and one had to start from scratch as a blank slate character; the punishment couldn''t be more severe. When Dai Lian first started playing the game, he couldn''t understand why the publishers designed such harsh death penalties; wasn''t it pushing players away? But the longer he spent in the game, the more he felt he was got grasping the publishers'' mindset¡ª To ensure the game''s lifespan. The world was so real that if there existed a mass who could challenge everything without fearing death, using countless lives, it would be an unimaginable shock to the world. Under the impact of players who didn''t fear death, either the world couldn''t maintain its reality, or the game''s progress would accelerate drastically. Intentionally controlling death was undoubtedly the most beneficial tactic... It wasn''t likely due to the publishers'' technical limitations, right? Besides, in this game, it wasn''t easy to die, provided one got past the initial stage where a stray bullet could ambush and headshot. After a slight advancement in physical fitness, whether it was defensive power, recovery ability, or stamina, all were greatly enhanced. If you couldn''t beat them, run¡ªthat''s it. There was no set sequence in the game, no mandatory bosses to fight, and rewards came from a variety of sources, all waiting to be discovered. In such a world that was both realistic and entertaining, not wanting to die was not hard at all. So the punishment for death wasn''t really a big deal. But now... what was Kuang Xin facing? A fight to the death! This was the first mission they encountered in the game that forced a direct link between the player and death. Once on the arena, life and death were out of one''s hands. A 50% chance applied equally to both contestants. Setting aside the thoughts of the mission strategy and success rate, Dai Lian''s immediate concern for Kuang Xin''s personal safety jumped to the forefront of the conversation. After playing together for so long, he had grown fond of this dependable and somewhat goofy companion. Kuang Xin looked at Dai Lian strangely, raised his arm, and showed off his aesthetically pleasing, streamlined muscles, "Look! Pure War God right here. Think I''ll lose? Just tell me if the plan sounds solid." "It does..." Dai Lian furrowed his brow, seriously analyzing the situation. There hadn''t been a death match for a while, and the timing of the big man''s mission release probably wasn''t random. Perhaps this truly was a breakthrough point, that could lead to discovering more of the "truth" about this gladiatorial arena. "It''s worth a shot, but if you die..." "As long as it''s possible." Kuang Xin turned and ran off, waving his hands dismissively behind him, "If I die and restart, I''ll still come find you guys. I hope the big man will still want me then, haha~" Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire Upon hearing Kuang Xin''s willingness to participate in the death match, the staff member in charge of registration was immediately overjoyed, "I''ll arrange it for you right away!" Chapter 378 Fight 348!_2 The main characters of a death match must, of course, be star players with a certain weight, but the supporting roles are never a concern.If both sides have main characters, that''s certainly better, but the desperate struggle of nobodies is equally fascinating. The crowd doesn''t care, they just want fiery blood! "Publicity needs a little time, sir. Why not watch a few preliminaries backstage to get in the mood?" "Hmm," the cold-faced bovine warrior nodded and walked steadily toward the backstage, disappearing from the distant watching eyes. Bai E donned a disguise and squeezed into a corner of the arena. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire Surrounded by spectators who howled and roared senselessly as if mad, each effective strike and bloodshed on stage triggered wave after wave of climax. The atmosphere of the entire arena was filled with the stench of sweat and boiling emotions. Bai E, blending in among them, swayed his body rhythmically with the crowd as if part of the performance. He let out a shriek, "Ooh~" You know, once you get into this style, it seems rather intoxicating. "Ooh~ Ooh~ Ooh~ Ooh!" The defeated, exhausted gladiator was dragged away like a dead dog, fresh but not yet dry bloodstains already underfoot of a fresh pair of feet. The two beast-like gladiators eyed their opponents with a cold gaze, the ferocious glint in their eyes eager to burst forth at any moment. "This is our..." The host''s voice was always so impassioned, even if it was just two gladiators with no significant reputation. Because they were ordinary, they fought all the more fiercely. Behind the host''s echoing voice, two new gladiators had already violently collided. Strength, stamina, will... In the most basic and primal confrontation between people, it was these fundamental elements that influenced each combatant''s performance. Foreheads, elbows, knees, and even teeth. Every part of the body could be used as a weapon. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E squinted his eyes, feeling that the intensity of this match was even greater. He wasn''t new here; having already watched two matches, he subconsciously made his own intuitive judgment about what was happening in the arena. Neither side was particularly strong, so the vicious moves typical of the desperate struggle of the underdogs, like groin kicks and eye gouges, were all fair game. In order to win, this was beyond reproach. But the combatants were fighting too recklessly. This wasn''t a death match, which the organizers would have announced in advance. It was just an ordinary gladiator fight, and even if core interests were involved, the combatants'' attitude was too aggressive, as if determined to bring about each other''s demise. It was even madness. A gladiator who bit into his opponent''s neck finally seized upon a fatal mistake by the other, ignoring the retaliatory punches smashing into his stomach regardless of the blows he received. With no special technique at close range, it was hard to cause enough impact, but his teeth, yellowed with stains, once clenched, did not let go. The biting force of a human mouth might be far less than that of a wild beast, but in a frenzy of tearing, it could still rip apart the not-so-tough skin and muscle tissue of a fellow human. "Pfft!" A small chunk of flesh and blood was torn off in one bite, and acute pain struck every sensory neuron throughout the body like lightning. The pain did not lead to collapse; the retaliation intensified under the influence of a crazed vengeance. Disregarding the bleeding wound on his neck, the injured gladiator pounced on his opponent in a rage, pummeling him with a flurry of punches, blood droplets splattering. "Wow!" The whole arena erupted instantly, even the host''s voice, boosted by a dozen huge speakers, being drowned out by the roar of the now frenzied crowd. Bai E squinted his eyes, focusing intently on the body being pinned down in the arena. It was gradually becoming motionless... The first to be severely injured, the gladiator''s ferocious counterattack, had snatched the final victory. But why hadn''t the staff intervened? The fact that the losing party had completely lost the ability to resist was evident, so was this neglect on the part of the staff or deliberate indulgence? Blood oozed from all around... The enhanced attributes allowed Bai E, even far up in the spectator stands, to see the dark red trails flowing from the gradually softening, motionless body. On the arena floor, blood meandered and slowly congealed... The molecules of blood dissolved into the air, as if coating the entire venue with a faint layer of pink, blood-stained air. Sweet and tantalizing... it was intoxicating. "Huff!" Realizing that his opponent had been completely smashed into a heap of flesh after a furious outburst, the gladiator stood up abruptly and raised his right hand, declaring his victory to the audience. Thus, he received an enthusiastic response, "Wow!" His head pounded with excitement as blood unceasingly gushed from the wound on his neck, leading to a sudden bout of severe dizziness. The victor, after staggering with his arm raised, suddenly crashed backward. It was only then that the arena staff belatedly appeared, jogging to drag away the two figures that showed little signs of life, leaving behind only two dark red streaks of blood. "Without a doubt, it was an exceedingly spectacular performance!" the host finally had the chance to make his announcement. "Now, I have some good news¡ªtonight, our always mysterious masked ''Bull Warrior'' will face his first fight to the death! And if he can make it to the end, it will be the first time he removes his mask in front of everyone!" "Huh?" Kuang Xin looked bewildered in the rest area, glancing at the attendant standing by, ready to serve at any moment. "I never said that." The attendant''s face bore the standard smile, "It''s just promotion; whether you agree is up to you." "Oh~" He wasn''t really opposed. The good-looking face he had chosen was meant to be seen, and besides, he was a player... he wasn''t scared at all! Kuang Xin sat back down. "Before the Bull Warrior''s true fight to the death arrives, let us continue to watch a few more exciting matches!" ... Another pair of relatively unknown gladiators stepped onto the bloody arena. The hazy heat in the air did not recede, so much so that under the extremely high temperatures, Bai E could almost see the muscles of the two gladiators swell through the distorted air. He blinked, and the illusion disappeared immediately. The battle kicked off swiftly, with the two competitors not disappointing the audience whose blood was already boiling with excitement. From the get-go, the situation plunged into frenzied chaos. "Just like this¡­" Bai E squinted, muttering to himself. His soft question melted into the surrounding fervor, so even the closest spectators couldn''t hear him. It shouldn''t be like this. He himself had participated in arena competitions, although he stopped attending later on because the gains were too insignificant to warrant participation. But to his understanding, the arena did not need to indulge every gladiator in a battle to the death like this. After all, the arena doesn''t produce its own gladiators; besides the audience, it has to attract competitors. If every battle was fought to the death like this, a few times wouldn''t matter, but multiple times...it would scare away more competitors. A normal gladiator''s fight wouldn''t be so utterly insane, just like the ones he participated in himself. Even if everyone wanted to win, they weren''t as wholly lost to madness as they were now. Were these purposely trained death fighters by the arena? No. Rather than training, they could simply choose. This was deliberate. The purpose...was it for the fight to the death involving "Bull Warrior" that had just been announced? How similar was the frenzied atmosphere around him to the battle with the Blood God that day? Back then, the Blood God, no matter how reluctant to fight to the death, was forced into a one against three real combat by the organizers that was no different from a death match. Now...was the chosen one "Bull Warrior"? Or rather, Kuang Xin? Bai E raised an eyebrow, pressing on the retractable composite bow hidden beneath his wide robe. The rules and rhetoric of a place like this were not his concern; should the situation truly turn dire, he would naturally take action. Chapter 379 349 Provokes the whole arena! One bloody and exciting deathmatch after another pushed the atmosphere to its peak, and the multitude of spectators who rushed to hear the news added another layer of heat to the scene.When the "Bull Warrior", wearing a mysterious mask, slowly walked out of the preparation tunnel, the chanting in the arena almost reached its climax. The opponent appeared too... facing two against one. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One was a muscular man with tattoos all over his bare upper body, and the other was a tall and skinny man dressed in shiny studded clothing that screamed hip-hop style, looking like a hippie. It was hard to say who had the advantage, but since the opponents were not of an exceptionally high level, it was exactly this kind of pressure-heavy match that made for the most thrilling deathmatches. Having obtained Kuang Xin''s consent in advance, it couldn''t be considered particularly fair or unfair. Only a few companions scattered throughout the spectator stands had visibly worried looks in their eyes. In this game, the penalty for death was extremely severe, so the emotions associated with life-and-death partings were that much more intense. "He doesn''t even discuss such dangerous things with us... This big dummy is still laughing!" Dai Lian narrowed his eyes, somewhat annoyed. In the arena, seeing that he was up against two opponents, Kuang Xin''s face broke into an uncontrollable, joyous smile that was particularly striking against the mask that only exposed his mouth. Knowing that his companions were watching him from the stands, Kuang Xin didn''t want to indulge too much. But the moment his feet stepped onto this stage, and as the calls from the audience swept over him like a tidal wave, his mind seemed to instantly forget everything. All etiquette, all companions... The only purpose of standing in this arena was to fight. To knock out the opponent, or be knocked out by the opponent! Beyond that, everything else was irrelevant! Useless! Just do it and it''s all over! It was just a game after all, where else in reality could one find such a stage to vent one''s frustrations so freely and to exhibit one''s martial prowess as if experiencing it firsthand? [Triggered sparring quest--Deathmatch.] [Deathmatch: ...] [Sparring Mode: ...] The familiar mode interwove line by line like flowing water in the faint blue subtitles before his eyes, and Kuang Xin''s lips curved up into a somewhat sinister smile. Despite facing two against one, he charged into the fray! A deathmatch, as the name implies, means to take down the opponent by any means necessary. The "Bull Warrior" had a reputation, but the two opponents weren''t to be trifled with either. Just as Bai E had guessed, the organizers of the arena certainly didn''t have the ability to sustain a roster of gladiators who could be continuously consumed in battle, but they could choose. Their biggest job was to select suitable opponents for each participant, ensuring basic fairness and entertainment value in every match. Being chosen as one of the fighters for a deathmatch after many days signified that even if it was a two-against-one situation, it didn''t mean both of the opponents were easy to provoke. It was just that due to factors like combat records and fighting styles, they didn''t attract as much attention as others. One alone could probably give the "Bull Warrior" a run for his money, and if two worked together... "Could he be killed outright..." The staff member who had made the arrangement was the most aware of the gap in strength between the two sides on paper, and he watched his boss with some concern. The man of imposing stature, wearing a black suit without a shirt underneath, leaned back in a comfortable armchair, idly swaying his body, "No matter, as long as he''s resilient enough, even if he''s killed, it''s acceptable." The master only wants blood, not caring whose it is. As long as there''s no retreat, the blood of a warrior is the greatest offering to the master! "Boom!" "Boom!" "Smack smack smack!" The fight between the three men was fraught with danger, their powerful physical strength sending bodies flying now and then. Even players who had grown rapidly couldn''t become invincible at this stage, where the most capable and boldest natives had gathered. There were no cowards! Bruised and battered, covered in blood. But this did not affect Kuang Xin''s resolve for the deathmatch, in fact, it only excited him more. Players didn''t fear pain, as pain mechanisms serve to protect the body, warning it not to continue with dangerous behavior... it could lead to death! But players had a different kind of feedback, a pain protection mechanism that felt almost like euphoria. The more severe the injury, the more they were exhilarated. Any blow that didn''t instantly kill the player would trigger their frenzied counterattack. "Hehehehe~" Under immense pressure, Kuang Xin couldn''t let out a loud laugh, but the excitement in the depths of his soul made his vocal cords tremble uncontrollably. Thump! Thump! His heart beat furiously, his veins throbbing, but perhaps only the spirit controlling the will truly belonged to him. Feverish battle will took over his body, infusing his blood. As he was knocked down by a punch once again, the blood that trailed along the contour of his cheek spilled onto the steel floor of the arena. Just as Kuang Xin was judged to have entered a dizzy state and had not been up for half a second, he rose again under the newly activated specialty¡ª"Fervor." Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Before the battle ended, no abnormal state could affect his combat movements! Fight! "Roar!" With his face covered in blood, Kuang Xin slapped the ground with his palm, propelling his body into the air. A heavy punch struck out! "So cool!" The acting team leader, who had just met the handsome young man that day and now had eyes full of admiration, stared at the figure engaged in the bloody fight in the arena. A familiar style, familiar moves... and an even more evident wildness. She loved such wild men! This Blackwater City, she had made the right decision to come! Nova, who stood beside her, remained silent. Her hopes of finding Bai E had been dashed, and amidst the vast sea of people, there was no trace of him to be found. Chapter 380 349 Provokes the whole arena!_2 And yet... the atmosphere here always exudes an ominous feeling.As if it were nurturing some kind of evil seed? What is it? Where is it? Nova''s gaze wandered and finally settled on the focus of everyone''s attention¡ªthe combat arena. No! Not there. It''s still below! The will of everyone converged, forming an abundant flow of Spiritual Energy, creating ripples in the coexistent higher-dimensional space. An evil presence was slowly taking shape. "Should we just leave..." Feeling somewhat cowardly and added to the distress of not finding Bai, Nova was already thinking of fleeing... "Ah, Captain? You don''t want to stay a bit longer in such a fun place?" The acting captain''s eyes were firmly hooked on the figures in the arena, even prepared to burst into action and snatch someone if things went awry, hardly willing to leave at such a time. "Ah!" An exclamation of alarm escaped the acting captain during their conversation. No matter how explosive Kuang Xin was in battle, taking on two almost equal opponents, he was inevitably given an opening by his enemies. The man, much more imposing than Kuang Xin, locked onto Kuang Xin''s limbs from behind with his own, while his tall and gaunt comrade revealed his weapon¡ªthe modified claw blade attached to his amputated arm. The reflective steel blade cut through the scorching air, aimed to completely eviscerate Kuang Xin''s stomach. Scattered about the area, Kuang Xin''s three companions instantly reacted as they had previously agreed upon. They would never stand by and watch Kuang Xin sacrificed in such an expendable deathmatch; the consequences of offending the indigenous people of this combat arena had never been within their considerations. Gu Lan, who was adept at close combat and prepared for medical emergencies, and Gong Yan rushed toward the iron net that separated the spectators from the arena. Already close to it, they covered the distance in just a few strides. Gu Lan''s sword gleamed with the misty light of Spiritual Energy, and the iron net that seemed so solid might not withstand her blade. Dai Lian also drew his longbow from a distance, pulling back the bowstring harshly under the incredulous stares of the nearby audience. The mesh was fine; the shot must be precise. He hoped the net wouldn''t disturb the trajectory, causing a miss or accidental injury... With these thoughts in mind, Dai Lian aimed at the target as best he could. "Pfft!" No matter how quickly they acted from the outside, it was ultimately difficult to keep up with the ever-changing situation inside the arena. The modified claw blade inevitably and remorselessly pierced into Kuang Xin''s abdomen, viciously churning inside. "We concede." Unnoticed, Bai E had lifted his disguise, revealing his attire from when he had previously competed in the arena. Standing by the referee''s side, he spoke to them evenly. "Concede?" "Who are you?" The referees, upon hearing Bai E speak, smirked dismissively. Some even sneered, too indifferent to reward him with a glance. This was a deathmatch¡ªthe kind not meant for child''s play that could just be stopped on a whim. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire Only when one side was completely downed would the match truly end; nothing else could interrupt the continuation of the deathmatch. Bai E sighed softly, but he knew this was expected. So he wasted no further words, slightly raising the Compound Bow in his left hand, flicked an arrow, and shot it into the arena. "Whoosh!" The arrow flew through the air too rapidly for anyone to react. With a "ding," as everyone came to their senses, the tall, thin man in the arena''s modified claw blade had vanished from his wrist, the wound dripping with fresh blood. Clutching his severed limb, the man''s face was covered with painful sweat. Only then did the referees¡ªor rather the organizers¡ªseriously turn their attention to the sensually dressed man before them. Perhaps due to that seriousness, memories began to resurface in their minds, and someone in the referees'' seat recalled the familiar attire from a hazy memory. The name slipped out, "White Ghost?!" Although he had only appeared once, this contestant had already been marked by the boss for special attention. It was just a shame he hadn''t been seen since that time. And now, he reappeared... "What do you want to do?!" Under the watchful words, even more fully-armed henchmen were closing in. As for those who broke the rules of the gladiatorial arena, the organizers never left an impression of being easily bullied. Instructions from the higher-ups then started to come through in everyone''s headset at the referee''s seat, "What''s happened?" "Boss, there is some troublemaker..." The referee''s staff gazed intently at Bai E, who appeared unafraid, as someone quietly reported to their boss through the headset. "Who is it?" "Seems like the White Ghost..." Although the attire was the same, there were subtle differences. Last time, the White Ghost wore a mask, but this time, he showed his true face¡ª A face unknown to them. "The White Ghost?" The arena''s boss spoke with confusion, and it took a moment to recall the person associated with that name from his memory. "Is it him?" The contestant once considered to be on the same level as the Blood God, he''s back? This could be good news, "Find out what he wants?" No one would challenge the gladiatorial arena without reason, even minions sent from competing arenas wouldn''t act so senselessly. He must have his own objective! "What do you want to do?" The referee''s staff, upon receiving the boss''s instruction, stared coldly at Bai E, as the surrounding henchmen pressed him for an immediate response. Bai E scoffed with the same arrogant demeanor he had shown before and glanced at the henchmen, "I am disgusted." "Ah?" Bai E pointed towards the stage, "It''s been a while since I''ve been here; I thought there would be some decent opponents by now. But to see such a level in a duel to the death after being gone so long, it''s disappointing!" "Hmm?" The staff looked on, puzzled, at Bai E. "I want to join the competition!" Bai E leant forward slightly, his lips curled in a haughty sneer, "Get those losers off the stage! Understand?" "..." The referee''s staff were momentarily dumbfounded by such an outrageous way to sign up. This guy seemed even more arrogant than the last time he appeared. Had he made swift progress during his absence? Only strength was the core of confidence. "Boss, he says he wants to sign up for a duel to the death..." "Is that all?" It wasn''t enough! Nowhere near enough! The reputation of their gladiatorial arena mustn''t be dragged through the mud; even if they were keen on the individual contestant White Ghost, for the sake of the arena''s long-term development, such a meager reason was insufficient grounds for his challenge to the rules of the arena. He had to pay a price! "Everyone!" Bai E rounded on them with a scoff, his finger sweeping past nearly every visible figure. "All the henchmen, all the contestants, anyone who disagrees, they can all come at me at once." Bai E pulled out all his black water coins, the currency players had handed over to exchange for faction funds, along with his winnings from the last contest, amounting to thousands of paper notes, "Whoever takes me down, all this money will belong to them! I declare war on everyone, tonight... belongs solely to me!" It had to be said, the atmosphere crafted by the arena was wicked, but it had a real bewitching effect on the psyche. Even Bai E could sense something was off, yet the fervor also got his blood boiling. Maybe being reckless on occasion could help one find their true essence. The real self shouldn''t always be suppressed; he was never a character to tread carefully or be overly compliant. If it''s a fight they want, then fight it will be! Without waiting for a response, Bai E strode to the edge of the arena, tore through the iron net in front of him and stepped boldly inside. The unexpected turn of events stunned everyone into silence, save for the jarring music. For a moment, there was complete stillness. As the person in charge of the duel arena stood up abruptly upon receiving the report from his subordinate through the headset, his expression was electrified, "Grant his request!" Chapter 381 350 Totally insane! An unprecedented event!Since the opening of this Underground Colosseum, it''s the first time such a thing has been heard of¡ª Challenging everyone with the power of a single person! A fierce tiger, no matter how strong, is hard-pressed to overcome a pack of wolves. No matter how formidable a person is, it''s very difficult to defeat all the evil spirits that lurk in a place like this. Even the previously favored Blood God, who had been heavily backed by everyone, was evidently struggling when it came to one against three, and had it not been for the master''s grace triggered during the fiercest battle, he might have died on the spot. A person... no matter how strong, how far can they really go? Of course, it''s not like such individuals don''t exist in this world. Like the name of the War God known to all, or perhaps many other human masters whose strength is not inferior, and who are simply not as famous, but obviously, these people have nothing to do with this Colosseum. And yet, at this moment, there exists such a person who audaciously declared war on the entire Colosseum! What an insane act. Smash him! Or be smashed by him! The master doesn''t care where the blood comes from, the master just wants fresh blood! The eyes of the Colosseum''s overseer flashed with a maniacal and bloodthirsty crimson, and the opponent''s arrogant demeanor even made his blood boil, almost making him want to jump into the fray himself. He just hoped that the opponent had enough strength to keep this feast going! On the field... The burly man, significantly larger than Kuang Xin, had unconsciously loosened the grip on Kuang Xin''s arms without realizing when it happened. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire The agonized scream of the tall, thin man across him, whose arm had been instantaneously sliced off and replaced with a claw blade from an unknown attack, left him baffled. Aren''t we fighting to the death? Only Kuang Xin, whom he had been overpowering, was present on the field, so where did that attack come from? When did the cheering from the crowd outside stop? Why can''t he hear anything but the rigid music? No! There''s one more sound¡ª The screeching of steel, so harsh it makes one''s gums ache. The iron net... has been torn apart? Following the direction of the sound, the burly man saw the figure who had torn apart the protective iron net and was striding towards him. Beneath the outlandish yet sensual leather outfit were muscles in perfect streamline, and although the figure''s style was extremely exaggerated, it was a face he had never seen before. But he remembered the costume, "White Ghost"! The figure had only appeared once in this Colosseum, but the endless strategies and strength demonstrated in successive battles left a deep impression on him. He had dreamt of fighting such an opponent, especially in a death match! Death match! Death match! The burly man''s eyes shone with a bloodthirsty glow, he was unaware of what happened outside, but since the opponent had stepped into the field, did it mean that he also accepted these rules? Tear apart the iron net? Hmph! He''s just a bit stronger. He had never tried it, but that was out of respect for the organizers of the Colosseum. Achieving such a feat was not something to brag about. "Crack crack!" the burly man clenched his fists, staring excitedly at the "White Ghost" walking straight toward him. It wasn''t until the "White Ghost" got close enough for the burly man to hear him clearly without the music interfering that he sneered at Bai E, "You''re new to the death match, too." "Mhm~" Bai E simply crouched down, looking at Kuang Xin who was lying on the ground unable to move due to severe injuries and excessive blood loss. This world was indeed very real, the blood volume data that the human body possessed was just a representation of physical condition, and vital hits or massive body part damages would cause terrifying blood loss. It wouldn''t result in a loss of 100 points of blood just from a scratched foot, but neither would it be so absurd as to be left lively after taking a precise bullet to the head if the blood volume was sufficient. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But once physical strength had grown to a certain extent, even a disemboweling wound could not be considered fatal. Of course, Kuang Xin wasn''t dead, and at this moment, he was even curiously observing his own situation. The system only judged that his body was unable to make large movements, but his will remained clear, and he didn''t feel pain from injuries that would seem unbearable to ordinary people. "My lord?" "Stand up!" Two voices rang out simultaneously. Kuang Xin hadn''t expected such a turn of events... he hadn''t even fought, haha. But he found that his master was merely looking at him with a gentle smile saying, "You did very well. Now, leave the rest to me." People! The core of the Colosseum has always been people. No matter who it is, no matter what form the battle takes. As long as there''s an event that causes great controversy and excitement, capable of provoking everyone''s hormonal secretion, it''s a prelude to their action. Waiting behind the scenes for that moment to arrive, waiting for another character like the Blood God to be offered up on this bloody stage... why not do it yourself? Bai E reached out his hand, "pat pat pat," hitting several spots on Kuang Xin''s body. With the miraculous first aid ability coupled with the special attribute of "acupoint targeting" within his combat expertise, the horrific bleeding in the abdominal cavity immediately stopped its frightening hemorrhage. "Stand up!" the burly man repeated from the other side, his eyes angrily fixed on Bai E. He believed that only the blood of the strong belonged in his hands; a wretch who didn''t dare to resist had no right to face his fists. Bai E, half-crouching on the ground, looked up slightly and glanced at his opponent, "Want to fight? Wait for the next match." The belated host''s voice was tremendously fervent, finally echoing after Bai E''s actions, "What did I hear! What did I hear! Just now, I heard some astonishing news! Our familiar ''White Ghost''! This evil sinner who ruined the sacred death match has arrogantly provoked all the warriors present!" Chapter 382 350 Totally insane!_2 He''s challenging everyone at once! Listen up, friends! Listen! Coming up, you''re about to hear the most explosive news in history! Starting now! No need to register! No need to notify! No order, no war readiness! Our arena''s gates will be opened wide, and setting foot inside means you''re taking part in this death match.The competitors in this death match are the "White Phantom," alone... and the entire audience! Everyone! Listen! That''s everyone! If you kill the White Phantom, the 10,000 Blackwater coins offered by the White Phantom himself, along with an additional 50,000 Blackwater coins provided by our venue, will all belong to that one person! Everyone can enter the ring! No timing, no limits, the death match doesn''t end until the White Phantom goes down! Tonight, let''s tear him to pieces!" Pretty excited... not bad at all. Listening to the host''s introduction, Bai E, who was already holding Kuang Xin''s body, walked to the edge of the field and handed over the pale-faced Kuang Xin, who was weakened from heavy blood loss, to Gong Yan and Gu Lan, who were waiting by the side. "Give him first aid, then take him out... Later, you might need to put in some effort." Bai E wasn''t swept away by the frenzied atmosphere and the combative spirit boiling over in the crowd; he always remembered the purpose of his visit. The Evil God that was causing the Blood God to fall was spreading Its will through this kind of fighting arena. He came here to eradicate the minion spreading the will of the Evil God and, at the same time, was trying to see if he could break through the final barrier of his Spiritual Energy. He needed to fight, and so did the players. He would handle the big threats; the possible riff-raff should be left to them, which made sense. "Yes, Master!" Gu Lan watched with excitement as their master, who was so close, approached them. This was the first time she had seen her master dressed this way, but such an outfit combined with such wild actions created an even more thrilling novel excitement compared to the master''s usual composure. It was incredibly exciting! And given the environment they were in now... the fighting spirit surged! After a brief set of instructions, Bai E turned and headed straight toward the center of the arena. All eyes were on him, itching to move. Some members of the audience were already close to the wire mesh, yet they hesitated, not taking a step further. As members of the audience, they had the self-awareness that came with their role. They might have cheered loudly usually, but they were simply venting their desires for violence through others'' bravery. Asking them to step up themselves? Sorry, the blood wasn''t hot enough. Meanwhile, the two individuals who were already in the arena were practically seeing green. Violence, money, honor! Everything they wanted was right there! All on the body of the man before their eyes! Kill him! Kill him! The chance was right before them, they were the closest, and they had the greatest opportunity. Before other competitors swooped in, tear into the opponent''s fragile body first! Everything! It all belonged to them! Daring to challenge everyone, nobody believed that the "White Phantom" would be able to stand until the end; being torn to pieces was his only fate. But they wouldn''t be careless because of this belief; becoming a martyr for others was also a possible outcome for them. Team up! Share the spoils! The two contestants who had teamed up against Kuang Xin silently exchanged a glance, understanding each other''s intentions through the shared moment. Even the tall, skinny man, whose modified claw had been slashed off, forgot the pain he was suffering under the immense motivation of potential riches. Kill! Kill, kill, kill! With just a glance, the two understood one another. And, looking at the figure striding back, it was as if they saw moving Blackwater coins. "Swoosh!" The tall, skinny man burst forward in an instant, the first to charge at Bai E with agile movements. The muscular man closely followed, attacking in tandem with a craftily small interval between them. However... "Boom!" His leg whipped out like a whip. The first to rush in, the tall, skinny man, was kicked and sent flying; the sound of his bones shattering could be heard in mid-air, as he flew several meters from the spot. A black afterimage flashed before their eyes. The muscular man following behind didn''t even have the time to realize his comrade had been so easily defeated. After the shadow flitted by, what came into view next was a pair of calm eyes that nevertheless subtly revealed a fiery intensity. "Snap!" His mind was still a blank slate, relying entirely on instinct in combat, yet the immense power shattered all his illusions. The cold reality descended. "Hiss!" The large body was sent flying by a kick, skimming across the ground for more than ten meters. The two warriors who had just been going toe-to-toe with the "Bull Fighter" were almost powerless against the absolute strength. In combat, Bai E''s abilities were not just limited to the basic three-dimensional attributes that reached or slightly exceeded the limits of ordinary humans; the all-round capability enhancements from specialization, proficiency, and traits allowed his performance to greatly surpass the base attributes themselves. Base attributes are the foundation, while various abilities are amplifiers. A tiny growth in the base attributes, when magnified by the various abilities, becomes terrifyingly unstoppable. Nowadays, Bai E appears to only slightly exceed the limits of ordinary humans in basic attributes, but his strength had already far surpassed what ordinary people could even imagine. Even though Bai E was casting down his opponents with ease, this could not stop the remaining gladiators'' thirst for money, honor, and everything else. The pathways in this abandoned factory led in all directions, with countless channels leading to the arena. Now, a moment after the news had spread, agile figures were sprinting out from within, afraid they would arrive too late and miss out on the headcount. Bai E stood firmly in the center, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. All the frantic, fervent, greedy, and fearless gazes were all focused on him alone. Those eyes were filled with pronounced passion, humanity''s greatest treasure, also the very thing high-dimensional demons covet the most! You are noble... because of the different souls each of you possesses. Even the demons from beyond the heavens yearn for it... Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E''s eyes drooped slightly, and he completely let go of his body and mind. Tonight... let''s go wild. "Pfft!" "Snap!" Figures were thrown in all directions, almost none of the opponents able to withstand a full-powered strike from Bai E. Yet even so, not a single one among those crowding Bai E retreated. The first wave to rush forward were the bravest and most ferocious fighters in the arena; they had seen the bloodiest of bloodshed and thus had lost any reverence for violence. To bring down others, or to be brought down... they were already prepared for either. Furthermore, the opponent was not completely unbeatable. As long as he relied on fists and feet, they could wear him down to death! And although his techniques were not robust enough to remain untouched amidst the chaos of being attacked by countless people, from time to time, someone''s fist would solidly strike the arrogant fellow''s body. Although there was no immediate effect, if it added up... even a god would fall! The banquet stirred up a tempest, the atmosphere filled with heated breath. The spectators who were initially unwilling to join in gradually lost their sense of self in such a frenzied atmosphere. Perhaps there was an opportunity to sneak an attack? Or... they simply enjoyed releasing their long-suppressed urge to fight in such chaotic circumstances. Oh, how they longed... to feel the impact of their fists on another''s body! How tantalizing must that feedback of force be? So the thick wall of people grew layer upon layer, and even the onlookers couldn''t help but press closer, surrounding the entire arena so tightly that not even water could escape. Occasionally, someone would follow the desire deep in their heart, their cowardly nature infected by the frenzied atmosphere, and charge forward. Those who couldn''t immediately reach their true target in the outer circle vented their agitation on "comrades" with their fists, creating a scene of utter chaos. Yet emotions had never been so elevated. Feeling the swelling of his inner power, a gift from his lord, the man in the black suit who was the head of the organizers flashed a broad smile. This is it! Just like this! This arena has never cared for those ephemeral rules, order... everything is solely to serve the true Lord! Chapter 383 351 Blood Demon Pool! "Are we still leaving, Captain?" The acting captain glanced at their leader nearby and asked sincerely."Nope~" Nova shook her head emphatically, sitting on the concrete floor with her hands propping her chin, watching the figure dominating the arena with an enraptured expression, "So cool..." "Not really..." the acting captain muttered under her breath. Better than that Kuang Xin kid... How can you call it a fight if you don''t see Meng Meng spewing blood? The way he didn''t make a peep even when his abdomen was ripped open¡ªthat''s what I call tough. I didn''t expect this guy to be so manly, I''m in love~ "Bang!" A vicious blow from a club smashed into the back of Bai E''s head. Metal spikes against human flesh, a speck of blood unquestionably appeared on the back of Bai E''s head. When order was completely thrown into chaos, the restrictions on weapons naturally became irrelevant. Where is this? The Underground Colosseum. A place already devoid of laws, now engulfed in such chaotic emotions, any semblance of rules that might have existed vanished entirely. As long as it''s not the use of high-powered firearms firing indiscriminately, secretive small-scale use of cold weapons was now unregulated. Even wielding a Wolf Fang Club and striking the head were workers from the Colosseum itself. Who says referees can''t join the fray? This deathmatch had completely lost balance and become a frenzy. Bai E, the prize money... everything visible could be an enemy! Frenzy, indulgence! "Bang!" Bai E blocked a massive fist coming straight for him and turned his head, his gaze icy as he looked behind at the opponent with the club, ready to strike another blow. The adversary''s black referee uniform was blatantly conspicuous. Anger? Nonexistent. Since he had personally torn apart the facade of order, Bai E could accept any and all twists of fate. He could even have dodged this attack if he had wanted to. But in this atmosphere, it wasn''t right not to take some damage... the body, not excited enough. Sometimes, pain is also a kind of stimulant. "Not enough..." Bai E bared his teeth, "Not enough! Come on! Keep it coming!" The man who held the Wolf Fang Club, originally planning only a sneak attack, stiffened for a moment as he tried to retract the club only to be seized by Bai E. In the ensuing struggle, Bai E forced it down, slowly pressing it toward his own head. "Bang!" "Bang!" No one would wait quietly for Bai E to dispatch every challenger. Yet even as he focused on the man with the Wolf Fang Club behind him, Bai E did not forget to stay vigilant against enemies from other directions. The person who was repelled, carrying tremendous force, suddenly collided with others behind him, creating a small space of brief tranquility. "Come on!" Bai E snarled with a sneer, holding the adversary''s wrist with one hand, "Come at me! Hit me again!" Those weak punches couldn''t cause any excitement-worthy injuries to him; only a sharp and heavy weapon like this could bring a slight sense of threat to Bai E! Even as he spoke, the small wound from the Wolf Fang Club''s previous blow was already healing in moments due to his cells'' self-repair capability. His talent, completely unbound and baptized with Gene Optimization Solution, was truly astonishing. "Damn!" The man pinned by Bai E''s single hand, though startled at first, couldn''t help but grow enraged under Bai E''s aggressive provocation. "Fuck!" Cursing emboldened him, Bai E instantly let go, allowing the man''s wrist to rise high before smashing down fiercely. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire "Snap!" A thin trickle of blood appeared, and Bai E''s eyes grew dangerously intense. "That''s it?" That''s it? A full-force blow was just that? If you can''t even hurt someone with a weapon, why bother being out in society? "Boom!" A punch as he ducked, evading a flying kick from behind, Bai E''s fist smashed into his attacker''s stomach. The power shattered outward destructively. The man sent flying had his bones crushed, and even those blocking his path suffered significant impact damage from the explosive force¡ªunrivaled in might. The remaining spectators, who had not yet joined the fray, cheered wave after wave from their seats. "So fierce..." the acting captain, also on the sidelines, watched the unfazed Captain Bai with a shocked gaze. Defeating our captain in top form in a one-on-one would certainly be remarkable, but witnessing this scene of one against many was obviously more heart-stopping. An endless throng directed at the core, yet not a single one could withstand the inner circle for more than a few seconds. Bai E, at the center of it all, was the absolute ruler of the moment! "Make way!" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Martial Artist who came upon hearing news of the fight, seeing the area surrounded in layers, was anxious. This towering figure strode forward, sweeping away obstructions with his hand like a giant. "Out of the way!" Thus, his heavy body made an even larger sound upon landing, the ground shaking... "Snap!" "Shall we go help?" The acting captain''s eyes also shone with excitement. The feverish environment influenced her decision, and even without fighting, the reckless decision-making common in battle was slowly taking over her body. "..." Nova shook her head, "No need." Chapter 384 351 Blood Demon Pool!_2 No need.And... also afraid. Bai is so powerful. But what is brewing on Bai''s body... behind... or beneath, also seems equally terrifying. Blood! The blood gushing from the bodies lying on the ground falls onto the floor and disappears instantly like a sponge absorbing water, leaving only a dark red streak behind. Everyone''s blood. The blood of countless people. All the blood that has flowed in this gladiatorial arena so far has come together. A boiling Blood Demon Pool! The fighting spirit at the pinnacle of every warrior is interwoven in that blood, and now these fervent wills are in turn nourishing all the warriors who embrace combat. Eyes red with fury... Bai E punched at a man before him, but found that the man had managed to block the blow with his arms. Although the man''s body was forced back involuntarily, the punch didn''t inflict much damage. Bai E licked his lips; this was the first opponent who had fully taken his all-out punch. Always knocking them out with one punch, it was hard for him to get much of a thrill from the fight. Forcing his way through the attacks of those surrounding him, Bai E advanced to pursue, "Boom!" The power of "Overlimit Drive" and "Instant Kill Hundred Heads" burst forth with terrifying might, instantly blowing his opponent away. But it didn''t clear much space. The body sent flying by a punch far heavier than any before only knocked down two or three others before coming to a halt, the display far less impressive than any previous ones. This unexpected detail instantly put Bai E on alert, and in the next moment, a nearly simultaneous wave of attacks from those around him engulfed him. It was much harder... Like a normal person suddenly finding themselves in water, every move facing the resistance of the liquid. Bai E, still in the midst of the crowd, found his every attack and defensive action becoming far more difficult, as if... those besieging him had all undergone a level-up in combat. In this world, the possibility of a sudden burst of improvement is slim; if you can''t win, you simply can''t win, just like Kuang Xin earlier. Only a few geniuses with achievements in Spiritual Energy and profound resources could unleash their Spiritual Energy and break through in a critical moment; otherwise, for most fights, the outcome is determined right at the start. The gap in sheer strength can''t be overcome by will. The only possible explanation for such a large-scale phenomenon occurring right now¡ªmust be the meddling of a high-dimensional demon! The cold fire in his eyes pulsed, and the red border of blood in his vision spread toward the center like a living thing, but only for a moment before the spreading of blood instantly shattered. Bai E clenched his fist as if crushing the blessings that came through the air. [In endless madness, you have shattered the gaze of a high-dimensional demon with your resolute will, Mystique +0.1.] Why do they like to bestow blessings so much? Scum! The power of Spiritual Energy surged through his body, turning 99 points of Spiritual Energy into direct three-dimensional attribute enhancements, with Overlimit Drive continuously taking effect. Absolute Defense, Gift of Freedom! The power condensed from will is intangible and has no substance in the air; for those who can''t feel it and can''t accept its call, the two are completely unrelated. Yet even if the "energy" is beyond physical sensation and touch, it can still be absorbed by talent. Under the unlocked optimized gene enhancement for rapid recovery, these slowly depleting resource abilities are hardly consumptive for the current Bai E. If he wants, he can maintain his peak condition indefinitely. Adding the sporadic bursts of "Instant Kill Hundred Heads," Bai E, fully unleashed, rampaged like a brutal bulldozer once again. Bodies were sent flying, violently flung into the air, even passing over the large lights hanging down for illumination. "Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!" The intercepting iron net was initially there to separate the arena from the audience, but now it served as the last barrier to stop the bodies being swept away. "..." The acting captain of Grey Iron City and the boy gaped in disbelief. How... did he become even fiercer as he fought? An endless tide of people surged forward crazily, yet the number of those blasted away was even faster than the rate at which the crowd was squeezing into the circle. The encircled central area grew larger and larger, and only a faint afterimage could be seen weaving through the crowd. "Bang bang bang bang bang!" The sounds melded together, the slap of flesh even forming a specific melody. "Boom!" Bai E, unsmashable, came to rest, standing at the center, his wild emotions seeking release but ultimately venting on the ground beneath his feet. With both fists pounding the ground, the entire arena seemed to shudder under the force of the blow. Those who were slightly closer staggered in their steps, their eyes wide with horror. The madness in their eyes seemed to clear somewhat before this world-supreme power. "Crack crack~" The sound of cracking was crisp in everyone''s ears, piercing even amidst the increasingly frantic music. Many looked around instinctively, but were cluelessly unable to find the source of the sound. Only a few people''s gaze was fixed on the ground beneath Bai E''s feet, where the steel plates were breaking apart, and the concrete beneath them was rapidly cracking and expanding. Nova squinted her eyes as if seeing a blood egg cracking open. In the monitoring room, the man in the black suit clenched his fists tightly, his eyes excitedly focused not on the ring... but on what was underneath. Red mist of blood rose from the ground up into his view, filling the air and entering every body with each breath. Nearly everyone''s pupils changed color, their gazes growing more fanatic. It was as if an endless force was surging within, seeking a body to completely unleash itself. "Plop! Plop!" The shattered chunks of concrete fell, dropping downwards due to gravity. "Thud~ thud~" They sounded like they were falling into some kind of liquid, emitting muffled splashes. "Gurgle gurgle~" The sound of bursting bubbles rose clearly to the ears of every present observer, and the next moment, a tumultuous pulling force emerged from the ground beneath everyone''s feet, the already broken concrete flooring collapsing instantly, and the steel plates that sat atop it, lacking support, also fell down in pieces. Bai E, sensing this early on, leaped lightly away, distancing himself from the center of it all. He looked gravely from outside the protective netting at where the arena used to be¡ª A crimson swirl of blood was slowly turning beneath, and all the contestants who failed to escape in time fell into it, desperately reaching out like people drowning in the Blood Demon Pool, wailing for help. Facing that magical vortex, however, they could only be slowly swallowed, as if sinking into a marsh. The most chilling sight was at the final moment, just before their heads submerged, their faces no longer showed panic, but rather a heartfelt fanatic satisfaction. "Gurgle gurgle~" All disappeared from sight, drowned in it. Only the occasional bloody bubble burst, leaving a deadly silence. "Ahhh!" This horrific phenomenon instantly shattered the will of all the remaining spectators on site. As they had never personally descended into the field themselves, their desire for battle wasn''t as deep as those in the arena, and their first response to such a gruesomely frightening scene was to flee. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire Bai E stood unmoving against the reverse tide of people, his eyes intensely focused on the blood pool in front of him¡ª The blood pool boiled, and ridges rose up along its sides, like dried traces of countless streams of blood that had flowed over. This wasn''t physically present, nor was it completely virtual. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Believe, and it exists; doubt, and it does not. A typical sign of high-dimensional space erosion. If too many people see this scene, believe it, then this area would become a perpetual Blood Demon Pool. Then, legions of demons will crawl out from this blood pool, using it as a base to drag the entire world into it! In fact, signs of this were already emerging. As the humans were submerged, dark horns slowly rose from within, and blood-red, brawny tendons formed towering, muscular bodies¡­ Chapter 385 Infiltrate the material world Bloodletting Vampire!One of the most common lesser demons within the warfaction! However, even the least of demons is a horror and terror for mankind. Those audience members, lured by the pool of blood and unable to move their feet, naturally fell to their knees out of fear the moment they beheld the true forms of these higher-dimensional demons. With faces blank, they trembled like chaff in the wind. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire "Puchi!" The giant demon, not yet fully risen from the pool of blood, suddenly thrust out the Blood Magic Sword in its hand. The black and ferocious giant swordblade easily pierced through the body of a kneeling, stupefied spectator. The demonic sword throbbed as if it were a living thing, the blood was instantly drawn out, and the body dried up in an instant like a mummy thousands of years old. "Pu¡ª" The sword was pulled out, and the body crumbled to ash. "It''s time for you to show your might," said Bai E, his gaze slightly focused, addressing those behind him. While about half of the audience were fleeing, the three players who had dealt with Kuang Xin and were sent out had now returned to stand behind Bai E. "Yes!" The three of them looked eagerly at the several tall blood-shadows climbing out of the pool. Since entering the game, they''d fought mostly foot soldiers, and the strangest, strongest opponents they had encountered were merely the green-skinned orcs in the last pool mission. Now these creatures, replete with magical fantasy, allowed them truly to feel like they were frolicking freely in a world with an exceptionally liberated worldview. Dai Lian drew his bow, intending to shoot an arrow first to test the waters. "Evacuate everyone." "..." "Huh?" The three, already brimming with fighting spirit and ready to battle, could have never expected that their very first order would be just this. Meanwhile, Bai E too took down the Folding Compound Bow hanging from his waist. He intended to shoot an arrow first to test the waters while explaining, "The presence of these people will provide them with power¡ªblood is the core of their strength. Remember, when facing demons, saving others is akin to saving yourself." Mankind is naturally allied, but in the face of demons, souls captured by demons can instead become a source of strength for them. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Should one strike first to slaughter before the demons take action, or rescue oneselves'' kin before the demons, to weaken their strength? Everything hinges on a single thought. Some pure-minded enforcers from the Arbitration Place often prefer to annihilate completely, adopting a scorched earth strategy to block the invasion of demons. But Bai E does not favor that approach. "Yes!" Hearing Bai E''s command, Gong Yan readily agreed, her tone resolute. She then picked up two nearby stupefied spectators and turned to flee. Her petite frame was hugely disproportionate to their bulky builds, and although she didn''t have Kuang Xin''s strength, her gradually increasing level in Spiritual Energy now enabled her to accomplish much more with its aid. There weren''t many spectators left; half had already fled. Those who hadn''t been killed instantly were relatively easy to rescue. Bai E refocused his attention, concentrating on the bow and arrow in his hands. He wondered... just how strong these demons might be. This wasn''t his first encounter with demons, but his first brush with an Essential Fear demon was unusual, as it had a high rank but weak power. Subsequent encounters involved either the small card demons that attacked the Spiritual Body in higher dimensions, or ordinary demons that possessed humans. The true form of the demons now emerging, completely summoned through human resource sacrifice in some kind of offering ritual, was incomparable to any he''d faced before. Not to mention, in the limited knowledge about demons that Bai E had encountered, these enforcer-termed "Bloodletting Vampires" were among the most combat-ready of the lower-tier demons from the four major factions. Now he faced... a total of five. Time to test their strength. Bai E''s fingers clenched tightly on the nock, targeting the crimson bodies with bulging muscles. The slight draw of the bow seemed to summon the essence of the blood vortex onto the arrow itself. The cold arrowhead, reflecting bright bloody light, shot out in an instant! "Swoosh!" A whirlwind followed the arrow¡ªPiercing Wind Breaker! The skill unlocked after reaching level 4 in Ranged Weapon Specialization, a special form of "Wind Stabilizer" from the powerful shooting skill tree, didn''t involve more explosive skills. The Spiritual Energy consumed was just within Bai E''s current capacity to maintain a balance with "Rapid Recovery," thus it was the highest, sustained output he could deliver. "Puh!" The arrow easily pierced the crimson body, bringing with it a chunk of flesh and blood. [Your attack has caused 36 points of piercing damage to the target.] While the attack caused damage, it also provided Bai E with more combat information about his opponent¡ª [??? (Demon) (Chaotic): Health 164/200 (Blood Pool state, rapid recovery); Defensive Power 20; Action Power 100%; Trait: Vampiric Demonic Sword...] [Vampiric Demonic Sword: A sufficient blood sacrifice can allow it to deliver strikes far beyond its standard, and each life taken by the sword will provide ample feedback to the main body, boosting defensive power, maximum health, health recovery, and other attributes.] Whether it''s their bodies or the weapons in their hands, while they appear to be different entities, they are essentially extraordinary things coalesced from the essence of higher-dimensional space, and essentially part of "one demon" conceptually. Bai E''s attack easily tore through the relatively weaker defenses of this sort of demonic foot soldier, leaving a gaping hole through which one could see. However, as the red sinews writhed, the punctured wound instantly sealed back to its original state. Chapter 386 Infiltrate the material world_2 Visible crimson rivulets could be seen flowing backward from the blood pools, which the Bloodletting Vampires had not yet fully emerged from, continuously pouring into their bodies and transforming into an unending supply.Bai E watched as their health points jumped +1+1 before his eyes, quickly regenerating to full in no time. It seemed their regeneration ability was very bugged, but neither their defensive power nor their health points appeared particularly high, and it was hard to gauge their attack power for the moment. Was this the extent of the Bloodletting Vampires'' abilities? Just like their drop rates¡ªscanty¡ª [??? (Demon) (Chaos)¡ª"Lucky Hit" kills may drop: Guaranteed (Combat Experience 2000 points); Possible (Spiritual Energy (Bloodthirst): 10).] Poor to the point of dropping crumbs. Lower demons from high-dimensional spaces are born from void, hence they possess nothing but the Spiritual Energy that constitutes their essence. Yet even so, the drop rate offered by these half-real, half-illusory Bloodletting Vampires before him was far less than the one endured by the demon he had encountered when the outburst of Spiritual Energy occurred in high-dimensional space itself, before he had established his Spiritual Energy barrier. Was it because the adversary had come to the material world, or was it due to the reduction in drop rates caused by his own increase in strength? Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire Both were possible, or perhaps both were true. Bai E was not hung up on this point; anyway, if his charge was insufficient... After several successive loots, he had only recharged to 52/100, and he still needed to find an opportunity to farm more reputation. As the thought flashed through his mind, Bai E clutched an arrow. Normally, one would wait for the Bloodletting Vampires to fully ascend from the blood pools, completely moving out of the vague area between high-dimensional space and the material world, before it was appropriate to launch an attack. When one wishes to attack, they also expose fatal weaknesses; attack is always a two-way street. Currently still within the bounds of high-dimensional space, their feet in the blood pool, their regeneration almost limitless, attacking them at this moment was clearly not a rational choice. But... high regeneration ability? Then just blow them away with one arrow! Total health points at only 200, what are these glass cannons looking down on? The longbow was drawn. Instant kill of a hundred! "Bang!" In an instant, a terrifying critical hit launched at nine locations simultaneously shredded one Bloodletting Vampire''s seemingly intimidating body. Blood-red fragments violently exploded, sparsely falling into the boiling blood pool, without a single ripple of motion. [You have completely killed the target, gaining combat experience *40.] The blood pool was not very large, five Bloodletting Vampires each about the size of three to four-story buildings rising from it consumed almost all of its space. However, now that Bai E had directly shot one to pieces, no replacement Bloodletting Vampires continued to rise from it. It seemed that the limitation on their incursion from high-dimensional space to the material world was not a matter of space? Perhaps... this offering could only summon so many Bloodletting Vampires? Based on the limited knowledge he had about demons, Bai E silently speculated about all the possibilities of what was happening before him. "Hurry up..." Bai E glanced at the three players nearby, still trying hard to move those stiff bodies away. Such ordinary Bloodletting Vampires were not challenging; they didn''t even arouse his desire to fight. Better to leave them for the players to have their fun than to bully the weak. "Oh oh~" The three players, who had stared dumbfounded as Bai E blew away a demon with a single arrow, nodded blankly in response. Full of astonishment in their hearts. What happened to the invincibility during entry animations? The massive and ferocious appearance of these demons had indeed filled the air with a formidable aura, reminiscent of the memories of fighting game bosses. One should know that these bosses during their entrance scenes didn''t even have health bars; now, these demons, who haven''t even fully emerged from the blood pool, obviously fit this bill. Dai Lian also sneaked in an arrow shot, only to receive roughly the same information as Bai E had seen. They had health bars, but their health mother fast. Hitting them was futile. And yet, before their eyes... this demon they had considered boss-level was killed by a single arrow? "Gee gee~" The gap between people is indeed even greater than the gap between people and dogs. I hope to catch up with the adult''s pace soon! Dai Lian''s eyes twinkled with longing, not expecting to be stronger than those powerful NPCs in the game; as long as he was stronger than the other players, that would suffice. Imagine if it had been another player moving the bodies today, and oneself, replacing the adult, shot an arrow that blew up the big BOSS in their eyes¡ªwouldn''t that be absolutely thrilling? After all, the thrill of gaming comes from comparison. Consequently, the action of moving the bodies became even more efficient; resolutely carrying out the adult''s instructions was the most pressing task at hand. "I''ll leave these to you," Bai E immediately instructed. There''s no need to do it yourself for a mere 40 points of experience. For oneself, a task that could easily be accomplished with a wave of a hand hardly offered any improvement. Rather than that, why not give the players a tense and exciting BOSS battle, since all the growth they could gain from such fierce competition would ultimately benefit oneself as well? Why not let them play to earn more than just swinging your hand to chop? It would take a while to deal with the remaining four Bloodletting Vampires, but afterwards, one could help the players hold off the monsters for a while, and hand over the fight to them when they were free. Bai E had made the calculations. He then scanned around, looking for a handy cold weapon to wield. Bows and arrows could only kill, not hold off the enemy. To deal with the formidable Vampiric Demonic Sword, Bai E didn''t fancy using his own vulnerable body to fight head-on. The Bug-Slaying Blade from the barracks might be suitable, but such a heavy weapon was obviously not meant for carrying around. As for here¡­ he spotted a metal rod of somewhat decent quality. And sitting on the highest spectator seat, propping up their chins and staring blankly this way were three figures. After all, amidst the crowd of frozen figures standing or kneeling in fear, those calmly sitting in a row, watching this scene with a smile, were too conspicuous. Nova? What brought them here as well? "Go for it!" It seemed like Nova noticed Bai E''s gaze; the diminutive figure cupped hands around the mouth and shouted from afar. Just here to enjoy the show? Bai E furrowed his brows and shouted back, "Help them move the bodies if you''re free." Nova leapt up excitedly at once, waving back from a distance, "Okay~" The grating heavy metal music had long stopped, and ever since the blood pool appeared, the abandoned factory where the arena was located began to vibrate with a low rumbling sound. It was like the oppressive feeling before a great battle on an ancient battlefield, the heavy steps of thousands of horses trampling the earth, while a scout far in the distance watched the quivering of dry yellow grass, a sense of indescribable awe echoing deep in the heart. Their shouts across the space momentarily broke the eerie atmosphere, echoing dully between the empty floors. Picking up the iron rod he had set his sights on, Bai E focused his gaze and channeled Spiritual Energy; the rod bent in an instant, with a piece of it drooping softly at the head. "Hmm~" Bai E nodded with satisfaction. Not bad, although he didn''t use the Spiritual Power Enchantment often, it never let him down in crucial moments. "Buzz!" Finally stepping out from the blood pool completely, the blood-colored figure swung its first sword, full of heft, at Bai E. The Bloodletting Vampire, now emerged completely from the blood pool, was as terrifying as a true Demon God, even more real, and more oppressive. But perhaps because they had finally arrived in the material world, their size was no longer as depicted in the initial hazy visuals when they first rose from the blood pool. Now it seemed¡­ to be about the height of two stories. Accordingly, their Vampiric Demonic Swords shrank proportionally. Yet, when the strike landed on the iron rod, it still felt like a needle trying to block a machete. "Clang!" The sound of metal striking metal rang through the arena. A surge of power traveled up the rod to Bai E''s palm, causing a slight numbness. Perhaps Bai E could have instantly taken down one of them with an arrow, but that was the limit of his strength at the moment. In the current stage, his offense was definitely greater than his defense; if he were hit by his own full-strength arrow, he wouldn''t be able to withstand it. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Bloodletting Vampires, now fully emerged from the blood pool, had no regard for a human''s thoughts; their mission in coming to this realm was to spread blood and war. Several demonic swords descended simultaneously, all striking at the tiny object blocking their path. Chapter 387 353 mutation [Side Quest - Stopping the Demonic Invasion: War was born with the birth of sentient beings, at the heart of humanity. Embrace war or offer your blood. Their coming is to draw this world into blood and fire. As a member of the material world faction, you must exert every effort to resist this invasion of demons and minimize the impact. Quest requirements: Exterminate all invading demons before the impact spreads and find a way to close the blood pool 0/1. Quest Completion Reward: Spiritual Energy +10, Spiritual Energy Trick - High-Dimensional Walking. (Countdown: 29 minutes 59 seconds)]"..." How did a quest trigger happen? The rewards... are quite considerable. The difficulty of the quest also doesn''t seem too high. With just four ordinary Bloodletting Vampires, if not for wanting to save them for players to grind attributes, Bai E could take them out with a single arrow each, instantly annihilating them. So the real challenge of the quest is actually "closing the blood pool"? The vague nodes linked to the material world are the channels through which high-dimensional demons attack humans. Only by completely closing this gateway can you sever the direct influence of the high-dimensional space on the material world. And time is of the essence, just half an hour? Is it because the blood pool will naturally expand? Or is it because the mere existence of the blood pool naturally attracts or affects sentient beings within a certain range, causing the influence to spread and ultimately turning all affected humans into decaying beings like the residents of Black Street? It''s unknown. Given Bai E''s current lack of knowledge about high-dimensional demons, he isn''t able to make an accurate judgement in this area. As for how to close the blood pool... According to the general knowledge of demonology, all instances of high-dimensional spaces invading the material world are not actually dominated by demons; it''s just an unconscious but spontaneous expansion of high-dimensional space. A specific behavior¡ªsuch as the long-term accumulation of courageous blood at the coliseum invisibly completing some kind of sacrificial ritual, causing a specific fluctuation in the high-dimensional space, which then connects and establishes a window. The blood pool''s manifestation is just the expected effect of the sacrifice brought about by those emotions, as seen through human eyes, including the Bloodletting Vampires that invade from it, which are merely "enforcers" naturally signalled by the same "emotional core." They can''t take the initiative to strike, but the moment they are summoned to the material world, they understand their "duty"¡ªto spread bloodshed and battle. Destroying these enforcers naturally won''t close the "blood pool"... or rather, the instinctive natural expansion behind it in high-dimensional space. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire The "blood pool" has its own "emotional core." Destroying this core is the way to close this blood pool! Typically, the ripples of high-dimensional space, that is, the cores of collective emotions, are precisely the high-dimensional beings known as "demons." "..." Why does it feel like we''ve circled back? The key to closing the blood pool is still killing demons, but not these Bloodletting Vampire demons that obviously just foot soldiers? What else is there? Something brewing? Or does it need to be actively drawn out by oneself? One cannot destroy a blood pool without a "physical" form, but can kill real demons, just like the Bloodletting Vampires before him. Bai E glanced at the blood pool that was bubbling with blood, his eyes solemn. Beings born from "war" do not tolerate "disloyalty" on the battlefield, even facing the absent-minded Bai E, visible anger appeared on the completely demonic faces of the four Bloodletting Vampires. "Whoosh!" The heavy sword broke through the air, aimed at Bai E''s head. The specialized ability from beginning Heavy Weapon Mastery unreasonably applies to all cold weapons considered "heavy weapons." "Clang!" Bai E spun his longstaff with 2nd level Heavy Weapon Specialization and additional professional ability from Weapon Master, instinctively making the most reasonable block possible. When it comes to pure cold weapon combat, without many explosive abilities added, Bai E seemed somewhat ragged in his response. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the surveillance room with only one silhouette left, the coliseum manager in a bare black suit stood at the edge of the hollowed-out floor, his eyes coldly watching the lone figure fighting the master''s servants. "White Ghost?" the manager muttered with a light sneer at the corner of his mouth, "Interesting." It makes one...itch to join the fray! After drinking the last sip of red wine, the glass was casually thrown away. The moment the glass shards exploded on the floor, the manager, standing at the edge, already spread out his arms as if embracing something, and his body slowly leaned forward... "Plop!" A shadow flashed by. Bai E, who was strained in combat, was startled, and he couldn''t even see clearly what exactly had fallen into the blood pool with just his peripheral vision... What big black rat just jumped in? Did it just happen to crash into the blood pool? [Warning: The existence of the blood pool has attracted an unknown entity, the arrival of which may have an unpredictable effect on the outcome of the event. Please resolve the incident quickly!] The prompt from the panel suddenly rang out, Bai E''s spirit shook, and he became somewhat worried. The blood pool is an impure existence, the medium through which high-dimensional space contaminates the material world. The fact that personal and player contact has no effect does not mean that the original inhabitants of this world are unaffected; this is precisely the disaster of the blood pool''s influence expanding. Chapter 388 353 mutation_2 ```As his left hand brushed over the compound bow he had rehung at his waist, Bai E hesitated whether to leave this training opportunity for the players to show their skills. "Clang!" "Clang!" The sound of clashing weapons was unceasing. Caught in thought and decision, the attacks from four Bloodletting Vampires never stopped. With insufficient skill in combat, Bai E simply relied on his physique, which was fortified with Absolute Defense, and his base attributes, which had been augmented by a spiritual heart, to withstand their assaults. But he could hardly counterattack. "So many people... so many people..." Suddenly, a handsome figure dashed into the dilapidated factory that was open on all sides. Gasping for air and still in his blood-stained clothing with a large hole in the center, Kuang Xin said as he caught his breath, "Outside, quite a few people are coming!" Gong Yan had performed emergency treatment on him. Through a triple combination of skills, spiritual energy, and physical strength, the severe wounds that had gashed open his belly had mostly healed. Since there was not much time and he was not placed far away, he ran back at the first sign of trouble to notify everyone. "So many people..." Bai E''s eyes narrowed upon hearing this news. Who could they be? Were they enforcers from the Arbitration Place hunting demons? Or... ordinary people unconsciously attracted by the emotions dispersed from the high-dimensional space? The existence of high-dimensional space nodes naturally attracts intelligent beings with similar inclinations, and those beings, in turn, feed back into the ripples of the high-dimensional space. Both sides contribute to each other''s existence, which is why Arbitration Place enforcers always make it a point to promptly appear where the fluctuations of high-dimensional space are strong. But right now... so many people? Unless it was a large-scale operation prearranged, Arbitration Place enforcers never move out in significant numbers, so the "quite a few people" showing up now are not likely to be from the Arbitration Place. Ordinary people drawn to the blood pool, longing for "war"? No... it''s not just "war." "War" demons are just a general term. As the pinnacle king of this lineage, "War" was born from the first direct conflict initiated among the intelligent beings of this universe and it continues forever, impervious to time and space. It holds authority that is just as manifold. Bloodlust, violence, slaughter, courage, resilience... Emotional spectrums that seem positive and negative alike are all encompassed, so intelligent beings at the core of such emotions are involuntarily drawn by the vibrations it emits. "We can''t let them get close!" Aside from shutting down the blood pool, the mission''s goal was to minimize the high-dimensional space''s impact on the material world as much as possible¡ªthe two are likely complementary. If they did not first find a way to block the intelligent beings attracted by the blood pool from contributing to it, talking about shutting it down would be futile. "Go stop them!" Directly facing the blood pool was undeniably the most likely way to become corrupted. Over this period, the players, along with the three from Grey Iron City, had worked hard to carry out most of the spectators who had been originally present. They could have a new task now. As for the few Bloodletting Vampires at hand... he would take care of them himself! Since it concerned the overall situation, he could no longer afford to be greedy and rely on the players for attribute gains. Upon hearing Bai E''s decision, the timid side of Nova''s new personality emerged, "Should we... maybe retreat?" As the most spiritually adept person present, she could sense more than others¡ª Neither the few Bloodletting Vampires in front of them nor the bewitched humans surging from outside were the key to this incident. The one who had just "plopped" into the blood pool was undergoing a metamorphosis inside it, which lay between semi-illusion and reality. All of that heart-pounding power was converging around him. That was the real trouble of this incident! ``` The little girl not far from Bai E looked at Bai E with pitiful eyes, not wanting to get involved in matters that were originally none of her concern. For some reason, the advice of "big sister" was like a kind of imprint, deeply etched in her mind¡ª"Life is precious, make good use of time, and cherish life." Every day you''re alive is for yourself, don''t pour too much energy into irrelevant matters. The demonic invasion at hand seemed to be of great significance, but what did it have to do with her, a foreigner who had come from afar? When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up; she was short, so she refused to take the blame... "You can leave first..." Bai E didn''t insist. Everyone has their own aspirations, and coercion won''t result in any good. At most, it could only change their own strategy for interacting with them. Besides, they were not players, so one couldn''t force them to contribute by presenting it as a mission. "..." Bai E''s evident refusal, and the disappointment that flickered through his eyes, made Nova''s heart tremble. "Fine!" Meng Meng bit her lip, Nova turned and ran outside, "I''ll stop them for you!" The abandoned factory was draughty all over, with plenty of exits. Relying on plain manpower definitely wouldn''t be enough to stop their bewitched footsteps¡ªone had to employ more forceful measures! Such as... Spiritual Energy fields. "Hey, hey, hey! Don''t go in, don''t go in!" A somewhat clear voice was heard trying to put out fires everywhere, using simple physical means to prevent those puppet-like figures from advancing, while trying to awaken their conscious minds with words imbued with Spiritual Energy maxims. There was some effect, but it wasn''t significant enough. Therefore, the urgency intensified. Seeing a normal figure running out of the center of calamity by their own will, Franca''s voice suddenly carried a hint of joy, "Hey! Come on! Help, help! Help me stop them, letting them go in will only escalate the disaster''s severity!" Nova gave her a cold look from afar and remained silent. She had just disappointed Bai, and her mood was a bit low... Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire So, it''s time for you all to pay the price! Nova''s eyes were fixed on the incoming tide of people. It was you worthless ones, making Bai worry about so many things! "Boom!" The cloak draped over her body rose without wind, as if a blower were churning beneath it. Beneath the vigorously flapping hood, her white hair fluttered, the misty glow of Spiritual Energy sparking in her eyes, shining brilliantly in the night. The firm belief gave rise to an explosive outburst of Spiritual Energy that was incredibly wild, the shocking pressure enveloping almost the entire space of the abandoned factory in an instant. The boundless pressure, like a series of heavy mountains, weighed down on everyone present, except their own people, even those deluded figures who had lost their minds were instantly brought to their knees under this tangible force, unable to muster any resistance. Franca, who also felt this terrifying pressure, had to summon all her Spiritual Energy just to keep herself moving freely under this pressure. She looked at the unfamiliar figure she had never seen before in shock¡ªthe figure hidden under the large cloak seemed so small, and the trembling brim of the hood revealed soft white hair that was wildly unrestrained under the illumination of Spiritual Energy. Where did this deity come from? Franca was full of astonishment; such a level of Spiritual Energy was hard to find in all of Blackwater City. How could such a person appear here at this time? But... It seemed that she was also stopping those figures from stepping into the vortex''s center. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ally! Ally!" Franca waved her arms, calling out loudly. Although she could move freely, it consumed her Spiritual Energy, which was not conducive to the upcoming fight against demonic forces. "I''m here to help!" Nova glanced at her indifferently and then relaxed the pressure. "Huff! Huff!" Franca breathed heavily with relief, quickly ran past Nova, and couldn''t help but take more curious glances at this surprising figure. She wondered which deity had popped out from where. After a brief exchange of youthful gazes, Franca ran towards the true center of the vortex. Upon seeing the figure who stood alone and defiant among the four giant demons, her mouth dropped open in surprise, "Is it him?" Chapter 389 354 Bai E? Sir? (Posting early for full attendance, will revise the missing few hundred words ASAP qaq)The face was exceedingly familiar to her¡ªinside the Psychic Pressure Resistance Training that took place every other day in the military camp, there stood the soldier who had initially made a profound impression on her. Impressive initial combat performance, yet mediocre performance during training... Although she hadn''t been deliberately focusing on this particular soldier in her recent trainings, she had a pretty good grasp of the basic training situation for each soldier. This soldier''s training results were just average among the armored camp''s soldiers, with slow progress, and his performance was far from the brilliance he displayed when facing high-dimensional demons. Perhaps... he was a combat-oriented player? Or maybe that demon was just junk. It was unknown, but not worth too much of her attention. However, at this moment, she never imagined that the first one she would see confronting the demon at the center of the turmoil... would be this unremarkable soldier. "No!" Franca''s eyes narrowed slightly, as a question naturally arose in her mind. Why was he here at this time? Even earlier than she arrived, who was highly sensitive to the demon''s aura! Was he originally here? Franca''s gaze wandered, and she easily noticed several "Children of the Demon" busily carrying out the scattered ordinary people who had been stupefied by the overflowing demonic aura. They were here too? These "Children of the Demon" were also subordinates of the mysterious master... Their relationship... Looking at the figure fending off four Bloodletting Vampires with an iron rod despite his relatively small stature, Franca''s eyes widened in alarm¡ªan awful guess crossed her mind¡ª This soldier, who had disappointed her numerous times, might actually be the mysterious ruler of Black Street himself?! Bow and arrows! Bow and arrows! The model of the military''s standard-issue compound bow hanging on his waist caught her eye. Yes! When he first saved the rat-people, the only clue he left behind was the military''s standard-issue arrows; back then, she had even collaborated with the burly man on an investigation for a while, which ultimately led to a dead end due to lack of leads. According to Morphie and Kiro Lan, the two top-notch Spiritual Energy talents saved by the soldier named Bai E, he also used a bow and arrows to rescue everyone from the hands of the fear-core original demon. It was all bow and arrows! Why hadn''t she connected them before? Maybe it was because of... the level of strength shown? The mysterious ruler of Black Street had shown profound and unfathomable strength each time he appeared, while Bai E, the soldier in the military camp, aside from the fleeting combat achievements heard from Kiro Lan and Morphie, had only displayed a pitiful image during Psychic Pressure Resistance Training¡ªhardly convincing anyone to see both identities as the same person. However, now... as coincidences piled up one after another, the truth became obvious. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Come over and help!" Bai E glanced at Franca, who had suddenly burst in, without giving her special attention. The exposure of his identity was bound to happen sooner or later, and through several encounters between his overt and covert personas, he was fairly confident about the character of this Arbitration Place''s young mistress with an obviously extraordinary background. She wouldn''t be so gossipy as to spill all his secrets. Slowly revealing his identity to see how the city''s higher-ups might react to him was actually an idea Bai E had yet to officially implement. Taking today''s unexpected encounter as a starting point didn''t seem to pose too much of a problem. Without making much of it, Bai E''s glance shifted away, and he naturally instructed the players, "Hurry up, then come and help." Since Nova alone was holding off all the wanderers attracted by the demonic aura, the demonic minions could continue to be dealt with by the players. It was not just about ''farming'' attributes through the efforts of the players, but also about conserving his Spiritual Energy. If he wanted to shoot them to bits with one arrow, he''d have to go all out. An all-out burst of power was not something he could quickly recover from in a short time. Saving a bit of Spiritual Energy now might just be the last straw for dealing with the boss later. With the mission''s reminder, Bai E''s attitude, which hadn''t been overly concerned until now, began to grow more rigorous. "Yes, my lord!" Kuang Xin immediately responded. Looking at the size of those great demons, they must all be formidable opponents. Just after being brutally wounded he felt his fighting spirit surge once more¡ªgames are meant to be exciting like this! Indeed! "My lord..." Franca murmured softly, sighing inwardly. The target of that title couldn''t be more standard. It pointed to none other than the ever-mysterious ruler of Black Street. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire Even upon seeing her, he had made no attempt to disguise himself, especially the way he looked at her¡ªhis gaze was utterly casual yet full of the confidence and composure of a sovereign. Her initial subconscious doubt when she first saw this soldier at the military camp was not mistaken¡ªit was a reminder from her Spiritual Energy¡ªhe always had another face! He should look as confident and untroubled as he did now! And letting her confirm her guess... was this his way of laying his cards on the table? In a way, revealing his identity also meant... goodwill? Chapter 390 354 Bai E? Sir?_2 Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library EmpireAs these two events coincided, the white-haired woman guarding the door couldn''t help but spring to Franca''s mind again. Could they be part of the same group? Was it coincidence, or was it an order? With the situation unclear, Franca directly spoke up to ask. With the first phase of Spiritual Energy heart-crossing initiated, Franca unsheathed her Longsword, her boots stomped swiftly, and within a few flashes, she had reached Bai E''s side. Their swords¡ªa noble''s rapier and the Bloodletting Vampire''s greatsword¡ªmet head-on to ward off an attack, and only then did she lean back-to-back with Bai E. The young miss turned her head sideways, her gaze sharp, "Should I call you Bai E, or should I address you as Your Lordship?" "Perhaps Bai E would suffice?" Bai E pursed his lips, a smile on his face, even taking the time to jest, "Things are a bit tricky." While speaking, Bai E glanced at the pool of blood behind several Bloodletting Vampires. As time passed, whether it was an illusion or not, Bai E felt that the pool''s area seemed to be expanding, but if he enlarged his perspective and used the material world''s abandoned factory itself as a reference, the size of the blood pool seemed to remain unchanged. This was the enigmatic and unpredictable nature of high-dimensional space entities, not to be measured by common sense. Franca''s eyes, clear in their division of black and white, also swept across the blood pool. She had read a lot in books, but this was her first encounter with a high-dimensional space invasion of this magnitude. Experience in handling such... she had none at the moment. At that time, the knowledge from the books was gradually awakening within her. She still remembered the matter that had made her exceedingly curious, "That white-haired girl outside the door, do you know her?" "Mhm." Bai E replied shortly, simultaneously smashing aside two descending greatswords with a single swing, the clashing of metal jarring Franca''s eardrums slightly itchy. Franca fiddled with her ear with her little finger, full of curiosity, "Your teacher?" Although it seemed peculiar, the girl didn''t look much older, but the master could still be a teacher... That level of Spiritual Energy was hard to find throughout the city; add to that Bai E''s own level of Spiritual Energy, and the disparity became obvious. In the eyes of those who were constantly in touch with Spiritual Energy, the way they viewed the world was fundamentally from the perspective of Spiritual Energy. Even with a sense of caution in her heart, the theory of Spiritual Energy supremacy still dictated the majority of their views when dealing with situations. Bai E muttered with a somewhat strange expression, "Teacher?" "Isn''t she?" Even if she wasn''t a teacher in all respects, she must at least be one in terms of Spiritual Energy. Since Bai E was equated with that mysterious Lord, then past views had to be changed. Human elites who attain a certain height of power all inevitably need to engage with Spiritual Energy, unless they have completely mechanized their bodies, to advance further. If Bai E possessed the level of combat power displayed by that mysterious Lord, then he surely must have Spiritual Energy within him. This explained his mediocre display during the Psychic Pressure Resistance Training¡ªhis possession of Spiritual Energy in a low stage did not offer much in terms of resistance to pressure, but instead made him more susceptible to it due to sensitivity, compared to ordinary people. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Bai E''s identity as an artificial human was undeniable; artificial humans couldn''t possibly possess innate Spiritual Energy, and without someone to guide them, they would never set foot in the world of Spiritual Energy. So... it could only be that, during his outings, he happened upon the white-haired girl, who gave him guidance, and after that, he rapidly transformed from a newly created artificial human into today''s supreme leader. It seemed... rather plausible? Based on the few clues she had observed at hand, Franca directly envisioned the entire process of Bai E''s rise to power. "Right..." Bai E didn''t argue any further, for Nova''s origins were indeed hard to explain. Since the young miss had her own speculations, it was better to go along with them. The white-haired girl in a hood came trotting merrily from outside, calling out to Bai E from a distance with a face full of eagerness for approval, "I knocked them all out, can you stop being mad at me now?" Bai''s recent look had particularly troubled her; it was the sole reason for her concerted efforts now. The girl''s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, and the imperceptible quiver at the corner of her eyes spoke of fear and insecurity. "..." Franca''s body shuddered, her gaze lingering on Nova, who had run in as if to claim credit, before slowly shifting back to Bai E. What had she just heard? Such a humble tone... Do you know your own strength? Is there a need to speak so meekly? And such a powerful expert, yet a subordinate... or someone of a lower position to this guy? As a newly created artificial human not long ago, what had this guy become in such a short period of time? "You should rest for a bit..." Bai E''s tone was as gentle as possible; the complete trust of these new souls in themselves meant that any bit of his emotion could cause them great harm, although he hadn''t paid too much attention to it in the urgency of the moment. "Hmm," Bai E hummed briefly in response, and at the same time, smashed away two longswords that chopped down simultaneously, the clashing of metal making Franca''s eardrums itch a bit. Franca picked her ear with her little finger, full of curiosity, "Your teacher?" Although it was a bit strange, as the girl didn''t look old, but the wise could be teachers... such a level of Spiritual Energy was rare throughout the city, and in comparison to Bai E''s own Spiritual Energy level, the disparity was stark. To those in their circles who were constantly in touch with Spiritual Energy, the way they observed the world was inherently based on Spiritual Energy. Even with a vigilant mind, the theory of Spiritual Energy supremacy still shaped most of their views in handling situations. Bai E looked somewhat bewildered as he muttered, "Teacher?" "Isn''t she?" Even if not a teacher in all respects, at least in terms of Spiritual Energy. Now that Bai E and the mysterious figure were equated, past views had to be reconsidered. Human experts of a certain level, unless they completely relied on mechanical modifications to their bodies, inevitably needed to engage with Spiritual Energy to progress further. Since Bai E possessed the kind of combat power demonstrated by the mysterious figure, he must inherently possess Spiritual Energy. This explained his mediocre performance in the Psychic Pressure Resistance Training¡ªhe had Spiritual Energy, but at the lower stages, it did not provide much support against pressure; instead, due to sensitivity, it made him more susceptible to impact than normal people. And Bai E''s status as an artificial human wasn''t false; artificial humans couldn''t possibly have an innate talent for Spiritual Energy, and without someone to guide them, they would never step through the doors of Spiritual Energy in their lifetimes. So... it was during his time outside that he casually met that white-haired girl and received her guidance, and that afterward, he quickly transformed from a newly born artificial person into the absolute leader he is today. It seemed, quite reasonable? Based on the clues she had already observed, Franca directly concocted the entire process of Bai E''s rise. "Right..." Bai E didn''t bother to explain further, Nova''s origins were indeed hard to explain, and since this young lady had her own conjectures, it was better to just indulge her. The hooded, white-haired girl ran in cheerfully from outside, calling out to Bai E from afar, "I knocked them all out; can you not be mad at me now?" The look Bai had given her just now was of particular concern to her, and that was the sole reason she was working so hard at this moment. The girl''s tone trembled slightly as she spoke, with a barely perceptible tremble at the corners of her eyes, full of fear and anxiety. "..." Franca''s body shuddered, her gaze lingering on Nova, who had run in as if to claim credit, before slowly shifting back to Bai E. What had she just heard? Such a humble tone... Do you know your own strength? Is there a need to speak so meekly? And such a powerful expert, yet a subordinate... or someone of a lower position to this guy? As a newly created artificial human not long ago, what had this guy become in such a short period of time? "You should rest for a bit..." Bai E''s tone was as gentle as possible; the complete trust of these new souls in themselves meant that any bit of his emotion could cause them great harm, although he hadn''t paid too much attention to it in the urgency of the moment. Chapter 391 355 War Enthusiasm I... came out?Bai E and Franca exchanged a glance, both detecting a hint of pleasant surprise in each other''s eyes. "It''s Him!" The overwhelming demonic aura that could distort the material world was unmistakable, and as the entity slowly ascended, the space around it Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire If the creature hid within the blood pool, only Franca could enter. In the enemy''s lair, Franca would be isolated and most likely no match for the opponent, at best only able to delay the expansion of the blood pool and wait for additional Executors who sensed the demonic presence to arrive as reinforcement. However, now that the opponent emerged on its own, they might not be assured of victory, but at least they could join forces, which certainly increased their chances of success. "Right... right..." Sensing the enemy''s pure intent to battle, Franca''s eyes lit up with understanding. All demons are both masters and slaves of their own emotional cores. A demon that controls fear is also trapped by fear. A demon that controls greed will also perish by greed. A demon that controls war will be devoted to war. All acts of cowardice, they would never approve of. Even though it knew hiding in the blood pool would make it more troublesome for humans, it, a being born from violence, blood, courage, and challenge, would never commit such an act of cowardice. The tall demon with human features slowly rose from the blood pool, and finally the players who moved all the stupefied spectators arrived just in time to take over the battle against the four Bloodletting Vampires, freeing Bai E to fully focus on the high-tier demon born directly from the core ripples of the blood pool. The drop rate displayed in the subtitles was unimaginably rich¡ª [??? (Demon)(Chaos)(Elite)¡ªDefeat with "Lucky Strike" to drop: Guaranteed (Battle Experience 10000 points); High Chance (Trait: Fervent Eruption); Possible (Spiritual Energy (War): 100); Very Small Chance (High-Dimensional Origin Fragment*1)] This was the first opponent with an experience drop over ten thousand that Bai E had to face and resolve, and unprecedentedly, there was a very small chance of a previously unseen drop. [High-Dimensional Origin Fragment*1: After obtaining enough High-Dimensional Origin Fragments, the recipient will successfully acquire the essence of high-dimensional space...] The item information accessed through the link point was rather simplistic, offering little detailed explanation about the so-called essence of high-dimensional space. But such potential drops were only possible after successfully defeating the opponent, not to mention that his current charge was only 52 points, not even sufficient to use Lucky Strike. Defeating this demon to dissolve the invasion point of high-dimensional space here was the only thing that needed to be done right now. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Extending his hand, he suddenly plunged a metal staff into the concrete floor, shattering stones in the process. He pulled out the compound bow hanging at his waist, gave it a light shake, the mechanism unfolded, and Bai E drew the bow and nocked an arrow. Just a probe, no need to go all-out. Blood pool state demons could recover quickly, fodder could be taken out in one arrow shot, but the boss surely wasn''t a one-arrow affair, not against one that could quickly regenerate health Gathering strength subtly, he aimed to settle the winds with a single arrow. "Whoosh!" The arrow flew at a speed too fast for the eye to catch, and yet, at the crucial moment, its flight was halted. About a meter from the muscular, crimson chest of the demon, the arrow stagnated, unable to move forward. "Hum~" As if engaging in a brief struggle with some unfathomable force, the arrow eventually lost its forward momentum, silently falling into the blood pool without causing a ripple, disappearing from view. He had inflicted no damage, yet the feedback provided Bai E with some information¡ª [??? (Demon) (Chaos): HP ???/??? (Blood Pool state, rapidly recovering); defensive power ???; action power 100%; traits: Vampiric Demonic Sword, War Zeal¡­] And it was the trait known as War Zeal that had blocked the arrow attack, a power that seemed incredibly formidable. [War Zeal: A warrior loyal to war will never be abandoned by the war they cherish. In a battle of your choosing, you can select a specific combat style that you wish to use. Neither you nor your opponent can inflict damage upon you through any means of combat other than the one you have selected. (Current selected combat style: Close-quarters/Melee)] It was a rule domain ability, a common predicament when facing high-tier demons that have crystallized laws. "..." Fond of getting up close? Bai E''s gaze swept over a metal staff nearby. Close-quarters, melee combat. Bows and firearms had to be ruled out immediately. Daggers, light swords? Those were weapons more suitable between opponents of the same size. Bare-handed fighting? Perhaps that counted, but obviously taking on a 40-meter-long sword with fists would most likely result only in getting hit. Looking at his own abilities, it seemed, apart from the specialization in heavy weapons, there wasn''t much he could use in this situation. Bai E''s eyes flicked towards the metal staff he had just thrust into the ground beside him, feeling somewhat helpless. He had not expected that a weapon he had only intended to use briefly against low-tier Bloodletting Vampires would become his sole choice at this moment. Moving his somewhat damaged wrist from the fight against the Bloodletting Vampire, Bai E gripped the staff securely again and lifted it with one hand. The substantial weight in his hand gave him a rather reassuring feeling, but compared to the enemy''s frightening size, it seemed somewhat insignificant. Bai E focused his gaze on the metal rod in his hand, trying to activate his Spiritual Energy. If Spiritual Energy could alter the inherent properties of objects, making them harder or softer, then perhaps it could also make them thicker and longer? ''Grow!'' ''Grow!'' ''Grow!'' ''Grow!'' With the word silently uttered in his mind, the metal staff in his grip indeed began to grow longer before everyone''s eyes ¡­ longer ¡­ longer ¡­ Piercing through the floorboards, it grew ceaselessly. Aside from the section held in his palm, the other end visibly became thicker too. As it grew, the feeling of its hefty mass became progressively more tangible in Bai E''s hand, but fortunately, since it was altered with Bai E''s Spiritual Energy, it was not as difficult to wield as a weapon of this size would normally be. Franca, who was nearby, watched with amazement as the metal rod threatened to pierce through the entire factory''s ceiling ... It wasn''t that no one had ever used Spiritual Energy to alter a weapon''s properties, but to this extent, it was unprecedented. His level of Spiritual Energy was definitely not at the second stage, yet when put to practical use, he could achieve such a feat ¡­ Chapter 392 356 Overlords Grasp Yet it wasn''t enough.Merely solving the weapon issue, when facing such an enemy, the usually inconspicuous specialization levels are the foundation of all tactics. Apart from the initial training with the Bug-Slaying Blade for dealing with insects when he started as a low-level soldier, Bai E, who seldom had the opportunity to use heavy weapons, currently only had a level two Heavy Weapon Specialization with (300/500) points. This was also the reason he had struggled somewhat with a few low-tier Bloodletting Vampire demons earlier. When an attack fails to exploit an opponent''s weak point and is always countered at one''s own weakest, it''s like fighting with 50% effectiveness against an opponent''s 150%, and even if one has stronger base attributes than the opponent, it always results in disadvantage. Specialization is like a simple arms race, if I have one level more specialization than you, I will always be a little more likely to seize the opportunity. Facing high-tier demons who are truly adept at this, Bai E dared not be careless. If the specialization wasn''t enough, he could make up for it with experience. In this world, ordinary people didn''t have the concept of breakthroughs in the heat of the moment; even occasional outbursts stemmed from deep accumulation over time, just lacking that little bit of epiphany when it counts. But Bai E¡­ and the players were a bit different. As long as they had enough stored experience, they could turn themselves into superhumans in their respective fields in a matter of minutes. Directly upgrading with experience points indeed resulted in losing some special attribute bonuses, but at this moment¡­ the specialization level itself was the absolute foundation for the battle. ++++++ Level 3! Level 4! Level 5! Level 6! The mastery points earned from a previous main quest could be used here, using experience points to directly upgrade Heavy Weapon Specialization to level 5, then using 1 mastery point to promote it to level 6, maximizing the effect of the mastery points. The mere expenditure of 3200 experience points was trivial for Bai E at this point. The sudden surge in specialization level brought a series of notifications from the panel: ["Level 6 Heavy Weapon Specialization" acquired, with 4 potential points gained as a bonus.](Stacked) [Heavy Weapon Specialization (Level 6): Attack power (Blunt) +12%, Heavy Strike +6%, Smash (Special) +6%.] [Current light firearms mastery experience 0/5500, upon reaching 5500 points "Level 7 Heavy Weapon Specialization" can be mastered. (Note: Unlocking the subsidiary skill tree (Tier 2) at specialization level 7.)] [Notice: Your current specialization level has reached the limit of a mortal body, and it would be difficult to make further progress until your abilities surpass the physical limits. To continue improving specialization levels, you need to enhance both your physical and insight attributes beyond the level of 15.] [Detection: Character currently has Heavy Weapon Specialization (Level 6), advanced skill trees unlocked: Sky Piercer, Overlord''s Grasp.] [Current unlock requirements: General/Combat Experience*1000 (each additional skill unlocked at the same level doubles the consumption), Meditation Points*2 (fixed).] Compared to the previous specializations unlocked, the Heavy Weapon Skill Tree only had two, simplifying things substantially. Perhaps it was also related to the type of weapon; after all, when using heavy weapons, how many tricks could one have? Bai E didn''t hesitate and directly learned both abilities together. [Payment: Meditation Points*4, Combat Experience 3000 points.] [Skills Acquired¡ªSky Lifting Strike, Overlord''s Grasp.] Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire [Sky Lifting Strike: Your attacks can unleash unimaginable destructive power, and the mass of the weapon itself will significantly amplify this attack, with an attack power*200% (*3.7). Consumption: 3 points of Spiritual Energy (30 points of Action Power Reserve)/per use.] [Overlord''s Grasp: No matter how unwieldy the weapon, in your hands you can make light of its weight, easily controlling weapons up to three times their normal mass and exhibiting perfect performance within your own ability range, increasing attack speed by 20%, and reducing loss of control by 80%; when the weapon is perfectly under your control, you will accumulate "Control Points" based on combat duration at a certain efficiency; however, if the weapon''s mass still exceeds your control, you will rapidly accumulate "Lack of Control Points". When Control Points/Lack of Control Points reach the full value of 100 points, the skill will switch forms to¡ªOverlord''s Tactic/Overlord''s Fury (current effects not unlocked, activation conditions missing). Consumption: 10 points of Spiritual Energy (100 points of Action Power Reserve)/min.] Sky Lifting Strike is almost equivalent to a melee version of a powerful shot, but due to its focus, the effect is even more formidable. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Putting aside the use of additional abilities like Overlimit Drive and Instant Kill Hundred Heads, the powerful shot itself only has a 2x attack bonus rate, yet Sky Lifting Strike gets an additional boost from the weapon''s mass on top of the 2x base, adding another 3.7x boost. That''s a 7.4x bonus... If you add the extra burst from skills like Overlimit Drive and Instant Kill Hundred Heads, this move will become Bai E''s strongest output at this stage, even surpassing archery. Not to mention that the direction of the specialization''s bonus is different, as the basic ability bonus of the Heavy Weapon Specialization will again provide a violent output based on multiplication for this strike. Regarding Overlord''s Grasp... setting aside the special skill form influenced by "Control Points" and "Lack of Control Points" that are not yet unlocked, the main purpose of this skill is to allow Bai E to handle a higher mass of weapons. After acquiring and activating the skill, the iron rod which even when stuck in the ground still seemed to wobble in hand, suddenly felt much more manageable. The strong hands tightly held the metal rod that had pierced through the abandoned factory ceiling, and the comparatively small figure stood diminutive beneath the iron rod. The huge Demon God rose up from the pool of blood with a defiant look, watching the figure with the iron rod in hand, and a thunderous voice like rolling thunder echoed hollowly through the cement slab floors of the entire abandoned factory. "What''s the use of being big?" As the voice thundered, the other party finally stepped out of the range covered by the blood pool. At that instant when they arrived in the material world, their originally immense Demon God form rapidly shrank before the eyes of Bai E and others, going from seeming taller than the factory ceiling to only about two or three stories tall, similar in size to an ordinary Bloodletting Vampire. "You are the first opponent I face after my ascension, and I give you the same conditions of battle." A demon faithful to war would never stoop to despicable means to win a battle. The massive demon sword swung with a buzz, and the demon prince who had ascended from human to demon, merging ripples of higher-dimensional space, issued a declaration of combat to the seemingly insignificant human being. "I''m in too!" Franca held her longsword level, her gaze cold and clear, "War brings pain, demons are always the enemy! You have forsaken the stance of mankind, and so, I will capture you!" "War is human nature, you are the one not loyal to human nature, the rigid one." The demon prince sneered coldly, "I have transformed into a higher-dimensional being, but I am still human! This is a clash between the mighty, and you think you have a say in it?" Chapter 393 357 Embrace the battle! "Tch!" Franca''s brows furrowed, a fierce aura covering her dainty face.She thought it truly disgusting for someone to align with demons yet still consider themselves human. Without any further ado, Franca tossed her longsword and charged in. Facing humans who had fully dedicated themselves to demons, Franca held no sympathy like that she had for common sufferers. Only complete destruction was the sole method to deal with such creatures. The sword''s edge was ice-cold; it surrounded the towering deep red body, with sword light instantly unfolding like a chaotic and shimmering orb of light. The fine Sword Qi made even Bai E, who stood at a certain distance, feel as if sharp blades were skimming over his skin, yet it struggled to break through the defenses of the demon prince''s bloodthirsty magic sword. Any creature of great size appeared to move slowly in contrast, but the opponent did not need particularly precise techniques or transformations to block the attacks from Franca. After all, the slightest of movements was enough to seal off most angles of Franca''s assault. Occasionally, within the clashes of the two swords, the overwhelming power and terrifying battle will emanating from the bloodthirsty magic sword proved extremely troublesome for Franca. "Clang!" As the sword imbued with Spiritual Energy clashed with the magic sword, the trembling force reverberated back to Franca''s wrist, also transmitting the will of the Spiritual Energy. The surging battle intent nearly drowned Franca''s senses in an instant, even stirring her blood to surge and heat to rise. Biting her tongue tip brought a flash of pain. Franca shook her head, her gaze clearing once again. She was aware of the harm demons posed and from the onset, her Spiritual Energy was in a state of resistance. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire The physical struggle and the mental clash with Spiritual Energy will made her weary. Franca, who had slightly retreated, crouched down, looking at her opponent with solemn eyes, reversing her grip on the sword from her waist to behind her, brewing up a sword technique imbued with Spiritual Energy. Sword Technique ¡ª Arcane Slash! "Whoosh!" With a swing of the longsword, a crescent-shaped milky Sword Qi instantly swept forth, distorting and slicing through space wherever it passed. "Pfft!" The bloodthirsty magic sword moved instinctively to block, but was shaken back by the sharp Sword Qi. For the first time, the demon stepping out from the blood pool onto the material earth retreated involuntarily. "Not bad!" the demon prince, looking at a notch that had been made on his sword, nodded in approval, as if he had finally acknowledged his opponent. "Your strength is not bad, but it''s not pure enough." "Buzz!" The wild greatsword swung, abruptly smashing towards Franca. The magic sword, much larger than her entire body, loomed like a mountain peak, its heavy shadow rushing through the air towards her. Franca, knowing her strength was far inferior, dodged with a light leap, yet that only marked the beginning of the relentless pursuit. "Woo~" "Woo~" The greatsword tore through the air, making a woeful sound as if countless souls were wailing within it, accompanied by a booming noise resonant of a demon god. "Calculations, techniques, weaknesses, influences before and after a battle, predictions of the outcome... You humans think of too much in combat!" "Battle should be pure, throwing oneself entirely into the fight itself!" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Like this! Like this!" "Woo!" "Woo!" "Woo!" The raging greatsword kept striking at Franca, driving the petite figure towards an inevitable dead end. "Come on! Face me! With your sword! With your will!" With battle intent assailing her, Franca bit her lip. The demon''s corrosion of humans was multifaceted; it seemed as though the enemy was simply resorting to spiteful verbal onslaughts, but the influence from the demon, through these words and actions, incessantly attacked Franca''s mind, much like proclamations of Spiritual Energy. If she truly fell to the temptation described by the enemy, she would be close to falling into demonic influence. But, just... just... Franca clutched the longsword in her hand tightly. Resisting the battle would mean failing to match the opponent. Embracing the battle would make her susceptible to the demon''s seduction. These demons that ruled wars truly lived up to their name. A silver shadow flashed silently in the periphery of her vision¡ªa thick, circular staff appeared to have struck without notice. "Boom!" The collision between the magic sword and the iron staff echoed across the sky. The wave of wind from the impact brushed through Franca''s hair, and even though she was somewhat prepared, the shock of the collision still involuntarily rattled her. Following the thick staff back to its origin, at the other end, which was getting thinner, stood Bai E, holding the slender end of the staff with one hand. "Thump thump thump!" The towering, blood-red figure couldn''t stop itself from stumbling back several steps. "Good, good, good!" The demon prince, who couldn''t help but recede a step while holding the magic sword, stretched his mouth widely in an extreme excitement, "Besides the Blood God, you''re the warrior I admire the most!" The fighting style was sufficiently brutal and direct, and though it also contained the inevitable calculations of humanity, the ability to immerse oneself completely in the battle was satisfying enough. He sensed a kindred spirit from the other; perhaps this was a faithful elect that the true god could favor, and it''s possible that the true god''s gaze had already fallen upon the individual. "So, was it really you who dealt with the Blood God?" Bai E calmly looked at the demon prince, observing his seemingly distorted face that still retained many human features¡ª Chapter 394 357 Embrace the battle!_2 The person in charge of this Underground Colosseum, Bai E, had only met once, but he was deeply impressed.Bai E was always suspicious of the sudden transformation of the Blood God. When Bai E was in that underground den of fear demons, he initially thought the other was a believer of fear demons. Although the behavior was strange, that was Bai E''s first encounter with demon-related events, and even until the end of the entire event, Bai E hadn''t given it much thought. It was only after returning and having to issue missions related to the Underground Colosseum due to Kuang Xin that he occasionally remembered the abnormal gladiator battle that the Blood God had participated in under his witness. But that was merely suspicion. The target of tonight''s action was also uncertain; it was simply an attempt to probe, but he had not expected... to indeed catch a big fish. Without his provocation tonight, would this Colosseum''s demon promotion ceremony not have occurred? No! Demons covet the material world at all times. They spread and breed in every dark corner, waiting for humans in chaos to reveal their flaws. Hearing that familiar name, the demon prince looked at Bai E with a cold smirk, "It was me who built such a stage for the Blood God, it should have been him standing here today!" The creatures of the faith war do not envy the strength of their peers. As long as a powerful warrior pleases the Supreme Being, anyone can become the core that melds with the ripples of high-dimensional space. Alas... alas... "Alas, that guy was too weak! He actually abandoned the blessings of the Supreme Being." After becoming a true demon, the person in charge began to sense more invisible fluctuations etched in high-dimensional space. Many things in the world leave a "mark" in high-dimensional space the moment they happen. The Blood God once had the fortune to bask briefly in the Supreme Being''s radiance; however, he disappointingly wasted such favor, to the extent that even his Spiritual Body was completely abandoned by the Supreme Being. This was the core reason why he had never received any blessings of power from the Supreme Being before. The person in charge, now with eyes as large as lanterns, stared intently at Bai E, his gaze filled with sincere and fanatical invitation, "Come, you are more resolute than the Blood God, you are stronger than the Blood God! You can surpass me and become the Supreme Being''s most beloved one and only!" "Nonsense!" The words, accompanied by Spiritual Energy infused with a tempting charm, assaulted Bai E''s spiritual senses wave after wave. The very existence of these high-dimensional demons naturally causes unimaginable erosion to all sentient beings, thus the stronger the high-dimensional entity, the greater its inherent power of temptation. For an average person, merely a glance might be enough to fall into the abyss of corruption. Only the most resolute warriors can remain steadfast before a true high-dimensional being. Even Bai E needed to deliberately use his willpower to counter the boiling blood within him. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The predicament that Franca faced was the same that he had to confront. He slowly rotated the iron rod in his hand; the heavy end required ten to a hundred times more force to compensate so he could swing the massive rod according to his will. Fortunately, the Overlord''s Grip allowed Bai E to more easily control the weapon in his hand, but each action he executed still appeared slow yet powerful. The thick and heavy iron rod drew a large circle in mid-air, easily tearing apart the already hole-ridden floor of the abandoned factory. "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" The pure power struggle between two excessively strong opponents was earth-shattering. With the enhancement of a weapon master, Bai E, whose mastery over heavy weapons was as good as a level 7 specialization, could once he set in motion, scarcely cease, using the momentum of the weapon itself to initiate the next attack, making it unclear if it was the person controlling the weapon or the weapon dictating the offensive. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire The fierce confrontation made it hard to suppress the surging bloodlust, and Franca, who had to retreat due to the aftermath of their battle, watched with worried eyes the figure fighting the demon¡ª Facing a warrior, one shall inevitably become war. In the past, there were only insignificant opponents that weren''t worthy to grace the stage, but this time, against a high-order demon that had merged with a major high-dimensional space node ripple, it was a true challenge in her perception. This was a terrifying enemy that would prompt the Arbitration Place to deploy a large number of executors or even more high-order executors to handle together! One must be cautious not only of the opponent''s own strength but also be wary of the part of oneself being eroded and corrupted by the demon during the confrontation... The blood was getting hotter. The steaming heat vaporized from all over his body, and his violently throbbing heart pumped agitated, roaring waves of blood through his veins. The burning desire for battle was sweeping through all his senses; even with self-restraint pushed to its limit, the elfin spells ultimately had their bound. "Huff~ Huff~" With each breath, Bai E expelled the scorching air from his body, yet it did nothing to dispel the increasingly intoxicating combativeness. A visible smile of satisfaction appeared on the demon prince''s face... Just like this! It should be just like this! War is the nature of humans! Go, release your nature! Embrace your nature! Enjoy everything war brings! Including pain! Including joy! Because war itself is the truth! Chapter 395 357 Embrace the battle!_3 "We''ll do it together!" Franca launched an attack from the side, pressing one hand against the sword and suddenly swinging out a fierce Sword Qi."Swoosh!" The crescent-shaped Sword Qi tore through the air, but while the same attack had left a mark on the Vampiric Demonic Sword and repelled the opponent last time, this time it didn''t even show the slightest effect. [...Traits: Vampiric Demonic Sword, Enthusiasm for War, Fervor Emergence...] [Fervor Emergence: As an absolute Believer in war, when you fully commit yourself to a battle you have chosen, you will scorn all attacks launched by targets other than your chosen target. When taking damage from targets other than your chosen target, you can instantly counterattack the source of the damage and gain +50% damage reduction and +30% attack power, duration depending on the level of immersion. (Current chosen target: Human/Bai E)] The Demon Prince, who easily blocked the Sword Qi with his demonic sword, glanced disdainfully at Franca with his eyes, and with a backhand sweep, a blood-colored Sword Qi spread out, striking back at Franca in almost the same form. "Pfft!" The Sword Qi, fast as lightning, overturned Franca despite her full alertness. "Don''t interfere!" Bai E, who saw everything, leaped high into the air, quickly climbing up the boardwalk that had been punctured into tatters, and the huge iron rod had just slammed obliquely into the ground, the force of the blow being transferred back through the supple rod. In a few flashes, Bai E, having reached the highest point, could see not only the moon tonight... but also the shadowy figures outside the factory that Nova had knocked out. With both hands tightly gripping the slender shaft of the rod and raising it high behind him, Bai E''s body fell rapidly from the peak and tried with all his might to spin the iron rod in a full circle. Facing an opponent far larger than himself, and wielding an unwieldy giant iron rod in his hands, Bai E didn''t know which techniques to use against the enemy. There is no set pattern to combat, the specializations he had learned did not teach Bai E the right way to fight, they only provided an instinct-like support to every idea he had. Don''t know how to fight? Then fight wildly. As long as you can deliver the most brutal attacks to the enemy in the simplest way, that''s a successful way to fight. Why reject the will to fight if it can bring down the opponent? In the end, what one is can only be defined by oneself! The huge head of the rod traced a slow arc in the air, yet the pressure it brought was as heavy as a mountain range. Feeling the increasingly intense fighting spirit in the opponent, a satisfied smile of appreciation spread across the Demon Prince''s face. "That''s more like it! That''s more like it!" The opponent laughed wildly, resolved not to repel any attack launched by Bai E, to let him fully indulge. Only an absolute head-on confrontation can stimulate the true passion for battle! "Boom!" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The iron rod swept aside the demonic sword and continued its trajectory, smashing into the ground, the head of the rod large enough for four or five grown men to embrace, breaking the cement ground into flying rubble. The ground trembled. Even the Demon Prince, who passively blocked it, was involuntarily forced back several steps by the full-force blow of the iron rod. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire However, this was just the prelude. When Bai E completely let go of his inhibitions, the real battle had only just begun. "Boom!" "Boom!" Man and rod moved as one, each strike earth-shattering. Spiritual Energy surged, enshrouding the entire rod in a layer of hazy misty glow. A sky-supporting strike! Chapter 396 Fuel up, 358! "Boom!" The cudgel fell, and the heavens and the earth trembled.The cement ground cracked inch by inch, the fissures spreading rapidly like a spider''s web. The abandoned factory, already riddled with holes, finally collapsed under this strike, the building''s main body losing its load-bearing beams and crashing down. Huge stones fell like a colorful rain, leaving everyone still inside covered in dust and grime. Including those Bloodletting Vampires, including the players fighting them... Everything shattered with a loud bang. The crimson demon sword was smashed by the cudgel, its blade shattering and scattering but then turning into nothingness. Even if visually separated, the demon sword and the demon''s essence are part of the same concept; a disadvantage in battle would manifest in a more tangible form. And the damage to the sword was a representation of the wounds on the demon itself. [Your attack inflicted 392 points of blunt damage to the target.] Not until this moment did Bai E see the real combat stats of his opponent¡ª [??? (Demon) (Chaotic): Health 4608/5000; defensive power 250; Action Power 100%; Traits: Vampiric Demonic Sword, War Enthusiasm, Frenzied Emergence...] 250 points of defensive power could almost withstand many of the military''s heavy weapons without a scratch, including those heavy machine guns whose output is only several dozen to a hundred points. Even focused fire from such weapons would likely fail to penetrate the defense. Against a demon of this caliber, even if an ordinary army were to gather and attempt to exterminate it, it would probably be a vain effort. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this level, normal combat strength is no longer sufficient; no wonder the Arbitration Place doesn''t need much assistance from the military. Ordinary opponents are unnecessary, high-end ones cannot intervene. Only those who are top combatants and senior talents can play a significant role in situations like this. Standing atop a heap of rubble, Bai E held the cudgel''s end, towering above all. Looking at his opponent, whose lower legs were also buried in broken stones, his gaze was solemn. This was the strongest strike he could deliver up to now, yet it had barely taken less than a tenth of the opponent''s health. A rough calculation would suggest that an attack like this would need to be executed twelve more times? An outburst required the use of both Instant Slaughter of a Hundred Heads and Sky-Piercing Strike, equating to a burst of 13 points of Spiritual Energy. Just for this explosive skill alone, an unexpected consumption of 13*12, a total of 156 points of Spiritual Energy, would be required, not to mention skills like Overlord''s Grasp and Heart of Spirit that need to be maintained and slowly consume energy. Even with the newly unlocked rapid recovery, such a massive consumption in a short time still far exceeds the limits of Bai E''s current level of Spiritual Energy. Not enough mana? There''s nothing to be done then, perhaps regular attacks could add some damage? Intent only on defeating his adversary, Bai E''s thoughts flashed by without him being overly distracted by this apparent trouble. For him, exhausting everything he had against his opponent was his only duty at this moment. What consequences... can be dealt with after the fight? Fight first, plan later! "Boom!" Once his resolve was set, the bloody border flared instantly in Bai E''s eyes, but then naturally dissipated as quickly as it had come, leaving no trace as if it had never been there. The notification flashed by, unable to distract Bai E from his focus¡ª [You have acknowledged some cosmic laws ingrained in space-time to a certain extent, and temporarily received a gift of divine power, boosting your base attributes by 30%.] [Experiencing the transcendent power for the first time, your Mystery +0.3.] Thump! Thump! The powerful energy with each pulse of blood reverberated throughout his body, circulating vigorously and endlessly. A seed-like presence throbbed rhythmically at his brow, as if it were ready to break out of its shell at any moment. Bai E''s gaze was tranquil, like an endless ocean, its calm surface concealing unimaginable stormy surges beneath. Holding the iron rod with one hand, Bai E spun around with force, the stick embedded deeply in the ground again drawn out by unrivaled strength. The flexible rod began to transfer the force to the other end in segments. "Clatter!" As the stick''s head was lifted from the ground, the stones that had been resting on it rolled away with a clatter. The thick head of the rod slowly moved, beginning to draw a large circle again. The demon prince, who had been repelled by Bai E''s strike, seemed to need a moment to regain his composure, then flung the demon sword, and with a surge of blood, the shattered blade reformed. Facing the iron rod that had completed more than half its circle and was now carrying an unimaginable force coming toward him again, the demon warrior born of humans only had intense excitement in his eyes. Bright blood-colored flames bloomed from nothingness, like rising flames, burning on the blade. "Boom!" Sword and rod clashed, scattering the burning waves. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire The blood-colored flames that shook off from the sword flickered through the air, then dissipated into nothingness. Holding the slightly dimmed demon sword, the demon prince smiled viciously, "That last strike? Not enough! Not enough! Bring it on!" [Your attack inflicted 8 points of blunt damage to the target.] [...Traits: Vampiric Demonic Sword, War Enthusiasm, Frenzied Emergence, Blood Flame...] [Blood Flame: A burning wave of countless war souls, with the will and peak skills of many fallen brave souls. When Blood Flame is activated, Attack Power +10%, Critical Hit +10%, and it carries a Spiritual Energy shock effect.] Perhaps none of Bai E''s skills explicitly stated it, but some underlying mechanisms¡ªlike the output limit of Spiritual Energy in a short period and the gradual mobilization of physical strength¡ªprevented Bai E from continuously unleashing skills for a maximum burst. Chapter 397 Fuel up, 358!_2 So this time, with what was essentially a "normal attack" without using any skills, the damage was significantly reduced.Instant Kill Hundred Heads was the most core skill, turning multiple attacks into one strike allowed Bai E''s attacks to exceed the weapon''s own limitations and deliver an energy level impact. Attack power is attack power, meant to counter health points; energy level impact is energy level impact, designed to counter defense points. Facing an opponent with a defense as high as 250 points, without the Instant Kill Hundred Heads'' ability to concentrate attacks into a single moment, even if the attack power reached tens of points, the actual damage inflicted was only in the single digits, drastically reducing the effect. On the contrary, due to the opponent''s counterattack, Bai E only felt a numbness in his right hand that was holding the club. "Not enough?" Bai E sneered coldly, revealing his white teeth, "I think so too." Setting aside calculations of the battle''s outcome, setting aside all potential consequences of this invasion. When focusing solely on the battle itself, Bai E found a certain... "pleasure." [After prolonged combat, your physical abilities have been sufficiently honed, physicality +0.1, insight +0.1.] [The challenges you face are exceptionally severe, and extreme focus has led you to more instinctively delve into your skills, significantly advancing your Heavy Weapon Specialization. Heavy Weapon Proficiency experience +23.] (High probability of awakening special properties.) Bai E''s gaze swept over his opponent, and with a high level of Heavy Weapon Specialization, he could instinctively detect the weaknesses in the opponent''s moves and look for opportunities. The essence of any combat technique is to use one''s strong points to exploit the weak points of the opponent. Heavy weapons may seem clumsy and not finely crafted, but their heavy mass makes it difficult to perform intricate maneuvers. However, in each act of going all out, what matters more... is the crucial capture of the opponent''s motion before the decisive strike. That''s insight! Pierce through the opponent, to break with a single blow! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A quickly recovering warmth flowed through his arm, and the tremor from the weapon''s clash causing numbness diminished in an instant. Bai E lifted the iron club with both hands and smashed down again! Heavenly Lift, one strike! "Boom!" The cracked earth fissured, spreading rapidly into the distance. An unkempt man who had come from afar upon hearing the noises gaped with his sleepy eyes at the crack that snaked from the distance all the way to his feet, completely baffled. The earth, split open? Was that too fierce? The man looked up at the sky, which was dark. All around... a dim spread of starlight. There were other silhouettes in different directions... It was quite similar to the occasional nightmare he had. Should I go back to sleep right here? "The Colosseum has collapsed!" The man heard someone shouting from a distant corner behind him. The Colosseum? The one that took over the abandoned factory as the Underground Colosseum? Collapsed? I haven''t even had the chance to show off there, how could it collapse? But it''s good that it collapsed. The neighbor''s little son always ended up with a bruised face, supposedly because he was enamored with that Colosseum and got beaten up by the thugs from Black Street... The man was gleefully happy, filled with the joy of watching the excitement. He tapped his toe on the crack near his eyes, unable to see how deep it was due to the darkness. So he followed the crack. Growing larger... and larger... Until it was a meter wide, and pitch-dark inside, impossible to see the bottom, the man then felt a chill rising quietly from the depth of his heart. A tingling sensation crept up his spine, and suddenly, another loud noise came from the direction of the Colosseum. "Boom!" The ground under his feet trembled thrice. The intense sound was terrifying, and the man who had been stunned on the spot for a while slowly looked up, only to see a huge, crimson figure suddenly appear in his field of vision... "Let''s fight somewhere else!" Bai E said, gripping his iron club and quickly walking away. The Demonic Prince sneered coldly, "As you wish." The players were battling the Bloodletting Vampires, and around the exterior of the abandoned factory lay a circle of potential Believers who had been first attracted by the demonic aura. All these were lives. When immortals clash, the mortals suffer. Even the repercussions of a clash between Bai E and the demon prince could easily claim a dozen or more innocent lives, something Bai E, still focused on the battle, nevertheless made a rational judgment about. The demon prince did not disapprove either. What he desired was never the outcome of the fight itself; all demons who fought in the name of war simply reveled in the process of battle. What he wanted was a strong opponent! A focused opponent! And since they wanted to change the location, naturally, they had to head away from Black Street, preferably towards an uninhabited wasteland. In the dark of the night, shrouded in blackness, Bai E was unsure of the direction in his haste and simply chose one completely opposite to Black Street. Then he saw a dark shadow wandering from afar¡­ "Fuck!" The man, attracted by the noise, suddenly stopped in his tracks, his vision seemingly filled with only the towering, earth-shaking figure of a crimson shadow. And it grew larger and larger, as if completely dominating his entire field of vision and thoughts¡­ The crimson figure radiated an invasive aura, not just visibly assaulting his brain in waves but even causing the space around to become distorted and evaporate under its influence. Run! Run! For a moment, the man''s mind held only this basic, primal thought. Why run? Where to? He didn''t know. Run! Run! This was the sole and pure thought. "Boom!" A silver streak of light had invaded his sight without notice, and the towering red illusion seemed to shatter instantly. All that remained was a large, crimson monster being flung away by a silver iron rod that had come out of nowhere. What kind of monster was that? Curved horns like a goat¡­ Muscles a majestic shade of red¡­ Body marked with strange runes too intricate to discern¡­ It matched the "demon" from the rumors, exactly! Demon! Demon! "The demons have invaded!" After running away, this simple thought appeared again in the man''s mind. But it seemed like someone was fighting it? Iron rod¡­ Iron rod¡­ Following the odd-looking rod, one thin end and one thick, the man finally saw a figure at the slimmer end of the rod, a figure not easy to spot in the dark night. Clothes that revealed plenty of muscle, sexy to the extreme, the kind of attire a warrior who frequented the Underground Colosseum might wear. Combining this with the brief news he had just heard, a simple deduction formed in his mind¡ª Demons had invaded the Underground Colosseum, and the colosseum''s warriors were battling the demons for humanity? Good! For some reason, ever since the rod shattered the red illusion, the man felt his wit coming back to him. "Keep it up!" he yelled from afar. Then he turned and ran. Dreaming was indeed thrilling, but the day must have been too exhausting. He needed to head back and catch up on some sleep¡­ [As humanity''s vanguard against the demons, your "Soul Black Hole" has absorbed the purest of beliefs, successfully transforming them into 12/0 Spiritual Energy added to your reserves.] ["Lucky Strike" charge +50.] "Come on!" "You got this!" Scattered cheers rose in the dark wilderness. The source of the voices was unknown, nor could one make out where the silhouettes of those speaking were. Bai E, ready to once again create distance with the demon, paused briefly, as if endless power was burgeoning within him¡­ See that? Not everyone is keen on fighting. People just want to live well in this tough world¡­ Chapter 398 359 Exterminate! Those ordinary people stunned by Nova''s shock were the first batch drawn by the demonic aura, having ideals recognized by "war" themselves, which is why they were so easily attracted by specific high-dimensional spatial fluctuations, coming forth involuntarily to "pay their respects".However, the people who came only because they heard some kind of physical noise and joined in for the excitement were just acting on their curiosity. They weren''t potential Believers of the war demons, nor would they be beguiled upon first sight. Perhaps in the nights and days to come they would endure the endless erosion from facing the high-dimensional demon, but at least for now, they remained just normal humans. They stood from the perspective of humanity, and firmly identified with this status. An external force gave Bai E a momentary surge in spirit, and the near-depleted Spiritual Energy quickly regenerated a little. A 12/0 replenishment of Spiritual Energy meant only a restoration of the depleted energy, with no increase to the limit. But even so, Bai E felt his parched Spiritual Energy regain some vitality with the infusion of the new energy. And most importantly... the charge was enough. What was originally a 52/100 luck charge had now become 102/100, just sufficient for one use. "Pfft~ Pfft~" The seed of nothingness between his eyebrows seemed to pulse more intensely. But strangely, it didn''t bring the slightest discomfort to Bai E, on the contrary... there was a refreshing clarity, as if everything was developing just as willed. What special change could it be? Bai E had no time to explore. The freshly gained Spiritual Energy hadn''t even warmed yet when it transformed into a surging force that poured into Bai E''s palm, conducted to the iron rod in his hand. "Boom!" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The devastating power obliterated everything, and the crimson shards of the demonic sword flew in all directions. "Bang!" The huge red body slammed to the ground and quickly rose again in the blink of an eye. Bent over, gasping for air with the shattered demon sword, the Demon Prince''s weakness manifested physically, much like a human''s exhaustion, even the blood flame surging on the blade had diminished significantly. But now, on that face retaining human features, there was an expression of utter excitement and fervor, "Too bad, just a little bit more..." Just a little bit more! 2212/5000 It might seem like a lot, a total of 5000 health points just past halfway gone. But for the Demon Prince, it was just a little bit more. To be injured so badly, to be put in such a dire situation, was just missing by a little bit. Just a little bit more and it would feel the call of death... What does death look like? It doesn''t know. Neither looking forward to it nor resisting it. It was simply a result of war, sparing no one. Unfortunately, this exciting opponent had reached the end of his strength. The opponent still held that ordinary iron rod, but his arm was visibly trembling. In combat with it, the opponent had nearly burned up everything¡ªphysical strength, reserve of action power, Spiritual Energy, will... Even the iron rod, its material form altered by Spiritual Energy, was now beginning to warp and flicker, as if ready to revert to its original state. Without the support of Spiritual Energy, it was just an ordinary iron rod after all. To still struggle to maintain its form with near-exhausted Spiritual Energy, this opponent truly deserved to be one of its most valued and beloved gladiators. The opponent gave his all to the fight, providing a battle that was utterly exhilarating. So the only thing to grant was the opponent''s ultimate death, as the most respectful treatment for this fight. If the opponent''s soul were to be favoured by the divine after death, there might be a chance of reunion in the high-dimensional space later on. Of course... perhaps not being willing to accept this ending, one might commit fully to the embrace of the divine in exchange for mercy. Of course, divine blessings are not so easy to come by... The Demon Prince watched the opponent with excitement, thinking that if the opponent could receive more blessings from the divine at this moment, the battle could continue. As for itself... no problem! Even in such a stark reality, where the decrease in health points often meant physical injury and weakening, the war intent filling their demonic bodies meant that these high-order war demons were almost unaffected in combat by the loss of health, only the souls sacrificed in battle were hard to recover. But... as long as they could delight in the most intense and peak battles, what did it matter about invading the real world, or the consequences of defeat... Nothing mattered but the battle! "Thud!" "Thud!" The throbbing at his brow grew more violent, as if a fresh fountain wanted to burst through the soil''s confines and erupt forth. Bai E, gasping for air, felt as though his entire body had been wrung dry. The sensation of emptiness was all too familiar, reminiscent of the training he had undergone in the camp shortly after arriving in this world... Training until total loss of strength, until complete collapse. Utterly and thoroughly drained. Chapter 399 359 Exterminate!_2 Just as disheveled and broken.The difference was that one was in training, and the other was on the battlefield. The passionate will to fight that had filled him just moments ago now calmed down to still waters, as if everything had distanced itself from him. The words of the first instructor, Wood, seemed to still echo near his ear¡ªwhen reaching your limits, take one more step! And then another! That was the only mystery to breaking through one''s limits, with no shortcuts! "Thump!" "Thump!" The heartbeat was clearly captured by the auditory nerves, the drifting energy slowly absorbed by the body, transforming into everything needed: stamina, Spiritual Energy, movement reserves, and so on, yet the effect was very subtle. Bai E discarded these sensations... and other, even deeper hidden things. He must defeat the opponent in front of him! He definitely had to defeat this opponent in front of him! This was his most urgent goal at the moment! Since he carried the expectations of many, he absolutely could not fall at this time. The fringes of his vision reddened, yet under the coldness of Bai E''s heart, like a moonlit frosty pool, those fringes faded quietly as if they had never been there, even taking away the faint blood hue he hadn''t noticed before, completely vanishing without a trace. "Thump!" "Thump!" A handful of bright light gently spouted from his forehead, twinkling with soft, white beams like the festive lights of a holiday. His consciousness expanded infinitely at this moment, as if suddenly pulled out from his body, arriving in the gray space surrounding him. The space, like a thin veil, gently caressed his skin. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E felt as though he could accurately sense the flow of the air, the humidity in the air, the speed of the gentle breeze... Even the curvature of space... it seemed to exist in a curve different from the straight lines known to his cognition. This momentary sensation was both lengthy and brief. Almost within the span of a breath, Bai E blinked, and all those sensations disappeared instantly, replaced by... his Spiritual Energy filled to the brim and a startlingly keen sensitivity to everything around him. [After countless purifications of your soul, your will has become clear as crystal. From now on, your level of Spiritual Energy has entered a brand-new realm...] [Your Spiritual Energy +100/1, Mystery +1.] Spiritual Energy second stage¡ªHeavenly Heart Connection! The second stage of Spiritual Energy, beyond quantity, also showed a significant qualitative change. The previously indistinct and flickering iron rod, with the support of this more solidified and pure Spiritual Energy, instantly solidified. The overflowing power enhanced Bai E''s physical functions in a more direct form, all depleted stamina and movement reserves were replenished in an instant by the overflow of Spiritual Energy, even doubling the enhancement effect of the first stage of Spiritual Heart Connection on his physical attributes, an immensely powerful feeling resonated once more within Bai E. Bai E''s hand tightened on the iron rod, and he slowly raised his head. A faint glimmer of Spiritual Energy flashed through his eyes before being swallowed by the night''s darkness. The silver iron rod reflected the moonlight of the night, an attack far more violent and swift than any before instantly coming his way. The hastily conjured magic sword''s flame was instantly scattered and extinguished, and the large crimson figure, along with the magic sword in hand, spun across the ground like a pulled top, rolling several times and being smashed away. The demon prince, clumsily getting up, looked towards his opponent with eyes wide in shock, the huge rod in front of him gradually shrinking until it was held within the hands of a short figure at its end. "Lengthen!" "Lengthen!" "Lengthen!" A silent will urged the iron rod to grow rapidly, and the already exaggerated size of the rod began to swell once again. Bai E twisted his body and powered through with another wild invasion. A strike that reached for the skies! "Boom!" [Your attack dealt 424 points of bludgeoning damage to the target.] The ground shattered, the demon''s crimson body sinking deeply into the earth beneath his feet, his legs buried halfway. As the giant rod was raised again, the demon prince lifted up the magic sword in a reverse grip, attempting to counterattack. However, the next attack arrived even faster than imagined. "Boom!" "Boom!" The ground rhythmically trembled in succession, as the massive body of the demon was smashed deep into the earth like a whack-a-mole. Observing the human wielding an astonishingly large object delivering such wild and fierce strikes, those standing far away were petrified, feeling uncontrollable shivers throughout their bodies. Who exactly is the demon? The silver iron rod was lifted high again, and Bai E silently chanted in his heart¡ª [Activate "Lucky Strike."] "Boom!" Blood-colored fragments flew about, then merged into the air, gradually fading, disappearing from sight. Creatures from higher dimensions, regardless of their physical presence in the material world, do not leave behind essence from their bodies upon death in the material plane. Those existences materialized by Spiritual Energy will inevitably return to where Spiritual Energy belongs. [Item drop acquired: Battle Experience 10000 points, Trait: Fanatic Emergence, Spiritual Energy (Warfare): 100, High-Dimension Origin Fragment*1.] "Phew~" Bai E let out a breath, and the iron rod in his hand shrank rapidly. The core of the blood pool had been eradicated, but the mission was not yet settled; there were likely further procedures to complete. He looked around at the scene he had destroyed beyond recognition. The appearance and annihilation of demons, apart from affecting the spirits of the people, left hardly any traces, but the battle between himself and the foe had caused irreparable destruction to the material world. He wondered how this would be rumored and treated afterwards... With no time to care about the potential aftermath, Bai E turned and walked away, his figure vanishing into the night. ... "Huff! Huff!" Franca panted heavily without a care for her appearance. Forget confronting that terrifying Demon Prince¡ªmerely fighting those few Bloodletting Vampires alongside the "Children of the Demon" was not an easy task. Franca, who had expended too much Spiritual Energy on the Demon Prince, although eventually managed to kill several Bloodletting Vampires with the help of the "Children of the Demon," found herself at a dead end. She didn''t even want to lift a finger... However... Turning her head, Franca looked back. Beneath a heap of broken stones and rubble, the blood pool''s presence still shone ominously red through the crevices. The blood pool was still there! The core was still there! She did not know how Bai E, who had lured the Demon Prince away to let them fight the Bloodletting Vampires, was doing. "Emmmmm... Hmm?" Before her worries could fully overtake the physical exhaustion, Franca saw the light from the blood pool flicker and rapidly dim at a visible speed¡ªlike a lightbulb running out of power, it quickly extinguished. "..." What happened? Why is the blood pool weakening? Has the core been destroyed? But that Demon Prince, whom she could hardly defeat¡ªjust died like that? Was it the timely arrival of her colleagues, or some passing Spiritual Energy expert who lent a hand? A torrent of questions instantly arose in her mind. She wasn''t doubting the abilities of the Black Street manager; it was just that even their high-ranking officers at the Arbitration Place would find such high-level demons troublesome, let alone an outsider without even Exorcism Essential Oil on him. No wait... outsider! Yes, he didn''t have Exorcism Essential Oil on him, and even if there had been some leftovers from what she had given to the "Children of the Demon" last time, it would not have been enough to face the gigantic Demon Prince of this time; how could he possibly have killed a demon of such magnitude on his own? Lower-level demons like the Bloodletting Vampires might be handled by average people, but for high-order demons like the Demon Prince they faced, without Exorcism Essential Oil, it would have been impossible to completely destroy the opponent¡ªeven just their material world body. This thought further strengthened Franca''s conviction. Until she saw Bai E returning alone, she kept casting curious glances behind him. "What are you looking at?" Bai E easily noticed the other''s attention was not on him and asked curiously. Chapter 400 360 Spiritual Energy Shock "No one came back with you?" No matter the process, the Blood Pool had visibly weakened, and with one final blow, they could completely close off the channel between the high dimension and the material world. Having taken out the biggest enemy, Franca''s attitude also relaxed, her tone casual. That''s life; one can''t always be on edge. Bai E was slightly taken aback, "Someone? Who?" "No one helped you defeat the Demon Prince?" Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire "...Probably not." "?" Franca suddenly widened her beautiful large eyes, "But you don''t even have Exorcism Essential Oil on you!" In the heat of battle, Franca had even forgotten this detail. Only after the fight here ended did she remember such an important matter. But now... "No need," Bai E waved a hand, "His laws are above the effectiveness of the oil." Ever since he had been chosen by that entity, his attacks could deal complete damage to it. This is how a Demon of the war lineage would act, never willing to take an unfair advantage. "Laws..." Franca muttered softly. Such advanced terminology. Had the other party already come into contact with such levels of power... But why hasn''t their Spiritual Energy level even reached the second rank? Strange... And even without the oil, for a single person to kill a Demon Prince all alone, that''s too outrageous, right? ["Lucky Hit" charge +3.] "How to completely close off the Blood Pool?" Bai E turned and asked, looking towards the Blood Pool buried beneath the rubble, where a red glow flickered in and out of sight. Although the Blood Pool had entered a dwindling stage, it was clearly not completely shut off; after all, the mission hadn''t concluded, and they certainly couldn''t just walk away from it. Franca blinked, withdrew her somewhat engrossed gaze from the familiar yet strange figure beside her, and together they looked towards the Blood Pool under the rubble, "Without its core, it will naturally dissipate." The material world also had its own rules and barriers. Any erosion from high dimensions would quickly be repaired by the forces of time and space once it lost the continuous support of power, sealing off these temporary channels of invasion. "However..." Franca murmured in a deep voice, "It might take some time for it to dissipate naturally, and it could easily cause some unnecessary trouble during this time." Anything related to high dimensions would cause trouble in the material world, and ordinary people attracted by whispers from higher dimensions could become vessels for high-dimensional spaces. "So the most reliable method is for us to end it manually." "Hmm~" Bai E nodded, "How should we do it?" "It''s simple. Just launch an attack using Spiritual Energy that is infused with the intent of divine proverbs." Spiritual Energy isn''t only an energy source for all abilities; it itself can serve as a pure form of attack. Just like launching an invasion directly against someone''s will, launching an attack by concentrating Spiritual Energy in a similar way can completely shatter the weakening Blood Pool of the same essence. "What are we waiting for then?" Bai E stepped forward without hesitation, afraid that hesitation would only cause more trouble. Only completely destroyed opponents are good opponents. "Wait a moment..." Franca looked a bit embarrassed, "We can''t do it just yet." "Why?" "My Spiritual Energy... needs to recover," Franca''s every ounce of Spiritual Energy had been nearly exhausted by the intense battles, and even standing was a bit of a struggle for her at the moment. Accustomed to the feeling of being full of Spiritual Energy, the feeling of being completely drained now caused her weakness to surge over her like waves, draining her physically and mentally. If not for her noble upbringing, drilling manners into her since birth, she''d probably have wanted to just lie down and collapse by now... "Then I''ll do it," Bai E paused, "But you still need to tell me exactly how to do it..." Launching an attack with pure Spiritual Energy is a technique usable by Spiritual Energy practitioners at the second rank, capable of externalizing their energy. Yue Ying had briefly mentioned it to him before, but at that time, it was beyond his understanding, and he couldn''t learn it even if he wanted to. "..." Franca looked perplexedly at Bai E, hesitating on how to tactfully convey the fact without hurting his feelings, "You need to be at the second rank to use that kind of technique, you..." "I''m at the second rank too." "?" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Just now..." "..." Franca pressed her lips together and after a long moment, she eked out a word, "Wow." Beforehand, knowing that Bai E''s Spiritual Energy level had not reached the second rank, she instinctively thought he was at most at the beginning stages of learning Spiritual Energy. After all, how long had this guy been out of the artificial human production line? Let alone combat skills and basic attributes, he might naturally be an excellent warrior template. But still... for even his Spiritual Energy advancement to be so rapid? He had apparently already reached the pinnacle of the first rank of Spiritual Energy, only one step away from a breakthrough. Keep in mind that many talented Spiritual Energy practitioners might spend their entire lives stuck at the peak of the first rank. To break through, a practitioner needs both talent and conviction. Chapter 401 360 Spiritual Energy Shock_2 So strong... Even though she knew the other party was strong, the repeated facts still kept on impacting Franca''s worldview. ["Lucky Strike" Energy+5.] "So, what exactly am I supposed to do?" Faced with Franca''s somewhat vacant eyes, Bai E sincerely inquired. "You still don''t know Spiritual Energy Shock?" Franca, emerging from her stupor, incredulously retorted, and as soon as the words left her mouth, she turned to slap herself on the mouth. What a question... The person had just broken through to the second realm, where could they possibly have acquired such a technique that could only be mastered after entering the second realm? It was mainly because this individual was unexpectedly strong, every detail was inconsistent with her usual understanding, it overloaded her CPU. "..." Franca puffed her cheeks, before saying in a muffled voice, "Learning a new technique also requires time, and with that time, I''d rather focus on restoring my own Spiritual Energy. If you want to learn, come find me in the barracks when you have some time." "Why not give it a try?" Bai E''s lips revealed a gentle smile, causing Franca''s heart to involuntarily skip a beat. Confident and gentle. Everything that the other person had done before was the backdrop of this moment, when that mysterious manager emerged from the unknown mist to become a concrete individual she recognized, all her fantasies now had real support. "Although it''s not difficult, it''s not something that can be learned in a short time..." Franca explained, "But... if you want to learn it now, we can also give it a try." Although teaching would definitely interfere with her concentration and slow down the restoration of her Spiritual Energy, if it was for this... lord, it was acceptable. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire "When I first learned this technique, it took me an entire half-day; I was already considered quick in their eyes," Franca whispered, then sat cross-legged on the spot, placing her longsword across her legs. The use of Spiritual Energy was indeed as one desired, yet certain postures could still help one to control the use of Spiritual Energy more quickly and closely. The instruction received when someone just starts learning about Spiritual Energy often becomes a treasure for the life of a Spiritual Energy practitioner. "The Spiritual Energy at the second realm is far more active than at the first realm; you''ve just broken through, so you might not be quite used to it yet..." Franca closed her eyes, only allowing a tiny bit of her recovered Spiritual Energy to emanate within a certain radius around her, enabling her to easily sense the presence of the individual with an immensely strong life force beside her. "Hmm~" Bai E softly acknowledged, indicating that he was listening. "The foundation of Spiritual Energy Shock is built upon the maxims of Spiritual Energy; it''s simply a matter of turning the activated Spiritual Energy into a more proactive disruptive force, to adhere to one''s actions..." [You are learning a technique related to Spiritual Energy...] [Triggered Teaching Mission¡ªSpiritual Energy Shock.] [Teaching Mission¡ªSpiritual Energy Shock: Your proficiency in Spiritual Energy has made minor achievements, and having advanced to a higher realm, you can now access more techniques related to the use of Spiritual Energy. As a basic introductory skill of second-stage Spiritual Energy¡ªSpiritual Energy Shock, it''s a technique that everyone entering the second stage of Spiritual Energy must master. Mission Requirement: Follow Franca''s guidance to organize your Spiritual Energy for the first time and perform the first shock. Reward for completing the mission: Spiritual Energy+5/5.] Time was of the essence, for every second the blood pool existed, it posed a significant threat to the physical world. Bai E didn''t waste words and began burning experience directly. With plenty of experience in reserve, plus the ten thousand points of combat experience that had just burst forth, he could afford the cost, no matter how much experience it required. [You are spending combat experience to organize your freshly activated Spiritual Energy...] [Current progress of the organization: 1%] 5%... 10%... 20%... What Franca said was right, this technique was indeed simpler than the Spiritual Energy Veil technique she and Yue Ying had learned during the first stage. As he accelerated the learning process by spending experience, the progress bar soared quickly. In the process of instructing Bai E, Franca''s own Spiritual Energy continued to recover in this serene harmony. Feeling the increasingly abundant energy inside her, she regained the familiar sense of strength in her body, which also improved her mood significantly. The recovery during the teaching process was a bit slower than the normal rate, but not completely absent. In about an hour or so, she would have enough Spiritual Energy to completely seal off the remaining blood pool. "How do you feel?" Franca, in high spirits, turned to glance at the figure sitting in meditation beside her, also silent and motionless. The other person had been still for a long time, and she couldn''t sense his Spiritual Energy state at all, having no clue about his learning progress. "..." Franca pursed her lips as she received no reply. The other party was a formidable master, and such a master often possessed indescribable confidence and self-esteem. Being taught by someone less skilled than him probably already made the other uncomfortable, and now to inquire about his learning progress, might it be a bit impolite? "Normally, it''s very difficult for someone to learn a new skill in a short period of time, and there are many who take a whole day or even several days to half a month to master a skill, so not seeing any results in an hour or two is actually quite normal..." Franca carefully chose her words, while cautiously observing the other''s facial expressions¡ª No expression? Perfectly calm? Well... the management of emotions is also an essential ability for the strong, so this doesn''t prove anything. "Okay." "Huh?" Franca didn''t hear clearly, and instinctively let out a "huh?" "Thank you." Bai E slowly opened his eyes and looked towards the bewildered Franca with a slight smile. "Huh?" Like a gentle breeze blowing directly in her face, akin to a tender palm lightly caressing her cheek, Franca felt a fresh breath of air assail her spiritual senses. Such a mild breath was so comforting that it gave one a sense of sincere tranquility and peace of mind. "Drip~" Like a quiet spring subtly dripping, the parched earth became instantly moist and blossomed. Spiritual Energy... has it recovered a bit? [Current Comprehension Completion: 100%, you have thoroughly completed organizing your Spiritual Energy and have mastered the basic techniques of the second level of Spiritual Energy¡ª the use of Spiritual Energy Shock.] [Spiritual Energy (Stage Two) Skill¡ª Spiritual Energy Shock: You have proficiently mastered the use of higher-level Spiritual Energy, and from now on, you can freely shape the Spiritual Energy you release from thin air, or through any "connected" external object to temporarily transfer the power of Spiritual Energy. With this action, you can complete almost all the impact forms you can "precisely imagine," including but not limited to "mental oppression, mental soothing, shape changing impact, etc.] [You have completely familiarized yourself with the newborn Spiritual Energy and have executed an accurate Spiritual Energy Shock. Reward: Spiritual Energy +5/5, distributed.] Bai E stood up and walked towards the ruins behind him, simultaneously casually pulling out the iron rod he had planted into the ground, his movements succinct and powerful. Turning to look at his retreating figure, Franca still wore a puzzled expression, uttering an inquisitive sound, "Huh?" Was that a Spiritual Energy Shock? A shock that replenished his magic? Could such a high-level application really be achieved by a beginner? No, wait... he''s only been studying for less than an hour! ...Less than an hour of study time, an expenditure of 1100 battle experience points. Whoever the teacher, the results would be the same with these basic skills. Whether it was Yue Ying or Franca teaching, it made no difference. Of course, Bai E wanted to destroy the dilapidated blood pool with his own hands. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One reason was the task at hand, which made him reluctant to rely on others to resolve the situation, and the second was... whatever the matter, he always felt more if he participated personally. "Extend!" "Extend!" "Extend!" The iron rod lengthened. It stabbed into the earth. Powerful Spiritual Energy manifested as a tangible shock, and with a fierce thrust into the shrinking blood-colored hole that seemed to breathe in and out, it struck at the hole that was progressively narrowing. A storm suddenly arose. "Hiss~" The boundless wind screeched in the realm of spiritual perception. A voice both twisted with excitement and mixed with utmost fear disturbingly accompanied the feedback of Spiritual Energy back into Bai E''s mind¡ª "Hiss ha hiss ha~ I found you! I found you! Hahaha! I found you! Hiss ha~" "..." Chapter 402 After Processing 361 The voice that came from the psychic feedback had a familiar quality to it for Bai E¡ª The essence of fear... Was it the Archdemon of Fear, whose body he had crushed directly in the material world? It was a bona fide high-dimensional demon in its own right, capable of being killed in the material world only to retreat to high-dimensional space, where it could gather strength to resurrect. And upon resurrection, it could even retain some memories from before its death. And now... had that demon already resurrected? But what of it? Having killed you once, I can kill you a second time. Bai E collected his thoughts, completely unconcerned. "Whoosh~" Space collapsed abruptly. As the blood pool was completely shattered and closed, the material world that had been corrupted by it also revealed the actual impact of the destruction it had wrought. The existence of the blood pool was half illusory, half real; it was not easy for sentient beings to enter its illusory core to strangle the heart of its power. Yet, the real aspect had forever changed parts of the material world, and a force from the higher dimension sought to sweep away even more of the basic matter from the material world. The wind swept through, and the earth fell into ruin. The Spiritual Energy dispersed in the air prematurely reflected this potential outcome within Bai E''s consciousness. Thus, the moment he raised his iron rod and pierced the blood pool, he lightly leaped backward, leaving the range of the disturbance. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Boom boom boom!" The ongoing sound of collapse was enormous, falling behind the figure standing at the brink, becoming mere background. Only now, at the conclusion of the event, did all the players, including Franca and the three natives of Grey Iron City, finally shift their thoughts away from the abrupt crisis, realizing who the core protagonist of this incident was. He had almost single-handedly repelled this invasion from the high-dimensional space. They had struggled so hard to defeat a few lesser demons, and what about this man? "Bai is so powerful~" Nova, who had regained some semblance of her strength, sat on a discarded stone, her hands cradling her face, her eyes adoringly fixed on the figure swallowed by the darkness. ["Lucky Strike" charge +12.] The number was not large, but the amount of charge provided was surprisingly high. "..." Bai E silently swept the scattered figures in the dim night around him, turning his focus to the panel notification he received. [Side quest¡ªStop the demon invasion, completed.] [Mission reward: Spiritual Energy +10, Spiritual Energy Skill¡ªHigh-Dimensional Walking, granted.] Pure power transformed directly into Bai E''s Spiritual Energy and integrated into his system. The 100 points of war Spiritual Energy that had exploded from the Demon Prince were similarly ground into the purest essence of power by the soul''s black hole grinder. Endless power filled Bai E''s body. He had never felt such an abundance of power surging within him, even though he had just been through a great battle, he was still far more powerful than ever before. Glimmering mist light concentrated in Bai E''s eyes, then vanished in an instant. Bai E stepped forward towards Franca, his expression stern. The event of the demon invasion itself was resolved, but the influence of the demons was far from over. These beings, adept at corrupting the heart, always inflicted the least physical destruction among the harms they caused. Those lured by the invaded blood pool, those who had witnessed the true form of the Demon Prince, would suffer endless temptations in the times ahead. In Black Street, where people had been corrupted by only lower demons, the rate of corruption was terrifying. Not to mention these core war demons, or even the Demon Prince who had ascended from humanity, the consequences of directly gazing upon them were far more severe than any prior influences. What to do with these people was a big problem. In this matter, Franca was obviously the expert among all present. "Those people, how do you want to deal with them?" Bai E asked directly. As he spoke, his gaze flicked over those who lay scattered around in the dimness of night like lifeless bodies. Franca looked intently at Bai E in front of her, her expression serious, "These people, they cannot be saved." It seemed as though the physical structure of the abandoned factory blocked their view, preventing these people from directly facing the blood pool; they were knocked unconscious by Nova before that could happen. However, in reality... the half-illusory blood pool was exceedingly conspicuous in each of their spiritual worlds, which is why they were drawn to come together before the situation fully escalated. This direct invasion by a high-dimensional phenomenon was far more serious than the consequences of directly witnessing any demon in its true form. What''s more, those who were attracted on their own were already on the verge of falling; after this ordeal, being corrupted into demonic minions was almost certain. Having encountered this high-dimensional anomaly, 99.99 percent of them would fall due to the impure whispers from the high dimension, with hardly any chance of luck. Never mind any talk of natural talent; under such circumstances, the more gifted they were, the easier it was for them to become mortal vessels for powerful demons, and channels for high-dimensional invasions. "For these people, we have only one solution in our place..." "Kill them?" "Close enough..." Franca sighed lightly, her eyes showing a hint of pity, "More thorough than simply killing them, use the soul furnace..." Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire This device was too cruel for ordinary people. Even though Franca had had some interactions with Bai E before and discussed some matters related to Spiritual Energy, she had never revealed this secret generally known only to the executors of the Arbitration Place. Chapter 403 After Processing 361_2 [Acquired Infamous Information (Unidentified): Soul Furnace.] "Soul Furnace?" Bai E repeated the term, touching upon knowledge he had never heard before. "Yes," Franca nodded, "Do you think that the Exorcism Essential Oil, which can harm those Spiritual Energy creatures, is an easily accessible substance? The only thing that can harm the soul is Spiritual Energy itself." Her words were cold, but this was the truth. "¡­" Even with some mental preparation, Bai E could not help but instantly think of the agonized figures who were thrown into the furnace to be burnt and screamed out in pain to extract Exorcism Essential Oil. Was it cruel? Of course, it was cruel. In any world view that Bai E had previously understood, such an act would undoubtedly be labeled as "evil." Yet in this world... without burning a part of the population, it would not be possible to save another part. The one making this decision must be suffering more than anyone else. Given such a situation, Bai E, although sympathetic, could not blame her in the slightest before he had enough strength to change this evident fact. "Not even a glimmer of hope?" "There is," Franca looked straight into Bai E''s eyes, honestly confessing, "Out of a hundred million humans in such a situation, perhaps one or two might successfully break free from the high-dimensional corruption... If there was a 50% chance, I would be willing to believe them, but risking greater harm for that one in a hundred million chance... sorry..." She couldn''t do it. Bai E couldn''t do it either. "I understand¡­" Bai E sighed softly, remembering that not only were those unconscious figures affected by tonight''s event. Those who provided him with a source of power also gazed directly into the true form of the demon prince. "When I was distracting that demon prince..." Bai E shared truthfully. He felt he could trust this lady executor from the Arbitration Place, "...What about those people? Surely there''s hope for them?" "There is hope, but¡­" Franca pursed her lips, "they are far more susceptible to corruption than the residents of Black Street you previously managed. The level of corruption the demon prince can cause is not the same as that of ordinary demons. They are more troublesome... no one is willing to take them in." Except for you... ''But you will be dragged down.'' Franca did not articulate this. When the enigmatic Black Street manager finally took on a tangible form, all too idealistic guesses vanished, and Franca began to let her own reason dominate every issue. The group of Black Street veterans she saw that night were already considered resolute, yet they too, unbeknownst to even themselves, had involuntarily become the minions of demons amid the long torment of life. What more of these ordinary civilians? Demons are the greatest enemy of human society, even more dangerous than bugs and smart machines. The more you deal with anything related to this enemy, the more entangled you find this thing to be. Many times¡­ you have no choice. Bai E hesitated for a moment before saying softly, "Let''s try." "Huh?" Franca''s eyes quivered as she looked at the not particularly handsome but charmingly resolute face just inches away, "It''s troublesome." "But someone has to try. Without trying... there''s never a way out." The world is a mess, but everyone is striving to live. The path ahead is uncertain, but as long as you move forward, that''s the direction. If others have done it before, then follow the experience of predecessors. If no one has done it before, then blaze your own trail. Without the resolve to face any danger, difficulty, or challenge, how can one dare to dream of becoming a warlord, bearing the hopes of all beings? "Let''s try," Bai E turned and walked away into the dark night, "I want to try." The dissipating Spiritual Energy sensed an active fluctuation. It might be an executor from Arbitration Place belatedly noticing the demon''s presence due to the distance and moving closer. ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +5.] Franca bit her lip, pondered for less than an instant, then shouted, "My colleagues will take care of things here, and as for those people... I will handle them and send them to Black Street. Just have them ready to receive the delivery." Without turning back, Bai E waved his hand, "Understood." As Bai E continued to walk away, Franca suddenly called out again, "Hey!" "?" Bai E paused and turned his head to look at her, "What is it?" In the dim light of the night, those smiling white teeth were so captivating that Franca''s lips quivered as she asked loudly, "Would you be interested in joining us at Arbitration Place? I can refer you?" "Arbitration Place?" Bai E was taken aback and waved his hand, "No need, I''m doing just fine in the military." Approaching Nova, Bai E looked down at the figure sitting on the ground, cradling her chin and gazing at him, and smiled slightly, "Let''s go." "Okay~" The somewhat recovered Nova sprang up merrily the moment Bai E called her. Bai is so handsome... Everything he does is so handsome... Slurp slurp slurp~ I really want to lick him. "What are we going to do now?" Nova tried to keep up with Bai E''s pace, craning her neck to catch a whiff of his scent. Bai E glanced at Nova''s pretty little face close by and the two teammates who were diligently following her, and chuckled softly, "Fix the problems with you guys." Bai E had never forgotten about the tracker''s signal that had been continuously suppressed with Spiritual Energy on Nova''s body. Things had to be done one by one, but every single one needed to be addressed. Everyone was important. Bai E had only just returned to the base to report for duty when he was immediately assigned a mission that led him to the arena... A series of events had barely given him a moment''s rest. Now that he had some time, of course, the first thing he wanted to deal with was the ticking time bombs on the bodies of the three from Grey Iron City. But once everything settled down, the feedback from the mission''s task finally came through¡ª [Feedback from the task: Your insight +0.1, physical fitness +0.2, reflex +0.2, mystique +0.4, light weapon mastery experience +68, light firearms mastery experience +38, ranged weapon mastery experience +40, heavy weapon mastery experience +72, Knowledge - Human Body Modification Project 1.0 Experience +42.] Wen Jie was working hard. The experiences provided were content Bai E had no access to on his own. And coincidentally, it was exactly what he needed. Applying it to Nova now would be most apt. With the experience feedback from Wen Jie alone, Bai E''s Human Body Modification Project 1.0 had already reached the level of 2 with 50/500 progress. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire The efficiency of this experience gain wasn''t limited by Wen Jie''s capacity, but by the level cap of the Knowledge itself. This Knowledge only went up to level 3. Even if Wen Jie maxed out the level of Knowledge, according to the rule that halves the feedback of experience, he could only provide a total of 450 modification experience to himself. And exactly 450 modification experience points could level this Knowledge to 2 with 50/500 progress. The rest had to come from his own efforts. Level up. Bai E pondered internally. [Would you like to pay 450 universal experience points to upgrade the Knowledge level of Human Body Modification Project 1.0?] [Yes.] [Detected that the character has Level 4 (max level) Knowledge - Anatomy, experience cost halved.] [Payment: 225 universal experience points.] [Acquired "Level 3 Human Body Modification Project 1.0", simultaneously obtained 1 technology point.] [Human Body Modification Project 1.0 (3/3 level): You have mastered the secrets of the human body and are familiar with most of the internal organs, including their functions. From now on, with the necessary tools at hand, you can harmlessly treat, replace, and add some organs based on current theories, with an 80% success rate.] [Detected that the character has Level 2 (max level) Knowledge - First Aid, which adds +20% to the success rate of surgeries from Knowledge - Human Body Modification Project 1.0.] An unexpected joy. As his abilities became more complete, they began to create various marvelous interconnections between them. Bai E led the group directly to Black Street. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 404 Soul Crucible At the edge of the toppling ruins, several still, dark figures had arrived at an unknown time. Their eyes, hidden beneath black cloaks, silently swept across the entire battlefield, filled with a hint of surprise and doubt. Squads of two or three Executioners arrived in several groups, extremely sensitive to the demonic presence; they had detected the high-dimensional space fluctuations from a great distance away. Having exerted all their efforts to reach the source of the fluctuations, they found the scene to be eerily tranquil. There was only the chaos lying all around and the figures of unconscious civilians strewn about, prompting them to whisper amongst themselves, each expressing their own viewpoints. "Such a large disturbance..." "I smelled an incredibly intense demonic scent earlier, but why is it gone now?" "The demon was definitely here, I can still sense the traces of residual high-dimensional space fluctuations." "Could it have gone into hiding?" Not all demons are fervent, war-crazed lunatics. Demons of the "conspiracy" kind, including their Believers and elect, are extremely adept at disguising themselves. Unless they actively slip up, it''s very difficult for the Executioners to find them. And, as Nova left, the effects caused by her Spiritual Energy were gradually losing their efficacy. The ordinary people lying on the ground were slowly regaining consciousness, but not fully aware yet. A rich, blood-red light burst from the eyes of one civilian who had woken up. Having just emerged from an unconscious state, he swiftly entered a demon-possessed, frenzied condition. Sensing the life around him, he casually grasped an irregular stone next to him, raising it high to smash it down. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire Even if his victim could not resist, the sheer act of bloody killing was enough to satisfy him deeply. Not every Believer could adhere to the "honor" of warfare like demons from the war-chief series did; those who only agree with one or two aspects were also under the umbrella of "war." Yet, it was clear he would not get his way. "Snap!" The bloody, severed palm, together with the stone in hand, fell to the ground, blood spraying... The man''s zealotry-tainted mind was in control, so much so that the pain from his severed hand seemed insignificant to him. A pair of slightly bloodshot eyes suddenly looked toward the direction of the attack, the man grabbing another conveniently located stone and lifting it high, charging toward the Executioner who had launched the attack. His resistance to Spiritual Energy was higher, and so he woke up earlier than the rest. However, those who voluntarily embrace the demons'' "rules" and actively seek possession¡ªif their talent in this regard is strong¡ªoften also means they pose a greater problem. Still, for these seasoned and powerful veteran Executioners, such challenges were far from formidable. "Thud!" An invisible pulse flickered by, and the head burst open instantaneously like a watermelon. The headless corpse remained standing, one hand still clutching the bloody stone, until after a moment it fell to the ground with a "thump." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The man''s awakening was only the prelude. As time passed, more and more figures gradually stirred from their unconscious state. Those who immediately fell into a violent rage were not numerous; many others, upon realizing their situation and the strange atmosphere where occasional headshots occurred around them, wisely curled up to observe and understand why they had unknowingly appeared in this bizarre place... The stoic Executioners effortlessly dealt with the civilians who had spiraled into a state of possession, while one turned to his partner and said, "These people have been deeply eroded, beyond salvation." The partner did not take action, but was closely observing the details of the civilians and their numbers. "To affect so many people invisibly, the ranking of the demon that appeared this time might be very high..." "But why are these people dizzy?" Demons themselves wouldn''t do such a thing. To the intelligent beings attracted to them, they would be transformed into wicked servants, not left in a state that, at least for now, is still human. And observing the distribution of these people... Was there an outsider who forcefully and instantaneously knocked them all out? Ordinary physical means can kill instantly, but not stun without harm, unless it''s... Spiritual Energy. Did a colleague who arrived first lend a hand? Realizing this, the Executioner looked towards another group of Executioners not far away. "You guys seem to have arrived before us?" Most Executioners are lone wolves, with almost no communication with other Executioners, aside from their partners. Therefore, they must all have their own opinions and, in any situation, their first reaction is always to rely on their own observations to judge the beginning and end of an event. Only when there is an information gap do they consider seeking help from others. The questioned Executioner shook his head, directing his gaze towards another direction. "They were here before I was." "I wasn''t the earliest either. When I arrived, I just saw that young girl standing there," another one added. Executioners wander about, rarely meeting each other. When they do meet, it''s their uniforms or some unique psychic perception that serves as identification. More often than not, even if they pass by each other, they may not know each other''s identities. Not everyone knew Franca, but at this moment, all the later-arrived Executioners'' eyes were fixed on her, waiting to hear more information about this demon from her. Chapter 405 Soul Crucible_2 Facing the gaze of her colleagues, Franca gently shook her head, "I wasn''t the first one to arrive here, either." Disappointment was visibly evident in the eyes of many executioners. "But I nearly witnessed the entire process of the event." "..." "What!" "Where''s the demon!" an executioner immediately asked, his voice tinged with urgency about the matter that concerned him most. Although they did not appear to be in a rush, any frantic actions taken before the target was locked were side effects. It was only upon hearing the definite news at this moment that they suddenly became anxious. Every lurking demon was a major cause for concern, the longer it lay in wait, the bigger the threat! Could this girl still be an intern? Why isn''t she panicking at all? "It has been vanquished." "..." "..." "Ah?" An executioner gaped, uttering a sound of confusion. Franca spoke calmly, quietly recounting, "Just now, the original coliseum here, with the war spirits and blood energy that had gathered over many years, successfully underwent a high-dimensional sublimation. A human in the coliseum transformed into a demon prince¡­" "Hiss~" "Demon prince!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It indeed looked like the sort of disturbance that could only be caused by a demon of that level." Just the spontaneous disturbance that began as it invaded the material world was enough to attract such a large crowd of ordinary people to come "in audience"¡ªit was certainly not something that a common demon could achieve. Although they might not be familiar with this coliseum, they had observed the surrounding terrain to a basic extent on the way here; the nearest human settlement was several kilometers away. If it weren''t for the distortion''s significant effect, it could not attract such a massive, dense circle of "believers" to voluntarily come here in the night. "How was it resolved?" "Did you kill it?" Impatient in nature, an executioner sized up the young female colleague whose spiritual energy did not seem very strong, beginning to wonder if he should change his tone when talking to her. Those he couldn''t see through might well be rare monsters. "A... stranger I don''t know." Franca''s eyes slightly glazed over as if lost in memories. "..." "..." "Ah?" An executioner gaped again, releasing a sound of confusion. "I don''t know him¡­ There were several people with him. The one who knocked everyone present unconscious was alone; yet another person alone killed that demon prince. It was too dark and they were in disguise¡ªI couldn''t make them out," Franca spoke softly, seeming somewhat regretful. She didn''t want to bring any trouble to Bai E because of the Arbitration Place''s trivial matters. He trusted her, and she could not betray that trust. Bai E''s identity might be revealed, but only to a trusted few, not just anyone. The Arbitration Place had no style, but every executioner did. Franca couldn''t guarantee that every executioner who heard this news could control their curiosity or some strange rule and not bother Bai E. "..." "..." Instantly, an executioner, irate with the tale that seemed far-fetched yet somewhat believable, questioned angrily, "So you were the first to arrive, but you just stood by and watched?" Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire As executioners, they were to question everything. Even if Franca''s words might be the truth and they also perfectly matched everything they had observed at the moment. But such an unverifiable statement always felt frustrating. Who knew if this colleague wasn''t already corrupted by a demon, fabricating lies to help a demon hide its tracks and deceive them? Franca''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, her expression turning somewhat fierce, which made the other party''s heart skip a beat, but he still demanded coldly, "Show evidence!" "A war-type demon prince was involved¡ªif all of us who arrived at the scene joined forces, what certainty did we have to subdue Him? Faced with an adversary of that level, what do you think I could do? Yes, I couldn''t do much. All I could do was clear out a few Bloodletting Vampires summoned through the sacrifice of ordinary people here while that mysterious expert faced the demon prince alone." "She doesn''t seem to be lying..." More rational and composed, some executioners closely observed Franca with their spiritual sense; feedback from the spiritual energy confirmed the truthfulness of Franca''s words... provided that she was not vastly more skilled in this field than themselves. "The remaining aura does indeed seem like that of a war-type demon." As is well known, the power of war-type demons has no place for avoidance or concealment. Humans may abandon their principles and become more flexible, while demons without their principles would lose power... and even lose will, lose form. So... "Who exactly is this mysterious expert you speak of?" "What are their goals?" Anything associated with demons must be taken with utmost seriousness; warriors fighting demons could at any time become tools of demons. Be wary of everything that must be, careful with everything that needs to be. ''That''s why I couldn''t tell you openly...'' Some stubborn executioners always wanted to eliminate any risk, but he would never be the source of that risk. Any person in the world might one day turn to the embrace of demons, but it seemed only he never would. Chapter 406 Soul Crucible_3 Absolutely, absolutely... never will! sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It''s a kind of inexplicable trust. Franca looked at the person who asked with a mocking smile, "So what makes you think I can pry into the identity of a master who can take down a demonic prince of the war faction all by himself?" The demons of the war faction are universally acknowledged for having the strongest combat power, and a being who can take down a prince of this faction by himself far exceeds the ordinary imagination. The executioner who was suddenly rebutted turned cold, but indeed had nothing to say. "But there must be some specific details, right?" Another rational and calm executioner came forward to mediate, "We are all quite curious." Franca nodded and began to calmly extract elements from her memory, "He used a silver iron rod, but it seemed to be just an ordinary object. It only became massive and indestructible under the enhancement of his Spiritual Energy..." "It seems to be true..." "There really is someone who can kill a demonic prince of the war faction alone..." The executioners looked at each other; Franca''s additional details were numerous, and it would not be easy to concoct something so perfect. Moreover, with their collective Spiritual Energy monitoring, fabricating such an extent of lies would not be easy. It seems that everything she said was true... So a silent astonishment arose from their hearts, how formidable must one be to kill a demonic prince of the war faction by oneself? Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire [ "Lucky Strike" charge +16. ] Seeing that her "bluff" had barely passed, Franca did not want them to continue investing effort in this matter. Her gaze roved the surroundings, where among the ordinary people who had awoken from their bewitchment, some had completely lost their sanity and mindlessly attacked others. The executioners, while listening to her, had not forgotten to deal with those who had gone mad. "Instead of focusing on that mysterious master who at least stands on the side of humanity, we should consider how to deal with these people right now." "Them..." An executioner swept across them, his eyes devoid of any emotion; these degenerates who had given themselves over did not deserve any further attention. "Burn them, that''s all." "Yes, these people are beyond saving." Even the most merciful executioner knew that those ordinary people who had been in close contact with the high-dimensional space invasion point had no chance of redemption. "Let''s make a request." Someone suggested. "Let''s make a request," another concurred. "Agreed." There was no question, as they easily reached a consensus. "I''ll initiate the request," one of the executioners, who appeared steady and even somewhat na?ve, volunteered to take on this responsibility. As a certain wave was transmitted into the void powered by Spiritual Energy, authorization from the headquarters of Arbitration Place came through. A barely visible artifact, resembling a bronze cauldron interwoven with Spiritual Energy and technological aura, materialized above the entire ruins, enveloping all the ordinary people who had awoken from their stupor. These ignorant people curiously watched the semi-illusory thing that emerged from the void, utterly unaware of the fate that awaited them. All the executioners looked up at the massive artifact, channeling their Spiritual Energy in unison with their intentions. As the executioners'' Spiritual Energy converged, the bronze cauldron-like artifact grew more solid, and ultimately displayed its form full of mystical significance. When the flames started burning, the will of living beings turned into kindling, and at last solidified into material that could be utilized by humans. Chapter 407 363 The elderly man still stood at the intersection of the long street in the evening, gazing into the distance. Just now, the Guard had come to report that someone had violated the curfew order, charging out recklessly, as if afflicted by hysteria, ignoring the warnings. And the huge noises coming from afar in the dark night, along with the trembling of the ground beneath, were cause for concern. Since he had undertaken the responsibility given by the superior to manage this vast settlement, Gilder felt that he at least needed to fulfill his duties. In this era, both a full belly and trust were equally valuable, once lost, they could not be found again. The old man''s tired eyes were fixed intently on the darkness, where the commotion had ceased for quite a while. What about those who had rushed out? When would they return? Sometime later, an even darker shadow swayed in the night mist. Seeing a figure approach under the cover of darkness, Gilder was clearly on the alert, and he gestured to Xu Ruoguang, who had always been following close behind, to signal that they should be prepared for anything on this night. Only when the figure was revealed by the dim light at the intersection to be his own superior did everyone heave a sigh of relief, and a smile of reassurance bloomed on Gilder''s face, "My Lord..." "Mm." Bai E nodded, seeing Gilder at the entrance to Black Street immediately indicated a significant implication¡ª "Did our people go over there as well?" "Mm... thirty-seven." "That many..." Bai E narrowed his eyes slightly, somewhat surprised. Gilder continued to look past Bai E, as if searching for the figures of those people. "How are they?" Logically, since the Lord had also come from that direction, he surely wouldn''t have overlooked his own people, or even just ordinary strangers, suffering hardships. "They can''t come back..." Bai E shook his head, "It was a disturbance caused by demons." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire After all, according to Franca''s explanation, those ordinary people who had faced the demon prince would have to be brought over eventually. The whole situation had to be clarified to Gilder, and since they had met now, it was fine to speak directly. "Oh~" Gilder responded with a somewhat subdued tone. No matter how many times, the loss of life was always more lamentable. On the other hand, Xu Ruoguang, who was leading the Black Street Guard, showed keen interest when he heard the key phrase, "My Lord, did you say... you encountered a demon?" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E glanced at him, knowing this youngster treated all heretics as mortal enemies, as if he played with a deeper sense of immersion than other players, and so he nodded in reply, "Yes, it was the Underground Colosseum. The continual offerings of blood have twisted that place into a high-dimensional space invasion node. The commotion just now was mainly made by a warlike demon prince." Since the players had been involved in the entire incident and had certainly communicated with each other, there was no point in hiding it; it was better to reveal it oneself. Besides, there was no need for secrecy, and equivocation could only lead to more curiosity and unknowable actions. "Demon prince?" Xu Ruoguang murmured the term, his eyebrows furrowing slightly as if puzzled. "What''s the matter?" "Ah~" Xu Ruoguang lifted his head as if he had just realized something, facing Bai E''s concerned gaze, his face slightly flushed as he shook his head, "It''s nothing, just... lost in thought." Lost in thought again. In the instant he heard the term ''demon prince,'' images flashed through his mind¡ªgiant starships covering the sky silently opening fire, giant red bodies emerging from behind verdant planets. A demon prince... Should that not be what a demon prince looks like? Just causing the earth to tremble a bit, what kind of demon prince is that? The thought was fleeting, and Xu Ruoguang shook his head with a self-deprecating laugh, claiming he didn''t know a damn thing about demon princes, of course, his Lord was far more experienced. It must be scenes from films, television, or anime that he had once seen that caused him to have such unwarranted associations, though he couldn''t remember where he had seen them... The visions in his mind had felt so real for that instant, overwhelming, as if he were the person standing at the forefront inside a space warship''s command center, staring through the transparent hull at that red form, as if he were the one there. But those dreamlike visions of time condensed in his eyes, then silently shattered. Xu Ruoguang stood under the street lamp by the roadside, smiling wryly. Was it himself? Would there be a day for him, too, in the future? They say the game has a broad outlook, and venturing into space was just a matter of time. If one day he could lead a Space Fleet to conquer far and wide... the thought was quite exciting indeed. "..." Bai E withdrew his gaze, saying no more. The typical absent-mindedness of a player, who could drift off while talking, wondering who knows what. Getting materials for new equipment tonight? "Let''s go, didn''t I have you guys set up a medical facility?" Though Black Street was small, it had everything. Such spontaneous settlements might seem trivial in the eyes of most city dwellers, but each one was also a miniature society. To become a self-contained autonomous territory, it needed to meet various conditions such as production, medical care, and housing; it could be rudimentary, but not nonexistent. And Black Street, neither too large nor too small, had a few people with medical experience, though not many. Chapter 408 363 They could handle some minor ailments like headaches and fevers with their meager abilities, without much issue. As for an as-sterile-as-possible operating room, although it might not be immediately needed, Bai E had already instructed to have it built, and it should be finished by now. Gilder immediately accepted, "Of course." This territory was entirely dedicated to serving the master, and all tasks could wait, except for the master''s commands which had to be executed at once. "Lead the way." "Yes!" Stepping forward, Bai E''s gaze briefly swept over the Black Street Guard stationed a bit farther away¡ªthose veteran soldiers who had been taken in. Even if those veterans were artificial humans, no one knew what their ingrained prohibitions would morph into after being tainted by society. In fact, even though they had been taken in, Bai E still didn''t fully trust them; their feedback about Tiger hadn''t been particularly good. He hadn''t been to Black Street these past few days, and he still needed to inquire about Tiger''s situation later... S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, in dealing with these veterans, Bai E was somewhat cautious and naturally didn''t want them to know too much about Nova. So, he said softly, "If there''s nothing else, continue with your patrol. Every night requires vigilance." At this moment, Xu Ruoguang was exchanging glances and making faces with his close friends, whispering among themselves. Upon hearing Bai E''s voice, his body jerked as if by reflex, snapping to attention and responding loudly, "Yes! Master!" Turning around to face the veterans who were also preparing to follow, he ordered sternly, "All units, continue the patrol!" "Yes! Commander!" the veterans responded in unison, their voices full of vigor. After the battle with the eternal decayed corpses, while Xu Ruoguang might not yet be fully trusted by them, as a temporary commander he was still considered reliable. Black Street wasn''t large, and the medical room that had been established was even right in the center of several streets, so they arrived in an instant. "This is it, master." Gilder gestured with his hand, leading the way. The white walls emitted a soft glow, which seemed quite out of place in the overall style of Black Street. In the midst of pervasive darkness, that unblemished whiteness appeared even more glaring. "Inside, we have the medical equipment we purchased, which should be able to help the master to some extent." An old piece of equipment, bought secondhand or perhaps more, had cost nearly all of Black Street''s savings. Gilder still remembered the seven beds that came with the package deal... For an unremarkable metal bed, they had charged them a thousand Blackwater coins each; utter beasts! However, at this moment, his tone was as light as a feather; a competent butler would never let the master feel distressed. Money can be earned again, but the master''s commands must be completely implemented. "Good," Bai E said with a smile, nodding his head. His knowledge certainly contained elements that were beyond rational due to Spiritual Energy, and besides the "necessary components" for different situations, he could also adjust the surgical process according to different existing conditions. Having specialized equipment always made things a little easier. Medical equipment wasn''t essential, but it was better to have it. "I''ll perform the surgery on her first; you may move about freely now." Bai E didn''t understand why the players were still following him¡ªthe rewards for their tasks had long been settled¡ªso he used this opportunity to send the players on their way. If they really had something to address, they should have spoken up by now. "Master..." Gong Yan stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Bai E, asking softly. "Hmm?" "I was wondering if there''s any way we could help?" They had been following all this time for two reasons: curiosity and utilitarianism. Curiosity was, of course, the desire to "watch the story unfold". The time players spent in the game could sometimes be very precious, but also very wasteful. They raced against time when leveling up, but when idle, they could spend entire days just taking in the sights. The white-haired NPC by the lord''s side is a new face in the organization, and not only is she powerful, but she''s also attractive, seeming to harbor some special affection for the lord. They instinctively wanted to see the excitement, catching the scent of gossip. As for the utilitarian aspect¡­ The game offers a high degree of freedom, and triggering many quests may require initiative from the players. Following an obviously special NPC with a camera to watch a scene, they might just trigger a related quest. Compared to the stable rewards of a quest chain, fresh and exciting unfamiliar quests always elicit more excitement among players. Looking at Gong Yan''s eyes as she made the request, Bai E guessed from the perspective of a player what they were all thinking. "Not at the moment, I need to perform a minor surgery on her, and I''ll notify you all if there''s a need later," Bai E said. "Surgery?" Gong Yan''s eyes lit up, "Can I learn it, my lord?" The lord''s abilities far exceeded her own, and she hadn''t noticed any visible injuries on the young lady, so whatever was happening now surely wasn''t covered by the ''first aid'' she had learned before. Gong Yan was interested in these medical abilities. "You learn?" Bai E was taken aback, then smiled warmly, "Of course, you can." While speaking, he manually added the newly enlightened knowledge into the Faction Shop. Faction Shop (Level 2) new addition: [Human Transformation Project 1.0 Teaching, Pricing ¡ª Basic Instruction: 25 points of faction contribution; Professional Instruction: 40 points of faction contribution; Expert Instruction: 60 points of faction contribution.] While adding, Bai E explained, trying to convince the players that this was a logical, self-consistent game world, and he definitely hadn''t done any backdoor manipulations, "Considering the different stages of development, the former you were not quite suitable for being exposed to these deeper aspects. I feared you would waste too much energy on things that aren''t currently useful, so I only let you access them now." "Hmm hmm~" Gong Yanchunchun nodded fervently. Reasonable! In past games, there were always players who wanted to start over because they bought or learned the wrong things, and this game could even intelligently help them manage their experience. Smart! Appropriate! "I''ll learn!" Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire If the lord thought it was the right time to open it up to them, then it meant he approved of their current level and they could take on more new information. As for the requirement of 60 points of faction contribution... It was a piece of cake for her, currently holding a stock of 330 points of faction contribution. Bai E nodded with satisfaction, "Okay, then you come in too." After going through several decontamination procedures, they entered a specially constructed sterile surgery room. Bai E first looked around the room at all the structures, his knowledge-based abilities giving him an unconscious clarity on the practical functions of the related equipment. Through the observation of the environment and the organization of knowledge, Bai E already had a complete plan in mind. "First, I''ll do a basic physical examination for you." He pointed toward the direction of the medical examination equipment while he himself went to a corner of the room to change clothes and prepare with more meticulous disinfection. "Oh~" Looking at the familiar yet strange arrangements inside the room, Nova''s expression was clearly timid. The white surgery room triggered some distant, blurry memories. Especially when Bai E sorted out the instruments and produced a "ting-ling clang-clang" sound, those "remote" memories surged like waves. The specific images were hazy, but she could vaguely see a tall figure with greying hair pulling off his leather gloves and raising a silver surgical instrument towards her point of view. What was clearer were the emotions awakening with those memories¡ª Fear, helplessness, confusion, dread¡­ Was her body being manipulated and even cut open against the cold touch? A glimmer of misty light rose from the depths of Nova''s eyes, and those overwhelming emotions engulfed all her mind in an instant. "What''s wrong?" A kind smile broke through those images, and a gentle voice rose from not far away, calmly soothing her. Chapter 409 Mission 364: Explore Grey Iron City "I''m... I''m okay," Nova bit her lip and lay down on the patchy, cold, and paint-peeled surface. Identity reversed, Bai E, who had once been researched by Helen from the Scientific Research Institute, now also sat in front of the operating console of such medical examination equipment. Looking at Nova lying before him with her eyes tightly shut and her eyelashes trembling slightly, Bai E gently reached out to touch her forehead, his voice soft and soothing, "It''s okay, it''s just a checkup." The warmth of his palm seemed to convey boundless energy. The originally uneasy heart calmed down instantly, Nova nodded her chin and replied softly, "Mhm~" "Buzz~" The old machine made a heavy operational noise, but thankfully, amid those miscellaneous sounds, the machine still faithfully fulfilled its intended mission. Looking at the freshly printed medical examination chart, Bai E''s eyes slightly lost focus. Physical 17, Insight 16, Reflex 17 These old machines certainly weren''t as precise as the brand-new creations used by Helen, offering only a rough integer approximation, but the attributes displayed as a whole still far exceeded those of ordinary humans, even surpassing Bai E''s three-dimensional attributes by quite a lot. Nova looked thin and small, fragile as if unable to withstand a breeze, yet her attributes could be described as incredibly opulent. The base limit of 15 points in attributes is in reference to ordinary human bodies. For those who have undergone biochemical modifications, their bodies no longer belong within the limits of a normal human. Seeing the test report in an instant, Bai E felt a measure of relief in his heart¡ªhe was fortunate that he had the upper hand in skills, and fortunately, this special individual from Grey Iron City hadn''t systematically learned too much about combat techniques. Her strength relied purely on her raw attributes and instinctual responses, or else the fight with her back then might have been more perilous than fortunate. Not only in terms of Spiritual Energy level¡ªif she were to learn some practical combat techniques, just relying on her body and weapons, the combat power Nova could demonstrate would probably be terrifying. This was a super soldier with tremendous potential, yet that doctor from Grey Iron City, who originally controlled her destiny, never designed a "future" for her. Of course, perhaps it wasn''t short-sightedness... but rather because he foresaw that Nova''s randomness meant she could not always be perfectly controlled; the stronger the abilities she possessed, the more terrifying the backlash when it occurred. Would that doctor give up on such an excellent test subject? I don''t know. But first, it''s important to actively block the other party''s prying. Bai E''s gaze swept across Nova''s body scan images, noting several differences from a normal human anatomy. The most noticeable were her two stomachs, multiple lungs, secondary heart, and even traces of adjustment in the blood and muscles, which brought considerable confusion to Bai E when trying to locate the "tracking device." "I need to attempt this a few times," Bai E looked at Nova. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The knowledge he possessed was not about learning everything regarding body modification in one fell swoop; rather, he favored "learning" as a method of "mastering." With this knowledge, Bai E could research these abnormal individuals, infer and categorize the technology, and thus discern which effects of the biochemical modifications were normal and which were not. Only then could he locate the so-called "tracking device." "Go change into a gown." "Prepare the anesthetic." Bai E''s prep work was systematic. While going through all the procedures, he didn''t forget to transfer his knowledge to Gong Yan, who followed behind him. Nova, wearing a loose blue and white striped surgical gown, stood somewhat awkwardly in front of Bai E, looking bashful. The soft cotton material gently brushed against her body, the inside starkly empty. In those blurry images, whenever surgery was performed on her body, she was always stark naked... Back then, she, who hardly had any concept of "shame," could take it as normal, but now recalling it only made her want to bury her head in the ground. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire Yet thinking that the one who would soon see her body was Bai, that annoyed and embarrassed feeling unconsciously took on a bit of anticipation. Her eyes carefully peeked at Bai E from beneath the messy white fringe, brimming with luster. Bai E''s gaze swept over her body, which unexpectedly seemed somewhat curvaceous, his expression almost completely unfluctuating. Any impure thought that arose at this time would be a desecration to both parties. "Calm down, don''t think too much." The impact of Spiritual Energy imbued with the effect of spiritual maxims gently washed over her, as Bai E''s will directly transmitted into Nova''s mind. Thoughts can affect the secretion of hormones in the body, and Nova, who hadn''t learned any skills like "self-restraint," could easily interfere with the observations. As if a cold draft suddenly descended, Nova felt her mind instantly clear, obediently saying, "Okay~" Then she turned and looked sullenly at the anesthetic prepared by Bai E, "Anesthetics don''t work on me..." "..." Bai E paused, looking into Nova''s eyes, "How did you before..." "It only hurt a little... I''m used to it." "..." Bai E pursed his lips, his hand tightening slightly around the bottle of medicine, then nodded, indicating, "I understand... I''ll be as quick as possible." "Drip~" "Drip~" Time ticked by second by second, and in the quiet operating room, only the occasional sound of metal instruments and the intermittent beeps from the machines maintaining operation were heard. Chapter 410 Mission 364: Explore Grey Iron City - Part 2 Finally, Bai E pinpointed the target''s location¡ªon the right side of the chest cavity. A rice grain-sized foreign object, seemingly made of flesh and blood, was delicately extracted by Bai E using tweezers, trying to emit ripple after ripple of invisible waves under the lock of Spiritual Energy. Its biomaterial composition perfectly concealed within Nova''s own body, no wonder even her Spiritual Energy failed to detect this tiny thing. "This is it!" Nova, whose will had always been lucid though her brow was constantly furrowed, also sharply sensed the anomaly with her Spiritual Energy, and stared at the small object held by Bai E''s tweezers with a look of surprise on her face. This thing was her shackles. With this object inside her body, the shadow of being controlled by others always loomed over her heart, never dissipating. Now that it had been removed, she felt as if the sky had broadened, the earth had opened up¡ªa complete freedom. "Thump~ Thump~" Her brow twitched slightly, pulsing like a heartbeat. Spiritual Energy jumped, rising and falling. Spiritual Energy... had it improved again? Bai E shifted his gaze from the tracker held by the tweezers to Nova''s face, full of disbelief... The talent of these native geniuses, is it so unreasonable? "Snap!" With a light effort of his hand, the tracker completely shattered under the directed explosion of Spiritual Energy. Bai E smiled at Nova, whose complexion was slightly pale, and offered his blessings, "Congratulations, you''re free now." "Hee~" Nova, who had been tightly pursing her lips, causing them to become somewhat dry, showed a broad smile on her face, which seemed particularly bright against the backdrop of blood-stained bandages on her body. Bai E pressed down on Nova, who wanted to get up, and gently advised, "You''ve lost a lot of blood, rest for a while." Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire "It''s fine, I''ll heal up quickly." "No." Bai E applied a bit more pressure with his hand, "An injured person should receive meticulous care; things are different now, you need to get used to it." A drifting heart is far more tiring than physical pain, and even the strongest people have their moments of vulnerability. He liked... Nova''s personality very much. "Oh~" Nova blinked, her eyes fluttering, without making a sound. Opening the sealed door, Bai E pushed the bed with Nova directly into the next room, a resting chamber, before he finally took off his own equipment and changed into a more normal attire, leaving with Gong Yan. "Have you learned it?" "Mhm mhm~" Gong Yan nodded vigorously. "Good." The cheats of players and the talent of the natives are both unreasonable. Though he himself had both, hee hee! ["Teaching" completed. Through the feedback from "teaching," you have gained a total of 780 battle experience points and 920 general experience points.] "Do you have any must-do tasks on hand recently?" During the surgery for Nova, Bai E also recalled the problem of the two warriors from Grey Iron City¡ª Stabilizing Repair Fluid. Nova''s endless regenerative capabilities allowed her to perfectly adapt to those implanted bio-chemical organs, but the two regular humans had to occasionally endure the backlash from the foreign organs. The Stabilizing Repair Fluid, needed at regular intervals, was their knot that had to be untangled head-on. Certainly, Blackwater City had nothing of the sort; Bai E had never heard of anyone in the city developing such technology, so naturally, there would not be a corresponding "antidote." Ultimately, they had to find a way from Grey Iron City. He couldn''t leave himself, and the players would likely be curious about the new map''s discovery, a win-win! Bai E decided to entrust this task to the players. Upon hearing their leader''s question, Gong Yan''s eyes lit up, and she shook her head vehemently, "No, no!" "That''s good... I happen to have some things to assign to you all." Bai E brought several players together, facing their eager eyes, he narrated the cause and effect, "These three are escapees from another city called Grey Iron City..." "Oh~" The three players looked at each other, their eyes conveying understanding. As expected! The leader was still the same leader, a professional scavenger. Having interacted with him over time, they had guessed some of Gilder''s background, probably another of the leader''s finds, like the mouse person he had picked up before. Always collecting scraps, all they saw were newly acquired members, without a glimpse of the original ones. "That city practices a mandatory trend of body modification, using endless modifications to collect data and perfect their technology, but at the cost of every single living being. These three are rebels who disagreed with this ban, yet even as they fled in haste, they still carry marks from that city within them. The bio-chemical modification is not a perfected technology; the implanted foreign organs create severe conflicts with the human body. The Stabilizing Repair Fluid is the key resource that can alleviate this conflict, only available in that city." At this point, Bai E paused slightly, his steady gaze sweeping across the four players before him, "Therefore, I need you to risk everything to obtain enough Genetic Stability Repair Fluid capable of temporarily easing their symptoms from that nefarious city. Are you willing to undertake this extremely dangerous mission?" Willing! More than willing! The players'' eyes shone with an excited gleam. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. New plot, new mission, new map! Even though they hadn''t fully explored Blackwater City, the prospect of unlocking clues to a new city was always more exhilarating. Chapter 411 Mission 364: Explore Grey Iron City - Part 3 "We are willing!" Before the words could emerge, Bai E purposefully interrupted them, his eyes calmly observing the group, emphasizing the very tenets of the organization. "I hope you understand that your actions are meaningful. It''s not just the friends who have become our comrades that we need to save, but also those who are still under the yoke of evil. Therefore, if you are willing to accept, you must gather more information about human body modification. You must know that humanity doesn''t just exist in Blackwater City; our future is destined for the stars. Before that, we must turn all of humanity into our partners!" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Often players only know "where to go? How many to kill?" but sometimes, when they have a moment of respite, they also try to analyze the essence behind all the details they encounter in the game. Bai E hopes to instill "faith" in them rather than let them become truly chaotic players, so he needs to periodically reinforce the persona he has established. Kuang Xin, completely engrossed in the narrative, suddenly responded with red-rimmed eyes, "Yes, my lord!" Even the usually calm Dai Lian felt his blood boil with fervor under the grand purpose, his voice trembling, "We are willing, my lord!" "Very well..." Bai E nodded in satisfaction. [Mission description is auto-generating...] [Side Quest - Genetic Collapse (Combat, Resource-Fusion Type Mission): The additional organs implanted through bio-modification surgeries torture the bodies of the modified at all times, with the danger of genetic collapse looming. Only the "Genetic Stability Repair Fluid" produced by Grey Iron City can temporarily alleviate the conflict between foreign bodies.] Mission Requirements: Submit "Genetic Stability Repair Fluid" *0/2~6 (adjustable), Time Limit: 15 days 23 hours 14 minutes. Mission Rewards: Universal Experience 50~200 points (adjustable), Technology Points *0~1 (adjustable), Item rewards (to be determined).] (Note: There is a physical submission stage, the current mission cannot be "automatically completed," it requires "acceptance upon completion"; once the mission is confirmed, "permissions" and "costs" will be deducted and locked.) [Would you like to release this mission?] Compared to before, there''s now a deadline. After all, the onset of genetic collapse waits for no one. According to the acting team leader, their risk of genetic collapse is unpredictable, possibly occurring within half a year to a year, or as short as four to five weeks. Even though they had been injected just before departing on the last signal base station mission, calculating by the shortest time, they would need another injection within a month. Bai E wasn''t willing to take any risks, so it was better to shift the pressure onto the players, keeping the extra days as a buffer for himself. If they truly couldn''t complete it, he would figure out a way to step in personally. But it didn''t end there... Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Time had passed midnight, and the qualifications for releasing missions had refreshed. Bai E, with one more day''s worth of mission-publishing rights, wanted to try out some new ideas. As his intent was perceived by the panel, the prompt quietly sounded¡ª [Would you like to add a mission?] [Yes.] [Additional mission is auto-generating...] [Side Quest - City of Transformation (Combat, Resource-Fusion Type Mission): The sinister city is shrouded in mystery; you need to collect more information about this city to help the organization liberate this city of sin. Note: Information gathering can be concurrent with the prerequisite mission, but this mission can only be naturally unlocked after completing the prerequisite mission - Genetic Collapse.] This was quite good. Bai E nodded in satisfaction, setting the mission rewards. Of course... the bulk of it was the item rewards; the experience and technology points rewards from the panel were unlikely to surpass what he could personally offer from his own pocket until his authority increased. Then, he confirmed the release! The four players, receiving their clear missions, clearly showed delight. Bai E waved his hand to dismiss them. "If there''s nothing else, you can go about your business." "Wait, my lord!" Kuang Xin wasn''t distracted by the new mission. Having been suppressed by Spiritual Energy to the point of being unable to lift his head several times, he had longed to uncover the secrets concerning Spiritual Energy. Previously, his teammates had persuaded him that he could seek guidance from his lord, and now was his chance. Chapter 412 Promise made on 365? "You want to learn Spiritual Energy?" After listening to Kuang Xin''s narrative, Bai E looked at him intently. Want to learn skills? Go ahead and learn. Career planning? I''m an NPC, you''re asking me? I don''t even know what the ultimate path of this world is; I just use whatever I have. How would I know whether a warrior like you, who aspires to be a close-quarters damage dealer, should spend extra effort on Spiritual Energy? Maybe just skip the process and learn directly... save some trouble. Bai E''s expression grew solemn, "Realizing this is already good. We all have limited time and energy, and everybody understands the principle of ''do not bite off more than you can chew.'' However, every individual''s situation is different; my advice is to follow your heart." "Heart?" Kuang Xin looked puzzled. "Follow your impulses, trust your thoughts. No regrets, no looking back, move forward with determination. Whatever choice you make, just remember not to regret it in the days to come. Spiritual Energy comes from the heart; what you firmly believe in is what''s right." "What I firmly believe in is right?" Kuang Xin began to reflect on whether he really wanted to learn Spiritual Energy. Dai Lian, who was half a step behind Kuang Xin, pressed for clarification, "Does it mean there are no taboos to hold us back? We can do whatever we wish?" "That''s the general idea, but limited freedom is more liberating. The measure of it is for you to grasp." There was a moment of quiet. What did they really want to do in the game? They hadn''t given it much thought. The NPC''s sudden statement led them into a brief spell of subconscious reflection, but they soon broke free from those occasional touches and musings. Their mindset then leapt back¡ªessentially, there were no restraints or rules. Whatever career planning, whatever skill route you want to learn, just learn it, don''t wrong yourself. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Do I want to learn? Kuang Xin clenched his fist. Maybe he could be unskilled, but he definitely needed to understand. "I want to learn, my lord." "No problem." Bai E nodded. He then added the newly acquired ability to the Faction Shop¡ª Faction Shop (2nd floor) new addition: [Enlightenment - Spiritual Energy, price - Basic Instruction: 200 points of faction contribution.] After Spiritual Energy advanced to the second stage and he could project it outward, and having followed Franca to master the technique of Spiritual Energy impact, Bai E also understood how Yue Ying had guided him on the path of Spiritual Energy in his memories. The basic technique was the Spiritual Energy impact; it was just a matter of proficiency. If it were a native teaching a native, the level of proficiency could hugely impact the outcome: with a skilled teacher one might quickly grasp the basics, but if one barely understood it themselves, teaching others would clearly lead to misguiding them. But on himself, it didn''t matter much. Use experience as a cheat to bypass requirements. If you have a basic ability that can pass the system''s assessment, that''s all that matters. The rest will depend on whether the player''s reserve of experience is solid enough; beyond that, everything else is a minor issue. Therefore, Bai E, who also mastered the Spiritual Energy impact upon reaching the second stage, could provide guidance quite similar to what Yue Ying once did. "This is it!" Kuang Xin, upon receiving the system prompt, spotted the newly added ability to learn in the Faction Shop right away. 200 points of faction contribution? Just right! Not a point more. "I''ll learn this one." "Just a reminder, you don''t have a talent for Spiritual Energy; you might need to put in more effort than others to get the same improvement." It''s unclear if players'' innate talents are randomly assigned or if they are self-created, but Gong Yan and Gu Lan, those two girls, have the talent for Spiritual Energy and can awaken it on their own without NPC guidance. For someone like Kuang Xin who lacks the talent, even if he can learn, it is likely that the experience he needs to expend will be determined based on his "mysterious" level. Players don''t rely on talent; everything can be made up for with experience... The premise is having enough of it. "I''m well aware, my lord!" Kuang Xin was clear in his mind. In previous instances when everyone learned the same skill, some spent more experience, and others less¡ªwasn''t that just because everyone chose different starting attributes? He had an advantage in physically related skills; it was only natural for him to face disadvantages with mysterious abilities like Spiritual Energy. These past days he had been fighting and doing quests, accumulating quite a bit of experience; he wasn''t afraid to burn through it. "Alright." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then add me too, my lord," Dai Lian said enviously from the side. If Kuang Xin, with only 200 points of faction contribution left, could go for it, then he, with 225 points left, had no reason not to. The game world is so open-ended. Always trying to make no mistakes and ensure every resource is well-utilized is truly exhausting. Why not indulge for once... Occasionally being pure like Kuang Xin doesn''t seem too bad. No regrets? Then no regrets it is. After all, following their lord, they had long surpassed other players who started at the same time. It''s just a little bit of contribution and the stored experience, after all. They can be earned again. To teach one is to teach, to teach two is still to teach. They want to learn, I gain experience. Win, big win, triple win, win till it hurts. "Alright." The experience in the mysterious and wonderful world of Spiritual Awareness is always timeless. Just as Bai E was once led by Yue Ying, the two players now guided by Bai E were sincerely experiencing that profound and mystical sensation in the game. That genuine and arcane sensory experience felt like transcending the restrictions of the game, truly immersing them into that bizarre and magnificent higher-dimensional world. Chapter 413 Promise made on 365?_2 Only when the prompt from the panel rang out did they open their eyes, which carried a hint of regret. Immersed in that profound experience for a long time, unable to detach themselves, a fascinating idea rose in their hearts¡ª Isn''t this game all too realistic? The sensation had transcended the boundaries of a game; lost in the marvelous experience where time became indistinct, what the game offered had surpassed everything else. When did the technology of our world advance to this degree? The publishers of this game didn''t boast about any groundbreaking technology, did they? Apart from being able to play while sleeping and the seamless connection of the in-game timeline with each daily login, there wasn''t much hype. For the first time, a touch of curiosity about the game itself sparked within them. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire ["Tutorial" concluded. From the tutorial feedback, you have earned a total of 1780 combat experience points and 1290 general experience points.] "It seems you have successfully mastered Spiritual Energy," Bai E said with a reassuring smile, noticing the faint glow of Spiritual Energy in their eyes. Learning Spiritual Energy was just the beginning. They probably couldn''t grasp those Spiritual Energy tricks on their own without any natural talent. They would have to come back and learn from Bai E. That meant a steady influx of experience points. Keep it up, my superheroes! "Thank you for your guidance, my lord. We will set off now," Dai Lian said, stepping out of the lingering aftereffects of the wondrous experience, and quickly made his stance known. Having learned Spiritual Energy and spent all their experience and contribution points, it was time to go out and strive again. "Go ahead, you can get a vehicle from the warehouse supervisor; this time it''s free," Bai E said with a smile. Gamers act swiftly, leaving as soon as they say. Bai E only turned to face Gilder, who had been waiting in the next room, after watching them leave. Ever since they met, Bai E could see a desire to confide in him within the old man''s eyes. Clearly, quite a few things had happened in Black Street during his absence. "How is Hu doing?" Bai E asked as he settled down in the room. "That''s exactly what I wanted to discuss with you," Gilder replied gravely. Hearing constant reports of demons'' minions appearing all over Black Street was undoubtedly a sign of his inefficiency. The day they cleared the second veteran''s barracks, Xu Ruoguang reported back to him in detail as soon as he returned. The valiant sacrifice of the old soldiers, who had unwittingly fallen into the demons'' clutches but willingly accepted their fate, was tragic. However, the underlying issues it exposed could not be ignored. "...However, fortunately, your comrade has not fallen, but now he..." Felt a bit lonely. All disabled soldiers who hadn''t been fitted with prosthetics perished that night. The remaining veterans all had artificial limbs and functioned as the Black Street Guard. Only Hu was left alone in the always empty yard, doing whatever manual work he could manage. Gilder had considered using Black Street resources to procure prosthetics for Hu, but without a suitable excuse, it could easily lead to idle gossip under the present conditions of unified resource distribution. He also knew that those veterans still had some of their resources, but it was difficult to forcefully confiscate them without cause, so he had pretended not to know. But for some reason, those veterans were always reluctant to provide Hu with prosthetics. Before, when there were many of them, one could argue resources were insufficient and unevenly distributed. Now, with only Hu remaining, getting one set of prosthetics should have been no issue. Black Street hadn''t developed for long and faced myriad issues. Gilder believed that most problems could be resolved over time, just touching on this point when Bai E asked about related matters. Bai E''s eyes glazed over, lightly tapping his fingertips on the desk nearby. What was the true purpose of those old soldiers? A desire for vengeance after being abandoned by the military due to disabilities? So far, there wasn''t much evidence of anti-social rebellion. How would the prohibitions ingrained in their genes twist after being tainted by the grim reality? Even he, who shared their synthetic identities and experiences, couldn''t say for sure. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, fortunately, the "old captain" always was the old captain, maintaining his unique clarity even amid thorns. "Continue to keep an eye on him..." Hu was not one to be bothered by solitude. The secure and monotonous daily life, for him, was probably a form of peaceful bliss. If life could continue in such a tranquil manner, perhaps it wouldn''t be such a bad thing. "Additionally... there''s something about Fernandi..." "Fernandi?" Bai E was a bit puzzled. Fernandi was the rat-man, who had always been obedient and sensible. What could have happened to him now? "He said he wants to see his sister and hopes you can help him find a way," Gilder said. Longing for family after such a time seemed only natural. Bai E smiled, his slightly tense nerves relaxing a bit, but then he felt the complexity of the situation. No matter who his sister was, if she could freely enter and leave the military camp, she would surely have come to find her brother already. But if she lacked the authority, then as an officer, how much could he really do? His own pass could only be used by himself, let alone bringing a rat-man, marked as a Believer of the demons, into the military camp... that would be suicidal. Still, he subconsciously asked, "What''s his sister''s name? Which unit is she with in the camp?" "Mashati. I heard she went in as a military nurse," Gilder said. Chapter 414 Promise made on 365?_3 "..." Such a familiar name. Now with his significantly increased thinking speed, Bai E instantly found the always gentle and reserved smiling girl from his memories. It was her? What a small world... "I can only pass on a message for him, there''s no guarantee it will work..." "That''s good... that''s good..." Gilder agreed readily, but there was a hint of hesitation at the end of his tone. Gilder had looked utterly dejected when he mentioned this privately, as if resigned to death. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wanting to see his own sister was less about missing her, and more about seeing her one last time... But Gilder didn''t explicitly say this, only pleading him to convey his wishes to the adults, and the death wish... was just his speculation. After a moment''s hesitation, he ultimately chose not to spell it out. "What''s wrong?" "Nothing." Gilder smiled, though his smile was tinged with weariness. "If nothing''s wrong, you should rest. You''ve had a hard time managing this mess." "It''s not hard!" Gilder''s eyes trembled slightly, and any trace of being wronged instantly vanished. ["Lucky Strike" Charge +5.] Watching the adult''s silhouette fade into the night, three shadows emerged beside Gilder out of nowhere. "Boss, haven''t you spoken yet?" "..." Gilder pursed his thin lips, remaining silent. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire Another shadow chimed in immediately, "Yeah boss, we all followed you because we believed in you, but what about now? We''ve been working ourselves to death every day, and I haven''t seen a hint of that ''land flowing with milk and honey'' he promised us." Along with Gilder, there were other refugees who had not entered the city and opted to lay low. He had chosen a few trustworthy and clever youths to work under the adult''s command. Often, the implementation of policies required both overt and covert coordination; sometimes the presence of an atmosphere group was also crucial. This was one of Gilder''s little tactics. Usually, they would hide their previous acquaintance, but now... "The ones in the city have made contact with you, right?" "It seems you already know..." said a young man leaning against the doorframe next to Gilder, his tone somewhat helpless, "You know the conditions the folks in the city have, their lives are good now. We all have talents, and if we go over there, we can get the same treatment as them, which is surely better than here..." "No!" Gilder interrupted vehemently. Of course, he didn''t begrudge his former companions a better life; it was just that if these few people defected to the city now, how would they explain their absence? If it got traced back to the adult, wouldn''t that cause trouble for him? It wouldn''t stand up to investigation. "Boss, we''re not ungrateful. You saved me, protected me from those people, and it was you who led me out of that hellish place and kept me alive. Of course, the adult is also our lifesaver; we could never forget that. But... you can''t use that to bind us for life." "..." Gilder pressed his lips tightly together in a weak rebuttal, "The home you build with your own hands is always more reassuring than someone else''s garden..." "But we can see the garden, home... it''s too exhausting." The young man sighed softly, "We can keep helping you, but you need to give us a deadline, okay?" Chapter 415 366 Mech Pilot Selection Too many things had happened over the night, by the time Bai E returned to camp, it was already three o''clock in the morning. Inside the tent, the sound of breathing was peaceful, yet as Bai E fumbled with his clothes, a pair of bright eyes suddenly popped out from behind. Rose''s voice, slightly hoarse, sounded somewhat furtive, "You went out to have fun for so long again? Can you take me with you next time?" Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire Bai E knew she hadn''t slept, and now, unperturbed, he glanced over his shoulder, "You don''t have a Leave Camp Certificate..." The regulations of the military camp itself were still an insurmountable mountain for them. "That''s true..." "Looks like I need to figure out a way to get one too..." After a whisper of self-mumbling, Rose conscientiously reminded him, "Pay attention starting tomorrow, the assessment is coming up." Assessment? Mech Pilot? Indeed, nearly half a month had already flashed by, and the deadline for the official Mech Pilot selection that was previously mentioned was fast approaching. But... "What''s there to pay attention to, isn''t it just normal training?" "I heard that people from the Mechanical Court will come to observe secretly, starting from tomorrow we shouldn''t mess around, alright?" During ordinary training sessions, both of them occasionally tried to do their own thing, mainly acting independently of each other. As a result, their scores on the simulator were not very impressive. But with the formal assessment drawing near, to continue playing around was definitely a recipe for self-destruction. "Got it." Bai E nodded his head, without the slightest doubt about the source of the news. Rose was enthusiastic and cheerful by nature, and even though her artificial origins naturally came with an unfavorable filter when interacting with those natural-born Mech Pilot candidates, as time passed, she could easily blend into any group. In Mechanic Camp, many pieces of news that Bai E didn''t know, she could find out. After changing into more comfortable shorts and a tank top for sleeping, Bai E pushed Rose''s head and sent her back to sleep, "Sleep early, we''ll get a Leave Camp Certificate for you when we have the chance." "Got it!" ... Early next morning, everyone in Mechanic Camp assembled with visible tension and excitement on their faces. Their eyes roamed, trying to spot the VIP from the Mechanical Court. Of course, the Mechanical Court was not part of the military camp; it was a small elite division similar to an Arbitration Place, directly governed by the City Senate. But in terms of personal advancement, it was the next step for those in the armored camp. The level of metallic creations they had represented the pinnacle of Blackwater City''s current technology. As for the people there... they were all formidable figures, even without their mechanical exteriors, this still held true. For the natural-born individuals in the armored camp, the Mechanical Court was also an excellent direction for development. Obviously, the current inquisitiveness of everyone was fruitless. There was no unusual figure in sight, and since it had been said the observation would be secret, they wouldn''t let these Mech Pilot candidates find out easily. In the anxious wait, the instructor finally arrived before everyone. "I have some good news for everyone..." The instructor, with his hands behind his back, slowly swept his eyes over the expectant faces of all the warriors. In fact, the news about someone from the Mechanical Court conducting a secret assessment was a hint he had discretely released to remind these youngsters, fearful they would mess up the important event with their cavalier attitudes. Although structurally, the Mechanical Court was not a higher authority of the military camp and had no direct subordination relationship with it. But for the armored camp within the military... especially for Mechanic Camp, the Mechanical Court was absolutely the superior path for promotion and advancement. Moreover, selections made by outside inspections typically carried more authoritative and fair outcomes, and the big bosses above were more willing to trust their opinions. Therefore, for the official selection of Mech Pilots, their judgment often played a decisive role. The key was to seize the opportunity! "Starting today, you will officially have access to our Titan-class armored mechas, and... your performance today will determine whether you can become a real Mech Pilot." Previously, the threats made during training were merely verbal. In reality, as long as one didn''t perform too poorly, chances of being dismissed from Mechanic Camp during simulator training were slim. The simulator was to lay the foundation for everyone. The real performance mattered when it came to actual Mecha operation. If it weren''t for the loss of most of the Titan-class armored mechas in the armored camp during the last sortie against the Bug Race, and the fact that the Armament Department was urgently manufacturing replacements, they should have been exposed to the actual mechas even earlier. Hearing that today was the day for results, the expressions of the long-time training Mech Pilot candidates suddenly became tense. Fearing that the anxiety would cause these kids under his charge to underperform, the instructor hesitated for a moment, but still spoke reassuringly, "Of course, you don''t need to be too nervous, today''s results don''t define your future. Even if you don''t become an official pilot today, as long as your future training scores are excellent, you can still become an official Mech Pilot." The allocation of Pilots in the armored camp was not a fixed number with an elimination system; a benchmark was set, and as long as one could meet the requirements, one could become an official Mech Pilot. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But time waits for no one... Bai E glanced at his mission countdown ¡ª 15 hours 57 minutes 48 seconds. The final day was upon him... The mission that had been triggered during his first arrival at Mechanic Camp ¡ª the time limit for the official Mech Pilot task ¡ª had only this one day left. Chapter 416 366 Mech Pilot Selection_2 Other people might have the luxury of striving slowly in the days to come, but he had to secure his qualification as a regular Mech Pilot today. Only then could he obtain the rewards provided by the mission¡ªthe Mecha Transformation Plan 2.0. All current mechas are generally classified as first-generation mechs, even the more formidable and specialized ones employed by the Mechanical Court. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The truly revolutionary second-generation mechs are those that require a direct transformation in control mode. Bai E didn''t know how long it would take the world''s own research and development capabilities to achieve this qualitative leap, but anything was always more reliable when in one''s own hands. This Transformation Plan 2.0, he must get his hands on it! Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire "Now, go and truly touch the exclusive weaponry that belongs to you!" The immense mechas towered not far behind the crowd, which was why those behemoth-seeing warriors were excited and restless from the start. No matter how realistic the driving experience in a simulation mech might be, it couldn''t beat the excitement of actually handling the real thing. The main body of the mecha was painted in blue and white, standing tall under the sun, glittering and dazzling. Each mecha had a number written below it, and there was no scramble for mechs since they had been preassigned. In fact, all the mechas had identical structures and appearances. As standardized weaponry supplied to the military, they were nothing like the customized mechs used by the people of the Mechanical Court. Following the previously trained safety protocols and rules, they secured their safety ropes and climbed quickly up the iron ladder at the back of the mecha, Bai E and Rose using both hands and feet. The cockpit of the mecha was located in the chest area, high off the ground; a less physically gifted warrior might have fallen and possibly died on the spot if they slipped during the climb. It wasn''t easy to train a Mech Pilot, and these safety protocols were also part of the assessment. Even Bai E, who was confident of surviving a fall, wouldn''t try to be innovative in such a situation. "Click~" "Click~" "Buzz~" As the cockpit door sealed shut, the sounds of various mechanical structures moving within could be clearly heard by both of them. What followed was a sense of robust power that struck them head-on, leaving the cabin so quiet that they could hear their own frantic heartbeats. Their eyes swept over the surroundings, familiar yet strange, and an inadvertent glance between Bai E and Rose revealed nothing but sheer excitement in their eyes. This is a mecha! [Discovery of a new "mechanical structure," would you like to establish a link? (From: Mechanical Rhythm)] This is my mecha! Even if "mech spirit" is elusive to most, the armored battalion believes in it. Every pair of Mech Pilots used their mecha for both regular training and actual combat, and unless due to a manufacturing defect requiring a complete overhaul, the mecha would not be replaced during the service period. In other words, what they had now... would also be with Bai E for his entire career in the armored battalion. So naturally... [Initiating link establishment!] Establishing a link required continuous contact for at least 48 hours, but before that, the two abilities extracted from the intelligent machinery still faithfully played their basic effects. "Buzz~" The electrifying sound activated the silent giant, and limitless vitality seemed to spread inch by inch through the massive steel body. The resonance granted by "Mechanical Mind" made Bai E feel as if his consciousness flowed through the entire mecha in that instant. The instructor''s voice, accompanied by a buzzing sound, came from the cockpit speaker, "All units, proceed to the designated target location, time limit: 5 minutes." As the voice sounded, from the perspective of the cockpit, they could see an off-road vehicle, kicking up two trails of dust, heading away from the military camp. The instructor was sitting in the car. And the assessment, too, began now. Of course, practical training with such enormous mechas couldn''t take place within the confines of the military camp; only the uninhabited wilderness was spacious enough for these massive giants to run amok without restraint. "Received!" "Received!" There was no sound, only electronic key presses confirming receipt of the command. On the electronic display visible to both drivers, the instructed destination appeared. "Prepare to move forward." "Received." It was their first interaction with the actual control of a mecha, and with Bai E and Rose''s understanding, they conducted a standard exchange. "Standard advance three gears." "Following." "Prepare to leap." "Following." Small mounds that they passed by were easily overcome with the mecha''s large strides. The standard formation when standing still was broken the moment they started. Of course, that didn''t matter. Mechas, these massive and extremely difficult to manipulate weapons of war, were never expected to act in concert; each mecha was a ferocious beast on the battlefield, a single one... able to form an army. Only, the performance of some pilots¡­ was exceptionally eye-catching. Some could flip over with one foot stepping on the other, while others simply tripped and fell. Perhaps it was too exciting for those first touching a real mecha, pilots who were seamlessly coordinated on normal days now fumbled dramatically, and the mecha fell flat on its face. The ground shook, startling the other soldiers in the training armored camp. Fortunately, there were no critical supplies in the direction of the fall, and the space reserved between the mechas was large enough to avoid additional collateral damage. The instructor, watching through the unmanned drone''s surveillance monitor, blushed slightly and gently covered their eyes, only to feel a strong low pressure enveloping the entire carriage the next moment. "My... My lord," the instructor said, turning toward the towering figure sitting opposite, who also looked up at the surveillance screen. The man''s half-dark, half-steel-gray face was ice-cold, which was chilling. Even as an instructor, their voice became hesitant. "Their usual training performance isn''t like this. It may just be that they''re too excited and nervous on their first contact with the mecha today¡­" The instructor squeezed out a smile, trying to salvage some impression points for the cadets they had trained. "...Hmm." After a long silence, a response devoid of emotion came from the man draped in a dark coat, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Swiveling steel-gray eyes searched the screen, finally locking onto the code displayed on the paint of the overturned mecha''s ankle¡ªW0713. The instructor carefully observed the man''s facial expression, but unable to discern much, simply offered a resigned smile, not daring to explain further. ... "Bang!" "Bang!" Each step from the mecha''s massive body caused the earth to tremble, and the actual sensation was precisely conveyed to Bai E through the hard connection of the cockpit. Although the simulator also provided similar feedback, the overall feeling always fell short. Not to mention, with his mechanical body and mechanical mind, he had never felt as familiar with the controls in his hands as he did at that moment. The same level of Mechanical Rhythm, enhanced by two major mechanical system abilities updated upon his return, made a significant improvement in touch sensitivity for operating. Even a simple run seemed to have a sense of smooth breathing, as if human. And when he noticed the other mechas also advancing not far away, a particular feeling arose as if¡­ as if their movements were inexplicably stiff. "What are you looking at?" Rose inquired curiously, noticing Bai E''s gaze. "Nothing," Bai E withdrew his gaze, looking toward the location designated by the instructor. That off-road vehicle was already waiting at the finish line. An impassive emissary from the Mechanical Court coldly timed the event, and the moment the countdown ended, they mercilessly issued the order, "Those who didn''t make it, eliminated." Chapter 417 367 Initiative ``` The instructor''s mouth moved, but in the end, he did not say any words of pleading. Today''s selection was not only for the official mech pilots but also an opportunity for their Mechanical Court to spot promising candidates. Even if one missed the chance to qualify as a regular mech pilot today, there would be other opportunities, but the talents required by the Mechanical Court were only available today. Having embarked on the path of physical reformation, the people of the Mechanical Court always pursued absolute perfectionism. A warrior who did not perform impressively at the first meeting would have no chance of reversing their fortune later on. Warriors who did not reach the designated endpoint within the specified time had already been eliminated in the heart of the representative from the Mechanical Court, and pleading was thus futile. Moreover... The instructor''s gaze swept over those massive mechs that had successfully reached the destination and easily calculated the number of those eliminated¡ªthree. Not too many. ''It''s your fault for not practicing properly in the usual days!'' Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire The instructor cursed inwardly while pulling up the microphone in the off-road vehicle and shouted towards one of them... A calm voice issued from the speakers of every mech, "Those who have not reached the endpoint are eliminated!" All the warriors who heard the instructor''s command felt their hearts skip a beat, and the palms grasping the mechanical levers began to sweat slightly. The warriors were unaware of the instructor''s thoughts; they gave their all in the selection, treating it as the most critical turning point in their lives. The attention from the representative of the Mechanical Court and the far stricter rules than any previous training tensed the string in their hearts suddenly. The instructor''s instructions continuously broadcast through the loudspeaker, "Next, line up in order and complete the designated stage content." The destination they reached was not an empty field but rather numerous facilities that resembled an enlarged version of a warrior training ground laid out across a vast wilderness, albeit the content appeared significantly simpler from a distance. And since they were designed for training mechs, these large targets, the number of facilities that could be built was naturally limited, allowing only one mech to pass through at a time. As the command was issued by the superior, a complete set of mech maneuver animations began to display on all the warriors'' screens. Clearly, that was the so-called standard for action performance. "You must proceed in order, with a deviation of no more than 10%, within a time limit of 10 minutes. Those who fail to meet the requirements are eliminated," said the instructor, his voice colder and less personable than usual, resonating from the speakers. The pair of warriors ranking first stared at their screens, trying to engrave the standard maneuvers deeply into their minds. "Are you all ready?" "Ready!" "Ready!" The response was silent, with only the confirmation of electronic keys serving as the sole acknowledgement. Watching the response lights excluding the three eliminated mechs turn green in front of him, the instructor sighed softly, silently wishing the trainees luck in his heart, ''Make the most of it, kids.'' "Begin!" As the command was given, the leading mech surged forward. Walking, jogging, zig-zagging, small jumps, large leaps, sidestepping, swan returns... a series of professional tactical maneuvers ranging from easy to difficult were displayed in order through the fixed installations on the field. There were no actions beyond what they had been taught; it was all content they practiced regularly, only now they were to execute it in a fluent sequence. The sole purpose behind all these maneuvers was to make the mechs appear as agile as a human body. As the first mech to undergo selection, the veteran mech pilot from the previous reserve was naturally burdened with everyone''s expectations. Their demonstration would also provide a reference of significant value for all subsequent mech pilot groups. Everyone watched the first group with bated breath, including Rose. However, her gaze occasionally drifted to Bai E''s profile close by, wondering why, since they had started their journey, she had felt that Bai E was a bit off today. Was it because they hadn''t trained together in mechs for so long? Or was it due to the first real contact with a mech? But it wasn''t the kind of estrangement that made cooperation impossible; rather, it was an indescribable strangeness... "You seem... a bit strange today," Rose decided to ask. Her straightforward character dictated that she would speak her mind without hiding anything. Bai E''s eyes blinked out of a slightly dazed state and then came back to reality. Perhaps it was an illusion, but he felt as if the mech itself was communicating with him. The mechanical transmissions, the surging electricity through the cables... they felt as familiar as his own bones, his own blood, greeting him intimately. This unprecedented immersive experience fascinated Bai E so much that he seemed indifferent to everything happening around him until Rose''s call snapped him back to attention. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s nothing..." Bai E shook his head. "Oh~" Rose glanced at Bai E with a strange look in her eyes, but said no more, instead turning to watch the first group of mech pilots who were setting a standard for the rest, "I think they are running out of time..." Time had already elapsed significantly, and it seemed less than half of the required movement routine had been performed. The standards of the selection weren''t particularly difficult since they involved skills everyone learned in regular training; yet with the added constraints of time and varying movement benchmarks, it introduced adequate pressure. ``` Chapter 418 367 Initiative_2 ``` Thinking about speeding up, his movements easy to be executed improperly and thus deformed. Each action had to be carried out in an orderly manner, which obviously left not enough time. The first mecha had no prior experience to draw from, and now found itself in this predicament. In the beginning, they wasted too much time on executing each move in a steady, standard fashion, and even though the completion rate of their current actions was above 95%, there wasn''t much time left. "Not enough..." Bai E didn''t look closely, but even with just a two or three-second glance, some kind of familiar intuition instantly deemed the first group of mech pilots to have received a "death sentence". "Do you see any tricks?" Rose asked somewhat excitedly. She liked challenges. The failure of teammates only intrigued her more. "Rhythm." The designated time was not particularly tight, and the military standards for soldiers who were only required to operate mechas to achieve some basic tactical objectives on the battlefield were not difficult. What mattered was the rhythm. Don''t be in a hurry; don''t be scared; just do it methodically...that was all that was supposed to be done, plain and simple. Simple? Bai E himself was surprised by the confidence that seemed to come out of nowhere in his mind, but that was the intuition his brain gave based on all the information at hand. Overflowing with confidence, even to the point of exploding. Perhaps, this selection process was not just about qualifying for the military''s official mech pilot roster or performing in front of the emissaries from the Mechanical Court. It was more...to induce the birth of a "mech spirit". Who knows if there was any difference in quality or strength in this thing, but a better performance presumably was always good, right? Even the subconscious that could connect to that intangible will let Bai E faintly sense¡ªthe quality of a performance wasn''t just about the technical aspect, it also involved personality and stylistic elements in conduct. Confidence... strength... full of leadership... These elements seemed they could benefit that yet unawakened "mech spirit". A boundless impulse surged in Bai E''s heart, and under that seemingly swelling confidence, he suddenly pressed an electronic button at his side. "What are you trying to do?" Rose''s eyes widened instantaneously, wondering what the somewhat odd-looking Bai E was planning to do today. The button was like a raised hand to speak switch; in such a context, what could raising one''s hand to speak possibly entail? I quit? I want to increase the difficulty? "Speak," came the instructor''s dispassionate voice from the speaker. "I request to go second in the obstacle challenge." "..." The instructor, sitting in the SUV, squinted his eyes, looking at the number indicated by the flickering yellow light under the sign¡ªW0721. That seemed to be...the mecha number for those two artificial human pilots. Was it Bai E? What kind of shenanigan was this kid up to now? Even if they didn''t know initially, by now, with the example set by the first group of pilots, these kids should understand the later they go, the more they can learn from the "predecessors''" experiences. Their order had been arranged with this thought in mind, placing the older reserve mech pilots at the forefront and those with less training later, striving to give everyone an almost equal chance of selection. And now... why would someone want to push to the front? Incomprehensible. But even so, this kind of voluntary request to increase difficulty is something any military person would like to see. Being proactive is the attitude a soldier should have. Especially when he caught a glimpse of the expression on the face of the silent Mechanical Court official beside him who, upon hearing this request, curled the corner of his mouth ever so slightly. The instructor felt he sort of guessed what Bai E''s intent was¡ª To attract the attention of the Mechanical Court official. The Court''s officials also favored such forthright demonstrations of ambition, but the premise was...having the actual ability. So he responded softly with a cool voice, "Granted." The brief communication ended, and all the soldiers who heard this conversation subconsciously looked towards the mecha originally lined up towards the back of the group. Upon receiving the instructor''s order, Bai E and Rose controlled their mecha to move forward, to the very front of the line. "Boom! Boom!" Come to a halt. ``` Even as she coordinated with Bai E on the movements, Rose was now filled with question marks. She didn''t fear challenges, but she felt that today''s Bai E was just too weird¡­ "What exactly are you trying to do?" As time passed and they executed more actions with the mecha, the initial sense of indulgent confusion had long since disappeared. Bai E''s lips were curled into a confident and casual smile as he looked ahead and replied, "Very simple¡­ to set an example for them." "We''ll execute perfectly once, and those behind us should be able to learn something, right?" Confidence overflowed. The smile on his lips was particularly captivating, making Rose''s eyes blur for a moment, before she violently shook her head to force herself back to reality, "Fine¡­ since you''ve decided, I''ll follow your lead." Although she wasn''t afraid of challenges, it didn''t mean she felt overly confident the first time she came in contact with a mecha. But since it was Bai E''s decision¡­ whatever it was, she would follow along. "Anyway, just make sure to keep up with my rhythm later." While experiencing that sense of communication and interaction, it seemed as if the mecha she controlled was also giving some kind of¡­ evaluation? of the mech pilot''s maneuvers. To Bai E''s performance it remained noncommittal, but to Rose, also operating the machine, that concept-less, language-less "evaluation" started to become less polite. It could probably be summed up in two words¡ªutterly unskilled. "Oh~" the evident disdain instantly made Rose''s blood boil. Looking down on me, are you? With a sidelong glance at Bai E, Rose gave a teasing flick of her eyes. "Second group, get ready¡­" The instructor''s voice pulled back the scattered thoughts. "Begin!" At the command, the mecha''s body instantly activated. People from the Mechanical Court, who had been sitting quietly in their seats, had, at some unknown point, straightened up with keen interest to watch the overall picture captured by the drones on the display screen. The mecha transitioned from stillness to motion, seamlessly. Walking, jogging, Z-shaped running back, small jump, big jump, side-step, swallow turn¡­ The mecha sped along a predetermined track across the unmanned wasteland, with the slightly trembling ground being the only backdrop at the moment. A series of standard technical maneuvers were executed in succession. Not too fast, nor too slow. It all looked as orderly and methodical as the first group, step by step. But in the occasional moment of distraction, everything flowed as smoothly as a stream of water. Nothing special, just simply¡­ smooth. Smooth¡­ So smooth that by the next moment of distraction, the blue and white painted mecha had already been standing at the finish line, the exact time of its arrival unknown. And in the minds of everyone present, the technical maneuvers executed before were still replaying in their heads. Even Rose, who had been coordinating with Bai E from the start, was still staring at her own hands in her cockpit, seemingly dazed and lost in thought. Strange¡­ Too strange¡­ No wonder Bai E said to keep up with his rhythm; today''s movements¡­ executed with unbelievable smoothness, as if they didn''t require any thought at all. At certain key moments, Rose even felt that even though she hadn''t issued any coordinating commands, the mechanical levers she controlled in her hands seemed to gain their own intelligence and began moving on their own. Often it was unclear whether she was controlling the mecha, or the mecha was leading her. Naturally¡­ It was like¡­ like it was a real human body. Any movement made was just an unthinking instinct. "Crash!" The side door of the off-road vehicle flung open suddenly, and a burly man leaped out from the vehicle. His gaze crossed the distance to rest on the silent mecha at the finish line. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 419 368 Advanced Driving The instructor poked his head out from behind the car door, following the visitor from the Mechanical Court, and tentatively asked, "What do you think..." Normally, such performance would have doubtlessly indicated a passing grade in the official Mech Pilot examination. Training can only bestow Mech Pilots with the ability to execute basic tactical maneuvers proficiently; the truly powerful Mech Pilots have always needed to be tempered on the battlefield. The selection for official Mech Pilots is but the most fundamental of assessments. However, today, with the dignitary from the Mechanical Court present, there may well be additional considerations. "Where is your control computer?" the visitor from the Mechanical Court extended his hand backward. The instructor obediently handed over his tablet, "Here." As a pair of iron-gray metal palms gently grasped the tablet, invisible data transferred instantaneously in some form of wireless communication, "Let the others continue their evaluation." "Yes, sir!" The instructor turned and went into the carriage, conveying the visitor''s instructions to each group of Mech Pilots awaiting their assessment. As he turned around, he found his tablet thrust suddenly before his eyes. "Transfer that tutorial video to him." The "him" in question was naturally Group W0721, which had completed a full set of technical moves perfectly during their assessment. "Yes, sir." "Have him practice diligently. After everyone else has finished their evaluations, I want to see his performance." "Yes, sir!" The instructor''s voice was elated. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was a sign that the dignitary from the Mechanical Court had taken an interest! As long as one could meet these demands, the path to joining the Mechanical Court was virtually guaranteed. Switching the vocal channel to specifically target Group W0721, the instructor said with a trace of excitement, "Later, I will send you a video. Watch it closely, learn it well, and after everyone has finished their assessments, it will be your turn to perform alone... Seize the opportunity." The dignitary from the Mechanical Court was right behind them, so his words couldn''t be made too explicit. Bai E replied steadily, "Received, instructor." Click to send... With the revival of internet technology, the once limited data transmission efficiency of local area networks is being progressively phased out. Ordinarily, transferring something like a video would start at an hour, but with today''s technological innovations... In just a minute or two, the video on the tablet had been delivered to the display screens visible within the Mecha. The instructor wasn''t idle during the transmission process. ''Let me see what the standard of execution is for them at the Mechanical Court.'' The instructor had always known that the Mechanical Court would select individuals from the armored corps, but earlier, he wasn''t an instructor. By the time he became one, none of his trainees had caught the eye of the Mechanical Court, and he was curious about their required standards. Thanks to the good fortune of his trainees, he could finally get a glimpse of just how strong an operative from the Mechanical Court really was. The video opened to a beautifully sleek sky-blue Mecha, startling the instructor to the point of nearly throwing the tablet away. Fast! Fierce! Ruthless! These were the many first impressions that raced through the instructor''s mind upon seeing the video. The video was split into two perspectives: one showcasing the Mecha''s external performance, the other the Mech Pilot''s actual operation within. Observing the external performance of the Mecha alone, one could see its decisive, fierce nature, with its multitude of intricate built-in drives moving fluidly, surpassing even the physical performance of ordinary humans and entirely lacking the stiff mechanical feel of standard-issue Mech Pilots from the military barracks. If one were to focus on the pilot''s actual handling inside, the numerous corrective actions would make one''s scalp tingle; even two well-coordinated Mech Pilots still required countless synchronized command outputs. It was precisely those seemingly complex commands that allowed each part of the Mecha''s body to work in perfect synchrony, showcasing an astonishing fluidity. If ordinary Mech Pilot training simply required learning to walk and jump properly, then the Mechanical Court''s expectation was to make the Mecha appear as nimble as the human body, or even surpass the limitations of flesh, in pursuit of unrestrained freedom of movement. Was this the Mechanical Court''s basic demand of its internal members? Strong! Incredibly strong! However, the instructor soon began to worry for the cyborg Mech Pilot duo that received the video. If he himself couldn''t perform those top-level maneuvers, how could they grasp them with just a brief period of trial and training? Or perhaps what the dignitary from the Mechanical Court wanted to see was the degree of improvement, not expecting them to master it completely in a short time. That would be a little too terrifying... "So... so difficult." Rose, having watched the video from start to finish, felt her eyes sting. It was no longer a question of whether they could achieve the maneuvers, but even keeping up with every action demonstrated by the pilot in the video seemed a simple task. Each action demonstrated had a purposeful aim; after watching with the goal of learning, she couldn''t even comprehend the meaning behind many of the operations. "Remembered it all?" Bai E''s voice came through. "Huh?" Bai E saw the blank expression on Rose''s face and found his answer, "It seems you didn''t remember... We''ll just watch it in slow motion a few more times." "Yeah." Rose responded instinctively, her mind focused on understanding and memorizing the operations, her brain considerably slower to react to anything else. Chapter 420 368 Advanced Driving_2 It wasn''t until the video had been playing at half speed for over half a minute that the logic behind Bai E''s question dawned on me¡ª Could he have already memorized it? Turning my head to look at Bai E''s profile, I found him with his eyes closed, seemingly resting... Resting with his eyes closed?! The overwhelming flood of information had indeed exerted some pressure on Bai E''s brain, and he evidently needed some time to recover. It was similar to the first time he came into contact with Mecha operation, when he learned the basic principles of operating a Mecha from an instructor; even after watching the video once, Bai E might not have fully remembered the significance behind every move in the demonstration or been able to replicate them perfectly. However, the formidable power of the system had already forcibly dissected everything; as long as Bai E was willing to pay with experience, nothing would be a problem. "You are learning ''Knowledge¡ªSpecialized Vehicles (Armed Mecha) Advanced Driving,'' progress 100%." "Learning progress for ''Knowledge¡ªSpecialized Vehicles (Armed Mecha) Advanced Driving'' has met the requirements, ''Knowledge Point¡ªMecha Manipulation Advanced Actions'' has been unlocked under knowledge." "Unlocking cost: General Experience *3000. The prerequisite ''Knowledge Point¡ªMecha Manipulation Basic Actions'' has already been obtained, the current knowledge point can be unlocked." The basic actions mastered initially indicated that they were prerequisites for unlocking advanced actions; it was only now, with this unexpected tutorial video, that Bai E had gained the channel to learn. 3000 points of General Experience? Wasn''t the experience I had painstakingly accumulated meant for critical moments like this? "Payment: 3000 points of General Experience." "Knowledge Point¡ªMecha Manipulation Advanced Actions acquired." "Mecha Manipulation Advanced Actions: From now on, you can control any mechanical operation-style Mecha to perform any action with ''unlimited'' complexity." True unrestricted control! A torrent of ultimate moves flooded into my mind, crashing against Bai E''s thoughts like waves. Imagination is humanity''s greatest treasure. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, one''s imagination is ultimately limited; no matter how talented Bai E might be, he could not create something out of nothing. The value of experiences and efforts, accumulated over time by others, lies here: learning and inheritance... it allows successors to avoid many detours. Under the inspiration of newfound knowledge, Bai E finally realized the source of those occasional feelings of blockage he had felt in his training before. Mechanical Rhythm could transform the various combat or Mecha combat skills, or rather the philosophies he mastered, into abilities displayed by the Mecha. However, without the operational foundations required for those actions, any combat or Mecha combat philosophies were as ephemeral as castles in the air. No wonder, even though my Mechanical Rhythm expertise had already reached level 4, it didn''t feel as though there was much difference from when it was at level 1. Now, with the familiarity and understanding of countless more intricate operations, those philosophies transformed into Mecha actions were truly starting to cover Bai E''s impulses in the form of instincts. My palm rested casually on the mechanical levers beside me, as countless possible Mecha actions that flashed through my mind became a series of definitive operational movements, eager to be executed. Unfortunately, with Bai E''s current skill level, multitasking to complete the basic Mech Pilot assessment actions was manageable, but to directly execute the advanced actions he had just been exposed to was beyond his ability to perform simultaneously as if he were two people. In the end, he would have to wait for Rose''s understanding; in this aspect, he could not help. Only when the sour feeling in his brain had somewhat eased did Bai E open his eyes to look at Rose beside him, only to find her staring intently at the slow-motion video, completely engrossed and unwavering in her focus. Realizing the "gap" between herself and Bai E, she became even more dedicated. As time ticked away by the second, the Mech Pilots undergoing the test also completed their assessments, one after another. The first group of Mech Pilots didn''t succeed, attributed by everyone to an unfamiliarity with the rhythm, wasting too much time in the first half of the test. As long as the time was managed properly, everyone felt they could do it. The second group of Mech Pilots, particularly the Synthetic Human outliers, confirmed this belief by completing the assessment, making the elite natural humans believe there was no reason they couldn''t do the same. And so... The third group, failed. The fourth group, failed. The fifth group, failed. It wasn''t until the seventh group that there finally appeared a pair of Mech Pilots, apart from the Synthetic Humans, who successfully passed the assessment. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire But without any additional twists, the dignitaries of the Mechanical Court even lacked the interest to take a second glance. The Mech Pilot group that just barely scraped by might owe their success more to luck than skill; their performance was barely passable and far from impressive. The instructor knew this as well, so he just made a simple record, without showing much reaction. Besides paying attention to the performance of his rookies during the assessment, much of his attention wandered between the dignitary from the Mechanical Court beside him and that special mecha. What was special was not the mecha, but the number of the mecha... the mech pilot team it represented. They had been quiet for quite some time. Indeed... watching those standard operations gave him a shudder, and the thought of their complexity made the prospect of mastering them seem utterly bewildering, let alone in a short period. It really wasn''t something ordinary people could manage. He only hoped they might manage to grasp just the skin and hair of it, showing a little progress, which probably would be the best outcome one could expect. "Buzz~" A gesture of raising a hand suddenly flashed in his peripheral vision just as he shifted his gaze away, and the lone mecha standing far away from the main troop began to stir. This discovery made the instructor instantly forget the youngsters who were truly undergoing the regular assessment, and he abruptly turned his attention to the mecha numbered W0721. Like a human warming up before intense activity, the mecha also began to execute small movements and variations on the spot. Was it finally time to attempt it? The instructor, full of anticipation, noticed that the ever-silent visitor from the Mechanical Court beside him had straightened up without a sound, showing a hint of expectancy in his eyes. Waste... mediocrity... He had been watching the mech pilot teams who were undertaking the regular assessments. Yet, until now, more than ten units had passed without any performing as impressively as the second team had. Therefore, his expectations for the performance of this second team had grown even more. The standards he had set for them were actually not the Mechanical Court''s basic requirements for every mech pilot joining their ranks but merely a direction towards which everyone should strive. Being able to reach the level shown in the videos would make one an absolute ace even within the Mechanical Court. As the instructor had guessed, what he wanted to see was simply "progress." The degree of progress, signified the innate talent for comprehension. Even a little bit marked one as extraordinary, set apart from ordinary mediocrity. This was all he sought. And now... "Buzz~" The noise of the mecha''s operation was not loud, sounding even more subtle amidst the noise from other mechas undergoing the regular assessment. At this moment, the sudden action of the mecha which had shone earlier and had clearly been given a special order by the instructor to move aside caught the attention of everyone present. "They''re moving..." "I wonder if they''ve caught the attention of the Mechanical Court dignitary... They''re really lucky." "We also completed the assessment successfully, so why didn''t the instructor call us?" "... what do you think?" ... "Are you ready?" Bai E stared at Rose, asking with concern. After taking a deep breath, Rose''s rather imposing chest rose and fell, then she nodded firmly, "Let''s try." "I''ll fight, you lead. Just starting to try, don''t rush." In advanced operations where the volume of command output surged, the main mech pilot had to assume some of the responsibilities of the battle pilot, which was the case in the video. But within teams of mech pilots that needed perfect synchronization, it was always the shortest stave of the barrel that affected the overall performance. Considering Rose was just getting acquainted and had limited abilities, Bai E decided to take on more of the burden. "If there''s no problem, let''s begin... get ready." "3..." "2..." "1..." "Go!" Chapter 421 Invitation from the 369 Mechanical Court Aerial flying kick, inverted golden hook, twisting body sweep, low crouch sweep, quick draw, double swallow return... Countless actions, completely different from basic training, each one of high difficulty, displayed one by one. The transitions between each set of movements were not smooth, and there were quite a few stumbles within individual actions. It was like an old videotape''s stuttering playback, with many minor inconsistencies in the machine''s performance, so the overall effect was not very good, even comical in places. But no matter what, each movement was at least completed in its entirety, even if the execution was rather rough. In basic training, only the swallow return could be considered a bit more difficult, but placed among these advanced maneuvers, it was just the most basic of basics. Unable to see the internal operations, the instructors could only watch the external performance nervously, cautiously glancing at the expression of the lord from the Mechanical Court beside them. They did not know what such a performance meant in the eyes of the other party, whether it had reached the standard set in their mind. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire Not until a hint of a smile rose on that iron-grey face did the instructor''s heart surge with exhilaration. Success! This was the first special expression he had seen on the face of the person from the Mechanical Court. "My lord?" "Well done," Haus nodded with satisfaction, "Bring them to see me." Only he understood the true difficulty and value behind each barely completed maneuver, which represented a burst of high-intensity command output in a split second. A few mistakes in sequence did not affect the completion of the overall action, which was already a huge surprise. As for the transitions between each movement not being as smooth as a video... if they could do that on the first try, Haus would have thought he''d seen a ghost. He certainly did not expect a pair of new Mech Pilots, first-timers to this advanced technology, to complete an operation that would be a remarkable feat even within his Mechanical Court. Furthermore, learning or familiarizing themselves with these advanced maneuvers was merely one threshold to becoming a high-level Mech Pilot. Choosing the right response at the right time, and being able to execute a complete set of slight variations in moves smoothly, was what a true pair of ace Mech Pilots had to achieve. Simply learning the movements was far from enough. But that was not important. Training could never produce aces; only actual combat could forge true elites. They, having proven their potential, certainly had enough time to slowly make their way to that step. This time, the military camp''s regular Mech Pilot assessment had finally yielded a pair of decent prospects! It was worth the trip! Moreover, they had yet to complete the biggest hardware upgrade... Looking at the pair in front of him, a handsome man and a beautiful woman with extraordinary appearances and fine physiques, Haus was even more satisfied. To live is to pursue perfection, for only perfection can save this world. Those with excellent appearances and physiques are expected to be outstanding even at the genetic level. "First of all, congratulations to you for joining the reserve team of our Mechanical Court," Haus stated plainly, without beating around the bush. For any organization, exceptional talent is highly valued. "Ah?" Bai E and Rose looked at each other in confusion, the information they had received not enough for them to make such a leap in their expectations. The idea of tying their fate directly to the Mechanical Court filled them with bafflement. The instructor had mentioned that someone from the Mechanical Court was coming for an inspection today, but he didn''t say they would be recruiting on the spot, did he? Was this really so hasty? The actions just now weren''t performed well... Rose muttered to herself, particularly concerned about her performance just now. While Bai E took on much of the operational pressure, she still made quite a few minor mistakes, which irritated her. If she could try a few more times! With a few more attempts, her performance would certainly improve! And wasn''t there still some time left before other Mech Pilots completed their basic training assessments? Why call them over in advance? Before Bai E and Rose could recover from the sudden news, the waiting instructor beside them was already beaming with joy, prompting, "Aren''t you going to thank the lord?" Lord Haus hadn''t mentioned anything to him in advance either, so this direct announcement was also a huge surprise to him. Having a pair of trainee Mech Pilots he mentored being eyed by the Mechanical Court, wouldn''t his military honors and evaluations soar? The instructors, with no opportunity to go into battle, could only strive to contribute through talent cultivation. This was a big win! Bai E certainly didn''t mind building connections with the influential figures of the city either; it was best to expand his network to every corner of the city, so when the time came to take control of at least 51% of real power, there would be more people to support him, right? It''s just... "My lord, did you just say... the reserve team?" The reserve team... the reserve team... Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Here we go again with the reserve team. He had just emerged from the military camp''s regular Mech Pilot reserve team and now he was about to enter the Mechanical Court''s reserve team. Bai E was not afraid of challenges, but the uncertainty of an unsettled future always stirred unease in one''s heart. "Don''t worry, the reserve team is just a temporary stage." To his prospective new colleagues, the normally stern Haus now wore a tranquil smile and brought up a seemingly irrelevant topic in a firm tone, "In the operations just now, I''m sure you also felt you were approaching the limits of difficulty, right?" Chapter 422 369 Mechanical Court Invitation_2 "That''s right." Rose had deeply experienced this, although she didn''t know why Bai E seemed to have directly mastered it from the start, but for her, those extremely complex operations had already touched upon her limits of ability. Human capabilities have their limits. "This is because your linkage with machinery isn''t tight enough," ? Facing the puzzled looks of the two newcomers, Haus explained with a light smile, "You''ve always been original humans..." "..." "..." "..." Seeing the strange expressions fading from the faces of the three before him, Haus slightly furrowed his brow and asked, "Did I say something wrong?" "Not at all, not at all." The instructor quickly gestured with his hands. The fact that Bai E and Rose were of artificial human origin had been ordered sealed by the higher-ups, they were to be considered original natural humans... but at this moment, hearing an outsider specially pointing this out, they still felt somewhat strange. Of course, according to the definition of original humans in Haus'' words, there was no difference between natural humans and artificial humans. The difference between the two lay only in the form of their growth: one comes into the world from a mother''s womb, growing step by step, while the other is accelerated by machines from the fertilized egg cell stage and emerges fully formed as an adolescent. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire But essentially, both belong to the biological category of humans, within the definition of original humans that Haus talked about. "..." Haus looked at the three people with their odd expressions now dissipating, and continued explaining unconcernedly, "Your thoughts, your nerves are accustomed to the control of the will of an original human body, so when it comes to fighting with machinery, there''s always a natural barrier. Only when you truly embrace machinery can you fully control it." Those top Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court who could apply advanced actions in real combat were all closely connected with their machinery through technology. Of course... a Mech Pilot who had not undergone mechanical transformation would not be truly accepted by the Mechanical Court. This might be a moot point, or perhaps... a lesson learned from the experience of long past times. But for Bai E, he was somewhat reluctant. He furrowed his brow lightly and asked in a soft voice, "Must one undergo mechanical transformation?" "Of course," Haus responded without hesitation. In his view, everyone should be celebrating and cheering upon hearing this news, the mechanical transformation that was purely beneficial without any side effects, an area completely out of reach for ordinary people, "This is a clear path to the heavens! The so-called training programs and genetic optimizations that you once took pride in are a joke in comparison. As long as you complete the full mechanical transformation, you can possess unrivaled power in an instant!" As he spoke, Haus stamped his right foot, and the cracked patterns swiftly spread out from the ground beneath his feet, a display of formidable power. He proudly showed off his power, the strong allure of a perfectly transformed mechanical body. Unfortunately, Bai E was not quite convinced. In terms of transformation, he would find a biotechnological transformation, like the one Nova underwent, more acceptable. But to completely replace his own body with mechanical parts... that was difficult to agree with. After all, it was an irreversible decision. Machinery could always be acquired, but one''s original body, once lost, was not so easily regained. Currently, Bai E indeed did not know what the ultimate development path in this world was, but transforming into a mechanical body was a path of no return. He who had infinite possibilities was not willing to have his development path prematurely fixed when his vision of the world was so limited. Even if it later proved that mechanical transformation was the ultimate path, it wouldn''t be too late to join then. Bai E considered his tone carefully, pondering how to fully express his thoughts without offending, "What if one does not undergo mechanical transformation?" He didn''t want to bluntly reject the "kindness" offered by the other party. Carrying a warlord''s mission, he wanted to foster good relations with any accessible power. Even if they couldn''t walk the same path, they could at least establish a good foundational relationship. Haus naturally interpreted the meaning in his own terms, "You''re saying the transformation failed?" He then waved his hand dismissively, "Failures in transformation are rare, only occurring in those extremely resistant to mechanical structures whose nerves are extremely sensitive to electronic components. They instinctively reject the mechanical upgrades to their bodies, leading to surgical failures, but this is precisely why we have a reserve force. If the transformation fails, they naturally can''t join the Mechanical Court." They only want perfect warriors; any imperfection is a desecration of the mechanical. "What if... one doesn''t want to undergo mechanical transformation?" Bai E swore he was as careful and cautious in his tone as possible, but it seemed he still managed to hit a nerve with the other party. Haus''s already iron-gray face lost its hint of a smile in a flash, and his whole demeanor turned as dark as a chunk of iron, with a bone-chilling coldness emanating even from between his teeth, "Are you saying you''re unwilling to undergo mechanical transformation?" Bearing his scrutinizing gaze, Bai E still admitted with hesitation, "That''s what I mean." ''Damn!'' The instructor listening by the side felt a sudden jolt of anxiety and immediately wanted to rectify the situation, "Sir, he didn''t mean it like that!" "..." Haus said nothing, just abruptly raised his palm to cut off the instructor mid-sentence. He looked at Bai E''s face for a few seconds, then turned his gaze to Rose, "How about you?" Since they were a team, both gifted Mech Pilots, it would be fine to secure one of them; the other one could always be given a partner later. For such a dashing and stunning female Mech Pilot, many in the court would no doubt be quite willing. Without hesitation, Rose glanced at Bai E, "I''m with him." "...Good. Very good." Haus nodded his head, with a tone so even that no emotion could be discerned, "I''ve never met Mech Pilots as unambitious as you." The tone was neither light nor heavy. Bai E responded with equal calmness, "How do you figure?" "The video I just showed you, do you think the execution looked easy?" Without waiting for Bai E to respond, Haus sneered and continued, "The human body has its limits. Perhaps you can gradually get used to those complex command sets through everyday training, but in real battle, you won''t have the chance to employ them, or at most, only for an instant. Without completing mechanical transformation, that''s as far as you''ll go. You might think you''re impressive now, but in ten or twenty years, that''s all you''ll still be." What talent and brilliance? What natural intelligence? In the face of real barriers, all of that is just empty talk. "But what if we could break through this limit?" Bai E pressed, eyes intently focused on the other man. This esteemed member of the Mechanical Court didn''t seem like a hot-headed person. Refusal was set, but perhaps leaving some potential to reestablish a relationship in the future wasn''t out of the question? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You can?" Haus grinned, his naturally white teeth reflecting a chilling light, "If you could execute those advanced maneuvers with your original human bodies, I''d recognize you as the boss of the Mechanical Court!" "..." Are you serious now? Bai E''s eyes sparkled, "Do you mean that?" "I mean it!" Haus''s smile curled at the corner of his mouth. The sight of promising seedlings rejecting glorious evolution particularly irked him, so his emotions were all the more manifest, "But I want to be clear with you now, today you''re refusing the kindness of the Mechanical Court. Even if you regret it later, you''ll never get another chance; we don''t accept any imperfect candidates into the perfect Mechanical Court. It''s sacrilegious." So now you''re saying this just to make us reconsider joining the Mechanical Court? That''s pretty sacrilegious... Bai E saw clearly, this was his first encounter with the Mechanical Court, yet it seemed they weren''t as rigid as they appeared. So he bowed deeply, "I regret to decline your kindness..." "Hmph!" Haus waved his hand dismissively and walked away. Chapter 423 370 Blueprint - Mecha Modification Plan 2.0 No matter how displeased the Mechano-Court seniors left, the fact that Bai E and Rose became official Mech Pilots of the Armor Regiment was set in stone. The instructor walked up with a smile, extending his hand towards Bai E and Rose to congratulate them, "Congratulations, you are now officially part of our Mecha Camp." At the same time, the Mech Pilots who were undergoing the standard selection in the distance also completed their final group demonstration. There were... six groups in total, counting Bai E and Rose. "So it''s not just about having hands, huh?" The second demonstration by Bai E and Rose seemed effortless and swift. Perhaps it gave the subsequent Mech Pilots a correct line of thinking, but it also brought disdain. Those two synthetic Mech Pilots could easily pass the assessment; these natural-born elites and masters of the world had no reason to fail. Only after trying it themselves could this prejudice possibly be shattered by reality. "It seems like everyone is not very smooth in completing it, right?" Even the five groups of Mech Pilots who also met the assessment criteria did not seem to exhibit the same level of fluidity as the synthetic Mech Pilot team during their evaluation. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire "As expected, Rose is still formidable." "Hmph! Formidable what? We all completed the assessment; it''s all the same," said one of the Mech Pilots who had also passed the assessment, leaning back with arms crossed in his pilot seat, indifferent to the discussion of his peers echoing through the speakers. Memory is always hazy. They, the second group to go through the assessment, were merely the first among all the reserve Mech Pilots to meet the requirements, which is why everyone had a memory filter applied to them. In terms of actual skill level, they had all merely met the assessment requirements. What difference in skill was there? If we really must talk about skill levels, we''ll have to wait until we''ve been to the battlefield and evaluate heroes by their military exploits! Oh right! He was already an official Mech Pilot who had completed the assessment requirements! From now on, they would no longer be just companions. "You guys... instead of discussing others, you should be more concerned about yourselves, training hard when you''re supposed to be training, and what about now?" The man''s arrogance instantly provoked dissent from those "still reserve Mech Pilots." "I say, Gris, you get all worked up just being called fat, what are you showing off for? Just because we didn''t pass today doesn''t mean we won''t in the future. Besides, everyone is speaking the truth, we just aren''t as good as that team. Otherwise, why would the Mechano-Court senior have a special assessment just for them and not say anything to you all? Don''t you understand what this means?" A familiar Mech Pilot joined in the ribbing, "Ah? What does it mean?" "It means you''re not up to par! The Mechano-Court senior didn''t even bother giving him a glance." "..." That group of synthetic pilots had special maneuvers that everyone saw, which were clearly advanced assessments from the senior of the Mechano-Court. Facing the facts, he could only snort coldly and stubbornly retort, "He doesn''t look up to us? Then what about you who can''t even pass the basic assessment? Trash?!" "We''re not up to par, that''s true, but we can work harder in the future, unlike some who, despite a clear gap, still refuse to see it." "Enough!" The instructor, who had just dealt with the situation between Bai E and the senior from the Mechano-Court, turned around only to hear an uproar of chatter from the group and immediately roared in a low voice, "Put that energy into training, stop whining like women. Now I will announce the list of people who have completed the assessment: Gris..., Bai E, Rose. From today, they are official Mech Pilots of our camp. Those of you left don''t be disappointed; if not this time, there''s always a chance in the future. Just aim to work hard and strive to be like them." A sharp Mech Pilot caught the instructor''s phrasing and boldly inquired, "Those two synthetics... Bai E and Rose, are they just official Mech Pilots as well?" If they had been directly favored by the Mechano-Court, the instructor definitely would not have missed this opportunity to motivate the other Mech Pilots, so the answer was... "Yes!" The instructor, remembering the incident, replied irritably, "They are also official Mech Pilots!" Even though the senior had pleaded again and again, this young man was as stubborn as a bull. What''s wrong with mechanical augmentation? Mechanical augmentation, what''s wrong with it?! Isn''t it cool to be made of steel? Isn''t it strong? Isn''t it impressive wherever you go? What''s so good about the human body that doesn''t still rely on things like Gene Optimization Solution and Spiritual Training to enhance potential? Stubborn! "Understood, instructor!" Getting the answer they wanted, the questioning Mech Pilot immediately replied with a sneer. The implication needed no explanation. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Mechano-Court seniors might have been somewhat interested, but isn''t this still a rejection? It means everyone is on the same level of ability, so what is there to show off about? The voice chat fell silent, each pondering their own thoughts. ["Lucky Strike" charge +12.] The unexpected prompt didn''t capture Bai E''s attention for long; the task completion message from the panel was far more delightful. [Sub-mission - Official Mech Pilot, Completed.] [Mission Reward: Blueprint - Mecha Augmentation Plan 2.0, Delivered.] The long-aspired blueprint was finally in hand. This was the epoch-making blueprint that relegated all so-called high-end and low-end Mechas to outdated technology of a past generation; what Mechano-Court''s high-end custom, what regular models used by military Mech Pilots, were all merely tears of the era. Chapter 424 370 Blueprint - Mecha Modification Plan 2.0_2 Mecha controlled directly by neural link technology will completely replace the current mecha. The many shortcomings of current mecha due to technological limitations will be completely discarded by the new models. The only pity is... Bai E''s level is still not quite sufficient. [Blueprint¡ªMecha Modification Plan 2.0: Based on the current knowledge of the individual, the following is required to manufacture the item (Blueprint can be shared, conditions for cooperation must be met): Academic knowledge¡ªMiniaturized Kinetic Theory (Level 3) (Owned but not learned) (Not achieved), Technology¡ªThirty-Two Element Alloy Smelting Technology (Level 1) (Unknown) (Not achieved), Academic knowledge¡ªBiological Main Brain Theory (Level 3) (Unknown) (Not achieved) (Individual possesses alternative capabilities)...] The required academic knowledge and technological abilities are varied and encompass many areas that Bai E has not yet mastered. Even some of the technologies, such as the required Thirty-Two Element Alloy, are beyond anything he has heard of in this era, representing a level higher than the Sixteen Element Alloy, which is the most precious alloy known to him currently. Of course... Bai E himself has not mastered many technological or academic skills, so the task of creating a new mecha model is still a long and arduous journey, not something that can be accomplished in a short time. But fortunately, there is a direction. In scientific research, direction is far more important than effort. Moreover, Bai E does not entirely rely on himself to learn or master all the abilities needed to create a new mecha. Once he has enough capability to protect the blueprints of the new mecha, Bai E does not mind letting others of this era also participate in the development of new technologies. After all, the purpose of technology is to give extraordinary power to everyone, not to monopolize it for oneself. It seems that he will need to connect with people from the Scientific Research Institute in the future, such as... that Helen, with whom he once collaborated for a while? Bai E, lost in thought, hears the instructor''s gentle instructions, "Alright, head back." The instructor looked at the mecha belonging to the two of them not far away, his eyes filled with a satisfied yet slightly reluctant expression. Whether one wishes to join the Mechanical Court is a personal pursuit, but these kids'' performances at least proved that they put in a lot of effort during their training. The first physical encounter with a mecha is somewhat different from a simulator, and the assessment requirements are also more stringent than regular training. Under these circumstances, the fact that... a regular group of five mech pilots passed the assessment is undoubtedly a pleasing achievement. "Although you have completed the assessment to become official mech pilots, remember not to become complacent. As official mech pilots, you now bear responsibility for bravely fighting for humanity. Operating mankind''s most powerful war machines, your responsibility in war is heavier than any other soldier''s. Therefore, you should train even harder, especially the Psychic Pressure Resistance Training conducted by the Arbitration Place Executive Officer. Last time, our soldiers fell on the battlefield because of this, and I hope you do not repeat their mistake. The Military Department is currently planning the second major counter-offensive against the Bug Race nest. That will be your biggest opportunity to prove yourselves, so don''t disappoint me for the choice I made today." The instructor''s words were not meant for Bai E alone; he spoke solemnly to all the soldiers through the audio system, resulting in a somber silence. After his voice died down, a mech pilot responded slowly, "Yes, Instructor!" Then the voices rose in unison, robust and united, "Yes, Instructor!" ... "Not going out of camp today? Where are you headed?" Bai E would usually go out every midday for a break, something Rose had observed. But today, after lunch, Bai E didn''t head toward the camp''s exit. Instead, he went in the direction of the camp but not toward the rest area, which made Rose curious. "Going to deliver a message." Bai E hadn''t forgotten the message that the rat-like creature had conveyed to him through Gilder the previous night. The rat-like creature was always obedient and compliant. Such a child''s occasional request must not be ignored as if unheard, whether it succeeds or not, what one can do should be done. "Can I come with you?" Rose was always curious about Bai E''s daily activities. Hearing that it might be something novel, she immediately wanted to join. "Suit yourself," Bai E didn''t mind. Rose was trustworthy, so naturally, there was no need to hide many things from her. "Alrighty!" Rose was immediately overjoyed, with all her emotions clearly written on her face, transparent at a glance. The two headed straight for the medical ward within the military camp, where there was always bustling activity. A familiar girl moved between the beds, her gentle voice bringing comfort to every anxious soldier. But the instant she saw Bai E, her warm, somewhat weary smile brightened a few degrees, and yet worry quickly showed on her face again. From her position, what she feared most was seeing an acquaintance on her own "turf." This often meant that the acquaintance was in trouble. "Are you feeling unwell?" Mashati''s amber eyes eyed Bai E up and down; she still remembered the last few times Bai E came over, his energy completely depleted, asking for help. What kind of person trains themselves to the brink of death? It was truly worrisome. "I''m fine," Bai E said with a smile, letting Mashati tug at his clothes to examine him. "Ah?" A hint of evident confusion shone in the amber eyes. "It''s Fernandi." Bai E''s eyes fixed on her as he spoke with a smile, "Yes, your brother, Fernandi." The nurse immediately clutched the white nurse''s uniform she was holding, an expression of concern washing over her face. She had no significant backing, and during her military service, she wasn''t allowed to leave the base at whim. Even though she was worried about her brother''s life outside, there wasn''t much she could do about it. And moreover... before she''d joined the military, she had arranged everything for him, even ensuring he wouldn''t encounter those who bullied him. He should be... fine, right? "He''s fine," Bai E reassured her with a smile, "He just, wants to see you. Maybe he misses you? After all, you two have probably never been apart for this long before, right?" "Yes... it has been a long time." Hearing that her brother was fine and merely missed her, Mashati finally relaxed her clenched hand, though the nurse''s uniform had now become a wrinkled mess, "But sir, how do you know him?" As the momentary worry faded, her normal intelligence reoccupied the high ground, and she began to realize this seemingly obvious issue. "You know, I have the permission to leave the base anytime, and a friend outside asked me to deliver this request." "Oh~" Mashati asked subconsciously, trusting Bai E completely. But with regard to the request itself... Military regulations were not to be disobeyed, but then there was her brother''s longing... Mashati stood in place, anxious, rubbing her hands together, then bit her lip as if she had made some difficult decision, "I''ll go ask Nurse Chief An Lun." Perhaps Nurse Chief An Lun was very kind to her, or maybe she would agree to the request, but Mashati never liked to trouble anyone. Yet now, for the sake of seeing her brother, she had to do something that might trouble others... The answer was obvious, Nurse Chief An Lun, fond of the kind and hardworking girl, readily agreed to her request. ... The lunch break was about to end. There were twenty minutes left before the afternoon''s Psychic Pressure Resistance Training, and Bai E saw Mashati again, rushing back with an anxious expression. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire The girl had specifically come looking for him, her face bearing an expression that was almost tearful in her urgency, yet disguised in front of others, evoking sympathy in anyone who saw her. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What''s wrong?" "It''s a last will!" the girl''s voice was tearful, yet utterly certain. Chapter 425 371 Franca! Mashati knew her brother better than anyone else. So, from their brief encounter, she easily detected the unspoken but emotionally charged "final goodbye" suffusing her brother''s demeanor. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire This was, at least as far as Fernandi believed, their last meeting. What was he about to face, or rather, what was he preparing to do? Mashati knew nothing. Nor could she extract any information. Since her brother had chosen to conceal the truth, he wouldn''t reveal even the slightest bit of information to her. Whom could she ask for help? Perhaps only Bai E, who had the authority to freely enter and exit the military camp, might be able to glean some information about the situation Fernandi was facing. "Can you help him? Please help him... he must be in some serious trouble," the girl''s eyes were rimmed with redness, and though tears were on the brink of falling, she dared not let them drop. She didn''t want to burden the other with her own sorrows, even if this was the only lifeline she could find at the moment. Bai E kept his composure, gazing into the girl''s eyes, and asked earnestly, "What did he say to you?" "He didn''t say... but I know him. He seemed to merely be sharing with me all the people and things he encountered these days. It''s all changed so much... but none of that is the point. He just wanted to talk to me, have one final talk with me. He must be planning to leave or possibly leave for good." "¡­" Bai E frowned tightly and said nothing for a moment. Maybe Mashati didn''t know her real identity outside, but he did... As E''s rat, handling odd jobs in Gilder''s shadow, his biggest issue was his identity as a demon Believer. The only enemies this might attract would be from an official body like the Arbitration Place. But with Franca''s mediation, all Black Street and heretic-related matters were handled by himself. Even if other executors disagreed with this arrangement, they should report directly to Franca or Gilder, who would inform him, rather than leaving E''s rat to shoulder everything alone. So¡­ what unexpected event had occurred? And what was it that only he could accomplish? Without sufficient intelligence, Bai E could only seek likely reasons through scraps of clues. "How exactly did he talk to you? Can you find any leads?" "He?" Mashati''s eyes, slightly reddened, drifted absently as if searching through memories for traces, "He told me a lot. He talked about his life after I arrived at the camp, about the great group of comrades he met, tender events, a kind elder, and a person... a very formidable and perfect adult. He said he was doing well outside, he could help others every day, and no one would look down on him anymore..." Mashati followed the river of memory, untangling her recollections bit by bit. It was clear that the rat had selectively shared some truths. "And I''ve seen for myself that Fernandi is really doing well...", Mashati''s eyes briefly shone before quickly dimming, "But he couldn''t fool me. Every word he said carried the meaning of farewell. He wants me to see that he''s doing well, he wants me to be at ease, and he hopes... hopes that I can get used to days without him. It seems, it seems it all started with a very formidable young lady! Yes! Right! That''s it!" Mashati, as if finally finding the source, spoke with slightly lifted spirits, "He said that young lady was very formidable, that she could save many people, and then he asked me a question¡ª" "Sister... if, I mean if, someone had shown you light during your most desperate times with this world, then in the future, when you have the ability and opportunity to spread this light, would you do it?" "Of course... If I could help everyone, I think that''s what we should do," she replied. "Mmm~" The boy lifted his head from the shadows, his eyes sparkling, "Right, sister, that''s what I think too..." ... "Yes! It''s here!" Mashati, having traced the facts down memory lane, finally pinpointed the real reason, "It''s that ''very formidable young lady.'' Fernandi wants to help her with something! What does he want to do?" "A very impressive Miss?" Bai E''s eyes glazed slightly, as he searched his memory for someone everyone might know. A young noblewoman, always clad in aristocratic attire and exuding an air of superiority, sprang to mind first. Yes... who else could it be? As an enforcer from Arbitration Place, she naturally had the authority to enforce the law against Believers like Rat People, and it was because of the Rat People''s plague incident that everyone had first come to know her. From beginning to end, the one most intricately linked to the Rat People had been this enforcer from Arbitration Place. Moreover, this noblewoman was not the type to be rigid and obstinate. That her ideas could win Rat People''s approval was hence not surprising. So, just like Mashati had said¡ªwhat on earth did she want to do? "It''s just that I don''t know who the ''impressive sister'' he mentioned really is..." Mashati said, troubled, as the question plunged into a new level of complexity. "Perhaps, I''ve got a lead." "Hmm?" Mashati suddenly looked up, her eyes brimming with hope. "You go back first, I need time to confirm. Of course, you don''t need to worry too much, I will investigate this matter and give you a response as soon as possible," Bai E said, gazing intently at the other person, giving his absolute promise. A look can convey strength, and Bai E never broke his word to anyone. Thus, even though Mashati still felt unease that she could not fully quell, she turned firmly to leave, "Thank you for your trouble." "You know who it is?" Rose asked curiously, watching Mashati depart and staring at Bai E''s profile. She was curious about everything to do with Bai E. "I have a rough idea." "Who is it?" Bai E turned and walked towards the gathering point for the Psychic Pressure Resistance Training, "It''s her." This was Bai E''s first encounter with Franca at the military camp, following the exposure of his identity to the outside world. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Observing the familiar yet strange figure standing at the end of the lineup, Franca felt a bizarre mixture of emotions. A master with impressive abilities and a certain influence on the outside, yet willing to endure the humility of bowing and scraping under the military''s regimented system... Of course, it might also be because these two different identities were both efforts toward the same singular goal. The other party had never forsaken the mission of the man-made beings; every action was a demonstration of commitment to their own mission. ["Lucky Strike" charge +5.] "..." Bai E remained silent. I haven''t even spoken yet... After all, there was no chance to speak alone, and following the end of the group, Bai E stepped into the familiar training chamber. The same training as always, but a drastically different level of realm. Spiritual Energy... Second Stage! Chapter 426 The possibility of implementing plan 372 ``` The first level of Spiritual Energy is receptive, perceiving external stimuli in relation to oneself and can be used to make minor changes to oneself and to "intimately" alter the properties of objects. The second level of Spiritual Energy is emissive, perceiving the world and transforming others, naturally filtering to some extent the things one "dislikes" or is "unwilling to accept." After reaching the second level of Spiritual Energy, the undiscriminating energy suppression field that affected all warriors had virtually no effect on Bai E. Even Bai E could sense the underlying reason for the effectiveness of the Spiritual Energy suppression field¡ªthe wails of countless wronged souls, almost identical in sentiment to that found within the Exorcism Essential Oil. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Standing in the phalanx of warriors within the square cabin, Bai E''s eyes were clear, the once distracting influence of Spiritual Energy no longer affecting his will in the slightest. He and Franca shared a quiet gaze and he took the initiative to walk over to her. At this moment within the square cabin, aside from him and Franca, other warriors were unable to extricate themselves from the torment of the Spiritual Energy suppression; this was the best opportunity for "individual contact." "I didn''t know before, but now I''ve realized, the aura here is somewhat similar to the one in the Exorcism Essential Oil?" Bai E had learned about the origin of the Exorcism Essential Oil after the battle in the arena. Countless living wills transformed into kindling to battle demons, whether voluntarily or by force, human sacrifices have been necessary to sustain the core integrity amidst the erosion of demons. It is both reluctance and helplessness. No one can break this situation. Franca''s gaze was calm; she had come to recognize these things earlier than Bai E, having experienced the process of doubt, pain, attempts, leading to despair, numbness, and finally acceptance of reality, "Only through sacrifice can we combat demons, the more complex the experiences, the greater the ''wealth'' one can provide. There''s a saying in your military that''s quite accurate, each of us is currency for humanity, to increase our value and spend it at the proper moment is our greatest responsibility, no one is exempt." Her gaze upon Bai E seemed unfocused, as if looking past him at some void point behind him, "For centuries we have endured in silence, at times we sprout briefly in the sunlight, more often struggling to survive in the shadow of death, fighting and dying over countless centuries, drenching innumerable battlefields with the blood of our enemies and our own. Humans continually sacrifice themselves, a sacrifice that allows the bloodline of humanity to persist, generation after generation, not for any grand ideals, because the sacrifice itself is greater than any ideal. But perhaps, deep in everyone''s heart lies a hope: to one day, maybe a million years hence, give rise to a generation that no longer needs sacrifice, a generation where humanity endures in peace..." Seeing the slight astonishment on Bai E''s face, Franca smiled gently, "These are the words you once told them, they''ve kept them in their hearts ever since, and I quite like them too." Ever since hearing from those so-called "children of demons" about the ambitions mentioned in their first official encounter with this man, Franca knew she would not misplace her trust. And judging by the timeline, this ruler of Black Street had only been "manufactured" for a few days when he spoke such words. The commitment to save all of humanity from disaster had been so firm from the start, and to this day, he had never given up trying. "I know you abhor sacrifice, but there''s no way around it, our era... sacrifice is the only thing we can do." "So is this also what you said to Fernandi?" "No." Franca smiled gently, a hint of vulnerability as if swaying in the wind and rain, "I don''t like forced sacrifices, but he seemed to feel the need to repay the kindness that had once warmed him... It was you, who gave him courage." ``` Compared to those who are forced, volunteers who step onto the battlefield are always easier to accept, and such a leader who possesses this charm may just be the king this era needs most. Bai E squinted his eyes, indifferent to these ethereal praises. After all, behind these praises was the weight of lives. What he cared more about was practical action. Is sacrifice truly necessary? "So, what do you want him to do?" "...It''s not only the wretched souls in the real world that we can see that are suffering. Those imprisoned in high-dimensional spaces endure eternal torment. Not many of them might have embraced it willingly. Perhaps some have, but many are compelled by reality. Their existence is a failure for all of us, and at the same time, it''s a source of power for the high-dimensional spaces..." The overall strength of the high-dimensional space seemingly has little to do with those individual lonely souls. However, when these souls are regarded as a whole, the power of the high-dimensional space without this collective would undoubtedly be greatly weakened. Rescuing those tormented souls is undoubtedly also a way to alleviate the pressure on humanity itself. It is humanity''s mistake and a trouble that humanity must face. "Maybe there are many who deserve to die among those from other original demons, but under the eternal system, there are quite a few true innocents, and it happens that Fernandi is Their chosen one, upon which the foundation for this action can be established. Although... I still don''t have the strength to truly implement this plan." Franca felt that she had underestimated the child''s resolve, having just heard his idea and impulsively seeing the plan as a mission that must be undertaken, even going as far as to bring it directly to Bai E... "So, this plan is essentially feasible, isn''t it?" Bai E''s gaze was piercing. The harm of high-dimensional demons to the human world is widely recognized. If their power could be greatly weakened, it would undoubtedly bring a lasting respite to humanity. If during the lull of the demons people seize the time to completely eliminate the disasters caused by the orcs and Bug Race, the humans without real-world enemies might be able to integrate themselves, possibly curtailing the high-dimensional spaces'' pollution of humanity with a robust and perfected social system. Returning to the Golden Age might not be an impossible dream. And... if we''re talking about souls, can they be governed by my own ''soul black hole''? Can the souls rescued from other demons only utterly dissipate, or can they be "preserved" in another way by me? I don''t know, but it''s worth a try. However, this so-called "guide" that only Fernandi can take on may be up for debate... "But we don''t have enough manpower..." Franca''s gaze dimmed. After proposing the plan, she had not failed to hint around the edges back at the office. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet even the Judge who was closest to her completely disapproved of such reckless behavior. Bai E looked vacant and shook his head gently, "No, perhaps there is someone..." Chapter 427 373 Growing Helper Conventional spiritual energy talents are rare, and each one''s growth is incredibly arduous, with even fewer reaching the second phase without succumbing to an early death. Wild-born spiritual energy wielders receive high attention from the city and are assigned to different institutions for study and service. They have little social interaction with one another, making it difficult to unite substantial forces from a personal perspective. But there is a group of people... they share a common origin¡ªthe displaced. That''s right, those displaced who arrived in the city with Gilder. Hundreds of spiritual energy talents¡ªif they all could reach the second phase, then there would be a foundational possibility for the plan to be executed. Moreover, in fact, the spiritual energy level of each talent naturally grows over time, as long as they do not die young or decay. To rise to the second or even third phase is simply a matter of course. The true predicament for spiritual energy wielders has never been the level of spiritual energy itself but how to avoid being eroded by high-dimensional forces. Those people fled from the origin of demons¡ªfear itself, inherently possessing a higher resistance to high-dimensional force corrosion, hence they have a much greater chance of advancing to become second or even third phase spiritual energy wielders than average talents. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire So, if their powers could be integrated... The plan to strike back at high-dimensional forces, of course, couldn''t be rushed, but the best time to do something well was "ten years" ago, followed by the present. "How are Kiro Lan and Morphie doing with you?" "They..." Franca was taken aback, wondering why Bai E suddenly brought up an irrelevant topic, then quickly understood, "You are looking for those people... their progress is fast." As top-tier spiritual energy talents encountered since the city was established, those two children''s progress on the path of spiritual energy was exceedingly rare. In just the short time they had been learning, both of their spiritual energy levels had reached the peak of the first phase, only temporarily stagnant due to the inevitable barrier between the first and second phases. "... I''ve heard that a special trial is being organized soon for the two of them, to help them break through successfully. The place is giving it considerable attention." Talented individuals receive attention wherever they go, and both children were also bright and keen, presumably doing well for themselves. "That''s good to hear," Bai E nodded with relief, "Can you get in touch with them?" "Aglaya forbade you from meeting them..." taking a teasing glance at Bai E''s face, Franca''s eyes twinkled with mischief. "So you all listen to her?" Franca smiled, "If she knew your current level, she''d probably be the one regretting it the most." To master second-phase spiritual energy in just over a month since inception as a homunculus was to surpass even the standards of Kiro Lan and Morphie. Whether due to the inherent limitations of being a homunculus or purely wild self-exploration, these limiting factors were unimaginable disadvantages that the two well-led and protected children could not fathom. Bai E, who grew strong despite these conditions, made it difficult for Franca to comment from the position of a "senior" in spiritual energy. It was a miracle! Aglaya was not some narrow-minded villain; even if she misjudged something, as long as there was a chance to remedy it, she wouldn''t miss it. Bai E''s true spiritual energy level was bound to be revealed in the city one day, and Franca was eager to see the expression of that important person then. "I will find an opportunity to arrange a meeting. Wait for my message." Franca always carried herself with the petulant grace of a noble young lady, but when it came down to business, she was incredibly reliable. Her tone was short and decisive this time. "Okay." ... The staccato clack of high heels echoed down the dark corridors of the Arbitration Place. The military''s Psychic Pressure Resistance Training took place every other day. Franca, having completed today''s session, had over a day''s worth of free time, enough to run back and forth as needed. A favor requested is a duty to be diligently carried out. Immediately after training, Franca returned to the headquarters of the Arbitration Place, located within the city. Sailing through greetings with a familiar Judge, she vigorously pursued the whereabouts of the two children and headed straight for their current location. The Arbitration Place appeared to be a small complex of buildings, but in reality, its interior was twisted by spiritual energy, the actual space comparable to almost half the city. Without knowing the exact location of one''s target, searching could be futile for an entire day. Finally, in a dark void where a twisted vortex seemed present, Franca saw the two children, who were following their mentor and receiving guidance. The mentor, a lean tall man with a somewhat grim expression, exuded a chill aura, making him unapproachable for most. "Franca?" the mentor turned his head upon noticing the unexpected noise, his eyebrows furrowing with puzzlement. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before Kiro Lan and Morphie joined the Arbitration Place, Franca was known as a minor celebrity. Before the emergence of top spiritual energy talents, Franca''s prowess was a widely acknowledged fact. But... "What are you doing here?" "Came to play with them," Franca said with a cheeky smile, indicating the two children who were ensconced in their training. Chapter 428 373 Growing Helper_2 Her character was straightforward, and she often sought out those two children before; this wasn''t the first time, so it wouldn''t arouse suspicion. But now was not the right time. The mentor''s eyes and brows were cold, his tone stern, "They are about to challenge the second stage and are in the midst of their final preparations; don''t disturb them without good reason." "About to reach the second stage now?" Franca''s eyes sparkled, "That''s really impressive... how are they planning to break through?" "..." Who asks like that? The mentor''s face remained cold, but facing Franca''s curious yet genuinely enthusiastic expression, he found it hard to be truly angry. After all, he had coached her in parts of her craft as well. "The mentor wants us to really go and hunt a demon." In the slight quiet, Kiro Lan suddenly said with a smile-filled response. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire ''I already told her last time that we were about to reach the second stage. She shouldn''t be acting so surprised.'' As these thoughts flowed through Kiro Lan''s mind, she easily sensed that the seemingly innocent noble lady must have something she wanted to say to her alone, away from the mentor''s ears. Thus, she turned to her mentor, smiling gently, "Teacher, Franca serves in the military camp and hardly comes back; I''d like to chat with her..." For a Spiritual Energy practitioner, it''s essential to have a clear mind. If your heart is preoccupied with other matters, anything you do will be half as effective. And this clever and adorable girl was equally endearing, leading the mentor to wave his hand in resignation, "Mind the time." "I know, Teacher." Finally finding a chance to speak privately, Franca sat face to face with the two teenagers in a secluded corner. The young lady had her Longsword resting on her lap, looking carelessly poised and yet brimming with noble grace as she excitedly spoke, "Last night I went out with him on a big mission again!" "A big mission? What kind of mission?" Morphie''s eyes lit up, filled with interest in everything happening outside. Franca waved her hand grandly, "Nothing much, just someone ascending to a demon prince, which we teamed up to slaughter." Morphie was stunned, his face suddenly alight with excitement, "A demon prince!" During his time learning at the Arbitration Place, he had also come to understand the significance behind that title. Leaving aside the eleven great incursions that had only appeared in rumors, the disasters caused by a demon prince were almost the worst calamity related to demons that humanity could encounter in the material world. Such a level of disaster, each time it occurred, would have an extremely severe impact on the material world; the records mentioned areas of human land forever swallowed by higher-dimensional spaces due to a demon prince. "Which type of demon was it?" "A war-type demon, the kind with the most formidable combat capabilities." "That must have been tough, was it just the two of you?" "Of course!" Franca said as she waved her hand, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw another pair of eyes twinkling with amusement, prompting her to moderate her tone, "But mainly it was him taking the lead; I just lent a small hand." "That''s still very impressive!" "It''s him who''s impressive..." "The adult is certainly impressive." Seeing the conversation finally turning towards the subject, Franca rolled her distinct black and white eyes before saying, "Speaking of which, my return this time is mainly on his request." The normally gentle and smiling Kiro Lan suddenly tensed, "What did the adult say?" "He said... there might be some matters where he needs your help." "No problem!" "I haven''t even said what it is yet?" "Whatever the adult''s request is, it''s fine by us." "... you really trust him," Franca muttered to herself. Morphie also looked at Kiro Lan with some skepticism, "Right, you don''t even know what he wants us to do?" Then, turning to Franca, "Sister, what exactly does the adult want us to help him with?" "There are some things I shouldn''t say; it''s best if you communicate with him directly. Do you have a chance to sneak out?" Kiro Lan frowned slightly and shook her head slowly, "I''m afraid not." As the city''s brightest new star in the field of Spiritual Energy, her comings and goings were under constant close watch; probably only when her power truly reached the pinnacle, beyond anyone''s control in the city, could she escape that surveillance. Until then, she feared there wouldn''t be many opportunities to bend the rules. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This situation was also within the range of possibilities Bai E and Franca had anticipated; Franca had the leeway to make her own judgment. Considering the matter''s significance, and that it could even involve going against the orders of the Arbitration Place, Franca didn''t dare to divulge too much. So she stared earnestly at the two children before her, "I can relay his message, but as it''s a grave matter, if it truly can''t be done, I hope you don''t disclose it." After such an interval, the two teenagers had studied and lived at the Arbitration Place, encountering as many characters and gaining as much knowledge as they did. Franca couldn''t be certain about their "loyalty" to Bai E; she needed to judge based on the feedback from their Spiritual Energy. "No problem," Kiro Lan agreed instantly, without hesitation. "Kiro Lan!" Morphie stared hard at the girl, "He hasn''t taken the initiative to contact us for so long, and now he does only to ask for our help, is this not..." A bit too opportunistic? "It''s only natural," Kiro Lan shook her head, rejecting Morphie''s view, "Why keep in touch if there''s no need? True bonds don''t require constant pleasantries to maintain. We work hard here just so that one day we might be of use to the adult." Chapter 429 373 Growing Helper_3 "It''s to be useful to this world!" Morphie had always disliked Kiro Lan''s statement, "And he even needs to evade the watchful eyes of the Place..." The Arbitration Place had gradually become an absolute and the only righteousness in his eyes, and the need to deceive such an authority... Did it mean that my lord''s decisions... were not so righteous? "My lord could never be wrong," Kiro Lan asserted softly, her tone calm as water. "No one can be right all the time." "My lord can." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Morphie''s gaze flickered with a touch of sadness, and his tone became somewhat weaker, "At least we can listen to what my lord wants us to do before making a decision?" "That in itself is a form of disloyalty." Kiro Lan shook her head and turned to Franca, "May I speak?" The disagreement between the two children did not come as a surprise to Franca. Their disputes were not the first, but fortunately, they were always honest with each other, straightforward in their discussions, "You may, but you must promise that even if you''re unwilling to help, you absolutely cannot divulge it to others." Catching Kiro Lan''s glance, Morphie''s unripe face reddened, "I''m not ungrateful! Even if I don''t help him, I won''t harm him!" "Good," Franca nodded. No matter what they had experienced, the pure hearts of the two children remained intact, their words revealing no signs of deceit under the detection of Spiritual Energy. "He hopes that you... can make contact with all of your kinfolk, and once all of you have at least reached the second level of Spiritual Energy, you will take action together! The target is... high-dimensional space!" "An expedition to high-dimensional space?" "What bold thinking..." Upon hearing this message, Morphie and Kiro Lan murmured to themselves, reflecting differing attitudes. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire Franca, having roughly explained the plan and its purpose, looked steadily at the two, "What do you think? Do you dare?" It was an extremely bold idea, so bold that Franca dared not even speak of it openly with anyone else, except Bai E. Human decisions regarding high-dimensional space were always made with utmost caution. "No problem!" Unexpectedly, while Kiro Lan seemed to be still pondering, Morphie instantly made his stance clear, "We''ll help him!" Too reckless... too daring... But that''s how it should be! For that lord, Morphie had never harbored any objections. But the status of that person in Kiro Lan''s heart... was too high. He can''t always be right; how could anyone always be right? It has to be this radical, this daring; there needs to be room for mistakes. In due time, he will redeem everything and show Kiro Lan who the true savior is! Morphie''s unexpected commitment had taken Franca aback. She turned to Kiro Lan, waiting for her decision. The girl''s eyes settled from a brief flicker, and she looked at Franca, responding with a smile in a soft voice, "No problem, I''ve been keeping in touch with them all along, but it seems... now I need to speed up their cultivation." Her consideration was not whether to agree with the plan but how to execute it meticulously. Knowing that the lord intended to develop his own power, she, upon arriving in the city, had never abandoned those refugees with whom she had little previous interaction. Perhaps to others, she seemed like a nostalgic fool from another place, but only she knew... all her actions were backed by definite purposes. At least level two in strength, huh... My kinfolk have been living too comfortably. Chapter 430 374 At night, Bai E came to a familiar spot, where Yue Ying''s figure was also hidden within familiar shadows. Apart from Bai E, no one else could detect Yue Ying''s presence at this location; such was the unspoken understanding that had somehow developed between them. "You came back yesterday?" Yue Ying asked gently. Her tone was even, as if it were just an ordinary question. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire But after spending time together, Bai E had gradually come to understand the personality of this elf lady. In reality, it was a displeased query¡ªhaving returned yesterday, why hadn''t he come over? "Last night, I went to fight a demon." "A demon?" Yue Ying''s gaze grew concentrated, recalling the unusual fluctuation she had sensed last night. The disturbance had originated from quite a distance, and she hadn''t been interested in investigating it at the time, but she hadn''t expected it to be related to Bai E. "It''s good that you''re back." Yue Ying nodded lightly, regardless of who the opponent was, the fact that he was standing before her alive meant that the danger had passed, "What kind of opponent was it?" Because of the great distance, the magnitude of the fluctuation was unclear, making it difficult to judge the intensity of the incident directly from the high-dimensional waves. "A War-type demon prince, quite troublesome." "¡­" Yue Ying''s lips moved slightly, but she found no words to respond. A War-type demon prince, and he merely described it as "quite"? She might have never encountered a demon prince in the real world, but her occasional travels through high-dimensional spaces had led to encounters with demon princes. Honestly speaking, they were "quite troublesome" for her as well. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it hadn''t been for her sister being there at that time, they might actually have let that demon prince escape. And Bai E, who had only been cultivating for how long, was already capable of dealing with an opponent of this caliber? Who exactly was the elf here? However, having spent a long time with him, even things that seemed impossible happening to him had somehow become unsurprising¡­ Noticing the Spiritual Energy aura that Bai E had deliberately released, Yue Ying''s crystalline lips pursed lightly, a hint of surprise in her voice, "You''ve reached the second stage, too." "I was lucky to have made a breakthrough during the battle; otherwise, I really couldn''t have taken down the opponent." "Mhm," Yue Ying nodded slightly. As expected. Without advancing to the second stage of Spiritual Energy, she could hardly imagine what techniques could be used to defeat a demon prince. "Now that you''re at the second stage, you can start learning more Spiritual Energy techniques." Bai E had been paying close attention to Yue Ying''s expressions and tone, noticing her consistent indifference, which made him feel somewhat disheartened. He wasn''t belittling himself; after all, single-handedly killing an invading demon prince from the material world was a considerable feat, right? But in Yue Ying''s eyes, there was still not much surprise. This only confirmed one thing¡ªhis level, in the eyes of the real high-tier powers of this world, was still not enough. He was seeking his place in the world, but clearly, there was still a long way to go. "Mm¡­ But before that, there''s something I''d like to consult you about." Bai E hadn''t placed all his hopes on the refugees Morphe and Kiro Lan might be able to summon; any potential assistance had to be rallied. "Speak." "What conditions do you think are necessary if one were to attack a high-dimensional space?" Franca might have seen much due to her status and thus possessed broad knowledge, but given her own power limitations, not everything might be clearly understood by her. Yue Ying, being the strongest of the intelligent beings Bai E had encountered so far, should have a more authoritative judgment. "Attack a high-dimensional space?" Yue Ying''s eyes narrowed slightly, she who had shown little reaction to hearing Bai E could handle a demon prince was now genuinely surprised, "What are you planning to do?" "Some things have happened that made me aware of the souls imprisoned by the high-dimensional space. If we could rescue these souls from demon territories, not only would it alleviate their suffering, but it could also weaken the power of the high-dimensional space, so¡­" Yue Ying stared at Bai E quietly, her clear, transparent eyes twinkling with unknown emotions. "Do you realize what you''re saying?" she interjected, a touch of rudeness in her voice. Bai E was slightly taken aback, "I do¡­ It''s just an idea for now, so I wanted to ask for your opinion¡­" Her body began to feel warm, Yue Ying tried to maintain control, her eyes dropping slightly in an effort to appear nonchalant, "No one has ever done that." So she didn''t have any advice to offer. Yet, the grandeur of that ambition alone was enough to stir the soul. Bai E understood her implication, a tinge of disappointment in his voice, "Even you don''t have a clear understanding?" "How many people have you prepared?" "If successful, there might be several hundred second-stage Spiritual Energy practitioners." "Is that all?" "That''s all." Yue Ying''s question made Bai E feel somewhat uneasy. Several hundred Spiritual Energy practitioners¡ªthat should count as quite a few, shouldn''t it? According to Franca, the several hundred refugees were highly regarded precisely because even a few hundred Spiritual Energy practitioners would be a significant asset to any city. And based on the few demon incidents he had encountered, if he, a single second-stage Spiritual Energy practitioner, could resolve the situation, others, even if slightly weaker, could probably do the same when working together, right? With hundreds of Spiritual Energy practitioners acting in unison, targeting a single demon''s territory for an assault, surely there was a chance of success? Even if it were not possible to save everyone, even if only a breach was made to rescue some, it would still be an attempt worth making, allowing one to gain a deeper understanding of the true nature of this world. Chapter 431 374 Plans don''t always have to succeed; Bai E could accept all possible outcomes of a plan. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire As for whether the plan was risky and what the success rate truly was¡­ wasn''t he currently doing everything possible to perfect it? Confronted with Bai E''s anticipatory gaze, Yue Ying let out a soft sigh, "It''s too risky." She had never actually fought against human spiritual energy masters, but she felt that not even dozens of second-stage spiritual energy users could get close to her. In the high-dimensional space that even she feared, there were countless risks¡­ not just from specific demons themselves. So, the idea of hundreds of second-stage spiritual energy users launching a surprise attack in high-dimensional space¡ªthe enemy''s main battleground¡ªsounded like a complete fantasy. "Then we can only wait for a more perfect opportunity?" Bai E''s brows furrowed slightly. A few hundred spiritual energy users were the number he could hope for in the short term; more force would require him to become the ruler of the entire city. Or would that still be insufficient? Should he wait until he ruled the entire planet to mobilize all of humanity''s spiritual energy users? Must one always wait for perfection before acting? On the road to perfection, can one be contented, turning a blind eye to all the tragedies? No! It was precisely because no one had tried that someone needed to. Bai E wasn''t quite ready to give up, "There''s not even a small chance?" Yue Ying shook her head and repeated, "No one has tried." The same description, once negative, the next firm. No one had ever organized a large-scale, proactive assault of spiritual energy users into high-dimensional space, nor had anyone deliberately entered a specific demon''s territory in high-dimensional space and returned successfully to describe its landscape. Everything was unknown. Only those who had a shallow understanding of the world dared to boldly explore everything. The unbridled souls of the newly born scrutinized everything and attempted to rebel against it all. "You can try; that''s your freedom." Should that day ever come, she likely wouldn''t stand idly by; she might even help him contact her own people. How can their sprite presence be absent from the first counterattack launched by intelligent beings? But before that¡­ Yue Ying''s tone was flat, trying her best not to let the human warrior in front of her realize the surging passion within her, "First, you need to master the High-Dimensional Walking technique." Bai E had only broken through to the second stage of spiritual energy last night; it was impossible for him to have had time to unlock this skill which was only available at the second stage through self-realization or learning. "I will," he said. The mission reward included it; he didn''t even need to spend experience to unlock it. That meant he saved thousands of points of experience that he would''ve otherwise needed to learn the skill. As he spoke, Bai E immediately used the technique, his body flickering into nothingness and rematerializing several meters away. [Spiritual Energy (Stage 2) Trick¡ªHigh-Dimensional Walking: From now on, you can infuse your spiritual energy entirely into your flesh, allowing your body to temporarily enter high-dimensional space and merge with your spiritual body. You will inherit all the characteristics of the spiritual body in high-dimensional space, gaining greater control over your spiritual body''s movements, and bringing back any effects your actions in high-dimensional space have on the material world when your physical body returns to it. (Note: The longer you "walk" in high-dimensional space and the greater the "distance" you traverse, the more susceptible your spirit will become to penetration.)] Materializing in the material world over short distances using high-dimensional space was precisely the application of transferring the physical body into the spiritual body and then returning. Being able to use this skill was one of the key features of mastering High-Dimensional Walking. Yue Ying pressed her lips tightly together, finding it absurd, despite having accepted that nothing should surprise her regarding this warrior, "¡­" Chuckle! "What about spiritual energy storage then?" There were many skills to learn upon reaching the second stage. High-Dimensional Walking was an essential "reality" to master, a necessary ability to understand another aspect of the world. Spiritual energy storage, on the other hand, was a convenient necessity for spiritual energy users as members of humanity. "I still don''t know how to do this," Bai E said with enthusiasm. The tasks that needed to be done were still far ahead, but the fresh ability that could be touched right now always brought joy. "Hmm~" That''s okay. Last night, he had just broken through, so it was not like he had mastered all the techniques of the second stage without a teacher; that would really make people doubt the reality of the world. Yue Ying let out a sigh of relief, and her tone became a bit more lively, "The so-called Spiritual Energy storage is based on your Spiritual Body ''fixing'' a space around your body." The nature of high-dimensional space is energetic and subjective. In that magical place, a thought with a certain energy foundation could shape reality out of thin air. Upon reaching the second stage, Spiritual Energy practitioners can use their thoughts to mold their own reality. Fixing the ''space'' around the Spiritual Body into a real spatial property that could adapt to and store objects from the material world was the application of this creation. The size of the space, the types of objects it could hold, and so on, all had to be determined by the creator''s own will and level. Some powerful Spiritual Energy practitioners had storage spaces that could reach hundreds of cubic meters, and could even hold living persons for short periods; while others could only store small, simple-structured, and singular substance dead objects in a very small space. In the ''world'' observed by the pure Spiritual Body, Yue Ying''s will conveyed through the slight vibrations of Spiritual Energy directly allowed Bai E to learn and understand. "...The size of the area you can affect is the size of your storage space. As your level of Spiritual Energy increases in the future, you might be able to slightly expand this space, but the ''space'' you are initially able to delineate often reflects your natural talent." [You are learning skills related to Spiritual Energy...] [Triggered a tutoring task¡ªSpiritual Energy Storage.] [Tutoring task¡ªSpiritual Energy Storage: In the world of Spiritual Energy, anything is possible, and you can even shape reality in this world. Task requirement: Follow Yue Ying''s guide to complete the creation of your storage space. Task completion reward: Spiritual Energy +5/5, Storage Space Quality +1.] "You can use Spiritual Energy to analyze and deconstruct my storage space to assist you in this process. The techniques of the second stage are quite challenging, so don''t be disappointed if you don''t make much progress tonight." "Oh~" Spiritual Energy tentacles touched the tangible "cube" that the other party intentionally displayed, and the thick barrier separated reality from illusion, protecting everything within to exist undisturbed. So elves wear underwear too... [You are spending combat experience to analyze and deconstruct the target''s constructed storage space...] [Current deconstruction progress: 1%] ... [Current deconstruction progress: 11%] ... Time was as tranquil as water, quietly flowing by. As long as one is willing to spend experience, no learning task is too difficult. If insight is not enough, experience makes up for it. Enough experience became a solid understanding and merged into Bai E''s instincts, so the knack for shaping the barrier arose effortlessly in his mind. The power of Spiritual Energy began to trace out lines of light, and those invisible pathways converged to form transparent "wall bodies" that refracted the scenery and were built around the Spiritual Body as the center. The attributes of reality were imparted in a moment, and the barrier separating illusion from material divided space into two mutually exclusive areas. [Current deconstruction progress: 100%, you have thoroughly completed the analysis of the target space and successfully established your own storage space.] With a gentle swipe of the fingertips through the air, Bai E could feel his degree of control over this space. In the process of establishing the space, countless authorities concerning "reality" were naturally granted, so that the space he controlled was as complete and self-consistent as a real material world, with logic that was complete and precise yet immutable. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [You have successfully established your own storage space. Reward: Spiritual Energy +5/5, Storage Space Quality +1, has been issued.] The moment the reward was given, the entire space trembled slightly... Chapter 432 375 Side Quest - Slay the Overlord! If the storage space I had before followed the laws of reality perfectly, able to hold anything that the "real world" could accept, then the storage space that the mission reward had directly upgraded by one tier now had an even more mystical meaning. It no longer assigned a fixed attribute to everything; it allowed the imagination some freedom to sketch within it to a certain extent. High-dimensional space seemed to be a completion of the material world, representing the extremes of subjectivity and energy. Together, they were the true manifestation of the universe''s appearance. And now, in this space within the high-dimensional realm that Bai E had demarcated for himself, this kind of "reality" was also displayed. It allowed for imagination, for freedom, for the mere existence of the soul, allowing all things to exercise their subjective traits. So even the laws weren''t so rigid anymore¡­ [Psychic Storage Space: Your world contains both material and energetic characteristics, permitting the existence of all fixed and variable attributes. As the pioneer of this space, you can freely define the rules of this world in a certain domain, and no matter what your definition is, the world will develop according to that standard as the laws of physics prescribed. (Life needs a bit of imagination, doesn''t it?)] "..." Is it pretending to be serious? Bai E''s Spiritual Body stroked his own chin, then his eyes brightened, a trace of playfulness arising. Any law can be established freely and be perfectly self-consistent, right? Let''s see your limits! "Let the ¦Ð of this world be 3¡­" Annoying non-repeating infinite decimals, let''s see who can show off by reciting pi now? "God" defined the world he created, yet the void of space only slightly vibrated at some unfathomable level, and to outsiders... even to the spiritual bodies within it, no change was perceptible. Yue Ying felt it was simply too big¡­ "So huge¡­" The gracefully shaped Spiritual Body was like a swift fish roaming through the water, the mermaid''s slender figure beautifully weaving through the space, all within the scope cast by the defined area. In the high-dimensional space, some influence on the senses made Yue Ying''s perception of space uncertain; she could only use her purely subjective feelings to define the capacity of the storage space created by Bai E¡ªit was at least bigger than hers and possibly much bigger. But considering it was his... well, that was to be expected. "It''s getting late¡­" Awareness returned to the physical world, and the sky was already casting a soft white glow. Yue Ying gracefully stood up, back facing Bai E, "Goodbye." "Goodbye¡­" Early morning, assembly. Having become a regular Mech Pilot, Bai E and other pilots could now normally pilot the Mechs themselves for training, and the little bit of energy consumed during training was negligible compared to the value a regular Mech Pilot could create in combat. The instructor brought the Mech Pilot who had not shown up until now, also piloting a standard Mecha, standing in front of a few other towering Mechas. The voice was transmitted to the ears of each warrior who had already been chosen as official Mech Pilots through the cockpit''s loudspeaker, "Congratulations on becoming official Mech Pilots of our armored battalion. But don''t get cocky, this is just the first step on the path of a Mech Pilot. Being selected is not the end. The military camp has spent the most resources on you, and you must also achieve greater victories on the battlefield for the camp. I can now reveal some information to you¡ª" "The Military Department has been planning the second total attack on the Bug Race''s hive, and before that, our armored battalion must ensure that it provides a decisive force capable of turning the tide of battle at the last moment!" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "During the last strike on the Bug hive, I believe all of you present here were there. That giant bug that appeared at the last moment is our final barrier to conquering the hive. And you are the absolute candidates to behead that ''Overlord''!" Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire [Secondary Mission Triggered¡ªSlay the Overlord.] [Secondary Mission¡ªSlay the Overlord: The Overlord giant bug represents the strongest force currently exhibited by the hive. If you can defeat this powerful beast, then you truly hold the hope of destroying the Bug hive. As part of the armored forces capable of manipulating mankind''s mightiest weapons of war, this difficult task is your bounden duty. Mission requirement: Slay the hive "Overlord" 0/1 during the second comprehensive war against the hive. Mission completion reward: General experience 10,000 points, title¡ªScourge of the Bug Race.] "" The unexpected hint triggered by the mission made Bai E, sitting inside the cockpit, pause for a moment. A reward... a title? This was an unprecedented type of reward, and judging by the equivalent experience rewards, it was obviously a task of extreme difficulty. Would he need to manipulate the Mecha to kill that monster that had seemed almost invincible last time? Gripping the mechanical lever in his hand, Bai E suddenly felt the pressure rise, as a clear mission prompt always seemed more compelling than vague conjectures and goals. "Train hard," Bai E suddenly urged. The birth of a Mech Soul requires continuous contact for at least 48 hours; Mechas that haven''t awakened their Mech Soul yet don''t know how much assistance they can provide after the awakening. Having accessed high-level Mecha combat techniques, Bai E realized that with his current level of ability, it was difficult to perform those intricately micro-managed advanced tactical actions while operating a Mecha alone, let alone perfectly apply them in real combat. Rose''s presence was indispensable to him at this point. One person was not enough to perfectly operate the Mecha; with two people, Rose''s performance was the upper limit of their combined abilities. "Yes," sensing the sudden solemnity in Bai E''s tone, the already serious Rose became even more resolute. The instructor''s voice continued to ring out in the comm, "Now that you are all familiar with the basic tactical maneuvers, real combat training is the fastest way to improve yourselves! Starting now, you''ll pair off for bouts, with the objective of crippling the opposing Mecha''s ability to move. By sunset tonight, I want to see one Mecha still standing on this earth! And as a reward for the victor, the only remaining Mecha will earn the right to face me in direct combat!" The oct-metal alloy used in making Mechas is certainly the finest metal that the technology of this era can create, but the mechanical structures that make up a Mecha are not as sturdy as the alloy itself. When considering only the mobility of the Mecha, damaging and repairing is not so difficult. Controlling the power of weapons in such a manner that one avoids causing extensive damage to the frame is not an easy task either. But... "This is a training method I''ve never heard of before..." a Mech Pilot with broad experience from a previous reserve class murmured in a daze. His comrade stroked his chin, pondering, "Maybe it''s because the war is coming, and there''s no time for gradual training?" ... Inside the cockpit, the instructor watched the representative of the Mechanical Court hanging beside him carefully, "Your Honor... do you think this is acceptable?" Chapter 433 376 Massacre! The elder of the Mechanical Court hummed, still quietly observing the outside world through the porthole. Beyond the transparent glass porthole, towering mechas stood firmly upon the earth. Two mechas, their blue and white liveries facing each other, allowed their mech pilots to see one another through the portholes of their cockpits, positioned at the same height. "Let''s smash them to pieces today!" An old-guard mech pilot from the previous batch of reserves came forward with a fierce smile on his lips. The top brass must have gone mad to allow artificial humans to lay their hands on the city''s greatest technological creation, perhaps it was the disgusting strife among the factions that made their superiors hold their noses and compromise, but as proud natural humans, they should make the higher-ups see the folly of their decision. To prevent more mistakes in the future, and to keep their honorable group of mech pilots from being tainted by impure elements, they had to demonstrate the absolute superiority of natural humans in this field! Moreover, in the selection the day before, their artificial human opponent had the audacity to speak up and steal their thunder! According to the normal sequence, the first group to complete the selection and become official mech pilots should have been theirs! Artificial humans... should only crawl on the ground and look up. "Begin!" The instructor''s command came through the loudspeaker, short and precise, and with a "buzz" of activation, almost all the mechas charged at their opponents simultaneously. The bulky mechas were sluggish in their movements; nearly all of them tried to strike their opponents like slow-motion human actions. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although the instructor taught them to fight with the mecha as if it were their own body when unfamiliar with its performance, the built-in power units in many parts of the mecha allow it to perform movements that are difficult for the human body, thus providing more room for improvisation. Many mech pilots tacitly chose to unleash their boundless imagination, making the entire sparring session look like a chaotic dance of demons. After all, strictly speaking, this was everyone''s first real contact with a mecha, and whether the moves they tried in simulators could be executed as flawlessly in reality remained to be seen. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire The instructor also endorsed this experimentation, appearing unconcerned by the initial chaos. In fact, setting aside a whole day was meant for them to "play;" the overall performance of the mecha was to be gradually mastered in relentless exploration and trial. Only one group''s battle stood out as precise and efficient. The moment the battle began, one of the mechas instantly activated and charged at its opponent, executing a classic combat move¡ªa gleaming alloy sword reflected blinding sunlight in its hand. Simple, but deadly. As the sole highlight in the chaos, it naturally caught the instructor''s attention. "Not bad in basics." The monotonous killing movements were simple and sharp, just the kind of directness and decisiveness soldiers on the battlefield loved. While it was accepted for these newly promoted official mech pilots to explore and experiment during training, the practiced standard techniques were still pleasing to the eye. Only... it was fleeting. "Buzz!" "Whoosh!" "Boom!" The blue and white livery flashed by, and the mecha that had been poised to attack found itself behind its charging opponent. The mecha that had fallen to the ground did not lose all mobility; initially, they thought they had tripped over their own feet and so tried to get up leveraging the strength of their limbs, only to hear the piercing alarm accompanying the flashing fault light inside the cockpit. The mecha''s self-check system provided the answer¡ªdamage to the transmission of the right leg, damage to the third and fourth internal power sources of the right leg. "..." The loss of some functionality in the mecha''s right leg did not stop the overall movement to stand up, it just appeared somewhat uncoordinated. However, the mecha that swept behind would not just watch its opponent crawl out from a disadvantage; the newly drawn alloy sword, cutting through the soft white light of the morning, effortlessly thrust once again into the gaps of the mecha''s joints. The octal alloy that comprised the entire mecha was undoubtedly stalwart, but just as the human body has weaknesses like joints and cartilage, to ensure the dexterity equivalent to a human body, the vital areas that provide space for movement could not be protected with heavy armor. These areas should have been protected by the mech pilot''s skills, however, if the pilot wasn''t consciously guarding these critical junctions, and the opponent was intent on targeting them, then defeat could occur in the blink of an eye. "Crack!" The bursting sound of mechanical cables was particularly grating this morning, as the sharp alloy saber caught on the opponent''s mecha head once again in a turn. Two mechas stood back to back, but one mecha had its saber reversed, jamming into the opponent''s neck, with its left hand grasping the opponent''s head to prevent any escape. "Zzt!" The saber forcefully sliced through, sending cables flying. Of course, a mecha''s head was not as crucial as a human head; whether it was the cockpit or the power source, those were located within the main torso of the mecha''s large frame. The head was more about fitting human self-recognition of "human form" and accommodating some weapon systems. Loss of the head meant losing control over many weapons, but it didn''t mean the complete loss of combat capability. This was undoubtedly a humiliation! A brief exchange was not enough for the mech pilot to recognize the gap in strength between them. The flames of anger had just begun to cling to his eyes when the piercing alarm that resounded in the cockpit, like cold water, interrupted them. ¡ª¡ª Weapon system damaged! ¡ª¡ª Power system damaged! ¡ª¡ª Left arm transmission damaged! ¡ª¡ª Power transmission damaged! ... A dense mass of red flashes on the three-dimensional structural diagram representing the mecha''s overall condition blinded both pilots, as the opponent didn''t cease attacking despite the "beheading." A single alloy saber with its limited power couldn''t completely incapacitate a mecha, so the opponent launched an attack reminiscent of a violent storm with a series of relentless hits. These vibrations weren''t particularly significant, but each one signaled another red damaged area lighting up on the mecha. Like a butcher carving up an ox, a once fully-capable mecha was reduced to a "wreck" after repeated offenses. Watching what seemed to be a one-sided slaughter, the stunned instructor finally blurted out in haste, "That''s enough, the repairs will cost a fortune!" Is it normal for a functioning mecha to be so completely damaged? This is going to have the Logistics Department cursing, isn''t it? "Oh~" Bai E responded lightly, standing up and picking up his saber. Turning off the voice system, he turned to look at Rose, "Feel anything yet?" Rose''s cheeks were flushed with excitement as she nodded vigorously, "Yeah!" That''s the way! Only real combat like this can speed up her progress! She couldn''t see her proficiency progress bar, but she knew that she was quickly catching up to Bai E''s pace! Rose''s gaze turned toward the other two pairs still locked in one-on-one combat, her eyes ablaze with fervor. Boys! Are you ready? As they were eagerly engaging with their own mechas in battle, an unexpected intruder suddenly joined in. This caused dissatisfaction among the original opponents¡ª "What are you doing? You''ve brought the fight over to us?" "Move aside, don''t interrupt our training." Bai E activated the team voice chat, greeting them with a laugh, "It''s boring with too few people, let us join in." Chapter 434 Instructor 377 is too strong! "This won''t do," said a visitor from the Mechanical Court, who had been quietly observing, his voice calm. "Indeed, it won''t," the instructor agreed, nodding, "Isn''t this disrupting everyone else''s training?" "Let the rest join in. Otherwise, the training won''t be effective." The Mech Pilots he favored were on a completely different level compared to the other regular Mech Pilots; continuing with one-on-one fights or even free-for-alls would not help them improve. Only a just group beating could show their true limits! "Oh~" the instructor grunted, surprised that the senior was concerned not with the feelings of all the students, but... No matter then. The instructor knew that the cooperation between the artificial Mech Pilots was very tacit, and their past performance had been quite good, but he had not expected them to be this formidable... It seemed, probably, that they had surpassed his own level? No wonder the esteemed visitor from the Mechanical Court paid them such close attention after having rejected them before. "Cough cough!" The Mech Pilot who was interrupted by Bai E fell silent, and suddenly heard the instructor''s order coming through the cockpit''s speaker, "All students, heed my command. Your only task is to take down W0721! I repeat, take down W0721! All remaining students, join forces to take down W0721!" "..." Only then did the four remaining Mechas, engrossed in playing with their respective opponents, notice the "wrecked Mecha" lying in the distance. The noise of swallowing saliva seemed especially clear in the quiet cockpit after the instructor finished his order, "Oh dear." "It''s already been smashed to pieces?" As their gaze shifted back to the Mecha that had unexpectedly intervened in their game, the determination in the Mech Pilots'' eyes within the cockpit solidified. They admitted that there was a certain objective disparity in their skills, but for the instructor to have them four against one, was he not underestimating them too much... "Wuuu, I''m trash!" "Stop, stop, if it breaks, what if we can''t fix it by tomorrow?" "Can''t beat it... simply can''t beat it..." Even the righteous four-against-one was no match for the Mecha operated by two artificial humans. The collisions between Mechas did not seem too perilous, unlike the human body where offense often outweighs defense; on a Mecha, defense generally exceeds offense. The restraint by other teammates meant that the offensive of the artificial Mech Pilots could not be as relentless as in a one-on-one confrontation. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire However, the intensity of their operation never waned, and to their horror, they realized that as the battle progressed, the offensive might of this opponent, akin to a great demon, became increasingly fierce. Once reaching a certain base limit, the Mecha''s movements became a bit smoother and more efficient, the required control intensity escalated in a step-wise fashion. This meant that the opponent was growing rapidly in the midst of battle! Of course, a certain amount of pressure can provide motivation, but an overwhelming disparity can only lead to complete despair. "I give up!" The defeated Mechas did not stand up again, and seeing the significant gap, they gave up resistance. Thus, the blue-and-white Mecha rose from among their four and turned its back, walking towards the Mecha of instructor Xie, who had been observing the battle from a distance. Partial performance damage to the Mechas did not hinder their ability to enjoy the scene. The pilots lying in the cockpits settled into comfortable positions and awaited what promised to be quite a spectacle. "They''re really going to fight the instructor?" "I think they''re getting too cocky..." ... "Holy shit! That''s awesome! They can actually fight the instructor!" ... "Holy shit! The instructor is incredible! He can actually last so long against the two of them!" ... "Tsk! The instructor is still the one!" ... The battle between the two mechas lasted for almost an hour, and in the end, it concluded with one mecha limping and with a broken arm, securing the final victory. The charred cockpit, spewing sparks, suddenly opened, and from within emerged two young figures. The instructor''s voice came out from the intact speaker, "Everyone is dismissed, free to act on their own... those willing to wait, stay here for the repair team to come." No one expected that a common training session would end up scrapping all seven mechas dispatched for the exercise. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ["Lucky Strike" energy +11.] "Thank you, Instructor Xie." After a casual greeting, Bai E and Rose leapt out of the cockpit and headed for the grass off to the side. With the freedom to act on their own, of course they had to check out Black Street. Witnessing the retreating backs of the two synthetic soldiers, the only standing, heavily damaged mecha seemed to finally reach its limit and collapsed with a thunderous crash. Inside the cockpit, the instructor, with a face full of shame, apologized profusely to the esteemed member of the Mechanical Court beside him, "I''m sorry, Sir, I''ve let you down." If it weren''t for his inability to keep up with the combat instruction output frequency, this fight with the students wouldn''t have been so challenging. The grey-lipped representative from the Mechanical Court merely moved his lips and finally patted the instructor on the shoulder, "Train more in the future." It looked like he hesitated for a moment before adding, "But you''re probably reaching your limit already." Without undergoing perfect mechanical augmentation, one cannot control a mecha perfectly. ... "I''m sorry for holding you back," Rose said apologetically. She had thought they would be able to defeat the instructor directly in their first training session, but the instructor proved to have some tricks up his sleeve, worthy of his role. Bai E shook his head with a sigh, "The main reason is the instructor''s prowess." Through his engagements with other mech pilots, Bai E had formed an understanding of his own strength. With the enhancement of his various abilities, he felt there were hardly any rivals left for him in mecha control. Yet he hadn''t anticipated that simply facing an armored camp instructor would be so difficult. Although Rose''s not keeping up with him contributed to their difficulty, even if it were two of him controlling the mecha together, they likely couldn''t quickly and easily defeat the instructor. It was said that the real mecha experts were in the Mechanical Court. If an armored camp instructor was this tough to beat, just how formidable were the senior mech pilots in the Mechanical Court? It seemed that the advanced tactical maneuvers they were given to attempt that day were indeed just the basics of the basics. The strength of the Mechanical Court''s senior mech pilots would be much more terrifying! This world still had depths yet to be explored! If one wanted to rise from nothing, how could they possibly rule over all without being peerless in martial prowess? However, increasing one''s strength wasn''t an overnight feat. Turning his mood lighter, Bai E strode forward, "Let''s go! I''ll take you to Black Street to have a look." After dealing with the hidden threats on Nova the night before, he had left her in Black Street and wondered whether she could lay low quietly without him there. With her strength, if she acted recklessly, or even just whimsically, no one in Black Street at the moment could subdue her¡ªit was always a worrying, unstable factor. "Yeah!" replied Rose cheerfully. Her voice was light with excitement in his ears. She rarely had the chance to leave the camp and had been quite intrigued by Black Street as mentioned by Bai E. Chapter 435 378 confrontations "Bai, Bai, Bai¡­" Listening to the incantation-like muttering by his ear, even the composed Gilder couldn''t help but feel a headache coming on. "The master won''t abandon you," said the Mousefolk at Gilder''s side, glancing carefully at the delicate girl who resembled a porcelain doll and, hearing her unremitting muttering, couldn''t help but whisper soothingly. The master would never let down any "companion" related to him; this belief was the Mousefolk''s creed up to this day. That''s why... He and his sister had said their final goodbyes. The lady from the Arbitration Place did not provide an exact time for action, so to prevent an unexpected departure one day, the Mousefolk only wanted to see his sister for the last time before... calmly facing death. From this moment on, every day would be his last. So even listening to the continuous "curses" of the intriguing character seemed quite interesting. Perhaps the reassurance was effective, as the white-haired sister, who had been fussing like a child, suddenly fell silent. Her eyes, clear as crystal, suddenly looked in a certain direction, steady and focused, whether contemplating or simply daydreaming¡­ The Mousefolk looked curiously in the direction of her gaze, but could only see a wall. It couldn''t be that she was staring blankly at a wall, right? "Shh~" Nova suddenly stood up, her small face stern. Her level of Spiritual Energy was top-notch even among second-tier practitioners, especially after Bai E surgically removed the tracker from her body, which had suppressed part of her Spiritual Energy. With it now fully unleashed, she was more adept with her Spiritual Energy than ever before. A skilled Spiritual Energy practitioner would never neglect observation of their surroundings, let alone Nova, whose level was high enough to constantly spread her Spiritual Energy around her to sense changes in the environment. Therefore, an "anomaly" that suddenly intruded into her spread field of Spiritual Energy was enough to draw attention. Anything that completely resisted her Spiritual Energy sensing was either a master or an enemy! Or more likely an enemy''s master! This was Bai''s territory, and in his absence, it was her duty to protect it! After a blur of motion, an afterimage flitted past Gilder and the rest. "Captain!" The acting captain and the boy called out sharply and swiftly gave chase. Before they could discern what was happening outside, the sound of bodies colliding resounded. "Bang, bang, bang, bang!" Between the two swiftly intertwining figures, each exchange was full of immense physical strength. Nova''s close combat skills had always been strong; it was just that she happened to meet Bai E before. And now, encountering Rose was like a needle meeting wheat awn. The collision of pure physical force more vividly showcased the wild power of the human body, a direct visual impact that mechanical warfare, firearms, or even Spiritual Energy could not provide. Xu Ruoguang, who was leading a patrol not far away, heard the commotion and quickly brought his team over. Upon swiftly noticing the figure of the master watching the fight with serenity, he gestured to stop his men, who were about to step forward and intervene. With the master there, nobody could turn the sky upside down. Watching the battle between two NPCs who were obviously masters, Xu Ruoguang''s eyes shone with longing. Unlike other players who felt detached from the NPCs'' strength... no player took the power of NPCs seriously, focusing only on other players who entered the game at the same time. After all, no matter how strong an NPC is, isn''t that just a string of code? Even in-game plot kills were countless. High-level NPCs were there to be watched; more importantly, what help or quest rewards they could offer to the player. Strength... it was just a backdrop to make those things logically consistent. But he was different. Among the NPCs, the master... controlled the real world! "Boom!" Even though they knew they were being watched, the two, as if real fire had been ignited, had no intention of sparing their opponent. Following a brief visible charging motion, a medium-sized figure suddenly appeared on the scene and stood between the two combatants at the peak of their explosion. Under the fierce clash of powers, even the air trembled, yet that figure remained unmoved, as if completely unaffected. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire Bai E smiled and pulled the two together, shaking his somewhat sore arms before saying, "We''re on the same side, getting to know each other will do." "Yes." Seeing Bai E, Nova smiled shyly and obediently. The moment she made a move against the "intruder," she had already seen Bai E. Bai also possessed Spiritual Energy, and his level of Spiritual Energy was not low; even within his own realm of Spiritual Energy emission, she couldn''t detect him immediately. Knowing the person was brought by Bai, she had already planned to back off, but after initiating the attack, she had to consider whether the other party was willing to cease fighting. Clearly, Rose, who was suddenly attacked, reacted very swiftly. Without any warning, she naturally didn''t hold back against the assailant. And what if she saw it was Nova? What then? All she knew was that the day before, Bai E had left Nova aside. Maybe Nova had harbored thoughts of betrayal after receiving some information about Bai E in Blackwater City. Otherwise, why would she suddenly attack her, and with such a ferocious move? Dare to betray? Then killing is the answer! Without communication, when one party does not hold back, the other must respond with their full strength. In their last fight, Nova''s only opponent was Bai E, where Spiritual Energy could still be of some use. But now, facing Rose, the illusionary Spiritual Energy was as inconsequential as a gentle breeze on a mountain or moonlight on a river. Only the small part of Spiritual Energy that enhanced her basic attributes could truly exert a bit of the power of Spiritual Energy. The combat situation was intense. If not for Bai E''s intervention, the outcome would likely have been mutually assured destruction. Standing in front of Bai E, glancing at Nova close by, excitement was the dominant expression in Rose''s eyes, with just a hint of wariness. This was the second opponent she had faced who could exert such pressure on her in close combat. Good! "Continue patrolling," Bai E motioned to Xu Ruoguang, who was leading the team watching the show from not too far away. Nova''s presence shouldn''t be exposed to too many people. The "Doctor" from Grey Iron City, having learned of Nova''s disappearance, might take unforeseen actions. They needed to stay vigilant until the opponent made an appearance. And moreover... with so many people witnessing, it seemed that exposure had inevitably occurred? ''My fault...'' He had not expected Nova to have such a strong sense of guarding her territory. Interested in assessing the strength of the two, he hadn''t interrupted immediately. "Let''s go inside." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... In a dark corner, a figure clad in a black leather jacket reported back in a calm tone, devoid of any ripples. "Doctor, confirmed, it''s the prime subject!" Chapter 436 379 Unexpected News "Should we capture her and bring her back?" the black-clad guard asked with an icy tone. They had been in the vicinity of Blackwater City for more than a day, but in search of Primary Number Zero, they had spread their forces to various gatherings on the city''s outskirts to gather intelligence, all for this very moment. "No rush," the doctor deliberated briefly, then raised a hand to signal a halt. Perhaps he could cover the sky with one hand in Grey Iron City, but in Blackwater City, it was impossible to wield the same level of authority. The locals'' regard for his stature was uncertain, let alone for someone who was merely pursuing a "defector" whose factuality was still in debate. Even if the people of Blackwater City recognized his significance, whether they would obediently find and return the desired target was even more doubtful. All these uncertainties made it preferable to conduct covert inquiries rather than rely on the people of Blackwater City for assistance. Primary Number Zero was inherently uncontrollable, a trait determined by her natural characteristics. As long as she was here, she was bound to leave traces. Now that Primary Number Zero''s presence here was confirmed, everything else was no concern. Since Primary Number Zero couldn''t be destroyed, it was better to first observe the core reasons behind her defection and identify the forces currently sheltering her. Even if it did come down to drawing on the city''s power, with more intelligence at his disposal, he would have greater leverage during negotiations. "Continue monitoring the area where Primary Number Zero has appeared." "Yes!" The black leather-clad guard responded with vigor. The doctor, also dressed in a black leather trench coat, adjusted his black gloves, put on sunglasses and a hat, and strode toward the area reported to have sightings of Primary Number Zero. To be able to "subdue" Primary Number Zero, even if only temporarily or to gain her trust, one must possess some abilities. ''Let me see, what kind of person is capable of taking away Primary Number Zero?'' ... With tonight''s cautionary events, Bai E decided not to make Nova a regular member of Black Street''s defense force like Xu Ruoguang. He didn''t even plan to assign her any formal duties. Until the complications surrounding her were fully resolved, Bai E intended to position her as Black Street''s final line of defense, only to be deployed in situations no one else could handle. Or perhaps... to serve as a mentor in Spiritual Energy for the players? He had a unique advantage over other natives in that he truly understood the player community. The stronger the players guided by him, the better, and if their level of Spiritual Energy could quickly reach the second stage, they would be the ideal candidates for exploring higher-dimensional spaces. But clearly, Gong Yan and Gu Lan, who ranked amongst the top players, were still a significant distance from reaching the second stage of Spiritual Energy; depending on them was not a viable option for now. And with just him teaching, he could impact a limited number of players. Mobilizing more formidable natives to provide opportunities for progression to the players was another matter he needed to consider. Of course, this was contingent on first resolving the crisis with Nova. Furthermore, he must remain vigilant... The title "Children of the Demon" attributed to players wasn''t unfounded. The reasons behind those who transformed into formidable demons through contact with players remained unclear. Bai E wouldn''t abandon his approach out of fear. Even if there were cases of transformation into demonic elect through contact with players, it didn''t justify completely severing communication with them. After all... he hadn''t experienced it personally. Was it an absolute exception, or were there subtleties or characteristics he hadn''t yet detected? That remained to be verified. He always had to try. Events occurring close by were easier to observe and control. Bai E''s visit to Black Street this time was specifically to settle Nova''s presence. Having made a decision and arranged everything properly, Bai E headed straight back to camp. Even when idle, high-level physical training always brought steady attribute improvement; in this era, one needed to race against the torrent of time, not wasting a single minute or second. ... "Captain!" However, upon returning to the camp, Bai E was immediately greeted by the already waiting You. "Minister Eric has something to discuss with you, but it seems... it''s not very urgent," You informed with a calm tone, merely delivering the message. This kind of thing had happened before during the previous rest period; Bai E could choose to attend or not, usually being invited to observe whatever new discoveries were made. It was good if Bai E could learn something or contribute some creative ideas, but not going was of no consequence to either party. When there was serious business, Bai E naturally declined; now that he had some free time, he could afford to maintain the relationship. "Hmm... I''ll head over now." "Good, the vehicle is waiting for you in the west area." The regular mech pilot squad had returned from morning training, but Bai E''s figure was nowhere to be seen. As the time for afternoon training approached, Bai E usually made it back around this time. You, familiar with Bai E''s habits and informed of this information, had already made arrangements and anticipated Bai E''s response. After interacting with Bai E for so long, she had grown into the role of a considerate little secretary. Only Rose stood beside You, watching Bai E''s retreating figure and clicking her tongue, "Tsk~ really busy." "Mm~" You responded softly, her eyes slightly lost in thought as she watched that upright figure, "The captain is indeed very tired..." Every minute... Every second. ... The vehicle slowly drove through the city; the Scientific Research Institute, although not in the city center, still belonged to the inner city. Bai E watched the streets passing by on both sides of the road, everything seemingly no different from his previous life... only the occasional black crevices in the buildings revealed the real depth of this metropolis. The underground city, extending deep into unknown depths, was even more a core part of this city. The outside world was far too dangerous, and the cost of expanding the city walls wasn''t justified by the benefits, so digging downwards naturally became the only option for the ever-expanding urban population. Perhaps even the city''s absolute ruler didn''t know how deep the lowest parts of the city had reached. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire In every crack passed on the surface, it seemed as though countless unknown eyes were observing everything above ground... "Knock, knock, knock~" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gently knocking, Bai E stepped in on his own accord. The staff in the machine room showed no reaction to Bai E''s arrival, and Minister Eric, who was chairing the meeting, just glanced over with a light smile, continuing his speech¨C¨C "Regarding the special message that was transmitted from the internet root server, what are everyone''s thoughts?" No sooner had he finished speaking than a researcher abruptly stood up, "A purely virtual world that exists outside of the network? I think it''s impossible!" Chapter 437 380 Plans to Set Out Again No sooner had the voice fallen than another researcher spoke up in agreement, "Yes! A world completely independent of the electronic network, what does it rely on to operate?" Since it''s a pure virtual world without the support of computing power provided by the electronic network, how are the various rules within it supposed to function like a tree without roots, or duckweed in the wind? According to the message from the server center, this suddenly appearing virtual world was detected by the server center''s personnel because it was "stealing" the server''s computing power resources. But prior to this, what "thing" was it relying on to ensure the operation of this "world"? Another researcher stood up, voicing a different opinion, "But the urgent matter is not to discuss the possibility of this affair''s existence, but rather that the server center sent this message hoping for our support. We should be figuring out how to deal with this ''suddenly discovered'' virtual world, not proving its existence... especially since it already exists and has appeared before us." "No! It''s not before our eyes." A researcher corrected the mistake in the statement, "It''s ''a message'' sent from the server center. We are precisely in the process of confirming the accuracy of this message, otherwise how can we request resources to address this sudden request? I believe none of us want to see a repeat of the last incident when an ''unknown force'' cut off and replaced our communication signal!" The reference was indeed to the last operation when Bai E and other special squads joined forces to capture the sand worm. Behind every successful or failed operation, reasons must be sought and experiences summed up. This was part of their duties in the Information Department; no one would shirk it. To claim ignorance the first time failure occurred could be acceptable, but a similar incident recurring would be an inescapable responsibility of theirs. "So until more messages are received and the truth of this message confirmed, any action would be an irresponsible decision!" Minister Eric furrowed his brows tightly; he had a guess in his mind but was reluctant to voice it at this moment. After all, it pertained to the electronic demon, and even though the demon had been thoroughly eradicated by them, "Its" existence was not something every ordinary researcher was entitled to know. Just as he was about to use his authority as minister to forcefully stop the dispute, a loud noise suddenly erupted from the doorway. "Bang!" The tightly closed door was suddenly pushed open with great force amidst the noisy debate, and a tall, thin man wearing a black coat, whom Bai E somewhat remembered, strode into the research room. "Who are you?" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This is not a place for random people to enter. Get out!" A researcher near the door, annoyed at having his proposal rejected by others, let out his temper on the newcomer. "Shut up!" Eric''s eyes brightened at the sight of the visitor, he immediately stopped the reckless rebuke of his subordinate researcher, and then turned to the man greeted him with excitement, "Lord Pansen." Yes... Pansen. Bai E also found the face from his memory ¡ª indeed, it was Pansen, the Spiritual Energy user who had assisted them in covert operations during their raid on the server ruins! At the last moment of destroying the electronic demon, this powerful Spiritual Energy user had briefly connected to the terrifying and complex mental maelstrom of the electronic demon, and when they returned to camp, his life and death were uncertain. Now seeing him again... He seemed to have gained a few more curiously distinct traits. Even though the other''s gaze was not on him, Bai E felt as if countless "eyes" in every direction around him were tightly monitoring his every move, inescapable. ... And he seemed even thinner than before. Bai E''s gaze quietly observed the hem of the other''s coat, not showing much surprise. The sudden arrival of Pansen had his reasons¡ª "The message you all heard is true." His calm words were full of convincing meaning. The power of Spiritual Energy surged within. Feeling the gentle breeze-like nourishing power of the Spiritual Energy proverbs, Bai made no move to resist. Thus, they took the other party''s words as absolute truth, not without reason. Feeling the feedback from the Spiritual Energy, Pansen knew no one doubted his words, a hint of satisfaction flashing in the depths of his silent eyes. Last time, what seemed like a reckless act of rashly interfacing with the psychic tumult of a digital devil yielded him a rich reward. This is the opportunity of those with Spiritual Energy. Crisis is also a blessing. They are two sides of the same coin, often the two facets of the same event. The risk he took with such a reckless action could have scattered his psyche in the chaotic flow of the spiritual world, but if he could ensure that his Spiritual Energy remained unyielding, then his soul, once tempered, would only grow stronger. Fortunately, he was the latter. When an opportunity presented itself, not a single person with Spiritual Energy could control their impulse to explore the unknown. And luckily, he returned. He also became one of the very few in the city with the three-stage Spiritual Energy. An understanding of Spiritual Energy realms utterly incomprehensible to ordinary people gave him the power to completely control the life and death of ordinary people, not to mention mere verbal bewitchment. Like Minister Eric, he was unwilling to divulge details about it. There are many things that are better off unknown to the common person for the sake of the world. Once they know, they have thoughts. In a world where having thoughts could either attract demons or trigger "changes," knowing too much is also a risk. Better to brute-force their acceptance with the use of Spiritual Energy. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire The exchanged glances between Minister Eric and Pansen were brief, their mutual understanding unspoken. Where could the Digital World have been before the digital devil was exterminated? Where else could it be? Beyond the digital devils that were wiped out, they desired nothing else. Now that the digital devils have dissipated, the Digital World, without the "power" to sustain it, can only actively or passively "seek" an energy source. The problem is¡ª "How should we deal with it?" "See if we can capture it!" The researcher, who had just questioned its authenticity, suddenly lit up with excitement, the unknown always being the most captivating, "The mysteries of the Digital World might just be unraveled!" "We could use this Digital World to discover more about the applications of the internet." "That''s what I mean," Pansen whispered as he approached Minister Eric. This was also his reason for coming. The "legacy" of the digital devils, for someone like him who had advanced to the three-stage Spiritual Energy because of them, held an especially fatal attraction. "Then we go again!" Eric''s eyes hardened with resolve as he made the decision. Turning his head to Bai E, "And it just so happens that Captain Bai is here..." Chapter 438 Restriction of identity 381 As a comrade who had gone on a mission together and performed outstandingly, Bai E''s performance undoubtedly secured full trust from Minister Eric. Moreover, this trust became even more persuasive as Bai E''s position within the military camp advanced. From initially an ordinary member who even needed to use backdoor connections to join the special operations team, he became the captain of a special squad and even possessed the highest coordination authority in times of emergency, which undoubtedly proved his vision. Faced once again with matters related to those ruins, even if Bai E was not here, Minister Eric would most likely find a way to contact him. Following the minister''s gaze, Pansen, who had just been promoted to a third-level Spiritual Energy user, also looked over. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire He too had a certain impression of this comrade who had performed superbly in special operations multiple times. However, faced with the other''s eager gaze, Bai E could not agree immediately, "I need to go back and apply." Apart from the special squad''s organization, he also held the position of a regular Mecha Pilot in the armored battalion. Unlike how he could directly receive "graduation" qualifications from the instructor after showing certain results in shooting or physical training, his performance in today''s training and sparring with the instructor was slightly inferior, obviously not satisfying enough to "graduate." For a soldier, participating in daily designated training is an unquestionable duty. After becoming a regular Mech Pilot, operating the mecha for daily training became his primary task, even tasks from the special squad had to be deferred. To actively apply for a special mission was likely not an easy matter. "Is that so¡­" Eric mused for a moment. Having listened to Bai E''s explanation, he knew he couldn''t insist. The information department didn''t have much say within the Military Department, and the few favors they could call in wouldn''t likely be spent on matters of little importance. He truly wanted the comparatively "well-understood" Bai E to collaborate with him on the operation, but if the cost was too great, then Bai E wasn''t irreplaceable to that extent. "Okay, I understand," Eric nodded and then turned to look at Pansen. "So, Lord Pansen, do you also intend to join us?" Pansen shifted his gaze from Bai E, who, in his eyes, had been a minor character, and who, even now as a "captain," was still too insignificant for a third-level Spiritual Energy user. The other was improving, but he was advancing faster. A mere ant, nothing to concern himself with. When Minister Eric turned the question back to him, he simply nodded indifferently, "Of course." "When are you available? Shall we coordinate our schedules?" "Probably about a week..." Pansen contemplated briefly before making a decision. He had just been promoted to third-level, and his foundation was still unstable. The world of Spiritual Energy was fraught with peril, and staying in the city always left one under the "protection" of "elders." Venturing too far from the city posed certain risks for someone who had just broken through. In the past, he might have risked his life for a chance at a "future," but now as a third-level Spiritual Energy user, he was almost standing at the apex of the city''s food chain. Advancing to the fourth level was elusive, and from then on, he had to prioritize stability, waiting until he became familiar with his newfound power before venturing out. These detailed internal ramifications, though, did not need to be shared with outsiders. "Good, then we''ll make preparations and you can contact us anytime you''re available," Minister Eric decided. Whatever important matters Lord Pansen had to attend to, they couldn''t just leave at a moment''s notice. The research into virtual world subjects had not been completely fruitless in recent years, but could only be described as nearly abandoned. How could one rely on the network when it wasn''t functional, let alone build upon a virtual digital world founded on it? Even though the interconnected network had been restarted recently, they had yet to research related aspects. In this brief preparation period, they needed to consult a considerable amount of literature to start relearning and mastering relevant knowledge to ensure that when they reached the site, they could make as accurate judgments as possible based on their observations. All of these things required preparation. "Alright!" ''About a week or so?'' Bai E stood aside quietly, noting this time frame in his heart. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He certainly wanted to go and see for himself. Having the highest authority of the Root Server, he saw everything related to this domain as intimately connected to himself. Furthermore, a "legacy" or rather "trouble" possibly left by an electronic demon definitely warranted his personal inspection. It was even possible that a solution would require his presence, the one with the highest authority. Bai E was not willing to entrust his fate to others. But if Minister Eric and his team were to depart now, then naturally he would have no hope of following, and in a short amount of time, he likely wouldn''t have any legitimate excuse to organize or go alone to the distant Root Server ruins. But if there was an extension of time, then he might find an opportunity to maneuver¡ª Or rather, a chance to demonstrate his abilities. As long as he could perform to the "graduation" standard, regaining the relative freedom of the special squad shouldn''t be a problem. Seeing that the others had roughly concluded their discussions, and the talk about the "virtual world" was drawing to an end, Bai E turned to take his leave. There was still time to devise a strategy for the impending excursion to the Root Server ruins, yet an evident trouble loomed close at hand. Because he had faced the Spiritual Energy incantations of a higher-level Spiritual Energy user without daring to draw special attention, Bai E had chosen to fully accept them, so much so that now his mind was etched with the constant reminder of the reality of the "virtual world." And the more he tried to "focus" with his will, the more ingrained the impression became. Yet Bai E was not an ordinary person entirely lacking Spiritual Energy; with a second-level proficiency, he could easily discern this influence from an external force at the level of Spiritual Energy. It was as if he was looking into a mirror and saw a big, ripe white pimple on his face¡ªso obvious, and seemingly removable. Spiritual Energy was urging Bai E to deal with this, and doubtlessly¡­ Yue Ying was the best teacher to resolve this issue. ... "You''ve come into contact with a third-level Spiritual Energy user?" Yue Ying''s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing Bai E''s truthful report. His young face displayed a serious contemplation that seemed¡­ all the more alluring. Chapter 439 382 Backing! It was clear that a third-class spiritual energy user was an absolute powerhouse, even in her eyes. Facing the spirit probe of such a person, one needed to guard against not just the dangers presented at the moment. If any signs of resistance occurred shortly after the event, the active spiritual energy would still faithfully feed back the results to its master''s will. If one didn''t want to attract additional attention from the other party, the process of eliminating the influence of this spiritual energy maxim must be done with extreme caution. "You need to come into contact with a rarely used spiritual energy trick..." Spiritual energy recall. [You are learning spiritual energy related skills...] [Trigger teaching task¡ªSpiritual Energy Recall.] [Teaching Task¡ªSpiritual Energy Recall: Powerful spiritual energy users can trace the source of memories, wander above time, and directly alter the "past" memories to achieve a certain self-shaping effect they desire. Task completion reward: Spiritual Energy +5/5.] "This trick can''t change much. Normally, spiritual energy users who can control this trick are not easily ''brainwashed'' by others. However, if ''brainwashed'' due to a significant difference in strength, by the time one has the power to resist, one can no longer distinguish between ''reality'' and the ''illusion'' imposed by others. It is only in situations like yours that it might be useful." "Hmm~" The influence of others'' spiritual energy felt like an evil tentacle that was affecting his will at all times, and Bai E could feel it, becoming increasingly accustomed to it. This growing sense of calm made him uneasy, and the idea of driving it out was also gradually deepening and paradoxically becoming more resigned. [You are spending combat experience to follow the target''s guidance and trace back through the river of memory...] [Warning: Remember the difference between "the past" and "the present"; what is changed is merely the memory, not the "fact".] [Current tracing completion: 1%] ... [Current tracing completion: 50%] ... [Current tracing completion: 100%] Yue Ying was undoubtedly the worst and the best teacher Bai E had encountered so far. An ordinary person would probably not learn much under her guidance, but Bai E could grow the most from her. Having precisely located the target point, Bai E focused his mind, and the nature of his spiritual energy allowed him to disregard time and space, launching an attack from the present into the past of his memories. The attack was not a forceful one. As the current Bai E gently filtered out the influence of the spiritual energy user Pansen from his memories with his spiritual energy, this "war" that wandered through memories finally came to an end. The "cognition" that had been influenced by the spiritual energy maxim finally returned to his original self. [You have just engaged in a battle of spiritual energy within memory, and your understanding in this area has greatly improved. Mystery +0.5.] "Thank you, Teacher." Bai E said respectfully. As the two spent more time together, this private relationship needed a definite identity for acknowledgment. Thus, Master was the natural outcome. The Elf Race does not easily accept this title, but once recognized, it''s considered an inviolable promise. However, at this moment, Yue Ying''s face did not show much pride. Usually, at times like this, Bai E loved to see the expression on the face of the elf miss¡ªa mixture of feigned indifference and uncontrollable joy¡ªbut today, only a thoughtful frown was present. "What''s wrong, Teacher?" Yue Ying''s gaze was intense as she glanced at Bai E in front of her. It wasn''t certain if it was an illusion, after all, anything was possible in the world of Spiritual Energy. But in that brief moment guiding Bai E to trace back his memories, at the far end of the seemingly frail artificial human warrior''s memory stream, she saw a vast expanse of... nothingness. His past... had it been thoroughly and completely modified? This sudden thought sent Yue Ying into a chill as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, to achieve such an extensive modification... the power of the other party was unimaginable. Or¡­ was it just a limitation of Spiritual Energy''s detection on the delicate soul of an artificial human warrior? She had never encountered such a situation before, after all, there had never been an artificial human who had grown to the level of using Spiritual Energy to trace memories before. Hopefully... it was just a temporary fluctuation of Spiritual Energy. Yue Ying''s crystal-clear pink lips gently exhaled a misty breath, moving the situation to a direction she was more willing to accept. "It''s alright..." Yue Ying rose to her feet, her black robe smoothly cascading down her body''s curves, "I know you have many secrets that cannot be revealed, especially to those human officers in this military camp. But you only need to know..." As the petite figure turned and walked away, she put her hood back on with both hands, her voice simultaneously transmitting through the air into Bai E''s ears, "it doesn''t matter, I am here. Not to mention their human affairs are currently none of my concern, even if our races discuss cooperation in the future, you... belong to me. Be bold and go do it!" She was never a reckless person, but neither was she overly cautious. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The talent shown by Bai E made her willing to contact him, and long-term observation finally made her willing to break the Elves'' natural prejudice against humans, seeing him as an existence on the same level of life. "...Yes!" Bai E watched the small figure leave and gradually disappear into the darkness, his eyes flickering slightly. This was the first time Yue Ying had made her stance clear. Inside that seemingly delicate and exquisite body was the dominance that a peerless warrior should have. Even supervisors like Carlos and Hamilton couldn''t offer him such absolute protection. This was the truly reliable support. But it was also the support of last resort. When needing to rely on an Elf''s shelter, it generally meant that Bai E had lost his footing among humans. But nonetheless, this was a source of confidence. When speaking of third-tier Spiritual Energy users, Yue Ying''s expression didn''t show much fluctuation, indicating that human third-tier Spiritual Energy users might not necessarily have a say in front of her based solely on strength. This kind of unparalleled military force was the most reliable backing in this world. With her assurance, when the time came to make certain choices, he would have more options. He would eventually break the rules. If not now, then in the near future. ... The next morning. "Assemble!" The refurbished Mechas stood on the ground like brand-new machines. The instructor''s gaze sternly swept over the numbers sprayed on each Mecha, lingering particularly on the right shoulder of the last blue and white Mecha. A harsh voice came coldly from the speakers in the cockpit of each Mecha, "You have three more days!" Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire "As the first batch of Mech Pilots from our Mech Armor Camp that can be presented with pride, in the small-scale raid planned three days from now, you must demonstrate absolute dominance!" "The raid is a joint operation, but only you can be the most dazzling! Tear apart those bugs'' lines, make them retract their heads back into their lairs, trembling with fear!" "Remember! Your performance will not only set an example for those who follow, but it will also be one of the important criteria for the Military Department to determine when to launch another assault on the bug nests." "Of course!" the instructor''s tone shifted, warming up slightly, "For the group that performs the best, I will join with higher-ups and do my utmost to satisfy any one of their requests!" Chapter 440 383 Steel Order "Train hard, every one of you!" After his shout of anger, Bai E heard the instructor''s gentle voice in the private channel, "Continue, Bai E..." In this sparring session between the instructor and the trainees, the instructor felt that he was the one under the most pressure. But it was precisely because of this that he reaped substantial benefits! A mech pilot who doesn''t want to go to the Mechanical Court isn''t a good armored battalion instructor! Begin training! ... At dawn on Black Street, from the distant mist, a ragged silhouette gradually emerged. Upon closer approach, it became clear that it was likely another refugee from the wilderness coming into the city. Xu Ruoguang, with his hands crossed over his chest holding a sword, silently watched the approaching figure with the Black Street Guard behind him. The expertise in assessing people he had cultivated through interactions with various spying agents who approached Black Street for different purposes was now proving its worth. [...No flaws detected.] It should just be a real refugee. Unlucky to be alone, but lucky enough to have reached the city''s radius. Luckier still to have come to Black Street. Having assessed the target''s identity, Xu Ruoguang strode forward. The refugee, who had cautiously stopped upon seeing a figure in a uniform trying to intercept him, merely observed the guards'' lower halves with a pair of dim eyes. "We are the security force of this settlement, maintaining Order," Xu Ruoguang began, introducing himself before softly asking, "Where are you from?" Looking up at the other, Xu Ruoguang was quite amazed at the refugee''s height. It wasn''t obvious from afar, but only in close contact could he sense this real difference. He had chosen a body type like in "reality," not particularly tall but also not short, meeting the average male height requirement, yet this refugee stood a head and more above him, and was broad-shouldered, with just pale, cracked lips and a somewhat weak breath. It must have been a long time since he had enough nutrition, which fit with his refugee status. Xu Ruoguang had no suspicions, noting the other''s silent, wary, and timid gaze. He simply smiled warmly and extended his right hand without disdain, "Welcome to Black Street; you can start a new life here." "..." The refugee''s lips trembled slightly, his face showing visible astonishment and joy, "Thank... thank you." A sneer echoed in the doctor''s heart, who was feigning his demeanor. Being in someone else''s territory, he had not dared to venture in alone to gather information, and thus had little detailed knowledge of the settlement. He had to think of other methods. He had thought it would be difficult to infiltrate, but he didn''t expect to succeed in penetrating the enemy''s ranks with such ease. ''As a Guardian of a power, to be so careless, failure!'' "Come, follow me; I''ll have them arrange a place for you to stay. It''s not big, but at least it''s a place to shelter from the wind and rain," Xu Ruoguang said as he turned to lead the way, instructing the guards behind him, "Continue patrolling." Following Xu Ruoguang, the doctor swept an icy gaze over every visible aspect before him. A settlement beyond the city, lacking heavily armed forces, yet flourishing. Not a single idle loafer to be seen, something that would be unthinkable elsewhere. But organs without a hard shell, no matter how wonderful, are easily shattered upon touch. The tastier it is, the more deadly it becomes. ''Failure!'' ``` ''Failure!'' All was a failure! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were no mighty arms of one''s own, no walls or turrets of steel torrents, not even a glimpse of the attempt to establish such mechanisms. How could the entire settlement lay completely defenseless, laid bare to the eyes of a newcomer like himself? What a grave oversight was this? Was it merely an ordinary community, laboring for a livelihood? With only a few decades in a lifetime, how could one afford to waste so much time on fundamental aspects? How could such a shortsighted waste be fit to take away Number One? It couldn''t just be this! Perhaps... one could probe a bit? "We''ve arrived." Xu Ruoguang, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around. The doctor, coming to his senses, quickly shrank his neck and cast his eyes down, once again donning a facade of timidity. "... Yes." Xu Ruoguang pointed to a row of grey-white cement houses, "This is the place... It''s not large, but it''s enough to shelter from wind and rain. Since you''ve joined the Black Street, we will naturally provide you with enough food and housing to sustain life. But as an obligation, you also must complete the required daily workload. From now on, this is your home, but it is also the home of us all." "... Yes." Looking at the reticent and awkward expression of the tall man, Xu Ruoguang couldn''t help but smile wryly and shake his head. Turning his attention to the commissar of life affairs approaching from a distance, he completely dismissed this trivial matter, "That''s the person in charge of managing your daily life matters. He will handle the details for you." "... Alright." ... Having finished his morning training, Bai E headed straight for Black Street. The Mecha had been gloriously shattered once more, and the afternoon would evidently be spent under maintenance by logistics personnel, which no longer concerned Bai E. "Has anything happened?" Bai E usually inquired. Gilder, who tallied everything, flipped through his notes and earnestly replied, "There''s been a slight change in personnel; we encountered several foreign refugees today, and not all together..." "The children of demons?" Bai E raised an eyebrow. Over time, he had learned of Kuang Xin and others'' identities at birth¡ªthey had initially joined the indigenous people''s recognition system as refugees. Could the refugees appearing suddenly and unknown to each other be another batch of players who had gotten their qualification numbers? "They shouldn''t be..." Gilder shook his head. Xu Ruoguang, who reported the matter, seemed to know that the master would ask about this and specifically cautioned that these refugees were not the children of demons, but there was no issue. "Occasionally, large-scale natural disasters occur in the wilderness. It''s normal for refugees from all corners to move closer to cities to avoid such disasters." "Then that''s good," Bai E commented, not entirely clear about too many common knowledge aspects of this world. When subordinates entrusted with responsibility made judgments, he chose to trust to a certain extent. "Additionally..." Gilder hesitated, his expression odd, "just before you arrived, we received an order..." "An order?" Bai E echoed with a puzzled expression, "Is there a problem?" Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire Gilder had never brought up the matter of orders to him before. An order was a good thing, signifying resource exchange, signifying the creation of profit. If there was no issue, why would Gilder look so hesitant? "It''s too much..." Gilder looked perplexed, "And, they want steel." ``` Chapter 441 384 Transactions and Expeditions Steel is the foundation of all modern technology. Any significant power needs a large amount of steel to ensure their infrastructure. The wilderness outside the city is not just scattered with refugees; there are also those "oases" that, compared to the city, offer a bit more freedom and originate from Gilder. Organizations that are unwilling to accept city governance but have some influence often break away from the city to establish their own bases. If luck is poor, they can be wiped out by a natural disaster; if luck is good, they may even slowly evolve into something resembling a city. Such organizations often maintain myriad connections with the existing cities. The demand for steel is not hard to understand. But for the demand for steel to end up on the heads of Black Street... The steel they had was still piled up in the warehouse, not exposed, and there weren''t many facilities in Black Street that utilized a lot of steel. How could the other party throw an order to such an inconspicuous force? "The profit from the order is very substantial. If we can complete it, everyone''s lives will be much better... and we''ll have money too," Gilder said, staring intently at Bai E. He could only provide basic unification and governance; the decisions on major directions needed to be made by the adults. While establishing a steel production line might be difficult, it could be trivial for the adults. If they really could establish such a stable trade relationship, it would be a qualitative leap for Black Street. In his current position, that was all he could concern himself with. "..." Bai E pondered for a moment before asking softly, "Is it a one-time deal, or ongoing?" "If possible, they hope it''s ongoing. And they will purchase without limit, with the purchase price increasing in stages according to the monthly output," Gilder replied. That meant they couldn''t use the scrap from their stockpile. If it was a one-off sale, turning resources that could not be used for the time being into resources that could genuinely improve the living standard of Black Street was indeed a nice bonus. But to establish a long-term trading relationship, relying solely on the steel they already had would definitely not meet the other party''s needs. Do they need to establish their own steel production line? But Black Street''s small area was not up to it... Mining, refining, and even smelting iron and steel all required a vast space and would make a considerable commotion. Doing this near the city meant either having an immensely powerful background or being part of the city''s own institutions. So, the question comes back: why did the other party believe Black Street could provide steel? "Adult?" Gilder asked tentatively. "First, provide them with a batch to see," Bai E decided, squinting his eyes. Let''s see if the horse can be trotted out for a walk. Initiating a transaction to inspect the party''s components, and hence making contact with a possibly powerful external force, might not be a bad direction for development. Moreover, establishing their own steel manufacturing plant is something that must be done. Perhaps after gaining control of Blackwater City, these resources could naturally come their way. But is Blackwater City controlled because they wanted to acquire those resources? No! It was because they had that strength and accumulation that Blackwater City could be governed by them. If the other party is truly reliable, then... the small town ruins they saw last time might genuinely be brought up on the development agenda. "Yes! Adult!" Gilder said, invigorated. There was hope! Worthy of the adult! ["Lucky Strike" energy +5.] ... "Doctor, they agree to the trade." "Really now?" The doctor, who had found an opportunity to slip away from Black Street, slightly narrowed his eyes upon hearing the report from his subordinate. ''As expected, this settlement is not as simple as it seems on the surface.'' In this era, being able to supply steel bypassing the city sovereign authorities implies a sky-high background or, at the very least, their own absolute armed forces. Black Street is just a front; their main force lies elsewhere! This is how it should be! An entity that could abduct the initial number shouldn''t be so superficial. "For the first transaction, give them a taste of sweetness," the doctor decided. Do they really think that those so-called "warlords" independent on the wilderness are just freemen? Many of them are still covertly supported by the city''s sovereign institutions, just to deal with some matters that are improper for the city to handle openly. He currently used the guise of a warlord he supported in Grey Iron City. "Yes!" The expressionless adjutant responded instantly like a cold, unfeeling machine. Glancing at the doctor''s chiseled profile, the adjutant dared not say more. Facing an unknown power rooted in Blackwater City, he didn''t think it necessary to waste so much effort. No matter how strong a force was, as long as it relied on a city, it was ultimately inferior to the city. Having a force on par with the city, one could simply overwhelm them with a show of strength. Was it really necessary to go to such lengths just to retrieve a "Number One"? The only explanation might lie in the doctor''s special affection for "Number One". It was the doctor''s choice. The adjutant bowed his head and hid the contemplative look in his eyes. ... "The trade went smoothly, and it seems like the other party didn''t have any special intentions," Gilder reported excitedly when he met Bai E again on the third day. Steel was the core resource in this world, and the price offered was substantial; with the money in hand, they could purchase much of the equipment and resources needed to develop Black Street. "Hmm..." Bai E nodded slightly. The location of the warehouse wasn''t exposed; he simply piled the steel at the edge of the Black Forest and had Black Street move it back. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The first transaction was problem-free, so it was natural to try to develop a long-term relationship. He had resources but needed to liquidate them; a stable and trustworthy channel wasn''t easy to come by. The other party needed resources, core reserves at that; it was a mutually beneficial arrangement. "Their subsequent orders..." "We can give them another part after a while, but after that... we''ll have to wait for news." Even with so much in hand, one couldn''t make continuous deliveries. They had traded 2,000 units of steel on the first transaction, and there were a total of 8,000 units lost from the previous drop. They could offer another 2,000 units for the next delivery, but after that, they''d have to consider setting up a steel production facility; the remaining 4,000 units needed to be reserved for unexpected needs. Developing a power meant considering many more aspects than when one was alone. "Understood! My lord!" "There''s another matter. For the next few days, or even longer, I probably won''t come here. The affairs of Black Street... you''ll manage." According to the instructor''s words, they would need to carry out their strike mission the next day. This was their first proactive strike against the Bug Race since they became officially commissioned Mech Pilots, and the outcome of the battle would directly determine the new Mech Pilots'' value in the eyes of the Military Department''s leaders, as well as his own personal plans. If he could perform as well in battle as the instructor had said, he might be able to ask to continue fulfilling the duties of his special squad and thus follow Minister Eric''s itinerary to touch upon what might be the "legacy" left by the electronic demons. Moreover, owning the highest authority to the server mainframes, he should have a better chance than anyone else. "Got it, my lord." ... The gentle morning sunlight bathed the earth. The warm sun of winter spread a soft but not blinding glow; the cooperative allied forces began to slowly move out of the military camp. "Hum~ Hum~" The towering Mechas landed at the end of the troop, taking large steps to follow from afar. From the vantage point high in the Mecha, even the main battle tanks seemed like slightly larger, adorable toys. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire It was also the first time Bai E truly understood the complete configuration required when a Mecha regiment was deployed¡ªnot just the Mecha itself but also something called the "Mecha Servant" configuration, where a type of armored vehicle with almost no offensive capabilities followed in its wake. These Mecha Servants, in theory, also belonged to the Mech Armor Camp and were often manned by synthetics or natural humans with no background or expertise, who would also need to learn some Mecha repair skills to perform rapid field repairs on slightly damaged Mechas to maintain combat effectiveness. As for the armed vehicles they drove, they carried the ammunition replenishment needed for Mechas during combat. Although Mechas were large in stature, their actual carrying space was limited; without timely replenishment, they would quickly lose their firepower and have to resort to primitive combat blades. Behind each combat Mecha, at least five armored vehicles were equipped to follow. The Mecha Servants'' supply vehicles, together with the Mecha itself, formed a complete combat unit. The voice of the commanding officer inside the command vehicle transmitted through the speakers of each Mecha''s cockpit, "Although this sortie''s main goal is to hone your skills, our allied forces also have strategic objectives that must be met¡ªrecently, our scouts found signs of their expansion to the west of the Bug Race''s hive." The Bug Race was a kind of invasive species from outer space, their mode of invasion not limited to mere physical consumption. Along with the smaller worker bug variants spreading Spore Colonies for a biochemical transformation of the natural environment, this was their more fundamental form of invasion of a planet. The city''s defenses against the Bug Race''s hives were not only to prevent their various forms of infiltration into the city but also to stop them from expanding their influence in the natural world, thereby gaining more biomass and increasing their strength. "The detected Bug Race species include the common Bomb Bugs, Worker Bugs, Bee Bugs, and a few Mantis Bugs, as well as visible activity of Sand Bugs. The trace of that mysterious ''Overlord'' can''t be ascertained; we have equal difficulty accurately detecting their underground movement, so we can''t be sure how many enemies we will eventually face. The Bug Race''s expansionary intentions are clear, and the protection forces sent are numerous; we may be facing a difficult battle situation. You are the last pillar of this joint force, and I hope you can perform as excellently as your instructors have said. Captain Bai, do you have any questions?" Chapter 442 Clash! Bai E, who performed exceptionally well in training, undoubtedly became the absolute core of this small-scale mech pilot squad. Naturally, he also carried a heavy responsibility. Facing the inquiries from the higher-ups, Bai E responded in a deep voice, "No problem, sir!" The troops rumbled forward, causing the ground to tremble. Drones flew high in the sky, circling and somewhat replacing the global satellite functionality long gone from this era, bringing the troops environmental intelligence from beyond their immediate vicinity. Occasionally, as they swept past the mechas, it seemed as if one could reach out and grab these tiny things, which by comparison, were like mosquitoes. The towering, ten-meter-tall mechas provided Bai E with a clear view far into the distance, as the ground extended endlessly beyond the transparent glass windows. As the warm white sun in the sky gradually made its way westward, the horizon within sight began to reveal some indistinctly visible fierce alien creatures. Seemingly sensing the commotion coming from afar, those little things paused for a moment before quickly changing their previous trajectory of movement. The densely packed black bodies, like a living carpet, rapidly shifted over the ground, sending chills down the spine of the onlooker. However, the mid-level officers inside the command vehicle, who saw this scene through the drone footage, all breathed an invisible sigh of relief. Over time, having dealt extensively with the Bug Race, humanity''s understanding of these creatures had gradually deepened¡ª Unless caught by surprise or forced to, the Bug Race never engaged in combat away from their hive nodes network. Aside from the mysterious "Overseer" and the "Brain Bugs" deep within the hives, the range and the number of bugs that the mantis-like node creatures could influence were strictly limited. Thus, the experienced frontline officers could often roughly estimate the number of "node creatures" controlling them by observing the scale of the worker and bee bugs. It was only a moment later in the monitor of the command vehicle that a portion of the cannon bugs, stationed and ready for orders, turned their gaze towards the screen. These bugs, carrying the massive bio-cannon tubes on their backs, instantly allocated their tasks through a network linking all wills, and after a brief aiming, the bio-cannons, contracting through muscle power, shot out a kind of smaller, more precise spore mine. "Zzzzzzzz~" Instantly, the monitor erupted in static noise, and the image consecutively blurred significantly. "Pop, pop, pop, pop!" A certain distance from the sea of bugs, human remote-controlled drones began to crash one after another. Indeed, human small-scale drones could carry some minor weapons for remote aerial support, just like the drone swarm that controlled the battlefield during the initial recruit trials. However, on the frontline, the small-scale drones, with neither impressive flight speed nor agility, were of little practical use against the Bug Race army equipped with long-range units like the cannon bugs. Furthermore, the limited size of these drones meant the weapons they could carry were naturally less powerful. Deploying them on the frontlines was not cost-effective compared to the expense of producing these aircraft, so they were generally only used as simple reconnaissance drones for observing the battle situation and gathering information, rarely participating directly in combat. Nevertheless, the short-lived visual information provided by the crashing drones was still enough for human officers to make combat arrangements. "Advance the front line, suppress with firepower!" "Advance the tank battalion, and synchronize with the first, third, and seventh infantry regiments!" "Cover the advance of the front line, artillery battalion to fire three rounds!" Orders from different levels and units were rapidly relayed to each fundamental combat unit, and the engines of the tanks that had been moving slowly roared to life, accelerating fiercely. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire In the rear of the marching troops, the V3 rocket trucks carrying large-scale lethal weapons began to "look up" slowly as their missiles rose on the launching rails. "Sss~" "Sss~" "Sss~" Billows of white smoke cleared, and a volley of snow-white missiles, propelled by their thrusters, streaked toward the sky above the Bug Race''s swarm, which was aware of the human army''s approach but had yet to disperse completely. The trajectory of the missiles, as seen through the large mecha windows, seemed slow but was actually urgent. It looked as if one could easily pilot the mecha to evade them, passing over the grayish-yellow earth and the interwoven blue-and-white sky before landing far away on the slimy ground covered in viscous fluids. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Clusters of small mushroom clouds rose in an instant, green and brown bodily fluids mixed with severed limbs and joints shooting outward from the force of the explosions. "Buzz~" The V3 rocket launcher''s thrusters once again set up the next snow-white rocket, preparing for another round of bombardment. Positioned at the rear, Bai E''s high vantage point in the mecha allowed him to take in everything at once, an entirely different combat perspective from before, enabling him to focus his attention more comprehensively. Humans were not without long-range weapon support; what they had encountered as infantry charging into the fray last time was the aftermath of human missile bombardments. The sheer number of bugs was a terrifying despair, yet brave warriors never knew the meaning of retreat. "Spread out! Spread out!" The Bug Race''s artillery bugs began to counterattack. Human''s rocket launchers needed time to reload and refuel. The artillery bugs also needed their organic responses and bodily functions to adjust. Swiveling their cannon muzzles, the artillery bugs hunkered down, and their biological cannons on their backs began to condense different attacks¡ª Bio-Plasma Cannons and spore bombs. One targeted armor, the other targeted infantry. The bugs didn''t need to diversify into too many types, as the same bugs could evolve different utilities depending on the situation they needed to face. "Target... position..." Familiar battlefield commands flowed through Bai E''s mind, but the overly rapid response and firing speed left him no chance to voice a warning. He could respond when facing it himself, issue a warning through wireless voice communication for his teammates to react, but, clearly, everything was too late. However, the Military Department didn''t know about Bai E''s abilities and didn''t need his reminders. Having dealt with the bug race for years, they had their own countermeasures for all known Bug Race tactics¡ª Sheer resistance. Light blue crystal bombs traced their remnants in the field of vision, with spore bombs bursting into clouds of green toxic mist. The tanks, their energy storage devices destroyed amidst the electrical tumult, burst into fierce flames and exploded instantly on the spot. Soldiers screamed in agony under the assault of invisible bio-pests, striving to cover the last meter toward the direction of the bug swarm. "Target... position..." Watching everything silently, Bai E''s heart suddenly raced as a deeper, more resonant voice echoed from far behind the Bug Race swarm, accompanied by a nearly palpable murderous intent. Bai E''s gaze sharpened as he looked toward the distant horizon, a vast expanse of land that was nearly imperceptible. The mecha formation he was in was situated at the very rear of the entire allied forces. The artillery bugs'' attacks couldn''t reach this far. So¡­ what was it!? Chapter 443 Terror Bombardment "Rose, be ready," Bai E whispered, his eyes also locked on the entire battlefield. Rose, who was monitoring the situation as well, reacted immediately. "Got it." She didn''t know what she, who had not received battle orders and was at the very end of the march, might encounter, but she knew Bai E was never wrong. That was enough for her. Under Bai E''s gaze, the "ground" rose slowly in Rose''s view. ...The ground, of course, wouldn''t move; the only things moving were the bugs. The grey-brown swell that everyone had thought was part of the terrain and looked like a small hill from a distance began to move. It was only then, from their various monitoring channels, that everyone could see the true form of the target¡ª A monstrous beast as big as a small hill was revealed, possessing a pair of biological cannons even more ferocious and terrifying than those of the Gun Bugs, and it was evidently double-barreled. Its position was even farther away than the Gun Bug horde, but its size, visually, was still several times larger than that of the Gun Bugs. Like a mountain, the giant bug "struggled" to lift the massive biological cannons on its back, aiming them in the direction of the human army... Information capturing on the battlefield couldn''t be interrupted. The armies of unmanned surveillance drones brought down by the Gun Bugs were replenished by new drones, and the observation screens that had lost signal automatically connected to the newly risen drones. The changes occurring at the farthest reaches of the battlefield naturally fell into the view of the officers in the command vehicle in real-time. "It''s huge..." "What is that thing?" "Is it the Dominator?" An officer slammed his hand on the tactical table beside him, suddenly rising in excitement. "It doesn''t look like it..." "Another new type of bug..." The Dominator behemoth previously encountered was entirely red, starkly different from the grey-brown behemoth in front of them. Moreover, as the giant bug gradually rose, the differences in its overall structure were completely revealed¡ª Its body was flat like some kind of ground dragon and was covered by vicious bone spurs formed of chitin bone armor, looking incredibly thick and heavy. The biological cannons it carried on its back were nearly half the size of its massive body. The behemoth''s head, now resembling that of a lizard with backward-pointing horns, was bowed low to the ground, as if struggling to support the unbearable weight of the cannons on its back. The contraction of the biological cannons was clearly observed by all officers through the camera feeds of the drones. Seeing this, the supreme commander of the allied army''s expression turned solemn as he gave a heavy command, "All units, prepare for the impact!" They knew nothing about this new type of bug, but there was a recognized fact in their understanding of the Bug Race: the most dangerous ones aren''t necessarily the biggest, but the biggest ones are always powerful. No matter what type of bug it was, its sheer size meant it was another unknown strategic weapon that humanity had yet to understand. Humans might have been progressing, but the bugs had never stopped evolving... As the new type of bug was amassing its attack, a brief moment of despondency flashed through the minds of many officers as they awaited the unknown assault. Then, two black orbs suddenly burst from the pair of biological cannons. Primal muscle power gave these orbs an extraordinary velocity that even exceeded what rocket boosters could provide, leaving only a grey-black afterimage in all observation tools as the two orbs shot out almost simultaneously. The target was... Themselves! The speed of the orbs made them hard to track, but Bai E, who had received pre-emptive information through the Bug Race network, knew they were coming right for him... or rather, for the area he was in. "Scatter!" Bai E''s voice had already spread through the Mecha squad''s comms, echoing out almost the moment the giant bug appeared and while its attack was still brewing. ``` However, everything happened in the blink of an eye. The team member''s reception and analysis of Bai E''s commands occurred almost simultaneously with the launch of the spherical "shells." Teammates who did not fully trust Bai E did not act immediately to escape to the periphery, and even those who did react found their mecha, with its not-so-agile armor, could not achieve the dexterity of the human body. "Pfft!" Like a water balloon filled to the brim suddenly bursting, a liquid like water exploded from the lower leg of a mecha in an instant. The trajectories of the two spherical "shells," not arriving in sync, were almost indistinguishable. But they were close. With the "water balloon" bursting, a liquid like water instantly coated everything within a large area with a layer of highly adhesive oil. Following closely behind, the latter spherical "shell" also struck precisely the area coated with the oily film. "Snap!" The mecha''s lower leg, manufactured from the top-grade material currently used by humans, octonium alloy, was instantly penetrated, and the "seed" with terrifying penetrative power burst out of its casing in an instant. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The rapidly swelling seed exploded violently inside the mecha, and its internally compressed shell, unimaginable in strength, burst open with a roar. The mecha standing on the spot had its left lower leg shattered like a blown-up model, and the nearby right leg joint deformed under the sudden impact. The fragments from the blasted octonium alloy structure shot outwards in a spherical distribution without losing momentum. "Crack crack crack crack!" The nearby servant mechas, supply vehicles, combat vehicles, infantry, and so on were instantly shattered under this indiscriminate barrage, plunging a large swathe of the battlefield into chaos. When fragments from the "seed" exploded landed on the oil from the burst "water balloon," another round of explosions and flames began to rise... Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire "Bang bang bang!" Bai E, who had reacted in advance by rolling away and hugging the ground, heard the sparse sounds of the fragments striking the alloy bodies. Even mecha not hit by the first wave still endured significant impact force, with sporadic warnings alerting inside the cockpit through sharp alarm sounds. Having observed the stricken battlefield through panoramic cameras, Bai E also clearly recognized the horrific destructive power of the Bug Race''s new breed of insects. "What is that!?" Rose''s response was no less quick than Bai E''s, except that she did not understand the existence of this new type of insect. Bai E''s eyes swiftly scanned across the screen in front of him. The two stationary spherical "shells" were no longer difficult to observe, and since the moment of impact, everything that had unfolded was faithfully captured by the cameras¡ª The first terra-cotta colored "shell," shaped like a water balloon, was filled with an oily fluid teeming with certain tick-like creatures, not water. In the liquid that burst from the oily fluid, one could see these creatures writhing and moving distinctly. The second "shell" was a hard-shelled seed. After striking the mecha''s lower leg, it did not penetrate instantaneously, but instead penetrated after a delay when the tick-like creatures quickly covered the contact surface and dissolved the outer shell, releasing the internal pressure. One could guess the explosion inside the mecha, which likely occurred when the tick-like creatures quickly dissolved the "seed''s" outer shell, allowing the unimaginable internal pressure to burst everything apart instantly. Just like the most traditional fragmentation grenade. Even the most primitive form of kinetic impact can cause unimaginable terror if the intensity is sufficient. The Bug Race, in the most primitive way, showed their "talent" in weaponry. And then, it was humanity''s turn to respond¡­ "All rocket vehicles, fire a volley at the newly emerged targets!" ``` Chapter 444 387 Mecha! Take off! The commander''s will was quickly executed, as the rocket truck operators, who were in the midst of launching the third round of missiles, instantly changed their command inputs. The direction of the bombardment, which was originally aimed at a large area behind the swarm, shifted in an instant, with all rocket trucks now targeting that single large entity. The form in which the attack on the target would take effect, and the level of technology behind it, were matters for the folks at the Scientific Research Institute back in the city to worry about after the battle was over. As a general commanding the battle, it was his duty at this moment to reasonably arrange the distribution of his forces based on the threat posed by the enemy. Faced with a brand new, unknown beast, it was better to strike hard and fast with several rounds of bombardment rather than hesitantly probing. After all, every other bug was within their realm of knowledge, except for this new bug whose full capabilities were still unknown. If this new contender had capabilities similar to the "Overlord''s" to control the battlefield on a massive scale, then the soldiers on the field would have to face an unimaginably severe challenge. Even without abilities similar to the "Overlord," just the large-scale bombardment capabilities displayed by the target were already causing destruction far beyond what the scattered artillery bugs could achieve together. Even their supposedly invincible Titan-class mechs had almost completely lost their ability to move under the enemy''s assault, marking this as the first target, aside from the Overlord, that could threaten the Titan-class armed mechs. Such output had to be dealt with first, or their lines would soon be totally crushed. The white missile cluster fired by the rocket trucks carried everyone''s hopes. In the eyes of those, including Bai E, who could observe the overall situation, those white missiles dragging orange tails descended one after another towards the immobile giant target. The giant bug seemed to realize what was happening, but its overly heavy body was difficult to control even by itself. Faced with the bombardment of the missile cluster, even this beast, purely bred for war, tried to shift its posture under the guidance of survival instincts, hoping to withstand the missile attack with its thick, greyish-brown chitin armor. "Boom, boom, boom, boom!" The missile cluster, not controlled by a centralized system, didn''t hit the target at the same time, causing a continuous series of explosions that lasted for a while, shattering the earth under the relentless bombardment, kicking up clouds of dust and debris. Shards of broken earth scattered with the rising mushroom clouds in every direction, with only a large dark shadow occasionally visible through the dust. As the dust slowly settled... the movement at the frontline finally came into view of those who had been focused on observing the giant bug. "It''s okay..." Bai E narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze heavy. It wasn''t dead. It was unscathed. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The missile cluster, capable of annihilation, seemed to hardly shake the giant bug. "It''s useless!" "Shall we retreat?" Inside the command vehicle, an atmosphere of despair spread. Faced with the unknown giant bug, they didn''t expect a single salvo of the missile cluster to take it down directly, but they hoped to cause significant damage, enough to give them a rough estimate of the beast''s defense capabilities. But now... Completely unharmed? "No! It''s injured too!" As the giant bug shifted, its support leg¡ªon the right side¡ªvisibly stumbled, unable to bear its heavy body. "The underside of its body does not have the same level of defense as its back." Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire As the giant bug rose, the contrast between its back, covered in thick chitin bone armor, and its greyish-white underbelly and claw area became stark. The back was almost untouched by the missile bombardment, while the underbelly displayed numerous areas of burnt flesh where the armor had been breached. "Another couple of rounds should do it," an officer said, his face brightening. All fear stemmed from insufficient firepower; if they could utterly destroy it with artillery, no enemy would be daunting. "Two more rounds, and the frontline will be in trouble." The dynamic on the battlefield always hung in a state of balance; allocating remote support fire to focus on one target meant not being able to exert enough pressure on the main enemy formation. The V3 rocket truck had limited carrying capacity and needed time to reload. With the time for two more volleys of fire, the situation on the frontline would likely worsen significantly. Whether it was the artillery bugs'' bombardment or the charge of the numerous mantis bugs leading the work bugs and bee bug swarms, without the cover of missile fire, the pressure on the mixed forces would be unimaginable. "And we might not even succeed." Humans did not know the capabilities of the Bug Race''s new type; similarly, the new breed would collect accurate data through combat, an experience humans gained through blood and flesh in past wars with the Bug Race. Though the giant bug had instinctual self-protective movements in the face of human artillery, it had not completely obscured its vulnerabilities. If it returned to its initial "ambush" mode, its "weak points," the underbelly and limbs, would be hidden beneath the thick chitin carapace. "A salvo isn''t feasible." "It''s time for our lads to step up." Chapter 445 387 Mecha! Take off!_2 The Mecha squadron accompanying the army existed precisely to handle such unforeseen situations. Even though there was no preparation in the initial plan to engage the newly emerged beast in combat, when faced with a target that could not be dealt with by ordinary forces, it was time for the Titan-class armed Mechas to shine, even if it was the first time the pilots had stepped onto the battlefield¡­ The commander in charge of directing the Mecha squadron issued the order in a deep voice, "Mecha Combat Team One, launch! Take down that beast, victory belongs to humanity!" [Side mission triggered¡ªTerminate the Beast.] [Terminate the Beast: A beast that suddenly appeared on the battlefield is wreaking havoc. Its presence is an unimaginable threat to the allied forces you belong to. Only by swiftly executing a beheading action is there a chance for your attack launched against the Bug Race expansion to be successful. Mission requirements: Behead the "Beast" 0/1 within 3 minutes. Reward for mission completion: Beast Compendium. (Countdown: 2 minutes 59 seconds)] "Affirmative, Commander." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the captain of the Mecha Combat Team, Bai E calmly responded and then gave out an instruction over the team''s voice comms, "Everyone, spearhead an assault with me as the tip, and be sure to complete the beheading action within three minutes!" ''Adding a time limit on his own...'' thought the commanding officer of the Mecha squadron, his eyes flickering unkindly. The last thing desired on the battlefield was a soldier with their own thoughts. A soldier only needs to fulfill their duties, not have thoughts. There was no time limit given by the command, yet he added one on his own initiative. Was it to show off in front of his superiors? Or was it just to assert his authority as a captain within the team? Whichever it was, it was clearly an unpleasant starting point. If they succeed, no extra points are given; if not... "Received!" "Received!" A chorus of acknowledgments resounded through the Mecha Combat Team''s voice channel. Regardless of how the team members felt, at this moment on the battlefield, the instructions issued by their direct superior, Bai E, were their everything. Aside from the unlucky Mecha that had its lower leg crashed by the beast, the other five Mechas launched an assault from different positions simultaneously. Facing the towering mechas of more than a dozen meters, the bugs on the ground were like reptiles, utterly defenseless. With every step, countless bugs were crushed into a mixture of broken armor and pus under the giant mechanical feet, with only the larger mantis-type bugs able to mount some minor resistance to these massive creatures, though to little avail. Still, the bugs climbed frantically up the Mechas'' non-smooth surfaces, attempting to attack some of the weaker spots with their sharp symbiotic weapons and their acidic secretions. It was like a giant covered in ants; if they couldn''t keep moving, even if the whole body was made of E-Alloy, they would eventually be overwhelmed by the swarm. A Mecha''s design is a highly coordinated whole; any extraneous weight could disrupt this perfect balance. This kind of abnormal feedback had to be compensated for by the Mech Pilots using their experience and control. Of course, there were simulators for such situations in simulated battles, but the reason why abnormal situations are difficult is that they are varied and hard to replicate precisely. Pilots could only rely on their acute sensitivity to their Mechas to constantly make adjustments through control. Bai E also felt a certain degree of loss of control in his suit. Each time his footsteps landed amid the swarm, those frenzied bugs would climb onto him without hesitation, so much so that his feet were now covered with small worker and bee bugs. Despite his constant movement, the Mecha surface, which could not be cast as a single piece for the sake of agility and necessarily needed some room to move, was full of joints and cracks allowing those bugs with their spiky barbed symbiotic weapons to cling tightly to him. Breaking away from the main force and charging alone into the enemy line made one vulnerable to this embarrassing plight. It was not just Bai E; the other Mechas following close behind Bai E were in the same situation. Being able to resist such interference and continue to fulfill their tactical objectives was a test of every Mech Pilot''s skill level. Though the current disturbance was not enough to lead to a Mecha''s complete downfall, they clearly could not take too much baggage with them to execute the beheading of the beast. "Speed up the advance!" To accommodate his teammates, Bai E was not operating at full speed. For every increase in a Mecha''s speed level, the demand on piloting intensity increased geometrically. Currently, if he wanted to speed up, he first needed his teammates to be able to keep up. "Captain, there is a risk of losing control!" "Captain, we are already moving at full speed." It wasn''t the Mecha''s full speed, but the full speed of personal control ability. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Bai E''s brows were tightly knitted as he watched the giant beast in the distance, once again ready to launch an artillery strike, his eyes filled with hesitation. This was also his first time leading a team onto the battlefield in a Mecha, unlike when he fought alone, the situations he encountered while using a Mecha were completely different. The idea of fighting alone without his comrades... He dared not make that decision lightly. Furthermore, the link he had been building with the Mecha since his first contact hadn''t fully taken effect¡ª [Link remaining countdown: 20 hours 38 minutes 52 seconds.] The 48-hour link establishment period was calculated based on the time Bai E spent operating the Mecha from within. Since his contact with the actual Mecha, his actual training time hadn''t yet reached 48 hours, far from reaching a deep communicative connection with the Mecha. He dared not recklessly take on this risk. "Shua shua~" Mysterious images flashed suddenly through his mind, the scenery of deep rock and soil rushing past appeared swiftly within Bai E''s consciousness. Realizing this, Bai E abruptly turned his head, looking in the general direction of the images¡ª The entire army''s rear! "Boom!" "Boom!" Almost at the very moment Bai E turned to look, several ferocious sand worms leaped out from the ground. The logistics transport vehicles filled with supplies were instantly overturned, and soldiers carrying guns were flung high into the air. The sand worms, their bodies covered with sharp claws, danced wildly under the sunlight... "Meet the enemy! Meet the enemy!" Without thinking, the voice channel was surely in chaos right now. Although the existence of the sand worms was known and anticipated, their evil emergence at an inappropriate time at the rear of the formation instantly tightened everyone''s nerves. The elite reserve troops that were already prepared instantly launched a counter-attack, and the battlefront extended beyond the front lines, where the flesh and blood of the Bug Race clashed with the steel tide. "Boom! Boom!" Misfortune never came singly, as the tremors of the earth clearly transmitted from the body of the Mecha to the piloting cabin interface of Bai E. As a weapon of war, Mechas were designed not for comfort but for the Mech Pilot to have a clear perception of the encountered environment. As for the physical strain that this perception caused, it could only be resisted by the physical endurance of the Mech Pilot. Fortunately, Bai E and Rose''s physical fitness levels were top-notch, even within the entire camp. The tremors of the earth didn''t affect their combat status; instead, they allowed them to focus their attention on the source of the vibrations at the first instance¡ª In the distance, three crimson giant figures were trudging with heavy footsteps from the southeast, one after the other. "Dominators!" The crimson giant bugs undoubtedly brought to mind that terrifying nightmare at first glance. But it wasn''t them. Bai E closely observed the bodies of the three giant bugs¡ª They were somewhat similar to the Dominators, also with six limbs, also with dark crimson giant bodies, even their chitinous armor appeared just as thick and heavy, reflecting a bloody sheen under the sunlight. But the giant bugs that appeared this time were more ape-like in appearance, moving on all fours, and their forelimbs, which served the same function as human arms, were not like the sharp double blades of the Dominators, but rather a pair of cylindrical hammers. The bone armor on their bodies also lacked many spikes, appearing more rounded overall. "They look more inclined towards defense... Could they be the guards for the artillery beasts?" Bai E squinted, making his judgment. Chapter 446 388 Alone into the Battle Formation The new situation forced Bai E to make a swift decision¡ª It might have been that the Bug Race hive master had learned of the attack on its expansion force by humans and sent reinforcements, or it may have guessed that humans would come back to stop it and set up an ambush in advance... However, either way, it seemed more likely that, after the more defensively-oriented colossal insects arrived, killing the one that was firing would be extremely difficult. The only thing that gave Bai E some confidence was perhaps the drop rate hint panel¡ª [??? (Bug Race) (Elite)¡ªKill with "Lucky Strike" to drop: Guaranteed (Bug Tribe Essence Extract*2000, Battle Experience 6000 points); High Probability (Knowledge: High Pressure Filling); Possible (Knowledge: High-Intensity Material Synthesis)] Lacking enough energy to use his Lucky Strike didn''t prevent Bai E from making an approximate judgment of the situation based on the information from the panel. Whether it was the experience in the drop items, or the items themselves, it meant that the giant beast only seemed huge but was far from the "Overlord" level in actuality. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire No matter how large it was or how much destructive power it could unleash, it was just an elite monster. The enemy''s destructive ability might be strong, but perhaps that was all there was to it. The only trouble was that it was under the protection of the Bug Race army. "Captain..." "Should we support the rear?" "..." Voices of teammates came one after another through the voice channel. Before they even officially engaged the Bug Race giant, the four other mech pilots had already felt the pressure from the oncoming tide of insects. Not to mention that now three more colossi were rapidly approaching, aiming to join the battlefield. For them, already nervous about piloting a mecha onto the battlefield for the first time, some remained silent but in the open mic channel, the clear sound of swallowing saliva could be heard. Morale was low. The consecutive surprises left them wavering, and the uncertainty of their own strength compared to their enemies made them especially confused about the situation. Fortunately, the order from the commanding officer at the rear came just in time, "Block the four new unknown colossi as much as possible, we will clear the field and provide support as soon as possible." "Roger that," Bai E responded instantly. Then, turning to his teammates, he said, "Full speed ahead, we must kill the artillery beast before the three red giants arrive. The main force at the rear is under attack; we are the only hope to turn the tide!" As his voice fell, Bai E hesitated no longer. Descriptions in the mission were not aimless most of the time. If their mecha squad''s killing action couldn''t succeed quickly, perhaps the entire operation against the Bug Race expansion would be unlikely to succeed. Whether they could rapidly take down that fiercely firepowered monster was absolutely the crux of the battle. "Hiss! Hiss!" Sounds of jet propulsion came from the various valves of the mechanical transmission, and Rose, almost sharing the same determination as Bai E, simultaneously increased her operation intensity in an instant. An endless stream of commands were issued without pause, and the mechas operated by the two of them instantly broke away from the group, shooting out like an arrow. They bolted forward! The chasm between them and the sea of bugs seemed to narrow down to just one step away. "What are you doing?" the roar of the superior commander came through the earpiece. "Decapitation," Bai E''s calm voice remained steady, even as his hands raced, almost dancing into a blur. "Who gave you permission to act on your own?!" The military was not like those special combat units in the cities that esteemed individual valor. Only with the precise and seamless cooperation between comrades could they defeat one enemy after another that had to be vanquished. To achieve that, first and foremost... there could only be one brain. Even if this brain did not make the best decisions at times, as long as they were united, they could often create miracles. A soldier with an excess of self-awareness was never liked by any commander. Not to mention, against the Bugs, who could claim they were capable of lone combat without the support of their teammates? To go into battle alone was nothing but a death sentence. "This is the only possible way to win this battle." "Tsss!" The piercing noise in the earpiece made the mech commander yank off his headset in a fury, "Damn it!" He had long heard that among the regular mech pilots there were talents even admired by the big shots of Mechanical Court, and he was pleased to lead such individuals into battle. But upon first contact, these pilots'' performance had been utterly disappointing. "What''s wrong?" the total commander, with eyes marked by deep wrinkles of authority, looked over and asked in a low voice. It was he who had made the assessment of the battle situation. The decision to have the mecha squad act conservatively was made with the thought that even if they failed to act, they could still retreat safely. An operation intended as a mere training exercise for mech pilots turned into an encounter with up to two types and four unknown Bug Race colossi, far exceeding the Military Department''s expectations. Even if they had to retreat in failure, there would be no fault to speak of. On the contrary, losing too much fighting power for a doomed war would be irresponsible to the entire city. As for the expanded territory of the Bug Race? He believed that humanity would ultimately be the victor! Facing the inquiry of the total commander, the mech commander, still not over his irritation, replied emphatically, "He disregarded military orders, acting on his own initiative!" After a pause, he added, "I''ve taken over the command of the other mecha personnel, instructing them to hold their ground temporarily." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 447 388 Alone into the Battle Formation_2 "Does he have confidence?" If they could win, the commander-in-chief did not want to return with a defeat. "..." Silence. The question was whether the mech pilot who made the decision on his own had confidence, and at this moment, anyone who dared to guarantee that would have to bear the bet themselves. No one dared to make the guarantee. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire The commander-in-chief narrowed his eyes, and his gray stubble beard also showed a hint of hesitation. Trust? Or to play it safe? Bai E? This name, he was well aware of. Born of artificial humans but achieving a leap no artificial human had before, Bai E became an existence with equal opportunities as natural humans. Not only did he have Carlos''s full confidence, but even Hamilton, who regarded artificial humans as dirt, spoke highly of him. It seemed even the neutral faction Dewa also held goodwill towards him. In many actions he had previously participated in, he performed brilliantly, accomplishing in a short time what other warriors could not imagine in a lifetime, thus directly exchanging his military merits for a precious vial of Gene Optimization Solution. Geniuses certainly have their moments of arrogance, and the regrets they cause are often far greater than those of mediocrities. But trusting in those shining geniuses can also create incredibly dazzling miracles. "Order the mech combat team..." the commander-in-chief spoke slowly, "full-speed support! I believe in our soldiers, they will not let down their homeland." The mech commander was slightly startled, then responded vigorously, "Yes, sir!" ... "Hiss~" Waves of heat from the Flamethrower surged violently from both arms, the core''s high temperature burning the stubborn bugs that clung to the gaps, preventing detachment from the mech, causing them to fall like raindrops from its legs. The mech flipped through the air, and the charred bug corpses littered the ground. This was the bug race''s last line of defense, and of course, Bai E could not allow his mech to carry these encumbrances for a decapitating strike. One step forward, and he would be facing the artillery beast, and farther away, three red giants were still striding over. Their movements were slow, but their steps were large. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [...Countdown: 2 minutes 17 seconds.] Glancing at the timer on the dashboard, Bai E knew that the true combat time he had left was far less than this. "Zing!" The war blade unsheathed, and the metal war blade made from Octium alloy reflected a sharp gleam in the sunlight. A nearby common artillery bug turned its barrel, aiming the single-barreled biological cannon at the massive entity just a stone''s throw away, with worm-like projectiles writhing eagerly inside. "Putt!" A flash of the blade, and the bug was bisected. The shoulder-mounted rotary machine gun began to spin, a torrent of flames unleashing a fierce metal storm. The endless tide of worker bugs and bee bugs composed of the bug race was ripped apart by the blue and white painted mech, as the metallic war machine lightly descended from the sky... A combat mech was far more than just the poor armaments used in training, as countless weapons of mass destruction armed this towering Titan-class mech to the teeth. A forward roll, and the long sword in hand already swept towards the lower limb of the beast trying to dodge. "Puff!" The war blade slashed through, and the limb gushed blood. [The basic Titan-class armed mech you are piloting used a proficient weapon attack to hit the target, "Specialty ¡ª Mechanical Rhythm" experience +1.] [You caused 50 points of slashing damage to the target!] [Current "Specialty ¡ª Mechanical Rhythm" experience 218/2000, when it reaches 2000 points you can master "Specialty ¡ª Mechanical Rhythm (5/7 level)".] [Based on the effect of your attack, you gain the following information¡ª] [??? (Bug Race): Health 2350 (+5/S)/3000; Defensive Power: 500 (100); Attack Power (Type: Bludgeoning) 600~???; Traits: Giant Beast Template, Trait: Thickened Armor, Trait: Symbiotic Weapon¡ªShatter Cannon, Trait: Organ Absorption; Mobility: 10%...] ``` The colossal beast had already suffered considerable injuries; the unified barrage from the military''s V3 rocket vehicles wasn''t as futile as it appeared on the surface. But beneath the colossus, Bai E saw numerous shriveled bodies of worker bugs and bee bugs. Whether from analyzing the wounds or recalling from memory, Bai E could confirm that it was neither his doing... nor the masterpiece of the missile volleys launched by the V3 rocket vehicles. It could only have been the beast itself... that trait known as "Organ Absorption," which had absorbed the biomass from the smaller bugs nearby, converting it into the materials needed to restore its own health points. Unfortunately, the enemy''s health was continuously recovering; fortunately... this was an opponent that could be defeated. The drop rate panel could only show the approximate level of the opponent; it still took actual combat information for Bai E to analyze how to defeat the opponent. The beast''s defensive power astonishingly showed two levels of defense, one at 100, the other at 500. This clearly indicated that there was a significant difference between the defense of the back and lower limbs, providing a special hint and coinciding with everyone''s observations of the colossal beast. "Pfft!" Facing Bai E who had rushed toward it, the beast did not just wait to be defeated. Only upon getting close did Bai E realize that on each of the beast''s arm-like appendages, located closest to the head, there was a gun-like biological structure. And at that moment, the biological gun muzzles aimed at the mecha piloted by Bai E and Rose, violently spraying out two puddles of earthy yellow pus. "Hiss~" The sound of corrosion immediately arose from the right thigh of the mecha; even though Bai E reacted instantly, the mecha''s massive size still made it difficult to completely dodge. "Beep~ Beep~ Beep~" A not-so-sharp alarm sounded in the cockpit, reminding them of the potency of the corrosive acid, which clearly wasn''t as terrifying as the beast''s other method of attack ¡ª the Shatter Cannon. Up against the most advanced material that humanity could currently produce ¡ª Octonary Alloy ¡ª it could only achieve a certain degree of erosion. Tiny worms surged in the sticky fluid, attempting to burrow deeper into the mecha. It was a minor degree but persistent. "Don''t mind the acid." Bai E glanced at the information displayed on the mecha control panel and immediately made a decision. It wasn''t that the mecha was completely immune, but in the short span of a few minutes, the acid wouldn''t affect the mecha enough to interfere with its movements. And these few minutes were critical to deciding the outcome of the war. "Buzz~" The combat blade whirred, slicing through the air. Bai E aimed at one of the beast''s lower limbs that was already injured, where the flesh was charred black, clearly damaged in the previous bombardment. However, as the combat blade swept across, it was slightly off target. The white lower limbs were also the beast''s weak points, but the unaffected parts of the chitin armor still possessed the defensive power it was supposed to have. Even though it couldn''t fully block the combat blade''s strike, it still mitigated some of the damage. [Your attack has caused 30 points of slashing damage to the target!] "Off target?" Rose asked subconsciously, somewhat surprised. In her mind, Bai E never made mistakes at crucial moments. "Yes." Bai E frowned tightly, finding the reason¡ª No matter how much the mecha resembled the human body, it was ultimately not a human body. Controlling a weapon through an external object was never as direct as using one''s own body. The hand that controlled the mecha to grasp the combat blade always had a strange sense of detachment, and there was an elusive feeling regarding the precision of control over the angle, direction, and force of the blade. It was sufficient to bully his mech pilot teammates, who were equally inexperienced, in everyday practice, but on a real battlefield where every millimeter mattered, the control was utterly unreliable. One important reason for this was the conversion rate of mechanical rhythm; however, Bai E''s own Level 2 Light Firearms Specialization also limited his current performance. With a flash in his eyes, Bai E mentally allocated his points¡ª [Payment: 1412 combat experience points.] [You have learned "Level 4 Light Firearms Specialization," and concurrently received 2 latent points.] [Light Firearms Specialization (Level 4): Attack speed +12%, Armor Penetration +4%, Perception Break (Special) +2%.] [Detection of character''s current "Level 4 Light Firearms Specialization," skill tree unlocked: Magic Blade, Lightfoot Dance.] [Current unlock requirements: General/Combat experience *1000 (cost doubles for each additional skill of the same level unlocked), Latent Points *2 (fixed).] ``` Chapter 448 389 kills! "Can we really trust him?" The Bug Race''s artillery bugs had no time to target the human reconnaissance drones, and the officers inside the command vehicle were finally able to observe the entire battlefield situation through the drone''s provided vision. Consequently, everything unfolding in the Bug Race''s rear was easily witnessed by all. The sea of bugs composed of worker bugs, bee bugs, and mantis bugs seemed to be the largest in scale, but as humanity''s old adversary, humans knew them inside out. Faced with the well-prepared combined human army, they posed no threat at all. Elite bug breeds like the sand bugs and artillery bugs could indeed cause considerable trouble for the human military, but as long as they were known and prepared for in advance, they were nothing more than temporary chaos and increased casualties. These predestined battlefields failed to attract the attention of the senior officers, only the battles between mechas and the Bug Race''s behemoths were the core that could truly determine the outcome of this expedition. Thus, even the slightest action was magnified without limit at this moment. The mech pilot named Bai E, renowned for his disregard of military discipline, was the first to rush his mecha into the last ranks of the bug tide. Although one had to admit that the pilot''s movements through the sea of bugs were swift and graceful, all his actions exuded a natural fluidity, his first strike against the behemoth evidently didn''t achieve the effect everyone expected. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire A single slash landed on an unharmed part of the behemoth. Apart from a bloodstain that was barely visible unless the view was magnified many times, there was no accomplishment to speak of. Even when facing the behemoth''s fierce counterattack, he failed to evade completely, resulting in the mecha''s armor being corroded by acid. Humanity''s proudest Beryllium alloy couldn''t withstand the Bug Race''s acid, a point that could only be addressed with the Scientific Research Institute afterwards. But allowing the mecha to be corroded by acid was, in any case, a shortcoming of the mech pilot''s limited abilities. "I think it''s mostly a waste..." "How can we trust someone who acts so recklessly!" "Maybe we should call the others back and retreat..." someone suggested cautiously, watching the supreme commander''s face. He would rather do nothing than make a mistake. Retreating in the face of an unbeatable unknown force, and only returning to fight after finding a countermeasure in the Tactical Department or Scientific Research Institute, was the most prudent strategy against the Bug Race in this dangerous world. The supreme commander pressed his hands against the table in front of him, his eyes intensely focused on the behemoth battlefield shown on the dozen screens combined, he clenched his teeth, "Wait a bit longer!" ... The Blade of Magic was an enchantment, and Blade of Agility was a further enhancement of the strengths of light weapons¡ªspeed. The mecha''s size and the limited Mechanical Rhythm inherently meant that mechas couldn''t move with the same agility as the human body; to keep increasing speed was a waste of effort. In contrast, choosing the Blade of Magic to apply a special coating on the weapon could more effectively and directly enhance its damage capability. In critical moments, all decisions are made in the blink of an eye. Bai E did not hesitate and immediately allocated points again. [Payment: 2 Aptitude Points, 1000 Combat Experience.] [Skill Acquired¡ªBlade of Magic.] [Blade of Magic: Coats the surface of the weapon in your hand with a special attribute layer {Slash Attack + (20 + extra Spiritual Energy)}. Consumption: 10 + (extra) Spiritual Energy (100 Action Power Reserve)/min.] [Detected that character currently possesses Spiritual Power Enchantment, skill "Blade of Magic" will add extra attribute effects to the weapon coating.] S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The character''s owned skills or abilities once again produced synergistic effects, and this special discovery brought a slight joy to Bai E''s heart. But the battle was not over, and ending it quickly was the priority at that moment. [Activating skill¡ªBlade of Magic!] [Notice: The character currently does not wield any "light weapon."] [Correction: The character is currently piloting an "enhanced armament," continuing to release the skill will require payment of 10.3 times (current) extra Spiritual Energy. (Note: "Ability Amplification" module not detected, skill¡ªBlade of Magic cannot be activated.)] "..." All for naught. Then continue! If there''s no backup from a specialized skill, then rely on the strength of the specialty itself. With combat experience now stored in excess of ten thousand, if not used to rapidly enhance one''s combat capabilities when necessary, then when? [Payment: 5500 Combat Experience.] [Acquired "Level 6 Light Weapon Proficiency," and received 2 Aptitude Points.] [Light Weapon Proficiency (Level 6): Attack Speed +18%, Armor Penetration +6%, Detection Break (Special) +6%.] [Current Light Weapon Mastery Experience 0/5500, at 5500 points "Level 7 Light Weapon Proficiency" can be mastered. (Note: Level 7 mastery unlocks the subsidiary skill tree (Tier 2).)] [Notice: Your proficiency level has reached the limit of the human body, and you cannot make more progress until your abilities exceed these bodily limits. To continue improving proficiency levels, your Perception and Reflex attributes must be elevated beyond 15 points.] The rapid climb in level brought about a pure change in proficiency strength. Even if only half of the proficiency could be inherited by the mecha, the improvement brought to weapon handling was far superior to before. "Continue," Bai E uttered sharply, and Rose, as the main mech pilot, understood perfectly. Chapter 449 389 kills!_2 Perhaps Bai E was just testing the precise defensive capabilities of the target, or maybe he was testing the strength of the weapon itself. Whatever he was doing, Bai E always had his reasons. Fighting alongside Bai E, she knew she only needed to know one thing¡ªfollow the lead, fight, and win! The sky was azure blue, and the mecha painted in shades of blue and white leaped across the reddish-brown earth. The war saber cleaved through the air, its silver-gray blade like a throat-slitting razor, effortlessly breaching the beast''s defenses. The increase in attack speed led to an overall boost in agility. The low probability of armor penetration and detection occasionally had their moments of effectiveness, allowing Bai E to pinpoint the beast''s most lethal points more accurately. [Your skilful attack with the basic Titan-class armed mecha hits the target, "Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm" experience +1.] [Trigger "Armor Penetration," ignoring defense! You deal 150 points of slashing damage to the target!] [...experience +2.] [Trigger "Detection," absolute damage! You deal 250 points of slashing damage to the target!] ... "..." "Much smoother than before... What happened?" Any movement of the giant mecha was easily observable in detail, even by "outsider" officers unfamiliar with mecha operation, who could discern the difference in the once uncontrollable mecha from before and after. After the first two strikes failed to make an impact, the mecha seemed to awaken in an instant, using the sharp war saber to lightly circle the slow-moving beast, marking its accomplishments with the blade in every spot the beast couldn''t respond to or cover. "It really might be possible¡­" Some officers were visibly exhilarated. The frontline battlefield was intense¡ªalthough understood, victory was difficult due to the disparity in troop strength. The situation on the enemy''s rear battlefield, where they fought alone, was surprisingly favorable. "But it''s about to go out of control¡­" The mecha commander frowned slightly, displeased with the mech pilot''s reckless desire for glory. In their hurry to quickly kill the opponent, they were overzealous. ... "Tss~" The reddish-brown earth was slick with slimy mucus, and the giant mecha, trying to dodge the beast''s spray of acid, ducked low and seemed to lose its balance and fall. The single leg trying to find its footing slid straight out, and the mecha had to use the arm on the same side for support. During the hand-and-foot-sliding maneuver, the other arm held the war saber. Seizing the fleeting opportunity, the pilot raised the blade and plunged it down. "Puchi!" The war saber stabbed upward from below into the belly of the beast, and merely through the screens, the watching officers could almost feel the piercing pain of the blade drilling into bone. [...experience +5.] [Trigger "Detection," hit a vital part inside the body! You deal 500 points of slashing damage to the target!] After stabbing into the beast, the slight resistance caused by the war saber slowed the mecha''s sliding inertia just enough for the pilot inside to regain control of the mecha''s center of gravity. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire "Puchi~" The war saber is withdrawn, and the mecha retracts back from its prone position. What appeared to be a loss of control was actually a well-planned risky move. ... "Good!" The supreme commander clenched his fists, his expression excited. "But the bugs'' reinforcements are almost here." One couldn''t limit their gaze to the protagonist of this battle alone. Those three crimson figures, moving slowly and from a distance, were rapidly approaching the core battlefield with their large strides. The nearest was only a few steps away. The capabilities of these completely new and unknown giant bugs remained a mystery. Even if they were nowhere near the master, their size alone suggested they were not going to be easy adversaries to deal with. ... "Captain! I''m here!" Constantly monitoring the entire battle, Bai E of course did not overlook the pair of heavy hammers from the crimson behemoth attacking from behind. However, before he could clash with them using his war saber, the voice of a team member came through his earpiece. ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +4.] Li Wei William never respected this artificial human captain. For a feeble artificial human to luckily enter their Mech Armor Camp was already like an enormous stroke of fortune... oh right, they don''t have ancestral graves, so they should be even more grateful and humble. But unexpectedly, this artificial human stood out step by step during training, to the point where he became the captain among their official mech pilots! Even if this captain was only temporary when the Mech Armor Camp didn''t have a full lineup, that still meant he stood above all the natural-born mech pilots. What use was it to spar with instructors in training? What use was it to be admired by the dignitaries of the Mechanical Court? When it came to the battlefield... When it came to the battlefield... they were spirited and willing to take on the responsibility of a dire situation. If the Mech Armor Camp''s captain was so brave, how could the other mech pilots fall behind? And how could they let their captain face the insectoid invasion alone! "Kill!" The mecha, its lower limbs crawling with small bugs, suddenly leapt into the air, intercepting a crimson beast that was about to raise its twin hammers. The massive weight of the mecha crashed onto the beast, both tumbling away in a roll. "Hiss~" The flamethrower spat out scorching flames, and the shoulder-mounted mini-missile launcher instantly fired a 4*5 missile matrix around the body, raising a cloud of fire. The strength of the mecha lay precisely here; even when out of control, those weapon modules attached to the mecha could still show their fierce form. Setting aside close-combat capabilities, as long as a mech pilot could grasp the basic operating skills of a mecha, whether a seasoned ace or a beginner, the role they could play on the battlefield was more or less the same. Such was the confidence that mechas brought to humanity. "Captain, you deal with the target, leave these three to us!" Another blue-white figure flashed past Bai E, taking the initiative to rush towards the direction of the other two crimson beasts that hadn''t fully arrived yet. ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +4.] "..." The moment he took the initiative to charge, Bai E had already not pinned his hopes on these teammates. But at this moment, even they had taken up the responsibilities they should. Naturally, Bai E couldn''t let down the time they had fought for with their bodies. "Buzz~" The battle blade flicked lightly, the mecha''s pair of faint blue crystalline diamond-shaped "eyes" focused intently on his only opponent. Eyes with some analytical ability were a synthesis of various information collection capabilities; the beast''s life signals had weakened to the extreme compared to the beginning, almost completely consistent with the information collected on his own panel. [Life Value: 780/3000...] Though the beast''s life recovery ability, provided by those small bugs, was always replenishing its health, the slow rate couldn''t keep up with the damage Bai E could inflict. Besides having terrifying long-range bombardment abilities and resistance to external attacks, when faced up close by a Titan-class armed mecha of the same level, the beast''s ability to resist was seriously limited. Moreover, its extremely slow reaction time also meant it couldn''t perfectly protect its weak points. When faced with an equally damaging and agile opponent of the same level, it was like a lamb to the slaughter. Energy wasn''t enough to use Lucky Strike. The last few hundred points of health, one last effort! S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having glanced at the panel for the last time, Bai E quickly outputted commands. After a brief passage through the electrical circuits, the mecha lifted the battle blade leisurely, the engine roaring... "Swoosh!" A twirling slash was followed by stuffing a Cluster Heat Bomb into the riddled body of the giant beast. A beast with a titan template wouldn''t easily perish until its limbs were massively destroyed. With only a sliver of health left, it struggled against the blade attack, refusing to fall¡ªthus, the limitations of cold weapons were ended with a thermal weapon. "Boom!" The bomb detonated inside the body, even the outer skin bulging dramatically from the intense explosion, emitting a scorching red glow. It''s last unwilling drop of blood dried up at this moment, and the body of the beast slowly fell. [You dealt 1 point of fatal damage to the target!] [You have thoroughly killed the target, gaining 200 battle experience points.] "Bang!" The body of the beast completely collapsed behind the blue-white figure, standing tall with the blade. ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +50.] Rose gently pushed the lever, the mecha turning its back. The crimson beast, raising its chest claws high, bore down viciously towards the mecha lying on the ground, unable to escape... Chapter 450 Beast Compendium 390 The crimson giant beast from afar revealed no clues, only in close combat was it possible to spot the inconspicuous pair of claws that usually rested by its skull. These claws were indestructible, capable of easily piercing even a mecha structure forged from octalloy. The grating sound of metal warping and snapping rose sharply as the pair of mech pilots lying on the ground tried in vain to use their arms to fend off the creature''s attacks with all their might. The strength of the crimson behemoth was far greater than the maximum power that could be summoned by the arms of a basic mecha. Hidden beneath layer upon layer of iron armor were the fragile electrical circuits and core components within the mecha. Sparks flew in an instant, and a crimson alert flashed within the cockpit, warning of imminent danger. Sensing the end was near, one pilot broadcast his final warning, "Be careful, everyone! The strength of these bugs is terrifying!" "Boom!" The fear and confusion from possible imminent destruction had barely begun to form when the feedback from the mecha''s arms suddenly lightened. Immediately after, a loud noise assaulted the ears, accompanied by a violent tremor that shook the entire ground. "Can you still move?" A blue-and-white mecha appeared before them, not knowing when it had arrived, and through its clear viewport, the reddened eyes of its two pilots were visible, relief flooding in as they realized they had narrowly escaped death. "Captain..." One pilot, slightly calmer now, remembered the captain''s query, "I can move... but..." "That''s enough," Bai E interrupted, "Get yourself back, leave the rest to me." Bai E was pleasantly surprised that the severely damaged mecha could still move; he hadn''t expected a mecha with so many systems destroyed to keep up with the fierce pace of battle. With a turn and a slash, Bai E targeted the crimson giant insect that had been knocked down by a flying kick but had gotten back up. "Clang!" His reliable combat blade struck the chitin armor covering the beast, producing a sound like metal on metal. It was only when facing the crimson behemoth head-on that Bai E could closely observe its features¡ªall over its body was a red armor, so dark in places it was almost black, with a heavy carapace that left no trace of weakness exposed, not even at the joints designed for movement, where the bone armor was also extraordinary. The information from the panel confirmed this¡ª [Your attack hit, but failed to penetrate the target''s armor.] [Based on the effect of your attack, you obtained the following information¡ª] [??? (Bug Race): Health ???/???; Defensive Power: 800; Attack Power (Type: Blunt) 600~600; Traits: Beast Template, Full Chitin Armor, Symbiotic Weapon¡ªRending Claws, Guardian Instinct; Mobility: 80%...] High attack and defense, but slow movement, a pure war behemoth. An 800-point defensive power nearly exceeded the limits of any means Bai E could currently employ, with mecha weapons unlikely to break through to such an extent. An indestructible opponent. And there were three of them! The mecha controlled by Bai E faced off against the creature briefly, and during that brief exchange, both sides realized their opponent was not to be taken lightly. While Bai E struggled to penetrate its defenses, the mecha, imbued with a degree of technical striking skill under his control, was not something the behemoth could simply overpower with brute force. "Retreat..." At that moment, a sonorous and indescribable voice suddenly resounded in his mind. This familiar voice sent a shiver through Bai E, instantly reminding him of the shadow of some invincible giant beast. Sure enough, following that command, the three crimson giants gave a final glance at the corpse of a gray-brown behemoth lying not far away, as if confirming that the target they were meant to guard was truly dead, and then turned and ran... Their legs moved alternately, swaying from side to side, a comical sight. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet faced with this action, the few mecha that still had combat capability had no way to stop them. Or rather, even if they could, no one wanted to. Indestructible! That was the stark reality everyone came to understand through the brief exchange. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire "Let them go!" not until this moment did the command from the rear command vehicle finally arrive, delayed in the cockpits of Bai E''s team members, "Get back and support the main battlefront, end the battle quickly." The appearance of the new behemoths signaled endless variables, and the commander of the sizable mixed military forces felt uneasy, hoping to quickly achieve the strategic objective and then retreat as soon as possible. "Yes!" His team members responded instantly before relaying to Bai E, who had already cut off communication. "I know," Bai E replied softly, gazing in the direction where the three crimson guardian behemoths had departed. He vaguely felt as if he could see another familiar crimson figure¡ªthe Domineer. Was that peerless beast also nearby? Had it received news and come to aid but was unwilling to risk itself? Or had it anticipated this all along and lay in ambush here but for some reason didn''t act until the end? Unknown. The objectives of the Bug Race were not simple; while they refused communication, the creatures that had entangled with humanity for many years also possessed considerable intelligence. It just wasn''t clear... what exactly did they want? "Shing!" With his sword sheathed, Bai E turned and headed towards the rear line of the bugs. Cold weapons could still be of use against single foes, but against the numerous swarm of bugs, hot weapons were more brisk and efficient. Chapter 451 Beast Compendium 390_2 In normal circumstances, a Mecha is like a tank loaded with countless heavy weapon modules. Just bomb it, and it''s done. "Boom, boom, boom!" Missile batteries fell in swathes, the flamethrowers mercilessly scorched the earth. "Da-da-da-da-da!" The rotary heavy machine guns spewed fervent tongues of fire, turning everything within sight into smithereens. Without interference from a similarly-leveled opponent, a war machine that doesn''t need to watch for attacks and simply needs to unleash unbridled firepower becomes an invincible force on such a battlefield. And it''s not just one of them! Without the restraint of high-end combat power, even the elite members of the Bug Race like the artillery bugs, mantis bugs, and sand bugs couldn''t prevent the overall collapse. The gun smoke turned the air a milky white. When no non-human creatures remained moving within sight on the battlefield, the heavily armored command vehicle, also made of octanium alloy, finally, drove slowly to the front line from the rear. The sliding door opened, and a stream of officers filed out. Stepping on the still slightly warm, charred ground, the commanding officer took off his cap, his gaze sweeping over the battlefield with a sigh. He saw the gruesome corpses of the Bug Race mixed with an equally significant number of human limbs and parts, pain evident in his eyes. Humans are accustomed to sacrifice. But one should never grow numb to it. "Clean up the battlefield," he ordered softly with a wave of his hand, then turned his head toward a farther direction¡ª There, three blue-and-white Mechas stood tall. Beneath their feet lay the corpse of the beast that had brought a certain uncertainty to this assault. "Bring back the main body tissues for the Scientific Research Institute." "Yes, sir!" The officer who relayed the command returned a moment later, his face slightly troubled. "General¡­ there''s a bit of trouble." It was too big and too heavy. Those assigned to the dissection were at a loss with the beast. To access the core parts of the beast''s body wasn''t impossible, but it required time. The commanding officer didn''t see it as a big deal and casually waved his fingers toward the three Mechas standing by the beast, "Let them help." ¡­ "Help with the dissection?" Bai E''s eyes lit up. "There''s no need for that hassle, I can do it myself." In ancient times, excavators cooked dishes; now, Mechas perform dissections. Every profession needs this kind of deep, specialized dedication. Watching their captain, armed with an alloy battle blade, dissecting the monster''s corpse cleanly and even sorting the parts methodically, and particularly the perfectly-shaped chitin bone armor shell from its back, that had the muscle stripped away. The Mech Pilot teammates, who could only watch from the sidelines, nodded in their cockpits, an epiphany dawning on them. "No wonder Bai E is the captain¡­" "Impressive! Truly impressive!" ["Lucky Strike" energy +10.] The battlefield was cleansed, gathering every spoils of war that could be taken. Finally, the post-battle cleanup could commence. The soldiers with driving capabilities maneuvered the Multi-function Infantry Vehicles, using the flamethrowers mounted on them to meticulously scorch every inch of the ground. Fire is the greatest nemesis of life, and just as deadly to alien lifeforms like the Bug Race. All the disruptive inducers released by the bugs to transform the environment and expand their territory were completely eradicated by the purifying flames. Simply eradicating the bugs out to expand their territory was not enough. The "environment" they created had to be destroyed as well to truly consider it a complete military success. Of course, this process isn''t difficult; it''s just meticulous¡­ and it takes time. Even with the fear of a bug counterattack, this cleanup work still needed to be carried out thoroughly. There was nothing left for the Mech fighting squad to do. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire The few Mechas gathered together, the cockpit hatches opened, and the fresh air from above rushed into the somewhat stuffy cabins. The cool breeze took away the heat from Rose''s flushed cheeks. "Captain!" A teammate, who had also opened his cockpit canopy, waved excitedly at Bai E, "You''re freaking awesome, Captain!" "Forget everything else; from now on, I only acknowledge you, Captain!" Facing an unknown beast, even the higher-ups had advised them to fight conservatively, but the captain ignored it all and rushed in alone. This kind of confidence in one''s own strength was what they had all longed for. "It''s just that after we go back¡­" someone reminded. Their team''s voice chat permissions were not high, and the higher-ups could listen in on the entire conversation if they wanted to. Only during these short breaks at high altitude could they speak a bit of private talk. This battle, admittedly, was won decisively under the insistence of their captain. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Had it not been for the captain charging in alone, directly attacking the behemoth, once the three crimson behemoths arrived as reinforcements, slaying the artillery-type behemoth would have been even more challenging. Given the terrifying firepower output of the enemy, their only option would have been to retreat. But in the end, the captain''s actions were against the wishes of the superiors. Of course, losing would mean punishment, but even winning carried no rewards. How exactly they would be dealt with would depend on the mood of the high-ranking bigwigs after they returned. They had just recognized this captain, and they didn''t want any unforeseen complications to arise. "No worries." Bai E responded with a gentle smile, apparently not taking their concerns seriously. What did he have to fear? Yue Ying had said it, to act boldly, and she would have his back no matter what. Besides, he wasn''t without high-ranking support at the Military Department. Carlos had never given up on him, and Hamilton seemed to have a good impression of him. Being backed by people in two of the most conflicting factions, not to mention that he was promoted by Marshal Weslin from the military district himself, it was unlikely he would slap his own face, right? With backers up top, there was no cause for panic. Not to mention, the rewards for the mission had been settled¡ª [Side Mission¡ªTermination of the Behemoth, completed.] [Mission Reward: Beast Compendium, issued.] [Name: Thunder Beast Features: ¡­ Recommended Countermeasures: ¡­] Detailed information about the behemoth, or rather, the Thunder Beast, was meticulously recorded, even with a few more precise parameters and their potential fluctuations clearly marked. For new species of the Bug Race that appeared, the Scientific Research Institute in the city needed to obtain the most accurate data as soon as possible. As Rose and himself were the first and only mech pilots to combat the target, their opinions were of great significance to the Scientific Research Department''s study on this behemoth. It was only reasonable that he provide some precise data. With this information in hand, the Scientific Research Department would also have to speak up for him. They were his people, what sanctions could they impose on him? "Helen¡­" Bai E muttered softly. When he had encountered "The Dominator" last time, it was this academician who arrived at the camp first. Her presence brought him many opportunities, and now he wondered if it would be her again this time. The quiet evening breeze blew gently as the sparse number of Multi-function Infantry Vehicles meticulously plowed through every inch of the land. As Bai E didn''t dwell on these issues, naturally, the others remained silent. Time drifted away softly until the voice of the mech commander came through the cockpit''s loudspeaker. "Rear squadron to the front, mech combat team to lead the way. Back to camp!" Sitting on the edge of the cockpit enjoying the breeze, Bai E stood up abruptly and responded firmly, "Yes!" ¡­ The army, laden with ample spoils of war, made their way back to camp without encountering a single petty skirmish along the way. As expected, once the scientific teams learned that the deployed army had once again encountered a new species of the Bug Race, the Scientific Research Institute sent people immediately. "Dada dada dada~" The familiar sound of high heels echoed crisply in the empty hallway outside the meeting room, "Bang!" The door was flung open vigorously, and a slender figure in a white dress strode in. A cool, sharp voice preceded her entrance, "New bugs again?" As Helen walked into the room, her gaze instinctively swept over the entire meeting room, then quickly turned to the backdrop behind where Weslin stood. However, just as her eyes reached the backdrop, Helen''s expression faltered, her body stiffened slightly, and her gaze slowly returned, ultimately settling on the quiet, silent figure sitting in the corner of the meeting room... Chapter 452 391 Naming "He..." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "How could he be here?!" That silent figure was the most memorable for Helen since her arrival at the military camp. Recently emerged from the cultivation pod, this new artificially-born soldier named Bai E had achieved accomplishments in a short time that other soldiers could hardly reach in a lifetime. It was because of his outstanding performance that his resume had attracted Helen''s attention the moment she arrived at the camp, causing her to observe him for a long period and even contemplate using him as the subject of an important experiment. However, she eventually abandoned this idea due to his lackluster talent in close combat. After returning, she felt relieved that she hadn''t impulsively chosen a "flawed product" or selected the warrior named Rose as a lower-level "substitute." The project required a substantial amount of resources, and the Senate was certainly not a place willing to bet on slim probabilities. This plan could be postponed, but it absolutely could not fail! So... why was he sitting here today, at this time? In such a setting, the inevitable attendees were high-ranking officers from the camp or important frontline officers involved in the battle. How could an ordinary soldier sit in this position? Although her dealings with the military were limited, Helen knew about the promotion system within the army¡ªunless one had a city lord father, it was very hard for a normal naturally-born person to get promoted from a grassroots soldier to an important officer rank in just a few months'' time. Or... could this soldier''s performance truly be so terrifying that it broke the regular system, forcing even the rigid military camp to acknowledge his merits? Could it be that she had been wrong from the start? This fleeting speculation, accompanied by a tinge of regret, arose in her mind, leaving Helen frozen in place with numerous thoughts flickering through her mind. "Helen?" Helen?" The call, sounding as if from far away, brought Helen sharply back to reality. Blinking lightly, Helen''s consciousness snapped back, turning to look in the direction of the voice as if nothing had happened. Weslin was looking at her with an ingratiating smile. "Helen, I must trouble you once again. We have encountered two types of new giant creatures from the Bug Race in a recent battle. We have already properly preserved a sample of one of the creatures'' tissue, just waiting for your receipt." Helen gathered her thoughts, focusing on the more pressing and important issue at hand, "What about the battlefield video?" "Right here." Following Weslin''s indication, the white screen behind him immediately displayed the footage captured by the battlefield drones of the giant creatures. The opening shot was undeniably stunning¡ªthe Titan-class armed Mecha, the ultimate force of the military, was knocked down in an instant by a single shot, and the resulting explosion was large enough to cover a vast area. Looking at the aftermath of the explosion, whether it was machinery or human bodies, the casualty rate within the range of the blast was as high as 95%. Machinery could still be salvaged if hit in non-crucial parts, but a human body would be shattered upon impact, the power comparable to being shot by an Anti-Material Sniper Rifle. More importantly, even though the blast spread far and wide, the range of the creatures'' artillery fire was still densely packed. The level of destruction far exceeded that of a previous entity known as "Dominators." Domination was fierce, yet it was just about controlling others and oneself. If several more of these newly emerged giants appeared and bombarded the battlegrounds before the war even started, what chance would humanity have left? Even their prized Titan-class armed Mechas were no more than paper in front of them. The larger the battlefield where they were deployed, the greater the threat these giants posed. In small-scale combat, Mechas could still rely on sheer strength to face the enemy directly, but in large-scale confrontations with endless seas of Bugs blocking the way, Mechas would find it hard to breach the nests for a decapitating strike. Humanity could only be grateful that the Bugs had once again irrationally exposed their most powerful trump card on the least suitable battlefield. If it were humans, they certainly would not reveal their absolute trump card so easily. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire Nevertheless, once the presence of the new giants was reported, the Military Department instantly rated them as the most problematic strategic units from the Bug Race. "We have named it the Thunder Beast..." The video slowly played on, with Helen watching intently while Weslin quietly provided commentary by her side. As the progress moved to the Mechas'' forced break-through using decapitation tactics, Helen had no time to consider the differences in the Mecha squad''s performance but was instead fully focused on the "Thunder Beast''s" every action in response to the Mecha''s assault. With a blue and white Mecha making the final cut, and putting a bomb inside to explode and finish the job, the video finally came to an end. Weslin combined the information prepared by the analysis department since returning to camp to present to Helen, "Based on our preliminary analysis, the Thunder Beast''s main weapons are two types: one is the artillery attack composed of two projectile bodies, and the other is the attack form where the Symbiotic Gun on its forelimbs spits out a large amount of acid stored in the glands. One method is used for wide-area bombardment of distant battlefields, and the other is for defense when enemies approach. Besides this, the Thunder Beast does not carry many other symbiotic weapons or organs." Chapter 453 391 Naming_2 Moreover, from our observations of the Thunder Beast''s physique and posture, it does not seem... nor is it suited to carry more types of symbiotic weapons. It likely won''t have too many variant functions. At present, we believe the best tactic to counter the Thunder Beast is to have our armed mechas engage in close-quarters combat, as the Thunder Beast lacks methods to deal with high-armored units up close." "But can each of your mechas match the close-combat strength of that mecha?" Helen pointed at the screen where the final image was frozen. The mecha holding a blade was facing away from the Thunder Beast as the massive corpse of the Bug Race slowly toppled over. Although the video was brief, the performance of the other mechas on screen differed greatly from the one that killed the Thunder Beast, convincing Helen that it could be an instructor leading a training battle with students. "This..." Weslin had neither the time nor the inclination to attend to such matters; as a marshal overseeing the big picture, he did not need to worry about the combat capabilities of each individual in his command structure. Not capable enough? Then train! There are tens of thousands in the camp, millions in the entire city. If the camp lacks manpower, they can draft more troops. If that''s still not enough, the artificial human production lines can mass-produce soldiers. They can be selected one by one to find the talent he needs. It''s not as if they need a unique existence like the "War God of the Empire." Ordinary geniuses are just a matter of probability. ...And so, at this moment, he too was at a loss for words in response to Helen''s question. But Helen was similarly unconcerned about these differences in individual combat capability. She just needed more relevant data. "What about the other kind of beast?" "Here." The screen flashed, and the image flickered again. The crimson beast, from its entrance run to the brief hold by the mecha squad until its retreat after the death of the Thunder Beast, was fully displayed in a brief timeframe, with scarce observable content. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We tentatively name this beast the Ripper. Its normally concealed massive claws can easily tear through our armed mecha''s strongest defenses. And its numbers..." Are probably not small. If the Thunder Beast is an absolute weapon for long-range bombardment, then the Ripper is the invincible king of close-combat. A pair of claws easily tearing through an armed mecha''s armor, in a matter of seconds, three Rippers completely shredded one and a half mechas, and if it weren''t for the mecha squad captain promptly coming to the rescue after dealing with the Thunder Beast, the half-destroyed mecha would also have faced inevitable ruin. Even though the power of those claws may not appear as fearsome as the sheer cutting force of the "Dominant" that could slice clean through like a mirror, they are still among the top bioweapons of the Bug Race that humanity has encountered. Coupled with a terrifying strength that could overwhelm a mecha in direct confrontation, and a full-body bone armor that renders all of the mecha''s armed weaponry nearly useless against it, the threat posed by the Ripper is not far behind that of the Thunder Beast. Not to mention that whenever Rippers appear, they do so in threes, hardly resembling a form of cherished military asset. If on a future battlefield against the Bug Race, one were to see a large swarm of these creatures charging in formation... The thought alone is enough to send chills down the spine of every officer. In front of the people from their scientific research department, the Military Department''s summaries tend to be conservative as can be expected. Helen never expected to rely on them to classify newly emerged species of the Bug Race; she was simply pointing at the last frozen scene on the screen. The blue and white captain''s mecha was gazing into the distance at the direction of the retreat of the three crimson beasts, looking like an absolute War God protecting the entire army. "Who is piloting this mecha?" The Thunder Beast didn''t have a long appearance, providing few chances to show itself. Even though the battlefield drones followed the entire event, due to distance and pixel limitations, many details remained unclear. The same goes for the Rippers, with the entire fight not lasting more than a minute. Except for the brief entanglement with the captain''s mecha at the end, the combat was almost a one-sided crush when they faced the other mechas. Perhaps only the Mech Pilot operating the captain''s mecha could provide more details, which were inaccessible to others. Helen didn''t care about the differences in combat ability between individual soldiers, but she understood that to defeat one''s enemy, a warrior first needs to know their enemy. Direct confrontation and slaying of the Thunder Beast, and even engaging the Ripper on equal terms¡ªthe Mech Pilot, at this moment, held the greatest authority to speak. "Captain Bai, it''s your turn to answer Helen''s questions now," Weslin said with a smile as he shifted the focus onto Bai E. Seeing the warrior he personally promoted shine once again in this battle was indeed a feather in his cap. "Yes! Marshal!" Bai E stood up straight, his face serious as he turned his head and nodded to Helen, "Academician Helen, please go ahead." "..." The focus returned to the corner where the warrior was standing, and the previously suppressed thoughts began to stir once again. Helen squinted, "You''ve become a Mech Pilot? When did this happen?" "Five days ago." That was the time he underwent assessment to become a regular Mech Pilot, a date Bai E would not forget. Helen slightly tilted her head, "Marshal Weslin, if I remember correctly, the standard for your Mech Pilots'' composition requires at least 14 points in physical fitness and reflex, 13 points in insight, right?" The drivers of the Mecha were not a group of weaklings¡ªthey needed to have robust physiques and sufficient observational and reaction skills to ensure humanity''s strongest weapons could be effectively utilized. Even the reserve Mech Pilots in the Mech Armor Camp were elites, each having gone through several layers of selection and certain artificial enhancements to reach this point. This was also a significant reason for their vehement rejection of artificially created people parachuting into their teams. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire Upon hearing Helen''s question, Weslin was momentarily taken aback, glancing at the adjutant who was on standby and seeing his cautious nod, then confidently replied, "Correct!" Helen murmured softly, "These attribute requirements..." This was much more astonishing than when she first met him. Initially, one could attribute it to the potential of his awakened exotic genes not being fully released, leading to an explosive development at lower attributes. However, the current rapid enhancement across all attributes... Not to mention breaking conventions to become the only artificially created person to join the regular Mech Pilot team, and even in this incredibly short training period, he became the captain of a combat squad surpassing all Mech Pilots of the Mech Armor Camp. What exactly had he done in this period? The thoughts that had been extinguished were stirring once again. However, as this was related to her private plans, Helen knew the importance of protocol. After a brief inquiry, she went straight to the topic at hand, "Did you personally slay the Thunder Beast?" "Yes." "Besides what Marshal Weslin just described, do you have anything to add regarding the Thunder Beast?" "Academician, the Marshal has not left anything out. In my observation, the Thunder Beast''s attack methods are limited to those two forms¡ªits structure prevents it from executing any other combat strategies. It''s worth noting that a group of small-sized worker and bee insects constantly accompany the Thunder Beast. If we hadn''t initiated a missile barrage on the Thunder Beast beforehand, our beheading operation would have faced much more resistance. Additionally, from what I observed, the Thunder Beast seems to absorb the biomatter of the smaller insect guards to heal its wounds. It''s a war machine designed for strategic strikes within battle formations. If deployed in regimental strength, with our current capabilities, we would be absolutely unable to confront it, and it shouldn''t appear on a battlefield of this level," Bai E explained. Regarding the Thunder Beast, the Beast Compendium had described it quite clearly¡ªit was not something rare! Given enough biomatter, this kind of insect could be mass-produced by the Bug Race. If they appeared in swarms, they represented a formidable force that, as Bai E currently understood, humanity was absolutely incapable of confronting! Why would a sentient Bug Race easily reveal such a trump card? Ever since Bai E first set foot on the Bug Race''s battlefield, he remained doubtful about the Bug Race''s true objectives. He could only subtly interweave his personal inquiries during such occasions to see if he could hint at anyone influential currently in the city. "...It absorbs the biomatter of other insects to repair itself?" Helen murmured softly, a piece of information that had not appeared in the video nor in Weslin''s summary. After nodding to show she understood, Helen continued, "And what about the Ripper?" "I think this name might not be quite appropriate," Bai E replied calmly, looking directly at Helen. A name can predispose people''s subconscious impressions¡ªan appropriate designation is crucial. "In my view, the responsibility of this crimson beast is more about protection... We should perhaps call it¡ªthe Guardian," Bai E suggested. Chapter 454 392 The merits offset the demerits The Thunderbeast had a clear field guide to help itself understand everything about it, whereas the giant red beast could only be judged based on one''s own perception. Unlike the Thunderbeast, which could be mass-produced simply by providing enough biomass, the giant red beast gave Bai E the impression of a special species that was difficult to manufacture in large numbers. During his brief confrontation with the giant red beast, even while piloting a Mecha and fighting against it, Bai E hadn''t discovered any way to kill or even defeat the opponent. Before mastering the skills that could apply his own abilities that greatly amplified combat power to the Mecha, not even when manipulating what was known in the army as humanity''s strongest war weapon, the armed Mecha, did Bai E have the slightest confidence in taking down an opponent one-on-one. The exploding subtitles also confirmed this point, just like when he first encountered the Sovereign, upon seeing those three "Guardians," the subtitle he saw was nothing but "???" The Thunderbeast could be considered a qualitative change brought about by a quantitative change; the only high-density material exhibited on its body was one of the two shells it fired¡ªthe high-concentration seed, and its slow movement and fragile lower limbs were extremely fatal weaknesses. In contrast, the giant red beast was entirely without weaknesses, a perfect creation. If such a powerful beast could be casually created, Bai E couldn''t think of anything on this planet that the Bug Race would need to fear. What made Bai E firm in his belief was that commanding voice from the Bug Race''s node network¡ªan immense presence just as when the Sovereign had appeared last time. Did that voice mean it was the conscious mind of the Sovereign? Or perhaps... a higher-tier Bug Race will capable of commanding the Sovereign? The Bug Race had a clearly defined division of labor, with almost no-delay commands rapidly transmitting within the node network; the lower-tier bugs heeded the orders of the bug one rank above, and higher-tier bugs seldom commanded across levels, as this meant greater expenditure. And how could an entity directly commanded by that immense will be just an ordinary mass-produced species? The very act of the opponent''s retreat implied they were unwilling to lose such a special being easily. Lacking the kind of large-scale crowd control ability similar to that of the Sovereign, a lone giant beast falling into the human ranks, having resolved the common bug tide, would likewise face certain death. Compared to the Thunderbeast, the "Guardians" were the more special entities. In response to Bai E, who had put forward his own view, Helen''s eyes narrowed slightly, and after a short period of scrutiny, she suddenly smiled, "Come with me." Having said that, she then turned to look at Weslin, who had been following by her side, "Marshal, the matter''s in your hands. I''ve understood and received the data you provided. I''ll complete the following work on my own, to provide detailed information about the giant beasts to you as soon as possible." "Come with me." Turning to lead the way, Bai E looked back at Weslin for approval. Weslin casually waved his hand and used his mouth to gesture, "Go ahead, go ahead." When an academic from the Scientific Research Institute needed people, everyone here could cooperate with the research, not to mention a small Mecha squad captain. Once that formidable academic strode away, her high heels echoing "click-clack, click-clack," most military officers in the conference room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Phew~ That woman is pretty scary." "Nonsense! To become an academic in a place like the Scientific Research Institute, she''s seen no less bloodshed than us." After a brief moment of relaxation, Weslin stood up again at the front. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire He was well aware of the Scientific Research Institute''s style of operation, so upon his return, he had immediately requested that everyone compile all the information about the new type of giant beast, even before they had the chance to summarize the performance of each department during the battle on the human side. Reward the meritorious, punish the failing. That was the essential method of leadership. Rapping on the podium, Weslin slowly scanned the room with his eyes before opening his mouth to speak softly, "Begin..." "Yes!" The overall commanding officer stood up, his voice steady, "Regarding this battle..." ¡­ The recounting of the battle was long and dull, filled with routine tactics and unremarkable casualty numbers, Weslin almost fell asleep listening. Only when the commander''s voice paused did Weslin suddenly realize he''d finished, "That''s it... That''s it... Does anyone else have anything to add?" "Yes!" An officer seated not far from the commanding officer suddenly stood up, "The commanding officer missed a very important piece of information¡ªduring this battle, a soldier in a pivotal position made a grave mistake, almost causing a total defeat in this campaign. Why did the commander not mention it at all?" The commanding officer remained expressionless, calmly replying, "An individual''s performance is not largely related to the outcome of the entire battle; the battle will not succeed because one person excels, nor will it fail because one underperforms. The specific responsibilities within the military units are the concern of each unit''s direct superior, and I will not waste everyone''s time with it here." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But what if the person leading the unit is our crucial Mecha squad¡ªa sharp blade against the advanced Bug Race, yet nearly led us into the abyss!" This immediately caused an uproar among the uninformed officers. Disobeying orders on the battlefield, after all, is a severe taboo in the military. Weslin''s eyes narrowed, and his previously indifferent, peace-seeking mindset shifted subtly, "What exactly happened?" Chapter 455 392 The merits offset the demerits_2 "Report to the Marshal!" The officer snapped his legs together and saluted sharply before he began his statement, "In this battle, Captain Bai E, leader of the mech combat squad, acted independently in the face of combat, disregarding military orders. He not only ignored his superior''s commands but even twisted the orders to deceive his squad members, causing the overall tactical situation to fall into the most perilous state!" "You''re full of shit!" An irate officer immediately stood up, glaring furiously at the reporting officer, "What does the danger of the situation have to do with Bai E''s independent action?! Without his daring move, we would''ve been embarrassingly defeated in this battle, and you wouldn''t have the chance to spew your bullshit here!" The officer making the statement stared back at the outraged officer, a strange look in his eyes, "Gladstone, if I''m not mistaken, he directly disobeyed your orders... Are you alright?" "Am I alright? You''re the one with the problem! Without Captain Bai''s crucial intervention, how would we have killed those newly emerged beasts? When Helen spoke up earlier, where were you to answer? Tell me, who in the entire camp could take down the ''Thunderbeast'' before the arrival of the ''Guardians''? With the Thunderbeast constantly bombarding us from long range, how were we supposed to win this battle? Find me another pair of mech pilots like him!" He was hot-headed and lacked the big-picture perspective. But what of it? Initially, he indeed got carried away because his men didn''t follow orders, but on the way back, after getting pointers from the commander-in-chief, he also saw clearly the key to the success or failure of the battle¡ª It was precisely because of Captain Bai''s stellar performance that they managed to win this battle that should have been lost. Having such men under his command, although a bit unruly, was so commendable! Should he let outsiders prattle on? "..." The rebutted officer was at a loss for words and clung stubbornly to his point, "No matter what, disobeying orders on the battlefield is something he can''t wash away." "This is called making a tactical decision on the spot based on the situation!" Suddenly, a voice jumped out from a little farther away, "If you can take down a Thunderbeast on the front line, I will join your personal guard afterward, and I won''t disobey any of your commands." "Carlos!" The officer being argued against glared at the corner where the voice had come from, and finding that his gaze had no effect, turned towards another direction clearly allied with Carlos, "Hamilton, what do you think?" As long as Carlos supported something, Hamilton would surely oppose it. It was necessary to pull over a strong ally for himself... Hamilton, looking like he was about to doze off, raised an eyebrow, "If I''m not mistaken, shouldn''t the Mech Armor Camp be under my jurisdiction? If I haven''t said anything, what business is it of an outsider like you?" The challenged officer wasn''t phased, knowing that was just Hamilton''s character, being ungrateful and persistent, he pressed on, "Fine! Tell me, isn''t this a grave military offense? He is, after all, the leader of an important mech combat squad; this is a matter for military court!" Hamilton rolled his eyes, "Disobedience is a fault, but achieving a beheading is a merit. Faults should be punished, and merits rewarded. Later, I''ll punish him by not allowing training in the morning, reward him with an extra meal in the evening, then offset the merit against the fault, and the matter will be considered settled." "..." The officer was taken aback, what kind of punishment and reward was this? HIs gaze swept over the room, noticing a silent "force" present, so he reached out to what seemed like a lifesaver. "Dewa..." "He fought well..." "..." Thus, the officer could only look towards the marshal who held enough authority to definitively characterize this incident, "Marshal Weslin..." "Enough, enough..." Weslin couldn''t stop yawning, having been woken up from bed late at night. Wasn''t it hard enough to handle the folks from the Scientific Research Institute without losing more sleep? "Just do as Hamilton said. He''s one of his people, what''s it to you?" "He even publicly questioned the Tactical Department''s naming of new species!" "The final call on that will be made by the Science Department; what we say doesn''t count." Weslin didn''t seem to care, as the blow wasn''t landing on him. "But our commander-in-chief seems intent on concealing and protecting..." "The merits and faults have been offset, what more is there to say... Yawn~" "Smack!" The door closed after Helen left with Bai E was suddenly pushed open again, and Helen''s assistant, wearing a white lab coat, hurried in, "The scholar has said, Captain Bai has made a great contribution this time! There is no fault." "..." Why is everyone against me? Was it so wrong to want to reference the commander-in-chief? The officer felt the room spinning, sensing the world''s deep malice towards him. "No!" the dazed officer found an opportunity. The winds have changed, adjust the sails to face them. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire "Yes, yes, yes! Great achievement! The commander-in-chief is deliberately suppressing it!" "..." Where are the people? Off-kilter? Where are you going? Don''t leave! S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... In a private room, Helen stared at the soldier in front of her, a cryptic smile playing at the corner of her mouth, "Do you think ''Guardians'' are more important?" "They are rarer by comparison, and in contrast, Thunder Beasts are more critical, as those are the adversaries our army needs to confront more directly. Guardians only appear to protect certain important units, and we shouldn''t see them on a common battlefield," Bai E expressed some of his opinions more willingly in private to Helen. It was one of his few chances to make contact with the city''s upper class without much risk. "Then why did you encounter them?" Helen narrowed her eyes, wanting to hear what this soldier thought, "If Thunder Beasts aren''t rare, why would there be Guardians protecting them?" "Perhaps... they''re just for us to see?" Bai E cautiously offered his viewpoint. The last time he faced Helen, he had already shed the image of a completely rigid figure, and now it seemed a bit self-deceptive to continue pretending to be that. Moreover, he genuinely wanted to know if humanity had any understanding of this. Whether it was the Sandworms or the newly emerged Thunder Beasts and Guardians, Bai E always sensed more strange information from the Bugs'' abnormal exposure behaviors. Their exposure timings were too odd. It would have strategic value to appear on more decisive battlefields, but they always showed up in insignificant situations within human sight. Is human reconnaissance omnipresent? Then why was there no preparation for the existence of the "Overlord"? Or perhaps this was information the Bugs deliberately revealed to humans. "Think about it... what would we do?" Helen casually flipped through the printed materials in her hands, musing, "Whether it''s Thunder Beasts or Guardians, they could easily crush the armor of our current mechas. Osmium alloys are no longer sufficient for the highest intensity of combat nowadays; finding a way to stably produce more advanced hexadecimium alloys is crucial. If high-end Bugs all possess such defenses, then what about the Overlord? Our current weapons are inadequate to defeat the Bug Race." The response is simple¡ªescalate technologically. ''Is this what the Bugs want?'' A straightforward thought arose in his mind. ''What exactly are they trying to do?'' "We''ve had this speculation for a while..." Helen said, her eyelids lowered, "In fact, over the past many years, there have been more than one opportunity for the Bugs to completely overrun us, but they always failed for various strange reasons. It''s inconclusive whether it was a deliberate reprieve or a lack of ability, but the recent few times... the intent has become much clearer." "So..." "So, what else can we do?" Helen smiled somewhat helplessly, "Just because the Bugs want us to climb the tech ladder, we stop climbing?" "..." "That''s why our research has always dismissed that possibility, it''s enough to be aware of it in our minds. You... The spoils you brought back this time are very useful; I''m going to analyze them right away. Do you want to have a look?" "Yes." Of course, he wanted to look. The detailed data from his own Beast Compendium hadn''t been utilized yet. There were too many people earlier, and he couldn''t show it. When alone, there''s always a chance to demonstrate his worth. And also... did Helen just mention hexadecimium alloys? That''s the core technology needed for his own mecha modification plan! Chapter 456 393 Missed it? "Sure." Bai E''s request to participate in the research wasn''t surprising. The warrior was equally interested in these technology-related studies¡ªinterest is also a type of talent, and undoubtedly, this warrior''s talent was displayed in every aspect. That was the reason he had initially caught her attention, unfortunately... Temporarily gathering her thoughts, Helen focused on the matter at hand. As Bai E''s translucent jade-like fingertips lightly pressed on the silvery smooth surface of the panel, curtains on the vast wall in front of him unfurled to the sides, revealing the biological experiment chamber separated by transparent glass behind it. The Thunder Beast that Bai E had killed with a bomb had many of its internal organs destroyed, but its sufficiently large body still allowed the military to extract plenty of fresh remaining tissues for research, more than enough, and now they were laid out before their eyes. Helen controlled the mechanical arms behind the isolation window, examining the tissues provided by the military and sending them one by one to the inspection portal. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the large room, only the faint buzzing sound of machinery could be heard for a moment... The strength of muscles and bone armor far exceeded all species previously captured, and both forms of attack were very formidable. Among them, the acid spray and the artillery used in the bombardment, including one type, the Swelling Tick Bomb, could be patterned, but that seed-like bomb... After examining for a while, a sac-like organ showing some abnormalities under the scanner came into Helen''s view. The sharp scalpel gently sliced through the layer of robust muscle that seemed to still be pulsating, revealing a multi-chambered sac-like organ completely to the eyes of Bai E and Helen. And within each of those chambers lay the black "shells," the very "seeds" from the bombardment, quietly arrayed inside. ... "Di~ Di~ Di~" The machine eventually emitted a beep, indicating the analysis was complete. Bai E was the first to hurry over, "How is it, how is it?" "You''re quite anxious..." Helen glancing at him, then turned her head to look at the display panel of the instrument. The various precise indices meant nothing to Bai E who was in the dark, with only the paper data that eventually gathered at Helen''s fingertips being the only items he could understand. "Muscle strength... Bone strength and density... The structural composition of the seed..." Murmuring softly, Helen put down the paper summary she held in her hands and leaned back half-sitting in the chair, somewhat vexed as she massaged her temple with her fair jade-like right hand. "Can''t figure it out..." The meticulous composition and structure of each bone and muscle could be estimated roughly, but how they would perform when combined was difficult to judge. The potential ranges given by the computer''s analysis were so vast that it was almost as if no analysis had been done at all. Just as with the secrets of the human body, they could never fully understand them, let alone comprehend the bodies of the Bug Race, an alien species. In the past, they could finalize the ability value ranges of their opponents based on extensive combat experience, but this time the data provided was too scarce, and they could only offer a rough estimate to the Military Department based on a few images and partial verbal descriptions. As for the power of the artillery strike, it was even more difficult to give a precise guess, and it was impossible to begin researching materials for protective measures. Shaking her head, Helen tapped the keyboard. Catching a glimpse of Bai E in the corner of her eye, she casually asked in a soft voice, "How did it feel when you faced off against the Thunder Beast?" From the video, there wasn''t much head-on confrontation between the two; most of it was Bai E and his companion''s Mecha deftly avoiding the cumbersome beast while looking for weaknesses. Engaged in the fierce battle, his brain was nearly empty from the surging hormones, and most warriors couldn''t give a detailed description of the combats they''d participated in, probably including Bai E. Asking him might not yield much, so Helen just asked casually. But to her surprise, Bai E responded immediately, "Yes!" There was so much. He wished he could spew all the information from the Beast Compendium at once, but for the sake of rationality, Bai E could only provide it through various scenarios, "I had a direct collision with its limb once, using about 80% of the Mecha''s peak strength, but still slightly at a disadvantage, so I estimate the impact strength of a typical limb to be around 95%-97% of a Mecha arm at full operation. Additionally, regarding the damage from the Thunder Beast''s bombardment..." The sound of typing stopped unknowingly, and as Bai E blurted out his thoughts, he saw Helen staring at him in astonishment. He had noticed her attention, but now he just feigned surprise and countered, "¡­Is there a problem, Academician?" Helen asked incredulously, "You¡­ noticed all that information?" ["Lucky Strike" energy charges +1.] Bai E couldn''t explain but just asked sternly, "¡­Isn''t observing battlefield information something we must do?" The facts were right there, and it was up to others to logically fill in the blanks with their own assumptions. Very fitting. "..." Clamping her lips, Helen discovered yet another advantage in this guy that she had overlooked before¡ª An astonishing sensitivity to data, even thoughtfully converting it into a domain she was familiar with. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire "Tap tap tap tap tap~" Rapid keystrokes followed as Helen quickly recorded the chunk of data Bai E had just mentioned. Chapter 457 393 Missed it?_2 These data may not be directly used as the final standard, but they can serve as a rough reference. The conclusion of a new species of the Bug Race has not been reached that quickly; more multi-faceted calculations and experiments are needed. "What about the ''Guardian'' you mentioned? What did it feel like to fight with it?" "Guardian?" Without the Beast Compendium, Bai E shook his head, "I only briefly sparred with one of them, and I can''t be sure if it exerted its full strength, but even so, it was slightly more powerful than the mecha." "Hmm¡­" Helen nodded lightly, feeling it was to be expected. There is even less information on that crimson behemoth known as the ''Guardian,'' with not a single organization having captured it. It is only known that in terms of attack and defense alone, the mecha''s physical qualities are not a match for the ''Guardian.'' "¡­" The room fell silent again, as Helen focused on the "seed" being scanned by several probes. Of course¡­ next to it was the muscle tissue for cutting and analysis. As the red and blue light swept over, the machinery gradually stopped rotating. "How is it?" "No results¡­" Helen''s gaze swept across the screen, her eyebrows knitted tightly, "But from the muscle chamber that secretes this substance, the ''seed'' seems to be some kind of¡­ calculus? Extracted, and then refined, layer upon layer, it solidifies to a sufficient standard before being ejected, ensuring enough lethality. However¡­ it can''t be dissected; we can''t truly confirm its structural composition or the explosive power during a frontal impact." "Is that tick-like bloating oil bomb its nemesis?" "But that kind of nuclear-reaction-like chain reaction cannot be slowed down or controlled; we must use our methods to unlock this substance." Helen''s fingertips lightly tapped the tabletop, "According to its performance in actual combat, the strength of this substance is even beyond octonary alloy, and it may provide some ideas for our development of sexdecenary alloy technology." The need to develop new materials is urgent, as the two newly-emerged behemoths can easily penetrate humanity''s strongest existing armor. Ordinary troops might still focus on offense rather than defense, trading lives with the enemy, but the most elite forces definitely need the most cutting-edge armaments. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire Humanity''s encounters with new things are always opportunities, with crises and chances coexisting. The technology of the Bug Race is quite primitive, and the very things they use to attack humanity could one day become their own nemesis. [You are participating in creating technology ¡ª sexdecenary alloy smelting technology, current creative progress 0.1%, upon complete participation you will receive: Technology ¡ª sexdecenary alloy smelting technology; Scientific Research experience +5000 points; Science points *3.] "¡­Good!" "What''s good!" Facing Helen''s puzzled look, Bai E stated seriously, "Academician, I think your line of thinking makes a lot of sense!" "¡­" With a light hook of her lips, Helen smiled helplessly and shook her head, "If just having an idea could lead to results, we would have conquered the world by now. Alright, go busy yourself if there''s nothing else, researching these things isn''t a matter of a moment; if there''s any breakthrough progress, I will have someone notify you immediately¡­ if you''re still interested, that is." "Yes!" Definitely interested! The future of my new mecha depends on you! S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''Quite studious¡­'' Suppressing a smile, Helen shook her head and waved a hand without looking back, "Go on then, I need some quiet time." With the hiss of the sealing doors, Helen buried herself in her work, engrossed. Time passed second by second into the night, and after working at the desk for a long time, Helen stretched, realizing her brain felt somewhat stiff from prolonged high-speed operation. She shook her head with a light chuckle, stood up to move her body, and by doing so, to stir up her thoughts as well. Concentrating on one thing for a long time is not always the best choice, as it''s easy to get stuck in a mental rut, unable to find your way out. Occasionally shifting your thinking can be necessary. With a somewhat distant look in her eyes while deep in thought, Helen finally pressed a button next to her. Before long, her student and assistant opened the door and walked in, "Professor?" "Bring me all the records of Bai E''s career from his last departure until now." "Yes!" During the rest period, entertaining oneself by looking at this young man''s path of promotion could indeed be enjoyable. Let''s see, how a fellow who was a mere grunt not so long ago managed to secure a foothold in the barracks in such a short time, and even become the first captain selected from the elite within the elite of the Mech Pilot Camp. While many details about Bai E might be top secret for ordinary officers, in the face of Helen''s supreme authority, there are no secrets. The digital devil¡­ High-dimensional demons¡­ Three arrows breaking the orcs¡­ "Ss~" Helen softly hissed in amazement, as if completely engrossed in the story, much like reading the biography of historic heroes. At the ruins of the Internet server, she keenly extricated the true form of electronic demons and technically assisted the people from the information department in repairing the ancient device. In what seemed to be an ordinary mission of rescuing and escorting refugees, encountering high-dimensional demons but relying on one''s absolutely firm will to fight back and not only succeed but also save a group of refugees, thus supplying the city with a wave of individuals with Spiritual Energy talents. As for the achievement of deterring orcs with three arrows on the way back to the city, it seemed to be the least noteworthy of all the achievements. "Truly impressive¡­" Helen had heard about these events; after all, they were significant enough to affect the entire city''s course, yet she hadn''t imagined that the key to all these pivotal moments was this very youth. It''s no wonder he had achieved such unprecedented merits and was immediately promoted out of the ordinary to the Mech Armored Corps, and even unprecedentedly elevated from an artificial person to a natural person''s status. Therefore, training step by step in the Mech Armored Corps in the following days and displaying strength to become the captain was only to be expected, right? The dense record of achievements spoke of the legendary soldier''s past, and Helen''s eyes sparkled with admiration. The plan she had previously conceived quietly resurfaced in her mind. Even though his close-combat strength was slightly lacking, his outstanding performance in other areas made it hardly seem a shortcoming. Wait a second¡­ As her delicate fingers slowly turned the page, a line of clearly written text appeared before Helen''s eyes. [Request for injection of Gene Optimization Solution.] [Request approved.] [Test passed.] [Injection successful, increase remarkable.] "Injected?" Helen''s fingertips trembled slightly, "Already injected?" She knew nothing about the Gene Optimization Solution. Though the Gene Optimization Solution was a product of their Scientific Research Institute, how many people in the whole city qualified for the injections daily? Such procedural work should not necessitate the daily attention of an academician of her standing; anyone who met the criteria could apply for and receive the injections. And for Bai E, who had achieved such feats, getting awarded a dose of the Gene Optimization Solution was only natural. However¡­ however, according to her current conception, to become a seed for the "Gene Prototype Project," one needed to be an absolutely "natural" human, one who hadn''t undergone any genetic optimization. The glimmers of hope that had just risen were once again dashed; the plan she had never revealed to anyone crumbled once more in her heart. Helen''s gaze went blank as she sat motionless in her seat, calming her somewhat agitated emotions. "Missed it¡­" She could hear her own voice. What a pity¡­ After a long time, having readjusted her mindset, Helen focused again on the tablet in her hands, the story of Bai E''s past flowing once more beneath her fingertips. The first battle to capture the sand worms, the data of ten special squads were replaced, nearly resulting in their annihilation. In the darkest moment, a signal emitter, covertly modified by Bai E himself, transmitted their location back to the base. And before the reinforcements arrived, with bare fists, he smashed several waves of sand worms that attacked in unison. With a human body, he staunchly repelled the Elite Insect Race! "Crack!" A soft shattering sound arose at her fingertips, the delicate glass screen showing a spiderweb of cracks spreading from the center due to the pressure of her touch. What exactly had she missed? Chapter 458 394 Establish Link This battle was a complete victory, and even if we put aside the fact that Bai E violated military orders, his performance among the mech pilots can be said to have led the pack by a wide margin. Furthermore, after a joint consultation among a group of military officers and scholars from the scientific research department, it was unanimously decided that Bai E''s rash actions were more meritorious than faultful. Then there''s nothing more to say, the promises made beforehand must be fulfilled. At the assembly on the following morning, the Mech Armored Corps'' instructor''s eyes swept pridefully over the team of regular mech pilots standing in a line before him¡ª Twelve in total, they were his pride. Especially Bai E, the team leader at the front, who, under immense pressure, made a breakthrough assault and decapitated the newly emerged giant beast. Confidence in his own strength and judgment of the battlefield situation are essential; how could such an outstanding warrior not be rewarded? "Who performed the best among you in the battle yesterday?" Even if it was a recognized fact, certain formalities must be observed to prevent anyone from feeling envious and speaking ill behind others'' backs. However, the uniform response took the instructor by surprise, "Captain!" It was obvious that the regular mech pilots knew this part was coming and had even discussed their answer beforehand. The instructor''s gaze swept over those earnest and excited faces, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. "Very good!" It seemed that Captain Bai''s display of strength and courage in actual combat truly impressed them, earning the complete respect of these proud individuals. "Since it is everyone''s unanimous decision, I won''t waste any more words," the instructor said, turning to Bai E at the front of the line, his eyes brimming with amusement, "Bai E, according to the agreement we made before deployment, the group of mech pilots who performed the best in this campaign can each make any request of me. If I can''t handle it, I''ll apply to the commander; as long as it''s within the capabilities of our entire Mech Armored Battalion, you can ask for anything." "I wish to suspend training for the next several days and return to my original special squad," said Bai E. "..." The instructor was taken aback, "If there''s anything you''re dissatisfied with, you can talk about it, there''s no need... no need to go to such lengths!" "..." "..." Bai E smiled helplessly, "Where is your mind going? I just think that continuing mech training is not very meaningful, so I want to go back to my previous unit to take on some tasks, just to keep in shape. That''s all, no other meaning." "Oh, I see..." the instructor exhaled a sigh of relief, "Then there''s no problem." As long as he doesn''t leave, everything is negotiable. Moreover, judging from his performance in this campaign, even if the instructor himself went into battle, he likely wouldn''t be able to replicate Bai E''s achievements. Continuing his training indeed seemed pointless; mech pilot training is mostly about operating mechas and conventional physical training, which wasn''t really useful for a warrior like Bai E who had real combat experience and was nearly at the peak of physical conditioning. "Just be careful on your own." Warriors can hardly avoid danger, but a mech pilot like the one he''d painstakingly trained was one in ten thousand. If it weren''t for the promise given under the highest commanding officer of the Mech Armored Battalion, Hamilton, even if Bai E had performed extraordinary feats, he would never have been allowed to return to that dangerous life. Or rather, the greater the achievements in mech combat, the less likely it was for him to be withdrawn from the Mech Armored Corps. "Understood." Bai E pursed his lips and smiled, appearing incredibly obedient. This also reassured the instructor, who hadn''t witnessed Bai E''s insubordination on the battlefield, and he turned his head to look at Rose, who stood straight beside Bai E. This vigorous female warrior shone brightly and effortlessly became the center of attention wherever she stood; yet her combat prowess was among the strongest. If she were a natural person, she would have long become the star of their military zone. "What about you?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire "Me?" Rose smiled brightly, "I want a badge that allows me to leave the camp at any time... just like him." The instructor thought for a moment and agreed without hesitation, "Alright." The requests both individuals made weren''t excessive at all and could easily be met without going up to Hamilton''s level. For those who hold promise to enter the Mechanical Court, a bit of appeasement is necessary. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E and Rose, their wishes fulfilled, looked at each other and shared a knowing smile. After fulfilling the promises to Bai E and her, the instructor then turned to the remaining mech pilots, and the reserve mech pilots standing somewhat further behind them, "The performance of our first team captain of the Mech Combat Squad on the battlefield is there for all to see..." As he spoke, real battlefield footage was also being played on the white screen behind him. Facing what seemed like an endless swarm of bugs, a lone blue-and-white mecha charged ahead, forcefully advancing toward the despair-inducing giant beast. Through a dizzying dance of evasion and entanglement, he didn''t give the beast a single opportunity to retaliate and utterly decimated it. The fluidity displayed in his overall performance left not only the reserve mech pilots but even the regular ones envious. "As long as you train hard, you too can reach this level one day and eradicate humanity''s enemies on the battlefield! Become the pride of our entire military district!" "...Now, continue with training!" ... Bai E found the instructor, who was free after assigning training tasks to all the soldiers, "Instructor, there is something I need to discuss with you..." Chapter 459 394 Establish Link_2 "You say." "I was wondering if I could enter the mecha''s cockpit even when not in training?" "Hmm?" Bai E''s gaze was distant as if reminiscing, "On the battlefield this time, while operating the mecha, I constantly felt there was an invisible communication with the machine. If that true dialogue could be achieved, I think it would be a very wonderful thing. So, during my free time, I want to sit in it and search for that feeling from before." He had about half of the required time left to establish a link with his own abilities and the mecha; relying solely on the limited training time each day was too little. If he could also spend his free time working on it, then one more day would suffice for Bai E to establish a real link. Against the Thunder Beasts it was still manageable, but when facing the Guardians, Bai E felt the pinch. Setting aside the limitations of existing technology, if his ability to control the mecha could improve further, the next time he faced the Guardians, would he be able to find... or rather, create an opportunity to inflict real damage on it? If the Guardians were already this formidable, how absurdly powerful would that one and only Overlord of the Bug Race be? If he couldn''t bring down the Guardians, what would he use to end the reign of the Bug Race''s battlefield sovereign? To prevent any possible accidents, Bai E must ensure the completion of the link between himself and the mecha before he pilots it to the front lines next time. Hearing Bai E''s request, the instructor repeated with a surprised expression, "Communication?" The word "communication" isn''t commonly used when it comes to machinery. Mecha''s spirit! This term immediately sprang to the instructor''s mind. Their Armor Battalion harbored a mysterious longing and faith for this mecha spirit, which only existed in legends. Any chance to touch upon the mecha spirit would not be overlooked! "Communication is good! Communicate well!" The instructor vigorously patted Bai E''s shoulder, his excitement evident, "Feel free to communicate, I''ll grant you access to the hangar. Your mecha is parked there when not in use; you can go communicate with it anytime!" Bai E snapped to attention and saluted fiercely, "Thank you, sir!" "Communication... communication is good... communication is good... hee hee~" The instructor murmured quietly to himself, repeating the words as he walked away, gradually disappearing into the distance. Watching the instructor''s retreating back, a smile formed on Bai E''s lips. Everything was within his expectations; he had researched the Armor Battalion''s descriptions of the mecha spirit, and this talk was sure to make them suspect the involvement of the mecha spirit. Although he wasn''t certain if a true mecha spirit would be born after the link was established, who could be sure about such things as mecha spirits? It wasn''t just one or two who claimed to have felt something; not every person who sensed something could make their machine birth a mecha spirit. With everything settled, Bai E walked towards the hangar. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having decided not to train, his and Rose''s mechas naturally remained in the hangar, untouched by anyone else. In fact, as it was the first day back from the great battle, the regular mecha pilots had no live drills scheduled, so quite a few pristine mechas were parked inside the hangar. Of course, there were also some figures wandering about... Mecha servants. These maintainers, who not only had immediate responsibility for rearming and caring for their mechas in battle but also conducted routine maintenance, were akin to specialized nannies or servants whose only reason to exist was to take good care of their "masters". Bai E''s solo arrival caught some curious glances, but the owners of those looks kept a restrained distance, not daring to approach easily. With a nod of permission at the entrance, no one stopped or interrogated him on his way, and Bai E easily ascended his own mecha. In fact, he hadn''t lied to the instructor; with the link establishment time halfway there, he indeed could feel that ephemeral "sense of communication" while piloting the mecha. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire It was like a faint whisper of a thought that, once he entered the cockpit and calmed his mind, would incessantly buzz in his ear like a mosquito. Furthermore, as the countdown for the link establishment decreased, the voice gradually became clearer and no longer felt like a figment of his imagination. Bai E entered the cockpit, chose a comfortable position¡­ and blissfully fell asleep. The brief burst of activity on the battlefield yesterday had drained him greatly, and the drive back in his mecha had left no time for rest, especially since he had to attend a meeting with the military commanders upon his return. The short rest of two to three hours between leaving Helen''s and assembling this morning was nowhere near enough to recover his energy. If he didn''t take the opportunity to get some good sleep now, when would he? Anyway, the establishment of the link didn''t necessitate active participation, as long as one was in the cockpit, anything goes. [Linkage Remaining Countdown: 17 hours 21 minutes 43 seconds.] [Linkage Remaining Countdown: 16 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds.] [...15 hours...] [...14 hours...] [...8 hours...] "What did you talk to the instructor about this morning? Why haven''t I seen you all day?" Bai E gobbled up the synthetic meal on his plate and stood up to dash out, "Secret." Rose frowned, "Still a secret¡­" Then, recalling something, she called out to Bai E''s retreating figure, "When you have time, go see Minister Eric of the Information Department, he said he has something for you! Though he mentioned it''s not urgent." Without turning his head, Bai E just waved his hand back, "Got it¡­" It was late, better to go tomorrow. Only 8 hours were left before he could establish the link with his mecha, and waiting even a minute more was torture. Besides the necessities of eating, drinking, and relieving himself, Bai E simply squatted in the cockpit. [...7 hours...] [...4 hours...] [...1 hour...] [...3 seconds.] [...2 seconds.] As if sensing something, Bai E, who hadn''t set an alarm for himself, also awoke leisurely in the silent dim light. At the same time, the countdown reached its final moment. [...1 second.] [Resonance Link Established.] [Resonance Link: From now on, all of your personal will shall be transmitted to the mecha without any delay or distortion. Your personal strength will also flow inside the mecha as "mecha force," and it will allow you to use your own superpowers! Note: The transformation of strength into "mecha force" requires a certain preparation time, current delay effectiveness time: 3 seconds. (This delay will gradually decrease as the duration of the resonance link increases.)] "Here it comes!" With the establishment of the link, a surge of electrical signals seemed to leap instantaneously from Bai E''s mind into the entirety of the mecha and flickered through the intricate circuitry in a flash. A closer sense of unity quietly blossomed in his heart, and Bai E could feel his Spiritual Energy beginning to quietly surge. The body of the mecha outside felt like another, larger shell of himself, and as long as he willed it, his own Spiritual Energy could immediately unveil, enveloping the larger body. This was the prompt that had appeared after he had leveled up Light Weapons to level 4 and learned a skill tree... He had mastered the ability to extend his own skills to the entire mecha for use, which meant... Aside from the Light Weapons skill¡ªthe Magic Blade, he could now directly use the mecha''s body to execute a range of abilities including but not limited to Gun Fighting Skill, Power Shot, Absolute Defense, and Instant Kill Hundred Heads! On the foundation of using the mecha''s weapons, coupling these abilities that could greatly amplify damage, Bai E couldn''t even imagine the power he might unleash. Even if faced with those three crimson beasts again, Bai E wouldn''t feel the despair of being unable to breach their defenses. The only requirement was the tenfold increase in Spiritual Energy expenditure needed to extend his own skills throughout the entire mecha... It was yet another significant challenge to his reserves of Spiritual Energy. But regardless, at least he had now acquired the ability to break through the limitations imposed by the mecha''s material composition! Chapter 460 395 Arrival Early in the morning, Bai E yawned contentedly as he awoke in the cockpit. As his consciousness returned, the cabin lights also softened in a timely manner. The resonance link ability he had just established was limited and couldn''t yet replace Bai E in substantial control operations, but lighting up the cabin according to his personal state was easily manageable. Bai E glanced at the information on the panel¡ª [Resonance Link: ... Current delay effect time: 2.59 seconds. (This delay time will gradually decrease as the duration of the resonance link increases.)] Pretty good... The information department was bustling in the early morning, having finally become lively since the reboot of the internet. "The Minister is inside." "The Minister is over there." Guided along the way, Bai E wasn''t new to this place, as the staff coming and going mostly recognized this taciturn and handsome young man. The instant his palm touched the door, Bai E keenly sensed some kind of Spiritual Energy stimulus. He paused for a moment, easily overhearing what seemed like a conflict occurring inside the door¡ªor rather, more of a one-sided accusation. "It''s been several days; haven''t your people prepared yet?" "...Or are you intentionally delaying the time?" The pressure of Spiritual Energy weighed down on everyone present, such that even Bai E at the door could feel the daunting oppression. Although the voice itself wasn''t audible, the Spiritual Energy carried the meaning of the words, allowing Bai E to perceive their content. Under the pressure of a third-tier Spiritual Energy user, even someone in a high position like Minister Eric dared not utter any insincere words but had to answer truthfully. "To my superior, wanting to prepare more thoroughly is indeed one of our thoughts, but another is to wait for Team Leader Bai from the special action team." "Him?" Pansen''s eyebrows twisted, recalling the warrior who always appeared silent before him. "Is it necessary to delay our overall progress for one person?" The legacy left by the electronic demon was still unknown, and every additional minute we waited, there was a minute''s worth of variables. If it were to dissipate naturally or infiltrate the servers and cause irreversible damage, they would all be nailed to history''s pillar of shame! Moreover, the departing team included a third-tier Spiritual Energy user like himself. Although his main strength in Spiritual Energy wasn''t geared towards combat, third-tier was third-tier, and rank trumped all. With his presence, the mission was sure to succeed without fail. Even if they were to encounter the difficulties they faced on their last expedition, he could easily lead everyone to break through. What need was there to wait for an ordinary grunt? Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire "My lord..." Minister Eric couldn''t look directly at the "giant" who loomed so large in his own eyes, instead, he spoke his mind with lowered gaze, "Team Leader Bai has experience leading us across the wilderness, and it was his leadership that last crushed the electronic demon as well. With him on board, our action will be even more foolproof." Having experienced actions together, and given the fact that Bai E assembled a transmitter on his own to send information back to the base when signals were blocked by the Bug Race, Minister Eric held a nearly blind trust in the warrior who had performed countless miraculous feats. It was as if any mission with him involved was guaranteed to encounter no problems at all. Naturally, the wait couldn''t be indefinite. If that team leader couldn''t respond within the next two days, then he couldn''t go against the will of the third-tier Spiritual Energy user. Moreover, the legacy of the electronic demon couldn''t wait indefinitely... "..." With a twist of his brows, Pansen, who was just about to speak, pursed his lips and prematurely turned towards the door. The next moment, with a "creak," the door slowly opened. A figure in a black uniform stepped lightly inside. Observing this unexpected arrival, Pansen''s eyes flashed with a strange glow. His Spiritual Energy covered a large area around him, and though his surveillance outside was somewhat reduced by the materials of the house, it wasn''t completely ineffective. Yet, this figure seemed to bypass the blurred edge of detection around the house and appeared directly at the door. However... he was uncertain whether it was a subconscious delusion due to not actively monitoring the surroundings. In the world of Spiritual Energy, there are many ambiguous sensations, and it''s not uncommon for observations to be inaccurate due to divided attention. He wasn''t sure if it was just an accident. His gaze steadily upon that familiar warrior, observing the other''s plain and rigid face and the unresponsive Spiritual Energy enveloping him, Pansen concluded it was just a momentary lapse of attention. After all... just a man-made warrior; how could he possess Spiritual Energy? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "My lord, I heard you were looking for me?" Bai E, who entered the room, immediately looked at Minister Eric and asked proactively. "Ah~ Yes..." Minister Eric, not expecting Bai E''s timely arrival, hesitated before responding, "It''s about the matter I mentioned to you last time... Have you sorted things out in your military camp?" "It''s settled." Bai E smiled nonchalantly, "I''m here today to discuss this with you, the training there has concluded, and I can represent the team in undertaking this escort mission." Chapter 461 395 Arrival_2 "That''s good to hear," Minister Eric''s eyes lit up with joy, even more elated to hear that Bai E was willing to come along than he had been upon hearing that the third-tier Spiritual Energy practitioner Pansen would join the expedition, "Then it''s settled here, we depart at six o''clock in the morning. I''ll have someone contact the Military Department right now. Captain Bai, you go back and confirm the appointment." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Okay." Once the matter was decided, actions followed like lightning. The once languid intelligence department suddenly bustled with activity, preparing everything needed for the next day''s journey. Bai E also said goodbye and then turned to leave. To the side, the third-tier Spiritual Energy practitioner Pansen stood, his face showing a trace of displeasure as he scanned everything before him. However, he said nothing, only snorted coldly, and with a swish of his trench coat hem, he turned and left. ... Back at camp, Bai E instructed You to see to the special squad''s mission, then once again entered the hangar alone. The mech servants, still like ants, scurried beneath the towering Mechas, altering their paths to avoid Bai E when they saw him approaching from afar. Bai E climbed into the cockpit and found a comfortable position to begin practicing his Spiritual Energy techniques. The Breathing Skill acquired from Yue Ying, once put into motion, could train one''s own level of Spiritual Energy, but this process required consistent and prolonged dedication, certainly not a quick fix that would show significant results overnight. "Your Spiritual Energy has improved through long and arduous practice, Spiritual Energy +1/1." [Resonance Link: ...Current lag time before activation: 2.03 seconds. (As the duration of the Resonance Link extends, this lag time will progressively decrease.)] At five o''clock in the early morning, Bai E opened his eyes. His gaze swept through everything inside the cockpit as Bai E''s palm gently caressed it, as if caressing a lover. "Goodbye..." The lights in the cockpit dimmed slightly, as if responding to Bai E''s farewell. At six o''clock sharp, six vehicles left the base on schedule. The last mission had required stealth to avoid attracting attention, but this time, a larger task force was required to carry more relief and technical personnel on board. The only constant was Bai E, still leading the way at the head of the convoy. The pre-planned route bore some resemblance to the previous one, yet it wasn''t entirely the same. In this era, nothing is eternal. The wilderness environment often changes due to a variety of factors. However, to witness such tremendous shifts¡­ that was quite worrisome. They flew past the site of the Blood Raven Forest they had passed last time, with everyone in the three vehicles pressed up against the windows in surprise, their gazes sweeping over what should have been a black woodland. The blood ravens that once perched on the branches had vanished, replaced by a sea of brown forest stretching under the morning sun. The forest bore no leaves, just bare branches. They writhed and entwined like living creatures with their own lives, forking into countless strange shapes that twisted freely in the breeze, intertwined like lovers'' fingers, inseparable. So much so, the entire forest seemed to be interconnected, forming a single unified entity. At the corner of one''s eye, it even felt as if one could sense the pulsations that the entire forest emitted together, gently undulating, rhythmic like breath. "The Bug Race''s infection has worsened¡­" Minister Eric, seated in the same vehicle as Bai E, stared distantly at the woodland, his expression filled with deep concern. Of course, the Bug Race''s deliberate expansion required dispatching the army to "sow seeds" for it to be efficient and appropriate. But their mere presence subtly influences everything in the vicinity, an impact that is irreversible and permanently etched. Their genes possess strong aggression, able to engage in wondrous interactions with any life form they encounter. "If we don''t eradicate the Bug Race, they''ll eventually overrun the whole planet!" Minister Eric clenched his fists tightly, his palms squeezed firm, filled with anxiety. He was a pessimist regarding the future of humanity and thus advocated for accelerating technological development, hoping to swiftly eliminate the Bug Race globally and thoroughly expunge their genes from the planet. He knew that this idea was challenging, even impractical. But it was precisely for that reason that he had to start with himself, to start now. The time left for future generations... is running short. "Victory will surely be ours," Bai E glanced one last time at the living forest receding in the rearview mirror as he pressed the accelerator deeper. Traversing nearly the same wilderness for the second time, his superior driving skills made the journey familiar, and he led the convoy swiftly forward. Blood Raven Forest, Sandworm Sea... The risks encountered last time flowed past one by one, unexpectedly serene. It was only after re-entering the lush forest once again that the sight of the green-skinned youngsters leaping quickly through the jungle caught Bai E''s attention, leading the pack at the very front. His foot instinctively tapped the brake as Bai E quietly gave instructions through the walkie-talkie, "Slow down, we''ve spotted a group of orcs, prepare to hide on the spot." The squads on a mission never had the obligation to cut through mountains and divert waters; their ultimate destination was everyone''s goal. Anything encountered along the way, unless it was insurmountable, could be avoided if possible. However, the moment Bai E''s voice fell, another voice tinged with a faint Spiritual Energy spoke, "There''s no need." That voice was so steady that those who heard it instantly felt full of trust. Bai E''s brows furrowed slightly, and in the next moment, his heart opened up to complete trust in the other, his foot gently lifting off the brake he had been pressing, and the vehicle once again resumed its normal speed... speeding straight towards the green-skinned orcs at the edge of vision. They passed by almost face to face. The closest green-skinned orc was no more than three meters from the convoy, but chuckling as they crossed the roots of a large tree, it didn''t even glance in the direction of Bai E and the others. Thus, the six off-road vehicles with their engines roaring boldly crossed right before the orcs, from start to finish without even triggering the natural reflexes of those living plants. The warriors and information department personnel, who had been unconsciously holding their breaths by the windows, watched in amazement as the green-skinned orcs gradually fell behind where the cars could no longer see, clicking their tongues in wonder, "Are they blind or something?" "Or is the boss just that impressive..." Pansen sat in his seat, sneering arrogantly, "I told you we didn''t need the protection of those special squads." In this world, fighting isn''t the only way to achieve a goal. "The boss is truly amazing." Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "What the boss says is true." Facing those admiring and respectful gazes, Pansen''s expression remained cold as he lightly lifted his chin, "Go about your duties, and don''t panic if we encounter something similar again, I will take action." "Yes, Boss!" Using the power of Spiritual Energy to make everyone disregard their attention on him, Pansen then slumped in his seat, his face showing signs of fatigue as he rubbed his temples with both hands. A third-tier Spiritual Energy user only had more vibrant energy, better suited for external use, but it was far from being able to disregard consumption. Glimpsing the situation in the following cars through the internal rearview mirror, Bai E''s eyebrows raised, and he pressed his lips together, staying silent. A third-tier Spiritual Energy user doesn''t seem to be as strong as one might think? ... Arriving once again at the familiar base, the personnel left on duty at the base, having received early internet information notifications, were already waiting at the entrance. Taking the lead, Bai E immediately saw the slender lady at the front of the group. The assistant lady''s visage remained as fresh and elegant as ever, but visibly more haggard. The scale of restarting a Golden Age server cluster - how vast was it? And the only one with the technical expertise to maintain it was her alone. During this time of standing guard, she spent days and nights learning, studying, and practicing. Although she enjoyed the process, she indeed was near her limit; she needed someone to step in and give her time to recover. "Long time no see," Bai E smiled at her gently, a warm look on his face. The assistant lady''s expression froze for a moment, and her face instantly bloomed with a mix of surprise and joy, "¡­Long time no see." Chapter 462 Locked! "What are you doing standing here? Come inside." The tall and slender figure swept past Bai E, taking the lead into the base. Pansen, who had been to the base before, still remembered the overall detailed structure of the base and could find his way to the central area of the servers without a guide. Minister Eric hurried to catch up with Pansen''s figure, softly asking as he passed the assistant lady, "What''s the situation now?" The assistant lady, following the minister, moved quickly with short steps, "That invisible ''world'' has occupied our server''s Computing Power Resources, causing a significant reduction in server performance. In fact, we can''t fully pinpoint where this invisible ''world'' is. We only infer its existence through the occupation of computing power and feedback from some abnormal signals." "How long has it been since it was first discovered? Is the occupation continuous, or does it occur in fits and starts?" "It''s intermittent; our operating speed fluctuates." "Is there any pattern?" "Current data is insufficient to deduce an accurate change function." Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire Quick questions and quick answers. Though many details had already been communicated, they still subconsciously sought confirmation upon meeting face to face, making sure no significant changes had occurred during their journey here. Bai E listened quietly on the side, not saying a word. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His duty was to accompany the team to the base. Having reached the destination, he no longer had specific tasks to attend to; technically, he could rest. But how could he rest? "You take them to rest first; we don''t need that many people for the technical tasks over there." "Okay," Rose agreed without hesitation, raising her palm toward the security teams following her into line-up at the doorway, "Everyone, come with me." She then turned her head to the base''s original guards, "Could you please arrange accommodations for us? We''ll rest for the night and take over tomorrow." "No problem." The guard soldier who needed relief, faced with the radiant smile of the warrior woman before him, hastily nodded in agreement. Only a few figures headed straight for the central control room. "Pat-a-pat-a-pat-a-pat~" The messy footsteps crisply resounded in the corridor, and soon the group arrived at the heart of the base. Pansen, the first to arrive at the control console, halted his steps. The sound of his steel boots quieted as he turned his head, casting a somewhat urging glance. His gaze naturally fell on the figure following behind Minister Eric, and a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes. "You have fulfilled your duty, this isn''t a place for you." Minister Eric smiled ingratiatingly, stepping half a pace forward, "My lord, Bai has done extensive research in the technical field. The first time we came here to reboot the servers, it was he who provided ideas for fixing those damaged servers. As you know, we technicians can''t resist the allure of these novelties." Pansen''s brow furrowed, but he said no more. It wasn''t a matter of personal preference or deliberate targeting of anyone; it was simply that his Spiritual Energy reacted strangely when it came to Bai. The feedback from Bai''s Spiritual Energy was indistinguishable from others, yet some intuition named "hunch" constantly emitted subtle alarms, causing unease. The source of the unease seemed to stem from this "Captain Bai"¡­ The deliberate provocation was meant to stimulate Captain Bai, to see if he would provide any more convincing feedback. However¡­ still flawless, as if he were just an ordinary soldier. With Minister Eric speaking on his behalf, it wasn''t easy for Pansen to persist, his gaze circled Bai E''s face and ultimately, resignedly, shifted to Minister Eric''s face, "Do you have a way to roughly locate the ''legacy''?" If they couldn''t approximate its location, he would have to rely on Spiritual Energy to meticulously explore every inch of space, which would undoubtedly be a massive challenge for him. Minister Eric shook his head, "Lord, virtual worlds that exist entirely separate from physical hardware do not have a tangible entity to pinpoint. In fact, we can''t be sure if this so-called ''virtual world'' has a catchable entity within our material world." "Perhaps give me some clues?" Pansen frowned deeply. The moment he had reached the central control room, he had already spread out his Spiritual Energy and did a preliminary search near the control console but found¡­ nothing. "That ''virtual world'' occasionally seizes our Computing Power Resources. We can only approximate which server''s resources are being harnessed during that time; that might constitute a clue?" The assistant lady, having been stationed here longer, was more knowledgeable about the situation. Forewarned by Minister Eric, she took the initiative to step forward and answer the questions for the lord who had accompanied them last time. "How long does it last each time your Computing Power Resources are stolen?" As he spoke, Pansen stepped to the edge of the nearby corridor, looking down at rows of server mainframes, each with a green indicator light, arrayed in the expansive, sunken hall below. Glancing toward both ends, his vision was unable to penetrate the thin darkness, preventing a clear view of the entire mass of mainframes. Chapter 463 Locked! ``` Such a vast space, if he had to rely entirely on himself to meticulously plow through it, he feared it would simply wear him out. Blindly charging ahead without any clues, like a headless fly, was not a wise choice. Miss Assistant, holding a tablet computer in her hands, replied with a tight face and a serious expression, "It''s hard to say, as of now there hasn''t been any discernible pattern." "How soon after it starts stealing do you notice?" "Immediately." Pansen''s brows were furrowed, but he also knew that impatience was not the mindset to have at the moment. "Then we wait." Subduing a "virtual world" that might stem from the remnants of an electronic demon and knowing what kind of efforts would be needed was still a mystery, but ensuring his mental state remained optimal was the best response at this time. He had used up quite a bit of Spiritual Energy along the way to help the convoy evade enemies; now was a good time to recuperate and face the upcoming challenges in peak condition. "Notify me immediately when you find any sign of the target." Without further ado, Pansen found a corner and squeezed into it. While the Cultivation Skills of human spiritual energy practitioners and the Breathing Skills of elves have their differences, what was common between them was the need for absolute personal tranquility. Bai E watched from a distance, curious about the human Cultivation Skills. Even though he had learned the Elf Breathing Skill, it was after all adapted by himself to better suit the physique of a human baby; it was different from the original Elf Breathing Skill and even more so from the intrinsic Cultivation Skills of humans. He wondered whether the original human Cultivation Skills would suit his physique better, accelerating his own cultivation. Unfortunately, the spiritual practitioner Pansen had no patience to teach someone irrelevant. Without an intimate communication of Spiritual Energy to guide him, Bai E couldn''t perceive any detailed aspects of the Cultivation Skill, and naturally was unable to trigger a possible teaching mission. Therefore, he couldn''t cheat by paying with his experience to learn a new skill. "Did you offend him?" Assistant Miss, as lively as ever, leaned close to Bai E''s ear, covering her mouth with her palm and asked in a whisper. "..." Bai E shook his head gently, his eyes glancing at Pansen who was meditating in the corner, "Shh~" The capabilities of a third-stage spiritual energy practitioner were still unknown, and while being strong in Spiritual Energy didn''t mean a comprehensive augmentation of physical attributes, if it were Bai E in Pansen''s position, he would definitely not hear the murmurs here. But one couldn''t be too sure whether this third-stage practitioner, whose primary ability was "information," could pick up on any form of "information exchange." "Oh~" Miss Assistant''s eyes danced with curiosity, her youthful face adopted a look of meaningful reservation. She seemed quite adorable. "May I take a look at the control log?" Bai E inquired softly. "You want to see that?" Miss Assistant was startled, her eyes briefly darting towards Minister Eric not far away. The minister himself was busy operating something at the enormous control console. Sensing Miss Assistant''s hesitation, he immediately waved his hand, "Go ahead, Bai is one of us, we are all humans." Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire As long as they were human, it didn''t matter who mastered the technology. "Thank you, Minister." "..." With a wave of his hand, Minister Eric faced a prompt that suddenly popped up on the screen in front of him, "Requires higher-level authorization to unlock," and he looked utterly troubled. Miss Assistant, who had seen this scene from behind, rushed up on tiptoe and clicked to confirm the authorization. "How come you have high-level permissions?" Minister Eric''s forehead creased with questions, "Did you find the manual from that era?" There was no explanation in the current myriad of documents on how to obtain server mainframe access. How could his own student grasp the operations that he himself did not know? There was no second possibility other than her finding something during her watch. "Ah~" Miss Assistant looked utterly baffled, "I don''t know... somehow I just have it." Only those without permissions are aware of the existence of "permissions." Those who have them are usually totally unaware of such restrictions. "..." Minister Eric scratched his cheek, deciding not to delve further. The technology from the Golden Age was beyond the comprehension of people now, and it seemed normal for something like cameras or biometric detectors to automatically recognize their owner through some underlying logic in regular use. "Carry on with your work." He said offhand and stood in front of his section of the control panel, pondering and operating something. Miss Assistant happily pulled Bai E over to the front of the control panel. ``` "Having been here these days, I''ve familiarized myself with everything." The assistant''s voice was lighthearted, "You can look at anything you want." Bai E pursed his lips, holding back from operating the system himself. As the one with the highest authority, he had just entered the control room when he heard the welcoming voice from the host computers¡ª "Welcome home, my master. You can execute any command with your will." Even though he could have done it himself, Bai E could not move a finger. Through the assistant''s operations, the system''s log records unfolded before Bai E''s eyes. "... At 03:43:19 AM in Zone B2, the host computers'' operating efficiency decreased by 3%, lasting for 38 seconds." "... At 07:13:22 AM in Zone A5, the host computers'' operating efficiency decreased by 4%, lasting for 19 seconds." "... At 10:51:07 PM in Zone E4, the host computers'' operating efficiency decreased by 6%, lasting for 7 minutes and 35 seconds." ... Bai E closed his eyes slightly, and an overhead map of the entire host computer cluster appeared in his mind. A clear line connected all the involved areas in sequence and marked the duration and intensity of the theft. The start times were random, the durations were random, the extraction points were random, but overall, it seemed... the intruder was getting bolder? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Like a mouse that sneaks around, avoiding the watchful eye of its owner to steal grains, after several acts, it found that the owner''s nose didn''t seem so keen, and so it gradually became more reckless. But gradually, the frequency, duration, and intensity of the thefts had decreased significantly, as if it had "eaten its fill." Was this the "virtual world" developing a "self-consciousness"? Or some other kind of free will? "Have you noticed anything?" Without knowing when, a cold voice suddenly rang out beside his ear. "..." Bai E''s expression unchanged, glanced at the side profile of the spiritual energy practitioner Pansen who had silently recovered and approached, "No, my lord." It seemed that even the server''s host itself had no method against this thief who was stealing computing power resources. Even in the deeper layers that were beyond the assistant''s access rights, the host had tried various "resistances" when facing reduced efficiency ¡ª including but not limited to locking down the computing power or shutting down the data flow of the area. But all were in vain. It also meant that even with the highest authority over this server host cluster, he had no advantage in this operation to capture what might be the "legacy" left by an electronic demon. ''This is troublesome.'' Bai E never considered himself to be special. Without the trump card of the server host''s authority, technically, he was not as comprehensive as Minister Eric, and in terms of power, not as strong as the spiritual energy practitioner Pansen. Did it mean that this virtual world "legacy" had nothing to do with him? Bai E frowned slightly, when suddenly a faint buzzing alarm sounded beside his ear. The next moment, a clearer and louder buzzing began to sound at the top end of the control console. The assistant''s face instantly turned serious, her slender and pale hands operating quickly on the console, and immediately locked on the location of the abnormal alarm¡ª The host computers, Zone C5. "C5 zone, hurry!" "..." Pansen''s expression darkened as he looked at the assistant, his eyes holding a glint of reproach. Do you expect me to know what this code means? He then grabbed the back of the assistant''s collar and lifted her up, carrying her as they both soared towards the host computers in the dark below. "Guide me." Chapter 464 397 Missed Watching the figure flying directly into the sky with a person, Bai E stood in place with a look of astonishment in his eyes. Minister Eric, who had walked over from behind, patted Bai E on the shoulder, "What''s wrong? Haven''t seen it before?" "Can... can fly?" Bai E''s eyes were filled with genuine admiration. Even though this world had some elements of science fiction or could be said to be magical, the scope of human capabilities was always within the range of their understanding. Even if his own personal attributes and combat power were exaggerated, the sight of a human taking off directly from the ground without relying on any external objects still astonished Bai E... along with a strong sense of envy. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If one could break free from the constraints of gravity on the human body, human choices would once again expand by an additional dimension. To this day, even in Yue Ying''s case, Bai E had never seen her take off directly from the ground. But now... "This is the hallmark of a third-stage Spiritual Energy user..." Minister Eric said with a sigh. He was a technical guy with little combat ability, but he had a generally broad understanding of high-level knowledge. "To become a third-stage Spiritual Energy user, one must first break the world''s containment on oneself. Being able to ''lift oneself up'' is the biggest symbol of this stage," Minister Eric said casually, then patted Bai E on the shoulder, "Let''s go and have a look as well." Although as an ordinary person without Spiritual Energy, he couldn''t understand the changes occurring in the Spiritual Power World, he couldn''t stay here any longer. If he did, his limited knowledge wouldn''t suffice for the more profound questions Captain Bai might ask... As he spoke, Minister Eric turned and walked towards the nearby stairs leading downward, followed by Bai E''s response. "Hmm." Bai E nodded lightly, his hand pressing down on the railing in front of him, exerting a little force, and he vaulted directly over. The three to four meter drop was covered in an instant, and with a slight bend of his knees upon landing, his muscles softened the impact. In a moment of contraction, his body shot out like a bolt of lightning, heading straight into the darkness ahead. Having the highest authority over the base, Bai E naturally had the layout of the entire base in his mind, including the distribution of every mainframe group. Hearing the noise, Minister Eric was startled at first, reached out a hand towards the railing wanting to say something, but seeing the agile figure already disappear into the darkness, he could only helplessly shake his head and continue walking slowly downward... Each sector consisted of sixteen mainframes, forming a 4*4 grid that wasn''t very large. Pansen, who had arrived at the center of the target location, slowly descended from his floating state, and only when he was about to touch the ground did he carelessly toss down his assistant, who he had been carrying. "Tsch!" The sound of metal boots scraping across the ground, Bai E arrived almost immediately after Pansen, in Zone C5. Pansen glanced at the arriving Bai E, a fleeting displeasure flashing in his eyes, but he made no sign of it. Having finally located the "Virtual World," he had an even more urgent task at hand. The instant he landed, the unleashed Spiritual Energy burst forth from within him, rapidly spreading outwards in all directions. While the 4*4 grid was certainly the primary area of investigation, the space just outside the area also couldn''t be completely ignored. The non-aggressive Spiritual Energy permeated the entire sector, the powerful personal will even distorting space, so much so that the mainframes that could to some degree represent the spatial layout rippled like water waves in the eyes of Bai E and the assistant. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire At the same time, an uncomfortable feeling, as if their whole bodies were being scrutinized, swept over the pair wave after wave. The assistant, who lacked the ability to use Spiritual Energy, huddled up with her arms wrapped around her body, rubbing them as if chilled to the bone. And within Bai E''s spiritual perception, he could "see" a vast white fog shrouding the area around him. The fog consisted of countless tiny droplets of water vapor, floating quietly in the air, neatly arranged in a grid formation within this space. When Bai E subconsciously concentrated to observe the fog, the fine water droplets seemed to rush towards his eyes in an instant. The water vapor magnified rapidly, and its fundamental units abruptly filled Bai E''s entire "field of vision." Thus¡­ an empty eye with a rotating eyeball almost came face to face with Bai E''s eyes. As the eyeball rotated, it showed great interest in the anomaly that was spying on it. Bai E''s pupils contracted, and his sensory powers to observe the Spiritual Power World instinctively shut down under the effect of "self-restraint." The moment his consciousness withdrew, Bai E carefully glanced at the silent figure sitting cross-legged at the center of the grid. Had the figure not noticed? "Found it!" came a sharp cry, as Pansen, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly stood up, his gaze turning in a specific direction. An excited Minister Eric, who had just jogged over, asked, "Where, where?" Pansen stood up with an almost effortless twirl, his long coat fluttering, and in a flash, he had already arrived at the precise location he had locked onto. "You can''t see it." Saying this offhandedly, Pansen released a variation of Spiritual Energy. A type of Spiritual Energy inclined towards "binding" and "capturing" began to extend delicate tendrils towards the target, in an attempt to envelop it entirely and bring it under his complete control. Feeling the fluctuation of that Spiritual Energy from not far away, Bai E, who did not dare to directly use his own Spiritual Energy or even use his sensory powers to observe what was happening in the Spiritual Power World, could only share in the urgency with the assistant and Minister Eric. Chapter 465 397 Misfire_2 ``` "No." Just now it was "tracking," now it''s "capturing." I don''t believe he can multitask and simultaneously use spiritual energy attributes inclined toward both functions. Bai E opened his "eyes" once again. The "virtual world," pinpointed by Pansen and with an exact location given, was quite easy to detect. If the world of spiritual energy is filled with multicolored natural spiritual energy fluctuations, then the so-called "virtual world" is like a piece of dark cloud that has swallowed everything up. A stretch of pitch black, with no color whatsoever. Therefore, its borders appeared especially clear within the sensory vision of spiritual energy. It spread from one side of the field of vision to the other. The intangible computing power resources also transformed into strands of fluorescent green light in the world of spiritual energy, shooting vertically from the void into the flat black mirror of the "virtual world." It seemed large, but the scale of size in the spiritual energy vision is always defined on a different dimension from the real world. Without Pansen''s positioning, Bai E alone would have found it difficult to precisely pinpoint the target''s location. At that moment, the milky white tendrils transformed by spiritual energy extended along the edge of the "virtual world," carefully trying to envelop it entirely. In the world of spiritual energy, everything moves according to will, and in the real world, Pansen could visibly be seen tensely focused. Sweat slowly slid down from his temples, and the veins on his forehead were exposed. There might only be one chance, and it was the first time making contact with such a peculiar entity, especially since the target had the reputation of an "electronic demon legacy." He couldn''t afford the slightest bit of carelessness. However, the more tensely focused one is, the more prone they are to making mistakes. The spreading white tendrils made a small angular line, failing to cut along the edge of the "virtual world" perfectly, and instead, touched the edge of the virtual world. Thus, in an instant, the dark mirror that seemed gloomy in the spiritual power world flashed for a moment, changing from a "surface" to a "line," and disappeared from the sensory perception of spiritual sense. "..." Pansen, standing in place, shuddered and suddenly fell backwards. A stumble later, he steadied himself on his feet, but he stood in place, head bowed in silence. "Sir!" Minister Eric was the first to react, striding forward to try and support him, "Sir, how are you?" "Sir! How are you?" The incident in the spiritual power world caused Bai E to shudder subconsciously, then immediately gathered his spiritual sense, following closely behind Minister Eric to rush to Pansen''s side. "I''m fine." Pansen raised his palm, gesturing that Minister Eric, whose hand was on his arm, didn''t need to support him. "Let it escape..." Although the outcome was far from delightful, it at least confirmed one point¡ª The "virtual world" truly exists. And the target was unable to detect his own "tracking," as long as he was more careful next time, he would definitely capture the opponent! As for whether the opponent would show up again... There is no place in this world that can provide "computing power resources," a kind of unquantifiable resource, better than this base. If the opponent wanted to escape, they would still have to "consider" their own needs. And though there''s no commonplace spatial distance in the spiritual power world as there is in the real world, without an adequate communication medium, the "virtual world" based in the spiritual power world also couldn''t quickly flee to a "very far" place. There''s still a chance. Pansen simply turned around, his trench coat billowing, "Let''s go, back to the control console." The target will show up again, there''s no doubt about that. ``` ``` However... "It''s this way, my lord..." the assistant whispered, gesturing towards one side. "Oh~" Pansen changed direction and strode off. ... "Continue monitoring," Pansen said, returning to the control console and sitting to one side. He gave his last order before closing his eyes to recuperate. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire The recent probing and capturing had consumed a certain amount of his Spiritual Energy, especially the final "capture." Though the consumption was not too severe considering his overall reserve of Spiritual Energy, it was essential to remain in peak condition to deal with the "virtual world" that could manifest at any moment. "Yes, my lord!" the assistant affirmed, her face tense. "Tick-tock, tick-tock~" Time ticked away, second by second. Minister Eric busied himself with familiarizing the various control panels, occasionally asking the assistant beside him for clarification, apparently unaware that he was supposed to be the teacher. Only Bai E stood idly to one side, controlling his Spiritual Energy to fluctuate minimally within the confines of his body, carefully changing it. [Assistant Cultivation Mode: Cultivation may be unfamiliar to you, but as long as you can remember that feeling and mimic it sufficiently, you can achieve the same thing. Depending on the difficulty of the target you''re imitating, you''ll need to collect varying amounts of information and pay different costs to gradually master the target ability. (Current mimic target: Spiritual Energy (Heavenly Eye); Current information collection: 100%; Current expenditure: 50 points of experience/min)] Although Pansen''s probing of the Spiritual Energy attribute was just a moment, it was enough for the system. Bai E was using his Spiritual Energy to try and mimic the other''s attribute, to ensure that when he wanted to do something similar, he could produce the same effect. This defined function was completely different from the clever trick of Spiritual Energy impact. Yue Ying had not taught him this, as it''s not simply a skill-based ability. Just as Yue Ying''s Spiritual Energy attribute is ''sharp cutting'', her Spiritual Energy has a sharp offensive quality, capable of slicing through an enemy''s throat like a blade, or pressing continuously like a cutter against the same target. But she struggles to maintain and restore a target''s state continuously. Whereas Pansen''s Spiritual Energy attribute is "Heavenly Eye," allowing him to "monitor" his surroundings with Spiritual Energy and even to immobilize or "capture" anything within his monitoring range, which is an advanced development of his attribute and an expandable aspect of it. But expandability is not All-around; Pansen is also incapable of effortlessly slicing open an opponent''s throat with Spiritual Energy like Yue Ying. In other words, Spiritual Energy attributes are the innate talent of every Spiritual Energy user. Each person is unique, and even when expanding abilities, it is only within the certain limits dictated by their attribute. But Bai E had none... According to Yue Ying, Spiritual Energy attributes are determined by numerous dimensions, including but not limited to "emotions," "preferences," and "goals." Once a person awakens to their Spiritual Energy and stabilizes, they naturally form their own Spiritual Energy attribute, even without the control of personal will. But Bai E had none... Even now, his Spiritual Energy attribute was a blank. Even if personal perception might be erroneous, the panel would definitely not be wrong. On the explosion rate panel, all Spiritual Energy users had corresponding attributes, all but himself... blank. Until today, he used his Spiritual Energy more as a pure "mana bar," not relying on the Spiritual Energy itself to accomplish anything. Not having a naturally generated Spiritual Energy attribute, whether it''s good or bad, even Yue Ying did not know. But when faced with a potential mimic target, Bai E couldn''t help but want to try. Yue Ying had never used "sharp cutting" in front of him to deal with anyone; Pansen''s "Heavenly Eye" was the first mimicable Spiritual Energy he''d encountered. Bai E held his breath, carefully controlling his own Spiritual Energy while constantly vigilant of Pansen, who was meditating in the distance. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His mechanical mind allowed him to multitask with absolute focus when necessary. And using his Spiritual Energy to mimic the other''s attribute in person was exhilarating, carrying a thrilling sense of risk akin to courting immediate danger... ``` Chapter 466 398 Hammering The world of Spiritual Energy made it difficult to have a precise sense of time, and Bai E, immersed in honing his spiritual energy attributes, utterly failed to notice the passage of time outside. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire It seemed as though only a moment later, the "beep beep beep" of the buzzer sounded again not far away. An assistant''s exclamation came along with it, "It''s happening again!" Almost simultaneously, Bai E and Pansen arrived by the assistant''s side, with Pansen asking first, "Where is it?" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a moment of pinpointing, the assistant reported the specific location, "F4." "Let''s go!" "Aye, aye, aye~" Dangling mid-air, held by the collar of her neck, the assistant flailed her limbs feebly, "Could you use a better position next time..." Her voice steadily faded into the distance as Bai E quickly followed, vaulting over the railing with a flip. Same 4*4 formation as before, but Bai E had smartened up this time, refraining from activating his spiritual senses at the first opportunity. The spreading "search" Spiritual Energy left no detailed location unchecked, the "virtual world" that seemed to have been startled last time and was now sneakily absorbing Computing Power Resources in the corners was naturally unable to hide. "Found it!" Once again locking onto the target, Pansen proceeded with considerably more caution. Watching from afar with his spiritual senses, Bai E could clearly see that Pansen''s speed of "casting the net" had slowed down significantly, his use of Spiritual Energy to "capture" the virtual world was more meticulous, thus the extension of those tentacles slowed to a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye. He would rather expend more thought and Spiritual Energy, but he had to ensure that there were absolutely no mistakes. Bai E easily guessed his thoughts. At this moment, he didn''t know whether to wish for success or to pray for failure. If Pansen managed to capture the virtual world and subsume it under his control, Bai E couldn''t find any possible way to snatch the virtual world other than taking huge risks to attack covertly and forcefully. Winning a one-on-one fight was another question; moreover, the feasibility of a "covert" attack was doubtful. Once exposed, he would be making an enemy of the entire city. The risks involved in pursuing an object of unknown utility were too great, Bai E was almost certain he wouldn''t take that step. And if Pansen failed... Could Bai E touch something even a third-order Spiritual Energy user couldn''t capture? The chaotic future was unclear before his eyes, even hope was indeterminate. However, reality wouldn''t change due to Bai E''s thoughts, and Pansen failed once more... In just a brief moment, the all-absorbing black mirror once again slipped into the void, vanishing without a trace. Bai E immediately withdrew his spiritual senses, but the real-life Pansen had frozen in place, seemingly struck by some misfortune. Only when Bai E walked up to Pansen following Minister Eric did he hear a soft murmur from his lips, "I didn''t make a mistake..." "I didn''t make a mistake..." "What went wrong?" "Why did it run away again..." "Sir, it... ran away?" Minister Eric didn''t dare anger Pansen and was moreover unable to see what had happened in the Spiritual Power World; hesitantly, he inquired softly. Pansen expelled a single word from his throat, "Hmm." The atmosphere grew slightly tense, as the failure was undoubtedly a blow to everyone. "Sir..." Bai E glanced at the time and cautiously spoke, "Perhaps it''s because... it''s had its fill?" According to the previous logs, the virtual world that came close to "feed" every once in a while only needed two or three minutes each time. And the total time of Pansen''s last two capture attempts had already exceeded four minutes, which meant the virtual world had likely replenished enough "food" to sustain itself and retreat successfully. "Had its fill..." The assistant''s eyes lit up, "Right! It''s had its fill." "We''ve seen the logs, even if we can''t detect it against it, it will leave after two or three minutes of appearing as it requires only that much Computing Power Resources, beyond that time, it will depart." "Had its fill..." Pansen muttered the phrase with a hollow gaze. Failure is not scary; what matters is finding the reason. Now that it was settled the problem wasn''t with him, the solution was to address the issues that had arisen. The question was... does the virtual world "feed" itself in a short time after appearing? Therefore, the entire net needed to be in place before the "feeding" was complete. What would undoubtedly be tested was his fine control over the weaving of Spiritual Energy. Their regular training as Spiritual Energy users encompassed such elements, including the intensity, resilience, enlargement, and reduction of Spiritual Energy and more. But all training has a standard... or a matter of precision. The precision required during training is entirely different compared to capturing the virtual world; to cast the net both quickly and effectively will inevitably need a lot of intensive practice. ''Troublesome...'' Pansen mentally sighed. But... weren''t those capable of becoming strong ones who have waded through countless tedious and repetitive trainings, as well as extensive real combat? His only worry was that his repeated attempts would scare away that "virtual world." The question of whether the "virtual world" possessed a will similar to a human''s was still up for debate¡ª if it did think like a human, after experiencing two capturing attempts, it would naturally look for another escape route. Chapter 467 398 Hammering_2 But after all, the "virtual world" is derived from the same source as the internet, and its essence is merely a standardized response to changes in external information. All its reactions are pre-input, limited in variation, and incapable of creating something out of nothing. As long as the other party acts like the simplest robot, following the most basic logic¡ªstealing food when hungry, and temporarily leaving when full or startled, there will eventually come a day when it is caught! Pansen, having composed himself, suddenly turned and headed back towards the direction of the central control panel, "Continue!" "My Lord... it is this way." "Oh~" ... Pansen sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to adjust his breath. Bai E stood in place, but his eyes were glazed over. The assistant''s gaze shifted back and forth between the two, feeling that both of them seemed rather odd. She might not understand the cultivation of a spiritual energy master, but she had at least heard of it to some extent. But Bai E... why, although present here, does his soul seem to be wandering far away? "Hey~" The assistant waved her hands in front of Bai E''s eyes, "What are you thinking about?" "Smack smack~" Blinking twice, a standard smile appeared on Bai E''s face, "Thinking about things." "Is that so?" The assistant leaned in close to Bai E''s chin and looked up into his eyes, "But it seems like you weren''t even looking at me?" His eyes stiffly turned and looked directly at the assistant below, and Bai E''s voice calmly rose, word by word, "How about now?" "..." The assistant wrapped her arms around herself, feeling an earnest chill crawl up her spine. The movement of Bai E''s eyes was like that of well-made puppets, stiff and rigid. Although his eyes turned towards her, there was no light of life in the pupils. "Is there anything else?" Bai E asked once more. Being multitasked to such an extent was truly uncomfortable, even with the presence of a mechanical mind, it significantly slowed down the progress of his training in spiritual energy. If possible, he wished to quickly dispel the curiosity brimming within this assistant. "No¡­ there''s nothing more." Hearing the voice that was so calm it was almost devoid of any warmth, the assistant abandoned any thoughts of probing further. Everything had changed... everything... ''Perhaps this is a rejection... sob sob~'' Pansen''s ears twitched lightly as he withdrew the spiritual energy that was specially enhanced for hearing. For some reason, his spiritual perception could always sense a subtle threat, looming close at hand. Around him, there always seemed to be another source that could disturb the spiritual energy. Yet, whenever he released his "probing" spiritual energy, he never found any abnormalities, which meant that the other party was always able to avoid his spiritual abilities. If such a "person" existed, then they must be exceptionally good at hiding and disguising. The most likely suspect was that miracle-creating warrior... the special forces captain, the artificial human, Bai E. Observation always leaves traces, and if the other party deliberately avoids the dimension of spiritual energy to "observe" oneself, then monitor everything around them in another way. The spiritual energy would be noticed and deliberately avoided by the other party, so use the most primitive methods to monitor everything. Ears¡­ eyes¡­ these are the greatest sources of information that humans rely upon. However... The clear conversation between the strange-feeling Captain Bai and Assistant Minister that entered Pansen''s ears, Minister Eric whom he had known for many years, and the only people who were close were these three. A bit further out were the original guards of the base and the information department technicians who came along this time to maintain the mainframe group. There were no anomalies. Could it really be an illusion? The substantial enhancement of my Spiritual Energy in such a short time has made me sensitive, is that profound and obscure hyper-level space trying to add a "suspicious" trait to my character? Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire Spiritual Energy practitioners always have to guard against whispers from high-dimensional space; it''s the battle every practitioner must face throughout their lives. "Probably... it''s really just my own illusion," Pansen heaved a light sigh, letting go of the unease in his heart, completely immersing himself into his Spiritual Power World. ... [You are currently using combat experience to aid the definition of your Spiritual Energy attributes...] [Current Definition Completion: 32.2%] ... [You are currently using combat experience to aid the definition of your Spiritual Energy attributes...] [Current Definition Completion: 57.6%] Time passed, unknowingly how long, as Bai E occasionally became distracted and maneuvered his body like one would a Mecha, but in the end, all he got was a cautious inquiry from Minister Eric from a distance. "Sir... should we rest for a while?" Pansen''s eyes, showing a trace of fatigue, slowly opened as he looked at the concerned Minister Eric, "What''s the matter?" "It''s getting late... almost one o''clock." They had arrived at the base just after five in the morning, and since about six, they had been tracking the "virtual world" from this central control console, focused for nearly eighteen hours straight. Even just maintaining the minimum level of attention, both he and his assistant Miss were reaching their limits, with waves of drowsiness coming on unstoppable, yearning to lie down in a soft bed enveloped in the bedding. "...One o''clock." Pansen, his eyes slightly bloodshot, shook his head, "You go rest, I''ll keep waiting here." The virtual world''s emergence time was just a fleeting few minutes. If he went to rest in the break area, even if he received news of its appearance immediately, by the time he arrived, there would hardly be any time left; he couldn''t accept that. "But, sir... continuing to wait here might not be much use," Minister Eric, having reviewed the log records as well, said, "Based on past experiences, that thing won''t reappear until at least tomorrow morning." With the experience they currently had, it wasn''t possible to pinpoint the exact time of the virtual world''s appearance, but providing a rough time frame was not an issue. Once stabilized, the virtual world generally appeared once a day. Today, due to their first arrival and certain special circumstances, which the assistant Miss did not dare confirm or explain, they had all waited until now. Otherwise, as soon as the virtual world "satisfied its hunger" and naturally fled the second time, she would have already advised everyone to rest. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "...Sir, please go back and rest first." "No need," Pansen didn''t budge, simply waving his hand, "You go rest, I''ll keep watch here..." Even if the virtual world wouldn''t appear for a while, Pansen did not plan to rest. The fewer the opportunities to respond to the virtual world, the better; naturally, he wanted to refine his Spiritual Energy to a finely controllable degree in the shortest time possible. The virtual world remained unknown to humans, and he first had to ensure his preparations were without fault. "However, I don''t know how to operate this equipment..." Letting Minister Eric and the assistant Miss go rest, in case the virtual world suddenly appeared, Pansen didn''t want to miss that rare opportunity. In the day''s wait, Minister Eric had almost mastered the functions of the entire control console after consulting with the assistant Miss; now, these two were the only people in the base who could quickly determine the location of its emergence after the virtual world appeared. "We could take turns to rest..." Minister Eric quickly reacted, turning to the assistant Miss and said proactively, "Aryan, you rest first, and I''ll hold on a bit longer." "No need." Bai, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up, "Minister, Aryan, you both go rest; I''ll stay here." With that, Bai then looked at Pansen, his eyes firm and steady, "Sir, I know how." "You?" Pansen was somewhat puzzled. "Bai has done considerable research in technical fields; when he says he knows, he does," Seeing Bai step forward, Minister Eric immediately vouched for him and then turned to Bai, "But you''re tired too." "It''s okay," Bai shook his head, "We soldiers tend to have more stamina than you do." "True..." Minister Eric yawned deeply, "Then we''ll leave this to you two, and we''ll go to rest. Come on, Aryan." Chapter 468 399 Heavenly Eye*Fake No one can clearly define what the essence of Spiritual Energy is, whether it has the smallest unit of composition, or like light, possesses various properties. But to define Spiritual Energy, one needs to delve deeper into its essence. In the process of imitation, Bai E had realized what needed to be done to endow his own Spiritual Energy with attributes¡ª If his original Spiritual Energy was composed of uncarved natural jade stones, then the process of imposing attribute definitions on Spiritual Energy was like inscribing unique engravings that belonged exclusively to the "Heavenly Eye" attribute on each piece of "jade". The essence of Spiritual Energy attribute definition might not necessarily be this, but this was his own consciousness''s intuitive abstract understanding of the attribute definition of Spiritual Energy. With this understanding as a premise, Bai E tried to execute and was surprised to find that the progress, which had been stuck at 80%, loosened once again. [You are paying with battle experience to assist in defining your Spiritual Energy attribute¡­] [Current definition completion: 80.1%] ¡­ [You are paying with battle experience to assist in defining your Spiritual Energy attribute¡­] [Current definition completion: 89.9%] ¡­ [Current definition completion: 99.9%] "What time is it?" Bai E''s half-awake consciousness heard a soft inquiry not far away. "It''s ten o''clock." The guards at the distant intersection had already changed shifts. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire But perhaps due to extreme fatigue, even at this point, Bai E had not seen the assistant miss or Minister Eric arrive. "Oh~" Pansen, with eyes bloodshot, leaned against the metal wall of the machine, his gaze blank and lost. "My lord, why don''t you go rest as well?" Bai E suggested. The sense of time in the Spiritual Power World is not entirely linked with the real world. After a night of diligent practice and paying a whole 7000 points of battle experience, he had successfully mastered the ability to imbue his Spiritual Energy with the "Detection" function. Bai E, who previously had no attribute to his Spiritual Energy, could never have imagined that so-called Spiritual Energy attributes were actually a type of low-consumption, continuous Spiritual Energy finesse. If he only maintained the least intensity of vigilance, he could constantly monitor any changes within a small range around him. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Spiritual Energy (Heavenly Eye*Pseudo): Your Spiritual Energy spreads around your body, monitoring everything in the outside world at all times, and any changes within a "1" meter radius of your body will be displayed in your consciousness. You will no longer be subject to close-range attacks, and attacks launched from beyond "1 meter range" will also be checked against your "reflex" attribute with a set of opposing checks. If the check succeeds, you can avoid this attack at the cost of a certain amount of Spiritual Energy (the consumption of Spiritual Energy is proportional to the strength of the hit). In addition, you can also expand this monitoring area, but the required level of Spiritual Energy and consumption will rise exponentially. (Pseudo: Your ability will be overridden within the range of the original version, and the depth of excavation for this attribute must be based on observation and imitation of the original ability. You will never surpass the development level of the original ability itself.)] A zero-consumption 24-hour non-stop monitoring camera with no blind spots? Only after successfully imitating and acquiring this attribute of Spiritual Energy did Bai E realize how correct his fleeting thought of ambushing Pansen was. Close-range attacks couldn''t evade the opponent''s monitoring, and long-range attacks needed to be sufficiently fast; otherwise, as long as Pansen''s reflex attribute could react in time, the long-range attack would still be blocked by his Spiritual Energy. And if an attack wasn''t certain to be lethal, a third-order Spiritual Energy wielder reacting in time meant that there was absolutely no chance for him to succeed. But now, this ability... belongs to me. The advantage of having no defined attributes is that Bai E is not confined by any attribute. As long as he paid a certain amount of experience, he could learn any Spiritual Energy attribute, meaning there was no attribute Bai E couldn''t master. After acquiring this ability, his own Spiritual Energy underwent a significant transformation. The Spiritual Energy inscribed with the name "Heavenly Eye*Pseudo" couldn''t stop trying to disperse outward from within his body, attempting to start establishing the defenses it was meant to. However, in the presence of the master, Bai E dared not let his Spiritual Energy escape from the prison of his mind, not even a little. So he desperately suppressed it while also trying to take advantage of the time Pansen was away to see if he could unexpectedly encounter that elusive virtual world to verify the effectiveness of his newly acquired ability. "My lord, you look very tired..." Pansen''s eyes were full of blood vessels, and his gaze was lifeless. Having not cleaned himself for over a day, his black stubble had broken through the skin, showing a slightly dark patch, and his hair was greasy, leaving him looking disheveled and worse for wear. "...I''m fine." After a brief silence, it seemed as if Pansen''s will took a moment to understand Bai E''s words, and he responded, "Got anything to eat? I''m hungry." "Oh... this, will you eat it?" Bai E took out a piece of hardtack from his pocket. Their special forces team always carried compressed food that could at least ensure a full stomach and provide energy for a day, which of course didn''t offer as much reserve for action as "No. 3 Snack Bar," but was sufficient for urgent needs. "But it doesn''t taste very good," Bai E said honestly before tossing it over. Chapter 469 399 Heavenly Eye*Fake_2 ``` Pansen subconsciously used his Spiritual Energy to catch the object and slowly unwrapped it in front of his eyes. Looking at the square, light yellowish chunk mixed with a milky white color, Pansen smiled and took a bite. After guzzling a large sip of purified water from his water bottle, he let out a breath, shook his head with a smile, and said, "That''s how I came through it back in the day." Even those gifted with Spiritual Energy, to develop their personal combat will, undergo the same arduous training and missions as military camp soldiers. Having consumed the water and food, Pansen finally regained some vitality, and looked at Bai E with gentle eyes, smiling and asking, "Aren''t you tired?" "Not tired. It''s normal for us to go several days without sleep during missions." "It''s still tough for you..." Pansen sighed, stared at the floor beneath his feet, and said softly, "Actually, I didn''t mean to target you specifically; it''s just that some of your behaviors are puzzling, and combined with some strange responses from our Spiritual Energy, I prodded you a bit earlier. Don''t take it to heart, okay?" Bai E was momentarily surprised, "¡­ Sir." Pansen waved his hand, "We are all serving the city; there''s no need for formalities. To fight your way up to this position and power as an artificial human, I actually admire you a bit, pity you don''t have the talent for Spiritual Energy, or I could personally teach you some stuff." "¡­" Bai E, with eyes cast downward, appeared somewhat moved, "I''m sorry I can''t meet your kind expectations, sir." "Hey, it''s nothing," Pansen looked into Bai E''s eyes. Every little gesture, the trembling of the eyelashes, the twitching of the muscles... He did not use Spiritual Energy, as it could inspire caution. As a Spiritual Energy expert in information gathering, responsible for reconnaissance and counter-espionage, using the body''s inherent capabilities to obtain information was also an essential skill for him. One last time! He wanted to look one last time into the true heart of this peculiar artificial human. "Beep beep beep~" The sudden alarm interrupted their conversation, and Bai E leapt to his feet, dashing towards the central control console. After a series of dazzling operations, Bai E quickly reported the location of the affected machine room. "A2." Without waiting for Pansen to act, Bai E''s body shot out like an arrow, flipped over the railing to jump down from the machine room platform, and sprinted away into the darkness, almost as fast as Pansen, who was flying overhead. "It''s here!" Pansen slowly descended in front of Bai E. The control of Spiritual Energy that he had urgently practiced overnight was about to be put to the test at this moment. He had to be both fast and stable. The discerning Spiritual Energy, like a fog, filled the entire 4*4 space, and Bai E, feeling the external spiritual energy fluctuation, was somewhat astonished, only truly understanding the power of a third-level Spiritual Energy user after having mastered the same type of Spiritual Energy. The scale of 4*4 was that of the mainframe, with each unit occupying at least 4©O of space, and the gaps between groups of units being at least 2 meters, with a height of around 3 meters; roughly calculated, the whole space was about 588m3. Not to mention that Pansen''s Spiritual Energy coverage was not merely clinging to the edges, which meant that the entire space of six or seven hundred cubic meters was shrouded in Pansen''s energy. And what about himself? Around 1 meter from his body? That was the extent of his energy''s sustenance without consumption. To extend this space to the range of six or seven hundred cubic meters... emmmm, impossible. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn''t a matter of consumption; he simply couldn''t do it. Expanding space was an exponential explosion, and without enough total Spiritual Energy volume, the range Bai E could push his energy to was likely just about a hundred cubic meters at its limit, an entire order of magnitude less than what Pansen had shown. Not to mention the consumption, which was a level currently beyond Bai E''s reach. Under such all-seeing Spiritual Energy surveillance, a definitive "black hole" was easily and quickly located on the edge of the 4*4 space. "Found it!" With a light shout, the Spiritual Energy quickly converged. Pansen located the position directly below the target and began to release his Spiritual Energy. Watching Pansen use his Spiritual Energy to capture, Bai E hesitated whether to "come closer" to see in the world of Spiritual Energy. Unable to improve his mimicked Spiritual Energy attribute, he could only develop more functions of the energy by imitating the abilities of other Spiritual Energy users. He had indeed temporarily completed a partial imitation of "Heavenly Eye," but the deeper development¡ªlike "capture"¡ªwas a concept beyond his current Spiritual Energy understanding. ``` One must imitate the original host to further enhance and acquire more attributes for usage and transformation. During Pansen''s "catch," there was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity. Furthermore, Pansen himself had just said¡ªhe admired oneself and wouldn''t mind personally instructing oneself in some Spiritual Energy knowledge... "...or I could personally teach you a thing or two." "...or I could personally teach you..." "...or I could personally teach you..." Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire These words echoed like a demonic chant, making Bai E unable to suppress a certain impulse. However, beneath the throbbing of his heart, Bai E''s eyes instantly cleared. Spiritual Energy Impact! Pansen''s words carried a faint effect of Spiritual Energy, unlike the previous forceful indoctrination; this time, it was much subtler, like moisture that infiltrates silently, so subtle that one couldn''t detect any trace of the imposed Spiritual Energy effect. But even if one realized for an instant that this was the brainwashing effect of a Spiritual Energy Impact, the trust in the other party had deeply rooted itself in the depths of one''s heart. However, for Bai E, having that moment of clarity was already enough¡ª The crafty skill of Spiritual Energy Recollection activated once again. Searching upstream in the flow of memories, it was over within the span of a breath; the confrontation in memory had already ended. [You just engaged in a battle of Spiritual Energy within your memory, which has exercised your Spiritual Energy to a certain extent. Spiritual Energy +5/5.] "..." Returning to his senses from the memory, Bai E maintained that intense concern and watchfulness. Revealing oneself as a man-made being with Spiritual Energy abilities had implications too chaotic; one would only consider disclosing this information to the city after possessing more trump cards. Before that, Bai E didn''t want to exposing himself passively. "Swish swish swish~" In the unseen world of Spiritual Energy, white tentacles were spreading at an astonishing speed along the edge of the black void. However, in the pursuit of speed, there was naturally a lack of precision. A slight tremor of will, and the white capture net accidentally made contact with that easily startled presence. In just an instant, the black mirror swallowing the fluorescent green streams disappeared out of sight. But Pansen, mentally prepared, didn''t make a sound. He truly wasn''t maintaining the use of "Exploration" Spiritual Energy while using "Capture" Spiritual Energy, and naturally, he didn''t have that ability. But if someone else had been watching, they might have stirred upon "seeing" the scene of his failure. One second... Two seconds... Half a minute... One minute... Bai E glanced at the time and walked up softly, "Sir?" Pansen blinked his eyes as if suddenly snapping back to reality, "What''s up?" Bai E checked the watch on his wrist, "It''s been over four minutes." "Oh~" Pansen nodded, "I just failed, and I was thinking about how to improve." "I see... You''ve worked hard, Sir." Looking at Bai E''s sincere face before him, Pansen sighed softly in his heart. ''Could it really be my imagination?'' He had infused a touch of Spiritual Energy Impact into his words to Bai E just now, so covert because¡ªattempts to deceive others must first deceive oneself. As long as the subject of the technique had no issues, he would act in accordance with his promise, unwavering and without doubt. Thus, the hand that once again patted Bai E''s shoulder was much sturdier and forceful, "Help me back... I''m feeling a bit dizzy." "Yes, Sir." Chapter 470 400 Capture Pansen''s continuous training, along with the exploration and capture attempts, had drained a vast amount of his energy. By now, he was nearing the point of complete exhaustion. His temples throbbed, and stabbing pains swept over him like waves, a sign of overusing his Spiritual Energy in a short time. "I need time to recover. If the target appears, remember to call me." Deep meditation could restore Spiritual Energy more quickly, a skill Bai E had learned from Yue Ying. The downside was that it required total immersion of the mind without distraction, only feasible in a completely secure and quiet environment. "Okay," Bai E agreed readily, supporting Pansen back to the control console. The experienced Pansen closed his eyes and entered a state of meditation in the next moment, his breathing calm, impervious to any change in the outside world. "Tap~ Tap~" Not long after Pansen had settled into meditation, Minister Eric and his assistant returned, having finished their preparations. "What''s happening here...?" Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire "There was another incident in the virtual world just now; the minister failed to capture it and is tired, currently recovering." "Oh~" Minister Eric nodded and then persuaded Bai, "Captain Bai, why don''t you take a rest?" Having guided them the whole way and stood guard since arrival, even with the knowledge of the soldiers'' resilience, there was no need to push so hard when it was safe, right? "No problem, I''m not tired," Bai E said with a relaxed smile. "Besides, I promised to wake him when the virtual world reappears. I can''t break my word. Since the feeding in the virtual world was interrupted by him, it should be back soon." "..." Minister Eric pursed his lips. Captain Bai had always had his own ideas and perseverance, making advice from others nearly useless to him. ["Lucky Strike" charging +3.] "..." Bai E was startled. Minister Eric in front of him did not seem to be the source, so he instinctively turned to look beside him. The assistant Miss Aryan, holding documents and wearing black-framed glasses, was standing to the side, looking up with admiration in her eyes... at him. ''So cool...'' His promise was iron-clad, his will unyielding. Bai E wasn''t the first soldier Aryan had ever seen, but he was the first with such a strong, calm, and captivating presence. Well then, let''s forgive your little coldness from yesterday~ "Beep~ Beep~ Beep~" The alarm sounded again, and Aryan sprang to the control console. "D1! D1!" Bai E had already come up to Pansen. Half an hour had passed, hard to say how much he had recovered. This was clearly a test of willpower. Humanity, unaware of the potential variables of the virtual world, sought to capture it as quickly as possible. Yet there are limits to human endurance. After exerting the greatest effort, whether one would capture the virtual world or collapse from overload... was unknown. Bai E hoped for the latter... If Pansen didn''t fail, where was his chance? Bold seizure was impractical; scavenging scraps from the opponent''s mouth was the true significance of his mission. "Sir! Sir!" Bai E shook Pansen''s shoulder, calling out in a normal voice. With a slight twitch, Pansen opened his eyes in an instant, a fleeting shadow of gray light, characteristic of Spiritual Energy, passed through his gaze, "What''s the matter?" "It''s appeared again." Aryan also peeked out from behind Bai E, "D1, sir." She reached out her neck in anticipation, making it easier for Pansen to pick her up. Lifting off without leverage, Pansen''s body shot towards the rail''s edge like a bolt of lightning, leaving behind a stern command, "Go!" "Okay," Bai E took off at a burst of speed, overtaking him from behind. He scaled the railing with one hand and executed a graceful roll upon landing, then charged off into the darkness. Left behind, Aryan''s mouth hung open in disappointment as she emitted a puzzled sound, "Huh?" Why aren''t you taking me along? As Minister Eric and Aryan snapped back to reality, they immediately set off towards Sector D1. When they arrived, they only found two silent silhouettes. "Another failure?" Minister Eric inquired softly, breaking the silence. "Yes," Pansen sighed lightly, finally showing movement. He turned around, his face weary, "There wasn''t enough time." Required to prioritize both speed and precision, it was a monumental challenge for his control over Spiritual Energy. But just for an instant, Pansen''s face reignited with unexplained self-assuredness. "However, it doesn''t matter; I will eventually catch it." A contest of wills. Pansen wasn''t interested in dragging it out with the target, as the world of Spiritual Energy also valued determination. Confronting difficulties head-on, without rest, was most people''s habit. "Again!" ... "Beep beep beep~" "F5." ... "Beep beep beep~" "G4." ... "Beep beep beep~" "E1." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... The repetitive process of searching and capturing the target had almost become instinct. But even such repetitive tasks required undivided attention each time. Spiritual Energy stems from will, and when the will starts to numb, Spiritual Energy also begins to weaken. Pansen had to direct all his attention to manipulating his Spiritual Energy, naturally relaxing his focus on other things as his willpower declined. With dark circles under his eyes, Pansen''s gaze was fixedly on the void overhead, twined with the grey fog of Spiritual Energy. Chapter 471 400 Capture_2 ``` Tired... so tired... Meditation could only restore Spiritual Energy to a certain extent, but it was thorough rest that could completely rejuvenate the spirit. Pansen, nearly overcome with sleepiness, still focused all his attention on manipulating Spiritual Energy, while Bai E, who had been keeping watch at his side, felt he had finally found his opportunity. He himself was not without fatigue, but he insisted on staying vigilant, waiting for such a moment. The weakening of will left Pansen no extra strength to pay attention to other information around him while "capturing"¡ªthis was the perfect chance for Bai E to learn by stealth. Bai E approached Pansen, his sensory perception flared out, observing the Spiritual Energy that was casting a net towards the virtual world. Unlike "scouting," "capturing" was more restrained and detailed. If the "scouting" attribute of Spiritual Energy took the form of blocks each imprinted with unique glyphs, then the first impression of "capturing" attribute Spiritual Energy for Bai E was that of chains inscribed with runes. Interwoven and entangled, they extended forward. Even coming from the same "Heavenly Eye" attribute of Spiritual Energy, the forms they took when fulfilling different functions were starkly different. If not for the mimicry of the original owner, Bai E would struggle his entire life to develop more uses for the "Heavenly Eye." [You are paying with combat experience to assist the definition of your Spiritual Energy attribute...] sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Current definition completion: 0.3%] ... "Pfft~" The "rope" that spread like a swift serpent ultimately hit the edges of the black mirror. "Failed again..." Pansen sighed in disappointment, his whole person as if deflated and on the verge of collapse. The depletion of Spiritual Energy weakened his will just as much, the perseverance and confidence he held within drained away as the Spiritual Energy emptied from his body. "I need to rest..." ''If only someone could chase after the virtual world while I am resting...'' No one knew whether the Computing Power Resources collected by the virtual world each time were for "feeding" or for "storing" to bring about greater changes. Humans knew nothing about the virtual world, and could only cautiously make all kinds of possible presets. It was based on these assumptions that Pansen did not wish to continue the drain with the virtual world indefinitely. And now, after overexerting his Spiritual Energy, he had finally reached the limits of his abilities. During the time he would rest, he did not know what changes might occur. The self-suggestion of the Spiritual Energy made him look towards Bai E. ''If only he truly had a talent for Spiritual Energy...'' "What''s the matter, sir?" "Nothing... Don''t help me, I''ll go back by myself." Watching Pansen leaning on the wall with his stooped figure, Aryan covered her mouth with her small hand, "Is the sir drained?" "Pretty much..." Bai E nodded lightly, his voice full of wistfulness, "Indeed..." Inside, however, he was somewhat elated¡ªfinally, it was his turn. But before that, he needed to master the essence of "capturing" first. "Let''s go back." Following behind Bai E with a trot, Aryan asked, "Huh? You''re not going to rest?" "No, I''m wide awake." It was now seven in the evening. Pansen''s attempts were not entirely useless, and Bai E, a spectator, had a clearer mind than anyone else. Today, the virtual world appeared several times in not-too-distant intervals, which was a noticeable change from the stable frequency of appearing once a day after stabilization. Was it due to some unknown change? Or was it the influence of Pansen''s chasing actions on the virtual world? Bai E leaned towards the latter. If one attributed all the possibilities of everything to the unknown, then one would completely lose the ability to judge and speculate. The virtual world appeared several times today because its "feeding" was interrupted. In Pansen''s attempts throughout the day, he abandoned precision for the sake of speed, leading most attempts to fail very quickly. As a result, each time the virtual world appeared, the Computing Power Resources it absorbed were insufficient. Following that thought, couldn''t one deliberately interrupt each time, forcing the virtual world to keep appearing, and even push it to "energy loss," thereby extending the time it needed to absorb Computing Power Resources after its appearance and buying time for meticulousness during capture? During Pansen''s later attempts, his thinking had nearly become rigid, and he had not the slightest ability to analyze and summarize the results of his experiments. Aryan and Minister Eric arrived late and lacked sufficient sensitivity toward Spiritual Energy, and likewise had no such ideas for the time being. This was his unique advantage for the time being! But it was only for now¡­ "Beep beep beep~" While Bai E was still trying to simulate "capturing" Spiritual Energy, his consciousness, multitasking in a state of alertness, heard the alarm sounding from the central console. "It''s appeared again!" Aryan''s voice was crisp and pleasant to hear. Bai E''s consciousness instantly returned from the world of Spiritual Energy. "Where is it?" "B2." "Tap tap tap~" Minister Eric, panting as he dashed to the targeted location and watching Bai E, who seemed to be searching for something, and Aryan, who was a few steps ahead, couldn''t help feeling puzzled. "What are we doing here?" Without Pansen, what business did they, commoners without Spiritual Energy, have being here? "Just taking a casual look, maybe we''ll find some clues." Bai E looked up and down, while his other half-consciousness swept over the largest area he could cover with "exploratory" Spiritual Energy. Like a brush, it swept through this 4x4 space from one edge to the other. Bai E, applying his Spiritual Energy attribute in combat for the first time, was somewhat surprised. In the observation from "exploratory" Spiritual Energy, everything in the world took on a layer of marvelous colors. Spiritual Energy was closely connected to real space, and even in the void of the real world where there was nothing, the corresponding location in the Spiritual Power World still had a faint flow of natural Spiritual Energy passing through. Sometimes dense, sometimes sparse. Like a gust of wind carrying the scent of blossoming flowers, freely drifting toward every direction of the world. Compared to spiritual perception, "exploration" of Spiritual Energy offered a more in-depth and thorough observation of the Spiritual Power World, like the difference between wearing night-vision goggles at night or not... And it was during this back-and-forth sweeping that the engulfing black mirror was discovered for the first time in Bai E''s first-person perspective¡ªoccupying just a small corner of his mind. Only when he moved his will completely close and engaged, did the other side reveal the "virtual world" entity that had occupied his entire field of vision when he had observed Pansen capturing it before. But that was it... The reappearance of the virtual world came too quickly, and he hadn''t learned "capture" yet. When he used "exploratory" Spiritual Energy to sweep over it, it was like a gentle breeze on the face, completely unable to arouse any alarm in the other party. Even if Bai E tirelessly swept his Spiritual Energy over the other party''s body time and again, the black mirror that devoured everything remained as if it were indifferent, gorging itself to satisfaction. Then it wiped its mouth and left. Of course, Bai E''s harassment didn''t last too long; most of his time had already been wasted in the previous "scanning" process. "I''m going to sleep too," Bai E calmly told Minister Eric his intentions. Before he mastered the "capture" Spiritual Energy, staying here was pointless; it was better to find a quiet place so he could devote himself entirely to the imitation of Spiritual Energy attributes. "Good, you should have rested earlier." ¡­ [You are spending combat experience to assist the definition of your Spiritual Energy attribute...] [Current definition completion: 13.3%] ¡­ [You are spending combat experience to assist the definition of your Spiritual Energy attribute...] [Current definition completion: 33.3%] ¡­ [You are spending combat experience to assist the definition of your Spiritual Energy attribute...] [Current definition completion: 99.9%] Compared to mimicking the entire ability, the difficulty of mimicking the second development plummeted. With just the cost of 800 points of combat experience and 1200 points of universal experience, Bai E successfully mastered the advanced development function of Heavenly Eye¡ª [Spiritual Energy (Heavenly Eye*Fake) (Second Development): Sufficient surveillance gives you a deep understanding, and when you know your target well enough, you can easily bind it. Control the target as subtly as possible, without drawing its attention, and it will never be able to escape from you. The subject must perform a set of will checks to determine if they can successfully escape. (Fake: Your ability will be overwritten within the range of the original version, and it will not affect the owner of the original ability.)] Good! Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Job well done! Even if it''s a pirated version, he had the tool needed to catch his prey. With the tool in hand, could the prey still escape? Chapter 472 401 Broken! Bai E, rushing to the control station, laid his eyes first upon Lord Pansen, who was meditating in a sitting position by the edge of the console. "Has it appeared again?" It was eight in the morning, and according to the pattern observed, it was around the time the virtual world would usually manifest. The entity''s "feeding" activity had been artificially interrupted the day before, making it uncertain whether it would occur earlier or later today. "No." Miss Aryan shook her head, leaning in close to Bai E''s chin and whispering by the side of her own jaw with the back of her hand, "Lord is cultivating his powers." After a sufficiently long period of sleep and recovery, Pansen was once again full of energy. It seemed he heard Bai E''s voice. Pansen opened his eyes and a fleeting glint of dark light passed through them, then dissipated into the invisible. "Here!" With a spin that didn''t rely on any leverage, Pansen stood up, excitedly facing Bai E, "When I woke up this morning, I thought of an excellent plan to deal with the virtual world." Bai E''s heart trembled, and he stepped forward abruptly, "Lord, after Your rest, I too have devised a brilliant strategy!" "Oh? Let''s hear it." "According to past records, under normal circumstances, the virtual world appears only once a day..." As Bai E said this, he watched for Pansen''s expressions. When he saw Pansen''s excitement and agreement intensifying, Bai E was assured that they had come to the same conclusion¡ªthis was an obvious hypothesis¡ª "However, yesterday, because of your multiple interruptions, the target had to come and "feed" over and over again. If we can continue to disrupt its ''feeding'' process, perhaps we can force it to increase the time needed for each subsequent feeding due to lack of energy replenishment. If we could keep accumulating this time..." "Yes!" Pansen declared firmly, "Exactly! I also reviewed the records just now, and the longest duration the enemy stole Computing Power Resources at the beginning exceeded 23 minutes! If I have that much time again to complete its disconnection, I am certain I will be able to capture it!" "Yes, that''s right! Lord!" Bai E''s face too was aglow with an "excited" flush, "Based on the pattern we have, our chances are great!" "Then it''s decided for today!" Though Pansen''s cultivation of his Spiritual Energy control was not yet extraordinary, as long as he had ample time and thorough preparation, without having to drag his weary body in a head-on struggle with the foe, he felt the task should be almost certainty! Seeing his own plan acknowledged by Bai E, Pansen felt even more confident. Leaning against the edge of the control station, his gaze unfocused as he unintentionally swept everything before him, Pansen merely pressed his palm down, muttering softly, "Come on... come on... " Show yourself! Today, we shall compete in another form! As seconds and minutes passed by, Minister Eric and Miss Aryan, the assistant, were quite thrilled after hearing the Lord had a plan filled with confidence. If the Lord could successfully capture the virtual world, then the information division wouldn''t be able to miss any data relating to the virtual world. Acquiring more knowledge in this field could undoubtedly accelerate their research in this area. 11:49 AM. "Beep, beep, beep~" In the midst of eager anticipation, the virtual world, likely devoid of human-like will, made its appearance at noon, immediately triggering an alert from the control station. "E2!" "Let''s go!" Pansen looked toward Bai E, who knowingly led the way. While not particularly keen on seeing the virtual world ultimately captured by Pansen, it remained uncertain what the virtual world might offer humanity...or even himself. Not being involved in the matter might not imply a significant loss. Moreover, considering this morning''s conversation, Lord Pansen seemed inexplicably friendly and trusting towards him. If the item was held in his hands for a while, he might later, when able to reveal his possession of Spiritual Energy, ask to learn about or see the virtual world ¡ª and Pansen might agree. For now, he had to wait and see... Leading the way diligently, Bai E harbored no thoughts of sabotage. Find the area, lock the position, capture the interference. Done in one go. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This process, repeated many times, was now second nature to Pansen; precision was not required as long as he could "scare off" the adversary by deploying a "capture" of Spiritual Energy the instant it was locked on. Once... twice... thrice... 1:31 PM. 2:18 PM. 5:59 PM. 7:00 PM... 8:00 PM... 9:00 PM... With continuous aggressive interruptions, the virtual world, seemingly without a human consciousness, began to behave like a frenzied bull, repeatedly attacking the server room. Yet it fled at once after each "scare." 10:00 PM... Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire 11:00 PM... 12:00 AM... "Why isn''t it coming?" "Could it have been scared off?" The four individuals, having waited by the control station for over two hours, murmured their confusion. The virtual world was a unique entity that everyone had encountered, and without prior experience, any unforeseen events had to be dealt with based solely on the information at hand and basic logical conjectures. Chapter 473 401 Broken!_2 "Is there any other place with food besides this one?" "Perhaps it has some sort of preset that decides to starve itself to death if it''s discovered a certain number of times?" Miss Aryan casually tossed out an irresponsible guess. And with that, the entire hall fell silent in an instant. In the world of humans, to prevent one''s creations from being stolen by others and to avoid unnecessary losses, it is quite normal to have a setting that locks an account or device after several incorrect password attempts. If such a higher being possessed a similar setting¡­ it would make sense. "..." "No way... right?" Minister Eric, pulling at his not-so-thick hair on the top of his head, sounded somewhat uncertain. However, the air fell into silence. Until the "beep beep beep" sound once again dispelled everyone''s bad hunches. "Phew~" Miss Aryan, who was the first to scramble to the central control console to check the area that had been tampered with, let out a huge sigh of relief. ''Thank goodness, thank goodness¡­'' She had almost jinxed it with her words. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "A1." The very edge of the entire underground control room. "Do we continue to scare it away?" Bai E asked, turning around after arriving at the area. "Of course," Lord Pansen replied without hesitation. This was their carefully planned strategy; they couldn''t abandon it just because of a small hiccup. This was only the first day. If they gave up on their plan now, they would fall back into the same agony as the day before, stuck in an endless stalemate, waiting to see who would be the first to break. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire Since they had decided to execute the plan, they had to follow through with it for at least a few days, until they had "starved" the opponent to a sufficient degree, only then would the opponent''s next "feeding" time be long enough. "Let''s go." The plan was in motion! Five times¡­ Ten times¡­ Twenty times¡­ Fifty times¡­ They interrupted again and again. The virtual world did not rest, and thus Pansen could not either. Almost every one or two hours, he had to respond to an attack. Minister Eric and Miss Aryan, responsible for monitoring the central console, naturally began to take turns on shifts. It wasn''t until the evening of the fourth day, feeling it was about time, that Pansen finally stopped the disruptive actions. Even though they had ascertained through several days of probing that the virtual world didn''t have logic akin to humans, Pansen still sensed the opponent''s "impatience" from the increasingly frequent attacks¡ªsometimes happening every half an hour. With a shortage of energy, the virtual world would recklessly initiate one assault after another. "Beep beep beep~" "Here it comes!" Pansen, who had been meditating with closed eyes, opened them sharply. The bloodshot in his eyes was somewhat frightening. After several consecutive days of sleep deprivation, and having to summon Spiritual Energy every short interval, even though there was sufficient rest in between, the frequent depletion and meditation recovery had not even matched a natural rest. His mind felt as if it were being churned by a red-hot iron rod. Since the end of the last disruption, he had been determined that this would be the last time! The continuous days of probing and deadlock would end today! The grand Spiritual Energy swept across the 4x4 space, and the virtual world that randomly appeared in some corner could not escape. Coming as close as possible directly below the target, Pansen closed his eyes and exerted his Spiritual Energy from his brain to the outside with all his might. This time, there were no reservations! The ultimate battle, do or die! The milky white Spiritual Energy tendrils moved at a measured pace along the edges of the dark mirror. Bai E, who was watching from a distance with his spiritual senses, maintained a calm demeanor as he quietly watched the event unfold, while the other half of his alert will also kept a close eye on the time in the real world¡ª One minute... Two minutes¡­ Five minutes¡­ Ten minutes¡­ The spread of the Spiritual Energy tentacles wasn''t fast, but it was steady. After consecutive days of honing his own Spiritual Energy and becoming familiar with the process, Pansen''s control over Spiritual Energy had become increasingly adept. As long as enough time was given, it was just a matter of patience for the capturing net to completely envelop the "black mirror" of the virtual world. And obviously, for someone who could rise to a second-stage Spiritual Energy user through sheer effort, and even after becoming a third-stage practitioner still had the patience for a prolonged war of attrition with a target, patience was the least of his concerns. Entangling and weaving, threads forming a net. The net of Spiritual Energy ultimately enveloped the "black mirror" completely, resembling a thin silkworm cocoon that seemed to have a breathing-like twitching within the Spiritual Power World. ''Success!'' Bai E thought with a silent sigh of relief in his heart. "It''s done!" Pansen clinched his fist as he finished the capture, his will manipulating the Spiritual Energy to tighten the "ropes," slowly pulling his newly acquired prey towards him, towards his own foundation in the Spiritual Power World¡ªhis storage space. Only there, could he decisively say that this intangible thing in the Spiritual Power World had become his own private property. However¡­ "Boom!" Bai E only saw the virtual world covered by the capture net slowly falling into a misty space surrounding Pansen. The next moment, a thunderous roar echoed throughout the Spiritual Power World. Endless winds buffeted Bai E''s spiritual senses, mixed with countless sharp fragments that felt like glass scraping across his cheeks. Through the split-second direct contact, Bai E realized what these glass-like shards truly were¡ª Pieces¡­ of a storage space. Pansen''s storage space had exploded! A storage space was directly connected to one''s will, almost a physical manifestation of personal will within the Spiritual Power World. Although it did not represent the personal will itself, it was closely related to it. Yue Ying had never mentioned to Bai E what the consequences would be if it ever exploded, as such an incident seemed unprecedented in her understanding. But clearly¡­ Pansen, right in front of Bai E''s eyes, demonstrated the unexpected outcome. "Pfft!" Pansen in the real world suddenly spit out a mouthful of blood. His entire aura weakened in an instant, and the abundant Spiritual Energy around him rapidly shrank and collapsed towards himself to stabilize his being. Bai E, who stood to the side, immediately reached out to catch Pansen in his arms as Minister Eric''s panicked voice loudly inquired nearby, "What happened? Are you alright, my lord?" "I''ll take him to the medical room!" Bai E carried Pansen and ran, showing the responsibility inherent in his position. "We''ll go together!" Minister Eric followed closely behind, his face full of tension. Last time Lord Pansen had bled from all seven orifices right here, and now, once again, he was bleeding from all seven orifices right here... Eric didn''t understand the Spiritual Power World; he only felt that the wheel of fate might be turning at this moment¡­ or perhaps it had started turning since the last incident. In the medical room¡­ it was all chaos. The base''s personnel were all sent over by Bai E in two troop transportation operations. Among the first group, Bai E possessed the best medical skills. The second time, they brought professional doctors planning to stay for a long term, but without various modern instruments, the doctors could only rely on their own experience and skills to temporarily stabilize Pansen''s vital signs. "Keeping him alive is already the limit of what I can do; I don''t understand the Spiritual Power World," the doctor informed truthfully. Minister Eric, who held the highest position besides Pansen at the base, nodded somewhat dazedly, "Oh¡­" The sudden collapse of Lord Pansen had thrown all of Eric''s thoughts into disarray. The lord didn''t give any warning or hint before the mishap, leaving Eric completely clueless about what to do next. Watching the crowd of figures around the sickbed, Bai E silently retreated to the back of the room. As he moved further away from the medical room, Bai E broke into a run, heading straight for the underground control room. The conflict and entanglement of the past several days could not go to waste here. Pansen had failed! But that wouldn''t discourage Bai E''s courage. The problem lay in the level of Pansen''s storage space. This was the information he had gleaned from the remnants of the explosion in that fleeting moment of shattering. And his own storage space was considered first-class by Yue Ying''s standards. If Pansen couldn''t do it, shouldn''t he give it a try? Chapter 474 402 Received! Seizing the moment when all key figures were distracted by Pansen''s severe injuries, Bai E found himself alone at the central control panel. Although Pansen''s attempt had ended in failure, it had obviously startled the virtual world into fleeing. In front of the vast central control panel, there was silence, and Bai E stood there with his eyes closed, waiting. Aside from the few thoughts reserved for monitoring the control panel''s alarms, he continued to focus the rest of his mind on training his Spiritual Energy. Sharpening one''s weapons before battle may not be ideal, but it is necessary. He hadn''t yet confronted the virtual world directly using Spiritual Energy, but having observed Pansen''s operation, he had a very clear understanding of the process. As for whether any unexpected situations would arise during the actual operation, that was a matter of fate. He wasn''t like Pansen, who, as long as the virtual world didn''t change unpredictably, could afford infinite trials and errors. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He only had this one chance. The opportunity for a prolonged capture brought about by Pansen''s relentless pursuit was now, and Bai E could hardly evict the virtual world repeatedly in front of Minister Eric, doing the same thing as Pansen. Moreover... his time was running out. He had never forgotten the task he had issued to the players, and if they succeeded, it would be well and good. But if the players failed, he couldn''t go back on his word, as the fugitives from Grey Iron City¡ªthe proxy team leader who controlled his fortune and the little boy¡ªwere both waiting for him to bring them the life-saving medicine. If the players couldn''t complete the mission within the final deadline, Bai E would have to find a way to personally make a trip to Grey Iron City. With only one opportunity, Bai E had to give it his all. "Tick tock tick tock~" Time passed quietly by, with the seconds ticking against Bai E''s heart. At an extremely quiet moment, a piercing buzzing sound seemed to rise from the distant horizon, and a moment before that, Bai E seemed to have a premonition and opened his eyes in advance. "Beep beep beep beep~" ''There it is!'' His gaze swept across the screens on the control panel, and with his will-controlled access, the result was presented instantly. "C4!" With a leap, Bai E rushed towards the target. Upon reaching the edge of the 4*4 area, Bai E unleashed his Spiritual Energy in an instant. His Spiritual Energy, under the guise of "scanning," spread around him more actively than it ever had before. His will growing ever stronger brought about an increasingly lively Spiritual Energy. Bai E''s figure quickly passed over the edge of the 4*4 space. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire His Spiritual Energy could not cover the entire 4*4 space directly like Pansen, so he had to compensate for this shortcoming in coverage with speed. The sweep of Spiritual Energy painstakingly scanned every inch of the area. "Shh~" A sharp brake and a sudden turn around. ''Lucky.'' Having scanned just along the edge, he had already pinpointed the target. Good luck undoubtedly indicated a good omen. Bai E moved to the real-world space that corresponded directly beneath the target. The closer physical proximity also shortened the transmission distance of Spiritual Energy, thereby reducing its dissipation. The connection between the real world and the Spiritual Power World was complex and ever-changing, not entirely connected, yet at certain times, deeply intertwined. Countless threads, inscribed with runes, floated out from above Bai E''s head, gliding like thousands of swimming snakes, tracing unique curves as they moved towards the black mirror, which was absorbing luminescent green streams above. During their approach to the black mirror, the threads spiraled around each other, eventually twisting into thicker "ropes." The ropes wove into a net, spreading rapidly over the entirety of the black mirror, starting from its edges. Bai E''s brows slightly furrowed, his mind reaching the utmost level of concentration. There was only one chance, and his control over Spiritual Energy was fully displayed at this moment. Endless strands continued to emerge from the top of Bai E''s head, joining the effort to capture the virtual entity. The milky-white net spread like the tide, gradually enveloping the black mirror with visible swiftness. The familiar scene unfolded once more, but this time, much faster than with Pansen. Precise control over Spiritual Energy had nothing to do with the level of Spiritual Energy itself; perhaps there was also a difference in innate talent. Unaware of this, the virtual world sucked in large gulps of Computing Power Resources produced by the servers to fill its massive void from not having "fed" for many days. However, the net had already been set without its knowledge, sealing even the last escape to space completely. ''Done!'' With a surge of joy in his heart, Bai E issued the command with his will, and the net began to retract. Like a diligent gold miner, Bai E began to slowly reclaim the net loaded with the virtual world. Getting closer... closer... The representation of his storage space within the Spiritual Power World was around him, and when the net, along with the virtual world, fell entirely within that designated area, it meant that the virtual world had been captured into Bai E''s storage space, becoming his personal property. Beings from the Spiritual Power World require storage spaces within the same realm to be managed, and only within a storage space directly connected to one''s will can a Spiritual Energy user delve directly into the interior of the virtual world to thoroughly analyze this unprecedented novelty. "Snap~" The moment the storage space touched the virtual world, Bai E clearly felt a slight tremor in the storage space connected to his will. It was as if countless unseen, untouchable, ineffable "substances" burst forth from the virtual world, instantly filling the entire storage space. Chapter 475 402 Received!_2 ``` But in a world where he could control everything down to the minutest detail, Bai E had failed to discover any observable "entities." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire "Nothingness," filled the entire storage space? That was the only change. Like a balloon with its neck released, full of air, the moment it entered Bai E''s storage space, the virtual world seemed to have spewed out all the "nothingness" gases contained within it. Then, there was no more movement. The weapon that had once instantly shattered Pansen''s storage space showed not the slightest trace of its former grandeur at this moment. Perhaps it was this "nothingness gas" itself that had directly burst Pansen''s storage space? As for his own... a storage space that covered life and death, illusion and reality, allowing all existing rules and all possible rules in the world to exist and be inevitably rational, could hold everything. The virtual world quieted down. Owning an entity with form but intangible, it occupied a tiny corner in Bai E''s storage space. The initial contact released all the "nothingness" gas, which after being released, entered an unobservable, imperceptible state. When everything calmed down, Bai E somewhat surprisingly "looked" at the transparent, irregularly-shaped "virtual world" lying in a corner of the storage space, almost unable to believe everything had settled so peacefully. Although his Spiritual Energy had nearly been depleted, the outcome was unexpectedly delightful. Only after confirming that the thing which had caused such an uproar had completely become his personal property did Bai E start to extend his will, attempting to delve deeper into the virtual world. The moment his willful tendrils touched it, they easily penetrated it. The answer was... a blank space. White spread before Bai E''s eyes. Light from an unknown source filled Bai E''s spiritual senses. Blank... blank... all was blank... Within the virtual world lay things beyond Bai E''s human comprehension... "things." Bai E felt as if from that blankness, he could hear countless soft but indistinct voices, and as if he could see a magnificent river surging towards him from the end of his sight, easily flowing through his body, and then boldly rushing towards the distant future behind him... But the few vague images noticed in that moment of distraction vanished completely in a moment of clarity. What was left... was only a vast blankness. Blankness... Bai E felt somewhat wistfully disappointed. Having gone through so much effort, the virtual world he had been looking forward to was nothing but an incomprehensible blank space, which, naturally, was a bit disappointing. "Eh?" When his consciousness returned to his body and felt that sense of full satisfaction within, Bai E unconsciously let out a light exclamation. The Spiritual Energy that was completely used up for "investigation" and "capture" had now fully recovered within the brief time he observed the virtual world. Even due to a thorough depletion and recovery, the limit had increased by 1 point. [Your Spiritual Energy has been rigorously exercised through long-term practice and usage, achieving a slight breakthrough, Spiritual Energy +1/1.] Why? His rapid recovery did indeed have a certain restoring effect on Spiritual Energy; the more it was depleted, the stronger the recovery effect, which was verified in the past. But even in the fastest of times, it was at most a few points a minute¡ªhow could it compare to the instant replenishment of over a hundred points of Spiritual Energy? What was the issue? Bai E subconsciously called out his personal panel, and the blue light screen cascaded down like mercury, instantly spreading out in front of him. With his consciousness flowing, the personal panel''s history record of his personal state immediately popped up before his eyes¡ª [Feeling the energy emptiness within you, your "Rapid Recovery" has absorbed an intensely dense ownerless energy, replenishing your Spiritual Energy to full.] "..." It really was Rapid Recovery?! But this "intensely dense ownerless energy"... ``` ``` His gaze drifted, detached from the normal five senses, as his spiritual perception "saw" the transparent "air bag" lying quietly in his storage space. If there had been any changes during this brief period, it seemed only reasonable to think of this thing. This thing, could it replenish his magic? A reserve hidden energy source that could fill up his Spiritual Energy at any time? Infinite blue bars, no cooldown, could he now unleash his ultimate moves without limit? Turtle turtle! Thinking about this glorious future made Bai E''s breathing instantly become heavy. The virtual world! The legacy left by the electronic devil should indeed have this kind of heaven-defying effect to match its grand origin. Bai E''s heartbeat sped up slightly. It was still uncertain whether this was a one-time benefit of first conquest or a permanent effect, something that would need to be verified in the future. If it were true... Without the limitation of Spiritual Energy, even piloting a Mecha with huge consumption, he could use his strongest burst unrestrictedly. Once again facing the nearly impervious armor of the Bug Race he had encountered last time, would you believe it if he said he could instantly kill a hundred with direct smashes to your face? "Bai E..." A crisp call sounded not far away. Immersed in his fleeting blissful reverie, Bai E jolted to attention at the sound and looked toward the source of the voice, spotting a sprightly figure standing there gazing in his direction, "Aryan?" "It''s me." A smile instantly burst across Aryan''s face as she quickly ran over, "Why did you come here alone?" Everyone was fussing over a man named Pansen, but... what did that have to do with him? She was just a limited-capability assistant from the information department. Doing her assigned duties was all her world entailed, and she was not inclined to ponder too much on the so-called bigger picture. If she could manage her duties while also doing things she enjoyed, that would be even better. What were the things she enjoyed? It was the process of coming out to look for him as soon as she realized he was missing... "Me?" Bai E, who had done what he wanted to since arriving at the base and now felt satisfied, responded with an obviously warm smile, "Just taking a walk... I couldn''t help with the big man''s issue, so I thought I might see if there''s anything here at the computing center that needed help." Speaking, Bai E paused and then added, "By the way, when did you come here?" Seeing Bai E''s gentle smile, Aryan''s heart skipped a beat and she shyly lowered her head and replied in a soft voice, "I''ve been looking for you ever since I noticed you were gone..." Wasn''t that declaration a bit too bold? As she spoke, Aryan''s hands were crossed behind her back, her fingers tightly interlocked with nervousness. "Have you been standing there the whole time?" Bai E asked Aryan, who was looking down, his eyes flashing with a hint of undetectable chill. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hm... When I arrived, I saw you standing here lost in thought, and... didn''t dare to call out to you." After all, the daydreaming Bai E seemed to possess a different kind of charming appeal~ "Is that so..." Bai E smiled, suppressing the flicker of murderous intent that should not have been there in the first place. Although Aryan''s unexpected actions had risked exposing him, especially since the virtual world would no longer "attack" the computing center to steal Computing Power Resources after he had left, thereby heightening suspicion, he must not resort to killing over such a minor risk. Not to speak of consequences, Bai E was far from being that brutal. What puzzled Bai E even more was why, under his artificial being''s absolute command to loyally protect humans, did he harbor the subconscious thought of killing an innocent person? Not just now... The same went for his encounter with Pansen. But fortunately, his will always dominated everything. "Now that the big man has failed, what will you do?" Aryan flicked the hair from her brow and looked curiously at the side of Bai E''s face. "What will we do?" Bai E shrugged helplessly, "What else can we do? Besides the big man, we have no other experts in this area. We can only go back~" "Oh~" Aryan nodded her head with a hint of disappointment, "Then... will you come back here in the future?" ``` Chapter 476 403 The First Lie This question ultimately remained unanswered because Bai E himself didn''t know when he would return if there was nothing wrong. The convoy was fully prepared under the morning sun, just waiting to depart. The situation with Lord Pansen was urgent. Even in the entire city, a third-level Spiritual Energy user was considered a significant strategic talent. After communicating with the city, the city''s upper echelons decided to have the convoy return immediately. However, due to the events of the previous night lasting until midnight, and only stabilizing Pansen''s condition by the afternoon of the next day, departing then would mean spending the night in the wilderness, which was far less preferable than leaving at dawn the next day and using a whole day to rush back to the city. So now, it was already the morning of the third day. The convoy had brought many medical and technical staff as well as relief personnel on the way there. Now, the return trip was a lot emptier, and they had even left behind two vehicles for the use of those who stayed at the base. Aryan leaned against the doorway, reaching out carefully towards the figure stepping onto the door frame of the vehicle under the sunlight, and whispered goodbye so softly that only those nearby could hear. "Goodbye~" "If you''re saying goodbye, do it to their face. If you like them, go confess..." A figure in a white lab coat walked past Aryan to a parallel position. Minister Eric, with his arms crossed, looked at the convoy making its final preparations and said to the girl beside him, "Why are you young people so hesitant? In this age, we have today but not necessarily tomorrow. Do you really need to wait until a moment''s regret becomes an eternal one before you understand regret?" "...It''s none of your business!" Watching Aryan turn and walk away, Minister Eric squinted his eyes in a daze. Had his little assistant become temperamental after so many days? With a snort of laughter, Minister Eric shook his head and stood there, watching everyone get into the vehicles. He had no plans to return. Last time, he had to be there at the start of rebooting the internet to set the tone for many things. Now that most of the development was on track, it was more beneficial for him and the city to remain in this legacy of the old era to learn more about the technology of the ancients. "Hum~" The engine started, and the vehicle trembled slightly. Bai E glanced at the sickbed fastened at the back through the rear-view mirror in the carriage, as well as the comatose Pansen who was strapped to the bed, took a light breath, and pressed down on the accelerator. Departure! Return to the city! The road through the wilderness was never easy; and now without Pansen''s Spiritual Energy barrier, they had to be even more careful. Watching the bizarre birds startled into flight down the path through the dense jungle, Minister Eric sighed and walked back slowly. With Lord Pansen in a coma, the affairs of the virtual world were naturally going awry again. Until the city sent another high-ranking Spiritual Energy user skilled in this field, that little thing that no one had a solution for would probably keep stealing Computing Power Resources from the mainframe cluster. Although the loss of a small amount of computing power was completely inconsequential to humans at present, the fear was that after absorbing enough Computing Power Resources, this creation borne of electronic demons might undergo some unpredictable changes. More importantly, since the incident with Lord Pansen, they had not received any alerts of invasions to the mainframe cluster up to this moment. The unknown was the most unsettling. As he said, the world was full of unpredictable changes, from day to day. If there''s something you want to do, then just boldly go do it... "Beep beep beep~" Aryan''s call suddenly came through the earpiece, "Minister, headquarters is calling you." "Oh!" Eric perked up and strode towards the direction of the central control desk. "Click clack~" The heels of his leather shoes echoed on the smooth marble floor. Eric''s voice could be heard even before he drew near, "What are they saying?" Aryan propped herself on the communications desk with her headphones on, listening to the voice from the receiver and quietly responding with "Hmm" affirmations. "Hmm~" "Hmm~" "No." "Haven''t found anything so far." As Eric approached, he patted Aryan''s shoulder, and she understood his gesture, removing her headphones and stepping aside to let Minister Eric take over, "This is Eric speaking. Go ahead." "Minister Eric, yesterday''s communication was brief, and there are still many details we are unaware of. Today, we would like to clarify with you," the voice said. "Yes, go ahead." "Did the incident occur the day before yesterday?" "The evening of the day before yesterday, at 7:31 PM." "Since then, have there been any sightings of the target?" Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire Minister Eric hesitated, exchanging a questioning glance with his assistant who was operating the central control desk, and continued responding into the earpiece, "Currently... there shouldn''t be any... " Knowing his answer would not satisfy the other party, yet Eric didn''t dare to make definitive statements, so he quickly followed up with, "There was a long period when we were all concerned about Lord Pansen''s health, and no one was watching this area." With Pansen''s incident, the whole base had been in disarray yesterday. And the central control desk didn''t actually require continuous supervision. Major incidents would trigger an alarm throughout the base; it was only for smaller alerts, like a minor theft of Computing Power Resources from a portion of the mainframe cluster, that one had to stay beside the control desk. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, with Lord Pansen down, even if they did catch the little thief stealing Computing Power Resources again, what could they do? Chapter 477 403 The First Lie_2 "Confirm it," the voice from the base commanded, "Based on the data and pattern analysis you provided earlier, the virtual world whose theft of computing power resources was interrupted by Pansen lacks sufficient energy to maintain its operation. It shouldn''t have been absent all day yesterday. If it hasn''t shown up at all, we need to consider whether this little thing has been ''frightened'' by Pansen''s actions and has completely fled." This meant that it would probably be much harder for them to receive any news regarding the virtual world again. "Yes." The central console contained all the historical records of information, which could be queried at any time, even if asked. Eric did not have the authority to check the log records. It could only be checked by his assistant Aryan, who was standing a short distance away and operating the central console. "Okay." Aryan nodded his head, easily pulling up the system log panel. [...Evening 19:31:02 F1 district host group operating efficiency decreased by 11%, lasting 17 minutes and 23 seconds.] [...Evening 20:17:18 C4 district host group operating efficiency decreased by 4%, lasting 15 minutes and 18 seconds.] Tw... twice. Aryan was slightly startled upon seeing the last two lines of the log record. The figure who stood alone beside the host that evening, lost in thought, flashed through his mind like an instinct. ''Come out for a walk... I can''t help with Lord''s matters, might as well come and see if there''s anything in the server room that needs help.'' "..." That smiling face was still so warm, but the location of its appearance was too coincidental. Aryan had a good memory. So why did Bai E coincidentally appear in the C4 district? So why does the time... also match exactly? Intentionally hiding something? Hiding what? The trajectory of Bai E''s movements within the base flashed through Aryan''s mind in an instant... particularly clear because of the special attention paid. As long as Pansen was there, Bai E would never be absent. Even if it meant going several days without sleep, he would always "guard" by the side. This is a base! The solid walls of the Golden Age protected the important interior; all the warriors brought in firmly controlled every passage in and out. Even a fly coming in had to greet the monitors, what did he have to guard? What did he need to stay vigilant for, without sleep day and night? Moreover, in their occasional idle conversation, she heard Minister Eric say... Bai E was originally not allowed to leave the camp on his own, and he had exchanged a great merit from the battlefield for the opportunity to come to the base. There was a time when she harbored a one in ten thousand sweet fantasy in her heart¡ªimagining that perhaps Bai E had come for her. But now it seems, Bai E... also came for the virtual world! The twists and turns were many, but once a thought was clear, all became instantly transparent. She was mild-mannered, but not stupid. Aryan''s intelligence was significant enough to become the personal assistant to the head of the Information Department of the city''s Scientific Research Institute while still young. Having confirmed that Bai E was also related to the virtual world, the words "it appeared once more" that were about to leave her lips were forcibly swallowed down. It didn''t show up! It didn''t appear today. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If since Lord Pansen''s intervention, the virtual world hadn''t shown up even once, then the possibility that it was "scared away" by his actions could stand. But if it appeared once after Pansen, why didn''t it appear again today? Pansen came to capture that elusive virtual world. And after Bai E had "contact" with it, the virtual world never showed up again. Does this mean that... Bai E had taken it away? This was something the city''s authorities had specifically requested. "..." Biting her lower lip, Aryan, who had never lied before, experienced the torture of her conscience for the first time. "What''s wrong?" Minister Eric, still wearing his headset and waiting for an answer, asked in confusion, seeing Aryan''s somewhat dazed profile. The slight raise in her voice made Aryan tremble all over; inexplicably, her hands shook as she instinctively used her authority to delete the last log entry before lowering her head and gently shaking it, "It... It hasn''t shown up." "Oh~" Minister Eric, not doubting her, replied to the voice in the headset, "It hasn''t shown up." "Understood." The voice on the other end responded instantly, giving instructions, "Continue the monitoring. If it appears again, make sure to notify me immediately." "Understood." "Doot~ Doot~ Doot~" After hanging up the communication, Minister Eric approached Aryan, "What''s the matter, you seemed distracted just now?" "I was... thinking about something else." "The person left, taking your soul with him..." Eric shook his head helplessly, "He must not have gone far, should I call him now, ask him to come back, and take you along as well?" "No need!" Aryan tossed her ponytail and turned to run away. Arriving at a corner out of Eric''s sight, Aryan pressed her body tightly against the wall, gasping for air. Her heart dared to beat wildly with panic only at that moment. It was her first time lying, and it was to the high-level officials of the city. Secretly taking away the "virtual world" that the adults in the city coveted, Bai E... what exactly do you want to do? More crucially... how could Bai E take away what even Lord Pansen couldn''t? ... [ "Lucky Strike" energy +5. ] "Huh?" Bai E, who was driving, had a slight tremor in his palm, somewhat surprised. What did I do? Suddenly +5? Not understanding, he decided not to think about it. The accelerator pressed to the floor, Bai E hurried back to town. It wasn''t just about following orders from superiors, it was also for his own development. Since yesterday, Bai E had begun to sense a faint suction force acting upon his body. After several moments of paranoia, Bai E eventually pinpointed the source¡ª The storage space, or rather, the virtual world. Read latest chapters on My Virtual Library Empire Like a transparent airbag, the virtual world became a cave with an increasingly strong suction force. From the initially faint presence to a strength that allowed identification of the source, Bai E roughly guessed what "it" was demanding. Food. When it had no owner, it would sneak into the machine room and feed itself, but now that it had an owner, does it mean it no longer needs to eat? To stay in the base, provided with meals all day long? Does that mean I shouldn''t plan my own development? Being isolated from the outside world for a virtual world, effectively trapping myself there? Impossible. The more one gains, the more one carries. I have to find my own way. Computing Power Resources... these things are not so rare. Although it''s carefree in the main server room of the base, it''s not impossible to acquire them outside either, just a little more troublesome... Didn''t we get a bunch last time we attacked the cybernetic stronghold? Though it was all turned in... But if there''s a place where it can be found, there''s a way. No one likes to mess with cybernetics because they offer little reward and cause big trouble. After defeating them, the most valuable looted items include their intelligence cores and Computing Power Resources, but these items can''t be directly utilized by humans. Even vehicles and equipment produced by cybernetics can''t be used directly by humans because there''s no provision for a driver. Besides gaining a bunch of possibly refined steel, fighting them yields nothing else of value. And if the annihilation isn''t complete, the crazed revenge from them would be a headache for anyone. But what if their produced resources are needed? There are plenty of minor fortresses on the map, free for the taking. Whether or not the mission in Grey Iron City succeeds, it''s about time for the players to return. It would be perfect to segue into a new mission seamlessly. If I''m available, why not lead them into a... dungeon raid animation? With plans for the future plotted in his mind, Bai E was eager to return home. ... "Ssshhh~" "Ssshhh~" The transparent airbag pulsated as if alive, drawing in cool air from the storage space with each contraction. In the blank beyond Bai E''s observation, an unknowable viewpoint plummeted... falling... falling... Down to a clarity below the blankness, where the world suddenly opened up... Chapter 478 404 The vast blue sky, with its verdant mountains and green waters. Below the sky sprinkled with white clouds, the morning sunlight, carried on a gentle breeze, brushed every pedestrian amidst the towering buildings. "Crack, crack, crack~" A faint breaking sound arose from somewhere in the space, as a tiny black crack flashed overhead the pedestrians, then vanished as swiftly as it had appeared, as if it had never been there at all. The folding of space mirrored distant vistas, reflecting the scenery in the eyes of the nearby pedestrians as if through a mirror. Regrettably, the bustling crowd hurried by, not a single person catching sight of this fleeting, strange landscape. Kuang Xin stood at the edge of the spacious square, holding his phone, and chattered away to the person on the other end, "Guang, after knowing each other for so long I''ve just realized we''re in the same city, how about we meet up?." "I''m not going." a buzzing voice came from the other end of the phone, "Not familiar." "Don''t be like that... We''ve been through a bunch of stuff doing missions for our boss; tonight''s probably the final battle, aren''t you going to come out and cheer on your brother?" "The final battle?" "Yeah... I''m telling you, we had a blast. Tonight, we plan to storm right into their armory to put up a big fight! Win and we go home for the New Year; lose and the whole crew gets arrested, ahaha~" "..." Xu Ruoguang stayed silent for a moment before he could only spit out two words, "Awesome." "Pretty standard... so are you coming or not? You''ve got nothing else to do at home anyway, and you can''t play the game during the day." "Galaxy Online" was strange for the fact that it could only be entered while sleeping at night. Unlike other games in this world, it didn''t take up the normal daytime hours; moreover, everyone in the world experienced an irresistible urge to sleep from midnight to 8 AM. No matter where they were or what they were doing, they would be suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of sleepiness, plunging them into deep slumber. And what a wondrous experience it was to be cradled in this irresistible sleep, lying in a gaming capsule with a helmet on, living another life in the game world, and waking up without any trace of tiredness from the dreamscape of the game? Thus, from the moment this game was released, it took the whole world by storm. However, because of this characteristic, you couldn''t play the game during the day... "Okay..." After some rustling, Xu Ruoguang''s voice came through again, sounding cool and detached, "Where?" "Central Plaza. Just take the subway line 1 to get there." Knowing Xu Ruoguang was a homebody, Kuang Xin compassionately provided him with directions, then muttered under his breath, "I can''t believe you''ve lived in this city for over a decade and don''t even know this." "I''m not coming." "Ah, no, no, no, I was wrong, bro." "I''m waiting." "Alright~ I''m wearing all yellow today, just standing under that statue in Central Plaza. Easy to spot." "Got it..." As Kuang Xin waited, he occasionally checked his reflection on the smooth metal surfaces along the street. Hmm... 11 out of 10, not shy to admit it, because facts need no boasting. "Woooo~" The subway roared underground, the winding cry brought by the passing trains, accompanied by the tremble of the earth, traveled up to Kuang Xin''s feet. Before long, a young man dressed in black and white came jogging in his direction. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire Watching him head straight towards him, Kuang Xin, a bit nervously, clenched his fingers until the other approached, cautiously asking, "Guang?" "Yes." Xu Ruoguang nodded, his expression neutral. Kuang Xin eyed him up and down with a hint of surprise in his gaze, "You look this good?" Being handsome wasn''t the key point; what was surprising was that this guy actually used his own face for his character in the game! So the handsome ones really could do whatever they wanted, huh? "..." Xu Ruoguang pursed his lips, "What did you call me out for?" "Nothing much... just to hang out. Isn''t it boring to stay at home all day?" "I thought you wanted to talk about things in the game." "The game?" Kuang Xin was taken aback, "What''s there to talk about with the game? Just get on with it." "And if you lose?" "If we lose, we''ll just do it again, and in three days I''ll be as good as new!" "..." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Quite carefree. But it seemed that this was the attitude towards the game held by everyone... or at least the majority of people in this world. Because of the unique irreproducibility of this game¡ªeveryone''s starting point and identity were completely different¡ªeveryone''s paths diverged so much that almost none were the same. Cross-regional information was almost pointless, and only players born in the same game region needed to share information, which could be done within the game. Online... you couldn''t find anyone on the internet. At least Xu Ruoguang had almost never found any discussion about the game that was remotely popular. It seemed that no one really cared... With a helpless sigh, Xu Ruoguang''s gaze wandered around him. He always felt a strange sense of detachment from this relatively unfamiliar world. "Hmm... hmm?" Staring at a figure walking leisurely not far away, Xu Ruoguang''s gaze sharpened, feeling as if he had seen them somewhere before. "Hey hey hey? What are you looking at?" Kuang Xin waved his hand in front of his eyes, wondering what had captured the attention of the guy he had managed to coax out. Chapter 479 404 Xu Ruoguang pried open his palm and turned his head around, trying to find the source of his familiarity. When his gaze shifted to a silvery-grey object, Xu Ruoguang was suddenly taken aback, "..." The silvery-grey object was... a statue. That person... looked exactly like the statue? "Is there some kind of cosplay event today?" Xu Ruoguang asked, dumbfounded. In Xu Ruoguang''s understanding, only those historical figures who had made extraordinary contributions were worthy of being immortalized with statues for people to revere. Such people... generally aren''t alive, right? "Huh?" Kuang Xin followed Xu Ruoguang''s gaze and naturally replied without a second thought, "Of course, there''s no cosplay expo... Isn''t that Aristotle himself? What, have you been living in Mingguang City for over a decade and never seen him?" "Should I have seen him?" "Shouldn''t you have seen him?" "..." "..." "Stop looking, stop looking..." Kuang Xin took it as the self-restraint of a hard-core homebody, grabbed Xu Ruoguang''s arm, and started running forward, "Come on, I heard that another ''relic'' was unearthed today, let''s go check out the scene." "What ''relic''? I''m not interested." The soft objection clearly couldn''t overcome Kuang Xin''s enthusiasm, and Xu Ruoguang was involuntarily pulled along and rushed forward. Not only was Kuang Xin a handsome, muscular giant in the game, but in the real... world, he was also a tough, handsome man more than 1.8 meters tall. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The subway connected all places, and after taking Xu Ruoguang on two subway rides, and traveling for more than fifty minutes, they finally reached the other end of the city. Like a museum''s vast exhibition hall, the crowd was steady, and those who received the news and were interested converged from all parts of the city. Following the crowd into the exhibition hall, Kuang Xin pulled Xu Ruoguang expertly toward a certain direction. All the cameras, big and small, were aimed in one direction, where an old man with white hair, looking somewhat perplexed and dressed in a black classical suit, sat in his place, his gaze inquisitive yet cautious as he surveyed everything before him. "Sir, welcome back." The host sitting opposite the old man, also dressed in a black suit and wearing a small earpiece, smiled as he began his opening speech, "This is a brand-new era, sir. Thanks to your relentless efforts in the past, we are now living in the most glorious of times. Welcome to waking up in the new world, this is the 137th year of the Golden Age... Mr. Einstein." The white-haired old man''s eyes showed rare confusion, but knowledge about this era''s basic facts kept emerging in his mind after waking up and gradually occupied his will. This was a golden age... where there were no more wars, no more poverty. There were no longer national divides, as humanity united completely for the first time. Talents from all over the world, from the past and the future...from all fields and races, were working in various domains for the future of mankind. Humanity looked down proudly at everything, with the whole world prostrated at humanity''s feet. Only the distant space was the sole destination for mankind''s future. What kind of era was this? Filled with miracles... even the deceased could be resurrected, miracles had become commonplace. Xu Ruoguang below the stage stared with wide eyes, utterly unable to believe what he was seeing. Kuang Xin, who occasionally glanced at Xu Ruoguang''s profile, was less concerned with what was happening on stage. After all, he had seen similar scenes too many times before. Instead, he was more interested in the hardcore homebody beside him. "What? Is this your first time at the scene?" "No..." Xu Ruoguang shook his head blankly. This wasn''t my first time at the scene, but it was the first time I learned that such things existed in this world. Was it because the past me held a distance from this world, or because the past me lived so obliviously that I had failed to notice such astonishing phenomena? Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire The resurrection of the dead, this is a forbidden spell. No! Where did this rigid view of mine come from? The fact had already happened before my eyes, from where did I get the impression that this phenomenon should be surprising? Everyone present¡­ they all seemed to take it for granted, no one questioned it. They were calmly admiring the figures who had stepped out of historical records, quietly appreciating the beauty of this temporal anomaly. It wasn''t until the crowd dispersed that Kuang Xin pulled me away from the exhibition hall, and I recovered some sanity under the sunlit sky outside. "How is this done?" Xu Ruoguang asked. He knew he could look it up online, but having an acquainted friend right by his side to ask would obviously yield a more detailed understanding. "I don''t know~" Kuang Xin said with a pair of bewildered eyes, "I''m not one of those scientists... But I''ve seen some news occasionally. The scholars believe we are in a special temporal singularity, where the river of time occasionally stirs up ripples and brings people from epochs not belonging to our own to this place. In fact, people we''ve never heard of or even from the so-called ''future'' frequently appear. Their identities and backgrounds vary, and they aren''t necessarily directly connected to our past or future. Whenever such individuals appear, it becomes one of the scholars'' favorite topics to dig through various fragmented pieces of information to assemble background data on the eras they come from." "...Oh~" During the conversation, another solemn interview scene appeared on the supersized screen outside the skyscraper across the square. The woman presenter, graceful and stunning in a white suit uniform, excitedly stretched her hand toward the camera and introduced, "This is the plaza of the Human Federation''s upper council, and just now, the results of the election for the new Great Chief Executive of the Human Federation have been announced. The new Great Chief Executive will be Mr. Kevin, who hasn''t been very high-profile before and only became politically active recently. It''s said that Mr. Kevin also comes from the tunnels of time, hailing from an era of war, and it''s unknown how this past experience will influence his governance philosophy." As she spoke, a colorful crowd emerged densely on the steps behind her. At the back of the crowd, there was a group of people being escorted outward. "Oh~ Our new Great Chief Executive has come out, let''s go interview this great leader who may still be unfamiliar to everyone and see where the path of our Human Federation will head..." With the target group''s appearance, the camera showed that many journalists, like the woman presenter, immediately gathered around. "Mr. Kevin..." "Mr. Kevin may I ask..." "Mr. Kevin!" "Mr. Kevin!" The woman presenter in the white suit took the forefront, squeezing in the lead, her mouth moving quickly and clearly as she rapidly fired off a string of words, "First of all, congratulations on being elected as the Great Chief Executive of our term; could you share with us your future plans for the Federal Government?" Kevin, dressed in a well-fitted naval officer uniform, looked at the camera with a smile on his face, yet maintained a solemn tone, "Playing ''aircraft''." "..." For a moment, the presenter''s face stiffened, but she quickly followed up, "Do you think our future..." "The future will surely belong to the skies!" Kevin pointed to the horizon, beyond the azure sky was a vast interstellar wilderness, "Fighter jets soaring through the sky, only the finest warriors can lay the foundation for the empire''s victory." Empire? The empire is an all too distant past. Now is the era of the Federal Government. But nobody had the time to care about this small grammatical error from the new Great Chief Executive; they were more interested in the future direction, "Chief Executive, do you think there is a possibility of restarting a war in the future? Where is the enemy?" "Do you believe the Federal Government will ultimately splinter?" "Has the government discovered extraterrestrial forces in the universe?" Kevin''s words were like a boulder thrown into a pond, creating lively ripples. He just pursed his lips, smiling, "Starting from tomorrow, a game called ''Raiden'' involving the control of fighter jets will be released across all platforms. I require that within two years, everyone must clear it once!" Chapter 480 I encountered a few NPCs. "Let''s go~" After meeting up with a net friend and feeling quite content, "I''ll see you back online... Oh wait, we can''t see each other. Off to fight~" Kuang Xin patted his buttocks and turned to leave. Once home, he put on his helmet, laid down in his beloved gaming pod, and succumbed to darkness as electric pulses stimulated his senses. In the midst of overwhelming drowsiness, the gates to another world swung open with a roar. The game''s timeline remained exactly where he left off when he logged out, resuming instantly as if he had merely taken a nap. Kuang Xin''s gaze swept over the dim world before him, this underground cavern housed countless warriors striving for their dreams. This was all Yanzi''s doing. Thinking back on the experiences after arriving in Grey Iron City, Kuang Xin still felt it was as magical as a dream. What shocked him the most was the change in Yanzi... or perhaps that she had always been like this, and they just hadn''t realized it before. Kuang Xin''s eyes glazed over as his thoughts drifted, taking him back to his first day in Grey Iron City. ... The rumbling vehicle came to a slow halt after the majestic city came into view. New to the place, nobody had any idea what rules the city followed. If the city conducted detailed searches on people and vehicles entering and leaving, like in Blackwater City, it was unlikely their group from the outer city could hide anything. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It seemed wisest to first wander around the city''s outskirts to perhaps encounter some locals and glean general information about the city. The four of them disembarked from the vehicle, with Kuang Xin rubbing his behind, his face scrunched up in discomfort, "When we get some money, let''s get a different vehicle; this one''s just not made for sitting." "Dream on..." Gu Lan, a mature beauty in brown leather shorts and jacket, hopped out sprightly from behind and retorted, "Having a vehicle is already good; so many others who started the game with us are still running around the map on foot." Dai Lian and Gong Yan didn''t speak, just quietly observed the distant city¡ª The dormant volcano provided a backdrop for the city, making it appear quite small in comparison. The air was filled with a choking layer of ash, like the remains of burned paper, crumbling at a touch. On the mountain range in the distance, many columns of black smoke were visible, the source of the ashy flakes being expelled from the volcanic vents. Carried high into the sky and swept away by the winds, the ashes spread around the entire city... including the city itself. "Cough cough cough~" Gong Yan couldn''t help but sneeze several times. Dai Lian casually pulled out a moist black scarf from his chest and handed it to her, his eyes still fixed on the world filled with floating black ash, "It''s troublesome." Adjusting to the new environment was the first challenge they had to face. As the undisputed leader of this small group, Dai Lian willingly shouldered all the responsibilities that came with the role. Before coming here, he managed to gather some information about Grey Iron City through his old power-leveling networks. The damp scarf was a preparation he had made in advance. But he had not expected the effect to be this severe¡ª [You have inhaled a large amount of harmful substances, your body suffers great damage, Health -1.] [Your body is weakened by toxic substances, reducing your agility by 10%.] Carrying out tasks that could last for days or even weeks here, merely relying on a moist scarf to alleviate discomfort was unrealistic. They anticipated encountering various elements and characters in their mission; they could act as outsiders, but when necessary, they had to blend in as locals to carry out essential interactions. Integrating into the local community was the first imperative task upon arrival. Fortunately, this task was actually quite simple. One of "Galaxy Online''s" best features was that many abilities could be gained through repetitive training. Even adapting to the environment; as long as one didn''t die, repeatedly diving into water would teach someone to swim, freezing in the snow for days would allow running naked, and living in a radiation zone for years would lead to coexisting with radioactive elements... Drink seawater for long enough, and anyone can become a superhuman. So the best way to adapt to the environment was... "Inhale~" "Exhale~" Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire "Inhale~" "Exhale~" "Cough cough cough!" Kuang Xin, choked by the black dust before him, coughed out mucus and tears, bending over and staring at Dai Lian as he questioned, "Is this the method you spoke of?" Running to the edge of a volcano to breathe? "Any problem?" Dai Lian lifted an eyelid, himself caught off guard and coughing. "Cough cough cough!" While choking, he continued to explain, "I have a friend in Grey Iron City; he said the first hurdle for local players is to overcome this." Unlike players in other cities, those born in Grey Iron City had to first acquire the "Adaptive Breathing Enhancement" trait, or else they might as well restart early. "Hahaha!" Gu Lan laughed heartily without restraint, entertained by the argument between the two, but then carelessly... "Cough cough cough!" As she coughed up a storm of snot and tears, Gu Lan didn''t forget to tease them, "When you''ve trained up, if I need help removing formaldehyde from my villa, I''ll call you guys haha... cough cough cough~" As they continued to inhale the harmful particles in the air, the panel began to display the body''s suffering in text form. [You have inhaled a large amount of harmful substances, your body suffers great damage, Health -1.] Chapter 481 I encountered a few NPCs. ... [...Life value -1.] [...Life value -1.] [...Life value -1.] ... [The harmful substances you have absorbed have exceeded your body''s capacity, please evacuate from the dangerous area as soon as possible.] [Harmful substances have entered your blood circulation, your life is continuously weakening, movement reduced by 20%, life value -5/min.] Dai Lian, without saying a word, turned and ran. The slope of the volcano was continuous, and the rocks were rugged. Dai Lian stumbled, and his whole body suddenly fell to the ground, rolling like a gourd several times before finally coming to a dusty halt. Looking up, he saw a pair of small feet stepping in calf-skin boots, and Dai Lian reached out his right hand, "Save, save, save..." "Okay~" Gong Yan smiled with her lips pursed, carrying her small canvas bag as she bent down to crouch beside him. ... [You have received emergency aid, your injury is stabilized, your life value is rapidly recovering.] [Your body has recovered from a severe exhaustion, and your resistance to the source of damage has improved, your Concentration Resistance +1, reaching 100 points to form a trait¡ªAdaptive Breathing Enhancement (Level 1).] "It''s helpful." Dai Lian, having recovered, was slightly pleased. Although a friend who used to grind levels for him had mentioned it, experiencing it firsthand still brought a sense of joy from the achievement. "Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle..." Another figure rolled over, and Gu Lan, with a dusty face, lifted her head from the ground with a giggle, "Save me too~" "Okay~" [You have received emergency aid...] [Your body has recovered from a severe exhaustion...] Kuang Xin: "Save..." ... Seeing Gong Yan, who was still standing in place without going up to train herself, Dai Lian asked with curious eyes, "What about you?" "Me?" Gong Yan flicked some stray locks of hair from beside her ear, "Who will save me if I go up there?" Without waiting for Dai Lian to reply, she smiled again, "It''s okay. I have Spiritual Energy that can purify the conditions on my body." As she spoke and inhaled a gulp of smoky air, she quickly covered her mouth and nose again with her damp scarf, coughing violently, "Cough, cough, cough!" "Alright~ As long as you''re okay." "Exhale~" "Inhale~" "Exhale~" "Inhale~" At the foot of the shadowed mountain, several figures with mottled colors were mingling on the stony ground intermixed with gray, black, and white volcanic rocks, hardly drawing attention unless someone got very close. The three who were breathing heard some unnatural sounds faintly. Dai Lian, who had the highest perception, suddenly stopped his heavy breathing rhythm and sharply turned his gaze in a certain direction. Tiny black dots were gradually enlarging from the distant slope above, clearly moving in this direction. And a number of ruby-red figures were hot on the heels of those two black dots, their relatively close proximity making it easy to spot the gap between the two. Kuang Xin and Gu Lan both stopped their normal breathing rhythm and looked in the same direction. "Looks like someone is being chased by a monster, huh?" Kuang Xin squinted, finding it hard to see clearly. Gu Lan spat disdainfully, "Even the kitchen squad has seen it, do you need to state the obvious?" "So, what do we do?" After a moment of hesitation, Dai Lian made a decision, "Rescue them!" They were strangers in a strange land, and there was no better way to start than to save someone''s life. Having made the decision, the three of them sprinted off at once. As they got close enough, Dai Lian took the longbow off his back and pulled out a stainless steel arrow from the quiver he carried behind him. To prepare for this mission to Grey Iron City, they had made thorough preparations. Facing completely unfamiliar local monsters, Dai Lian didn''t dare to be overconfident. He went for it with a skill from an adult¡ªPower Shot! Waves of heat bearing volcanic temperature swirled at his fingertips, and endless power gradually peaked during the slow charging process. As the pursuers and the pursued separated positions in the chase at that instant, Dai Lian''s gaze sharpened, and he released his fingers. "Whoosh~" The arrow was like a dragon, carrying with it the scorching fireworks of a volcano as it stirred up a wild surge in the air before shooting straight towards the chest of one of the pursuing beasts. "Snap~" The arrow, capable of piercing through gold and splitting rocks, easily tore through the beast''s chest, and the creature that resembled an upright, red lion stiffened in an instant, then became completely frozen in place. Its crimson body gradually lost its lustrous red sheen, turning into ordinary black-iron colored stones, falling swiftly from midair and scattering on the ground. "The monster is made of stone?" Kuang Xin sped forward like a gust of wind, quickly reaching the vicinity of the chase, while Dai Lian was still gathering power on the spot. And at this moment, the pursued, perhaps in despair seeing "an ambush ahead," slipped and tumbled down abruptly. As he rolled on the ground losing control of his body, the crimson beast chasing behind would not let go of this easy prey. Raising its forelimb, about to smash the wretched creature below with a massive claw, a shadow not much stronger than the pitiful creature suddenly flashed in between. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Squeak~" Strong muscles emitted a sour sound as Kuang Xin planted his feet into the ground and let out a roar from his throat, "Ahhh!!!!" "Boom!" With a powerful burst, even the heavy stone beast was completely overturned, its entire body violently crashing to one side and kicking up a cloud of dust. The last red beast gazed at its prey, close at hand, its twin eyes shining with a bloodthirsty excitement, like blazing rubies. However, a flying figure came rushing from the side, and with a punch, Gu Lan, wearing a black and red glove, knocked the beast''s neck askew, causing its outstretched claw to helplessly hit the ground. Gu Lan, who landed with a bright, enthusiastic smile, adjusted her Spiritual Energy glove that was a size too large for her right hand before reaching out to help up the fallen male human, "Are you okay?" "No...I''m fine." Wang Wenbo stupidly reached out his hand, feeling that this person, likely a female in shorts with a face smeared with black soot, surprisingly had the air of a master about her. "Rua!" The mad calling resounded behind them, as Kuang Xin, furiously hammering the pursuing beast, darted past Gu Lan''s back. Watching this frenzied scene before him, Wang Wenbo swallowed hard. "Tut~" Isn''t this too fierce? Fighting the Fire Elemental Beasts, who are these people? But he hadn''t seen them among the familiar players, so could they be those NPCs who had undergone surgery? If NPCs have this kind of strength... It seems quite normal. As he put away his longbow and approached just as swiftly, Dai Lian walked over with a smile, unconcerned with the two remaining red beasts who were no match for Kuang Xin. Moreover, these beasts clearly had limited intelligence, failing to change their target even when entangled with the obviously troublesome Kuang Xin, so there was no need to worry. He was more concerned about the progress of the mission, or rather, the source of the information. Dai Lian put on what he thought was his most sincere smile, watching the approach from afar, and in a tone that sounded steady and reliable, just like his superior, he greeted, "Friend, are you okay?" ... "Are you okay?" "I''m fine." "Let''s hurry up and go." "What bad luck, how did we run into Fire Elemental Beasts?" "Just wanted to come out and pick up some trash, is my luck really this rotten?" "Sigh~" "Sigh~" ... Dai Lian''s smile froze on his face as he watched the backs of the two humans walking away. He turned to Gu Lan, dryly squeezing his eyes, "I think we''ve been ignored." Gu Lan also opened her eyes wide, somewhat doubting whether she was hallucinating, "Can they not see us?" ... Watching the backs of the departing figures, Dai Lian pinched his chin, analyzing rationally, "Perhaps this is the local custom? People of Grey Iron City don''t like talking to strangers?" "Emmmmm" "Rua!" In a cacophony of sound, Gong Yan, who realized something was amiss, finally arrived late, "What happened?" "Nothing much, we just encountered two NPCs being chased, but it seems they had no mission, and they didn''t interact with us," Dai Lian waved his hand dismissively. "Oh~" ... The two players returned to their den looking disheartened, reporting today''s outcomes to their boss, "Boss, we ran into Fire Elemental Beasts." "Oh?" In the dim light, a soft, pale chin lifted with a hint of a smile, "And you managed to run back here?" Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire "Hey! Just happened to run into some weird NPCs." Wang Wenbo waved his hand, speaking somewhat nonchalantly. The other player, however, was full of interest, "Boss, you wouldn''t believe it, but those NPCs were pretty fierce." "Oh?" The boss''s tone rose with curiosity, clearly more interested, "How fierce were they?" Chapter 482 406 Lava Behemoth "What kind of ferocity?" The boss half-emerged from the shadows, his heroic, willow-leaf eyebrows raised slightly with interest. "Actually, it wasn''t that fierce..." Wang Wenbo said nonchalantly. After surgical modifications, there were many formidable men in Grey Iron City. Seeing muscle-bound men perform every day had desensitized him. Another player, Wang Wenyan, added, "¡­it was just a bit strange." "Strange?" "The brutes we''ve seen before all used their fists, but it was the first time I''d seen one use a bow and arrow¡ªhe downed a Flame Beast with a single shot, utterly ferocious! Moreover, of the two brawlers with him, one didn''t seem to have much physical change; that woman''s figure... was quite slender, about the same as yours, boss. But she could still knock down a Flame Beast with a punch, fiercely so." "You haven''t seen them before either?" The boss pinched his own fair chin, murmuring with curiosity, "You two roam around all day, and there''s still someone in this area you haven''t seen?" Then he asked, "Where did you see them?" "Right down there by the foot of the volcano¡­ on the northwest side out of the city, also on the northwest side of the volcano." "No reason for that¡­" The boss immediately noted something odd, "Who''d normally run off in that direction?" Even if you''re going up the mountain for resources, you''d just head north after you leave the city. Why take such a big detour toward the shady side of the mountain? Unless¡­ the others also wanted to avoid crowded places. "Didn''t you talk to them?" "We did," Wen Yan nodded earnestly. "What did you say?" "They said, ''Are you alright?''" Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire "And then?" "Then we ran away¡­" "..." "..." The boss stared at them with his clear black and white eyes, "They saved you guys, and you didn''t even think to thank them?" "Who thanks NPCs..." Wen Bo grumbled, "Especially since we''re both ''unregistered'', how could I dare to just chat with anyone?" What if someone found out about my ''unregistered'' status? Wouldn''t I be sent to the surgery table for a tribulation within minutes? Scratching his head, Wen Yan said, "I was too scared being chased by the Flame Beast... didn''t catch on at the time." "..." The boss rubbed his chin to himself, speculating, "Hey, do you think this could be the beginning of some quest?" "Hmm..." "emmmm~" The two brothers were cluelessly dumbfounded, looking into each other''s eyes, their faces blank. "Surely our city can''t stay like this forever?" Although not very familiar with other players'' starting areas, they at least knew that other players didn''t have to face such harsh conditions from birth. First of all, you had to become acquainted with the environment. Any player who didn''t acquire the "Adaptive Breathing Enhancement" trait within three days of birth was doomed. You could either shell out money for a doctor to boost your trait proficiency or try to improve your physical constitution or stamina over time¡ªall part of Grey Iron City players'' "main quest." The first thing was to survive; only by staying alive could you play the game. And even survival wasn''t the end of it; the world''s malice was just beginning to show. Granted, players from other cities had their struggles, but those often came from environmental challenges or from overt maliciousness driven by certain NPCs'' self-interest. But this city was different... The city itself was the greatest malice. Players from other cities could freely choose their own advancement paths. They could specialize in martial arts, relying on strong physiques and combat skills to overcome everything. They could also master the use of equipment. Early on, firearms posed a lethal threat to the players'' fragile physiques. Possessing weapons that mixed sci-fi with magical elements could diversify their combat styles significantly. Furthermore, one could cultivate Spiritual Energy, reshaping the world with willpower like a powerful sorcerer. Each path required players to find their own ways forward. There were no career mentors, set quest lines, or even a clear promotion system. Everything was free, filled with unlimited possibilities. Every player''s exploration of the game content was wonderful and varied, with the same scenario triggered under similar conditions, potentially leading to entirely different outcomes. Even a villager you rescued by the roadside could share the technology for a controllable nuclear fusion reactor. This was the charm of the game world. That''s how the official supplements described it, and how other players played after entering the game, but why was it that in their Grey Iron City, the only way to advance was through bodily modifications, and not just any modifications, but compulsory ones? If the periodic census found any ''unregistered'' people, they were first taken to undergo surgery. If the surgery was successful, that was good news. Not only could you gain a powerful trait, but you could also significantly improve your physical quality¡ªmuch faster than by training on your own. The players whose surgeries were initially successful thought they had struck gold, finding themselves in a welfare city beyond the wildest dreams of others. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However... the nightmare was just beginning. Surgeries had a considerable failure rate. Failed players either died on the operating table or were left gasping for life, thrown aside like rubbish, not knowing which part of them was missing, and then forced to fend for themselves in this survival of the fittest ''jungle''. Chapter 483 406 Lava Behemoth_2 ``` At first, many players thought this was a feature of the game, and besides, it''s a game... it would never really let players suffer a huge loss. Whatever was lost here would be compensated for elsewhere. The last one who thought this way was named Kuang Xin, but sadly, the game wasn''t always so merciful. After persisting for a period of time, these players felt it would have been better to have died right on the operating table in the beginning. After achieving the "impressive" feat of going hungry for three days with nine missed meals in "Urban Survival Battle", most players chose to restart. Only a very small minority of players continued clinging to their "faith" ¡ª they believed that the game wouldn''t let them down, that their perseverance had to be meaningful. Otherwise, would not all the suffering of the past few days have been in vain? This was failure... And success wasn''t much better off. The city''s surgical technology was extremely immature; even when the surgery was successful, one had to face the rejection effect of the body towards additional organs, which meant that even those players who succeeded in the surgery had to rely on a concoction called "Stabilizing Repair Fluid" to stabilize their condition. And to get this substance, which could only be produced officially by the city, one had to accept their control and act according to their instructions. The city itself didn''t seem to intentionally establish its own intelligence organization or a large-scale guard force, etc. They appeared not to care about being in control of everyone, but rather for the sake of the surgery itself. But, in this state of affairs, the entire city... belonged to them. For players yearning for freedom and who acted without restraint, what a frustrating place this was? If you can''t freely jump onto rooftops and tear down walls, where''s the realism in this game? Not to mention that the surgeries weren''t one-off... Grey Iron City''s surgeries had many steps, with each surgery representing a new barrier. Each surgery reiterated all the aforementioned risks. Any player who underwent surgery and had to accept the city''s control to some extent because of the "Stabilizing Repair Fluid" got recorded in the city officials'' books. As soon as either time or physical condition met the criteria for the next surgery, one would be immediately pushed onto the operating table again. If successful, of course, one would ascend once more, but failure meant going all the way down, or like those unlucky players, being forced to restart "Urban Survival Battle". After some time, players naturally discovered certain patterns¡ª If one improved themselves in between two surgeries, ensuring their constitution was strong enough and had enough traits and specialties, especially those that had targeted effects on the surgery, it could greatly increase the success rate of the surgery. This was the only direction the players could keep "winning". But the failure rate was still not small, at least for the players, it was hard to accept. Distorted policies naturally bred a rebellious crowd. Even if they couldn''t resist, they could still flee and hide. Like this group of "rats" hiding underground, they were the "Black residents" that the city was out to capture everywhere. So, to put it another way: those who want to avoid the eyes of the city are the "Black residents". Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire Among the "Black residents" there were rarely any formidable individuals, or at least not among those players who refused to comply with the city''s distorted rules. But they believed it shouldn''t be this way. At least Yafei always believed so. The deformed city must eventually undergo a thorough purification; changing the city''s distorted rules might just be the inherent "main mission" that all players born in this city carry. Those who comply with the city are dogs; those who resist the city are rats. This is a battle between dogs and rats. The dog camp has the city itself as their big daddy, but what about their rat camp? Can they rely solely on their newly-spawned players? How long would it take to overturn this rotten place? There must be a big daddy to lead the charge. Yafei had always been looking for this big daddy, and now... He was searching for someone powerful who didn''t seem to have gained that power purely through surgical transformation and who also needed to evade the city''s watchful eyes ¡ª a "Black resident". Could this be the opportunity to overthrow the city? Excited by this thought, Yafei stood up, "Where did you encounter them? Take me to see!" Whether it was them or not, making contact couldn''t hurt. ``` Even if it wasn''t their own "big daddy," weren''t these players, who were reluctant to undergo surgery transformations, eager to cozy up to the NPC powerhouse that also didn''t take the surgical transformation route? It just goes to show that lackeys will always be lackeys, with no strategic vision. "Let''s go!" Yafei, clad in a belly-revealing lackey outfit, lightly jumped off the wooden crate she had been sitting on and led the way to the entrance of the cave, "Hurry up, don''t wait for them to run off." "Coming, coming!" Ma Wenbo snapped to attention, finally catching on. ... "Huff~" "Inhale~" "Huff~" "Inhale~" Three figures stood in place, taking long breaths in. Seeing that he had far surpassed the others with a 99-point proficiency, Kuang Xin was full of pride. "Don''t you know what a brutish body is?" "Gurgle~" The rubble rolled down from a slope that was even steeper. The ground began to tremble slightly. Gu Lan, who was coincidentally in a state of meditation, connecting with the world through her will during her calm breathing, sensed a smoky, fiery scent. Confused, she opened her eyes and looked towards the gentle slope that stretched upward... There, the black-grey soil seemed to have solidified for thousands of years, making everyone forget the fact that it was actually an active volcano. "Could it be about to erupt?" "Is it that much of a coincidence?" Kuang Xin opened his eyes upon hearing her and retorted disdainfully, "Just because we arrived, the volcano erupts? Are we children of the volcano or something?" Dai Lian narrowed his eyes and also stopped his breathing rhythm, "But this commotion... it looks big." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Around the rugged corner of the slope, out of sight of Dai Lian and the others, a strand of red flame was suddenly spewed out from a hole in the earth by an upward gust of air. This strand of red flame, unlike the other ashes that were spewed out and dispersed by the wind, seemed to have its own intelligence, drawing agile arcs in the air one after another and eventually burrowing back into the ground below. Slivers of fiery red streaks flowed between chunks of grey-black boulders, much like the meridian network in the human body forms an ecosystem, transforming ordinary stones with no sign of life into a freely moving "entity." With a muffled groan originating from who knows where, the giant stone figure stood in confusion for a moment before its "head," constructed like a human torso, turned towards the direction of the city and then took a large step forward. A gasp was held by Kuang Xin and the others as the giant stone figure emerged from the rugged spot. Kuang Xin was somewhat dumbfounded, "What in the world is this?" Dai Lian was stupefied, "How the hell would I know?" Gu Lan analyzed rationally, "Maybe it''s a local specialty monster?" Similar in fiery red color, compared to the creature just now referred to by the locals as a fire spirit beast¡ªa standing lion only about twice the height of a human¡ªthe giant stone figure, still in the distance, already presented a visually stunning impact. Watching the giant stone figure start to step out as if locking onto a direction, the three widened their eyes. "Wait... does it look like it''s heading straight for us? Did we breathe in its fragrance?" "No kidding! It''s about to step on your face and you''re still wondering?" "What do we do?" "What do we do? Draw the sword and fight it!" ... "Boss! There they are!" Wang Wenbo pointed excitedly at the three figures standing still in the distance. Turning his head, he saw his boss already crouching behind a rock. "Boss?" "Boss?" Yafei glared at the two sharply, frustrated as if regretting their incompetence, pointing towards a "big red dot" that had just begun to move in the distance. "A lava behemoth! Are we just presenting ourselves to it? Wait and see what they plan to do first," she said. Wang Wenyan squinted at the scene for a while, then scratched his cheek in confusion, "It looks like they''re planning to charge?" Chapter 484 407 Growth "The Lava Monster is not so easy to deal with..." Yafei lay behind a boulder, her eyes vacant as she looked towards the relatively charging figures in the distance. Three tiny... no, there was one more. Apart from the slightly elevated three, as the Wenbo brothers had mentioned, there was another small black dot further down at the foot of the mountain. Upon spotting their companion on the mountain encountering the creature, the remaining black dot also started sprinting towards their companions. The four tiny black dots scattered across the mottled grey-black earth were barely noticeable, in contrast to the giant stone figure striding down the slope, its height of over ten meters striking awe into onlookers. In comparison, the three approaching dots seemed pathetically futile, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Lava Monsters are creatures that appear periodically on volcanoes, and the rocks that seem to make up their bodies are not their core. Players have observed these monsters forming¡ªit is some unknown living flame that adheres to ordinary rocks. This creature, once formed, would lock its vengeful gaze firmly on Grey Iron City, and all humans encountered on its path of destruction towards the city would be brutally trampled. Those in Grey Iron City were all too familiar with such creatures; in fact, ordinary people stood no chance against them, and even those players who had successfully undergone one or two operations would not rashly confront such terrifying beasts. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire One operation might barely allow an escape, two might allow a slightly more composed escape, but three... there were no such talents among the players yet. Therefore, the Lava Monsters that were known to appear from time to time were affectionately and familiarly referred to by players as "the monster siege," a challenge that only the power of the city could withstand. "The power of the Lava Monster is very strong, one must never be hit head-on," Wang Wenbo said with a tense expression, not wanting his boss''s recent surge of joy and anticipation to be shattered in an instant. If not for the fear of being affected by the aftermath of the battle, he would have liked to remind these seemingly reckless newcomers of the formidable strength of their adversary. Unless it were one of those fierce men in the city who had undergone specialized third operations, no one could withstand even one punch from it. Watching from afar as the three small black dots closed in, the hearts of the three onlookers leapt into their throats when the giant stone man raised its fist. "Run!" Wang Wenyan clenched his fist tightly! "Boom!" The ground shook, dust spread. The vibration reached their feet moments later, the rumbling echo resonating in their ears. Squinting towards the now murky direction, the three wondered what carnage lay beneath the rising dust. "Didn''t I just say not to fight it head-on?" Wang Wenbo lamented in frustration. Wang Wenyan reminded him softly, "They can''t hear us from here." "... Seeing such a large figure, shouldn''t normal people know not to engage it head-on?" Yafei remained silent. Her excellent eyesight as a sniper allowed her to catch a glimpse of a detail¡ª The Lava Monster''s fist hadn''t managed to smash directly to the ground... A tiny black dot stood in front of it, blocking the creature''s punch with arms that, from afar, looked no bigger than the tips of needles. And slowly lifting it up... "Uh, uh, uh, ah!" Kuang Xin''s forehead bulged with veins as he firmly braced his feet, sunk into the ground, against the earth behind his heels. Absolute Defense, taught by Bai E, made his body sturdy as iron, fully integrated; by nature already biased towards physical prowess, under the Advanced Physical Training Program 3.0, his physical attributes had reached the human limit of 15 points. Added to his inherent brute force talent and the explosive power from Overlimit Drive, also taught by Bai E, his strength was beyond the imagination of an ordinary person. At this moment, after initially blocking the energy-charged punch of the giant, the motionless stone fist was gradually lifted up. Standing by, his teammate would not just watch Kuang Xin fight alone. Facing an unknown and strange giant creature, the best response was to take it down first. Having put on the Spiritual Energy gloves once again, Gu Lan flexed his wrists and sprinted towards the stone man tussling with Kuang Xin. He stepped on the creature''s rugged surface, reaching the top of its head, and with a raised fist, smashed down towards the rounded stone skull before him. "Crack!" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The condensed Spiritual Energy was transformed into a substantive force by the mysterious function of the gloves, and the punch, which did not seem all that powerful, displayed an explosive force even more exaggerated than Kuang Xin''s. Spiritual Energy can morph anything. Though each individual''s Spiritual Energy has its own attributes and the tendencies often act as limitations, meaning individual Spiritual Energy cannot whimsically change. But humans possess wisdom, and those craftsmen with Spiritual Energy create works that allow limited individuals to exhibit infinite variations. Gu Lan, who had joined Kuang Xin''s trio, never left her original guild since those guild players were, after all, on her payroll. Thanks to the hard work of the "mining" personnel, this glove was another combat weapon she had acquired at great expense. "No wonder the big gorilla loves close combat; it really is thrilling." After causing the stone man to stagger, Gu Lan nimbly landed on the ground and, shaking her slightly sore wrist, chuckled to Dai Lian not far away. Chapter 485 407 Growth_2 Dai Lian nodded, also feeling somewhat envious, "Indeed impressive." The archery skills he had learned were more powerful, but nuclear weapons couldn''t be released at will. For the time being, he didn''t have enough Spiritual Energy to support using this kind of decisive technique as a regular attack. Before finding the stone creature''s weakness, acting rashly was likely a waste of effort. As for his other abilities... Gun Fighting Skill was certainly cool, but its power was limited by the firearms themselves, and with the guns he currently had, it was rare to break the defense of such stone giants. Until Kuang Xin gathered more information, all he could do was simply watch the show. "Boom!" Having already been gaining a slight upper hand in the grappling, with Gu Lan''s punch coming in support, the stone creature''s center of gravity was disrupted, and it was immediately flipped over completely. "RUA!" Kuang Xin, having flipped his opponent, pursued his victory. Clenched fists covered in Absolute Defense force field couldn''t stop pounding down on the stone creature pinned beneath him. Even though these volcanic stones were fused into one entity by mysterious forces, the nature of their material was only so reinforced. Under the relentless pounding of Kuang Xin''s fists, stone chips flew in all directions. ... "GA!" The three onlookers in the distance dropped their jaws in an instant, watching this scene unfold before their eyes in utter disbelief. "Isn''t this fierce?" Only someone with triple surgery could possibly achieve this feat, which even in their entire Grey Iron City would be considered a famous strongman. "But one can''t be careless. Besides strength, the molten giant''s flames are bone-eating maggots; even the slightest touch would burn one to ash. Jumping into water won''t extinguish it either." Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire ... "PFFT~" Flames suddenly burst out from between the gaps of the stone assembly, and the fierce blast of heat made Kuang Xin, who had activated Absolute Defense, instinctively leap backward. Absolute Defense blocked physical attacks, but it wasn''t said to shield against magical attacks. However, as someone with strength-oriented reflexes that weren''t particularly excellent, and his whole being in an overexcited state during the heat of battle, he couldn''t dodge in time and was still touched by the flames. "HUHUHU~" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Watching a flame cling to his left arm, Kuang Xin instinctively tried to pat it out. As a result, the flame, which was originally only on his left arm, was successfully transferred to his right palm as well. The pain of the flame''s scorch was not deep-seated for players, and amidst the scorching sting, there was even a kind of warm caressing sensation; Kuang Xin didn''t feel pain, just curiously waved his hand and looked back at Dai Lian, his expression dopey as he said, "This fire can''t be put out, right?" [Your body is suffering from the scorching of flames, HP -1.] [... HP -1.] ... "AI!" Wang Wenbo sighed deeply, "Might as well amputate early..." Yafei pinched his chin, mumbling to himself, "It seems they truly aren''t locals." The people of Grey Iron City wouldn''t be unaware of the traits of the molten giants; even those with great strength who could withstand the giants didn''t dare to engage in close combat continuously¡ªthe opponent''s irregular flame eruptions were the greatest threat to those close-combat brutes. "Should we go inform them to run away, instead of dying here?" Wang Wenyan suggested quietly, "The molten giant isn''t something a few people can take down." ... "Boss?" "Wait." Yafei gestured with a wave of his hand, stopping Wang Wenyan, who wanted to run out and warn them. In the distance, the situation had undergone a new change; the fourth person, who had been further away, had finally caught up with the three ahead during this drawn-out struggle. Without knowing what the newly arrived figure did, the flames attached to one of the black dots abruptly vanished. ... What kind of supernatural power was this? ... "Yanzi?" Having merged Spiritual Energy with medical skills, Gong Yan easily extinguished the flames and turned to Kuang Xin with a soft smile, "Don''t worry, I''m here." "Boom!" The stone giant''s fist, carrying the roar of the wind, slammed over, and without looking back, Kuang Xin reached out with one hand to block it¡­ and then was sent flying like a solid cannonball. As if to confirm the result of his attack, the stone giant''s eyeless head also turned toward the direction Kuang Xin was flying, nodding rhythmically in time with the bouncing of Kuang Xin''s body off the ground, like skipping stones on water. The gentle hum of the Longsword had started without notice, its sharp edge tearing through countless fragments of stone, striking a strand of flowing red energy inside the stone. Like a snake struck in its vital spot, the red energy struggled and writhed frantically, as the stone figure also began to move violently, trying to throw off the diminutive human clinging onto it. Gu Lan''s figure called out clearly, "Dai, right here!" While entangling the stone beast, Kuang Xin had not been idle. With her deeper mastery of Spiritual Energy, she had seen more than others from the start of the fight, and with each encounter, her keen Spiritual Energy had locked onto the "fatal weakness" of the stone giant. Clinging single-handedly to the stone surface and holding back the opponent''s escape with her own Spiritual Energy and the red energy, Gu Lan gritted her teeth fiercely, her voice popping out from her throat, "Hurry... ah!" "Got it," Dai Lian responded calmly, his hands already drawing the bow and readying an arrow. The heat of a volcanic wave gathered at the tips of his right fingers, while ash-gray dust swirled visibly around the arrow. ... "Lava Behemoth..." "Stop with the behemoth..." Wang Wenyan tugged at her brother, pointing toward the figure standing with a drawn bow, and said to the boss, "It''s him. He exploded a Fire Spirit Beast with a single arrow." Although the Fire Spirit Beast''s rank and strength were far inferior to that of the Lava Behemoth, the feat of killing it with one shot was unheard of. And now, the same strike was to be displayed upon the Lava Behemoth. Yafei''s gaze sharpened slightly, the imagination in her head during the younger brother''s storytelling spilling into reality at this moment. This was a power she had never seen before; could these people really be the hope for this city? ... Fingers released, arrow flew. A hurricane of flame swept through, the steel arrow piercing the stone. "Snap!" A hole large enough for a clay pot appeared, completely through from front to back, leaving the red energy previously pinned by the Longsword nowhere to be found, causing the red lines in the stone figure''s fissures to scatter instantly. Like the vanquished Fire Spirit Beast, the now ''coreless'' boulder resumed its original complexion, its constituent parts cascading to the ground, spreading around in a scatter. "Whew~ whew~" Gu Lan, who had just landed, clutched her waist and bent over, her hands on her knees, breathing heavily. Although the fight seemed smooth and without hitch, it had been immensely draining on her. If there was another, she doubted she could hold on. "But seriously, I can''t figure it out ¨C why are we going toe-to-toe with it?" "...I can''t make sense of it either," said Dai Lian, putting away his bow, deliberately averting his gaze. "Weren''t you the one who charged first?" Gu Lan rolled her eyes irritably, "It was the gorilla who charged first." "Don''t we need to test the caliber of the local beasts whenever we arrive at a new place?" Kuang Xin, who had been punched away and was now lively and jumping, ran back up, "It''s also a chance to check our teamwork and current combat strength~" "Spontaneous incidents show the real strength more. We''re much stronger than before," Gong Yan summarized with a smile, walking up to Gu Lan with a little bag, lifting one of her arms, "You''re hurt." "Ah~" Gu Lan looked at her blood-soaked arm, only then realizing she had been injured, "Haha~ Didn''t notice." As Gong Yan bent down to tend to the wounds on her back, facing a certain direction, she whispered so only those nearby could hear, "There are people behind us." "Ah~" Dai Lian looked straight in that direction, replying, "I see them¡­ they''re coming over." "¡­ Those are the two kids we saved earlier." "Be careful; even a lifesaving grace might not be reliable." Chapter 486 408 Are you guys also players?! As they approached, Yafei pushed Wang Wenbo from behind, causing the youngster to stagger right in front of Kuang Xin and his group. After steadying himself, Wang Wenbo touched the back of his head and looked at Kuang Xin with a beaming smile, "Um... folks, good day. We... we''re the two fellas you just saved. Got too nervous and ran off, but now, we brought our sister over to thank you." With Wang Wenbo''s introduction, Yafei smoothly made her entrance. With her hands clasped behind her back and a bright smile on her face, "Yes sir, these two kids just lose their heads and run when they get nervous. They don''t even think to thank their saviors." "It was nothing," Dai Lian said, approaching from the side and casually waving his hand, "What were you trying to do before, going up the mountain?" Knowing nothing about the place, Dai Lian cautiously tried to pry information out bit by bit. "Them?" Yafei glanced at her two brothers behind her, explaining with a bitter smile, "We''re not much capable, so we risk our lives looking for scattered minerals near those vents to exchange for meager funds. The vents near the city side of the volcano are pretty much cleaned out, and we dare not venture higher, so we thought to try our luck on this shadow side of the mountain. Running into those fire sprites was just plain bad luck." Guessing that these folks might be powerful NPCs from other regions, Yafei proactively revealed information, trying to see if she could trigger some pivotal quest keywords. "..." Dai Lian squinted, his brain rapidly analyzing. The limited information he had gathered was that in this city, abilities were solely determined by surgeries, and those who were struggling often had no surgeries or had failed surgeries. Only these people were less regulated by the city''s control. But it wasn''t guaranteed that these people wouldn''t try to accomplish great deeds hoping for better treatment because of their low status. If they truly appeared like clueless newcomers from outside the city, they could easily be tricked and exploited by others. Although with their cleverness it was unlikely they''d fall for it, wasting time was unnecessary either. So, it was better to maintain a sense of mystery, play it safe. If the others had ulterior motives, they''d surely make the first move. "A small deed, done in passing, not worth mentioning," Dai Lian said airily, his calm demeanor unshakable. "Um... folks~" Yafei''s spirited eyes flicked to the huge pile of boulders scattered around from being shot through, "The combat skills you used just now, we''ve never seen ''em before... they don''t seem to be a trademark of our city?" Dai Lian''s lips curved into a smile, full of mystery, "Oh? You''ve seen a lot?" "Seen a lot... it''s decent," Yafei giggled, "If you''re not familiar with the city, perhaps we could show you around? Where would you like to go?" "..." Dai Lian didn''t say anything, just calmly watched the young girl in front of him. This was something he had learned from his own superior... the demeanor of a powerful figure. Sure enough, Yafei immediately took a half step back and just waved her hand, "Of course... if you need privacy, we can leave right away, we''ll never breathe a word about you!" "That won''t be necessary." Gu Lan knew it was time for him to chime in, working in sync with Dai Lian. He strode forward with a cheerful smile, "Are you familiar with this city?" "Of course!" Yafei stood tall and proud, "Whatever you wish to do, I can find a way for you." "Is this your way of repaying us?" Gu Lan''s lips curved slightly. "Um..." Yafei giggled as she pinched her fingertips, "It would be even better if you all would help us out with a little favor." "Speak up, what do you need?" Dai Lian asked in a level tone. "We are just some nobodies who aren''t qualified for surgery..." Yafei said pitifully, "It seems like you didn''t get your strengths through surgery either, so if it''s convenient¡­ we were hoping you could teach us, the methods of cultivation." Of course, it''s important to seek a benefactor, but it was also essential to gain some power for oneself. NPCs have their combat narratives; however, the decisive factor in victory might still rely on the confrontations between players. Rat Camp was full of people who had undergone successful surgeries, whereas they had either not had surgery or had failed surgeries, and there was a natural gap in power. If they couldn''t find another way to bridge this overall disparity, it was highly likely they wouldn''t stand a chance against their rivals. Therefore, to overthrow the heinous rule of this city, not only did they need a leading figure to charge, but they also needed other underground professional mentors beyond the path of surgery. Perhaps these gentlefolk before them... "Teach you?" Gu Lan chuckled and shook his head, "No way, you couldn''t learn it." Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire "We''re all quick learners." Hearing a glimmer of hope, Yafei said anxiously, trying to persuade. Could their, the players'', understanding ever be poor? If the NPCs were willing to teach, they simply had to spend experience points to learn. Having been in this game world for quite a while, Yafei knew a fact¡ªsometimes you have to take the initiative to gain something. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "..." Dai Lian''s eyes sharpened with clever thought, and he instantly considered a possibility. Quick to understand, doing poorly, yet so spirited and vivacious... Chapter 487 408 Are you guys also players?!_2 Gong Yan, who had remained silent at the back, now stepped forward as if surprised and excited, "You guys are players too?" "..." "..." Stunned as if having seen a ghost. All three faces were blank. The word "too" provided enough explanation¡ªthe four incredibly powerful individuals, were they also players?! "You... you''re players too?" Wang Wenbo, who had only spoken at the beginning and then stayed behind the leader without saying a word, now stepped forward with a choked yet excited tone. "Ah~" Gu Lan turned to look at Gong Yan with a calm demeanor, seemingly acknowledging it. Dai Lian also glanced at Gong Yan with a slightly puzzled look but didn''t say much, maintaining his "cool" persona. Going from being referred to as "superiors" to suddenly becoming fellow players felt like all the swagger from before had vanished completely. "You guys are so amazing!" Now knowing they were all players, Wang Wenyan immediately jumped in front of Kuang Xin, who had been standing with his arms crossed, "Dude, you''re so fierce to be able to solo the Lava Giant. How did you train?" "Ah haha~" Kuang Xin scratched the back of his head, "Ordinary... ordinary... " Always hanging out with this group of a few people in the team, and being teased by them, now it was somewhat embarrassing to be praised to his face... Yafei''s eyes, filled with disbelief, swept back and forth across Dai Lian''s and Gu Lan''s faces, as if just realizing the fact, her face full of astonishment, "You''re players too?" Players! Players, indeed! Where had they ever seen players as fierce as this in Grey Iron City? Even those few who had successfully completed the second surgery and strutted around the city, their performances weren''t so exaggerated. The first and second surgeries were all about basic physical enhancements, and the strengthened cardiac and pulmonary functions ensured greater physical burst power as well as endurance and recovery. But to have those people face off against a Lava Giant... No matter how many came, it would be like delivering food to the beast. Yet just now, these four players, who didn''t carry any high-powered thermal weapons, managed to easily take down a Lava Giant with simple coordination! Are the players from the outer city all this strong? If the informed players of Grey Iron City knew about this, wouldn''t they have already turned the world upside down? This strength was definitely not average; it was merely that the few players before them were top-tier. Indeed... at this stage, players who could leave their birthplaces and cross vast wastelands to come to other cities, how could they be anything but tough? "You guys... are too fierce." ''That seems quite thrilling, doesn''t it?'' Dai Lian''s expression remained unchanged, "Average." "What quest did you come here for? Can you take us with you?" When there was no conflict of interest, communication between players was much more straightforward; Yafei moved closer, hugging their legs tightly. Without any interest conflicts, as long as one had a sweet mouth to shout "666", it was often possible to follow behind the big players and get a share of the loot. Gong Yan smiled warmly and took the initiative to come closer, "We''ve taken on a quest to find something in Grey Iron City." "Something? What something?" Yafei puffed out her chest, "Just give me a name, and I can tell you where to find it." "Stabilizing Repair Fluid." "..." "Is it difficult?" Gong Yan kindly inquired, seeing the change in Yafei''s expression. "It''s not too hard," Yafei''s face stiffened, "just a bit troublesome..." The city might never have intended to strictly control everyone by creating a demand for Stabilizing Repair Fluid as a required resource for surgery, but since it was something everyone needed, limited supply was an inevitable consequence. Only those who had undergone surgery were eligible to participate in scheduled check-ups, receiving a limited amount of Stabilizing Repair Fluid and getting it injected on the spot, with no chance to squirrel any away. There was hardly any way to obtain the substance through official channels. Of course, where there were people, there were schemes. Black markets indeed had a small circulation of low-grade Stabilizing Repair Fluid, along with the shoddy counterfeit products made by private workshops in some cities. As for their effectiveness, it was all down to luck. "If you''re planning to spend a fortune to buy it... I could find some for you, but I can''t guarantee the quality. Or, do you have some special channels of your own?" "You just mentioned... grades?" "Yes..." Yafei nodded, "The more surgeries you''ve had, the higher the grade of fluid you need. The black market primarily trades in grade one and two fluids. Anyone who has successfully undergone more than three surgeries is considered a core pillar of the city, and those involved in such clandestine activities don''t dare to leak such resources. Getting caught would mean a death sentence. No one dares to buy, and no one dares to sell... at least, not to my knowledge." "..." Dai Lian, Gong Yan, and the others exchanged glances, falling into a wordless silence. Seeing their expressions, Yafei guessed their mission target, "So... it''s not high-grade Stabilizing Repair Fluid you need, is it?" "..." "I see..." Yafei nodded, "At your level, the type of mission you might take on would indeed be this challenging. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have traveled from afar. By the way, where are you from?" "Blackwater City," Kuang Xin replied cheerfully. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire All players, and almost all buddies. Dai Lian''s brows were tightly furrowed, his mind preoccupied with the mission, "So, is there a chance or not?" "There is, but it''s going to be tough," Yafei didn''t completely dash their hopes, "the city''s armory. Maybe we can figure out a way to sneak in and steal some. We''ll definitely be wanted by the city afterward, but since you''re from outside, you can just run after the job is done. I''ve heard someone tried it before... They got caught... but we could learn from their approach." "Steal?" Dai Lian echoed the word, his gaze peculiar. "You... don''t plan to rob it, do you?" "If we can drive in and fill a truck, then I don''t see any problem with ''stealing''," Gu Lan explained with an amused grin. Before leaving, the elder had instructed them to bring back as much as they could. After all, this was a resource they would need to supply over the long term; they couldn''t just run to Grey Iron City every now and then. It was best to fill up all at once. "How much do you actually need?!" Yafei''s mouth hung open in shock. Using a vehicle to load? She couldn''t even begin to imagine how generous the reward for this mission would be. "But no matter how generous the reward, it''s useless if the mission couldn''t be completed, right? The four of you are strong, but you can''t fight an entire city," Yafei sincerely began to worry for them, "Why not drop the mission? Getting caught would really mean a death sentence, and there''s no resurrection in these early stages of the game. With your strength today, you shouldn''t take this kind of risk." "No way!" they exclaimed in unison. Faced with four resolute faces, Yafei was momentarily taken aback. Chih-ch''ang. The rewards must truly be outrageous. "How about... we head back to our station first, and I''ll try to find you some connections?" Yafei offered her suggestion. "That works." ... "Do you usually live in places like this?" Looking around the dimly lit surroundings, Kuang Xin asked curiously. "Ah~" Yafei smiled helplessly, as an unknown type of fungus emitted a faint bioluminescence, maintaining the dim light inside the room and causing the young girl''s face to appear somewhat shadowy and elusive, "There''s no helping it. Those of us who don''t want to undergo surgery hide in places like this." It was an underground natural hollow, with numerous small "rooms" created by the wanton growth of stalactites, each "room" filled with silhouettes. "Here, not only players but more so... those NPCs who refuse cybernetic enhancements and those whose surgeries failed." Everyone needed the basics: food, shelter, clothing, travel, including players. Huddling together for warmth was necessary, as was a certain amount of resource exchange. This was the last sanctuary for players who refused cybernetic enhancements, though it could hardly be called delightful. "Rest here for a while. You can talk to the Wang brothers about anything. I''ll go find you some connections," Yafei had everything arranged and waved goodbye, "Wait for my good news." Chapter 488 Assault Plan 409 "It seems their surgery indeed has a very high failure rate." When they first heard that surgery could directly and drastically enhance one''s physical quality, Kuang Xin and the others were also very tempted. In a sci-fi game world, the setting of body enhancement through surgery wasn''t something they rejected, and since it was just a game, as long as it wasn''t too outrageous, no one would refuse actual strength increase. While coming to Grey Iron City to complete tasks, they also harbored the thought of strengthening themselves through the surgeries offered here. Add to that, they were destined to bring back a large quantity of Repair Stabilizing Liquid; if they skimmed a bit for themselves, they could ensure that they wouldn''t be controlled by others due to this special resource. But now... Before their eyes were either the numb, withered faces of refugees or the feeble figures of the disabled with missing arms and legs. With high surgery failure rates and great risks, even the native residents of the city refused those free body enhancement surgeries. Just like the young girl said earlier, they had worked hard to obtain their current level of strength development, there was no need to gamble their future in the game on an uncertain factor. The four arrived in a strange environment and for a moment, no one spoke. They all scanned everything within sight with scrutinizing gazes, silently observing the place. "Ugh~" A muffled grunt emerged from somewhere in the silent darkness. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Hiss~" The man who cried out in pain clutched his chest. Awakened from deep sleep by the pain, he instinctively let out a cry. But knowing his voice would only resonate with others suffering from similar pains, the man forced himself to suppress the impulse to cry out and ease his agony, yet the tearing-like sharp pains still made him uncontrollably let out a hoarse whimper from his throat. Noticing that Kuang Xin and the others were looking in that direction, Wang Wenbo, who had been standing by the side, took the initiative to explain, "Everyone is like this, the underground is damp and dark, their wounds easily become infected and worsen... There are hardly any painkillers; they can only endure it on their own." "" Gong Yan tightened the small pack slung over her shoulder and walked towards that direction, "I''ll take a look." "She''s a doctor," Gu Lan volunteered. "But..." Wang Wenyan began to speak but was gently pulled back by Wang Wenbo in secret. Watching the silhouette painstakingly navigate the uneven ground in the dim light, Dai Lian''s eyes were filled with tenderness. "She''s still so kind-hearted." She couldn''t bear to see people suffer, even if they were just some unremarkable NPCs. The injuries of the surgery failure cases weren''t particularly complicated; otherwise, they couldn''t have survived until now. With timely care, or even just a clean environment and sufficient nutrition, they could easily recover. But even these were mere pipe dreams. The worsening wounds weren''t complicated to treat. Using the medicine she brought, she easily treated the wounds and then bandaged them; the man awoken by the pain fell back into a warm slumber in the waves of drowsiness amidst the peaceful and tranquil surroundings. Looking at the now stably-breathing person who had fallen asleep in front of her, Gong Yan''s lips held a pure smile. ["Knowledge¡ªBandaging (First Aid)" has reached its maximum level and cannot be improved.] Even if her skill proficiency had maxed out, this experience was still novel and interesting to her. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And watching this unfold nearby, a man with a lame leg hopped up in excitement and hopped towards her, "You''re a doctor, right? You''re a doctor, right? Please take a look at me! Please take a look at me! See if this leg can stand normally again! I beg you! I beg you! I really need a pair of legs that can move normally!" "Don''t rush! Don''t rush!" Gong Yan quickly got up to meet him, ignoring the foul stench of rotting flesh on him and supported his arms, "Sit down first, let me see what''s wrong." But the man''s cries carried far in the dark and quiet cave, no doubt drawing nearly everyone''s attention. "Doctor!" This term was not often heard in this place. Those who performed surgeries on everyone were also called "doctors." But those were devils! They were "demons" that brought misfortune to everyone here. Yet, if one could alleviate everyone''s suffering, a "doctor" appearing here was undoubtedly someone everyone would pray for and long for. In an instant, numerous frail or disabled figures struggled to their feet, surging toward the direction whence the voice had emanated. A mass of shadows, the noise of footsteps and cries filled the previously quiet and peaceful underground cavity. "Doctor, save me! Cough, cough, cough! Doctor, save me! I''m dying! I''m dying! I don''t want to die!" "Doctor! Please save my father! He was crushed by two boulders working in a dark mine, and now his entire body is almost rotting away..." "Doctor..." "Doctor!" The crowd surged like throwing a handful of bloody meat into a shark tank, triggering an instant uproar. Even Wang Wenbo, who had anticipated something like this, was startled. He knew that a situation like this would arise, having stayed here for so long, he was all too aware of what a doctor meant to everyone here. Chapter 489 Assault Plan 409_2 However, it was precisely because he knew that he deliberately did not remind them. Gong Yan couldn''t bear to see the people here suffer, and neither could he. It was just that his own abilities were insufficient, so now that someone was willing to provide treatment, he was naturally happy to go with the flow. But... it was too chaotic. In such chaos, it was too easy for accidents to happen. Barbarism always instilled fear in those who adhered to order. Realizing that the situation was spiraling out of control, Kuang Xin and others immediately went up to help, forming a human wall hand-in-hand and did their utmost to prevent the crowd from getting too close to Gong Yan, all the while shouting loudly for everyone to keep their rationality. "Don''t panic! Don''t panic! Everyone will get a turn! Everyone will get a turn!" "Stay where you are, we''ll take care of everyone!" "Stop pushing! There''s going to be trouble!" Everyone was shouting at the top of their lungs. Some were desperate for salvation, others pursued order. But in the chaos, there was no order, and hard objects flying out of the darkness landed on the foreheads of those forming the human barrier. Feeling an itch on his scalp after being hit by a stone, and only when a thread of that itch reached the center of his forehead and was about to burrow into his eye socket did Wang Wenbo subconsciously reach up to wipe it. His hand came away slick... Realizing what had happened, Wang Wenbo couldn''t care about anything else, and just wiped his hand casually on his own clothes before gripping his comrade''s hand tightly once more, trying hard to block the crowd in front of him, and he shouted loudly, "Stop pushing! If you scare the doctor away, then there will be no one to take care of you!" "Ah!" "Ah!" The crush of bodies was a threat not only to Kuang Xin and others; in the crowded swarm, incidents of shoving and trampling were prone to happen, and screams were piercing even amidst the chaos. "Bang bang bang bang bang!" Loud gunshots suddenly echoed throughout the cavern, and it was this violent outburst that brought the excited crowd back to their senses. Gong Yan held a pistol, standing behind the wall formed by Kuang Xin and others, her gaze calm as she swept over the crowd in front of her and said softly, "I can give each and every one of you a physical examination, but you must return to your own places. I will move to each position methodically and without missing anyone. Do not try to disrupt my schedule, or I will leave immediately. I won''t repeat myself, and I think this is your only chance." The calm voice conveyed firmness... and confidence. No one dared question the "doctor''s" word. Their lives were too humble for them to dare question someone with authority. Someone opened their mouth wanting to beg for special treatment, but in an instant their mouth was covered by the quick hands of someone nearby, turning their plea into a brief whimper. "Disperse, disperse, everyone go back." "Don''t disturb the doctor. The faster the doctor works, the quicker it will be your turn, stop causing trouble." Silence, reluctance, departure... Amid a mix of expressions, the crowd finally quieted down again. After bandaging the broken leg with gauze, Gong Yan whispered, "Don''t touch water, limit movement, for at least a week, I''ll remember to change your dressing." "Thank... thank you." Knowing what his cry of alarm had precipitated, the man stuttered his thanks, a little afraid to meet Gong Yan''s eyes. "It''s okay..." Gong Yan smiled softly at him, "What did you used to do before?" "Me?" The man looked embarrassed, "A gigolo..." "That''s fine." Gong Yan patted his shoulder and stood up to head in another direction. Seeing Gong Yan''s approach, the man who was leaning against the damp and cold wall and gasping for air was clearly surprised, "My... my lord." "Don''t be excited, stay calm." Gong Yan''s voice was even as she squatted down, starting to check the man''s condition with her own methods, and idly asked, "What did you used to do?" "A miner underground..." ... As evening arrived and the faint light from outside the cave had long since dimmed, the silhouette of a young girl suddenly rushed in through the entrance. Seeing several silent big brothers who had come from the outer city, Yafei asked with a bright smile on her face, "One piece of good news and one piece of bad news, which do you want to hear first?" Dai Lian''s eyes lit up as he promptly replied, "The bad one first." The good is the surprise, and the bad can be planned for in advance. No matter what difficulties they faced, anything that stood in their way of achieving their goals needed to be dealt with. "The bad?" Yafei spread her hands, "Apart from robbing the military armory, I haven''t found a second way to obtain high-grade Stabilizing Repair Fluid." "Hmm," Dai Lian nodded. This plan was discussed by everyone upon first meeting; he had been prepared for a while. If it comes to it, they''ll just fight. They''ll worry about the rest if they can''t win. He then asked, "What about the good?" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The good is that the main force of the city is out!" Yafei was excited, this was a pleasant surprise for her as well, "I heard from the brothers guarding the city that one night some time ago, our city''s Dr. Wang, along with most of the private guards from our city, left it all at once and haven''t returned as of yet. By the way, you might not know this, but Dr. Wang is the actual controller of our city, his private guards are the top most loyal forces here, and the ones usually maintaining the city''s Order are just contractors. As for the remaining forces, they are like scattered sand; they have no direct connection with the armory. If we want to make a move on the armory, they might even create chaos to help us out." Dr. Wang did not directly control the city with an iron fist, nor was he stingy with the essential Stabilizing Repair Fluid for all those who underwent surgery, which led to an unstable city ecosystem whenever he was personally absent. There were many who wanted to show their sincere loyalty as well as many who wanted to fish in troubled waters. "Do you still have people?" Yafei''s expression was full of excitement. The thought of attacking the city''s military armory was exhilarating. What were players here in the game for? Destruction! Devastation! Rebellion! Players were born free, all things are illusions, and everything is permitted! "Call the rest of your people, shall we start a guild raid?!" "Ah?" Dai Lian was slightly startled, not understanding why the girl had such a strange idea, "The rest of our people?" "Ah~" Yafei looked puzzled, "You don''t have anyone else?" How could they think about driving a car straight into a grand military armory of a city if they had no one? She thought that to gather such top-notch elites, an extremely formidable guild in the real world must have organized to deploy all of its resources to carry out a grand guild task. Just waiting for the elite vanguard to gather intelligence, then the entire guild''s force would surge forward to carve out a high-difficulty task reward for their top fighters with a sea of people strategy. This was a commonly used trick by large guilds, and Yafei knew it well. But... "I think you have misunderstood¡­" Gu Lan shook his head, "We only have four people." "You four are planning to rob a military armory?" Now it was Yafei''s turn to be astounded. Who would think of storming a city''s military armory with just four people? Even though there might be many among the forces in the city who harbored thoughts of chaos, the necessary condition was that the commotion had to be big enough to start a fight! For minor disturbances... who cares about catching a few petty thieves? "Then should we just abandon the mission? No other choice." Yafei''s face fell, and the excitement from before flew away. A pair of dull eyes scanned over one, two, three, three... huh? Three? Wasn''t it four people? How did it turn to three? Now there''s even less reason to fight. "Where''s your fourth person?" "Her?" Kuang Xin looked back into the darkness somewhat sorrowfully. It had been a whole day... Yanzi hadn''t rested. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Even in a game, one would feel tired, right? "I''m here." A calm voice sounded from behind Kuang Xin and the others, as Gong Yan walked over from the darkness, her face showing a hint of fatigue. "Are you done?" "You''ve worked hard." Dai Lian and Gu Lan offered their comfort first, Gong Yan smiled and shook her head, then turned to look at Yafei, who was half a head shorter, "No, we still have a way." Chapter 490 410 out "Is there another way?" Yafei looked at the stunningly beautiful woman, somewhat puzzled. "Of course, there''s another way," Gong Yan turned her head to look at the darkness behind her and said softly, "Them." Seeing is believing. This was the main reason Gong Yan took the initiative to treat everyone in the cave. The accounts from Yafei were after all just one-sided, coming from her perspective alone. Only the facts observed through one''s own eyes and ears could truly restore the truth of the matter. Most of Grey Iron City''s population had long been complaining about the city''s mandatory surgery policy for every individual, and the lack of responsibility taken for any failed operations. The calls to break this policy and restore their peaceful lives were growing louder. Of course, the ones I asked on the train were those who had bought tickets, and those I asked in this underground cave were all the ones dissatisfied with the policy; the number of those who benefited from the policy was still unknown. But even if the proportion was small, the existence of these people could not be ignored. Given the huge base number, it''s clear that not a few people in the city harbor resentment towards this policy. If we could rally these people into a force, then a surprise attack on the city''s limitedly defended armory wouldn''t just be empty talk. Bullets can easily penetrate flesh, but even a multitude of weapons needs people to use them. With people, everything becomes possible. "But they''re too weak," Yafei shook her head, not feeling optimistic, "They can''t even secure the nutrition needed for a normal life, let alone expect them to fight. Unless you''re willing to spend a lot of resources and wait a long enough time, let them regain their health, and train them to be real fighters." "No," Gong Yan had her personnel gathered, and Dai Lian''s thoughts became clear again, "as long as they can have a full meal, everyone has the courage to give it their all." As he said this, Dai Lian looked at Yafei with burning eyes, "You said that the ''flame breath'' we obtained after killing the lava monster can be traded for low-grade Stabilizing Repair Fluid, but what if it''s traded for water, food, medicine, and other supplies for them?" "Two months!" Yafei blurted out, seemingly having calculated this before. As soon as she spoke, she realized her reaction might seem odd to the others, so she hurriedly explained, "The ''flame breath'' produced by the lava monsters is the only top-tier wealth we might come across. Every time such creatures appear, we consider whether we can kill one on our own to sell for money, so we''ve already calculated what treasures like these could be exchanged for. There are about four or five hundred people here, and a strand of ''flame breath'' will be enough to feed all of us for two months." "No! That''s not necessary," Gong Yan shook her head, "Our mission is time-sensitive; two months is too long." "A single bite can''t fatten a person, we can''t possibly condition everyone''s body to perfection with food alone, instantaneously." "I never said we were counting on their individual qualities, what we need is... numbers." If four or five hundred people can eat for two months, then what if the time is shortened to one month, half a month... or even a week? Wouldn''t that mean a thousand people, two thousand people, or even four thousand? In such a big city, how could there be only this handful of people resisting city policies, surviving by the skin of their teeth? After some investigation, Gong Yan easily learned that there were more than just this gathering place hiding from city inspections in the city''s periphery. By treating injuries and providing water and food, one might quickly raise a large group of people willing to risk everything once with her as an "army." "This..." Yafei was stunned by the grand idea of the glamorous older sister in front of her. Mobilize the city''s entire underground force at once? What grand ambitions. This was a path Yafei had never considered, and a direction the past her could never have reached. "So... what do we need to do?" Yafei asked softly. "Procure enough supplies." "Too many." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If it were just trading for a bit of Stabilizing Repair Fluid, that would be manageable; a few boxes could be carried all at once, it would be risky, but not too conspicuous. But if it''s trading for water, food, medicine, the sheer size of the supplies could easily attract covetous eyes. "When the time comes, I need you to help me." Only force is the absolute guarantee for such dangerous behavior. "No problem," Dai Lian agreed immediately. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire "Additionally, I need you to help investigate the defense forces near the armory, as well as all the forces and the surrounding terrain environment that may be involved in this action. If possible, get another batch of weapons as well. If funds are tight, we can appropriately reduce some food and medicine supplies." Even ordinary handguns are better than nothing. "Okay, I''ll try." Yafei nodded in agreement, feeling a rush of excitement at the prospect of working under such formidable leadership. Having grown up in this shitty city for so long, she had long been irked by those awful things. Now, with the chance to challenge such detestable rules, her body was trembling with excitement. Watching Yafei''s petite figure disappear back into the darkness, Kuang Xin and Dai Lian turned as if they didn''t know each other and stared together at Gong Yan, their eyes filled with surprise. "Why look at me like that?" Gong Yan''s face always bore that gentle, water-like smile, "While treating them earlier, I gathered some information. I think if we need to, we might be able to make use of them." Chapter 491 410 out "No problem." "Yanzi is truly fantastic!" "But even if we really do manage to get the supplies... would they be willing to work with us?" Dai Lian looked into the darkness, his gaze filled with worry. He couldn''t see anything in the darkness, but he knew countless eyes were watching this place. The recent incident had already demonstrated the chaotic nature of this place. Even if these people were dissatisfied with the city''s rules, each of them was no pushover; trying to use them as pawns, no one wanted to be played for a fool... He was only skilled at planning combat operations for small groups. When plotting goals that a team of four or five could achieve, thousands of viable plans would instantly come to mind, and he could reasonably utilize each team member''s abilities or even their personality traits. However, when it came to large-scale battles, his past experience was insufficient to support comprehensive planning, which naturally left him feeling uneasy. Seeing Dai Lian''s somewhat confused profile, Gong Yan''s eyes flickered briefly as she realized the dilemma. ... The supplies had truly arrived. Although there were some twists and turns, and even a few small skirmishes, thanks to the formidable strength of Kuang Xin, Dai Lian, Gu Lan, and others, the minor conflicts didn''t escalate into intractable standoffs. The opponents wisely surrendered, even offering up some firearms as reparations. The supply boxes, which were brought into the underground cave one cart after another, were showered with light from the outer world, attracting everyone''s eager gazes. They might be down on their luck, but few were fools. The new leaders had excellent strength and had been hiding in this cave without leaving for two days. Changes in their lives were expected, that much was foreseeable. There were also rumors that everyone would soon have good days ahead, filling their hearts with anticipation. And on this third day, as the sunlight graced the earth in the morning, a wonderful destiny for the first time descended upon all of them. "Praise the leaders!" "Is it for us to share?" "I haven''t had a full meal in many days." Countless pairs of hungry eyes watched the boxes, and a set of hands, with nails caked in black soil, gently touched the first big box to come in, murmuring softly, "Is this for me?" "Slap~" The reaching hand was instantly whipped away by Wang Wenbo, who was in charge of escorting at the front. "Withdraw your dirty hands, it hasn''t been distributed to you yet." As he spoke, he turned his head and looked towards the real protagonists following behind him¡ªKuang Xin and his group. It was the arrival of these four player deities from Blackwater City that had brought about all of today''s events. How to proceed was for them to announce. "It''s your turn," Gu Lan said with a chuckle, punching Dai Lian on the back. The group''s actions were always decided by Dai Lian. Although Gu Lan sometimes had her own tactical thoughts and even felt they might be slightly superior, Dai Lian''s plans almost always seemed feasible; not to mention that even when she sometimes felt lost, Dai Lian could still quickly come up with a seemingly viable plan. Over time, Gu Lan had given up on her own little deliberations about the situation; after all, sometimes it''s quite normal for a woman to be a little lazy. However, this time, the usually decisive Dai Lian was uncharacteristically hesitant and confused. He looked around him, trying to find some consolation. But all he found were pairs of trusting eyes. The problem was... I couldn''t even trust myself. There were just too many people... too many people. Too much attention was a pressure in itself. Though he had long been accustomed to such pressure and wouldn''t be knocked down by it, the torment of uncertainty in his plans still weighed heavily on him. Because of this, he hadn''t been able to get a good night''s sleep for the past few days. What should I say to unite these people? ''This stuff isn''t free for you folks.'' ''I need you to do something for me...'' ''See this food? If you want it, exchange it with your fists!'' All sorts of opening remarks flashed through his mind, but none gave Dai Lian the confidence he needed; it seemed that no matter what he said, it would be wrong. Not to mention the strategic planning that would follow, how should I arrange it to maximize everyone''s potential contribution? Dai Lian had long been aware of the information about the distribution of forces guarding the armory and the potential powers involved, including the topographical features of the city, which Yafei had gathered, but these various factors hadn''t come together in his mind to form countless executable plans as usual. With the number of participants being too many and the situation changing too drastically, to come up with a well-considered plan that ensures an outcome was simply beyond his current capabilities. "It''s okay, I''ll do it." A voice, always gentle, spoke up from behind. When Dai Lian turned around subconsciously, he saw only a pair of gentle yet resolute eyes, eyes filled with a determination and confidence he had never seen before. "Yan... Yanzi?" "If you don''t know what to say, let me do it." Yanzi spoke with a gentle voice that wasn''t overwhelmingly strong, yet somehow inspired trust. "¡­Sigh~" The sudden sense of relief dissipated Dai Lian''s anxiety instantly; the pressure he had been bearing vanished, offering him a feeling of a burden lifted, "Then go ahead..." His lips moved, wanting to voice some of the thoughts he had mulled over, but he clamped his mouth shut in the end. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps Yanzi could do better than himself? Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Soothing everyone''s emotions, taking care of each person''s dignity, wasn''t that what Yanzi had always been doing? Yet, this was a war... Yanzi''s lips curved into a cold smile as she stepped forward, walking to the very front of the supply vehicles. Her gaze slowly swept across the darkness, her Spiritual Energy-augmented eyes piercing through the dim fog, and her inherent ability with Spiritual Energy made it easy for her to observe the "emotional colors" emanating from everyone, a power she had demonstrated when they encountered the two Judges from Arbitration Place lurking in the dark in the underground waterways. Now, all the eyes watching her were tinged with visible, varying emotions. Expectation, enthusiasm, anxiety, greed... The complex emotions surged like an undercurrent, everyone waiting for her to speak. In truth, she didn''t know what to say to gain complete control over everyone here, nor did she know how to care for each person and make the most of everyone''s unique abilities in the actions to come. What Dai Lian didn''t know, she didn''t know either. But when Dai Lian hesitated to move forward, she had to step up. "The rules of this city are not fair, so we''ve come." "Even if it were not us, someone else would eventually do what we are setting out to do." "Because of the city''s appalling rules, you had to eke out a living underground; perhaps you could spend your whole lives this way, but your children... your grandchildren... your descendants... and the endless future, I believe you wouldn''t want to see them still living in the same place." "You might want to flee, but fleeing won''t solve the problem." "For the next week, you all will get enough food to keep you healthy. But that''s it." "The food we provide is only for a week, medical supplies are ultimately limited, and I will only be here for a week." "After a week, we will strike back against this rotten city. Whether or not you join us, we will carry out this action." "If we fail, we''ll fall right there." "If we succeed, you can have a real future." Chapter 492 You fight, we follow As the words ended, there was silence. Dai Lian, in the back, was growing somewhat frantic. Not demanding anything in return and just blindly supporting them for a week? With effort comes reward, a standard that should apply everywhere. After feeding them for a week, Dai Lian had no doubt that these people would still end up lying here, idly waiting for death. Perhaps a few hot-blooded ones would stand up, but a minority could not sway the overall situation, and in the end, it would still be up to the few of them to fight. Facing the heavily guarded city armory, relying on just the four of them was undoubtedly as difficult as ascending to the heavens. "Yanzi..." Dai Lian carefully tugged at the corner of Gong Yan''s clothes from behind, attempting to remind her. However, even without speaking, Gong Yan could easily sense the will of everyone present through the feedback from Spiritual Energy. Doubt... confusion... fear... mixed with a terrified joy. These people initially didn''t know what they and their companions were set to do, but now that they understood their goals, their inner emotions became visibly clear. Compared to the absolute rule the city had over them for many years, it was undeniably hard for them to truly trust a group of people who suddenly descended from the sky to overthrow the city''s rule. Perhaps they would accept food and medicine, perhaps they would act compliant and flatter them for the time being, and then turn around to report them in hopes of receiving rewards from the city''s higher-ups. So it wasn''t enough! Still not enough! Their bodies were too weak, and their spirits too frail. The body and spirit always influence each other, and oftentimes, a strong physique brings a firm will. Today they could not be forced to make a decision, the harsh medicine had to be administered at the very end. Now... now they needed something else. They needed something... to inspiring enough to maintain a restrained trust in these people temporarily. Belief stirred Spiritual Energy. For the first time, Gong Yan felt the Spiritual Energy, which she had always seen as mere data, beginning to pulsate with real life within her mind. At the same time, the panel began to display messages she had never seen before¡ª [Free Creation Mode: You are attempting to create a new ability by combining the skills and knowledge you have learned with your own needs. Based on your ability assessment, the current success rate is "very small." However, you can pay a certain price (battle/general experience) to assist you in this creation. (Cost: 200 experience points/attempt)] Free creation? The newly appeared mode made Gong Yan somewhat puzzled, able to create a completely new ability? Is it the ability she currently needed? Even now, she had no idea what ability was needed to make these people temporarily maintain a restrained level of trust in her and her companions. But it didn''t matter. Novel game contents were always interesting, and she was not one who only believed in the absolute power of strength, so why not use the experience she had saved up to explore these new contents? Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Let''s try! [You spent 200 battle experience for an attempt at creation, but the creation failed.] [You spent 200 battle experience for an attempt at creation, but the creation failed.] ... As experience was expended, countless inspirations fluttered in her mind. The pulsating Spiritual Energy urgently needed a vessel to demonstrate its efficacy. After numerous attempts, a brand-new ability emerged... [You spent 200 general experience for an attempt at creation, and the creation succeeded!] [Inspiring Banner (Spiritual Power Creation Blueprint): You can solidify your Spiritual Energy onto an object, and all individuals who are recognized by you and who can see the object within the coverage of this Spiritual Power Creation will receive a certain degree of mental inspiration as well as slight physical enhancement and regeneration abilities. All benefits are positively correlated to the level of Spiritual Energy when creating the object. Currently, you can create 1 of these Spiritual Power Creations. When creating the next, the previous creation automatically loses its Spiritual Energy effect. Properties of the creation: Permanent, can be destroyed.] Gong Yan''s gaze swept across the room; the scene remained silent after her speech, as if everyone was waiting for her tangible action or the next statement. "Whoosh!" A steel rod used for securing supplies on the cart was suddenly pulled out, and Gong Yan also casually tore off her denim jacket, revealing a white belly shirt underneath. She then tied the clothing around the steel rod with a hair tie, as the power of Spiritual Energy began to infuse into it. [Spiritual Energy creation in progress, please remain focused on the target object.] [...3] [...2] [...1] "Whoosh!" The steel rod was firmly planted into the not-so-hard earth; the denim fluttering like a flag without wind at the end of the rod. A faint milky aura spread out like a tangible presence, quickly dissipating into the unseen. [You have obtained a Spiritual Power Creation¡ªInspiring Banner*1.] [Inspiring Banner: While the banner exists, all individuals within a 25-meter radius spherical space centered on the banner will be inspired by it, automatically gaining "Trait¡ªSpiritual Inspiration," physique +0.5, and health regeneration +2/min.] "..." The field of Spiritual Energy was enough to cover every figure in the cave, as a faint, warm current flowed through the bodies of each person. Unprecedented firm confidence dispelled the confusion in their hearts; even without knowing what lay ahead, they were miraculously willing to run toward the future. Chapter 493 You fight, we follow_2 Someone waved their arm in astonishment, feeling that their strength had inexplicably increased somewhat. Another person pinched their wounded spot, noticing that the constant pain had also lessened significantly without their knowing when it happened. The power of Spiritual Energy rippled out like microwaves, sweeping across the entire area. Those with panels, like Dai Lian and others, immediately noticed the information that popped up on their panels, which clearly explained the impact of this sudden buff on them. Inspiring banner?! When did that happen?! Was it that steel pipe wrapped in cloth?! Among the people in the cavern, there were other players; Yafei and her two companions were not the only player group mingling in this place. They, like Kuang Xin and the others, had discovered the change through their panels at first, and then looked towards Gong Yan, who was holding the ordinary-looking steel pipe, with fiery eyes. However, at this moment, no one dared to make a sound. The strange alteration filled the natives with wonder, and the players were silently awed by this formidable power beyond their own capabilities. Only Gong Yan''s voice calmly reached every corner of the dimly lit cavern¡ª "We might not be the first to rebel, and certainly won''t be the last." "Your ancestors have done the same, and your descendants might have to shed blood once more for this cause." "I believe that the future is always radiant and bright, but who knows when that future will come." "But is it possible, for all this to end with our generation?" "We may not be able to overturn everything right away, but at least we can fight for some ''freedom'' with our attitude¡­" "¡­the freedom to be human!" In everyone''s eyes, even those most secretive and calculating observers momentarily set aside their sordid thoughts. When they no longer sought to report each other, that fear laced with trepidation and surprise instantaneously vanished. Perhaps they couldn''t be persuaded to take a stand immediately, but at least the plan would not be nipped in the bud from the start. Gong Yan breathed a slight sigh of relief. Turning back, she met her companions'' eyes, wide with surprise as if seeing her for the first time. "Distribute the supplies," said Gong Yan, waving her hand and commanding with her usual light laugh. ... Times change. All that had happened a week ago flashed by in an instant in Kuang Xin''s eyes, as fleeting as a white steed flashing past a crack. Everyone was willing to work out and to train with equipment. But that was for themselves and for their future livelihoods as well. The problem they had left unresolved still persisted until today. But today was the day they had agreed to launch their attack! "It''s time¡­" Dai Lian appeared behind Kuang Xin at some point and whispered with a sigh. He admitted that Yanzi had radiated an unimaginable brilliance that day, but whether these accustomed-to-cowardice NPCs could muster enough courage to fight vigorously was still an uncontrollable chaos for them. "If no one joins us, should we still go ahead with the attack?" "Don''t worry, we''re still here," came Yafei''s crisp voice from the dark behind them. Having known each other for almost ten days, Yafei had gradually come to understand these people during their daily interactions. They were neither top players created by real-life mega guilds with all resources at their disposal nor the gaming lives of some elite rich kids. These were just friends brought together by common interests... They adventured together, entertained themselves together, shared similar fates in the game, and thus came here together. For a mission whose reward turned out not as hefty as imagined, they were resolved to commit all the efforts they had accumulated since they started playing the game. "You are not alone." Some ten players followed behind Yafei, emerging together from the shadows. This was the first known challenge to the gaming world''s authoritative power initiated by players, with an undeniable demon lord as their opponent, imbuing their actions with a sense of righteous conviction. Was there any gaming experience more romantic than this? Even if what awaited them after this might be a total reset. "Even in failure, let this city remember our names!" Dai Lian looked around and did not have the heart to interrupt that player''s ambitious zeal. In their internal discussions, everything they talked about was really just a means to complete the mission. If no one were willing to follow, they would most likely opt for another plan rather than a frontal assault. To steal some repair fluid to meet obligations wasn''t entirely out of the question. Four people attacking an arsenal heavily guarded seemed always like a flight of fantasy. Uncertain endeavors were better left undone. "We won''t fail." Gong Yan''s calm voice rose from the entrance of the cave, she who had gotten up early to handle the last bits of trivial matters had just returned. Because she had taken the initiative to stand out, almost all the affairs within the week had to be completely carried out in person by her. The manpower they had contacted wasn''t limited to just one location; two other groups of sufferers living in underground caves were also chosen to be part of the call to action. Days of decisiveness had bestowed upon her the aura of a superior, and even with her usual calm and warm smile, she now carried an air of authority. The unfamiliar ten or so players even regarded her as the first "goddess" of the game! "Failure, I have never considered it." "To fail recklessly would be irresponsible to everyone." Initially, they merely wanted to use these locals as pawns, as stepping stones to complete the mission. Perhaps these people were pitiable, but in the short period of their initial contact, the players couldn''t genuinely empathize with them. The original plan was purely driven by self-interest and righteousness. If these natives were unwilling to follow, they might not really charge forward as they had claimed they would. However, the interactions over the past few days might not have changed others, but they definitely changed themselves¡­ Gong Yan''s gaze was distant, calmly sweeping over the dimness. She knew, pairs of eyes were watching her. Everyone had long since awakened. "Zing!" Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire The steel pipe that hadn''t moved from its place finally left the ground for the first time, with Gong Yan holding the warm steel pipe in her hand due to Spiritual Energy. "Have you made your decision?" All was quiet. No one answered. Dai Lian and the others had a slight dimness in their eyes. "The question I didn''t ask that day, today is the last time I''ll ask you... have you made your decision?" Still, silence. In the silent dimness, everyone had already awoken, yet no one made a statement. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gong Yan nodded slightly, her bangs covering her brows and eyes. She turned around and commanded softly, "Move out!" Dai Lian sighed softly and nudged the player beside him, saying, "Move out." "Move out." A few players swore under their breath yet still stepped out. At least in that moment, they felt like heroes, cool beyond words! Just as all the players turned and headed for the cave entrance at that moment... "Whoosh!" The synchronized rising in the silent cave seemed extremely harmonious. Dai Lian, who was walking in the front, looked back in surprise, only to see those silent locals had at some point all grasped their weapons, standing perfectly in every corner of the cave. The silent formation''s power felt oddly orderly at that moment. "Sir, we don''t know what to say," said one of the figures at the front of the formation, clutching the rifle in his arms tightly. His devout and fervent eyes were fixed on the back of Gong Yan, who had yet to turn around. "Sir, there''s just one thing I know¡ª" "When you fight, we will follow." "We are not beasts, nor are we cowards." "We are humans." What they initially thought had completely changed. The real change didn''t come at the beginning or at the end, but in the... every day of living together. Chapter 494 412 Borrowing Momentum ``` Gong Yan did not look back as the corner of her mouth curved slightly upwards, having anticipated this scene long ago. The words one speaks can deceive, but the devoted colors they mask cannot evade the inquiry of Spiritual Energy. [You have completed a perfect psychological layout, Psychology +8.] [Psychology +8: Now you can gain the trust of most NPCs more easily through your words, Charisma Performance +8; you also have additional unique advantages in force management and certain technological research.] Another plus 8, along with the 2 points added last time, makes for a total of 10 points in Charisma enhancement. Gong Yan''s outstanding performance casts a circle of pure white aura around her silhouette in the eyes of all the native inhabitants. The players following Gong Yan out of the cave marveled, looking at the crude flag she held tightly in her hand with astonishment, "Is the effect of this flag really that strong?" Managing to gather all these individuals they knew so well for their lackluster performances was an inconceivable achievement for their past selves. However, on the horizon, two other rising tides of darkness silenced everyone who had emerged from the cave subconsciously. "What is that?" "That is..." Someone recognized the identity of the newcomers from their familiar faces adorned in various clothes. This cave was not the only one planned; the overflowing resources were distributed to the common people in three different caves. And the players involved in the distribution of resources knew that the other two caves did not have a flag imbued with Spiritual Energy magic power. Hence, horrified gazes all converged on the singular glowing figure at this very moment... "Everyone has come..." "How did she do it?" Dai Lian, too, approached Gong Yan excitedly, "They''ve all come! Even more than our best estimate!" "So, how do we arrange our next move?" Gu Lan asked in a soft voice. "We could drown them with a sea of people," said Dai Lian with exhilaration, with a flash of insight on how to complete the mission. Despite their quartet, the arsenal''s defensive forces were indeed formidable. They had not yet reached a level where they were impervious to blades and bullets, while the other side could hinder their approach with multi-directional machine-gun fire. If they delayed for too long, guards from other parts of the city would receive the news and come to the support, leaving them no opportunity. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire Even if the core elite forces were taken away by that so-called doctor and had not yet returned to the city, the mere "ordinary" guards who had undergone just the first or second surgery were already more than enough for the four of them to handle. And now... According to the intelligence gathered by Yafei, there were actually two so-called arsenals: One is a conventional arsenal, storing the weapons, ammunition, shells, armor, and so forth that the warriors need; the other is their target: storing the Repair Stabilizing Liquid as well as the supplies for the warriors like food, cotton quilts, clothing, and so on. The latter, due to the high frequency of access required, was purposely separated from the former. The target arsenal was not very large, so normally, the defensive force was not particularly strong, about half a platoon or so¡ªabout fifty to sixty people. Moreover, not all of these people were stationed at frontline alert positions; if a surprise attack was launched, they could likely get close before the enemy fully reacted. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once they closed the distance, with their individual combat prowess, they could quickly overtake the majority of the arsenal''s guards. With a crowd of thirteen or fourteen hundred, even if they had to withstand bullets with their bodies, it would be enough to cover for the four of them to forcibly rush to the front of the arsenal. Before the guards from other parts of the city received the news, they could already be driving away. The chaos caused by the survivors scattering in all directions would make it impossible for the city''s other guards to precisely chase down their small convoy. Then this mission could be considered a perfect completion. Nevertheless... "We can''t do that," Gong Yan shook her head. They had tied these common people to their chariot in the name of dreams, but now to let them march to their deaths for the sake of those dreams¡ªalbeit strictly speaking just NPCs¡ªblurred the line between reality and the game world for those who had been immersed for some time. Even in the game, they could never be so devoid of principles. "We have to keep them alive..." Only being alive would allow them to see the so-called tomorrow. To let them understand that everything they talked about was not mere lip service. "And don''t forget the additional mission given by the adult..." [Side Quest ¡ª The City of Transformation...] The mission was described quite simply: Help liberate this city of sin. How could the city''s sinfulness be expressed if these most representative groups of "rebellion" were to die? "We''ll follow your lead," Dai Lian responded directly. Yanzi''s capabilities and charisma exhibited during this operation were exceptional, and even he felt he could not do better. Strangely, he felt no frustration or envy, only full of gratification and amazement. "Then what should we do?" Compared to Dai Lian, Kuang Xin was much more straightforward, directly asking for instructions. Thinking too much was simply too troublesome. Where to go? How many to kill? ``` Chapter 495 412 Borrowing Momentum_2 This is what he excelled at. "We won''t make a move," Gong Yan shook her head, "just crush through." "Crush through?" Dai Lian looked puzzled. Gu Lan glanced by the side, his eyes flashing slightly as he asked softly with curiosity, "Where have you been these days? We hardly saw you." Apart from treating the ordinary people in the various caves, they hadn''t seen a trace of Gong Yan. Day in and out, she was running around mysteriously with Yafei, and they had no clue what Gong Yan was busy with. "Getting some help..." Whether it was what Yafei said or what they found out themselves, both indicated one thing, Grey Iron City''s rule over its citizens was not absolute. They did not exploit the monopoly over the necessary resource¡ªStabilizing Repair Fluid¡ªto forcibly control every individual''s actions and thoughts. Thus, the city harbored a plethora of small factions and gangs that only looked out for themselves, and in Yafei''s opinion, during their surprise attack, these factions might even add to their momentum and "assist" them. Since that was the case, why not turn this uncertainty into a definite opportunity? They weren''t after wealth or profit; they sought one thing: power. The power of authority. The only demand from all the small gangs and forces was simple: to watch the show. Observation could bring pressure. With the so-called "Doctor" leading the city''s core forces away from the city, and the regular garrison troops stationed with other institutions unable to arrive in time to assist, did the half-squad equipped with only a small number of heavy weapons have the courage to face the backlash of "the entire city''s" wrath? This was the only way Gong Yan could think of to accomplish their mission without shedding blood. "We have helpers?" Upon hearing this, Kuang Xin grinned, showing his large teeth. In the past few days, under Yafei''s guidance, he had already observed the target armory from a distance, and although the guards were numerous in comparison to the four of them, if they were to face a crowd... The dense crowd behind him had already given him the confidence of assured victory. If there were more people helping, wouldn''t they be capable of drowning the enemy in spit alone? The dense crowd entered the city gates calmly. Although a week''s maintenance didn''t make them look particularly formidable, the strong confidence following their "belief" revealed an astonishing presence. Above the city''s haphazard high and low structures, gazes, whether surprised or wary, were cast upon this troop. "They are all our city''s people..." "Who''s behind that girl?" "She never said she had people behind her..." "But to gather all these hidden rats together, I don''t know how she did it..." "Let''s go, let''s follow and see." Silent communications emerged from various places. Thus, unfamiliar groups of several or dozens emerged from the alleys on either side, trailing behind the main contingent at close or distant intervals, maintaining an ambiguous distance. "Are those people helping us?" "Why do they look so strange?" A few players at the forefront of the troop gathered and murmured among themselves. "What did the Goddess say? Are our helpers really them?" "The Goddess said, ''Move forward''." Move forward... Move forward... Countless black dots swarmed out from every corner of the city like ants, following behind the large troop that seemed to emit a "scent of food." The troop moved slowly forward until it was overwhelming. The informed armory guards had already blocked the main entrance with fences and set up their few heavy machine guns for defense. As several calm strangers appeared at the end of the streets, every garrison soldier nervously clenched the handle of their gun. "Shall we... shall we shoot?" a soldier stammered, asking his direct superior. The direct superior hesitated and looked to his own superior, who pressed his hand down, signaling everyone to restrain themselves. The opposition had an imposing presence; if they opened fire rashly, it might be they who would suffer a loss. It would be better to first see what the other party wanted, then it wouldn''t be too late to make a decision. As the crowd at the end of the street gradually filled in, any place where a person could stand¡ªon the street, beside the road, rooftop of the buildings¡ªwas filled with figures. A heavy, oppressive mass hung weightily over hearts. "Who are you? What do you want?!" The armory guard officer gripped the loudspeaker, speaking sternly, "I warn you! This is a military supply critical area; unrelated people are not allowed to linger. Disperse within three minutes, or we will resort to armed measures!" A moment of silence. Almost all eyes were focused on the seemingly delicate and frail figure leading the group. Gong Yan smiled and brushed a stray lock of hair from her temple, taking two steps forward with the morning breeze against her face. Her voice, neither harsh nor soft, easily spread through the push of Spiritual Energy, "Sir, we are here for two matters." "First, to grant every civilian in Grey Iron City the right to freely choose whether to undergo surgery." "Second, to ensure that every civilian who has undergone surgery, regardless of success or failure, can maintain a normal standard of living." "You shouldn''t treat the Stabilizing Repair Fluid, which everyone needs, as a monopoly commodity and restrict its distribution; nor should you discard those who fail the surgery as if they were a burden." "The foul stench pervades the city, not because of the garbage you all have created, which is everywhere..." Slightly reassured by the fence, the guard officer gripped the megaphone tightly, "The requests you''ve put forward can be reported upward, but the specific outcomes are beyond our control... " "It''s not a request, you know..." Gong Yan said, smiling gently, her delicate figure swaying like a small white flower in the wind. "It''s a notice." Gong Yan took a step forward. So did the silent ranks on the long street, uniformly taking a step forward at the same time. Just one step, and the nerves of every guard soldier were stretched to the limit. Sweat beaded in their palms, their eyes fixated on what lay ahead, anxiously glancing sideways at their own commanding officer. "..." The guard officer''s eyes darted around, trying to find a way out. But all he saw was a sea of silent figures, black and oppressive. People... So many people... Just people... The "tyranny" that the city had endured over the years faced a wild backlash. The stench of the city... It would eventually swallow everything... The other party''s words hammered in his heart like a heavy blow. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as the guard officer became increasingly panicked, struggling within himself. ''No!'' ''No way!'' ''I can''t just give in!'' ''I am the armory''s guard officer!'' ''I am a soldier of this city!'' ... Observing the guard officer''s tense demeanor, sweat pouring out as if he were struggling, the bosses of the forces lurking in the crowd felt a sudden pang of alarm. ''We''ve been duped!'' "That girl deceived us!" "She really didn''t need our help, but by coming here, we''ve already served as endorsers for her!" No one could have anticipated the current standoff, let alone the pressure it was placing on the guard officer. However, if they put themselves in the guard officer''s shoes, it was easy to see how the pressure from the "entire city" made his fifty or sixty guards seem so insignificant. And to make matters worse, the "Doctor" had taken his most elite team and left the city without a trace... "The timing was so perfect!" Someone grumbled through clenched teeth. But there was nothing they could do but silently wait for the event to unfold naturally. Perhaps they could reap exorbitant profits from the underground trade of the monopolized goods, but they never shared a dime with the lower echelons of their operatives. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And at this moment, even if they wanted to retreat... they''d have to see if their own men on the ground would agree to it. They had been used! ... "No!" Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the guard officer finally spoke up slowly, "No way." ''Perhaps the city''s rules aren''t quite right, but at the very least I should do what I must.'' The guard officer raised his head, looking directly at Gong Yan, his forehead still slick with sweat, but his eyes firmer than ever before, "Please leave! This is my final warning: this place is a military supply zone..." Chapter 496 Expel 413 The voice had not completely fallen. Gong Yan, who had been smiling all along, stole a glance towards her side just before the adversary showed an uncooperative attitude. Dai Lian, already in on the plan from the journey over, immediately understood. To coerce the enemy into submission with overwhelming momentum, thus taking the military warehouse without bloodshed, one not only needed a grand posture but also a display of forceful military intimidation at a critical moment. It was not necessary to show too much; just the tip of the iceberg could be even more terrifying. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus Dai Lian bent his bow and nocked an arrow, his movements sharp. With a "whoosh," the arrow cut through the air. The forceful power instantly pierced through the center of the guard officer''s brow. The warriors, tense and only waiting for orders, had not even realized what had happened when the officer''s body stiffened and then began to fall backward. Only then did the blood-hole in his forehead start to steadily ooze out red and white fluids. "Bang!" The sound of the body hitting the ground seemed to smash into everyone''s hearts. The sight of the feminine figure still smiling sweetly, the guard officer''s deputy trembled all over. He immediately raised his arms and called out to his soldiers, "Don''t fire! Don''t fire!" He then, extremely tense, looked over at Gong Yan and said, "We won''t resist! We won''t resist! The place is yours now, my lord." The other party was powerful and had superior forces. Their highest-ranking officer had already died in the line of duty. Given the turn of events, there was no need for those remaining to engage in a desperate struggle against the dark mass of people before them. And considering that the demands of those swarming masses might represent the will of the people, with the absence of the "Doctor," it seemed unlikely that anyone could stand against them. They truly had been "scared"... "The place is yours now," the guard deputy saluted respectfully, to the utmost degree of deference. ... "This place... is now ours..." Stepping into the warehouse, Dai Lian still could hardly believe it, murmuring softly to himself. A city nearly the same size as Blackwater City had succumbed to their handful of days of planning, directly succeeding in occupying the city''s military warehouse. In Blackwater City, such an event was almost unimaginable. "Because the rules of this city are too pathological¡­" Gong Yan shook her head lightly, her tone subdued. Apart from the highest echelon, the "Doctor," almost everyone in the city disagreed with the current structure, expressing deep grievances from the top down. Not to mention that today''s actions had the advantage of timing and logistics, and more reinforcements from other parts of the city hadn''t arrived in time. If the remaining guard officers had been any sterner, they would have had to launch a full assault. Not only would there have been significant casualties but, if they did fight, those forces watching from behind might not have intervened. If they had failed to seize control quickly, by the time the reinforcements arrived, it might all have been a one-way trip. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire But fortunately... everything went as well as they could have hoped. "What should we do next?" "Distribute the supplies¡­ aside from what we need for our mission, give the rest away," Gong Yan commanded with a wave of her hand. Perhaps for them, the mission was almost complete. But for the people in this city, today''s operation was just the start of their rebellion. Whether this momentary victory could be turned into more, or extinguished with the next blow, it was all possible. Watching Gong Yan''s eyes sweep over the cheering citizens, Gu Lan asked thoughtfully, "What else do you want to do?" "I can''t leave them behind," Gong Yan''s lips pressed tightly, her brow furrowed, "but the deadline for our mission is approaching..." Gu Lan, hearing the implications in Gong Yan''s words, immediately countered, "We won''t leave you here alone. If we leave, we leave together; if we stay, we stay together." It had to be said, in this venture to Grey Iron City, Gong Yan''s displayed capability and charisma were astonishing. "It''s not as if we can leave whenever we want to¡­" Gong Yan''s eyes looked into the distance. The noise from the bustling crowds distributing supplies was ignored, leaving only the sight of a group of well-dressed figures approaching through the ranks of various powers that had followed, their approach gradual but steady. "Let''s go." The commotion around her wasn''t critical, the city''s "reaction" to these events was what truly mattered, "Let''s meet them." Aside from a few players overseeing the distribution of goods, all the other players gathered behind Gong Yan. Kuang Xin placed a hand on Gong Yan''s shoulder, grinning like nothing was amiss, and said, "It''s all good, we''re right behind you. If they don''t agree, then we fight our way out!" Gong Yan brushed her disheveled hair aside, her eyes and brows smiling, "All right... then we''ll fight our way out." ... "The city does not pursue your offensive actions today; you may also take all the spoils of war you''ve acquired today," said the group of prominent figures, surprisingly calm, without a hint of anger towards the lowly civilians'' retaliation of the day. The authoritative elder at the front stepped aside, gesturing toward the city gates and said evenly, "But as a price for your actions¡­ starting today, all those present here are forbidden from appearing within the territory of Grey Iron City ever again." Exile. The supplies from a small military warehouse weren''t significant enough to cause the city any real pain. The true aristocrats of the city didn''t feel much compulsion to forcibly suppress the desperate counterattack from the lower classes. Chapter 497 Expel 413 Massacring everyone is too bloody, and it would be troublesome to settle scores with the various gangs and factions that have followed us here. Instead, these "troublemakers" who either refuse to undergo surgery or have failed the procedure have finally all gathered together. Expelling them from the country outright can restore calm to the city once again. Only by cutting away the rotten flesh can the remaining body grow healthy once more. In this dark and chaotic era, it''s nearly impossible for ordinary people without the city''s protection to survive. Whether these people die of thirst or hunger outside the city''s influence, get eaten by other creatures, or realize the hardship of life outside and come back begging for forgiveness or scrounge to stay alive in the shadows, it''s all good for the city. With this as a warning, other city dwellers who harbor ambitions due to this act of defiance will be better able to appreciate the city''s importance to every individual. Demands? What demands? Do civilians think they can have a say in the city''s hierarchy just because they band together? Naive! Do you really think the city doesn''t know about those filthy crevices outside the walls, where filth accumulates? A heap of garbage that we couldn''t be bothered to look at twice gathers together, which is also a great opportunity to sweep them out of the body. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If you think the rules of this city are unfair, then leave the city! A man nearby, grinning and holding a pile of supplies, heard what the noble had said. He stiffened and stood there dumbfounded. He had ventured into the wilderness far from the city and seen nothing but endless wild grass on the vast land. The howling of wild beasts stretched from the distant horizon to the sky, with not a single spot in sight suitable for human habitation. The panic of leaving the city''s protection and struggling to survive in the wilderness swept over him in an instant. The supplies he was holding scattered unconsciously to the ground as he ran over, head knocking against the floor like a madman, "No! My lord! No! Don''t send me away! Don''t send me away!" As he knocked his head on the ground, he frantically pushed away the various supplies that he had just treasured, as if his life depended on it, "I don''t want them! I don''t want them! I want nothing! I''ll undergo the surgery! My lord! I''ll do the surgery!" Between a chance and certain death, he just wanted to gamble on his luck. Watching the man kneeling and knocking his head, the nobles dressed in black tailcoats slightly pursed their lips without a word, arrogantly raising their heads, waiting to see how these "successfully rebelled" leaders would deal with it. Not far away, a native in charge of distributing supplies saw this and immediately dropped what he was doing and rushed over. His belief in the "Glorious Goddess" sincerely fulfilled him, and he felt nothing but disdain for the man''s pleas for mercy, kicking the groveling man while the devout believer loudly scolded, "Get up! Get the hell up! Have some dignity! Sheng Yan has allowed us to finally stand tall as humans, and now you''re crawling back to being a dog!" Another figure hurried past this "devout believer," knelt beside the first man, and likewise begged, "My lords! We know we''ve been wrong! We won''t dare again! We''ll undergo the surgery right now! Please, lords, don''t drive us out of the city!" The nobles dressed in black tailcoats stood tall and proud, exchanging glances of satisfaction with each other. ''See... just with a casual command, these wretches start fighting among themselves.'' The leading elder glanced toward the direction of the other forces watching eagerly from a distance, and with a sneer of contempt for the two men groveling on the ground, said, "It''s a shame, my people... You''ve made the wrong choice and must face the consequences. Allowing you to take these supplies and leave is the greatest mercy we can offer." "Let''s go." Gong Yan''s face remained calm, showing no sign of joy or sorrow, as she turned away. Watching the young leader''s frustrated retreat, the tailcoats'' chins lifted slightly, proud as victorious roosters. ... "Everyone, take the supplies you''ve been given and go!" At this command, most people still followed Gong Yan and the others, holding the supplies they''d just received, filled with endless confusion and the possibility of excitement or enthusiasm, as they headed for the city gates. Dai Lian turned back to look at the dense crowd behind him, his heart filled with worry, "Where are we going to take them?" Gong Yan''s lips slightly curled up, completely lacking the seriousness she had in the face of the city''s nobles, "I just hope our lady doesn''t blame us for picking up so many extra hands..." "My lord¡­" Dai Lian''s voice trailed off hesitantly. Their lord might not care. "But can we really bring all those people back with us?" The wilderness in the background of this game was definitely not a playful amusement park. When the four of them arrived, if it wasn''t for their small target and strong capabilities, they might not have been able to traverse the vast space between the two cities. With a team of more than a thousand people, besides themselves, the remaining players, including the combat-capable natives, were actually not numerous, and their strength was certainly not strong. If they hadn''t been unable to make it in the city, why would these people join them in such a risky endeavor where they risked their heads at their belts? How to bring these people back to Blackwater City was a big problem. "I don''t know~" Gong Yan spread her hands. After leaving the previous counterattack, she seemed to have returned to the kind-hearted girl who always smiled gently, speaking softly with laughter as if she had never been worried or anxious. The girl looked back at the team following her and said with a smile, "But they all trust us~" "They trust you¡­" Kuang Xin muttered softly. Looking at Gong Yan''s profile, he felt that the girl had become much brighter than when he first saw her. Perhaps, he should learn from Yanzi? ... [Feedback from the mission: Your insight +0.3, Physical fitness +0.2, Reflex +0.3, Mystique +0.3, Mastery of Long-Range Weapons Experience +12.] [Feedback from the mission: Your Science ¡ª Psychology +4.] [Psychology +4: Now that you have gained the trust of a larger population, you can arrange more tasks in advance. The stackable amount for the same type of mission can be increased by +4, consuming the corresponding daily authority quota.] Bai E was somewhat surprised to receive the mission feedback. The feedback on combat abilities was scarce, indicating that those players didn''t get much opportunity to take action. The significant increase in Science ¡ª Psychology, however, suggested that he had perhaps bamboozled those native NPCS into working for them? But had the mission been completed or not? Bai E grew anxious without more information. Time was slipping away second by second, and the time left for the players was definitely not abundant. As the days drew closer, the two warriors from Grey Iron City at Nova''s side inched closer to the brink of genetic breakdown every day. He could not go back on the promises he made; breaking them would not only hurt those who trusted him but would also likely leave an indelible stain on his own conscience. ''Or perhaps, go to meet them?'' he thought. After returning from the server ruins, he had already completed the overall handover and reporting of this mission. His involvement as an ordinary warrior wasn''t crucial, and fulfilling the overall escort process was the full extent of his duty. As for whether the main objective of the trip was achieved, what did that have to do with him, a mere foot soldier? With no urgent battles at hand and the Mech Armored Corps training not requiring his presence, Bai E, once again enjoying his freedom, felt lively. ''Why not take everyone for another round near Grey Iron City?'' he mused. As for the excuse? That was easy. Why not just accept a minor mission in the direction of Grey Iron City? Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire Chapter 498 Encounter "I''ll scout ahead." The caravan had departed, and there always needed to be someone to act as a scout, to dispel worries and avoid dangers. As the one with the strongest ability in perception within the team, Dai Lian naturally took on the responsibility without hesitation. "Go ahead, we''ll follow behind at a slower pace," Gong Yan smiled and responded. "I need two more people." After all, in case of encountering any situation, besides going back to report, there needed to be people who would continue to keep watch. Dai Lian couldn''t possibly do the work of several people on his own. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire Currently, apart from his own team of four, everyone in the large group listened only to Gong Yan; he couldn''t command them. "No problem," Gong Yan said, then turned back and looked at those behind her, "Wen Bo, Wen Yan, go with Dai." "Okay!" "Okay!" ... The noisy sounds were so conspicuous that they had alerted Dai Lian before his eyes could see the source. After deftly climbing up a rugged little stone hill, the sight that unfolded before him was even more revealing¡ª A messy, tumultuous sea of green. Seeing the figures jumping up and down, Dai Lian''s eyes immediately narrowed into dangerous slits. Beastmen! He had encountered these creatures once before, and their nearly indestructible nature had left a deep impression on him. Even if bombarded by a Minefield Array, their robust bodies wouldn''t die; had it not been for his own arrow, inherited from the Elder, their team of players on a mission would have probably been wiped out in one fell swoop. And even with an arrow from the Elder, it wasn''t enough to kill these powerful creatures instantly. Last time, it was more about driving them away than actually winning. And this time... there were at least hundreds of them! Such a large group couldn''t be allowed to encounter the ordinary people''s caravan following behind! "Wen Yan, go back quickly and tell them to stop, it''s best to retreat backward," he said. "Yes!" The beastmen''s large group was right in front of the path the team was taking; perhaps the team behind would have to consider detouring? S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the first thing to ensure was... not to let the enemy notice them. It was difficult for a large group of ordinary people numbering in the thousands to move, so hoping not to be discovered by the enemy could only depend on luck. Watching Wang Wenyan at the foot of the small hill running quickly backward after receiving the order, Dai Lian sighed softly and muttered to himself, "Let''s hope for some good luck..." With that, he turned back to look towards the distant green sea once more. The beastmen didn''t seem to know what they were doing, chaotically gathering in groups, with two beastmen who couldn''t see eye to eye starting to scuffle among themselves. Amidst the punches and kicks, some debris could be seen flying around, whether it was teeth being knocked out or some other small parts of their bodies. As for the rest of the beastmen, they had all formed a ring, inside which only two green-skins of slightly different sizes were dueling. Their movements were fierce. "What are those things?" Wang Wenbo asked curiously on the side. They had been born in Grey Iron City and had never had the chance to experience anything outside of it. Though they knew about the existence of such creatures from the game''s promotional material, they had never seen them firsthand. Let alone the fact that his basic attributes were no match for Dai Lian. He could only see a green tide moving on the distant plains and couldn''t make out any details. Dai Lian replied with a pondering tone, "Beastmen." Hearing Dai Lian''s response, Wang Wenbo curiously looked at Dai Lian''s profile and asked, "Have you encountered them before?" Finding new content in the game was exciting for Wang Wenbo. It seemed Sister''s decision was right; joining these outsiders made the game content more interesting. They were players, not those poor natives who were truly struggling to survive in this world. Having fun was far more important than any danger. "We''ve encountered them." "Are they tough?" "Almost impossible to kill." "Then you guys?" "Scared them away." Dai Lian didn''t say any more but just crouched down, trying to minimize the area of his body exposed beyond the stone. At the same distance, if they could see the beastmen, then the beastmen could also see them. Though beastmen might not carefully scan their surroundings, it was not worth the risk to be careless. Watching Wang Wenbo on the side straining his eyes to see the distance clearly, Dai Lian took a small object out from his bosom and handed it to him. "Here¡ªbe careful, don''t damage it. It''s quite expensive." "Binoculars?" Wang Wenbo carefully took them, pleasantly surprised. He put the small black object before his eyes, and the view of the distant scene instantly became clear. Wang Wenbo controlled the field of view of the lens, slowly sweeping through the beastmen horde. Green faces with fierce fangs, muscular bodies. Most beastmen were bald, only some of them had various unique decorations on their heads that looked like hair... along with pieces of iron armor on their bodies. The view from the lens shifted, finally focusing on the center of attention for all the beastmen. Two beastmen significantly sturdier than the surrounding ones were confronting each other. One''s iron armor covered only the routine vital parts of the body, while the other, even bulkier beastmen, was fully armored. Even though the armor pieces, in comparison to their massive bodies, looked laughably small and were quite crude. From the slight heaving of their bodies, it was evident that both contestants were expending a lot of energy in this duel. "Their weapons and armor seem so rudimentary..." Wang Wenbo mumbled to himself, holding the binoculars. Facing a group of "wild beasts" that resembled a bunch of primitives, he felt a sudden urge to make a splash. Chapter 499 Encounter 2 "Weapons are not important to them," Dai Lian shook his head, not taking the situation lightly at all. To him, the gear of such creatures was mere decoration; their true reliance lay in their formidable bodies that allowed them to rampage freely. Therefore, it was perfectly reasonable to see a scene where a thick axe full of spikes got deflected as it chopped onto what seemed like a rusted piece of iron armor. Although the armor was subpar, the weapons were just as lackluster. Wang Wenbo''s eyes glimmered with excitement as he asked, "What do we do now?" "Wait," Dai Lian''s gaze was icy as he closely watched every move of the Orc Tribe''s surge. "Wait for them to leave, or¡­ draw closer." If they left, naturally it meant waiting for these orcs to leave before the large group behind them continued to advance. If they drew closer¡­ it might mean the large group at their rear would need to retreat and take a detour. "Can''t we fight?" Wang Wenbo licked his lips, somewhat reluctant. "Fight?" Dai Lian glanced at the players beside him, "Go if you want to die." "But they don''t have many numbers¡­" Wang Wenbo was not quite convinced, although this guy was pretty strong, he was too cautious, lacking the boldness of "Sheng Yan." No wonder he could only play the role of a scout and enforcer in the team. Dai Lian shook his head slightly, explaining with a hint of helplessness, "One of them is worth ten of us." The first time they had encountered the orcs, the number wasn''t large, but still, the players'' brigade on a joint mission was sent scurrying like frightened mice. Back then, the combat power of the players was quite decent, but now they were ailing, elderly, and sick. Though they numbered over a thousand, in a real fight, those who could effectively contribute might number only about a hundred or two¡ªhow could they possibly stand a chance against several hundred orcs? "We can only avoid them." Saying this, Dai Lian paused, quickly devising other plans in his mind, "Of course, if you really want to engage with them, you can see if others share your sentiment. If you can form a small team, you might try drawing them in a different direction¡­ Of course, that''s assuming these orcs truly migrate towards our main force at the rear." He knew the nature of players was to seek adventure and confrontation. Asking them to hide like turtles went against many players'' nature, but if the situation was urgent, throwing out some bait to mislead this Orc Tribe would undoubtedly be the most appropriate strategy. "If you manage to survive in their hands, just continue heading southwest. Our main force isn''t moving fast; you should be able to catch up," he said. "¡­" Wang Wenbo twisted his mouth and fell silent. Too cautious. More than a thousand against a few hundred. The advantage is ours. So what if some NPCs die~ what does it have to do with us players if the original inhabitants of the game world live or die? Wouldn''t there be a pile of loot and experience points after annihilating this so-called Orc Tribe? And now they ask the players to form a small team to serve as bait? Few against many is just asking to be killed, isn''t it? He wouldn''t do such a thing. So everything fell silent for a moment. There were new changes in the distant fighting ring. The orc who looked slightly smaller and had shabby armor was inevitably showing signs of decline after a prolonged confrontation. However, just as he was sent spinning by an axe, a cunning glint flashed in the eyes of the smaller orc. A small sleeve dagger that had been hidden under the piece of iron armor was gripped in his sturdy fingers and, in a lightning-quick motion, he spun around and shot it towards the head of the large and apparently proud brute behind him. "Whizz!" The furious winds, oblivious until now, only whipped up in the path of the flying sleeve dagger, but by that time, the large, green, and hideously ugly head was already gone. "Blub blub blub~" It landed far off, bouncing a few times on the ground. The neck, separated from the body, was a mess of flesh and blood, yet the eyes on the head were still rolling around, seemingly pondering what had just happened. Faced with the smaller orc who they had fully expected to lose, the onlooking orcs collectively fell silent, then suddenly erupted into chaos. "waaaaaagh!" "waaaaagh!" The calls shook the heavens. In the Orc Tribe, the weakest challenging the strongest and emerging victorious was the most popular form of entertainment. As long as one wins, no matter what means or techniques are used, that one is acknowledged as the king by all! Amid the thunderous cheering of his underlings, the smaller-bodied orc strode towards the headless torso that still stood in place, dazedly. Lifting his large foot, he kicked over the headless body. The victorious orc snatched the full-body armor off the loser''s body and haphazardly donned it on his ill-fitting frame. "waaaaagh!" The victor raised his arms and howled as he stepped on the restless severed head beneath his foot. And thus, followers began to flock to him. "waaaaagh!" Under the watchful eyes of all the orcs, the body of this orc underwent a visible transformation. The green muscles instantly began to swell as if being inflated, rapidly enlarging his size, and after subsiding, was even larger than the loser''s frame had been. The armor that was already a tight fit on his body was now stretched even tighter, and the iron helmet on his head was comically pushed up, making him look somewhat ridiculous. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire The orc''s fierce face, intertwined with a somewhat "simple-hearted" laugh, made the scene both eerie and comical. "Enlarged... he''s enlarged..." Wang Wenbo muttered in disbelief after witnessing everything. Dai Lian''s eyes were also filled with solemnity as he remained silent. Was this some special sacrificial ritual? Or a trait of the orc species? Official game information about the Orc Tribe was sparse, leaving their secrets for players to explore within the game. The previous battles had not revealed such a scene. Could it be that this enlarged orc would become one of the Orc Tribe''s bosses? "Eek!" "Clatter, clatter, clatter~" A startled cry next to him instantly made Dai Lian vigilant. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the delicate telescope rolling down the rugged rocky surface, stopping only when it reached a small groove. "What happened?" Wen Bo, who had subconsciously tossed away the telescope in his hand, met Dai Lian''s eyes, "He... he seems to have looked over here." The victor was turning around, welcoming the fervent gaze of his kin. However, as he swept his gaze in their direction, he seemed to casually glance over at them. Wen Bo, who had seen everything clearly through the telescope, had met the orc''s gaze and felt the brute''s violent aura hit him, causing him to throw away the precious telescope in fright. Even in the game, the orc''s presence was frighteningly realistic, enough to make one''s heart tremble. It was only then that he realized Dai Lian''s caution was not unfounded. "What... what should we do?" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What should we do?" Dai Lian had already jumped down to pick up the telescope that Wen Bo had thrown away, "Go back! Tell them to move quickly and avoid." The victor''s movements were not just about the glance Wen Bo had seen. With a commanding gesture from the victor, all the orc younglings rushed towards their direction as if they had gone mad. Dai Lian, having picked up the telescope, stuffed it into his chest and shared his plan with Wen Bo, "I''ll lead them away as much as possible. You go back and tell them to prepare for battle, to cover everyone''s retreat." "Got it!" Wen Bo hastily responded before turning and leaping away, quickly disappearing into the distance. Gong Yan, who had already received the message, did not wait for the next one to arrive. The movements of orcs were unpredictable, and even constant surveillance might not accurately control their path. Evading these orcs required maximal avoidance. "Order everyone to return the way we came. We can''t just wait for the message upfront!" Sheng Yan decided immediately upon receiving the message. (I went out for the National Day holiday... now I''m back and will resume updates.) Chapter 500 415 Razor Face Dai Lian, in his close-fitting attire, was hanging on the rock wall when the Vanguard Orcs reached a distance that was safe yet sufficiently close. From afar, he sneered at them and raised a middle finger, his mocking intent unmistakably evident in his smile. The human face is capable of expressing a variety of subtle emotions, clear enough to convey the intended sentiment even in the eyes of Orcs, who thought all humans looked alike. Nothing could be more obvious than the derisive mockery in that gesture, and the provoked Vanguard Orcs, as if driven mad, quickened their pace even more. Their roaring "waaaagh" was indiscernible as either anger or excitement. Watching the encroaching horde of Orcs, Dai Lian took one last look in the direction where Wang Wenbo had fled. The figure had already disappeared from sight¡­ He drew an arrow, bent his bow, and set the string. Aiming at the straight line where the densest group of Orcs and the victor were, Dai Lian drew the bowstring taut, his recently and modestly developed Spiritual Energy transforming into an endless source of power, surging into the shaft of the arrow in his hand. After a brief accumulation of force, he let off a powerful shot that tore through the air, striking straight at the heart! "Whoosh!" The arrow whipped up a gale, bringing forth a torrential rain of green blood. The finely shredded green flesh fluttering in the whirlwind of air, through the gaping hole torn in a chest, the Orc with the knife-face could see the human clad in black in the distance. It was him! It was him! A fervent breath began to rise on his body, which was not originally that excited. Although all humans looked the same to him, he remembered this feeling... the glory of this arrow. It was for this human adversary that he trained hard in the art of throwing knives, pondering whether he could counter the other''s archery with his own skill. He wanted to defeat that human! And he had even given himself a name¡ªKnife-Face Orc¡ªwith the hope that one day he could stand before that human and tell him he was different from the other children! He was special! As he practiced, he also roamed the wilderness, hoping to encounter that only human who had made a lasting impression on him. However¡­ despite searching far and wide, he never found that human again, and none of the smaller human tribes he inquired with knew of this bow-wielding human warrior. Of course, the big cities of humans were entirely off-limits for Knife-Face Orc. After leaving a message with the smaller tribes that said, "If you see that warrior, remember to tell him Knife-Face Orc is looking for him," he left decisively. During his wanderings, he failed to find the human warrior first and inadvertently merged with another large Orc Tribe where they had to choose a new leader. Among the Orcs, it was undoubtedly the fist that decided who could speak. Though the fight was hard, fortunately, he was the victor. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such internal battles surely got the blood pumping, but something seemed to be missing. And when that familiar arrow once again appeared before his eyes, Knife-Face Orc finally understood what that sense of lacking was during his internal struggles. Danger, excitement, and the razor''s edge slashing close to the face were what truly exhilarated him. "I''m comin'' for ya!" Knife-Face Orc, excited to the point of nearly going mad, instantly changed his previously languid demeanor and began to runaway towards Dai Lian''s location. "Outta the way, outta the way!" Any runts in his path were easily toppled by his massive green hands. From a distance, Dai Lian could only see a dust tornado racing towards him along the ground. "¡­" Having just let loose an arrow, Dai Lian was preparing to take advantage of the distance to shoot another for a bit of experience gain, when he suddenly found that his arrow had stirred up a hornet''s nest. The largest Orc in the group, who seemed to be the leader, sped up tremendously, charging towards him with unbelievable speed. The ground shook slightly with each step he took, causing several red boulders to tumble down the mountain. Forgetting the idea of shooting another arrow, Dai Lian packed up his longbow and turned to run. He alone with a bow could not face the hundreds of Orcs; even an adult encountering so many Orcs charging head-on would have to avoid them with a headache. The existence of military forces in the game showed that even in this world, a powerful person''s strength was ultimately limited. Given enough numbers, even fodder could overwhelm so-called "strong people." Not to mention these Orcs were certainly no fodder; even a single one taken out might be considered elite among humans. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire Having never witnessed a truly high-level battle in this game world, Dai Lian could only make some judgments and imaginings in his mind based on his current knowledge. The battle he had seen in Black Street against the greed demon''s descent onto the human realm was all he knew about high-level battles. But that was just two or three of the Arbitration Place''s officers, who could probably have handled the situation without anyone getting hurt had they been together from the start, instead of the last officer arriving late. If all three officers had been together from the beginning, maybe the demon of fear wouldn''t have even been able to hurt anyone. Now, facing a horde of elite monsters alone, Dai Lian had not the slightest thought of resistance. The rough terrain, Dai Lian''s physical fitness, and reflex attributes were still excellent; at least among players, he could be considered way ahead, But against the Orc leader who had undergone several "promotions," he was still somewhat lacking. Chapter 501 415 Razor Face_2 Even without looking back, Dai Lian could feel the footsteps of his pursuer drawing ever closer behind him. Above the wilderness, there was not the slightest space to hide. This was also the core reason why humans were almost unwilling to stray too far from city life, for even without the protection of those steel walls, just leaning back would immediately bring the coverage of steel cannons and gun towers, causing the foreign tribes to steer clear. Only when absolutely necessary would one venture out, and then it was just a gamble on not being discovered by the foreign tribes. And at this moment, luck clearly was not on the side of the players. "Damn it!" Dai Lian''s gaze rapidly swept over the terrain beside him. While running, he projected several small objects with a flick of his wrist, swiftly setting up a few simple traps in an instant. As his proficiency with trap-setting grew, not only did the time it took Dai Lian to set up traps drastically decrease, but more importantly, he obtained the ability to make portable trap devices. It might seem only slightly better than nothing, but this was the best preparation Dai Lian could manage. The distance Dai Lian had initially created and his not-so-slow running speed weren''t inferior to most orcs, with only the orc chieftain in pursuit managing to close the gap swiftly. And in the chase that ensued, the main force of orcs behind them fell farther and farther away. This sort of isolation was a fleeting opportunity. If he could only severely wound that orc, the rest would probably not be able to catch up with him. His contemplation stopped there as Dai Lian, fully focusing on the battle itself, began to rehearse in his mind all the possible battle scenarios that could arise, making advance preparations accordingly. The trap should at least buy him a few seconds... The remaining Spiritual Energy was enough for him to shoot his strongest shot yet... The previous arrow, due to the distance, hadn''t reached the orc chieftain, but if the latter were to be hit dead-on without dodging, even the leader among orcs would likely not withstand such a sophisticated arrow technique coming from his boss. While setting the traps, Dai Lian once again took down the longbow strapped to his back. Appearing to flee in panic, he suddenly turned around and shot an arrow at his pursuer. The very nature of a trap lies in its concealment and the element of surprise. His previous subtle moves might have escaped his opponent''s eyes, but to prevent a close-range observation from spotting any flaws, he needed to distract his adversary head-on. "Whoosh!" The arrow tore through the air, striking iron armor. With a "ding," the iron arrow, full of force, was instantly bent out of shape, and fell powerlessly to the ground. [Your attack hit the target, but failed to penetrate the armor.] "..." No reaction. Seeing this, Dai Lian''s eyes narrowed slightly. The orc''s armor didn''t seem very thick, and was even comically crude, which they had been able to tell during their previous observation. But now... his full-force shot under normal conditions disappeared without a trace, not even a hint of feedback. Could there be some trick to the orcs'' equipment? But all that was irrelevant now. The objective had been achieved, as the orc chieftain, struck in the chest by his arrow, appeared not to have noticed the traps set in advance. The robust green figure rushing forward was instantly captured and restrained by the web that spewed out; the exceedingly tough silk threads were both strong and slightly elastic, making it difficult for the orc chieftain to break free immediately. This was the opportunity! Dai Lian''s gaze was frosty as he stood on a rock jutting about half a meter out of the ground, pulling back the bowstring once more. The familiar whistling of the wind again began to arise around the arrow. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire The orc chieftain, sensing the familiar aura, felt his eyes bulge with feral excitement. A mix of past fear and the desire to challenge a strong opponent coalesced, bringing him both anticipation and dread. For some reason, including this encounter, the intimidation of the arrow was far less than during their first meeting. After his last panicked escape, he had been eager to confirm his suspicions with the protagonist. And now... the chance had come! With experience, charging up a powerful shot didn''t take long, just a noticeable pause compared to the normal speed of drawing and shooting, followed by a sudden strike. "Woo!" The wind howled, and the arrow shot forth like a dragon. "Thump!" The sound, like a great bell or drum, echoed by Dai Lian''s ears. Dai Lian loosed an arrow and looked in disbelief at the direction he had aimed, as the target orc''s chest, the impact area, remained intact. The only damage was to the iron armor, which seemed not very thick, now sporting a clearly chiseled semi-circular groove and was miserably cracked. A belated notification slowly slid across the panel¨C¨C [Your attack has hit the target but failed to pierce the target''s armor.] No... no harm done. How could this be!? This was the first time he had encountered a being that could withstand his arrow without injury. The last orc he had encountered was merely "undying," using its regenerative power to rampage, but this orc leader was truly a terrifying enemy! If even their strongest attack they could muster at the moment could not breach the defense, then Dai Lian could no longer imagine a strategy to defeat the enemy. "Damn it!" Is it time to wait three days for the respawn? Death in the game didn''t cause players to genuinely fear, but without playing Galaxy Online, I would really die QAQ "Is this all?" With a wave of his hand, Dao Mianlao patted his chest, his eyes somewhat puzzled. Apart from a slight dullness, he felt no lethal threat. The dangerous sensation he had felt in the first two encounters, like the blade skimming his neck, was no longer there. Has the opponent weakened? Or have I become stronger? Or... is it not just one person? Humans are keen on passing on their knowledge to others who may not even know each other; similar techniques could probably be targets for learning. But even in Dao Mianlao''s experience, archery skills were an exceptionally unique existence, rarely found among humans. Even if this was not the same person, the human before him must know the initial powerful human! "Da da da da da da~" Not far away, a lively sound echoed; the rattling gunfire was a distant support. However, the bullets with their erratic trajectory could hardly inflict any substantial harm. Dai Lian looked toward the direction of the sound and saw a group of players, dressed in all sorts of costumes, giggling and running over quickly from afar. "Sheng Yan has sent us to help you." "Da da da da da da~" "Let''s take down these beasts!" "Da da da da da da~" The sound of gunfire accompanied the shouts, and the voices of the players were exceptionally excited amid the roar of the weapons. Having grown up in Grey Iron City, they hadn''t seen much of the world, seldom experiencing such lavish battles. Finding themselves in one at last, they were too excited to contain themselves. And actually, Dai Lian''s suggestion was not unfeasible. Some audacious players wanted to try their luck against the orcs, just when the large group''s maneuver needed time. Sacrificing a few for the survival of many was undoubtedly the wisest choice. "Focus fire on this big guy, we''ll kill him!" "You can tell he''s a mini boss, he must drop a lot of experience." The quickly approaching group of twenty or thirty players mostly focused on "sniping" the approaching orc troop, while nearly all of them concentrated fire on Dao Mianlao. The team had brought nearly all their firearms, heeding the official advice stating that firepower was king in the early stages of the game. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among the clinks of ejected casings, the "ding ding dong dong" sounds were incessant. "So noisy!" Dao Mianlao frowned and pulled a stiletto blade from his waist. To humans, it seemed like quite a large knife, but for the orc, it was as handy as a dagger. With a flick of his wrist, the arriving players were skewered like a string of gourds. "Pur pur pur pur!" The leading player, his face filled with excitement, stared down blankly as he noticed the huge hole torn through his chest. [Player "Ma Xiaohou" has died...] [Player "Ye Gaocen" has died...] [Player "Han Yuan" has died...] Chapter 502 416 Hijacking and Threatening Just one strike, and a fifth of the two or three dozen players who had come to help were dead. The formidable strength of the BOSS evidently caused a collective moment of shock among the ambitious players. Dai Lian''s calm voice provided them with guidance, "Move to the west!" The main group was behind them to the northeast, and by heading west they could maximise the chance of the orcs not finding the main forces of Grey Iron City. As for this BOSS... no need to think about it. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire Escaping alive would already be a great fortune. Is this one of the disasters of this world, an orc? It is said that they are not even among the most dangerous; there are also the Mech, the Bug Race, and the demons that cannot appear in large numbers frequently... Thoughts flashed through his mind, and seizing the moment when his allies distracted the BOSS, Dai Lian took to his heels and ran. As he ran, he directed, "Everyone scatter and run, we can''t beat it." More people arriving meant more bait to draw attention; the number of survivors would depend solely on luck. "waaaaagh!" Blademaw extended a hand to stop one of the fastest-charging players wielding a machete. This giant orc, with his green fingers, pointed in a certain direction before speaking in a buzzing, naive tone, "Over there, there are more people, catch them, don''t kill." This kid had been brought along by him, and on several previous trips to human settlements in the wilderness, he had been the one commanding him on various tasks. Having made these instructions clear to him, he would surely carry them out perfectly. The orc, who was picked up by the hand, nodded with an excited and frenzied look that gradually faded, revealing a hint of intelligence, "Got it, boss." "Go." The machete-wielding youngster turned and saw more orcs rushing towards them from behind. The humans armed with weapons had clearly stirred up the youngsters'' fighting spirit. Seeing a few familiar faces among the youngsters, the machete-wielder quickly raised his weapon and shouted loudly, "waaaaagh!" Then pointed towards the direction the boss had indicated, "waaaagh!" The group of youngsters, having received the order, responded even more excitedly, "waaaaagh!" "waaaaagh!" Amidst a sea of "waaaagh" shouts, Dai Lian and others, too busy trying to save their own lives, hadn''t even noticed that a substantial troop had split off from the pursuing orc horde. It wasn''t until a rock hit his calf hard, causing his leg to go numb and lose most of its functionality, making him fall, that Dai Lian turned his head and, with a face of resignation awaiting the game''s first blood, realised the orc troop chasing them had significantly dwindled. An unpleasant guess came to mind instantly, and Dai Lian, who had given up resisting, used his hands to prop himself up again, trying to find another chance. However... "Bang!" A stone hurled from afar struck with pinpoint violence. Another good leg was brutally hit by a stone, the numbing sensation spread throughout his body in an instant, and the message on the panel informed him that he''d lost 90% of his mobility. Spiritual Energy depleted, mobility reserves exhausted, and barely a tenth of his strength remained. To make his escape lighter, Dai Lian had already discarded all his burdens... including his equipment. Now, only the small pistol in his arms remained, his last chance for a struggle. Dai Lian reached into his arms and tightly gripped the handle of the pistol, watching the tall figure slowly approaching and resignedly awaiting death. "Me name''s Blademaw, we might''ve met before," Blademaw said as he walked over, his large shadow blocking the sunlight, casting a dark pall over Dai Lian who was half-lying on the ground. "..." Can communicate? And he''s initiating it? S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A glimmer of hope flashed in Dai Lian''s downcast eyes, and only then did he truly lift his face to stare at the towering creature before him. ''Met before?'' Other than an encounter with orcs when most of the players from Blackwater City were out on a collective mission, he hadn''t had any other opportunities to encounter orcs. So this orc was one of those he had met before? But... Just like how all humans look the same in the eyes of orcs, in the eyes of humans, orcs also look roughly the same. Not to mention that this orc had just undergone a sudden growth spurt, significantly altering his appearance; it was impossible to recognize him at this time. Wait... hold on. The shoulder! There was a wound on the shoulder! It was the orc chieftain from that time! After one of his arrows had pierced through several of his minions, this chieftain, already baptized by a Minefield Array, had fled like a scared rabbit. It was him! He had become the leader of an even larger orc tribe? It was over... encountering an old adversary who had come for revenge. ''No wonder so many were fixated on me...'' Dai Lian thought to himself, with a slight movement of his fingers around the pistol in his embrace. Whether a pistol could penetrate the defense that arrows could not, he did not know, but as long as there was a drop of blood left, a player wouldn''t give up the chance to fight. Perhaps he could take advantage of the enemy''s complacency and turn the tables? Looking at the human who was eyeing the wound on his shoulder, Blademaw revealed a naive smile on his face, "Looks like you recognize me... adding to this time, we''ve met thrice now." Hearing the shouts of those who had come to support him, occasionally caught by orcs and letting out indistinguishable shouts of excitement or despair, Dai Lian felt a pang of sorrow. After processing the meaning of the opponent''s words, Dai Lian suddenly gasped, "Three times?" Chapter 503 416 Hijacking and Threatening_2 ''Wasn''t it twice?'' "When have we ever met three times?" So, with a sudden happy smile, Blade-Face E said, "The first time really wasn''t you." "The first time?" Dai Lian''s eyes narrowed slightly as he finally recalled something unusual. Yes... he had always known that the first group of orcs he encountered had actually been scared off, not truly defeated in combat. His arrow hadn''t really inflicted serious damage on the orcs, and with his skill level at the time, he wasn''t capable of firing arrows of the same caliber consecutively. Besides himself, the players'' team at that time couldn''t inflict effective damage on the orcs either. After all, the orcs had managed to get through the Minefield Array, which could be the doom of the players, not to mention the small guns and short swords they had at the time. If a real fight had broken out, the players would probably have been wiped out as a group. Unfortunately, the orcs may not have known their own strength, and had been scared off by his single arrow. At the time, he even thought these orcs were fools; if he could really shoot that kind of attack without limit, why would he wait until the last critical moment to act? If only they had persisted a little longer, the players'' side would have been completely finished. Looking at it now... what they were afraid of was probably not himself. Before they met him, they had encountered the same or similar attacks. Such an attack had left a deep psychological shadow on them, which made them choose to flee the moment they encountered him... or rather, right after they encountered the arrow he fired. This was the truth! S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The same or similar attack? Where did his archery skills come from? The answer was already emerging. Watching Dai Lian''s expression intently, as he seemed to finally understand, a "wakaka" laugh came from Blade-Face E''s face. "How about it? Remember everything now? You should know who used the same archery skills as you, right?" Then it was Dai Lian''s turn to regain some leverage, "Are you looking for my Lord?" "Yes." That human was simply too waaaagh! If he could stand in front of that human again and become his opponent, it would surely be an incredibly waaaagh-worthy thing. Find him! Defeat him! What could be more waaaagh than that? Blade-Face E''s face was full of excitement as he stared at Dai Lian, "Tell me, where can I find him!" "You want to find my Lord? You''re not afraid of seeking death?" Dai Lian''s eyes were scornful, full of mockery. This orc had a huge force, and seemed to be incredibly strong, so much so that an arrow, passed down from his Lord, could not break through his defenses. He wondered whether his Lord would have an advantage against him. He probably couldn''t escape, but at least his Lord had treated him and the others well, and even if he were to die for the first time in the game, he couldn''t bring more trouble to his Lord. With a smug, I-knew-it look, Blade-Face E''s orcish emotions were crystal clear, written all over his face, "I knew you humans don''t like to speak frankly, but since I''ve captured your comrades, I reckon you''ll probably tell me, right?" Following Blade-Face E''s lead, Dai Lian swiftly turned his head. Sure enough, in the distance within his line of sight, a bedraggled group was stumbling towards his location under the watch of several dozen green-skinned orcs. From the bruises and wounds on their faces and bodies, it seemed these people had put up a valiant fight before capture. Unfortunately, the humans who could be expelled from Grey Iron City were obviously losers who hadn''t fared well under the city''s rules of strife. When facing the more savage and violent orcs, they were utterly helpless. Dai Lian saw Gong Yan. Hidden among the crowd, Gong Yan had managed to conceal herself well; from the way the orcs escorted them, none of the orcs knew she was the leader. "..." Yanzi couldn''t escape either? Yes... No matter how well they had planned, a troupe of over a thousand, filled with destitute commoners, couldn''t move quickly. If discovered, capture was just a matter of time and cost. Pushed by an orc whelp, Yafei, who the orcs thought was the leader, was shoved over. "They said they wouldn''t kill us, and since they indeed held an overwhelming advantage, they didn''t follow through with killing. That''s why we surrendered," Yafei came over and voluntarily explained. Stubborn resistance would only lead to unnecessary casualties in the confrontation. Since these orcs were actively communicating, it must mean they wanted something. They were poor and had nothing to lose but themselves. Listening to the orcs'' demands wasn''t out of the question. "Did you hear that?" the broad-faced orc laughed heartily with his mouth wide open, "I won''t kill you guys. I just want an address. Tell me, and I''ll let you go." "What does he want?" Yafei asked. "The location of our master." Dai Lian frowned, occasionally glancing in the direction of Gong Yan. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire In his heart, he felt it wasn''t entirely impossible to tell. After all, the master was stationed in the military camp of Blackwater City. Even if the master alone wasn''t a match for these orcs, the power of an entire military camp was something to consider, not to mention the city behind it. If human cities couldn''t resist foreign races, then cities would have been leveled long ago. Just these few hundred orcs definitely wouldn''t be able to do anything to the master in the military camp. Even as members of a foreign race, they probably wouldn''t dare to approach, which is why all humans wanted to live in or around cities. Reason told him that speaking probably wouldn''t be a big problem. But if one logically considered the situation, a person who had the intent to seek revenge on another already had a rough plan in mind. No one would declare revenge on someone without any logical consideration or regardless of any influencing factors. If these orcs did something harmful to the master, it would be his own fault. Not to mention the sensation of guilt and sin from divulging information under coercion¡ªit felt like he was selling out the master. They were players, not real people of this world. What''s the big deal if you die? Why take on any kind of psychological pressure? At that moment, Dai Lian stiffened his neck, "Gurgle! Just kill me then!" "If you don''t speak, I''ll kill them. One by one until you do," said the orc. The orc''s thought process was very straightforward. The broad-faced orc plainly stated his plan, the threat was clear. Yafei was getting antsy on the side, "Didn''t you say your lord was like a demigod who could kill at will? What''s the big deal in telling him?" In the days since encountering Gong Yan, Dai Lian, and others, Yafei had heard multiple times how their "lord" was mighty. The monsters the army couldn''t defeat, he could. The demons that Arbitration Place couldn''t kill, he could. A man with "unbeatable" etched onto his face, would he be afraid of these green-skinned, foolish-looking foreign giants? Dai Lian glanced at Yafei without saying anything. Just a silly girl duped by Kuang Xin. With his deeper knowledge of this game world, he knew even more so that almost no one could stand against thousands alone in these game worlds. He certainly trusted his lord, but it was a trust born of rationality and clarity, not a blind and fanatical belief like Kuang Xin''s. No matter how fierce the lord was, could he single-handedly take down these hundreds of orcs? Impossible! ¡­ Above the vast land, a black SUV traveled alone on a wild land full of scattered stones. "Buzz~" The drone emitted a low hum as it was released from the roof-mounted device box and flew towards the distant sky. "Captain, orcs'' traces have been detected ahead," said Zero, who was inside the same vehicle operating the drone to scout the surroundings. "Hmm?" Bai E opened his eyes which had been closed in repose, showing some interest, "How many?" "Roughly three hundred, and it looks like... they''ve taken a group of civilians hostage?" "Hostage?" This word caught his interest. Bai E nodded and sat up straight, patting Rose, who was driving in front of him, on the shoulder, "Let''s take a closer look." Chapter 504 417, the arrow is released, the enemys courage is chilled The drone''s resolution was not sharp, at least not sharp enough to clearly make out each person''s face when it couldn''t take close-up shots. Moreover, the orcs weren''t entirely unaware of flying units in the air, and a drone that got too close could easily be shot down. Returning for repairs or replacements would have to come out of one''s own pocket. Bai E had no intention of using the drone for close-up photography. Just a few hundred orcs, Bai E didn''t mind testing his current skills. Over the past few days, he had confirmed that the primary benefit of his newly acquired "Virtual World" was rapid mana recovery, but he didn''t know if there was a limit. Ordinarily without warfare, it was rare for him to have the opportunity to continuously deplete his Spiritual Energy multiple times. If possible, he wanted to test it out on this group of orcs. "Hiss~" The car slowly came to a stop behind a small boulder, quite a distance away from the band of orcs. The sliding door opened, and Bai E stepped down lithely. The car window rolled down, and Rose''s face peeked out from inside, "Captain, are you sure you don''t need our help?" Bai E was rotating his arms to loosen his muscles. Hearing this, he turned his face slightly and gave a cool smile, "What help do you need to offer? Just wait here, I''ll call you if there''s anything." As he spoke, he tapped the small black headset on his right ear and then strode towards the distance. The metallic combat boots crunched over the gravel, his black combat suit stark against the reddish-brown Gobi desert. He had left to accomplish a mission... of course, that was the way to put it for those back at the military camp. After investigating and eradicating a suspicious insect activity site, the rest of his itinerary was entirely up to him, and naturally, after completing his mission, he expected to head towards Grey Iron City to see if he could rendezvous with the returning players. Now, he hadn''t encountered the players, but rather stumbled first upon a group of orcs that had taken human prisoners. What could these orcs possibly want with human captives? Could it be they were after human teeth again? The orcs he encountered last time had said the same thing¡ªteeth were like the Blackwater coins of Blackwater City for them, a tradable currency. Teeth were precious to humans in this era. Without a good set of teeth, a person''s health would completely collapse within a few months. Although orcs weren''t archenemies to humans like insects and demons were, such vile behavior was still hard to forgive... Bai E walked on, drawing his handgun from his waist and chambering a round with a "click." Watching Bai E''s lone figure departing, the four teammates muttered among themselves. "That''s hundreds of orcs there... Has the captain become this powerful after visiting the server ruins?" Stone mused, his face filled with wonder. The captain was fierce alright, but even a few sandworms would leave him gasping for breath. The threat of hundreds of orcs was far greater than a few sandworms. Could the captain really handle them alone? "He seldom does anything without certainty," You said, her eyes slightly unfocused but reflecting a sliver of concern within those glassy pupils. "I believe in the captain," Zero said, intently watching the drone''s monitoring screen with calm, dogmatic faith. Only Rose watched Bai E''s receding silhouette, her eyes filled with fervent aspiration. Getting stronger and stronger! She often sparred with top fighters in the military camp, and not all her records were wins. Though not everyone in the camp was strong enough to overpower her, there certainly were some. Yet over time, she had surpassed each one. When it came to the pace of improvement, her progress astounded every fighter and even the officers she had crossed hands with. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However... as she kept on making mad progress, she couldn''t even catch sight of Bai E''s shadow anymore. She couldn''t imagine how she would combat hundreds of orcs with the abilities she had now. But to Bai E, it seemed like a trivial matter, as casual as any other. Just where was this guy''s limit? Not until Bai E''s figure vanished from view did Rose turn her attention to the drone''s monitoring screen. The slightly blurry footage trembled, but thanks to the abundant daylight, the events unfolding were mostly visible¡ª The orc leader, nearly twice the height of an average human and the largest among them, was "interrogating" a few black dots that were humans. Observing his continuous talking, it seemed like negotiations between the two parties had not been settled. In the midst of this deadlock, a dark figure abruptly entered from outside the edge of the surveillance area. "Bang!" The sound of a gunshot exploded, echoing long and far over the empty land. As the solitary figure approached, almost every person and orc jerked their heads towards the sound in unison. ''Who is this guy?'' ''Where did this person come from?'' "What are you discussing? Mind if I join in?" The not-so-loud voice, amplified by Spiritual Energy, carried equally to everyone''s ears. Hearing this voice, Gong Yan, Kuang Xin, and the others were taken aback, then their faces swiftly brightened with surprise and joy. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire The big guy! Scimitar-faced Lao scratched his thick green forehead unconcernedly, not bothering to figure out where this newcomer had appeared from, vaguely gesturing with his hand behind him and not even uttering a sound. Chapter 505 417, the arrow is shot, the enemys courage freezes The orcish youths instantly lit up with excitement. They didn''t care who their target was, nor how many there were. As long as there was a chance to go berserk, they wouldn''t miss it. The sound of the wind whipped up by their mad dash along the hunting trail was, to them, the greatest pleasure. "waaaaagh!" "waaaagh!" The chorus of "waaaagh" filled the air. Bai E shook his head helplessly and took the bow slung at his waist. With a light flick, the mechanism unfolded. There was a concept that had been brewing in his mind for a long time, never finding a suitable target. Spiritual Energy came from the heart, and without a sufficiently strong practical target, summoning it during ordinary training just wasn''t as satisfying. Now was the chance to test it out. Four fine-steel arrows were placed on the bowstring at the same time, their black diamond-shaped tips reflecting a cold, sharp metallic sheen in the sunlight. Watching dozens of orcs charging from various directions, a massive surge of Spiritual Energy burst forth from his sea of consciousness, transforming into a power that was drawn but not loosed, accumulating wildly. Dai Lian, who had just turned back to look at Kuang Xin again, suddenly faltered; the image of that figure emerged unbidden in front of his eyes. The black uniform of memory overlaid with the figure that had suddenly appeared, and in the blink of an eye, Kuang Xin turned his head back and saw the tall, dark silhouette standing atop a distant mountaintop. And so he saw again the scene that would be etched in his memory for life... "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" The black arrows traced four completely different arcs through the air, arcs that even Kuang Xin''s eyes, enhanced after ascending to a war boss, could barely capture. But capture was all he could do. Four tornadoes of wild wind entwined with each other, only beginning their rampant dance upon this earth after the arrows had flown past. The howling wind stirred up yellow sand and red dust, lifting tumultuous rocks and pebbles. What followed the hurricane brought about by the arrows was a flattened ground with only large stones remaining. The orcs running toward Bai E were flipped in an instant, tumbling through the air along with countless severed limbs and dismembered arms. Perhaps having learned from past lessons, the orcs'' charge was so scattered that it was nearly impossible to find any bodies aligned in a straight line from any angle. Yet even the deliberately spread formation was no match for the arcing, shuttle-strike of "Arc-hit". Arrows, imbued with the power of "Piercing Wind Breaker," swam through the paths of as many orcs as possible like fishes, the four shots fired simultaneously almost covering every single charging orc''s body. What came were dozens of pieces, and what left were hundreds. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire The green rain of blood had not even touched the ground before it vanished into nothingness in the wind. In the direction where the arrows had come to a stop, orcs waiting on standby sat dumbfounded on the ground, staring at the affected area that stopped just short of their feet. The view slowly shifted upward to reveal the bruised and swollen orcs'' faces, battered by the rocks. Seeing the havoc he had wrought with "one arrow," Bai E raised his eyebrows. Not bad... the experiment was a success. It just used up a bit too much Spiritual Energy. A regular powerful shot cost 3 points of Spiritual Energy per arrow, but using techniques like "Control Wind," "Arc-hit," "Multishot" together with Piercing Wind Breaker required even more formidable Spiritual Energy to sustain, driving the cost up to about 5 points of Spiritual Energy per arrow, then multiplied by four. This was the most reliable number of multishot levels Bai E could currently maintain. Even though his level 4 specialization had a chance to fire a quintuple shot, the probability was so minuscule it was not worth the risk. With one arrow, he struck awe into both gods and ghosts. Dozens of orcs turned into a field of fragments in an instant, and such a fierce feat left the circle of humans, guarded by orcs in the distance, all agape with shock. How could those at the bottom of Grey Iron City ever witness such a scene? Even the occasional magma behemoth attack seemed like child''s play compared to this. Is this an attack that a "human" could possibly unleash? With a bow and arrow? "That''s our lord!" Though Kuang Xin was bound, at that moment he still jumped up with a gleeful face and called out loudly. "Die, beastmen plant creatures!" To these beings called beastmen who in fact have no gender¡ªa plant people¡ªKuang Xin, who had originally come for the sake of a beastwoman sister, felt completely disillusioned, thus his love turned to hate. "Lord..." Yafei, propped up from behind by two beastmen, opened her pale pink lips in shock. She stared blankly in a mechanical way at Dai Lian, who was half-lying on the ground, her large eyes with their distinct black and white brimming with questioning¡ª"This is the lord you spoke of?" ''Damn it, if your lord was this fierce, why didn''t you just say it and let those beastmen go find him? Why go through all this suffering here?'' "..." The only response Yafei got was Dai Lian''s equally confused face. He knew the lord was fierce, but he didn''t know the lord could be this fierce! This archery skill had never been displayed in their previous encounters, of course... it might also be because the opponents they had all encountered before didn''t require the lord to use such a level of archery. I have a profound (strike-through) understanding of this world I know nothing about this world! However, this miraculous arrow that could probably drop the jaws of everyone present failed to quench the fervent heart of Kuang Xin, the beastman with a blade for a face. That''s right! That''s right! It was this familiar sense of danger and thrill, like the icy sharpness of a blade grazing one''s neck, that he had always been in pursuit of! "Waaaaaagh!" The beastman raised a meaningless cry, lifting a massive axe as big as a person with one hand. The axe, either rusty or haphazardly covered in a combination of abstract colors, and the blade, looking like it was coated with a thick layer of grime and wear, seemed to be enveloped in an invisible aura of light around Kuang Xin, including his weapon, amidst the soaring "waaagh" cry. The impassioned voices energized the entire tribe, an odd, almost imperceptible force field rising imperceptibly in the area. The quick recovery sensed this field''s presence, slightly increasing the rate at which Spiritual Energy was restored to Bai E. Watching the gigantic beastman charge towards him, Bai E''s gaze turned icy. He drew with a reverse grip, with a fluctuation of Spiritual Energy in the air manifesting a huge Bug-Slaying Blade that Bai E''s slender hands gripped by the hilt and suddenly pulled out. Like fighting? Then let''s have a satisfying battle! After his last fight with the War Demonic Prince, some innate craving inside Bai E had seemingly been unwittingly sparked. Compared to the cold sniping from a distance, a close quarter, real sword and spear clash were far more exhilarating. "Boom!" "Boom!" The Spiritual Energy-enhanced Bug-Slaying Blade and the "waaagh" force field-enhanced battleaxe created a spectacle like missile explosions. Watching the endless explosions rise on the spot with sounds that only grew louder and more frequent, both humans and beastmen widened their eyes, trying to discern what was happening inside. "Gulp!" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The four-person team watching from the safety of their vehicle through a drone swallowed their saliva in unison at the sight. "Whoa~" Stone exclaimed in awe. "This beastman is pretty fierce..." You, still remembering the role she was supposed to play within the team, calmly analyzed based on the data accessed through her upgraded clearance after several military successes, "Beastmen believe that the person who can become their leader must be the strongest, and this belief also enhances the one they believe in. Being the leader of hundreds of beastmen here, their chieftain is already considered high-level combat power among beastmen." "Bang!" With a deep thud, even the team observing from afar through the drone could clearly hear the noise transmitted by the drone. Within the lingering view, only a dark shadow was seen being smashed and sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into a distant rocky mountain... rocks shot out, and the small mountain collapsed. Metal-clad boots stepped lightly out of the dust cloud; Bai E''s calm face showed no sign of having just been through a fierce battle. "Shing!" The Bug-Slaying Blade thrust into the ground, Bai E stood with arms crossed, waiting for the beastman to return. Chapter 506 418 My name is Dao Mian Lao. With a thunderous crash, debris shot out in all directions. The collapsing rocks were blasted apart by an enormous strength, as a towering green figure slowly emerged from the dust. Those beast-like pupils fixed on the agile, dark figure in the distance, eyes filled with an excitement that was fervent to the extreme. "Yes! Yes! Just like that!" If previously the human''s archery simply demonstrated one aspect of the adversary''s strength, the impressive suppressing force displayed in close-quarters combat now thrilled him to the core. It was this all-encompassing, relentless suppression, with not a single vulnerability, that reminded him of the invincible Overlord he could never forget. I reckon I can become such a powerhouse too, but first I need to comprehensively understand this opponent. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was the reason he had recklessly sought out this human. The stimulation was so intense that his body trembled. Visible to the naked eye, his already muscular and fierce body seemed to swell even larger for a moment, "waaaagh!" With a roar, the orc, wielding a massive axe, burst forth once again. His body shot out like a cannonball, too fast for the average human eye to track his trajectory. Only the shocking explosion the ground emitted where he had been could belatedly inform all spectators of what had just occurred. The position of an orc war BOSS gave Dao Mian Liao unimaginable attribute enhancements. In terms of agility, Bai E even felt that the opponent surpassed him. This was a domain governed by one of the body''s four major attributes, "reflex." Bai E''s current reflex attribute of 14.8 might be nearing the limit that a human body could achieve, but it was still far from the truly powerful forces in this world. Moreover, he lacked other abilities that could enhance his reflexes; even the only ability that could, Rage''s Torrent, required a certain mental state to activate. These orc''s actions were reckless but not infuriating. While most of the humans present might have injuries, these were inevitable in combat. Of course¡­ there were also some bodies on the ground. This was why Bai E did not intend to let these orcs off easily, but, after all, there wasn''t that sickening, intense rage of indignation. At this moment, if it were just a contest of reaction speed, he was no match for the orc before him. However, immense strength can always create miracles. Orcs were excellent fighters, naturally able to spot an opponent''s weaknesses and exploit them during combat. Only Bai E''s sufficient level of Heavy Weapon Specialization, enhanced by his Weapon Master proficiency, allowed him to always precisely catch the opponent''s weapon swings. Each collision between weapons demanded more time for the orc to recover due to the immense force produced. The gap in reflex attributes was thus compensated for by strength. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Almost every strike included all the conventional burst strength that Bai E could muster: Overlimit Drive, Overlord''s Grasp, Sky-High Strike, and the first phase of Spiritual Energy activation¡ªSpiritual Heart Crossing. Other than the extraordinary "Slay a Hundred with a Blink," which he had yet to use, Spiritual Energy flowed out like water. The resulting combat suppression was obvious. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire Together with the initial four arrows of "Power Shot," Bai E had used up well over a hundred points of Spiritual Energy in this brief fighting period, far surpassing his existing Spiritual Energy system''s limit. In fact, among all the enemies Bai E had faced thus far, this promoted orc war BOSS could be considered the strongest, possessing no special abilities but formidable strength, quick reflexes, resilience, and fierce regeneration. Translated to human attributes, all of them would likely be above a score of 20, let alone the various combat instincts inherited naturally by orcs. Even the War Demon Prince who had descended to Earth could not hold a candle to it when he was amongst humanity. But the tireless "Fast Recovery" always transformed an unknown power into the purest Spiritual Energy in Bai E''s sea of consciousness, making it thick and readily available, even as he recklessly tapped into it without reservation. The unrestricted and frenzied outburst of a vast amount of Spiritual Energy multiplied Bai E''s combat power immensely, so that even against his strongest opponent to date, he managed a previously unimaginable one-sided suppression. Is this the charm of unlimited mana? In combat, Bai E''s eyes were only filled with a calm fervor. Spiritual Energy comes from the heart and inherently possesses the "inertia" that''s part of one''s will. Normally, depleting it once during training would be incredibly difficult. Only in such boiling-blood battling could he squeeze out Spiritual Energy time and again. One hundred points¡­ Two hundred points¡­ Three hundred points¡­ In the midst of battle, Bai E, who always maintained composure through "self-restraint," had a rough estimate of how many points of Spiritual Energy he had consumed in total. The orc''s incredible regenerative ability undoubtedly made Dao Mian Liao an ideal punching bag; despite repeated beatings, he was always capable of standing up again and again. In reality, without using "Slay a Hundred with a Blink," Bai E, even if willing, probably lacked the power to severely injure this orc war BOSS. As for actually using "Slay a Hundred with a Blink," Bai E, who had not yet attempted it, dared not assert that it would surely finish the opponent. He didn''t want to end the fight too quickly. Testing the limits of his Spiritual Energy recovery in this "virtual world" was one goal; training himself during such intense combat was another. Chapter 507 Im called Daomian Lao_2 Any ability that is suppressed or challenged is undoubtedly the best opportunity to train it. Bai E never felt he was strong enough that he needed no further improvement. Finally having a target superior to himself in "reflexes", it would be a waste not to use this opponent to train his weaker attributes. [You have gradually reached your limit in the fierce battle, and made a breakthrough under immense pressure, reflexes +0.2.] ... [Reflexes +0.2.] ... ''The pressure is immense...'' The once imposing green figure started doubting itself after being mercilessly knocked down time after time. ''Is this human really someone I can defeat at the moment?'' ''Maybe it''s better to come back next time... If I get hit again, I''ll turn into a mushroom.'' ''But... one last try!'' Show them your signature move! Behold my little Liao''s throwing knife! "Whoosh!" "Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out as the knife-like sleeve sword fiercely ripped through the "fragile" special forces combat suit. However, when faced with a chest as hard as eight-element alloy, it could only deform and silently fall to the ground after the loud clash. Bai E squinted and patted his slightly painful chest. It wasn''t just a slight pain; there was also a faint trace of blood... Absolute Defense became more effective as his Spiritual Energy level rose, like a rising tide lifts all boats. To be able to injure himself in his current state proved this orc was indeed formidable. Casually tearing off the few strands of the combat suit hanging off him, Bai E wrapped the remaining clothes around his waist and tied them into a knot, revealing a muscular, yet not overly exaggerated, and uniquely attractive, bare upper body. A few beads of sweat glistened in the sunlight, sliding over his slightly tanned pectoral muscles that appeared like a distinct and tough steel plate, yet filled with resilience. "Slurp~" An indistinct noise suddenly sounded off within the sealed combat vehicle, piercing the silence of the confined space. The four squad members exchanged glances as Stone chuckled, touching the corner of his mouth. The awkwardness dissolved. Only then did Rose, who had been staring in a daze, lick her lips, and in the corner, You carefully touched the corner of her mouth with her index finger. "Boss is so cool~" The Grey Iron City players, who had never witnessed such a scene, instantly bought the persona of the "War God Squad" always touted by the Blackwater City players. "Is this our Boss? Totally in love~" "Life is all about the Boss..." "I''m the Boss''s dog (super loud)!" Bai E glanced at the noisy crowd in the distance and, considering the orc''s potential to tear up the ticket, he intentionally moved closer during the prolonged battle. Only at this distance did he keenly notice several familiar figures among the hostage crowd. Is that Dai Lian, Kuang Xin and the others? Quite a coincidence... He was coming in this direction originally to meet them, but it was unexpected to encounter them here. And with so many players? In such a situation, only those silly players would stand out without a second thought. As for the more silent crowd, probably the locals? From where? Grey Iron City? The thought flashed by momentarily. The details can wait until he''s driven away these orcs. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E turned again to look at the green figure standing up from the ground nearby. He wasn''t sure if it was an illusion, but Bai E felt that the orc''s physique seemed to have shrunk since their first encounter... Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire "I''m not gonna fight you!" the Blade-faced Liao waved his hand, "But I will come back! My name is Blade-faced Liao! Remember this name!" Stating his own name seemed to be an extremely exciting affair for Blade-faced Liao. "waaaaagh!" With that said, he turned and started running away with jumps. The comical retreating figure showcased an impressive speed; even Bai E might not be able to catch up if he ran at full speed. "waaaaagh!" A chorus of "waaaagh" cries followed. The bewildered orc youngsters, touching their foreheads in confusion, saw their boss''s cheerful departure and wondered why he seemed so happy. But as long as they followed the boss, it must be right, right? "waaaaagh!" "waaaaagh!" Abandoning the human prisoners, the orc youths, holding their weapons and baring their large mouths, hopped and jumped as they pursued in the direction where the enemy had retreated. The noise was messy, the green tide like the sea at ebb, chaotic and noisy yet uniformly in sync. Even humans who couldn''t understand the language could instinctively detect the cheerful mood from the emotions, as the bottom-dwelling civilians of Grey Iron City blinked their eyes in bewilderment, utterly failing to comprehend what had just happened. Bai E didn''t understand either. But who cares? Orcs were not like insects or demons, the absolute mortal enemies of humankind. These orcs hadn''t gone on a brutal killing spree, and more importantly, the situation of the humans captured by the orcs was unclear. Bai E, with only a four-man squad at his disposal, had no way to catch and kill all the fleeing orcs at once. Leave it to them... Bai E pressed his headset and whispered to his team members in the distant vehicle, "Come over." Then he stepped on the ground that had been nearly sunk down by a dozen centimeters and walked towards the group of humans gathered together. Gong Yan rose from the crowd with a smile on her lips, her voice, enhanced by Spiritual Energy, evenly reaching the minds of every civilian present, "This is the noble person I told you about who would accept us. Everyone... we''re safe now." A moment of silence. The hopeless gloom of collective capture by the orcs had not yet completely cleared, as a human powerhouse had effortlessly defeated an orc tribe of hundreds all by himself. From the words of those strange beings, some of the shrewder civilians had already sensed that this newly emerged strongman was one they knew. However, it wasn''t until Gong Yan''s acknowledgment at this moment that all speculations found their final confirmation. The noble person... The noble person... Is this the noble person Sheng Yan always spoke of? Is this the noble person who commanded "Sheng Yan" to come to their rescue? That term, which had seemed so distant and unattainable, suddenly became close, and the young man before them with a serene smile on his face, was that legendary noble person? The strongman with power beyond their imagination, was he the object of their future hopes? Were they... safe? "What''s the noble person''s name?" Thanks to his more approachable personality, an aboriginal who was familiar with Kuang Xin moved closer and asked Kuang Xin, who was only grinning foolishly at the moment. "The noble person?" Kuang Xin asked in confusion, looking at the other party, "The noble person is the noble person, why do you need to call them by any name?" "Oh~" The aborigine scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and knelt down respectfully on the spot, "Noble person, you are mighty!" "Noble person, you are mighty!" Bai E blinked his eyes, puzzled, and looked towards Gong Yan. ''What''s going on?'' Dai Lian, supported by Yafei, dragged his legs over to Bai E''s side and explained with a pale smile, "Noble person, these are the helpers we hired during our mission in Grey Iron City. Because they resisted the city, they were all driven out. Now... only you can give them a new life." "..." New life? Over a thousand people? Do you really see me as the big shot of Blackwater City? So many ordinary people without any special talents approaching the city would have been discovered long ago by various patrolling alert teams coming from different forces around the city, right? Black Street? Forget about it. Before reaching Black Street, who knows how many layers of screenings they would have to undergo, and even if they got there in the end, it would only cause an unimaginable disturbance to the existing order and easily attract a lot of unwanted attention. Bai E wasn''t averse to more people, but taking too big a step could lead to trouble. You guys really know how to give me a challenge... Bai E narrowed his eyes in contemplation, when suddenly a target jumped out from his memory. Chapter 508 April 19 Development On the way to escort Gilder and his group of refugees, who were trapped by the demon of fear, back to the city, they once passed by an abandoned human town. Time had granted them the ability to repair that human town, but the precondition was that they needed to find... or rather build the things necessary to activate the city''s functional buildings. Then came the issue of population. No matter how many and how good the buildings were, there needed to be people to use them. The former residents of Black Street clearly weren''t suitable for direct relocation. Asking them to abandon the safety and warmth of the city''s periphery for a completely new and strange wilderness was something normal people would probably not accept, and the city wouldn''t sit idly by as so many people abruptly left. But now... these refugees, abandoned by the city, were exactly in a situation of having nowhere to go. Having them build a place for themselves with their own hands and becoming the first masters of that land was something they would presumably be eager to do. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire "I can''t take them back to Black Street directly," Bai E shook his head, his gaze heavy as he looked at Dai Lian, Kuang Xin, Gong Yan, and the others gathered around. Even if it was refusal, their sincere gaze was filled with strength. After spending a long time together, these players held absolute trust in their leader. Even in refusal, the leader would certainly not abandon them. "But I will give them another option..." "Using your own hands, to create an alternative belonging to your city," Bai E looked at the crowd of refugees who were staring at him. Perhaps to the city, these refugees were insignificant, but for an individual, the gaze of over a thousand people already carried enough weight. In that weight, there was full expectation. "You will be the first masters of that land, and your homes will be governed by yourselves. The new homeland is currently a wild frontier, which you will need to cultivate for yourselves. But don''t worry, I will help you. There are no endlessly spewing volcanoes there, nor gangs that are constantly planning to eat people. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this new land, you can freely breathe the fresh air without worrying about being discovered as unmodified. In this new land, you can use your hands to gain wealth that belongs to you without fearing it will be seized by the powerful. The fresh and free air will belong to you, as will the sweet and delicious bread. In the future, there may be more people joining your homeland. In the new homeland, I will ensure one thing: All of you will gain fairness... and freedom¡ª the freedom to say ''no''! We are human and thus have the right to remain human!" The wind hummed quietly over the silent land, yet what was brewing in everyone''s hearts was indeed a leaping flame. "A new... homeland?" "Built by our own hands?" Confusion was evident in the refugees'' eyes. They had never dared to dream that their future could be so bright. At most, they had shifted from one city that devoured people to another that wasn''t so bad. But cities... are probably all grey, right? Even if not so black? Cities are just like that, always have been, here and everywhere. Endless drudgery and barely enough food to prevent starvation. They were born, grew up, and lived in such cities, and the rumors they heard about other cities were all of the same sort, with some even sounding scarier... But now... An untouched, pure land? A home built by their own hands...? Isn''t the wilderness very frightening? All those endless beasts and the bugs they''ve heard about... Oh! That''s right! Looking at the so-called "leader" in front of them, the refugees'' eyes lit up again. Beasts? Bugs? Beastmen? What just happened? Those hundreds of beastmen who could easily have captured them were like immature children in the face of this leader, being unilaterally slaughtered. If they hadn''t run fast, they''d probably all have joined the great fire not far away by now, becoming fuel for its all-consuming flames, right? With such a powerful leader to protect them, they should be able to survive in the wilderness of this era... probably. "Leader, please guide us." "Leader, we are willing!" Some of the sharper refugees even rushed to the front and prostrated themselves, shouting loudly. And that caused a great resonance. "Bang!" A gunshot interrupted those who were trying to bend their knees. Bai E''s face remained calm as he swept his eyes over everyone''s faces before he raised his eyebrows and commanded, "No kneeling! The city made you kneel, but I want you to stand up! You do not need to bow to anyone, and no one is worthy of your kneeling!" Then, turning around and waving his hand, he added, "Let''s go, set out! The road is long, and we don''t have much time." Murmurs rose softly from inside the lead vehicle driving slowly ahead, "The captain is so cool..." "He''s a natural-born leader," You murmured softly, pausing for a moment before adding in a sticky tone, "Our former captain said so." Rose glanced through the rear-view mirror and nodded, "He truly is a natural-born leader..." Then, she pressed down on the accelerator with her military boots and sped up. They needed to be on guard ahead. Since they had arrived, those less professional refugees didn''t need to do that kind of work themselves anymore. ... [Side quest - Genetic Collapse (Combat/Resource Compound Commission) has been completed, rewards have been distributed.] Chapter 509 April 19 Development_2 [Additional Commission: Side Quest¡ªReconstruction of the City (Combat, Resource Complex Commission), has been completed, rewards issued.] Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire With the simultaneous completion of the two missions, a large sum of experience and item rewards were credited all at once. Looking at the "biochemical components" in the mission rewards, the players all looked at Bai E with confusion. After their experience in Grey Iron City, they had developed some aversion to bioengineering surgeries. The high risk of failure was unacceptable to them. Bai E smiled at them and explained gently, "The same surgery can have differences in technology. Technology itself isn''t inherently good or bad, it''s the human heart that is. We shouldn''t give up on the entire future because of a temporary limitation. This is a creation from the Golden Age, it may have some differences from current technology. If you have the chance, you could find a way to make use of it." The technology that could create the ancient warrior who protected the server base obviously had its unique strengths. Although the methods used by Grey Iron City, which had inherited its core, were somewhat barbaric and bloody, it was not reason enough to dismiss the direction of this technology. One has one''s own limitations, perhaps the players have unconventional ways? Passing on things that are not immediately useful to oneself to the players, they might just find their own way out. Just like the current situation, without even asking, these guys had already brought over a thousand people to him... It''s not a matter of good or bad, just that one must keep moving forward. "Yes, my lord!" Dai Lian was the first to respond. The rational trust in their hearts had been shattered by Bai E''s otherworldly performance, and the current Dai Lian was showing a trend of gradually transforming towards Kuang Xin. "My lord, when we get to the place you mentioned, what exactly do we need to do?" Their initial task of constructing an underground storage with the lord had been tough, and now encountering the notion of "creating their own homeland from scratch" again touched their sensitive nerves. They wouldn''t have to dig on that tiny plot of land again, would they? Just digging a small storage had exhausted them, and now to dig a place large enough for over a thousand people, wouldn''t that break their backs? "They should handle the basic construction themselves." Bai E shook his head, not intending to assign such basic tasks to the players, "You have more important matters to attend to." "What matters?" Kuang Xin asked, full of excitement. "Hunting monsters" almost slipped out of Bai E''s mouth. He pursed his lips, suppressing the impulse, "According to my preliminary survey at that time, the target area is occupied by a group of wild creatures. To take over the target zone, we first need to get the ''original owners'' approval." "Original owners?" ... Footsteps trod upon the gray-white gravel as they delved deeper into the underground cavern, and upon seeing those ubiquitous white silk threads bathed in moonlight, some of the players'' hearts began to quietly pound with fear. It wasn''t until the rounded body with its white fluffy surface and long sharp claws came into the area illuminated by light that a player spoke with trembling lips. "Is this the original owner the lord mentioned?" "Huge spiders, wow!" The players who were about to turn and run bumped into an iron wall. Kuang Xin stood behind with his chest puffed and his chin raised, "What are you running for!" "Spid... spiders, wow!" This game was too realistic. Those who were afraid of spiders in reality were just as afraid here. Not to mention, the spiders here... were on steroids. "What''s wrong with spiders? Kill them all the same!" Kuang Xin took the alloy axe off his back and strode toward the forefront. The spiders, towering two to three times taller than humans, had legs like sharp blades, but Kuang Xin, with a shield in hand, charged into their midst without a care. Dai Lian carried two submachine guns, transforming into a firepower shooter who wildly scanned the area, with the precise bullets aiming for the vital points on each spider''s body. These spiders only appeared ferocious, but in reality, their defensive capabilities were not strong, they simply had the advantage of numbers. Under the barrage of submachine gun fire, copious amounts of body fluid poured out from the damaged shells. The remaining players, although not tremendously powerful, fought with some tactics and orderly retreats under the leadership of Kuang Xin and others. "Aren''t you going to help them?" Rose, who was watching from a distance, curiously asked Bai E. She knew Bai E could not stand to see innocent people suffer, and for Bai E at his current level, such "beasts" could be cleared in the blink of an eye. Bai E shook his head, "People cannot always rely on others; true strength comes from within oneself." The players also needed to grow. It was meaningless for him to compete with them for a bit of monster experience, as killing the same kind of monster too much would eventually yield no experience. Instead, allowing the players to struggle on their own, the benefits they could achieve would be greater. Looking at the historical messages left on the panel, Bai E''s lips curled into a smile. [Your power has recruited a batch of new members. The increase in numbers grants you more rights. From now on, you can issue time-limited quests within the region where the majority of your members are located.] [Basic Limited Commission (1/1 can be issued): Authority (Commission experience quota from 1 to ???, or half the quota of personal abilities special experience you have); Payout (reputation value services the area can provide for an individual); Return (All "basic attribute improvements*1/10" and "special experience acquisition*1/20" gained during the target player''s task performance).] The benefits of large regional tasks were obviously inferior to those from issuing tasks to an individual player. Thinking about it, if the rewards for issuing tasks to a large number of players were also substantial, then high-ranking individuals with more authority who casually issued a large task to players in their region could cause their attributes to skyrocket, right? Even so, the attributes provided by these dozens of players had still significantly and rapidly boosted his strength. After all, for players born in Grey Iron City, when had they ever experienced such stimulating battlefields? Their rate of growth was much faster than that of seasoned players like Kuang Xin. After everything was settled, he could still offer a range of services to them, including resources like bullets, gun repairs, injury treatment, and specialized skill training, thereby recouping the task experience rewards the players had just received. They gained strength, and so did he; it was a win-win situation! Everyone had a bright future... "Hey! Watch your back!" Stone, also watching the conflict from the sidelines, couldn''t bear to see any players get hurt and loudly warned from a distance. "Bang!" With a kick, his bovine leather boot struck the leg of a spider that had raised its sword limb. Dai Lian, wielding dual pistols, lightly stepped onto the back of one of the large spiders using the ruins as leverage. His body twisted as he fired in all directions. The metallic bullet stream shot out at a faster rate than usual. Gun Fighting Skill! "Holy shit! That''s so cool!" "Bro, where did you learn that?" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Dadada!" A burst of bullets shattered the spider beneath him, and Dai Lian landed gracefully on the ground from the slowly collapsing spider, casually glancing towards the distance, "Who else could it be but our lord?" "Can... can I learn that too?" "Yes!" A player, red-eyed from battle, had just received treatment from Sheng Yan at the rear and rushed back to the combat zone as quickly as possible. The player, excited upon hearing his comrade''s question, shouted from afar, "I just saw it; there''s a skill teaching panel with our lord. Everything''s available, but it''s limited-time only, exclusive to us as we complete the preliminary development of this region. Hurry, kill monsters for experience, because once this chance is gone, it''s gone for good!" "Holy shit!" "Holy shit!" One stone stirred a thousand ripples. The girl who was just afraid of spiders suddenly grabbed the long rifle in her arms. With fiery red eyes, she charged into the depths where the giant spiders lurked, shouting, "I''m going to shred you all!" Chapter 510 420 Appointment [Combat halted; Reward calculation in progress...] [Based on your achievements in battle, you have gained "Influence¡ªDawn Town" reputation +2, experience +10.] [Dawn Town Reputation (Level 1): You have already received the town residents'' natural goodwill, establishing a foundation for building relationships with them.] "Boss, if we''re not killing monsters, what are we hanging around here for?" Wang Wenyan scratched his head in complete bewilderment. While other players were zealously slaying monsters, the three of them loitering in the town''s ruins without fighting seemed somewhat useless. "Killing monsters?" Yafei turned back to glance at the two brothers with contempt, "Are you two cut out for that?" Together, the three had skulked in a corner for half a day and had only barely managed to attribute a spider''s "kill" to one of them. With such an efficiency in killing monsters, competing with others for kills was sheer folly. "Then what are we doing?" Wang Wenyan touched his head, looking completely lost. Everyone was killing monsters to rack up experience and learn skills from the Great One, who was said to be stationed here for a limited time¡ªmiss this chance, and there''d be no other. Moreover, because of the pioneering mission, everyone was receiving double experience due to both the experience from killing monsters themselves and additional mission reward experience. Once this pioneering period was over, the gap between players would become quite pronounced. "I know," Yafei said nonchalantly waving her hand. "That''s exactly why I brought you guys to the ruins to try our luck. The entire town is in ruins and awaits restoration. The task of clearing out the beast threat we have is certainly just one part of it. Since we can''t beat others in monster hunts, we might as well try to get a head start elsewhere." "But didn''t the Great One say to let those NPCs figure out the basic construction tasks by themselves? What can we do to help?" "I don''t know either..." Yafei rolled her eyes, "So aren''t I leading you guys to look around now?" The construction site by the roadside was bustling with activity. Rebuilding the ruins would be a long-term effort, and a place sheltered enough to sleep peacefully was essential. So, the first thing that needed to be rebuilt in the town was... the residential buildings. Now, the long streets on both sides were bustling with the busy figures of NPCs at work. The three onlookers, who stood by the roadside as if they were stray dogs being shooed away, drew disdainful glances wherever they went, implying that they were just in the way. "Boss, I feel like we''re here at the wrong time," Wang Wenyan said, feeling somewhat dejected. "No," Yafei narrowed her eyes, looking like a fox that had spotted something. "Follow me." A few NPCs were gathered around a newly collapsed pile of rubble, loudly arguing with one another. The gist of their arguments was nothing more than "You should''ve listened to me!" "If you''d followed my method, this wouldn''t have happened!" "If only you''d listened to me sooner, it wouldn''t have collapsed!" and so on. No one could persuade the others, and eventually, they came to a unanimous decision: "Go find the Great One!" Sheng Yan was certainly impressive, but she was busy at the moment and had mentioned that she was not knowledgeable in these matters. Only the most superior Great One had said he could help with anything and was quite idle... Bai E, who had come over with Li Ming, was somewhat vexed as he watched Li Ming explain to the refugees the specific steps of how to proceed with each part of the task. That Li Ming was involved in some basic construction work in the military camp was a surprise that Bai E had not anticipated, and it was a pleasant one at that. Indeed, the current problem could be resolved, but they couldn''t always rely on their own personnel to do so. After all, their own people would eventually leave. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Take, for example, the five members of their special team, who could all serve as temporary skill instructors stationed here. Li Ming took care of close-combat abilities, Ling took care of long-range abilities, You was responsible for charging, coordination, and medical skills, and Rose was almost an all-rounder. This was a harsh reality, and learning skills wasn''t just a matter of a simple click¡ªit required actual teaching. Including themselves in the effort was necessary to meet the learning needs of players, so they wouldn''t have to wait in long queues. However, whenever the locals encountered construction-related issues, Bai E had to step in to mediate and solve the problems. This resulted in long lines forming in front of the temporary instructor services whenever he was called away on those duties. He had considered appointing someone to take on that responsibility, but capability was one aspect, and prestige was another. While there were talented builders among the locals, they also had their own matters to attend to, and not everyone among the group of over a thousand recognized one another. He was inclined to promote someone from among these people to be an "official" responsible for these aspects, similar to the role that Xu Ruoguang played in Black Street as the "Captain of the Guard." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. People with responsibilities could solve related issues. It''s just that he hadn''t yet decided who should take on this responsibility. Perhaps he had never considered developing this town''s ruins before, but now that things were on the right track, this large "base" would undoubtedly play an important role in all of his future plans. Hence, deciding on the person for this responsibility couldn''t be taken lightly. Assigning it to the local NPCs? He wasn''t too comfortable with that idea. After all, everybody in this world naturally possessed the potential to turn hostile at any moment, and since he couldn''t always be stationed here, it would be very easy to lose everything should a problem arise that he couldn''t support in time. By comparison, players¡ªwho were inherently unpredictable creatures¡ªwere ironically more reliable in this regard. Chapter 511 April 20 Appointment 2 At least Bai E didn''t see any signs of the players being bewitched by demons, unless they were willing... Of course, he was familiar with players like Kuang Xin, but the player responsible must be a permanent resident of the town''s ruins. Kuang Xin''s four-person squad was used to operating on their own. They would likely receive many tasks in the future and probably wouldn''t stay here all the time, so they weren''t suitable. The target... hadn''t been identified. "My Lord, it seems you are troubled by something?" A gentle voice rang out nearby, lively and bright. Bai E looked up and saw a radiant smile. Yafei? He remembered the name as one of the more memorable among the new players he had met. The main reason was that this girl was the closest to Kuang Xin and the others, appearing quite familiar with them. "Hmm," Bai E nodded with interest. Players were always bold and proactive. In the face of these fellows, he didn''t mind showing his troubles. After all, if NPCs had no troubles, how could players have opportunities? Yafei''s eyes moved around, her gaze sweeping over the rock nearby that was explaining the work to everyone. "My Lord... are you troubled by the construction supervision of the city?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire "Yes," Bai E replied with an encouraging smile. "So, can you help?" The standard phrasing of a task, Yafei''s face lit up with a smile. "..." The smile gradually solidified. No task alerts received? After a moment of confusion, Yafei earnestly asked, "I''m not sure how I can be of help to you, my Lord?" "The work of supervision in construction naturally requires the supervisor to have an understanding of the construction itself..." That''s right! Different roles require different abilities in the appointer. The defense force of Black Street needs a certain level of martial capability, and a manager needs a certain level of management experience. So, the supervisor in charge of the city construction naturally must possess certain construction skills to be competent. The effect of appointments comes from the different abilities each person possesses. So far, no player with construction skills had been found among the players; this was the core reason Bai E hadn''t found a suitable target yet. "I see!" Yafei''s eyes shone. "I understand, my Lord!" With that, she took the Wang brothers and turned to leave. "Follow me!" Watching the three figures walking away, Bai E''s gaze was tinged with anticipation as he stroked his chin. He had some impression of these three, and since they were close to Kuang Xin and his group, they must have earned some basic recognition from them. If they could surprise him, he wouldn''t mind giving them a lift. ... "Big sister, where are we going?" "Where are we going?" Yafei turned around and, with some frustration, poked Wang Wenyan''s forehead with her finger. "We''re going to learn skills! Wasn''t the Lord''s meaning clear enough? It''s a shame, one of you is a doctoral student and the other a graduate student!" A Supervisor! An instant elevation to the management level! This was a chance to soar to the heavens that could only appear with the emergence of a new force and new opportunities! As long as they could seize it, what would the advantage gained by other players hunting monsters amount to? Yafei was uncertain about the road ahead, but given that their combat abilities were not as savage as other players, this was their only chance to overtake others on the curve. The Wang brothers could understand this as well, but... Wang Wenbo, the graduate student, couldn''t accept this and retorted, "We need a place to learn skills before we can think of learning... and we can''t beat the monsters to it." Wang Wenyan, the doctoral student, also puzzled, scratched his cheek, "Yeah... where do we go to learn?" "Have you forgotten the tasks we did in the city before?" Yafei raised an eyebrow. "As long as you''re willing to work, there are plenty of tasks available at the NPCs!" They arrived at a construction site they had passed by before, and seeing the NPC who was instructively pointing while supporting a log on his shoulder, Yafei rushed up eagerly, "Uncle, is there anything we can help with?" "Help?" The burly, bearded man glanced at Yafei then casually pointed to the side. "There''s plenty of help needed; go to whatever you like and lend a hand." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Side Quest Triggered¡ªLend a Hand!] [Lend a Hand!: The city lies in ruins waiting to be rebuilt. Everywhere is in dire need of manpower. Find a suitable place to help complete a certain degree of construction work, and you shall receive the reward of diligence. Quest Requirement: Focus on assisting the construction for at least 0/60 minutes. Quest Completion Reward: Basic Building Techniques Experience +25.] As expected! Yafei''s face brightened, and he turned to look at the two Wang brothers, "What are we waiting for?" Though the experience was scant, it could be conjured from nothing. They carried on them a few hundred points of general experience and a small amount of combat experience accumulated from the past, but without any level-one skills, they couldn''t utilize that experience. They must find a mentor, or receive a quest that grants the necessary special ability experience, to learn the required skills. In this period of national reconstruction, mentors were hard to find, but were quests also difficult to come by? ... Time passed quietly, and the sun gradually rose higher. The players were quite diligent, battling non-stop even during the night when beasts preferred to roam, thankfully their efforts were quite fruitful¡ª [Feedback from the commission: Insight +1.0, Physical Strength +1.2, Reflex +0.7, Mystery +0.3, Light Weapons Mastery Experience +148, Light Firearms Mastery Experience +382, Ranged Weapons Mastery Experience +158, Heavy Weapons Mastery Experience +274.] That was a fat loot! Many hands make light work. Even though the bounty was greatly reduced, these players, who once struggled at the bottom of the game, or rather the world, were now achieving astonishing improvements with the support of a guaranteed platform. Accordingly, the power fed back to Bai E was unprecedentedly abundant. Bai E, who had experienced several encounters with demons in the past, was highly alert to this sudden surge in power. Although he did not resist being called a child of demons by the players, he had to be careful about the source of this title. The moment he felt the power burgeoning from all corners within his body, he mobilized his Spiritual Energy to meticulously monitor every physical and mental change. Fortunately... except for the rise in power itself, there were no other changes. At that moment, Bai E, who had been meditating at the edge of the battlefield to restore his Spiritual Energy, suddenly opened his eyes¡ªthe keen Spiritual Energy "reported" several purposeful gazes slowly approaching from the distance. Was it Yafei and the two other players? Bai E, upon opening his eyes, understood their intent. He looked at them with a bit of admiration because in his own visible appointment panel, the names of the three had already appeared on the list of potential candidates for the Infrastructure Department. "It seems you have already achieved enough growth," Bai E said without waiting for them to speak. As they approached, he was the first to greet them. "My lord..." Yafei gazed intently at Bai E, full of expectation. "However, only one of you can be the official in charge of supervising the construction. Perhaps a choice must be made amongst yourselves." This was something the three had not anticipated. The three looked at each other, their eyes somewhat confused. They had been excited about the prospect of becoming city officials together after working all night, but now... After a moment of hesitation, Yafei calmly issued the command, "Wen Bo, you go." "Boss?" Wen Bo felt somewhat embarrassed. Although he wanted this rare opportunity, it was Yafei who had found it and led them to action; now... Yafei''s brow furrowed, her tone sounding a bit harsh, "If I tell you to go, then go! Why all this fuss?" Wen Bo was not as steady as needed, and engaging in this kind of work was just the right thing to make him settle down. Yafei thought there was no problem with it. "Yes... yes!" Faced with a now-serious Yafei, Wen Bo instantly agreed. [You have invited "Wang Wen Bo" to become the head of the Infrastructure Department in your territory (Dawn Town).] [The target has accepted your invitation.] "There''s more work for you all," Bai E said with a smile to the remaining two, including Yafei, after completing the appointment. It was just a small test of his. Although he trusted players more, not every player could be trusted. These three players, however, were worth using. "The city is in ruins and needs more than just supervision over construction. Logistics and production areas also need careful attention..." Yafei, who had been a bit dispirited, once again lit up, "My lord..." "But first, you all need to master the relevant abilities..." [Side Quest Triggered¡ªOfficer Training...] Chapter 512 421 Explosion! "The steel mill over there is being rebuilt. Who among you will go help?" "Wen Yan, you go." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Wenyan was a truthful person; letting him take control of production seemed quite appropriate. "The supplies we brought are not overly abundant. The allocation for each person needs to be just right. Until we find a new stable source, we must tighten our belts. And even after we find a new acquisition channel, we can''t waste resources at will. We must have enough control over the big picture." "If the lord doesn''t mind, I''d like to give it a try." Yafei volunteered. Bai E chuckled and waved them off, "Go ahead, I await your good news." Bai E was full of confidence in the players. Although these guys were often unruly, when it came to achieving their goals, they were the most willing to work hard in the world. Because... he was also a player. After handing over the daily task qualifications that originally belonged to Kuang Xin and the others to these three players, Bai E waited with ease. If these three players proved to be competitive enough, then the overall framework for the town''s development would be basically established. Before waiting for the good news to arrive, in order to prepare to teach these players, Bai E first leveled up his own skills. After all, how could he teach others if he didn''t know it himself? Basic Steel Smelting Process... maxed out! Basic Parts Forging Process... maxed out! Advanced Steel Smelting Process... maxed out! Advanced Parts Forging Process... maxed out! [Technology ¡ª Basic Steel Smelting Process (3/3 level): You have mastered the basic steel smelting processes and can forge most common ores. From now on, you can oversee the construction of steel production furnaces, producing most conventional steel and somewhat increasing production efficiency. Production rate +30%, and qualification to learn "Advanced Technology ¡ª Advanced Steel Smelting Process" unlocked.] [Technology ¡ª Advanced Steel Smelting Process (1/1 level): You have mastered even more advanced steel smelting processes, capable of producing special high-grade steel with a small probability. From now on, there is a certain probability to produce advanced steel materials in the steel you smelt, with advanced steel completion rate +10%.] [Technology ¡ª Basic Parts Forging Process (3/3 level): You have mastered the basic parts forging processes... Production rate +30%, and qualification to learn "Advanced Technology ¡ª Advanced Parts Forging Process" unlocked.] [Technology ¡ª Advanced Parts Forging Process (1/1 level): More advanced materials require more advanced forging processes... The advanced parts forging completion rate +10%.] These skills were all dropped from the smart machines last time, and once you have the skill books, you just need to spend the experience to unlock the actual levels, just like the "Knowledge ¡ª Firearm Maintenance" that I initially acquired. The only difference is that these abilities are "technology", and according to Bai E''s own understanding of technology and knowledge, technology can be mass-produced repeatedly, so the experience required for these skills is also far greater than knowledge. Basic technology level one needs 1000, and to max out three levels in total requires 9000 experience points. Advanced technology has only one level, which also requires 1000 experience, and maxing out all four technologies cost Bai E a total of 20,000 experience points. Bai E upgraded the four technologies almost without hesitation, fearing that any hesitation would make him regret the hard-earned experience. After all, it was a significant expenditure of experience; previously, Bai E was unwilling to use his universal experience to level up, and if not for having just harvested a large sum of experience from the players, even if he wanted to, he would be powerless. But now, since he wanted to develop the force seriously, he either wouldn''t do it at all or he would do it to the best of his ability. Developing the town always required an initial core pillar industry, and steel was a very good business. Black Street had received orders and he had the basic technology in hand. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire Both external and internal conditions were satisfied, and starting with steel also offered considerable future development potential. The basis of all modern facilities is steel; it''s the steel that opens the possibility of building one''s own Cosmic Legion. As for parts forging, it was the foundation of development. Being able to smelt qualified steel could only make one a merchant supplying "raw materials", but only a force that can utilize the steel can really develop and grow stronger. One day... Two days... "Captain, we should head back." You glanced at the bustling construction site in the distance and then at the time on his wrist, reminding Bai E by his side. They had been out for quite some time. Although the military camp offered a degree of flexibility in terms of the duration of special squads'' missions, they couldn''t stretch it too far... If it went on much longer, it wouldn''t be so easy to gloss over upon returning. "I know." Bai E nodded, shifting his gaze from the pioneering players who were winding down from chasing various residual wild threats in the depths of the town''s hidden corners. After the initial two days of frenzy, the frequency at which players came to learn in the last half had dropped significantly. The lack of monsters providing experience was one factor; having learned most of what they needed to learn was another. Bai E didn''t offer them all of his capabilities, only roughly equivalent to what the Faction Shop provided on the first and second floor, so Kuang Xin and the others wouldn''t feel their previous efforts were in vain. Chapter 513 421 Explosion!_2 Seeing the small town''s development progress past the initial chaos, Bai E was able to relax a bit. His gaze swept over the panel, and the fruits of the past few days'' labor appeared before his eyes¡ª [Battle Experience]: 27000 [General Experience]: 7364 [Faction]: Li Ming Town: Infrastructure Department¡ª¡ªWang Wenbo: Construction quality +20%, Construction speed +10%; Logistics Department¡ª¡ªYafei: Satisfaction Rate 95%, Resource Consumption -5%; Production Department¡ª¡ªWang Wenyan: None. A total of over fifty thousand experience points had been earned, and the officials of the three small town cities had also been appointed. Everyone was playing their part, except for Wang Wenyan, as the head of the Production Department¡­ After all, even the steel factory itself hadn''t been completely rebuilt yet; his title as the head of the Production Department was somewhat in name only. He had put in the most effort in experience, and under his dedicated training, he had already learned Level 2 Basic Steel Smelting from Bai E, but was frustrated by the lack of practical experience. That opportunity... it wouldn''t come too late. Bai E stood up, watching as the limited stationing period he had set for the players ticked ever closer. He had a clear idea of when to leave, and he had even made it public to the players in advance. However, there was no need to go into detail with the native residents like You and others. 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ Time''s up. Bai E turned decisively, his light voice drifting on the wind, "Let''s go." A player who had finally gathered enough experience to learn a new skill and had hurried over could only stand rooted to the spot as Bai E''s figure receded, exclaiming, "Damn! Time''s up!" Time was up... "We''re leaving," Bai E said with a smile to the crowd that had gathered, including both natives and players, upon hearing the news: "But don''t worry. We will come back. A brief farewell is just a part of life; we will meet again. And when we do, I''ll bring surprises for you all, but I also hope you can accelerate the development here in our absence. I didn''t lead you out of Grey Iron City just to live each day as it comes. The times are destined to change drastically by our hands, and I hope none of you lags behind in this process. No one wants to live a life like a stagnant puddle of mud, I know I don''t, and I assume neither do you. Ladies and gentlemen, farewell!" "Upon our next meeting, I only hope to see all of you shining bright as candles, as lanterns, like the first glimmer of dawn lighting up this world. At the break of dawn, may we join hands." ''...'' ''So in the Master''s eyes, we are all useful.'' ''The Master has such faith in us?'' ''So, we''re not just a bunch of unwanted trash?'' In the midst of the silent crowd, countless thoughts swirled. As they watched the two vehicles leave, the silent crowd remained motionless, not stirring until the shadows of the cars disappeared below the horizon. "From today on, I''ll be someone useful to the Master," someone said, turning around with determination in their eyes. "I don''t know what the world needs from me, but I know what the Master needs from me." "Be someone useful to the Master!" ["Lucky Strike" Charge +50.] ¡­ The vehicle shook, Bai E swayed freely. Seeing the 50 skill charge points just added to his account, Bai E smiled. 247/100 now. Enough for him to use Lucky Strike twice. Damn that delicious meal machine! I''m finally coming for you! The moment he had first seen that thing, Bai E had thought about blowing it up. But until now, he had been tight on skill charge points, unwilling to spend them on anything unrelated to combat power before he had enough to ensure his own safety. The recent battle with the orc war boss had given Bai E a clear understanding of his current strength. Perhaps he still couldn''t swagger across the entire planet, but in most head-on conflicts, unless he did something reckless, it was unlikely he''d find himself in any situation he couldn''t get out of. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After resolving the issue of combat power, Bai E, who needed to focus on developing his influence, also needed to make certain investments in the growth of his power. What is the most basic necessity for a group of people, even though a single person may manage somehow? Food! Eating! Food is the paramount necessity of the people! If they can''t eat their fill, what will they use to labor? What will they use to develop? Anxious to return, he raced back at breakneck speed. Of course, to take care of the Kuang Xin squad of four following behind, Bai E expressly told Rose, who was driving, to slow down a bit. Half a day passed in the blink of an eye, and the SUV slowly came to a stop on the drill ground. The few people who got out of the car scattered in different directions. "I''ll go report," You was the first to say. As a "veteran of two dynasties," she took the initiative to undertake all sorts of clerical-like work within the squad. "I''m going to eat." Bai E, embodying a glutton, headed straight for the canteen. The canteen was sparsely populated, after all, they returned at a non-mealtime. Looking left and right and seeing no one paying attention, Bai E quietly approached the porridge machine, a surge of Spiritual Energy coursing through his hands. The tumultuous Spiritual Energy turned into a tangible impact, which, under the augment of "critical hit," was incredibly powerful. The simple porridge machine was unaware of the sinister intentions of humans, and in a loud explosion, it was completely shattered to pieces. The huge commotion drew the immediate response of the few figures in the canteen. Looking at Bai E, who stood beside the porridge machine looking equally "stunned," then to the shattered remains of the machine, these few figures fell into deep contemplation¡ª What kind of method of getting their food could have caused such a violent reaction from the porridge machine? The alarm sounded, and the emergency response personnel in charge of the canteen were the first to arrive on the scene. Looking at the porridge machine wreckage that seemed to have exploded without any trace of gunpowder residue, the emergency response personnel also fell into deep contemplation¡ª What exactly did the Logistics Department do to make a food-manufacturing machine into something akin to a "bomb"? Although the world wasn''t particularly peaceful, wasn''t this technology a bit too much of a precaution? "Are you okay?" someone asked with concern, looking Bai E up and down. "I''m fine, I''m fine," Bai E said, shaking his head as if he had just had a narrow escape, even turning around to inquire about the well-being of the machine, "How''s the machine looking?" The young lady who cared about Bai E looked regretfully at the debris on the ground, "If there''s no accident, this machine is probably scrapped." "...Such a pity." "...Such a pity." [Acquired drops: Delicious Porridge*250kg, Cooking Experience 500 points, Recipe: Delicious Porridge.] Got it! A recipe capable of providing ample nutrition was also a significant piece of knowledge in this era. Bai E''s face remained calm, but inside he was slightly delighted; indeed, the destruction of a porridge machine was nothing significant for a military camp, even if the scene of its demise was somewhat spectacular. Stepping aside to a separate window, Bai E received his share of the "No. 3 slot bar." Looking at the long pipe behind the window, Bai E''s gaze filled with regret. The No. 3 slot bar was obviously not made on the spot; this window was merely a distribution outlet. Otherwise, blowing up the machine making the No. 3 slot bar would have been the real catch. Stashing the No. 3 slot bar into his front pocket, Bai E looked at the panel which still had one trial opportunity left for the critical hit, then turned his gaze towards another victim... "Commander, I want to visit the food factory in the city." That''s right, even though people normally eat "porridge" that''s synthesized, the raw materials for porridge are still those naturally grown food ingredients. In this harsh era, with such an overwhelming population in the cities, it was impossible to rely on limited land to harvest crops batch after batch. Industrialized greenhouse cultivation was the only way out in these times. ... "Bang!" Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire [Acquired drops: Native Wheat*5000kg, Industrialized Basic Cultivation Experience 2000 points, Technology: Industrialized Basic Cultivation.] Chapter 514 Decision of Pursuit on April 22 [You have mastered "Technology ¡ª Industrialized Basic Planting," and you can now improve the technology level by investing "General/Scientific Research Experience."] [Current "Technology ¡ª Industrialized Basic Planting" experience 2000/1000, continue paying "Technology Point*1" to unlock "Level 1 Technology ¡ª Industrialized Basic Planting."] [Payment: Technology Point*1.] [Technology ¡ª Industrialized Basic Planting (1/3 Level): You have mastered the method of large-scale planting of food and other crops in a limited space. From now on, you can guide your organization to create a perfect greenhouse for basic agricultural planting, with a plant growth rate of +100% and yield +30%.] Got it! Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire But he was also politely "asked" to leave. Whether it was because of Bai E that the central control core of the greenhouse was broken, this unexpected visitor signified trouble. Satisfied, Bai E walked through the somewhat desolate barracks and returned to the tent of his own squad. As soon as he arrived at the barracks, he heard a slightly mocking, frivolous voice, "Bai E and the irrelevant are not allowed inside." Looking towards the source of the voice, he only found Rose with a clearly teasing smile on her face. "I was just having a look..." Bai E said earnestly, changing the subject, "On my way back, why did I see so few people in the barracks, where did they all go?" "The final big drill." You, who was hidden in the corner, suddenly spoke up to explain. She was responsible for all the tasks related to the handover between the squad and the army and was sensitive enough to any activities in the barracks. "Ah?" Stone lifted his head in confusion and voiced his puzzlement. "The Military Department is preparing for the final battle against the Blackrock Bug Nest, so the drills for all soldiers in the barracks have intensified compared to before. Nearby threats have been mostly cleared, and now the army is divided into several teams clearing out the ''tentacles'' that the Bug Race has reached out around the nest." With recent multiple strikes against the Bug Race, the Military Department has gained sufficient knowledge of several new types of bugs that have appeared. The cleanup of the bug nest must be successful, and the military''s enthusiasm has never been higher than it is now. "So we don''t have much time left for free activities. When I accepted the mission just now, the officer said that we will only have seven more days at most, and then we must return to our respective combat units." Bai E''s squad was indeed a special unit, but Bai E and Rose, because of their uniqueness, were also the chief mech pilots of the Mech Armored Corps, the highest priority in the barracks. A special squad without its captain and main force was in name only, on the frontline they could only coordinate with other special squads. "Hmm..." Bai E frowned slightly. The prelude to the great counter-offensive was not newly known, but it was only now that they had a definite time limit. ''Seven days, huh?'' It was enough. One more trip to "Li Ming Town" would be enough to build all the basics for them. He only hoped that during his back-and-forth travels, the natives would work hard enough to restore some of the key functional buildings of the town so that when he returned, he could immediately start building a modernized industrial food production system. Quiet sounds filled the tent. "I wonder if it''ll succeed this time." Stone sat on his bed, mumbling to himself. This was not only his thought but also a concern of the five people in the squad, and even everyone in the barracks. It wasn''t surprising that the Military Department made plans for a decisive battle; in this era, information was not transparent, there were no certain victories, only full preparations and then taking the fight as it comes. But whether they could win, nobody knew. Even if they won, the Blackrock Bug Nest was just the closest nest to the city, not the entirety of the Bug Race in this world. Moreover, the Blackrock Bug Nest wasn''t even the largest of the known bug nests. Winning this battle did not mean the world would then be peaceful, nor that humankind would be safe from then on. Bai E, who was more expectant on bigger things, certainly paid attention to more than just the present. But the present too could not be taken lightly. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We''ll do our best," Bai E sighed softly, his firm voice dispelling the doubts among his teammates. An individual''s strength always seems minor on a large battlefield; in the end, one can only try their best. In a barracks where almost everyone shouldered combat missions, the departure of a small special squad caused no ripples. They simply returned to camp to follow procedures and take on a new mission, then hurriedly set off towards the developing wilderness ruins. The small task they took on was... to clear automaton mining carts. Mining areas are non-renewable resources in this world that all factions compete for. However, from a racial standpoint, bugs and beastmen have little interest in mining areas; it is only the automatons and humans who directly clash over them. The mining area is exploited in turns, generally in a cycle of clearing out mining spots and stealthily mining. Especially now that human forces are mostly concentrated on the total offensive against the Bug Race, there is a severe shortage of armed forces in the mining areas, and one plea for help after another is sent to the barracks from the mining teams. The military doesn''t expect a small squad of five or six people to directly clear out large automaton mining spots, but the automatons have mining cart teams responsible for stealing ore; that is the target of Bai E''s squad on this mission. Chapter 515 Decision of Pursuit on April 22_2 The mining vein was located directly north of the city, where an expansive mountain range stretched endlessly, shielding against the Arctic chill winds from the north. Beneath the entire mountain range lay innumerable types of mineral resources, which had been so extensively mined over the years that the shape of the mountain range had been permanently altered. At times, a narrow gap was all that separated the towering ridges from the pitch-black abyss, with some parts of the mountain range combed into a series of neat and orderly trenches. Finding the petty thieves who stole from the mines in such complex terrain was no easy task, but even a mission accepted on a whim needed to yield some results. ... The off-road vehicle swayed over the gloomy terrain. Bai E sat by the window, gazing into the distance, lost in thought. "What are you looking at?" Rose glanced from the rear-view mirror inside the car and asked curiously. "Over there," Bai E lifted his chin slightly, "that''s where we encountered Nova and the others." Indeed, the journey from Blackwater City to the mining vein wasn''t far from the last mission''s objective: the signal station or the Intelligent Mechanism Base. Both were to the north of the city, though the Intelligent Mechanism Base was a bit further to the west. The distance that seemed minute on the map translated into something beyond sight in reality. Although Bai E was looking in that direction, he actually couldn''t see the familiar base. Within that base, he and Rose had left behind the highest level of access privileges. After their last mission, Bai E wondered if the military had dispatched forces to take over the place... or had it been recaptured by the Intelligent Mechanisms? A thought flashed through his mind, and Bai E, raising an eyebrow, suddenly spoke, "Let''s go have a look." The vehicle took a sharp turn, maneuvering smoothly. Rose immediately complied with Bai E''s order without question, then asked, "What''s up? Got a plan?" At the start of their journey, they had discussed how to complete the "minor task" they had casually taken on, but according to the experience of others, it was all down to luck. There certainly were mining thief squads, those Intelligent Mechanisms were more stubborn than anyone. But whether they would encounter them, when they might do so, and the specific size of the group they might find all depended on luck. If they had truly come out on this mission just for the sake of it, roaming the mountains and leaving it to chance would suffice. But their real business was setting up their own enterprise in the town of Li Ming, and this task was just a front. Matters unrelated to their main objective naturally should take up as little time as possible. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Given that Bai E had suddenly acted out of the ordinary, he must have had some idea of his own. "Hmm..." Bai E narrowed his eyes and nodded. A dangerous idea was brewing in his heart, growing more and more inflated. If they were going to act, they might as well go big. Since they were already causing trouble for the Intelligent Mechanisms, why merely settle for the hassle of finding a roaming thief vehicle? Did he remember what he needed to obtain from the Intelligent Mechanisms? Computing Power Resources! With the acquisition of the virtual world, the virtual world''s ability to replenish his magic during combat was truly formidable, but at the same time... the virtual world''s demand for computing power resources was also essential. Especially after the battle with the orc war boss, Bai E felt even more the suction emanating from within his soul... or rather, from the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, from the core of his Psychic Storage Space. This suction was steadily increasing, and if he couldn''t satisfy the other party''s needs, Bai E did not know what the consequences would be. Would it begin to consume his Spiritual Energy or even his soul? Or would it sever its connection with him completely, even if it meant being shattered and both suffering? He didn''t know, and Bai E certainly didn''t want to wait to find out. Moreover, he couldn''t possibly reside indefinitely in the desolate area of the server ruins. Therefore, those crystal-like "Computing Power Resources" that only Intelligent Mechanisms could steadily produce were a must-have for him. Where there were Computing Power Resources, there were bound to be Intelligent Mechanisms'' constructs guarding it. When the time came, he could just take some battle footage and a few war spoils back to report, thus completing the mission and achieving two goals with one action. So if the base from last time was once again occupied by Intelligent Mechanisms, then they would just have to take it down once more. Even if those intelligent mechanisms hadn''t reclaimed it, they could still feast on their own virtual world through that independent signal base station, easing the "hunger" that had been troubling them for so long. After the off-road vehicle turned around, it took just over two hours to see the familiar exterior walls of the base station from a distance. They had been in a hurry at that time and hadn''t destroyed the intelligent mechanisms'' infrastructure. Now upon returning, the bunker was still there. The vehicle stopped next to a nearby rock pillar. Rose easily climbed up and, lifting the binoculars hanging in front of her chest, looked towards the bunker, "It seems no trace of intelligent mechanisms... nor of humans." No one? "No!" There were people... or rather, signs of activity. Tracks from caterpillar vehicles, fresh ones. Bai E''s pupils dilated again after contracting, and he leaped down from the several-meter-high rock pillar. "Let''s go, take it back directly." The military clearly didn''t have the spare forces to send a large guard presence here. The tracks from those caterpillars were identical to those of the intelligent mechanism transport vehicles they took out last time, indicating that the base station had once again fallen into the hands of the intelligent mechanisms. But probably because they had suffered a heavy loss last time, the first-generation intelligent mechanisms were obviously extremely precious within their community, and thus the intelligent mechanism fortress''s guard was now quite weak and had all shrunk back. Playing a game of tug-of-war with humans was a bet on the humans being spread too thin, trying to put out fires everywhere. This had become a traditional skill tacitly agreed upon between intelligent mechanisms and humans. Bai E''s squad, intent on recapturing the base station, charged in forcefully. Last time, the enemy had a first-generation intelligent mechanism in command, and even their defensive force was extremely formidable. Plus, there was a traitor eager to turn on them. Now the enemy was significantly weakened while their own strength was unimpaired, if not increased. Taking down a fortress guarded only by a few new-generation intelligent mechanisms was as easy as reaching into a bag. They didn''t even take the vehicle. Defying the intelligent mechanisms'' artillery fire that signalled enemy detection, Bai E, alone with a war bug knife in hand, charged into the fortress. Unlimited Spiritual Energy and a recently greatly enhanced set of basic attributes made Bai E like a true War God. When the off-road vehicle caught up to Bai E, all it found were several blossoms of explosions in the air above the bunker. Highest authority was still intact; even the intelligent mechanisms couldn''t break through the technological barriers of the Golden Age from the lowest level. Recognizing Bai E''s arrival, the base station''s gates opened automatically. Inside the room... it was empty. Only a small amount of blank crystal blocks calmly stacked in a corner. The fresh tracks of caterpillar vehicles seen before entering the fortress flashed before his eyes, and images of the transport convoy filled with completed computing power resources leaving became as vivid as if he had witnessed them firsthand. "A step too late..." The finished products had already been moved out. Taking those blank crystal blocks was meaningless. "How is it?" Rose was the first to rush into the base station, arriving behind Bai E. Bai E narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing across his pupils. The destination of the intelligent mechanism transport vehicles leaving was surely the Intelligent Mechanism Base they had speculated about last time. If it was the Intelligent Mechanism Base... there would likely be even more computing power resources, right? Bai E didn''t want the hassle of dealing with these metal nuisances all the time, they were annoying enough without him seeking them out. Moreover, he wasn''t absolutely free in the city either. If he didn''t store enough supplies, what would he do when the virtual world really reached the brink of "starvation"? If he didn''t act, he had to make it big! Of course, his biggest source of confidence now was the nearly unlimited outburst of Spiritual Energy. Bai E made a decision, "Let everyone rest for a while, and then we''ll pursue!" Chapter 516 423 Transfer Factory Feeling the abundant information flow within the signal station, the "virtual world" in the Psychic Storage Space seemed like a shark that had caught the scent of blood, becoming restless. After invisibly obtaining Bai E''s approval, the flow of information transformed from Computing Power Resources merged into the void above his head as if it had substance right in front of his eyes. Under the power of Heavenly Eye, no object could hide. The voracious virtual world sucked in the computing power resources from the signal station with such greed that even the central control screen in the station stuttered at this moment. Though the independent small signal station couldn''t compare with the greatest masterpiece of human beings from the Golden Age, it was fortunate that the basic functions were still intact. Many functions, unknown or unblocked even by the smart machinery that had occupied the place for a while, were aside from Bai E, who had the highest authority. The central control screen was playing a video recording; the time was the day they had breached the signal station and then quickly fled. The heavy rain fell chaotically in front of the camera lens, small puddles on the ground reflecting the moonlight in the sky. The trembling earth made the camera wobble as the dark, metallic army approached slowly from a distance. Smart machinery, having received the message of the fortress being attacked, indeed dispatched troops to reclaim it, but what awaited them was merely a silent base. Fortunate to have fled early, Bai E felt a sense of relief after watching the footage. Back then it was not like now; if they had really been caught by so many smart machineries, their squad would have been in trouble. As his thoughts whirled, his mind continued forward with the video without realizing it. After completing a full search of the entire fortress base, the smart machinery''s army fell silent on the spot. The number was much greater than the one seen this time... Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire Among them was even the figure of a colorful first-generation smart machinery; the slightly distracted Bai E did not notice an obvious fact, as only the sound of the rain in the recording tirelessly played on. At a moment Bai E wasn''t particularly focusing on, a group of figures clad in black raincoats abruptly appeared within the camera''s field of vision. "Da da da da da da!" The sound of gunfire jolted the distracted Bai E back to reality, his eyes narrowing instantly upon seeing the scene on the screen. Humans? Humans clashing with smart machinery? The battle was almost completely one-sided, with the newly arrived humans displaying terrifying combat prowess. The occasional clashes of flesh against steel blades and even the hard resistance to smart machinery bullets rang out with crisp metallic sounds. This familiar scene reminded Bai E of the modified human soldiers including Nova, from Grey Iron City. The manner of combat of the black raincoat-clad humans in the recording wasn''t much different from that of Nova''s teammates; it was an open and direct confrontation, completely disregarding their own fragile bodies... perhaps their bodies were not fragile at all. And as the black raincoated figures together drove away the first-generation smart machinery, they, too, stood silent like a group of robots, their gazes all focusing in the same direction. A figure, even taller than the others in black raincoats, strode into view from beyond the edge of the recording. "Find Number One!" "Where are the people? Where are the people?" ... "Where are the people! Find the people for me!" ... "Doctor, we''ve searched everywhere, there really isn''t..." ... The doctor! That''s the doctor?! Watching the man in the video, who was of an extraordinary stature but whose face could not be seen clearly, Bai E''s gaze sharpened. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nova was right; the doctor would indeed come looking for her. The person had even pinpointed the last signal station where Nova appeared. "Pause." Silently commanding in his mind, Bai E watched the screen freeze at the moment depicting the "doctor," a dangerous glint flashing in his pupils. The other party... had roughly located the direction. In the final moments of the recording, the direction pointed by the doctor to his subordinates in black raincoats... was towards Blackwater City! Had he discovered it? Or was it just a guess? The calm of the previous days had almost led Bai E to believe that the crisis involving Nova might have passed, but now it seemed that danger was merely brewing in the shadows. But so much time had passed since that incident; if the other party had come to Blackwater City, why hadn''t there been any news? Such levels of interaction between cities should normally cause a significant disturbance, right? Or perhaps... the other party had also infiltrated secretly? Considering the skills of those in black raincoats, blending into Blackwater City and going unnoticed wouldn''t be difficult for them. The other party didn''t want to alarm the official forces of Blackwater City and also hadn''t confirmed his own identity or Nova''s whereabouts? "..." Upon returning, he would need to ask Gilder to pay more attention to the surrounding area for any suspicious presence. Even if the other party was powerful, as long as they were human, they couldn''t escape leaving traces of daily life behind. Clothing, food, shelter, and transportation¡ªnone could be avoided; the other party couldn''t possibly bring endless supplies from Grey Iron City, and such a large number of people would inevitably impact Blackwater City''s underground market. They certainly could be found! If the other party really had come to Blackwater City, that is. "What are you watching?" Rose''s voice suddenly sounded from behind. "Nova''s situation... They''ve followed us here," Bai E stepped aside to let Rose see the video content he had been viewing. Rose watched intently, her expression also becoming serious. Chapter 517 423 Transfer Factory_2 ``` The combat methods of those in the black raincoats displayed on the screen had put considerable pressure on her. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Each of their skills was much stronger than the teammates she had encountered with Nova. Picking any one of them for a one-on-one match, Rose could not guarantee an absolute victory for herself. And the number of those black raincoats... The surveillance screen showed a limited view, the quantity was unknown, but it was known there had to be at least a hundred. If these people were all enemies... "Don''t think too much," Bai E patted Rose''s shoulder, "Let''s go, it''s time for us to set off." Knowing the Doctor''s existence just put an anticipated foe in the open, which did not affect their imminent operation in the slightest. After about twenty minutes of "wolfing down," the virtual world also sent out a sentiment akin to "having eaten one''s fill." It was time to set out! ... The off-road vehicle once again headed towards the unknown wasteland. At the edge of the earth, the horizon quietly fell at the end of the sky, following the edge of the world, Bai E and the others gradually saw a stroke of black unlike anything ordinary. The black machine oil was like a thick black quilt covering the land, the sticky and greasy sensation was sent clearly to Bai E''s senses through the touch of the soles of his shoes. "We''re almost there," Bai E, getting off the vehicle and looking into the distance, squinted to try to see something farther away. In the distance beyond sight, the pitch-black factory was rumbling on, day and night. To the extent that the low-frequency high-pitch vibrations constantly affected the land beneath their feet. The ground was full of numerous fresh "tire tracks" that all converged towards the same spot. "Hide the vehicle," Bai E patted the door, signaling Rose to find a place to hide it, "I''ll go take a look myself." Intelligent mechanisms inherit technology from the Golden Age, and if humans inherited the very essence of human morality of the Golden Age, then intelligent mechanisms inherited the various cutting-edge technologies of that era. They have outstanding techniques in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, and although cost reasons may prevent these technologies from being universally applied to every new intelligent mechanism, coming to a place like this that at first glance looks like a major base, there might be some unimaginable means to monitor the "outsiders" visiting. Only by going alone and using the "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy from Pansen could he slightly reduce the risk of being exposed prematurely. "Understood," Rose softly acknowledged without any objection. Watching the off-road vehicle head towards what was clearly a man-made but now abandoned shelter, Bai E then set off alone toward the distant base of the intelligent mechanisms. All monitoring methods are essentially an exchange of information; the "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy envelops Bai E, so even the reflection of light must have Bai E''s consent. This powerful stealth ability gave Bai E a great deal of confidence; the Spiritual Energy from Pansen was indeed very useful... The land above was quiet, even the numerous transport teams coming and going seemed silent and lifeless. The rumbling tremor emitted when the steel factory started up only made the vast steel factory seem even more quiet. That''s how cold and detached intelligent mechanisms are; lower grade intelligent mechanisms lack what is called self-will, while higher grade mechanisms that have thoughts similar to humans only transmit them through the mechanical connections established. A large-scale transfer mining facility? Bai E, who had been secretly observing from all angles for a while, concluded what role this factory played within the intelligent mechanism community, which was slightly different from his previous speculation when the information was vague. Those so-called stolen mine carts did indeed transport all the collected raw material ores to this factory, but Bai E also saw many semi-processed, semi-assembled semi-finished products being transported collectively toward another direction by larger haul trucks. Not only is human territory segmented into pieces by various forces on the planet, but the intelligent mechanism community also could not avoid this trouble. Moreover, the raw computing power resources that were collected from the signal stations seemed to also undergo preliminary processing in this factory. Bai E, having boldly approached one of the large transport teams leaving the factory, sensed more active computing data inside. A transfer station... The scale was quite large, but not despairingly so. The scale of the internal guard was unclear, whether there were intelligent mechanisms was also unknown, but... it seemed to match the preparations he had in mind before his arrival. Bai E would not dare to take risks with a too-large intelligent mechanism base, taking his four teammates straight to it. The sensation that the first-generation intelligent mechanism gave Bai E was still fresh in his memory, and Bai E believed that even if he encountered such weapons again now, he would still not escape the fate of being split in two. ``` Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire And last time, there was only one original Artificial Intelligence, and Nova was tying it down with her full strength. This time? One or two could be attempted for a sneak attack to create the chance for a one-on-one fight, but if there are too many original AIs, the only option is to play cat and mouse. Such a scale of the transfer station is not the core base of the AIs; there should not be too many original AIs stationed here, right? It''s worth a try. The previous ideas were just ideas; only after preliminary reconnaissance of the target did those ideas start becoming actionable and capable of being carried out. ¡­ When seeing Bai E suddenly appear in the middle of the clearing within their consciousness, all the team members showed visible surprise except for Rose. "Captain!?" Bai E waved his hand, "It''s okay, it''s me." "Captain, when did you learn this kind of stealth ability?" "Not long ago," Bai E casually brushed it off. Even within his own team, he hadn''t disclosed his ability to use Spiritual Energy. It''s known that many secrets in this world could be leaked even if just one more person is aware, regardless of their relationship or personal credibility. "The captain is so impressive!" Zero''s eyes were full of admiration. He was the team member responsible for sniping and fire support; insight was his strongest attribute. However, the sniper skilled in insight was unnoticed even as someone approached him; if this were on the battlefield, he would have been dead without a trace. Professional gratitude brought relief; he was clearer than anyone else about the terror of his captain''s ability. ["Lucky Hit" charged +5.] "¡­" "How did the observation go?" Rose took the initiative to change the subject for Bai E. In her view, Bai E just walked back openly, but combining the other team members'' surprise and her experience with Arbitration Place''s special training, she generally understood what had happened. Bai E definitely used Spiritual Energy to hide his presence without anyone realizing. Not only had he used Spiritual Energy without announcing it, but she also had to cover for him¡­ tsk! Facing Rose''s slightly disdainful look, a hint of apology flashed deep in Bai E''s pupils¡ª''Forgot~'' "A transfer station of moderate size," Bai E calmly uttered his observation, successfully diverting everyone''s attention. "Transfer station?" "Yeah¡­ it''s just a factory the AIs use for preliminary processing of raw materials, not their core territory." Therefore, the defense might be strong, but it wouldn''t be despairingly so. "What do you plan to do?" Bai E glanced over his team members and asked softly, "Shall we give it a try?" All these ideas were his alone, unrelated to military orders. Even though all these team members were those he could absolutely trust, Bai E never neglected their personal wishes. "Whatever the captain says." Stone was indifferent, as if he had never once considered who the opponent was, so simple was his response. "I''ll strike wherever the captain asks me to." Looking calm and cool, Zero held a compliant smile towards Bai E; since the time Bai E had saved his life from the Praying Mantis'' blade arms during the rookie trials, "Bai E" the captain was all that mattered under human righteousness. "Click-clack." Without a word, You loaded the bullets into his usual twin submachine guns. "Not in a hurry¡­" Bai E''s lips twitched slightly as he pressed his hand down, "I called for some people, they''re on the way. Let''s wait for them before we start the operation." On the way back, he had been considering this issue, which is why he forgot he was still using the "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy. If they could win, how would his five-person squad manage to take all those spoils of war? Moreover, the AIs'' counterattacks were always swift; waiting to call for reinforcements after taking down the factory would mean missing the opportunity. Chapter 518 424 Yao Ren In the distant town of Li Ming, Dai Lian suddenly received a message from the superior¡ª"Coordinates **¡¤**, there''s a resource, come quickly." As their own efforts and status in the organization grew, the devices they had on hand for contacting their superiors evolved from a one-sided signal flare to a more advanced communicator that was said to enable global communication. The communicator supported the sending of brief messages, which, compared to the mobile phones they used in the real world of the players, was far inferior, but in this game world, it was a remarkable leap forward. Now, it was the first call from the superior since he provided them with the communicator. It wasn''t a mission, but the superior''s request couldn''t be ignored. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire "Brothers, there''s work to do." The giant spiders in the town were almost entirely wiped out due to the players'' relentless pioneering activities throughout the night, and it was hard to find any living thing larger than a bacterium within the ruins of the town, other than humans. The players who had just finished the intense and thrilling pioneering operation still felt some longing; after all, when had they ever seen such rapid progress coming from Grey Iron City? When they were driven out of Grey Iron City, they endured mocking, but now, in less than a few days, they had made several times more progress than before. If they returned to Grey Iron City, they would have to show off in front of those people. It goes without saying who brought about all these changes, and now... that superior had once again issued a call. Could it mean that they had more benefits to gain? "What are we waiting for? Let''s go!" The players summoned were spirited. They only resented that the only communicator capable of reaching the superior was in the hands of the archer Dai, not in their own. "The superior wants us to move things, and it''s far away. We need to prepare properly, and I''m telling you in advance just to give you a heads-up. Of course, if anyone has any objections, feel free to bring them up." Dai Lian had interpreted the superior''s message. Resources? Does that mean manpower is needed to transport them? And with the distance being far, the safety en route and the supplies needed also had to be well planned. Organizing a large operation was completely different from their previous small team of three or four. As leaders of the organization, they had to consider numerous details. "We need to take all the transport vehicles from the town." "Should we bring those NPCs as well?" "We can''t take all of them, right? What if we encounter those orcs again?" "What''s there to be afraid of? Now that the superior needs manpower, let''s take them with us. We are much stronger than before." If they encountered those orcs again, aside from the orc chief, it was uncertain who would win. The confidence from their newfound power was wildly inflated; fearless of the heights of heaven or depths of earth, players with a bit of power dared to challenge any Order. "..." Dai Lian tried to extract any useful suggestions from the noisy voices; in the game, players always had their own thoughts about everything and dared to express their bold ideas. After analyzing comprehensively, NPCs should be brought along, but it''s best to limit the number to the size of about fifty to sixty people, roughly equal to the number of players. After all, the distance was somewhat considerable. Even if the players had greatly improved their strength, in this era no official NPC force would dare claim to freely dominate the wilderness; how then could those minor shrimps still growing up have their way? Supplies should also be taken just enough for the round trip without error. As for safety issues... they only need to be careful on the way there, as the return trip would likely be safeguarded personally by the superior. And on the way... fight against those you can defeat, and rely on luck for the rest. Then, with that... they set out! ... "Let''s go!" Gilder patted the young man in front of him, one of the refugees who had returned to the city with him and his true confidant, "The superior has sent a message for all the vehicles from Black Street to be sent over. I''m entrusting you with this task¡ªdon''t screw it up. And about your affairs... after this task is completed, I will bring them up with the superior. I know you want to grow, but we must not bring too negative of an impact to the superior." The young man smiled brightly, "Of course, I understand. We are not ungrateful people. We will be on our way then." "Go, go..." "Rumble rumble..." The convoy set out under the cover of night. Black Street''s development had been quite positive lately, particularly since securing a substantial order for steel, Black Street''s conditions had visibly improved. Even the number of vehicles had increased¡ªensuring readiness for any urgent needs. Therefore, upon receiving a message from Bai E, all of Black Street''s resources could be mobilized in an instant. Gazing at the taillights disappearing into the darkness in the distance, Gilder only then stooped his back and walked into the street. He wasn''t too worried about the safety of the convoy. Within the convoy was a mysterious young lady specifically instructed by the superior; the superior''s confidence assured her combat prowess would be enough to protect the convoy''s safety. But... did the superior mean to have the mysterious young lady stay away for a while? Was someone eyeing Black Street from the shadows? Who could it be? Walking under the dim street lights, Gilder''s murky old eyes shone with a sharp and frosty light. Anyone coveting the superior''s enterprise was unforgivable! ... The tall figure that had left Black Street under the moonlight returned to a temporary base established in the sewers by his men. "Doctor!" said the warrior in black leather, bowing, "We''ve spotted a total of seventeen vehicles leaving Black Street, heading northward." "What are they carrying?" the Doctor asked gravely. As an ordinary person mingling in Black Street, he couldn''t know the "ins and outs" of Black Street''s underworkings. No one here had any involvement with the steel industry; everyone was engaged in barely subsistence-level basic industries. And yet, this small-scale power had provided him with substantial amounts of formed steel twice before, raising doubts about the true nature of Black Street''s operations. Now, a departing convoy from Black Street could perhaps reveal the true background behind it. "Empty." "Empty?" "Yes, empty!" the warrior in black leather affirmed firmly, "The tracks were light; they were definitely empty." ''Could it be that these are the vehicles returning to collect the steel?'' It''s possible, especially since he had urged his men to accelerate the steel orders. So by following this convoy, perhaps they could discover the background that supports Black Street? The Doctor''s eyebrows, sharp as blades, furrowed slightly as he coldly ordered, "Send a small team of ten to follow and observe." S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Yes!" Chapter 519 425 High-Dimensional Walking ``` "It''s about time..." At daybreak, the morning sun had just risen from the horizon. The first streak of milky white glow was cast equally upon every creature on earth. Bai E peacefully opened his eyes and murmured softly. He had called in people from both Black Street and the small town, but he did not expect them to join the battle. The power of the Smart Machinery relative to ordinary people was too terrifying; even those players who had grown could not make much of a difference in this fight. Bai E did not place his hopes on them; he only called them to take care of the aftermath and move the goods. Thus, he couldn''t wait for their actual arrival before launching the attack. Rustling sounds emerged around, as everyone in the vehicle was making their final combat preparations. It was undoubtedly a tall tale to directly assault a relatively large Smart Machinery Factory with the strength of a five-person squad. But if their team leader led them, then all possibilities existed. Bai E clapped his hands to draw everyone''s attention, "There''s not much to say, nor are there any tactical choices. The plan is simple, I''ll go test the limits of those Smart Machines first. If the communication works, we''ll use voice; if not, you''ll have to play it by ear." Tactics could only be discussed among individuals or groups with roughly the same abilities. However, other than himself, the rest of the team lagged far behind the guardians of the Smart Machinery, making any kind of tactics mere nonsense. In this world, after all, only power was the real trump card. As he spoke, Bai E single-handedly picked up a military Blast Shield and lightly hopped out of the vehicle. His bold action made his blood boil so much that even the normally placid Spiritual Energy seemed to pulsate with excitement. Bai E could feel the thrill in his body. Self-restraint also reminded him whether he should suppress these physical changes. But Bai E didn''t want to do that. A certain degree of excitement was conducive to better performance. Not to mention, in this world, there was the magical force of Spiritual Energy. Cold reason could indeed utilize the effectiveness of Spiritual Energy, but ardent passion often reflected the "miracles" of Spiritual Energy to a greater extent. Watching Bai E''s solitary figure recede, the four left in the vehicle looked at each other. "I always feel like our captain is becoming less and less human..." "Right... becoming more and more freakish." One person rushing into a large Smart Machinery Factory¡ªdoes that sound like something a normal person would do? But that was exactly what their captain did... And he didn''t even use that wonderful "stealth" ability. A drone released by Ling was trailing far behind Bai E, maintaining a distance where they could just barely ascertain their captain''s fate. The technology of Smart Machinery was not something this era could compare with; getting too close would likely result in being detected by Smart Machinery before their captain. The four inside the vehicle watched the small screen with bated breath. The lens trembled slightly, yet always focused on the tiny advancing speck. Bai E''s pace was neither fast nor slow, moving steadily toward the pitch-black factory like a normal march. The trembling of the earth became gradually more distinct. The moment he crossed a certain boundary, Bai E''s "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy sharply detected a signal firmly locked onto him. ''Radar?'' As this thought flashed through his mind, a distant glimmer of firelight had appeared at the farthest range of his vision, not very bright under the morning sun but enough to catch attention. The firelight quickly magnified and split into several different trajectories. Missiles? They really aren''t being polite... S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ``` A thought flashed through Bai E''s mind as his feet suddenly erupted. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire The ground beneath him caved in violently, and his body was already shooting out in an instant. "Boom!" A series of small mushroom clouds merged into one after another, as human speed could never match that of high-tech weaponry. Amidst the dust, the agile figure continued to surge forward. "That''s really tough..." To withstand missiles with one''s body, I must be mad. Would I have dared to dream of such a day when I first came to this world? Yet the fact is, I have unconsciously reached this inhuman level. Spiritual Energy lent an almost eternal protection to the Blast Shield in my hand, and the skill of Absolute Defense rendered my body as formidable as the terror of the elemental series alloy. But Bai E, having avoided the core of the explosion, still felt surges of blood and energy. This meant that if I truly stood still and withstood the missiles, my current level was far from sufficient. But how many chances do you have to fire missiles? The next moment, Bai E lifted his head. In a glance, fireworks burst profusely before my eyes. Countless warheads, trailing orange tails like raindrops, came at me so quickly I could only let out a curse of "Damn," before I had to immediately initiate Spiritual Energy and enter a special state¡ª High-Dimensional Walking. What was originally a technique for combat in high-dimensional space could also be used to evade some attacks in the real world if applied well. Spiritual Energy shifted as my form swiftly transitioned. The real body turned into an elusive Spiritual Body and escaped into the vast and empty high-dimensional world. Bai E had no time to admire the exquisite scenery of the high-dimensional world; the moment I entered the High-Dimensional Walking state, I sprinted towards a direction I had marked. The connection between high-dimensional space and the real world is not absolute; the north in the real world and what the conscious spiritual body "perceives" as north in high-dimensional space could be two completely different directions. Without an absolute sense of space and prior Spiritual Energy marking, a spiritual energy user might emerge from the High-Dimensional Walking state in unpredictable locations. "Boom boom boom boom boom!" A succession of explosions nearly leveled several centimeters of the ground, yet at the very forefront of the explosive dust, that agile dark shadow continued to run towards the factory at an undiminished pace. Ling Zero, who spotted the captain''s figure in the surveillance video, could only helplessly open her mouth wide, watching this incomprehensible scene unfold before her eyes. Is the captain... still human? ["Lucky Hit" charge +12.] "..." Are all my team members my fervent little fanboys? This thought passed through Bai E''s mind before he noticed another round of attacks arriving. The sinister-looking green warheads emitted an ominous aura; the extra-large warheads displayed a much slower trajectory and were not aimed at me. "Boom!" As the warhead hit the ground, the world went silent; a greenish glow radiated out in a form beyond vision, and Bai E abruptly felt his perception of the high-dimensional space being blocked by some barrier... Chapter 520 426 Sweep The sudden turn of events did not panic Bai E. Although military intelligence on AI was not exhaustive, they had recorded such basic information. The Golden Age had conducted research on Spiritual Energy early on, and the spiritual energy practitioners from that era had evolved through a chaotic period of development, not all of whom were affiliated with human Federal Organizations. Therefore, there was no shortage of measures to deal with practitioners of spiritual energy. As for High-Dimensional Walking, which could isolate physical damage from the real world, they had already developed methods to temporarily sever the connection between the high-dimensional space and the real world. This "Dimensional Bomb" was one of the most violent solutions in their arsenal, and now, it was mastered by the AIs that inherited the technology of the Golden Age. But it didn''t matter. High-Dimensional Walking was not a critical ability among Bai E''s many capabilities, and it had fulfilled its mission by unexpectedly avoiding a wave of heavy cluster bombings. With this burst of speed, Bai E had already reached a point considerably close to the factory. At this distance, if the AIs continued to launch powerful missiles, they would undoubtedly end up damaging their own factory facilities. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire As expected, mechanical changes occurred instantly on the walls that were originally just dark steel barriers. Countless oil-slicked machine guns flipped out from below, revealing their ferocious true faces. "Boom boom boom boom boom!" The fire from numerous heavy machine guns blanketed the sky, and the dense barrage of fire blocked all of Bai E''s dodging routes. Even the bullets that missed and hit the ground instantly kicked up mud, and for a moment, the land around Bai E looked like waves in an angry sea, with countless specks of mud churning. Amidst the densest center, the "clang clang clang clang" sounds of impact were nearly constant. The metallic storm hitting the Blast Shield, strengthened with Spiritual Energy, sparked off noise like metal clashing, with sparks flying in every direction. The occasional bullet that breached the Blast Shield''s defense and hit Bai E was stopped by his skin, as tough as reinforced steel and iron. Deformed bullet casings followed in Bai E''s wake, strewn across the ground. The shooting trajectories swayed and floundered in their efforts to catch up with the agile shadow. Watching the terrifying battle unfold on the screen, the four people inside the transport vehicle were utterly stunned, with their mouths agape, at a loss for what to do. If the dash out of the missile''s aftermath had not yet left a deeply shocking impression, "What should we do?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I have no idea..." This kind of combat scene surpassed any situation they had previously encountered. The intense and thrilling battlefield left them clueless about where to begin. Rush in together? They were not the captain, and upon entering, they would be shredded within minutes. Just stand there watching? It felt wrong to let the captain charge into battle alone... "Let''s just watch..." Rose pursed her lips, making the decision for the group. The battle situation was not something they were qualified to engage in. They would wait until Bai E had handled the major issues, and if there really was a need for support or clean-up afterward, that would be their time to step in. ["Lucky Strike" +12.] The fanboys were powering up. Bai E was also powering up. His will was concentrated to the extreme, and the veins on his forehead seemed about to burst. The bullets appeared to be fighting against his Blast Shield and his body, but when they struck the two augmented by Spiritual Energy, in essence, they were contending with Bai E''s spiritual energy. As long as the attack level was below a certain threshold, the basic enhancement from spiritual energy was enough to cope, not yet reaching the "superior" level. But when the attack exceeded the skill''s basic enhancement, any additional resistance would shift to rest on Bai E''s spiritual energy. The power of spiritual energy was the power of will. All the bullets striking him were as if they were hitting his soul directly. Willpower would eventually weaken; even the most resilient soul would gradually languish under relentless assault. Even if the consumed energy could be quickly replenished by the virtual world, the quality would gradually decline to the point where it could no longer protect against the invading bullets. He couldn''t let the machine guns keep firing at him! Although they weren''t breaking through his defenses for the moment, the impact from the bullets still prevented him from moving forward quickly. The continuous, non-stop impacts were even more troublesome than the bombardment of missile clusters. The distance to the steel barrier seemed just two to three hundred meters, but if he continued to tangle with these bullets, that short span might become an insurmountable chasm. The thought of testing his limits ceased there, "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy, activate! The power of spiritual energy was no longer confined to himself and the objects he held. A gray fog instantly spread, enveloping a certain range around Bai E. Although it was far from the range of the original owner, the same spiritual energy in the hands of an assistant or a charge warrior could yield entirely different results. The moment Heavenly Eye Spiritual Energy unfolded, all the bullets within the domain became clearly visible to Bai E. Within this domain, no change in detail could escape his "eye". While the bullet screen was dense, they did not all arrive at the same time. There were actually significant gaps between them. However, in the blinding speed of a normal barrage, it was difficult to find an opening. But within his own domain, everything became actionable. Not to mention that "Heavenly Eye" was not just for "observation." Everything within the domain would also be controlled by Bai E''s will. Chapter 521 426 Sweep_2 Wherever there was a gap to slip through, he would slip through; if there truly was no way to wriggle past, he''d use his will to distort the "changes" in his target. The kinetic energy of the bullets was ferocious, but as long as he could make them deviate slightly from their intended trajectories, the end result would be vastly different. And this required far, far less effort than Bai E''s method of enduring with his physical body. A strange scene unfolded¡ªthe density of the barrage didn''t change at all, and the firing rate remained terrifying. Yet the shadow that had just been sparking all over suddenly seemed to become an invisible ghost amidst the endless barrage. Not a single bullet could touch him, and the occasional sparks that flew up became completely inconspicuous under the terrifying blanket of gunfire. Countless heavy machine guns firing in unison ended up seeming like shooting mosquitoes with cannons¡ªutterly futile. "..." "..." In the distance, a caravan halted at the furthest point from which the battlefield could still be observed. The young leader of the convoy stood on the edge of the vehicle''s stepping board, leaning on the open door as he gazed toward the battlefield, looking as if the ground itself had been shattered. The terrifying might, even at such a great distance, made his heart tremble with fear. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire He was no longer the naive drifter from before. With a natural talent for Spiritual Energy and having dealt with many matters in Black Street in secret, he had developed his own set of understandings about the world. However, his broad knowledge that "I''ve seen all sorts of scenes" had now turned into "I''ve seen nothing" barrenness. No words he possessed could describe everything he was witnessing at that moment. The overwhelming firepower seemed even more fearsome than the weapons in the military barracks of Blackwater City. Smart Machinery? This unfamiliar term popped into his mind. In this era, the only beings capable of possessing such terrifying firepower were those metallic mechanical monstrosities, he thought, without considering any other possibilities. Smart Machinery? What are Smart Machines fighting? From his perspective, he could only see the sky filled with bullets being fired wildly as though they cost nothing, yet within the targeted area, there was no visible large group of opponents, nor any signs of interaction or counterattack during the bombardment. Was it because there was an excess of bullets in stock? Or perhaps just practice shooting? Do Smart Machines even need to practice shooting? This ludicrous thought flashed through his mind, and the man began to doubt the orders he had received. He took out the map that marked the location coordinates from his embrace to double-check, scratching his head, "This is the correct place..." His gaze shifted back and forth between the map in his hands and the distant battlefield, confusion spread across his eyes. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Where is the material supply that Gilder mentioned? The earth was a vast expanse of white and clean, with only one place having anything of substance... The man slowly raised his eyes, looking towards the battlefield at the edge of his vision that was still engulfed in conflict. "No... It can''t be, can it?" In the same dark carriage, Nova opened her large, bright eyes to watch the ongoing battle. Her Spiritual Energy allowed her to see through the barriers of the carriage, looking toward the scene being heavily bombarded in the distance. A familiar presence... and its vigor was far stronger than any she had felt before. So... so impressive. ... "I think... I might have found where the enemy is getting their steel from," the warrior in the black leather jacket removed his gloves, raised a telescope, and stared at the distant battle, murmuring in disbelief. They had followed the convoy that set out from Black Street all the way to this place, and upon their arrival, the convoy had stopped their advancement. What had they come for? The only possible source of resources in the vicinity was the Smart Machinery Factory. This Smart Machinery Factory, situated between Blackwater City and Grey Iron City, was well-known to them as the core elite force of Grey Iron City. However, to them, conquering this factory would cost too much, and would likely provoke a frenzied retaliation from the Smart Machines. More crucially, even if they were to strip this factory of all its resources, it would mean very little to them. Moreover, as long as they didn''t provoke these Smart Machines, there would be minimal expansionist actions from them, and the city had never considered it a significant threat. But now... a hard bone that they were unwilling to chew on was being tackled by someone else. The iron resources that the doctor needed weren''t something the minor Black Street could provide, so they went straight for the Smart Machinery. What force in this world has more iron resources than the Smart Machines? "Badass." The armored warrior spoke with a sigh and stopped to silently observe. The doctor''s interest in the streets outside Blackwater City was unusually keen. Ordinarily, now that the location of the lost "initial" had been confirmed, the straightforward move would be to simply take it back by force. The cost of causing a disturbance just outside Blackwater City wasn''t so high, and it would not amount to a dispute between the two cities'' hierarchy. But now the doctor''s attitude toward Black Street suggested more of an "examination"? Examine what? I don''t understand either. Whatever task the doctor assigned, just do it. I want to see with what your little street dares to challenge a medium-sized Smart Machinery Factory. ... "Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" A silver stick suddenly revealed itself amidst the overwhelming firepower pouring down from all directions. At a close enough distance, it seemed like a mere swing of one end of the stick could easily smash those firing mechanical guns. And in reality... that was exactly what the leaping dark figure was doing. The silver stick traced a large circle in the air, carrying with it an unmatched roaring as it swept mercilessly toward the mechanical guns below. "Zzzzzzzz~" Amidst a chaos of electrical sparks, the bases of the mechanical guns were instantly smashed, silencing the surging firepower in a vast quietude. Yet this was not a fleeting moment. The silver stick freely swung in the air, smashing its way into the interior of the factory. Wherever it passed, destruction followed. What appeared to be firm and reliable steel walls were forcibly breached, leaving a gaping hole. Behind the walls, countless intelligent machines with glowing red electronic eyes were already prepared. Their mechanically-driven steel bodies were immensely strong, yet before the whirling silver shadows, mechanical forms were sent flying in all directions. In this moment, he was unmatched. "Huh?" The figure was too far away to see clearly. But the earth-shattering presence of the silver stick left no doubt that a human was amidst combat with numerous intelligent machines, almost displaying a one-sided overwhelming power. The warriors in black leather jackets exchanged silent, mutually understanding glances and remained silent. It was true that any person or force confident enough to assault a Smart Machinery Factory would have a couple of tricks up their sleeves... but these particular tricks, seemed to be excessively tough. It was the doctor''s far-sightedness after all... ["Lucky Strike" energy recovery +26.] That makes it 50 points in total... Bai E received the panel notification with an indifferent gaze. Once his strength reached a certain level, any armed force beneath that level would struggle to contend with him. No matter how many they may be, ordinary shrimps can hardly threaten a giant, not to mention that the scale of armament at this factory wasn''t terrifyingly large. If the amount of firepower he''d just faced had doubled, perhaps the energy recovery rate provided by the virtual world wouldn''t keep up with the consumption. After all, during the most intense moments earlier, his Spiritual Energy reserves had steadily fallen in a tug-of-war between recovery and expenditure. If it wasn''t for the last moment activation of "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy, he would have run dry by now. The strength limit that wasn''t tested against the Orc War Boss last time had now become apparent, as after about twenty to thirty cycles of depleting Spiritual Energy, the replenishment speed finally began to slow visibly. It was still uncertain whether it was the limit of the virtual world or his personal limit, for after depleting two to three thousand points of Spiritual Energy, his temples were twitching and throbbing as if he hadn''t rested for several days. However, the real challenge that could be deemed a threat... had yet to appear. Chapter 522 427 Red, Blue Countless mechanical constructs whirled through the air, as a black mechanical gate slowly parted to the left and right before Bai E''s eyes, revealing two distinctively colored medium-sized intelligences. One red, one blue. Their forms were low and squat, resembling human mechas flattened into the shape of tanks. One of them wielded a sword and shield, as if a swordsman from ancient human legends had come to life. The other, brandishing massive dual guns, stood motionless like a formidable heavy firepower fortress. Their exaggerated color schemes undeniably proclaimed their identities¡ªfirst-generation intelligences. At the level Bai E had reached by now, besides these first-generation intelligences, ordinary intelligence constructs could hardly trouble him anymore. Only those first-generations, direct inheritors of the Golden Age''s technology, were qualified to battle Bai E. Upon sighting the two newly-appeared intelligences, Bai E didn''t hesitate. The silver staff in his hands swept forward with tremendous force and a deep whoosh of wind. The first-generation intelligence with the sword and shield blinked across the space under nearly silent engine thrust, arriving right at the point where the path of the silver staff''s swing met its full impact at the earliest stage of momentum. The huge, red-painted longsword was promptly placed against the staff near the end Bai E was holding, just before the staff''s kinetic force fully kicked in. "Hum~" At the moment''s vibration, the staff, etherealized by Spiritual Energy, nearly revealed its slender original form amidst a sequence of flickering illusions. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire The intelligence that had blocked Bai E''s attack didn''t follow up but, instead, sheathed its sword like a true human swordsman. Its crimson electronic eyes looked toward Bai E, and a synthesized electronic voice conveyed human speech, "You''re very skilled. If you withdraw now, we will not hold you accountable." Bai E stabilized the transformation state of the staff with Spiritual Power Enchantment, his heart pounding as he focused on the light blue panel he had intended to summon before him, which now clearly displayed the combat information he had gathered about his opponent from the strike¡ª Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Through this attack, you''ve gathered the following relevant information¡­] [??? (Intelligence) (Hostile): Health ???/???; Defensive Power ???; Mobility 100%; Traits: Dynamic Source Sword, Super Alloy Armor, Nano-Repair¡­] Beyond the core elements like Super Alloy Armor and Nano-Repair, which were the same, the differences between each first-generation intelligence, even though they were all intelligences, were absolutely vast. Every first-generation intelligence had its own field of expertise and a unique "personality." Each of these beings, having inherited the grand technology of the Golden Age, was a miraculous creation that persisted from that era, each adorned with the most striking achievements of that time. [Dynamic Source Sword: The atomic-level force field permeating the blade enables it to tear through nearly all known existing materials; its only drawback is the terrifying amount of energy consumed to maintain the field''s presence.] Cleaving force field! This was the source of the Dynamic Source Sword''s power. To fight such an opponent meant one had to avoid its edge; any broad, sweeping attacks that collided with the enemy''s weapon would only leave one at a disadvantage. While his thoughts churned, Bai E''s Spiritual Energy contracted. The Spiritual Energy that had suffused the staff receded, causing the giant staff to vanish, leaving only the regular silver rod in Bai E''s hand. He tossed it aside and drew a broad-bladed longsword. [Military Longsword¡ªQuality: Blue (Light Weapon)] [Basic Parameters: Blade Attack Power (Type: Slashing): 20~25; Energy Output Level 10; Enhancing Attribute: Armor-Piercing +3%; Durability 100/100.] [Usage Requirements: Physique 8 (usable).] [Trait: The dual-alloy construction is light enough to make this longsword both sufficiently lethal and not cumbersome, thus not affecting speed.] Military longswords were quite different from ceremonial or aristocratic swords. Slightly thicker blades gave them a more robust quality, and their dual-alloy construction made them lighter, unlike the typical heavy Bug-Slaying Blades used by warriors. Bai E, with a Level 6 expertise in light weapons plus an additional +1 level from his Weapon Master skill, was at a pinnacle level in his use of light weapons compared to most humans. "Hum~" A mist of Spiritual Energy spread from Bai E''s body to the weapon in his hand, vibrating the blade at a high frequency as it received the Spiritual Power Enchantment. High-Frequency Cutting. The Magic Blade skill in the light weapons tree could add an additional enchanted coating to the weapon; normally, these only included ice, fire, and other standard attributes. However, Bai E, who also had the ability to enchant with Spiritual Energy, unlocked many more special coatings. Of course, all these special coatings would be based on Bai E''s understanding and imagination. Spiritual Energy would materialize the actual coatings based on his clarity of cognition and practical imagination. The clearer and more grounded the imagination, the easier the enchantment would be successful and exhibit its intended effects. High-Frequency Cutting Weapons were a new type of weapon being developed by the scientists in the research department, and there had been successful prototypes. However, due to cost issues and problems with quality stability, they were not yet ready for mass production. Bai E, having shown interest and learned about them, now effortlessly replicated the same effect. The High-Frequency Cutting coating endowed the sword with significantly enhanced cutting ability, which translated to nearly doubling the blade''s slashing attack power in data terms. Chapter 523 427 Red, Blue_2 But it still wasn''t enough. Even the speed of that AI just now seemed absolutely fast in Bai E''s eyes, and simply relying on his current base attributes, he absolutely couldn''t keep up with its speed. A Level 7 specialization ability might be considered top-notch among humans, but it was clearly still inadequate when facing this AI. The skill tree unlocked after specializing to Level 4 in light weapons didn''t just include "Magic Blade"; another skill, "Graceful Dance," hadn''t been unlocked then due to the nature of the opponent faced. But now, when confronted with an adversary where agility and speed were required, this skill was more than appropriate. [Payment: 2 * reserve points, 2000 battle experience points.] [Skill acquired¡ª¡ªGraceful Dance.] [Graceful Dance: Grace is the only essence of light weaponry; Insight Performance +3, Reflex Performance +3, Attack Speed +30%, Dodge +30%, Movement Speed +30%. Consumption: 10 Spiritual Energy (100 action power reserve)/min.] Turn it on, turn everything on! Almost all skills required the use of Spiritual Energy, yet Bai E, with his high-speed recovery of Spiritual Energy in the virtual world, had an abundance of it. Kill! Bai E, with all basic and combat attributes elevated to an extreme state for the moment, instantly charged out, and his response to the "Knight AI" was in sync, "No need!" Inherent opposition in their stances necessitated no mercy or compassion. "Swoosh!" With a flash of silver sword light, the "Knight AI" only had time to block Bai E''s lightning-quick strike with its round shield. After the flash of the sword, an extremely fine crack immediately appeared on the round shield. But before Bai E could launch another attack, the crack wriggled as if it had a life of its own, rapidly healing until it was as good as new, as if it had never been damaged. The battle information list once again showed a new ability from this "Knight AI"¡ª¡ª [Power Source Shield: A round shield with an endless power source can repair any damage sustained at the fastest speed. Until you break through the shield''s defense, you won''t be able to cause any harm to the body behind it. Durability 200/200] The strongest sword, the strongest shield. Combined in one entity¡ªthis was the absolute power of an original AI generation. Energy! Energy! All its weapons needed sufficient energy to operate, and the technology of small nuclear fusion reactors from the Golden Age provided these non-megastructures with nearly infinite energy supplies. No wonder Nova''s first action when facing them was to extract their internal energy using her own Spiritual Energy. The power that an original AI with unlimited energy could exert was indeed terrifying. Bai E''s strikes were unable to directly penetrate the Power Source Shield, and the round shield would be restored to new by Nano-Repair before he could launch another strike, equivalent to an armor with infinite durability. The "Knight AI" had sufficiently high mechanical quality, making it very difficult for Bai E to bypass the shield''s defense and strike its body with a sufficiently destructive blow. However... if there was a possibility to defeat it, that was enough. After all, the Power Source Shield''s maximum durability was only 200, and the mechanical materials that made it were indeed stronger than the military longsword Bai E had forged from a binary alloy, but not by much. His attacks weren''t incapable of breaking through, it''s just that they couldn''t destroy the round shield in one hit. What if... they could? Shatter the round shield before its ability to recover kicks in? A dangerous glint flashed in Bai E''s eyes. The next moment, frantic alarms raised subconsciously in his mind. An aura of destruction enveloped Bai E''s entire body, and the reactive Bai E rolled away just in time. "Boom!" A violent explosion erupted behind Bai E, the sinister cloud of destruction far more ferocious than the earlier barrage of rocket fire. Even with Absolute Defense constantly activated, Bai E was somewhat apprehensive in the wake of that bombardment, as for the first time he felt the peak threshold that his undefeated defensive power could withstand. But before Bai E could feel relieved at dodging that terrifying strike, the breath of destruction once again clung to his heart. Dodge Again! "Boom!" "Boom!" The successive bombardments grazed closely past Bai E''s scalp, hitting the ground and instantly annihilating everything within the explosion radius. The ground shattered, and even steel turned to dust. The aftershocks of the explosions that hit Bai E made his organs tremble. The damage from the hits allowed Bai E to discern the characteristics of his opponent, with the information displayed clearly on the panel¡ª [??? (AI) (Hostile): HP ???/???; Defensive Power ???; Activeness 100%; Traits: Energy Gathering Rifle (Dual-Wielding), Super Alloy Armor, Nano-Repair...] [Energy Gathering Rifle: With built-in rocket propulsion, the bullets boast an impressive range and maintain their top velocity throughout the trajectory, and the gathered energy projectiles can explode with a force comparable to a small nuclear bomb, while also possessing the firing rate of an assault rifle. It is one of the finest personal weapons from the Golden Age, with an exorbitant cost.] The bombardment akin to a small nuclear blast brought not just damage but also a forced displacement that accompanied the explosion''s shockwave. Even as Bai E tried as much as possible to move against the forced displacement, he inevitably fell into an inescapable situation under the rapid-fire barrage of the Energy Gathering Rifle. The shooting skills exhibited by the first-generation AI, with its strongest analytical capabilities, would not be inferior to any human marksman. The AI wielding dual Energy Gathering Rifles could precisely track Bai E''s dodging route, sealing all of his escape paths after a few shots. "Boom!" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An energy projectile hit Bai E''s back accurately, the intense explosion blasted against the surface of the Absolute Defense, and after a moment of resistance, the thin Spiritual Defense Field shattered. The solid explosion directly impacted Bai E''s own flesh, and although a physical attribute of 17.3 might be considered exceptional among humans, it was still insignificant against an attack comparable to a small nuclear bomb. "Bang!" The dull sound threw him into the air, a charred body tumbled through many AI units from a great distance, limbs went limp, and surprisingly lost all signs of life. Nova, who was quite a distance from the battlefield yet sensed this change instantly, suddenly widened her eyes, completely unprepared for the abruptness of the event. The gathered Spiritual Energy suddenly contracted, and an astonishing presence swept through the subconscious of every being with a Spiritual Body projection in the higher-dimensional space like a black hole. However, in the next moment, this presence quickly disappeared. The distant cold sun cast down a tranquil beam of light, soothing the startled emotions. Resist death! When the body suffers fatal damage, it can lock in the last drop of blood to prevent death. This was also the second time the ability of the strongest human warrior from the Golden Age revealed its effectiveness. Under the charred body, countless fresh buds of flesh were regenerating amidst destruction. "hui~" The AI dual-wielding the Energy Gathering Rifles, like a cowboy, brought the muzzle of one gun to its lips and gently blew, as if clearing the smoke from the barrel. The blue electronic eyes flickered slightly, and the synthetic electronic tones carried a distinct note of mockery, "Is this the level?" The red "Knight AI" stayed silent, merely watching the direction of the charred body amid a crowd of AI units. "Crack~" "Crack~" The tender flesh buds grew wildly, the charred shell was squeezed and fell away, and the reborn body revived with fresh vigor. "This is the level." A human voice rose from among the AI units seemingly spectating the charred body, and five black alloy arrows emerged from the gaps between the multitude of AI units and writhed like dragons... Chapter 524 428 a double boom [After your body was destroyed and reborn, your physique received sufficient exercise, physique +0.1.] Bai E, reborn, felt a lingering sense of dread. The strength of these two Wisdom Machines was surprisingly formidable, far beyond the level of the one he encountered last time. The previous Wisdom Machine had only one laser-type weapon that could pose a fatal threat to him, and it took a considerable amount of time to activate, not to mention it was only used once, obviously unable to be fired multiple times. And this time? If it weren''t for his ability to ignore death once, he would already be a goner. Was it because Nova stole energy last time that made them seem easier to fight? I don''t know. But actually, it''s not important. Just as Blackwater City''s counterattack against the Blackrock Bug Nest, humanity''s understanding of this world isn''t always accurate. But many things need to be done before anything else. If he didn''t have his current configuration, he wouldn''t have been bold enough to assault this factory alone. Let''s see whose luck runs out! Underneath the cold rage surged a spark of inspiration, and five arrows were Bai E''s arrows of vengeance. The red-painted chivalrous Wisdom Machine reacted first, its silhouette flashing as it positioned itself directly in front of an incoming arrow, the round shield in its hand directly facing the arrow''s trajectory. Even the arc-like motion of the arrow couldn''t avoid the shield so closely in front of it. "Boom!" The arrow, capable of penetrating anything, did not spare the shield that could quickly recover, and upon touching the shield''s surface, numerous afterimages followed, piercing through. Nine strikes as one, the shadows of the arrows plunged in. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The large round shield was completely perforated, and the mechanical body behind the shield also suffered some non-penetrating damage. The internal mechanical structure was faintly visible. After passing through the Power Source Shield, the arrow lost its previously invincible power. But that was just one arrow. There were still four arrows with the same power! Using a powerful shot combined with full-powered instant-kill arrows, he unleashed his strongest move yet, expending 75 points of Spiritual Energy in an instant for unparalleled lethal damage. "Boom boom boom boom!" The dragon-like arrows left behind almost imperceptible trails in the air before collectively slamming into the targeted Wisdom Machine''s body. Of course, the body structure of a First-Generation Wisdom Machine was hard enough, its "super-alloy material" a match for the current human-made elemental series alloys. But it wasn''t enough! The arrow shadows shot through like shuttles, instantly plunging in. Without any resistance, the body of the Wisdom Machine showed four holes about a meter in diameter each. The Wisdom Machine, with its arms completely shattered, could no longer hold its two Energy Gathering Rifles, and erratic electrical currents roamed over its entire body. The pair of blue electronic eyes flickered, and the electronic synthesized mechanical voice became incredibly stuttered, "How... could this... happen?" [You delivered an extraordinary strike that instantly shattered your opponent''s defenses, gaining +35 experience in ranged weapon mastery.] [Your attack has precisely hit the target''s energy core, rendering the target''s body in "scrap" status, but it''s rapidly recovering under the effect of "Mechanized Energy Sharing," with a countdown of 29.9 seconds.] A new feature appeared in the combat attribute information of both the red and blue Wisdom Machines at the same time¡ª [Mechanized Energy Sharing: Their long-term collaboration and complementary characters and abilities allow their mechanized energy to merge and communicate without obstruction; any damage sustained by one within a certain distance will be healed by the mechanized energy of both. You must complete the synchronized "kill" within 30 seconds to truly defeat them! (Effective range: 10 kilometers)] It was after this strike that Bai E finally saw the line of text from the drop rate appearing above their heads¡ª [??? (Wisdom Machine) (Hostile) (Lord)¡ªUsing "Lucky Strike" to kill may drop: Guaranteed (Steel*8000, Combat Experience 20000 points); High Probability (Technology: Fission Field Generator, Technology: Energy Gathering Bullet Manufacturing Process); Possible (Blueprint: Energy Gathering Rifle, Blueprint: Dynamic Source Sword, Blueprint: Power Source Shield)] No wonder he hadn''t been able to see the drop rates of these two First-Generation Wisdom Machines since the fight began; it turns out the subtitles only appeared after discovering how to defeat them. The resources to be dropped were more than double those from the last Wisdom Machine he fought, and all it took was one skill recharge... assuming he could win, that is. 30 seconds! Bai E drew his sword and charged towards the red chivalrous Wisdom Machine, which had recovered and was ready for battle. The arrow''s attack was effective against the other Wisdom Machine that used the Energy Gathering Rifles, but this red chivalrous one was faster and more responsive. Attacks aimed at the blue Wisdom Machine could be completely blocked by it, and attacks on itself were likely to largely miss. Moreover, even if one or two arrows hit, if they were blocked by the Power Source Shield, not much power would be left. Under such circumstances, shooting arrows wasn''t as reliable as the sword in his hand. Without the five-fold shot from his instant-kill arrows, was he out of options? Spiritual Energy surged, and the Spiritual Power Enchantment attached to his hand grew even stronger. Chapter 525 428 a double boom_2 The damage layer added to the weapon by the magic-infused blade could double its lethality with additional expenditure of Spiritual Energy. The damage layer enhancement amounted to an additional 210 points of slashing attack power, as Bai E cranked up his limit to the maximum of 200 points/minute of Spiritual Energy expenditure. Such basic damage was far superior to his own arrows after a powerful strike, and with the full enhancement of instantly killing a hundred, the longsword''s lethality would only be greater than the arrows''... and, it would strike faster! Charging with his sword, Bai E swept past one of the smart mechanoids, leaving behind a faint afterimage, the scarlet electronic eyes already on full alert. Even knowing that a companion had been seriously injured, as long as 30 seconds could be endured, the companion would be able to fully recover. The chivalrous smart mechanoids wouldn''t back down in the slightest. The best plan, of course, was to flee, but the pride and "humanity" of the first-generation smart mechanoids would not permit such a shameful act. Only by confronting directly and fulfilling their "humanity" could they draw closer to the legendary "Soul of Ten Thousand Machines" and summon back the master of the smart mechanoids sealed by humans. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The swords swept past, and the blade light flickered. High-frequency cutting clashed fiercely against the fission field, neither giving way to the other. However, in a moment of crossing paths, the military longsword bypassed the Dynamic Source Sword''s blockade and successfully breached the inner line of the chivalrous smart mechanoid. The Power Source Shield in the left hand intervened immediately, but what it faced... was a slash as though accompanied by thousands of sword shadows. "Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom!" The recovery ability of the Power Source Shield was top-notch, capable of fully restoring itself in just a few breaths even after a lethal penetration, but... what if it faced a barrage of powerful attacks raining down on the shield simultaneously? The maximum ninefold attack enhancement of instantly killing a hundred could be considered "one strike," or "simultaneous." One sword falls, a myriad of swords arise. The nine simultaneously cutting slashes broke the recovery limit of the round shield, and its structure was instantly torn apart under the force of the powerful cuts. "Bang!" The shield, forged from an unknown metal, shattered into pieces with a crisp crack, its remnants flying off in all directions. Behind the round shield, a glimpse of human-like surprise and astonishment appeared in those scarlet electronic eyes. "Sixteen seconds¡­" Bai E''s lips curled slightly as he landed and rolled backward to dodge the instant counterattack from the Dynamic Source Sword. Deprived of its round shield, the chivalrous smart mechanoids'' swordplay became more agile, yet the first-generation smart mechanoid that had shifted from offense to defense already lost its initial arrogance. A long guard always leads to failure; Bai E''s longsword was like a venomous snake, bypassing the guard of the Dynamic Source Sword and striking at the midline for the second time. One sword fell, and shadows of blades danced wildly. If the Power Source Shield couldn''t withstand Bai E''s one strike, how could the basic smart mechanoid''s body withstand this earth-shattering blow. The sword wind was piercingly cold, shredding everything. The disassembled mechanical structures scattered on the ground, accompanied by the convulsions and tremors of the entire mechanoid body. [Your attack has successfully dismantled the target''s entire defense, rendering the target''s body into a "scrap" state, but it is rapidly recovering under the effect of "Shared Mechanical Power," countdown: 29.9 seconds.] Another one, 3 seconds left¡­ Picking up the main remnant of the red smart mechanoid, Bai E threw it next to the blue smart mechanoid before reaching out to grip the iron bar again, as the Spiritual Power Enchantment began to change shape. "2 seconds¡­" "Grow!" "Grow!" "Grow!" "1 second¡­" [Activating "Lucky Strike."] "Boom!" The iron bar smashed down, shattering the earth. The fractured ground spread outward from the point where the bar struck, extending all the way to the edge of the factory. [Loot acquired: Steel*8000, Combat Experience 20000 points, Technology: Fission Field Generator, Technology: Energy Gathering Bullet Manufacturing Process, Blueprint: Energy Gathering Rifle, Blueprint: Dynamic Source Sword.] "Huff~" "Huff~" Cold sweat trickled down Bai E''s forehead like rain, soaking the only remaining half of his uniform trousers. The temples throbbed violently, and the massive replenishment and depletion of Spiritual Energy brought unimaginable shock damage to Bai E''s will, making the moment the battle ended feel like a red-hot knife stirring inside him. Waves of overwhelming fatigue surged up, and darkness tried over and over again to take over Bai E''s entire field of view. [After an exhilarating and intense battle, your body''s training has reached its limit, and you''ve achieved a transcendental enhancement: Physical Strength +0.2, Insight +0.2, Reflexes +0.2.] The surge of newly birthed strength brought a sliver of lucidity into his mind, allowing Bai E to barely cling to the last thread of consciousness without fainting. The power of Spiritual Energy burst out for the last time, merging with the iron rod to sweep across the land. What remained of machine gun turrets, newly created Smart Machinery, and all other defensive systems were obliterated in this final strike, leaving the ground marred and scarred. Having done all this, Bai E scanned the land with weary eyes, and after seeing no more moving threats, finally closed his eyes in contentment as his body fell heavily backwards. "It''s our turn now!" Rose threw aside everything in her hand and slammed down on the gas pedal, roaring out. The incoming convoy in the distance was probably people called by Bai E, but she couldn''t just watch Bai E''s fallen body end up in the hands of some riffraff. Take full control! Bai E, unconscious, needn''t worry about a thing, and faced with the fierce record of a single person taking down an entire Smart Machinery Factory, no one dared to harbor any unusual thoughts. The uncollected Smart Machinery still laid scattered about, who would want to try their luck and meet the same fate? The convoy summoned by Gilder and the player-led small town convoy, seeing this inconceivable scene, could only emit a united exclamation of awe from the uninitiated¡ª "Turtle turtle!" "Turtle turtle!" They had watched the whole process of the battle, and though from a distance, they at least knew the target of the battle and the terrifying destructive power that both sides had unleashed. Not to mention the final peak battle, even the initial cluster rocket bombardment wasn''t something these inexperienced nobodies could withstand. And an entire factory... was just taken down by one person? Every time their gaze occasionally swept over the closely guarded off-road vehicle, everyone''s eyes held the same admiration and reverence. "So personal might in this game can grow to be this fierce?" "It seems our lord had been holding back when teaching us..." Players busily moved everything transportable within the factory, all the while fantasizing about their own future development limits. They didn''t ask for much, just to have a template like this NPC''s would suffice. With that strength, what bugs, demons, Smart Machinery, and orc-like catastrophes? We would be the damn catastrophe! ... The convoy swayed and wobbled. The daylight sun shone through the window, illuminating the interior of the vehicle. Bai E, placed as gently as possible on soft bedding, slowly woke up amidst a warm touch. He felt a cool, soothing moisture nourishing his parched sea of consciousness. The external Spiritual Energy carefully nourished his recently overstretched and cracked land, and his sea of consciousness, having endured a full exercise, birthed an even more condensed surge of Spiritual Energy. [After several cycles of depletion and replenishment in a short period, your Spiritual Energy has undergone substantial training, Spiritual Energy +50/50.] An extraordinary breakthrough. This was a superlative leap that ordinary Spiritual Energy users could only achieve after meditating for an unknown length of time. Spiritual Energy users were already rare, and the upgrades available to a second tier Spiritual Energy user were exceedingly slow. That''s why the process from the second tier to the third tier was so incredibly prolonged, so much so that a Spiritual Energy user might never touch the third tier in their lifetime. And as for myself... Spiritual Energy 281/281. The 1000 points needed for a third tier Spiritual Energy user... still a considerable distance away. Bai E opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Nova''s eyes, moist and gleaming. "Wow! Big Bai!" "Cough cough cough~" The girl''s strength was no joke, and as Bai E was still somewhat weakened upon waking, he weakly patted the girl''s head buried into his neck, "Relax a little... relax..." Chapter 526 429 Hand-rubbed Reactor During his coma, it was this little creature who ceaselessly nourished his sea of consciousness with her Spiritual Energy. Having undergone countless rebirths, Nova seemed to have concentrated all of her beauty into this present life. Only after he had finally calmed Nova''s emotions did Bai E sit up and look towards his teammates in the carriage, "How''s the situation?" "We''re already on our way to the ruins of the small town." You, sitting in the front passenger seat, was the first to reply, "We''re scouting ahead, with a fully loaded convoy behind us, including vehicles and teams from Black Street and the small town, and everyone is intact. As for the loot... we haven''t tallied it yet, but as per your initial request, we emptied out all the visible ''Computing Power Resources,'' rare minerals, and any movable small machineries and machine tools." Many creations of smart machinery pose usage barriers for humans; without skilled technicians to modify them, they are difficult to put into immediate use. However, purely production-oriented machine tools and equipment are not fundamentally different from those used by humans, making them not particularly difficult to decrypt and use. "That''s good," said Bai E with a nod, relieved to have accomplished a significant offensive, and of course, to reap the benefits in one go. Apart from the Computing Power Resources needed for his personal use, only those iron machine tools from the smart machinery''s creations capable of producing different parts were truly useful for Li Ming Town. Even though he already possessed advanced technologies like Fission Field Generators and concentrated energy bullet manufacturing processes, Li Ming Town still had to start from the basics and work up step by step. While speaking, Bai E''s body swayed with the movement of the carriage, then he suddenly fell silent. His Spiritual Energy, having broken through substantially, allowed for a clearer perception of the outside world, and his keen Spiritual Energy relayed back a peculiar sensation. ... Concentrating his mind, Bai E followed the fleeting sensation to explore, and so he discovered several "watchful" gazes. They were watching, not admiring. With a threat? Bai E picked up the Compound Bow placed by his side, casually opened the sunroof inside the vehicle, and flipped out. Without even glancing in the direction of the target, he drew the bow and released the arrow. "Whoosh!" The arrow buried into the ground, tearing through the black leather. Watching the finely made steel arrow with its fletching trembling by his side, the black leather-clad warrior who had been following the convoy left and right was shocked, and his pursuit steps became hesitant. The other party had noticed them! This arrow was a warning! Remembering the opponent''s ferocious achievement of single-handedly annihilating the Smart Machinery Factory, even the warrior who had undergone numerous surgeries and whose physical strength was beyond that of a human couldn''t help but feel a sincere tremor in his heart. "Stop chasing," said the leading warrior, waving his hand to stop his teammates, his tone solemn, "Go back and report to the doctor; we are not enough to confront him." ... With the awakening of Bai E, there were no more disturbances along the way. It''s challenging to live in the wilderness for long in this era, but when someone as strong as Bai E leads the way, as long as one avoids the forbidden areas deliberately, the wilderness isn''t that dangerous after all. Seeing the distant convoy returning, the three players guarding the entrance to the town were overjoyed. In the few days since the adults had left Li Ming Town, they had each made progress in their fields and couldn''t wait to showcase them to the adult. The off-road vehicle stopped in front of a fence surrounded by wooden railings, and as Bai E jumped down from the vehicle, he was greeted by the smiling faces of Yafei and the brothers Wang Wenbo and Wang Wenyan. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "My lord!" "My lord!" "The town has developed quite well during these days," they said. Bai E glanced over the quietly standing row of apartment buildings in the distance. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire The exterior walls hadn''t been painted yet, but the basic structure was essentially complete. The old asphalt roads had also been cleared, leaving behind a standard for posterity amidst the ravages of time. All things considered, the place now looked somewhat like a residential area of a town. "Of course!" Wang Wenbo gestured towards the distance, "We have basically finished the reconstruction of the residential area, and these past two days, we''ve been moving most of the people to the steel production plant to build infrastructure. By the way, my lord, did the equipment arrive this time? As long as we have the equipment, the steel plant won''t take long to start production." They did have some steel left by the adults, but building an entire production factory required more than just steel. Many places needed precise parts to be connected, something they couldn''t just conjure by hand. "They''ve arrived," said Bai E, a smile on his lips as he looked behind him. The heavy convoy slowly rose from the distant horizon, weighed down so much that even the wheels of the fully loaded vehicles appeared deflated, making the journey noticeably slow and labored. "Have someone help unload and then hurry up with the production," Bai E said, patting Wang Wenbo on the shoulder and feeling extremely satisfied with the players'' execution. One day in this world is just one day, but for players, everything in the game feels like it''s in fast forward, with one day used as if it were ten, planning their time with meticulous care. Leaving these infrastructure tasks to the players is quite reassuring. "Understood, my lord!" The Wang brothers shouted, their bodies instantly darting out. This type of infrastructure construction also allowed them to experience the alternative thrill available in the game. Chapter 527 429 Hand-rubbed Reactor_2 In a chaotic world, to create one''s own safe haven also entails a sense of achievement. "My lord," watching the two brothers cheer and leave, Yafei met Bai E''s gaze with a slight nod. "Any trouble?" As the stall expanded, Bai E had to pay attention to many things. "Yes!" Yafei nodded firmly, "One bad news, one good news." "Start with the bad one." Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire "The food we brought out is running low, even with a 20% cut across the board, at most we can only last another month." Although they still had plenty for now, as the logistics chief, Yafei had to possess a certain level of foresight. One month was not enough for them to find a new source of food to bridge the gap. Bai E''s brows furrowed lightly, "What about the good news?" "We''ve found a type of spore bacteria colony that can be cultivated on a large scale. The colony is edible with a decent yield, but we only have a limited amount of seeds... They say it was you who gave them to us?" Bai E looked puzzled, following Yafei''s gaze towards Kuang Xin and the others behind him, "I gave it to you?" Kuang Xin, scratching his head, replied with a grin, "It''s that ''spore bacteria colony.'' We didn''t know what to do with it, so we just handed it to Yafei." "Spore bacteria colony?" Wasn''t that blasted off the beastmen? Essentially, beastmen are a type of spore bacteria colony. The beastman spore bacteria colony obtained from a lucky hit actually eliminated the "beastman vitality"? So that the grown colony could no longer turn into beastmen, but became food edible by humans? Does a lucky hit also have this effect? But it''s a pity that it only blasted once... "2,500 portions, go to the warehouse to claim them." "Yes!" Yafei accepted with excitement. Standing in the bustling town, Bai E had an idea and set a new rule¡ª ["Li Ming Town" restoration progress reaches 10%, unlocking the first process of the town restoration plan.] [Official Position¡ªLogistics Department technology column unlocked.] [Technology¡ªIndustrialized Basic Planting, Redemption Requirement¡ª300 points of "Li Ming Town" prestige.] Although all the technology and knowledge related to the development of power were things Bai E originally planned to teach, after all, the eventual benefits would still belong to himself. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, everything must have a price, Li Ming Town was his, not the players''. Players today might serve as the logistics chief of Li Ming Town, and tomorrow they might serve another power as laborers. If they were to receive one new technology after another without any cost, it would hardly make them take it seriously. Investment breeds attachment. The prestige system for powers is a standard of one''s contribution, only those who have made significant contributions to the power and hold a position can learn these abilities and, in turn, contribute to the construction of the power, continuing to accumulate prestige. A healthy feedback loop is thus established. Bai E set a very low requirement for the initial major food production task. Basically, any player involved in the reclamation already had over 200 points, so gathering 300 points was easy. Bai E then waved his hand and summoned the leader of the convoy that came from Black Street. The leader was a young lad with lively eyes, exuding cleverness. And since he was selected by Gilder, he was surely trustworthy. "Do you have an actual position in Black Street?" "No!" The young man shook his head vigorously, excitement on his face. "Good, then from now on you''ll be responsible for the communication between this town and Black Street, in charge of personnel exchanges and material swaps and so on. Any problem?" "No problem!" The young man asserted with confidence, loudly responding. He had witnessed with his own eyes how this lord single-handedly cleared out an entire Smart Machinery Factory. Such formidable strength, even if looked at across the entire city, would be rare to find. Truly worthy of the lord who had led them back to humanity from the hands of devils. To abandon such a lord for the embrace of the city would be nothing short of turning one''s back on the light and embracing the dark. Leave the adult and return to the city? Hah! Not even a dog would go! "Alright." [You have invited "Kardi" to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs between your territory (Li Ming Town) and your ruled land (Black Street).] [The target has accepted your invitation.] "Nova?" "Present!" "From now on, when Kardi needs help with transporting important materials or personnel, you''ll have to lend him a hand." Black Street was probably already being watched, so having Nova run back and forth might actually help to avoid the enemy''s surveillance. Before Bai E could lock down the doctor''s whereabouts and ascertain the opponent''s motives, he had to make some preparations of his own. Even the group that had just been discovered and might be doing the surveillance wasn''t confirmed to be under the doctor''s orders. "Alright!" Nova accepted Bai E''s request cheerfully, without the slightest bit of reluctance. "Master! Master!" Wang Wenyan, who had left earlier, was calling out and running back. "What happened?" "Master¡­" Wang Wenyan was panting heavily, explaining while catching his breath, "Electricity¡­ electricity¡­" The folks who were eagerly unloading various machine tools and equipment just attempted to start one of the machines, only to realize a disappointing fact after much tinkering. Damn, there''s no electricity! How can the machines start without electricity? "Electricity, huh¡­" Bai E chuckled, "Follow me." As he walked, Bai E allocated his points directly. Learning consumes less experience, the basics only require 100 points, and it''s on the same level as specialized abilities. Now with plenty of experience in hand, Bai E did not hesitate to level up the required knowledge to max. As for the necessary reactor materials¡­ there were plenty just obtained from the looted Smart Machinery legacy. [Knowledge ¨C Miniaturized Kinetic Theory (Level 3/3): The finer the reactor, the higher-grade core materials are needed. Checking the resources currently owned by the character, you can now build a level 1 nuclear reactor.] The so-called miniaturized power is the small nuclear reactor used by the Smart Machinery. Their Dynamic Source Sword, Power Source Shield, and the like, all are powered by this core energy supply. The smaller the power source, the smaller the structure it can be mounted on to support its function. Now, they only needed to build a power station that could support the electricity needed by a fixed steel mill, so there was no need for such refined miniaturized power. Even the most basic level 1 large nuclear reactor was enough for the current use of the small town. The difficulty with this ability lies in the materials, not the knowledge. With the seized materials at hand and countless pieces of knowledge in his mind to guide him, creating a nuclear reactor from scratch wasn''t a difficult task. The technology of the Golden Age possesses such fascinating charm, with many steps simplified to the point where a single person could construct a technological legion. After staying another two days in the town, which was being rebuilt, and ensuring that everything was on the right track, Bai E took his squad and set out on the road back home once again. The deadline for the ban mentioned by the higher-ups the last time they left the base was approaching, and their special squad no longer had the privilege to carry out missions far from the camp at will. ¡­ Indeed, as soon as Bai E''s special squad returned to the base, the Mech Armored Corps instructor who heard of their arrival immediately came looking for them. "Captain Bai, please don''t go out again in these next two days." Even though your mech''s actual operation skill is stronger than mine, the instructor, you can''t be absent all the time, right? Many of the newly selected official mech pilots want to witness the prowess of this star mech pilot, but the instructor''s reply to everyone was "can''t find the person"? "Don''t worry, Instructor, there''s training tomorrow, right? I''ll definitely be there." After many days, Bai E was somewhat missing his beloved mecha. The last time he connected, the delay in converting Spiritual Energy into mechanic force was 2.03 seconds. If he were to be fully prepared before really facing that terrifying sovereign, Bai E would have more confidence in defeating the horrific Bug Race behemoth. "That''s a promise then, rawr!" Hearing Bai E''s commitment, the instructor was over the moon. The young rookies nowadays are quite prickly, and it''s not easy to reign them in without pulling out a big gun. Chapter 528 430 Relaxed Early morning, the fields outside the city. More than twenty mechas, painted in blue and white, stood silently arrayed on the land. In front of them, there were two other mechas of the same model, facing each other in silence. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The instructor''s voice emitted from the loudspeakers inside the cockpit of each mecha, announcing the training content for all mech pilots today. "Standing beside me is the legend of Mech Armored Corps, the goal that all of you work hard for. Today''s training is very simple. Use whatever method you like... whether it''s a relay or a group fight. As long as you can bring down the mecha beside me, the victor may make any request of me! As long as it''s within reason, if I can''t do it, I will apply to the superior! Just fight, and leave the rest to me. Understood?" "Understood!" The crowd was fervent, and the voices from the speakers were a jumble. During the time Bai E was away on missions, Mech Armored Corps had consecutively selected several pairs of qualified mech pilots from the reserves. Apart from the initial batch who had been to battle with Bai E and witnessed him forcefully break through and behead the Thunderbeast, the newly selected pilots somewhat resented the "formidable reputation" left by Bai E. All were mech pilots, and occasional sparring in daily life could result in wins and losses. They didn''t believe the same mecha could not perform spectacularly in someone else''s hands. They clamored to the instructor, expressing the desire to meet the current "legend" of the Mech Armored Corps. Not just to admire his legendary aura but more so to see if they could gain some advantage over him. To be outmatched in a fight was to recognize the gap, but to win... one always needs something to look forward to, right? Seeing the rivalry successfully stirred, the instructor curled his lips into a slight smirk and asked Bai in a private audio channel, "Captain Bai, any concerns?" "None," Bai E glanced at the distant barracks and countered, "Will it be troublesome to repair if they''re damaged? I heard the decisive battle is drawing near." The instructor waved his hand expansively, "Don''t worry! Fight all you want!" "Okay." Bai E and Rose exchanged a glance, a tacit smile in their eyes. Although it had been nearly half a month since they last operated a mecha, the muscle memory they''d developed was hard to forget so quickly. On the contrary, after this break and returning to the mecha, Rose suddenly felt a new level of comprehension in the operation of the mecha. And when paired with Bai E, they couldn''t be that far off, could they? ... "Let''s begin," the instructor''s light words kicked off the battle. He then withdrew to the back, driving his mecha alongside the personage of Mechanical Court. With Bai E returning to the squad today, the personage of Mechanical Court, who had long been absent from the Mech Armored Corps training, took time out to come. "Wonder if this kid''s skills have become rusty..." The instructor looked at the single blue and white mecha standing alone, his tone somewhat wistful as he deliberately struck up the topic. "Rusty?" The personage from Mechanical Court''s tone took an uptick, his eyes narrowing, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Even in just a simple standing posture, he sensed something out of the ordinary. That feeling was like the prelude to a relentless slaughter during judgment missions in Mechanical Court alongside other senior executioners. Whether it was becoming rusty or even more skillful, it would soon be clear. "Buzz!" The sound of engines running merged into a continuous whir, and the mechas of Mech Armored Corps, having been in an irregular formation, instantaneously dispersed. Despite not restricting relay fights or group brawls, the training mechas weren''t equipped with many types of weapons, only basic combat swords and a machine gun that couldn''t breach most of the mecha''s defenses, making the weaponry options limited for the pilots to choose from. To rush forward together would not only likely hinder each other, the unfamiliar coordination could also cause accidental injuries to teammates. The two mechas at the forefront of the formation glanced at each other, nodded, and decided to take the initiative to strike first and test the "legend''s" mettle. Acting first naturally meant losing more opportunity to observe the opponent, but where could you have the chance to leisurely watch and then analyze your opponent on the actual battlefield? Adapting on-the-fly was a basic skill of every warrior. As elites who had distinguished themselves from the reserve mech pilots, they were both confident in their abilities. The two mechas, one left and one right, boldly attacked! The alloy combat swords traced arced trajectories in the air, and their two different feinting methods undoubtedly required the target of their combined strike to expend more effort to counter them. Since everyone was piloting mechas of the same technical standard, in terms of strength, speed, and even weapon configuration, there was no chance of miraculous feats of strength or absolute speed. Apart from the title of "Captain''s Mecha," there was no difference between the mechas. However... with a light retreat backward, the swords of the two mechas missed their mark at the same time. And taking advantage of the moment one mecha''s sword swung down in a slanting chop, the Captain''s Mecha, not yet fully withdrawn, surged forward again, the sword slashing toward the opponent''s right arm holding the sword, ferocious and ruthless. "Clang!" Apart from a few areas, the arm armor''s protection was second only to the chest plate. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire The mecha struck solidly by the combat sword emitted a loud noise, but that was the full extent of the "Captain''s Mecha''s" counter. The slight dent was the only result of that retaliation. Chapter 529 430 Relaxed "Is it crooked?" Retreating to one side, the instructor squinted his eyes. There was nothing wrong with his student''s movements, a standard chop, but it was slow, and the follow-up left a substantial opening exposed. Based on the level of the Mech Pilot group that Bai E belonged to on the battlefield, they should have been able to dismember his arm with one strike. But now... The instructor glanced to the side; he spoke up because he wanted to see what this VIP from the Mechanical Court thought, yet the Mechanical Court dignitary remained silent. The battle on the field continued. The captain''s Mecha, with a sword strike to the Mecha''s forearm, retreated instantaneously, preemptively dodging another strike coming from a different Mecha from behind. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, the Mecha that had just been hacked at didn''t even have time to plan a counterattack before it was smashed in the chest by a blow from its ally. "Damn!" The voice boomed! The chest armor was sturdier, no injuries inflicted, but the disadvantage was apparent. This is why the weapons used for training were low-power weapons: their inability to easily break through defenses allowed for more thorough and detailed exchanges of blows. To clearly determine a victor would require a drawn-out battle... or indeed, a vast disparity in skill. In regular Mecha sparring sessions among peers, a point system based on hits would determine the winner, but not this time. Inside the doubly hit Mecha, the two Mech Pilots made eye contact, fury blazing in their eyes. They knew there was definitely a gap between themselves and the "legend," and had even braced themselves to be knocked down in one move. However, under these tickling blows, no gap emerged, only the mediocrity of the opponent was apparent. "Aim properly, don''t fucking hit me again!" With a brief communication through the team''s voice chat, the two Mechas once again lunged from left and right. Bai E sighed softly and pulled his Mecha to the right. "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" The alloy sword drew countless arcs through the air, the dense sword light seemingly forcing the captain''s Mecha to avoid its edge, left with no choice but to dodge repeatedly. After endless dodging, the two attacking Mechas unwittingly created a disparity between themselves. One after the other, as if they were working in concert. When one would reveal an opening with a strike, there seemed to always be the other coincidentally ready to take its place. One strike followed by another, as if without end. The instructor, who had been watching intently with squinted eyes, couldn''t believe how the situation on the field had somehow evolved to this phase. He had brought Bai E here to give these kids a taste of the power at the very top. Yet instead of demonstrating the gap, these kids had been getting more and more in sync, more and more adept as they fought on. Perhaps Captain Bai had intended to give these youngsters a chance to show off... but had he unwittingly become caught up in the performance? With no disparity in Mecha performance, once caught in such a situation, it would be exceedingly difficult to break free. Hmm... These pairs of kids have potential too, being able to push Bai E to this extent. How had it gone unnoticed before? "..." Realizing this, the instructor froze for an instant, identifying a blind spot he hadn''t noticed before. "That''s not right..." Had these kids ever worked together before? It wasn''t like he hadn''t tried having them spar in groups before, but those sparring sessions were not exactly fruitful. Controlling a Mecha was already a challenging task, and battles were best handled in a one-on-one scenario without any external influence to fully utilize the Mecha''s power, which had been concluded as the most suitable arrangement for Mech Pilots in previous generations. However, now... Lost in thought, the instructor came back to his senses and, like seeking assistance, turned his gaze to the dignitary from the Mechanical Court next to him. A cold smile flickered across the Mechanical Court dignitary''s usually silent disposition, "You just realized?" From the beginning, Bai E''s plan wasn''t to quickly end the fight. Helping the instructor train these rookie Mech Pilots in teamwork was Bai E''s real intention. Through his own suppression, he had the Mech Pilot teams learn the essence of seamless teamwork in battle. This intangible change, even they themselves hadn''t noticed. ``` However, just as the coordination between the two mechas was becoming increasingly tacit, and the captain''s machine was constantly facing dangerous situations under their pincer attack, the moment the pilots saw a glimmer of victory, the situation changed abruptly. In the very moment the mecha, forced to lose its balance and fall by a single cut, touched the ground, the captain''s machine braced itself with one arm and executed a whirlwind sweep kick on the spot, driving back another mecha that had already closed in. Subsequently, with both arms propping on the ground, a reverse V-shaped flying kick struck instantaneously, solidly hitting the chest of the pursuing mecha. The immense force instantly flipped over the huge figure, which had become unstable due to the pursuit, and the captain''s machine, pressing down on the opponent from above, then extended both hands in a twist, easily removing the head of the fallen mecha. "Beep! Beep! Beep!" The piercing alarm bell rang loudly, and the cockpit was bathed in a flashing scarlet light. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire The downed group of mech pilots did not even have time to respond with a counterattack before their mecha had already lost most of its ability to resist. With the loss of one mecha, the other was also unable to escape the grasp of doom. In just an instant, the tide of attack and defense reversed. However, upon witnessing that desperate counter-attack by the captain''s machine, the remaining pilots were even more excited. A simple cooperation between two groups of mech pilots had pushed this "legendary" figure to such an extent. If it hadn''t been for their carelessness due to their proximity to victory, the so-called "legend" would have been suppressed to death. "Watch us!" Two more mechas charged into battle. That V-shaped revenge kill just now was indeed cool, but an instant of high-intensity operation inevitably led to a high load on the pilot. The captain''s machine must have entered a brief state of overload by now, and although taking advantage of this moment might seem like an unfair win, since the instructor had said that winning by overwhelming numbers or any means of beating the opponent was still a win, why not seize the opportunity? On the battlefield, learning to seize opportunities is equally a fundamental requirement for a warrior. "Swoosh!" "Ratatatatata!" The cooperation between the second group of mechas appeared to be more thoughtful, with one attacking from a distance and one up close, one wielding a sword, and one with a gun. Though the training-supplied machine guns couldn''t penetrate armor, they still inflicted certain damage and impact force when they hit the body. In their regular score-based sparring sessions, these would all count as points. Yet facing the captain''s machine, which always used its companion''s form for cover, the mecha at the rear soon abandoned the idea of sniping from a distance. Thus, after another period of "suppression¡ªpursuit¡ªturnaround", two more freshly downed mechas lay on the vast earth. The remaining pilots were visibly starting to doubt themselves, but there were always braves full of self-confidence, "This time, let''s go up three at once!" The first two groups of mechas didn''t exert enough pressure! Looking at the last two battles, they were just a little bit short... Three mechas lay heavily wounded on the ground. "... just a little bit short!" Three mechas lay heavily wounded on the ground. "I don''t believe it!" Even the mechas standing further away began to offer long-range firepower support for their comrades engaged in close combat. But the captain''s machine, holding a shield in one hand and a sword in the other, stood as an everlasting bastion, invincible. Regardless of how many mechas approached, they only ended up being counter-killed after seemingly overpowering advances. Each had its own way of dying... The damaged mechas lay scattered all around, giving the maintenance-serving mechs a headache. "..." "Good, good, good!" The instructor''s excited voice resounded in the ears of every mech pilot. Amazing! Too amazing! The instructor was touched to the point of tears. Compared to the past absolute dominance over multiple opponents, casually counter-killing after the others had unconsciously learned to cooperate seemed even more graceful, exuding the demeanor of a peerless grandmaster. And more so... Was Captain Bai actually helping them train? For the Mech Armored Corps about to go into battle against the Bug Race, the training camp led by Captain Bai was of immense significance. If his young charges could learn to coordinate intricately, then they would clearly have far more tactical options when facing the titanic bugs of the Bug Race. "You kept clamoring to meet Captain Bai, and now... Our Captain Bai has wasted an entire day with you during this training camp, surely you''ve seen the gap in strength, haven''t you?" ``` Chapter 530 431 Smart Machine Counterattack! All mechas had broken down, and all mech pilots stood in the open field. Facing the instructor''s lecture, everyone remained silent. Perhaps at the very beginning, they only felt that the so-called "legend" was nothing special, that it could be suppressed when ganged upon by two or three mechas. However, when the same script played out from beginning to end, even a fool could see the problem. This "legend" had been letting them. If one paid more attention, they could even discover that not only was he letting them, but he was also intentionally guiding them on how to collaborate when attacking a strong enemy, demonstrating the strength of 1+1 being greater than 2. The gap... was unimaginably wide. How confident must one be to casually pull off such a bold move? And yet, the other side had done it with such ease. The gap between this group of "Legendary Mechanics" and them was indeed even greater than that between humans and dogs... Elite mech pilots, selected from the elite, were speechlessly convinced. ["Lucky Strike" charge +50.] "I''m going to head back if there''s nothing else," a gentle voice appeared in all the warriors'' headsets. The moment he received the panel notification, Bai E knew he had achieved his goal for this field training. Simply defeating them might only bring about dissatisfaction and the desire to challenge, but this kind of instructional sparing truly demonstrated its value. If it wasn''t for that charge, would he bother spending a whole day tangled up with these rookie regular mech pilots? As soon as he returned to the camp, Bai E set down Rose. "I''ll drive it to the storeroom myself; you go ahead and leave," he said. Back at the camp, Bai E didn''t have much to do, but with the imminent departure, it was always good to strengthen the link with his mecha and reduce the delay time of his Spiritual Energy converting into mech power. "Got it," Rose said, giving Bai E a look that was somewhat resentful, as if she had been led on and then abandoned. In the hangar, the lights were bright. The mech servants, having just received the notice from their superiors, were fully prepared, waiting for the mechas to return one by one from outside. Of course, they possessed the technical reserves for quick field repairs, but a more meticulous comprehensive inspection and in-depth maintenance had to be done in a professional hangar. Now it wasn''t wartime, and as long as the power system could barely function, a mecha crawling back was always better than undergoing field repairs. Seeing the first mecha return on its own without too many scars, all the mech servants couldn''t help but look on enviously and admiringly. They got the message¡ªtoday, only two mechas would be "alive" to return. One belonged to the instructor, and the other... had single-handedly taken down all the other mechas. Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Undoubtedly, the mecha in front of them was that legendary mecha piloted by the Legendary Mechanics! The mech servants who were otherwise idle eagerly anticipated what kind of extraordinary figure would emerge from the cockpit. "Tick-tock~" "Tick-tock~" As the seconds ticked away, not a single figure appeared on the silent mecha. "Could it be that they''ve already left?" "With so many eyes watching, where could they have gone?" After hesitating for a moment, the hangar manager opened the communication channel with the docked mecha through backend privileges. "Hello, this is the hangar control desk." After some "zzz" static noise, a clear and gentle male voice responded, "This is Bai E, pilot of mecha W0721. What''s the matter?" Excited yet still with a restrained tone, the hangar manager asked, "I was wondering if your mech sustained any damage during the recent field training. As per usual practice, we need to perform a full inspection of the mecha after it returns to the hangar. I''m wondering if now... would be convenient?" "Oh~" Bai E was taken aback, having completely forgotten this matter, "That would be fine. Come on ahead." It couldn''t be more suitable. The longer the link was established, the more Bai E felt he could sense fluctuations in the mecha akin to human emotions, like joy... or sadness. When the mecha was in good condition, it was joy; when damaged, sadness. In a full day of constant battle, even Bai E couldn''t dodge every attack. Although bullets fired from machine guns couldn''t penetrate the defense, they still left many dense white marks on the mecha''s body. Sliding down the cockpit ladder, several mech servants immediately came over, humble and not daring to look directly at Bai E, beginning their inspection work while averting their eyes. ''Am I really that intimidating?'' Bai E pursed his lips, happy for the peace. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Watching the massive mecha being grasped by huge mechanical claws, with various mechanical tentacles entering and exiting its body, Bai E was momentarily captivated. Even a simple excavator digging the soil could hold his attention for quite some time, let alone such a sci-fi styled giant humanoid weapon. Even after having operated one several times, Bai E''s interest in mechas had not diminished. Time ticked along rapidly. In a moment of distraction, a hangar worker who seemed to be the leader approached Bai E with the utmost respect, "Sir, your mecha is fully prepped and we await your next use." "Hmm... Thank you," Bai E nodded his acknowledgment and then re-entered the mecha''s cockpit. Chapter 531 431 Smart Machine Counterattack!_2 While conducting maintenance on Bai E''s ride, damaged mechs had already begun to return from the field, one after another. Looking down from the high cockpit, the various maintenance drones resembled tiny ants, scurrying about in the vast hangar. It seemed they occasionally encountered tricky issues; probing with their mechanical tentacles failed to pinpoint the crux of the problems. Several grey-haired old masters were the ones they turned to for help. Each had their own expertise. Bai E curled his lips into a smile, retracted his gaze, and prepared to close his eyes to rest, intending to cultivate Spiritual Energy. However, the moment he closed his eyes, a series of abrupt beeps sounded from inside his chest. "Beep beep beep~" The distinctive sound came from the communicator he had personally modified, similar to those he had given to Gilder and Kuang Xin, products exchanged with the military that he had privately altered. Also a creation based on the internet, it possessed the same performance as the military''s products, but any data transmitted would not be captured by the military''s equipment. There were only two parties that could contact this communicator¡ªeither Gilder or Kuang Xin. And no matter who it was, they wouldn''t initiate contact with him unless facing special circumstances. What happened? Bai E''s brow furrowed slightly as he unzipped his uniform and took out the inconspicuously hidden, compact communicator. From a player¡ª "Artificial intelligence retaliation, the town is lost!" The message was brief, yet the information was concise. Bai E had long known that AI always sought retribution. Even for revenge, however, one had to find the real culprit. As long as their operations were sufficiently covert and left no traces, Bai E did not believe these entities possessed the capacity for global pursuit. The last time he and others attacked the AI fortress, hadn''t there been no repercussions? Although the troops under the command of the doctor did annihilate the first wave of AI reinforcements that very night, there was a substantial period when the first wave had retaken the fortress, yet they made no pursuit. But clearly... this time, there was a misstep. Either he had overestimated the stealth of their actions, or he had underestimated the AI''s tracking methods. Did he regret it? Not at all. In the battle against the AI, it was a fight that had to happen sooner or later. Regardless of whether it was for the development of the town, having a virtual world meant he needed the "Computing Power Resources" produced by AI. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since the incident had already occurred, all that was left was to consider how to solve it. "Ensure the safety of personnel during evacuation," Bai E replied immediately. The town was their "foundation," and without his say, they probably wouldn''t dare make decisions. Bai E of course wanted to save people. As the town was already a ruin, he didn''t mind starting over from scratch. But personnel were hard to come by. In this era, people were both valuable and worthless. Expendable lives were plentiful; probably every city saw countless poor die every day from various diseases, hunger, or bullying. Yet loyal personnel who could be of use to him were incredibly important to the current Bai E. To lose people and keep land would mean losing both; to keep people and lose land meant keeping both. "Beep beep beep~" The response came back quickly, but it was only two brief words¡ª "...Fight to the death." Fight to the death... Fight to the death! They couldn''t even manage a safe retreat? Bai E quietly clenched the communicator in his hand, for the first time feeling that the situation had spiraled out of his control. The distance was too great, and in his current state, he was powerless despite his willingness. Unless... Bai E''s gaze shifted downwards; the dark grey platform underfoot remained silent but was exceptionally reliable. Mechas could disregard harsh terrains; with their field movement speed far surpassing any known human vehicle and their defensive capabilities maxed out, as long as one didn''t crash headlong into a Bug Race nest, one could virtually traverse the fields with impunity. If one were to pilot a mecha... perhaps it could still be in time? But according to the normal procedure, how should he "learn" of a group of "refugees" being attacked by intelligent machinery far outside the city? And even dispatch a mecha to rescue them? Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire In the eyes of the military, a group of refugees of unknown origin probably isn''t as important as the materials expended and the risks undertaken for a mecha sortie. Submitting an application would surely only lead to rejection. Or... Act first, report later? "..." Just the thought of this sole possibility for carrying out the rescue made Bai E''s heart pound "thump-thump." On one side, his own foundation. On the other, the order of the barracks. Whether he could protect himself with his current strength, prestige, and status in the barracks, Bai E wasn''t sure. He was no longer that newly created artificial human who was always on tenterhooks, afraid of being dissected at any moment. Perhaps it wasn''t out of the question to challenge the status quo... to test how this era really regarded someone with his potential and strength. Besides, even if he messed up... Yue Ying''s promise was his last line of defense. "Buzz!" "Buzz!" The sudden movement of the intact, enormous mecha naturally startled many mech servants who were working overtime in the hangar. It was already evening. Where would the mecha be headed at this hour? The warehouse manager urgently connected to the voice channel inside Bai E''s cockpit, "Captain Bai?" "I''ve just received a notice from the instructor. We are close to deploying, and we need to carry out a mission at night to enhance our nocturnal training." "..." It sounded reasonable, pretty convincing. But something seemed off... Before the manager could figure out what was amiss, the enormous mecha continued on its way. "The mission is urgent, I''m heading out now." "Oh~ Take care," the manager said almost reflexively. A regular mech pilot of the Mech Armored Corps was treated like nobility in the barracks, let alone a "legendary" one. An ordinary mech servant could be crushed to death by these elites without so much as a peep, which was why all mech servants both respected and feared each regular pilot. Only soldiers who were doing poorly in the armored battalion would be transferred to the position of a mech servant. Even though the manager was the head of all the mech servants, he was essentially a mech servant nonetheless. They had the right to refuse a mecha sortie, but generally wouldn''t... nor dare to go against the will of the regular pilots. Suddenly recalling something, the manager shouted after the retreating mecha, "Sir, you haven''t equipped your weapon modules!" Apart from the basic equipment like the alloy sword and shield, all other armaments including machine guns, missile arrays, flamethrowers, and so on, were only loaded into the mecha body before a battle when needed. Without the weapons, relying only on the mecha''s mechanical quality and a sword, the combat power it could exert would not be a tenth of its full capability, at least it would lose versatility for most combat situations. "No need," came Bai E''s voice from the communicator. Bai E rejected outright, afraid that the military system would react and deny him even the chance to ask forgiveness later. "Oh, then safe travels." Watching the colossal silhouette of the Titan-class armed mecha gradually disappear into the mist of the night, the manager still smiled cheerily. A mission at night? That''s quite unusual. But surely the sir wouldn''t dare to openly defy military regulations and move out on his own... right? After all, there hadn''t been such a precedent before... had there? Every regular mech pilot who made it into the Mech Armored Corps was an absolute elite, handpicked for their role. They likely wouldn''t be the kind of person to make such foolish, self-sabotaging moves... right? The manager shuddered, feeling a sudden chill envelop him. Fuck, could he really be the first unfortunate one? The sir was an absolute elite, rumored to be the Chosen One even favored by the Mechanical Court; a little defiance of military discipline might not break him. But what about himself? What is he but rotten fish and shrimp? "Quick! Contact the military affairs department!" the manager shouted, then turned and sprinted towards the central control platform, "Nevermind, I''ll do it myself!" Chapter 532 432 Sublimation! [The territory you control¡ªLi Ming Town¡ªis under threat, triggering a time-limited event. From now on, you can issue time-limited regional quests to all players in the area through this event.] Having just left the barracks in his Mecha, Bai E received a prompt from his panel, an event happening far away was nonetheless closely related to him. It might be due to some "system mechanics" that he was unaware of, or perhaps because of the "connector" he had with the town that allowed him to know what was happening within his territory. Anyhow, the opportunity to issue a time-limited regional quest presented itself once again, glaringly obvious before his eyes. What''s there to hesitate about? To prevent the players from slacking off, a mission with benefits always encouraged them to exhibit more initiative. [Task description auto-generation in progress...] [Time-limited task¡ªDefend the Town (Regional Quest): Your aggressive actions have enraged the wandering mechanical ghosts on the wasteland. Following the edicts left by the primal creator, these mechanical ghosts will relentlessly pursue any creature that has attacked them, never stopping until death. Before real reinforcements arrive, the safety of the town is in your hands! Task requirements: Defend Li Ming Town for 1 hour, 29 minutes and 59 seconds. Task rewards: General experience 1~400 points (individual participation reward, to be determined by the "integrity of Li Ming Town", adjustable), general experience 12,000~18,000 points (collective reward for all participants, to be determined by contribution to the battle, adjustable), item rewards (undetermined).] [Do you want to issue the current quest?] Set all experience rewards to the highest, and add a faction reputation reward! [Confirm and issue!] ... "The boss sent a reply, asking us to evacuate everyone," Kuang Xin said softly, seeking Gong Yan''s opinion. "Evacuate? With what shall we evacuate?" Gong Yan furrowed her brows, having no intention of doing so. By relying on those old cars in the town that rattled loudly as soon as they started? Or on the legs of the civilians? With the forces of the intelligent machines closing in, running out to the plains outside the town would only turn them into exposed targets. In contrast, holding the town might offer a slim chance of defeating the enemy. After managing the town for quite some time, some basic defenses and immovable heavy machine guns and such could help them fend off the enemy. The premise was... that the scale of the approaching mechanized troops wasn''t as large as the factory''s intelligent machine guards that the boss fought that day. Thinking back to the firepower of the intelligent machines that day, all the players couldn''t help but shudder. Even though they all believed in a bright future, they didn''t have the boss''s ability to bathe in missile fire before they had grown. If the intelligent machines coming had that kind of strength, it would be sensible to pack up and run as soon as possible. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire The pioneering benefits had ended, and they had no clue where the next set of benefits was. Of course, they knew that among the players with them, three had become core officials of the town. The development of a new power did indeed present opportunities, but the few available slots had already been filled by those with connections, leaving nothing for the rest. Were they supposed to stay put and wait for death? Players were creatures without much sentiment; it was difficult to keep them around without long-term benefits. Moreover, by nature, they were keen on exploring novelties, and unless there was a clear path to rapidly advance their strength laid out before them, everything else was nonsense. If it weren''t for the wilderness surrounding them, depriving them of any direction to escape to, many would have already fled long ago. Gong Yan knew that these players had their ideas. The convoy filled with steel that left the town not long ago was their target for infiltration. They had heard that this convoy would shuttle back and forth between some mysterious location and the town, and following it to leave this town, which seemed doomed to most, was the plan they had previously considered. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But now with a formidable enemy ahead, they probably no longer had the patience... Gong Yan looked at the gathering of players who had already shown signs of disloyalty, her eyes slightly creased with concern as she asked the nearby Kuang Xin, "Has Dai not come back yet?" "Not yet." Kuang Xin was also frowning, his two battle axes in hand itching for a fight. The boss''s remarkable battle achievements had his blood boiling, and if given the chance, he too wanted to experience that feeling. "He''s back! Dai is back!" A lookout announced from a distance. With time, the name "Dai" had become deeply entrenched in everyone''s hearts. Dai Lian, wearing a black skin-tight suit, swiftly entered the dim light of the town, scanned the faces of all the players, and with as calm a breath as possible, he stated the facts, "I went far out to check¡ªthe intelligent machine army hasn''t actually locked onto us yet." "They seem to have only targeted a general direction. What they''ve sent initially are carpet-searching individuals designed for scouting suspicious targets. Those few we jointly dispatched earlier are their most basic scouting soldiers." Dai Lian''s first statement provided a momentary relief to the unstable minds of most players; no one wanted to abandon this precious land unless truly necessary. Developing under this power was much more stimulating than their past experience in Grey Iron City. Yet the follow-up report from Dai Lian undoubtedly cast another shadow over their hearts. Chapter 533 432 Sublimation!_2 "The most basic scout?" "Even the most basic scout is that formidable?" The foundational combat units of the mecha lacked the capacity to carry too many intelligence modules, and their combat choices were limited to only two modes: "close combat escape" and "long-range firepower". When encountered at close range by humans, they would use spear-like weapons carried on their bodies and rely on their mechanical strength to forcefully push back, maintaining a certain distance before raising their machine guns and firing instantly. As basic units, the movements of mecha scouts were certainly not agile, but with the powerful firepower of the machine guns in their hands and the immense force that machinery could exert, they still caused quite a bit of trouble for the players. Especially since mecha were inherently made of steel, players armed only with rudimentary handmade pistols could hardly inflict damage that penetrated their defenses. The foundational mecha scout units often required three or four players to work together to defeat them without injury or with only minor injuries, and if they encountered units that were more numerous and ferocious, wouldn''t they all be screwed? The game''s death penalty was so severe, no one wanted to recklessly risk their lives. Having only been in contact with the "Dawn" organization for a short time, they didn''t yet feel that the organization within the game was worth sacrificing one of their in-game lives to protect. Dai Lian took a glance at the players whispering among themselves; he knew their mentality. As a player himself, when he was unfamiliar with the adults, he had the same mindset. When confronting an impossible situation, running away was the most natural choice. He wouldn''t keep these players around by lying to them, but at least... he had to let them see a glimmer of hope for victory. "I''ve investigated carefully, and the mecha army''s structure is divided into three echelons. The first echelon consists of scouts carrying out a carpet-like search; the second echelon is made up of the Vanguard Team that performs confirmation; the last is the actual main force of the mecha." "The true main force of the mecha only has one group, and they do not divide their forces. Currently, they are also in a silent state of preparation. They will only be deployed when they have confirmed that we are the enemy. So, for the short term, our actual opponents are actually the Vanguard Team from the second echelon." The mecha clearly had their unique ways of communication. Whether it was the active return of the first echelon''s scout units to report back or the entire loss of scout units searching a particular area, both were sufficient to trigger their second-tier lockdown measures. From what Dai Lian observed, there were already two Vanguard Teams from the second echelon on their way towards the town. One in front of the other, approximately more than ten kilometers apart. "...So, we actually do have the possibility of resistance." There was a substantial amount of time between the discovery of mecha scout units, the attack from the Vanguard Team of the second echelon, mounting a defense, and the mecha''s third echelon locking down the town and launching their final assault. They didn''t need the strength to defeat the third echelon''s main mecha force, but only needed the capability to defeat the second echelon''s Vanguard Team and delay until the main mecha force initiated their actual attack. What remained to be seen was whether the adults would be strong enough. "...If by then the adults still haven''t sent help or arrived to support us on their own, even if we abandon the town and retreat, we won''t lose everything in the eyes of the organization." Most players didn''t have a profound relationship with the "Dawn" organization, but Dai Lian and the others didn''t want to give up the relationships they had accumulated since entering the game. They definitely couldn''t hold out until the arrival of the adults on their own; only if these dozens of players worked together did they have a chance to protect the vulnerable town. Dai Lian''s thoughts didn''t escape the notice of those players. "What''s in it for us, huh? There''s no mission, and if it gets destroyed, so be it." "Exactly, if this place gets destroyed, that big shot might even come back to rebuild. Then there might be a new wave of pioneering missions. Bliss~" "You may be afraid of losing face in front of that big shot, but we''re not. I''m not going to risk my life for you guys!" "I''m heading west; who''s with me!" A brawny man raised his huge axe, leading the way with a loud call. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And so supporters gathered, "Me!" "Me!" "And me!" [A time-sensitive mission has been triggered¡ªProtect the Town (Regional Commission)...] "..." "I''m not going!" "I''m not going!" "I''m not going either!" "To live as a person of Li Ming Town, to die as a ghost of Li Ming Town!" the burly man hoisted his great axe and turned to look in the direction of the northeast, "Brothers, let''s go chop up those iron clunks!" "..." "..." Watching their morale instantly boosted, Gong Yan and Dai Lian exchanged a silent look, feeling both relieved and speechless. Relieved because the adults really packed a punch. Speechless because the players were truly realistic. Not wanting to waste their high spirits, Gong Yan made an immediate decision, "Attack! Meet the enemy!" The experience rewards in the mission depended on the integrity of the town. If they actually let the Mechanoids break in, even if they managed to defend using the fortifications prepared in advance, the town would inevitably suffer losses. The pre-set defenses could only be activated at the very last resort. If possible, they naturally had to repel the enemy outside the gates! "Lin Lude! You take a hundred people to hold the position. Do not leave no matter what happens. If we can''t hold the front, we will retreat on our own." The players couldn''t be commanded by her, but all NPCs regarded her as "Sheng Yan." It was impossible for the town''s military force to rely solely on players. Among the NPCs, there also had to be their own self-defense forces established. Selecting two hundred robust NPC soldiers from the more than a thousand somewhat defective Grey Iron City failures was the limit of what she could do, and now... she would lead another hundred of them, after some rudimentary training, onto the real battlefield against the alien race. "All remaining people, follow me and strike out!" ... "Clang clang clang clang!" The machine guns brought from Grey Iron City were the most powerful individual weapons available to Li Ming Town. However, the firepower of the machine guns that the current players of limited strength could carry to battle was ultimately limited, and when fired at the thick Mechanoid armor vehicles, they only sparked a shower of sparks. As for other small pistols and rifles, they weren''t even worth mentioning, not causing even a spark upon impact. Dai Lian drew his bowstring, hesitating whether to take action. His Spiritual Energy wasn''t very strong, standing at 10/10 even up to this day. The Mechanoids'' Vanguard Team had not only some basic light combat units but also five heavy armored vehicles and two heavy firepower humanoid Mechanoids. Coordinating with other players to deal with those two humanoid Mechanoids with heavy firepower had already drained all of his Spiritual Energy and some of his reserve of action power. His remaining reserve of action power could support him at most to shoot two more arrows. Two arrows, could they penetrate five heavy armored vehicles? Moreover, completely exhausting himself on this wave of the Vanguard Team, what would he do about the next wave of the attack? Not to mention, many players were already battered and bruised, with a few unlucky ones already waiting for three days to resurrect. In such a direct confrontation with a large number of alien forces, Dai Lian realized just how limited an individual''s power truly was. "Damn it, I''ll give it a shot!" a male player, after aimlessly shooting a rifle for a long while and finding it useless, threw away his rifle. Instead, he picked up the iron shield of a fallen comrade and a string of grenades and charged towards one of the heavy armored vehicles. "Da da da da!" The Mechanoid armored vehicle that noticed the player''s move instantly redirected its firepower, with two machine guns spewing even hotter streams of bullets at the charging warrior. "Cover him!" Gong Yan called out from a distance to Kuang Xin. "Got it." Kuang Xin, with his twin axes in hand, charged forward and hurled an axe at one of the firing machine guns. The hit machine gun immediately fell silent, but the remaining one continued to spit out its fiery tongue. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire "Aaaahhhhh!" The player charging with the shield could only hide his upper body behind it, attempting to dodge in an S-shaped pattern as much as possible. The few bullets that still hit the shield were extraordinarily powerful, and in the intense clash, the player had forgotten everything. A scarlet color descended invisibly amidst the charge, and the player felt an unprecedented surge of strength coursing through his body. [You have received the Admiration of the God of Strength. Your body transcends the fear of death and is sublimated, physical strength +1.] Chapter 534 433 Desperate Insanity With a surge in physical strength, wounds pierced by bullets healed quickly in a glow of red light as the player charged forward. Holding up his shield, the player managed to rush all the way to the side of the steel war vehicle. While still a distance away, the player jumped off a huge rock by the road, his robust strength propelling his body through the air and across the vast space. "Snap!" His flesh smashed against the war vehicle, and the conical sharp spikes on the surface of the steel vehicle instantly pierced his body with countless holes. Gushing blood poured out, drops of blood frothed from the corners of his mouth, yet the player felt no pain, only an enthralling rush of madness. [You have received significant piercing damage and have entered a "Critical" and "Severe Bleeding" state.] [Health -48!] [You are suffering from bleeding damage, Health -3.] [...Health -3.] [...Health -3.] [You are on the verge of a "Severe Injury Coma" state, please disengage from combat immediately! Please disengage from combat immediately!] A barrage of warnings continuously erupted from the panel, but at the moment, the player subconsciously ignored them all. In the game, a life is nothing but a number; if it wants it, let it go. What matters is the thrill! "Click~" The safety catch was released, and a string of grenades slipped into the soft, vulnerable interior of the armored vehicle through the cracks and crevices. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Boom!" A violent fireball erupted inside the vehicle''s cabin as the ammunition used by the machine intelligence ignited in a chain reaction, and an even more spectacular blaze burst from within the armored vehicle. The seemingly indestructible armor instantly disintegrated from the inside out, shards of steel covered in spikes exploded outward, carrying with them the player''s body that had been hanging on the outside, dismembering it and propelling it in all directions. Everyone had eliminated the light machine intelligence basic combat units, much like human infantry and tank cooperative tactics; without the infantry cover, heavy armor also had its fatal flaws. The fiery blaze lit up the earth at night, and onlookers such as Gong Yan instinctively shielded their eyes with their hands, the orange light still illuminating the lower half of their faces. The sweeping heat wave brushed the tips of everyone''s hair, and the indigenous people following Gong Yan fell silent. Players who were further away whispered among themselves. "Old Bear died for the second time, didn''t he?" "Yeah..." "There are still four vehicles left..." "Whoever loves going can go; I''m certainly not going." Completing the mission is to gain experience, but what''s the use of experience if you''re dead? Behind Gong Yan, inspired indigenous people emerged from the shadows. "Sheng Yan, we have always been under your care, and now that our territory is threatened, I think it''s time for us to do something," one of them said. Originally, they were just ordinary people who had been frustrated in Grey Iron City; it was under Sheng Yan that they had found a new lease on life. Sheng Yan had given them a second life, dignity, and a future. They felt they had to give something back. "Be someone useful to Sheng Yan!" This phrase was engraved in the hearts of all the indigenous members selected for the town''s armed guard. "Let''s go," they murmured among themselves. Gong Yan waved her hand in a silent, almost cold gesture, "Go." Sacrifice was anticipated. And it was inevitable. The world was always cold and cruel, it''s just that Sheng Yan had always protected them too well. It was time for them to face some cold truths on their own. Arm raised from within the shadows, a man''s voice rang out firm and strong, "Brothers! For Sheng Yan! Charge!" And so, all of them pressed on towards the four advancing heavy armored vehicles with their flesh and blood. They knew they weren''t as powerful as those strange beings that seemed out of place in this world, and they also knew that the one who had just succeeded was even among those strange folks considered strong and lucky. But if one wasn''t enough, then ten would suffice; if ten weren''t enough, then a hundred. They swarmed together, using their bodies to block all the bullets for their comrades behind them, determined to rip a piece of flesh from their target. Simple and pure. "Pop, pop, pop, pop!" The sound of bullets striking shields or flesh was incessant, and those torn apart by the bullet storm let out not even a whimper before death. Their suppressed grunts were the last sound they left in this world. A silent charge, a silent death, only the deafening roar of the machine guns filled the air. "..." Witnessing all this, the players gradually fell silent as well. Many players never cared much about the background stories in the game; they only cared about the benefits they could get to show off in front of other players or NPCs. But when that background story, considered to be of no consequence, suddenly hit them in the face, they too couldn''t help but pause for a moment to immerse themselves in it. "For this territory, they can just throw away their lives..." "Are the beliefs in their hearts more important than life itself?" Ultimately, there was no answer. Nor would anyone provide one. "Boom!" "Boom!" Fireworks bloomed one after another, and the scent of charred flesh from the scattered corpses filled the air. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire Gong Yan''s group of a hundred indigenous warriors had lost over half their number, and even the twenty or thirty who were still standing were all injured. "The next wave is coming soon!" Chapter 535 - 535: 433 Desperate Insanity_2 Before everyone had time to tidy up the battlefield or pull themselves together, the indigenous scouts, who had been dispatched to observe follow-up situations, quickly returned to report their observations. It seemed that the second mechanical vanguard team heading for the town had somehow received news of resistance encountered by the first vanguard team and had suddenly quickened its pace, not giving these injured defenders of the town a moment''s respite. "What should we do?" Kuang Xin, who was right beside Gong Yan, asked directly. He only knew how to slash; apart from that, he offered no suggestions for anything else. Sometimes empting one''s mind was actually a quite comfortable experience. "Retreat! Fall back to the second line of defense!" There was no hesitating. Defending near the town at the second line of defense might result in devastating damage to the town, which had just begun to take shape, but relying solely on their current, battered combat strength, which had already endured one wave of assault without proper rest, it wouldn''t matter whether it was a stronger mechanical vanguard team or just another of the same size; they would be completely annihilated. While retreating, Gong Yan sent out her people, "Go ask if everyone has been properly arranged." The town''s area was actually quite extensive, and the area they were rebuilding was just a small part of it. The defensive line was built right next to the current reconstruction area of the town, originally intended to defend against threats like wild beasts that might wander in from the wild. However, the downside was that any skirmish would risk stray bullets damaging the newly established facilities. The efforts of the community in recent days were doomed to be wasted, but ensuring that no one was harmed by the aftermath was already the most significant effort they could make. If the town completely fell before Sheng Yan''s assistance arrived... they would all be done for. "Yes, Lord Sheng Yan," the warrior took the order and left. The surviving soldiers at the second line of defense had completed all the preparations for combat even before Gong Yan and the others had returned, ready for the battle. The second mechanical vanguard team didn''t make the town''s defenders wait too long. "Buzz buzz buzz~" The low rumble of machinery approached slowly, almost on the heels of Gong Yan and the others'' retreat. Due to material limitations, the mechanical troops of lower rank might not be able to use top-tier materials and cutting-edge technology like the first generation of mechanical beings could. But at least the mechanical creations weren''t noisy heaps of junk like the few in the town, which could wake up dogs ten miles around when started up. "It looks like this vanguard team is even bigger than the previous one..." "More than just bigger, it''s much larger, right?" "If only we could capture all that nice gear and make it usable for us," a player said, eyes full of envy at the sight of the approaching heavy armored vehicles. "We''re about to be blown to bits here, and you still have the heart to covet other people''s equipment?" "Hey~ can''t I just dream a little?" They were players! Players had infinite possibilities! As the murmurs dissolved into the wind, a series of fireworks suddenly burst from the ground as they entered the land of the town. "Boom!" "Boom!" Trenches, landmines. These basic traps were one of the reasons this battle line existed. However, only the basic light combat units of the mechanical beings would be harmed; the heavily armored vehicles emerged unscathed from the flames, driving out with ease. "Dadadadadada!" Closing in at a sufficient distance, the heavy machine guns set up on the defense line opened fire together. The intense recoil required two or three people to hold it down, but they still couldn''t stop the endless climb of the gun''s muzzle. Without the matching mechanical devices, even ordinary humans couldn''t operate heavy weaponry. "Ding ding dang dang," sparks splashed when hitting the heavy armor and managed to tear through a couple of fragile bodies on the light armor, making the scene look quite lively. But the mechanical counterattack was also swift. "Whizz!" A small rocket dragging an orange flame advanced and suddenly burrowed into the machine gun position. "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" Now that the shooting had started, the machine intelligences no longer held back on their firepower. After scanning and discerning the general positions of the biological combatants, a cluster of rockets launched a round of bombing. "Take cover!" The preparation on the front line was fairly complete, and as they faced the full firepower of the machine intelligence Vanguard Team, all Gong Yan managed was to shout out a final order before she had to dive under the steel plate below her to escape the threat of the rockets. "Boom boom boom boom!" The explosions joined together, turning the shelter where everyone hid into a fiery furnace scorching with intense heat. "Hiss hot hot hot hot!" The moment the explosions subsided, a soldier kicked open the steel plate of their hiding spot and rushed out, weapon in hand, charging at the Vanguard Team of the machine intelligences. Flesh against steel. Infantry against tanks. The juxtaposition of high-tech and primitive combat styles appeared abruptly on the same battlefield, yet this was "Galaxy Online"! "Ssssah ssssah!" A player, looking at their hand smoking as it stuck to the glowing red steel plate, had a hysterical frenzy and intoxication in their eyes. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Awesome! Awesome!" The player''s hand was inseparable from the steel plate, but that didn''t stop them from dragging the heavy plate across the ground as they charged toward the machine intelligence formation. "Come on! Come on!" "Tear me apart! Or let me tear you apart!" [You have received the admiration of the God of Pleasure. Your will has transcended amidst the severe sensory stimulation, Mystery +1, Spiritual Energy +10/10.] "Sizzle sizzle sizzle sizzle!" An indescribable twisted sound erupted on that massive steel war machine, chunks of steel contorted as if crushed by an invisible fist amidst a grating noise that could make one''s teeth hurt. However, the resilience of the steel was undoubtedly matching that mysterious force, the slightly lifted deckplate was hardly a devastating blow to the war machine. But that was enough! Underneath the armor lifted by the mysterious power lay the soft, vulnerable core of the steel war machine. "Whizz whizz whizz whizz!" Grenades trailed beautiful arcs through the air from all directions, with some landing precisely into the gaping tears. The next moment, the war machine shattered with a roar, setting off a chain explosion whose shockwaves swept up many soldiers who had approached close by, sending them flying instantaneously. Meanwhile, at some distance from the war machine, a soft muffled sound was lost in the intense explosions of the battlefield, barely noticed by others. "Pfft~" The player who had been marching forward dragging the hot steel plate stopped mid-charge, still in the bent posture of dragging the plate, but their head exploded under some unknown force. Like a watermelon smashed by a fist, bits here... pieces there... "John!" A player, who had been keeping an eye on his friend, roared in rage, "I''m not dead yet! How the hell did you die again!" Looking at the headless corpse standing motionless, he cursed and then looked down at his own stomach where a huge hole had opened¡ª Realistic organs poured out like water; feeling no pain, he wrapped them back up messily with his muddy hands and stuffed them back in, then found a roll of bandages and blindly wrapped it around himself several times. "Damn it, no fear!" Although his health was rapidly depleting, how could one not be worked up in such a situation? All the prior thoughts and personal plans were overwhelmed by the frenzy of battle on this head-on, intense battlefield. The player who had risen again took the long spear from where John had fallen and charged once more toward the next steel war machine. "I curse your mother!" [You have received the admiration of the God of Immortality. Your body has transcended in the face of near-death, Strength +0.5, Health +50/50.] "Whoosh!" The spear, like a meteor, flashed by in the night. It pierced right into the barrel of a machine gun. "Bang!" Jammed, backfired. Blasted to pieces. Countless dark figures swarmed to the side of the war machine amidst the chaos, overwhelming the terrifying machine that had been brandishing its power on the battlefield. Chapter 536 - 536: 434 Swimming Dragon! Scattered wounds covered the ground. Charring remains of bodies and fractured steel were everywhere, the air saturated with the smell of blood-infused motor oil and gunpowder. Row upon row of residential buildings had collapsed, and a factory that had yet to be completed was mercilessly destroyed. Unquenched flames could be seen everywhere, lighting up the earth against the dark night sky. [...Countdown: 28 minutes 37 seconds.] Gong Yan glanced at the countdown for the regional time-limited mission and then turned to look at the shadows still standing on the field. One... two... three... Twenty-seven... The indigenous forces were almost completely wiped out, leaving just over twenty players holding the last stand. However, judging by the status of these remaining few, they too were at the end of their tether. Forget another wave of Vanguard Teams; even a few more basic reconnaissance AIs would be enough to overwhelm them. "Snap¡ª" The giant axe was suddenly discarded at his side, and Kuang Xin collapsed to the ground. Even though the game doesn''t cause physical fatigue that would make the players feel sore and uncomfortable, the mental stress inevitably led to exhaustion. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I can''t fight anymore." Kuang Xin panted heavily, his in-game body reacting like a real one to the player''s commands, but somehow, Kuang Xin always felt it wasn''t quite satisfying. It felt like his nose was blocked, suffocating him, as if the air he breathed was being taken into someone else''s lungs, causing discomfort. The game was realistic enough, but this simulated reality was still not the real thing. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire Unsatisfying... "What do we do if another wave comes?" Dai Lian also walked over unsteadily, equally powerless. Drained of Spiritual Energy and physical strength, even drawing his bow was a struggle, let alone firing that transcendent arrow. After defeating two waves of AI Vanguard Teams, they had nearly exhausted all the strength of every combatant present. In fact, the fact that they were not seriously injured made them rare among the remaining survivors. "I don''t know..." Gong Yan''s gaze swept the area, "The scouts have not returned; we don''t know when the AI''s next attack will come." Right now, other than waiting and praying, they had no better options. In the distance, scattered weak flickers of light joined together, emerging from behind the ruins'' corner, gradually becoming clearer. Beneath every torch was a determined face. "This is our home!" "If you want to destroy our home, you''ll have to step over our bodies first!" Hiding in the underground caves previously inhabited by giant spiders, listening to the continuous loud disturbance from above, those who had been sent to hide could no longer bear the torment of waiting. This "home" they had built with their own hands¡ªif anyone wanted to destroy it, they were ready to fight to the death. "Perhaps our strength is insignificant, but at least we can''t always be hiding turtles." Taking over the weapons and machine guns from the remaining players, the impaired survivals of Grey Iron City filled the new line of defense. "We are either old and weak or physically impaired, we''re all broken people, and it was the adults who gave us a chance at rebirth..." The disabled, leaning heavily on a still-hot heavy machine gun, peered sharply through his sole remaining eye using the sight, toward the misty night. "To die for the adults is the greatest value of our lives!" ... [Your citizens'' faith acknowledges you as the sole radiance, and your "Soul Black Hole" absorbs the dissipated forces of faith, successfully converting them into 50/50 Spiritual Energy added to your spiritual energy reserves.] The sudden panel notification made Bai E pause for a moment, then the surge in Spiritual Energy kicked in at once. The abundant Spiritual Energy expanded from within Bai E, and after a brief delay, it transformed into a mechanized force, covering the entire Mecha. Under the willpower''s influence, the mechanized force formed a wind-breaking barrier at the front of the Mecha, which was not designed to be aerodynamic, and the air resistance was dramatically reduced. Spiritual Energy phase one¡ªEnhancement of the Spiritual Heart translated into a mechanized version, boosting the Mecha''s speed significantly. "Whoosh!" A blue and white afterimage streaked through the air, the wind revealing the untended dry yellow grass and small nocturnal creatures daring to move at night. ... "Humming~" A deep electrical humming slowly descended. The massive mechanical titan broke through the night''s fog. Fargreater than the previous Vanguard Teams, the colossal silhouette of the titan descended upon the shattered town like a Demon God. The one-eyed soldier holding the machine gun instinctively raised his head from the ground, his mouth gaping as he allowed his gaze to rise unobstructed, trying to see the full extent of their adversary. [Life signs detected, execute cleansing directive.] The synthetic digital voice of the machine declared the final fate of all the resistors, as the stout, humanoid titan raised two missile arrays filled with rocket heads on its shoulders. "Swoosh~ Swoosh~ Swoosh~" One after another, the rockets ignited, and the intense white vapor scattered violently. Death had arrived! [...Countdown: 5 minutes 01 second.] After taking one final look at the mission countdown, Gong Yan smiled helplessly and turned to Dai Lian and Kuang Xin at her side. "Bye-bye~" "Time to read~" "See you in three days." Voices from the players rose one after another, all of them calmly awaiting death to come. Chapter 537 - 537: 434 Swimming Dragon!_2 "Boom! Boom! Boom!" However, the tremors from beneath their feet also began to spread from the distance, becoming more frequent. "Swoosh!" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The endless gale swept up the hair of those who had closed their eyes to await death, and in the next moment, a series of explosions erupted right in front of everyone. "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" The flames lit up half the sky like the most scorching sun in summer, glaring so intensely that it was hard for anyone to look directly at it. Once the light had faded slightly, all those who had their eyes dazzled by the incandescent glow could finally make out the towering blue and white figure stretching up towards the sky. "Holy...shit!" "Mecha... mecha mecha mecha!" A string of players had their eyes glued to the sight, their speech no longer coherent. What did they see? Mecha! "Mecha!" "Is that a mecha?!" "There really are mechas in this world!" Mechas are illogical, they don''t make sense in terms of cost-performance in the real world. But this humanoid mechanical weapon is just cool! So cool it causes tingles on the scalp, so cool that every cell in the body trembles with excitement. "Step back and protect yourselves," Bai E''s voice echoed through the power of Spiritual Energy under this night sky, "Your mission is already complete." The familiar voice caught the remaining native warriors off guard for a moment. "Sir!" "It''s the Sir who has come!" Everyone had hoped the Sir would not abandon them, and everyone had imagined the Sir would surely arrive when they were in despair. But nobody had expected the Sir to make such an overwhelmingly strong and grand entrance. Compared to the cold, black-gray war machines of the Smart Machinery, the humanoid machine driven by the Sir was obviously more stylish. ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +50.] The war machines of the Smart Machinery were not troubled by this sudden external factor. A string of data streams, recognizable only by the insides of the Smart Machinery, transmitted through mechanical force¡ªthis was the biggest communication means between two different Smart Machinery clans. Under the surveillance of Heavenly Eye''s Spiritual Energy, it was of course "seen" by Bai E as the data tentacles extended towards him. However, at this moment, Bai E had no intention of beating around the bush with the opponent. Collapsed buildings, corpses everywhere, flames spread all around... Operating a mecha to come here, he was bound to face a series of questioning from the military upon his return. Flee? There was no escape. To say he could escape with a Titan mecha, would the military of Blackwater City still have a foothold in the future? No matter where he fled, to the ends of the earth or if he sought refuge in any city with equivalent power, he could not escape the pursuit of Blackwater City. On the contrary, by returning proactively, there was still a glimmer of hope for the situation. The counterattack against the Smart Machinery here must be decisive and swift! If there was going to be a fight, then let it be a satisfying one! Bai E picked up the alloy blade and with a turn, he struck at the dark war machine of the Smart Machinery. The blade hummed softly, trembling at a hyper-frequency that was imperceptible to mortals. Ever since he had established a connection with the mecha, Bai E had been able to use all of his abilities in the form of the mecha. Although the consumption of Spiritual Energy was nearly ten times higher than usual, even the same moves, when executed in mecha form, were much more powerful than in human form. The quality of the alloy blade was certainly considerable. However, for a mecha over ten meters tall, the blade was simply considered a light weapon. At this moment, the skill unlocked after specializing in light weapons level four¡ªMagic Blade¡ªaugments the weapon, and the same high-frequency cutting on a battle saber enlarged countless times displays even more terrifying power. "Zing!" It cuts through iron like mud. No matter how massive the vanguard war fortress of the smart machines, it''s still not on par with the materials and technology used by the first generation of smart machines, and it had virtually no chance to resist the strike delivered by Bai E in his mecha form. The entire upper third of the war fortress was instantaneously blasted away, and the terrifying existence that filled the town with despair was no match for Bai E piloting the mecha. Soaring Dragon! The blue and white mecha, like a streak of white lightning, weaves through the army sent by the smart machines to eradicate them. Spiritual Energy transformed into mechanical force covers the blade, constantly fortifying the mecha with the power of Spiritual Energy phase one¡ªSpiritual Heart Passage. Rose''s progress is indeed astonishingly rapid, but when working together with Bai E, it always seemed like he was fighting with one arm tied behind his back. Born with the body of a machine, a mechanical mind, mechanical rhythm, and all the other abilities to enhance him, he had long possessed the true capacity to pilot a mecha alone, and he could bring out even stronger abilities than collaborating with another person whose level didn''t match his own. Handling both the big moves and the subtle nuances, no partnership between two mech pilots could match the understanding one has with oneself. On this night, devoid of any personnel from Blackwater City mech related staff, the military''s highly anticipated mecha exhibited for the first time the full potential these weapons of war were designed to deliver. The leading massive smart machine fortress was of course not the sole strength of the smart machine army. To be termed an army, their forces stretched for miles on this operation, with the massive fortress merely the vanguard clearing the way. However, Bai E''s mecha left only remnants of white in its wake, like the most terrifying god of death in this world. Given time to recover and now fully operational once again, the Spiritual Energy drained was almost instantly replenished by the "virtual world" through "rapid recovery," and where the alloy saber passed, only sparks and lightning flew. The blaze from the exploded smart machines guided the grim reaper''s path of action, yet they always fell behind. The flames, lighting up the night sky. ... Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "What''s happening over there?" Fire often represents civilization, or rather, technology. Being so far away, neither the insects nor the beastmen could cause such a commotion. "There are no cities over there, could it be the smart machines?" The instructors, who set out in pursuit of Bai the moment they received news of his "desertion" in a military mecha, and the esteemed member of the Mechanical Court beside them communicated succinctly with each other. "That direction is indeed the one reported by those who saw Captain Bai flee." "But that''s not enough to serve as evidence." Why would someone intent on desertion reveal their true destination? In this era, the human surveillance of the wilderness is limited; anyone with a bit of intelligence knows to mislead pursuers with a false direction before truly escaping towards their intended destination after a certain distance from the city. "Does Captain Bai have any reason to desert?" The rationale is crucial, as it will determine the direction of their pursuit. Given that there was a time lag between Captain Bai''s desertion and their being informed, and considering the unbelievably fast speed at which Captain Bai fled in the mecha, they lost accurate directional guidance shortly after leaving the city. Without identifying the real reason behind Captain Bai''s desertion, chasing further into the vast night and the wilderness beyond human control would be like blindly flying headlong. "No..." the instructor squinted, unable to find a single reason. Captain Bai had considerable autonomy within the military zone. As a rare talent valued nearly simultaneously by the military''s three major factions and the Marshal, apart from some occasional mandatory military operations, he was almost entirely free from control. Not to mention the usual training, even wearing a badge that allowed him to exit the camp at any time, if he was absent from the base for a day and a night, probably no one would notice or care, a privilege not even some junior officers could enjoy. As for possible personal attacks or grievances... Rose, who fought her way across the entire camp, made sure anyone who dared speak ill of Captain Bai paid a full toll in the military hospital within the camp. Even the Gene Optimization Solution, the thing everyone in this era hankered after, Captain Bai had secured for himself through his illustrious military achievements. Several officers who received the news spent half a day in a meeting analyzing, yet they couldn''t fathom what could possibly drive such an exceptional talent to "desert" the camp. "So... it might not be desertion," surmised the member of the Mechanical Court coldly. He greatly admired Captain Bai, a unique mech pilot, and did not want¡ªor rather, was reluctant¡ªto see Blackwater City lose such an outstanding pilot. "Perhaps... he has something he must do." The fire in the sky shines through the transparent glass portholes, reflecting in the pupils of the two men... Chapter 538 - 538: 435 Charge and Kill! [Your attack has successfully hit the target, inflicting 200 points of fatal damage!] [You have completely killed the target, gaining 5 points of combat experience.] During the battle, a dense flurry of notifications flowed by like a stream of water. Since the last time he had leveled a Smart Machinery Factory, the experience Bai E could gain from these basic individual smart machinery units had drastically diminished. If possible, Bai E would actually prefer to leave these basic smart machinery forces for the players to deal with. Just in the recently concluded limited-time mission, he had once again received significant feedback from players¡ª [Feedback from the mission: Your Insight +1.0, Physique +1.2, Reflex +0.7, Mystique +0.3, Light Weapon Mastery Experience +148, Small Arms Mastery Experience +382, Ranged Weapon Mastery Experience +158, Heavy Weapon Mastery Experience +274.] Compared to the last limited-time zone mission, the feedback was much less, but considering the duration of both missions, the feedback from this mission was already more than enough. A fierce battle had brought considerable improvements to all players. If the remaining smart machinery could also be left for the players to clear out slowly, the feedback it could bring to himself would be extremely significant. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unfortunately, there was no time to wait. The smart machinery came with revenge in mind, and he did not have enough time to gradually release these smart machinery for the players to gain experience. It was still unknown how many pursuers the barracks would send after reacting, let alone how far away they were from him. Before the pursuers from the barracks arrived, he had to completely resolve the situation here! "Hiss!" With one strike, Bai E split a humanoid smart machinery carrying a shoulder-mounted cannon in two. The Mecha he controlled skidded across the ground for several meters, kicking up a storm of dust that scattered in the air like a torrential rain. The Mecha''s form was still not steady when it spun and took off, evading a rocket that was aimed at its torso, and in the same movement, its alloy warblade was thrown, shooting towards the smart machinery that had launched the rocket. The deeper Bai E advanced into the ranks of the smart machinery army, the greater the pressure he felt. But the end was gradually nearing. The more comprehensive monitoring system of the Mecha suddenly locked onto two distinctly colored individuals who stood out strikingly amidst the grey-black tone of the surroundings. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire One was pure white, yet it shimmered with flowing colors; occasionally, when light swept over its surface, it reflected a dazzling array of colorful glows. The other was all earthy yellow, vastly larger than any smart machinery individual Bai E had ever seen. From a distance, it looked like a small, natural hill¡ªso massive that if this was also a first-generation smart machinery... then it was the first time Bai E had seen a first-generation smart machinery whose form did not resemble a human. At that moment, the pure white smart machinery held two light spears in its hands, with electric arcs surging on them. The nimble, streamlined body floated mid-air, its indifferent crystal eyes fixed on the rapidly advancing blue and white Mecha. The powerful machinery force allowed it to easily discern that this incoming blue and white mechanical body was not one of their "kin", but merely those humans'' poor imitation of their own kind. A sequence of digital fluctuations flickered in its crystal eyes, and with a single wave of the light spear in its hand, the earthy yellow smart machinery at its feet suddenly stirred into action. As its form changed, numerous dark cracks appeared on its shell-like back, from which fierce cannons emerged. After a brief aim, the cannons roared, the ground shook, and mountains quivered. ¡­ "Damn! A first-generation smart machinery!" "It''s really Captain Bai! Did he leave the barracks in a Mecha to combat these smart machineries?" After forming a rough guess, the instructor and the people from the Mechanical Court rushed to the scene in their Mechas, arriving just in time despite the tight schedule. The scene they arrived at was already strewn with a trail of burning wreckage and two strikingly colored smart machineries. "Can we join the fight?" the instructor asked, looking towards the elder from the Mechanical Court beside him. He was just an instructor from the barracks. Although he had indeed participated in quite a few actual combats in his early years, facing a first-generation smart machinery from the smart machinery race was still a new experience for him. No matter how much information the military had, it couldn''t compare to real battle experience. Uncertain, he could only ask the elder beside him, hoping that the elder could make a decision. "..." The elder from the Mechanical Court glanced at the instructor who asked the question, his lips moved, but ultimately he remained silent. Whether it was his comrades from the Mechanical Court piloting the Mecha or if the Mecha itself was one of the Mechanical Court''s special combat types, he had the confidence to fight a first-generation smart machinery from the smart machinery race. If it was the person he first met, he would have spoken bluntly, but with time, he had to consider the self-esteem of this military zone instructor. At this moment, silence was more eloquent than words. The instructor understood the meaning in the elder''s eyes and remained silent as well. "Then we can only watch Captain Bai..." Die? Watching the blue and white Mecha being targeted by numerous cannon shells, and the first-generation smart machinery that floated in the air and which hadn''t made a move yet¡ªan opponent that seemed even more high-grade¡ªno one believed that Captain Bai would be able to escape alive under such high-level adversaries. Now all they could think about was one question¡ª After the smart machineries had finished, could they bring back the remains of Captain Bai and the Mecha he piloted to report the outcome? ¡­ "Buzz!" The warblade suddenly tore through the cannon shells, and the blue and white frame of the Mecha closely followed behind the blade''s edge. Chapter 539 - 539: 435 Charge and Kill!_2 Even with a human body, Bai E had already managed to kill two mech pilots whose powers were united. Now piloting a mecha, he had no interest in prolonging the battle. His figure flashed like lightning, and the mecha, resembling a white reaper, arrived in an instant. The Instant Kill of a Hundred Heads, powered to its full capability, was channeled through the mecha''s combat blade, which descended into the gap of the turtle-like primal AI with infinite blade shadows accompanying the strike. "Boom, boom, boom, boom!" The combat blade, like a hot knife through butter, sliced in instantly, with boundless power piercing through the mech and into the ground. Experience new stories with My Virtual Library Empire The mech, as hard as a turtle''s shell, fell silent for a moment before suddenly cracking open. "The Mountains and Rivers" were split in two, visible through the transparent window of the observing mecha far away. With that strike, even the pure white AI mecha that had been "disdainfully" floating midair trembled visibly, completely unprepared for such a turn of events. [The groundbreaking strike you unleashed instantly pierced through the target''s defense armor, light weapon proficiency experience +32.] [Your attack successfully hit the target, dealing 2000 points of slashing damage!] "..." "..." "Gulp!" The instructor swallowed hard with an utterly broken expression. What was wrong with his worldview? What had just happened before his eyes? An AI that looked tough and durable was cleaved into two by a base model mecha from their military district? When did their military district''s mechas obtain such a level of output power? Or was the combat blade that Bai was holding actually a secret state-of-the-art weapon, privately passed to him by some scientist from the city''s research department? Otherwise, how could they explain the explosive scene unfolding before their eyes? However, the course of events wouldn''t halt to suit their wishes. The pale blue mech power, like a current with substance, took effect on the split halves of the turtle AI''s body. Simple physical strikes, no matter how fierce, are hardly sufficient to kill a primal AI directly. In this world, beings of ordinary levels tend to have high offense and low defense, but at a certain point, be it AI, insects, or demons, one is harder to kill than the next. Hard to kill, but kill you must! [??? (AI) (Hostile) (Lord) ¡ª Use "Lucky Strike" to kill for guaranteed drop: (Steel*10000, Combat Experience 6000 points); high probability (Knowledge: AI Creation Mastery); possible (Technology: Giant Construct Assembly)] The loot that exploded out was obviously not as good as from the previous two AIs; perhaps this was because piloting the mecha against the enemy had significantly lowered the difficulty. But gains that came without cost were welcomed. The blue and white mecha pulled out the combat blade and with a backhand strike, cleaved horizontally again. The blade, powered by High-Frequency Cutting and greatly amplified by Instant Kill of a Hundred Heads, effortlessly sliced through the surface of the turtle shell. In the mecha''s cockpit, Bai E silently recited in his mind. [Activate "Lucky Strike".] The combat blade slashed down diagonally once again. Unlike the previous strike that brought infinite blade shadows, this time, it was as if tens of thousands of blade shadows descended at once, striking over the whole body of the turtle AI simultaneously. Facing a humanoid mecha of nearly the same height, the much larger turtle-shaped AI was as defenseless as a lamb awaiting slaughter. "Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!" The overpowering force easily broke everything down, and the high-strength connections between the parts of the huge construct held by mech power also disintegrated under the force of the final blow. The explosion of the primal AI was earth-shattering, almost rivaling a moderate earthquake. The pure white AI in the sky with its half-dayshape turned to leave at the instant the metal pieces exploded, leaving behind a barely visible trail of residual gas from the jet propulsion on its limbs. The military district''s mechas, lacking any flying ability, had no way to deal with such a flight unit determined to escape, and they could only watch helplessly as the target vanished into the distant horizon. I didn''t even know if there would be another chance to counterattack... It was said that the intelligent machines wouldn''t expend too many resources on an opponent that was much stronger than themselves, and I didn''t know if the strength I had displayed was up to their grading standards. These thoughts flashed through my mind as I glanced at the silent military mecha in the distance. That was probably the force the military had sent to pursue me. Ordinary vehicles at night naturally couldn''t keep up with a mecha whose mobility was maxed out; only a mecha could chase another mecha. The follow-up pursuit forces might also be on the way; the military was bound to pay maximum attention to the first "deserter" mecha. Fortunately, I had no intention of resisting. I quickly connected to the instructor mecha, which was not too far away, after opening the communication channel within the cockpit for a free search. "Follow me," I said, then turned and headed towards Li Ming Town first. Confess frankly and you will be treated leniently, but any concealment would have consequences. The existence of Li Ming Town certainly couldn''t be hidden from the military forces that would inevitably start an investigation, but what the true facts they uncovered would be depended on my own will. Having dealt with the intelligent machines'' counterattack, I began to consider what reasons to concoct for the military district to obtain the least severe punishment for myself. Even if there were many people in the military district who wanted to protect me, I first had to provide them with enough excuses or reasons. The instructor''s somewhat stiff answer came over the voice channel, "Understood... Understood." The feats I had just accomplished were so extraordinary that I now appeared as terrifying as a demon lord in their eyes. "He wouldn''t want to kill us to silence us, would he?" asked the instructor in a somewhat alarmed tone after disconnecting the voice channel. It seemed unlikely, but the strength of the target was so great that it naturally carried a danger. "If he wanted to kill us, he wouldn''t need to go through so much trouble," said one of the Mechanical Court''s elders, shaking his head, never expecting things to reach this point. He was well aware of my performance in training and my first experience on the battlefield; neither was too surprising. Perhaps my performance was extraordinary in the eyes of the military district, but for the Mechanical Court, it wasn''t so rare; he was confident that he and his companions from the Mechanical Court could achieve the same results if they took action together. Even if he had come chasing after me in a mecha with the military district''s instructor, he was certain of victory. After all, I had deserted in a hurry, and my mecha wasn''t equipped with any weapon modules, except for a sword and a round shield. In a one-on-one duel between mech pilots of roughly equal skill, the equipment of weapons would become an absolute factor affecting victory or defeat. But now... having witnessed my ability to take down an original intelligent machine with just three slashes, he realized how much he had underestimated the capabilities of Captain Bai. They had received a message before coming; Rose was still in the military camp. The only person piloting this mecha was Captain Bai! Mecha soul! Only a mecha with a born mecha soul could enable Captain Bai to achieve feats that even the mech pilots of the Mechanical Court dared not imagine. Chasing after Bai E''s steps, an elder of the Mechanical Court admired the blue and white mecha, his eyes filled with fervent longing. The mecha soul was the highest pursuit for every mech pilot in the Mechanical Court. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the entire city, there were no more than three people capable of communicating with a mecha soul, and Bai E... would become the new star of their Mechanical Court! He had made up his mind that no matter how unforgivable Bai E''s mistake appeared in the eyes of other forces in the city, the Mechanical Court would do their utmost to protect him and incorporate him into their ranks. As the mecha stepped over piles of intelligent machine debris, both persons following in Bai E''s wake walked through the battlefield, each wave of shock in their hearts growing bigger and bigger. All of them... All of them... How many troops had the intelligent machines sent? Were they all wiped out by a single person... or rather, a single mecha? As their gaze swept over the slowly leading blue and white figure ahead, endless emotions fermented in their hearts. ["Lucky Strike" Energy +6.] Chapter 540 - 540: 436 Arrested The instructor''s mecha followed slowly behind, allowing Bai E, who had arrived at the town''s ruins ahead of everyone else, sufficient time to go over the details that needed to be explained with all the acquaintances. This was commonly known as "corroborating testimonies." Bai E leapt down from the mecha''s cockpit, tens of meters above the ground, to those like Kuang Xin who had been waiting for a while. He glanced back at his own blue and white mecha, and said curtly, "To cut a long story short, the mecha I drove here is in violation of the military''s discipline, and the military will definitely send a commissioner to investigate my reasons for departure. Remember this, I met you all after you had deserted Grey Iron City during a field operation, because your disillusionment with Grey Iron City made you unwilling to have anything to do with any city. So after rescuing you from the grasp of mechanical intelligence, I covered your tracks and brought you to this little town''s ruins." While speaking, Bai E also took out an emergency communicator that matched the one Kuang Xin had, "This, too, was what I gave you last time. My sudden departure was because I received your distress signal. Understood?" The story he concocted was not too far from the truth, except for whether he rescued the group from mechanical intelligence or from orcs, the rest was almost entirely true. In such an urgent situation, it was nearly impossible to concoct an entirely new narrative for over a thousand people to adhere to in a short time; it was more appropriate to slightly modify the facts instead. Nine true statements to win the trust of the military commissioner, with the single lie conveying the message that Bai E wanted to send. In fact, even the claim of "rescuing this group of people from mechanical intelligence" was tailored to fit the logic of this counterattack by the mechanical intelligence. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire This was the best course of action Bai E could come up with in a short time. Feeling that words alone might not carry enough weight, Bai E went straight to the mission. [Mission description being auto-generated...] [Main Mission¡ªA Warm Lie: The leader who has always sheltered you has violated the military discipline of "Blackwater City Military" due to this rescue mission. If the testimonies you provide to the military commissioner are beneficial enough for your leader, perhaps your leader can successfully avoid this crisis. The fate of the leader is in your hands, whether to divulge the whole truth or to support the leader who has always taken care of you... The choice is yours! Mission requirement: Provide a testimony that benefits the leader 0/1. Mission reward: General experience points 100~500 (adjustable), item reward (to be determined).] (Note: "Auto-completion" allowed; "permissions" and "expenditures" will be deducted and locked once the mission is confirmed for release.) [This mission will have an impact on the development of the entire world, your choice is crucial!] [Do you wish to release the current mission?] As Bai E stared at the auto-generated mission description, he was briefly stunned. Main mission? Affecting the world''s development direction? "..." Am I really that important? Bai E had always understood that the system was merely an intermediary that helped edit information according to his wishes, without offering any subjective opinions. But this time... He had never thought of issuing a main mission to the players, let alone tying the entire world''s development to himself alone. The moment he saw the mission description, Bai E realized that he might never have truly understood the system. But at the moment, there was no time to delve further. [Release it!] S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Understood!" Before the mission prompt sounded, Kuang Xin, Dai Lian, and indeed all players and others gathered around simultaneously agreed. And it was at the instant after they agreed that the mission prompt suddenly rang out. With no limit on the number of participants, the main mission descended equally upon every player present, and their decisions would affect the entire world''s storyline. "Main mission?" "A kind lie?" "Connected to world changes?" "Holy crap, our lord really is the main character of the world!" "We''re definitely sticking by our leader''s side!" For the players, bigger risks meant greater rewards. Cities? Military? Official forces in the game couldn''t elicit even the slightest awe in their hearts. Moreover, personally being a key part of the main mission made them feel like they had a profound influence on the world, boosting their sense of achievement and involvement to the fullest. As for the town''s residents... it was Bai E, who had rescued them from dire straits multiple times, who was their true faith. Cities? They hardly knew them. As Gong Yan silently summoned all the players beside her, watching another giant mecha approach, she said softly, "You all heard what the lord said, right? We are all in this together. We''ve seen the lord''s strength, and even among the natives, he''s definitely top-tier. Even if we expose the lord''s real situation this time, with the lord''s strength, he can easily carve out a blood path. It''s us who would be at a loss without the lord''s trust. But if we choose to help, we will be his loyal subjects! Everyone knows what to do." Even knowing her lord''s attraction to all the players, Gong Yan still wished to add an extra layer of insurance. After scanning the crowd, Gong Yan then ordered in a firm voice, "Before the military commissioner arrives, you must inform every native in town of what the lord has said, and ensure that there are no slip-ups. The mission isn''t difficult, but this time we must work together with one heart!" Chapter 541 - 541: 436 Arrested "Understood!" "Don''t worry!" It was a joke; this was the highest combat power they had encountered in this world. The ability of a single person to annihilate an army of smart machinery alone was far more direct and fierce than the last assault on the Smart Machinery Factory. He even piloted the mecha that every boy dreams of! The possibilities of getting more benefits from such a powerful NPC, with whom they had established contact, were far greater than trying their luck with other high-level NPCs elsewhere. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, go now, and be quick. We don''t have much time left." With the order given, the crowd scattered and merged into the shadows. As the instructor and the senior member of the Mechanical Court simultaneously descended from the mecha cockpit, Bai E was already sitting on the ground with Gong Yan and several other players, as well as some ordinary people from Grey Iron City, all waiting quietly. Bai E calmly gazed at the collapsed buildings in the distance, his eyes lost in thought, as if mourning. Just by witnessing this scene, the instructor had already conjured his own speculations. The image of a hero who dared to defy military regulations to save this wilderness refuge for the dispossessed easily sprang to mind. Whether it was the motives behind his actions or the overwhelming strength Bai E had demonstrated this time, they all infused the instructor''s tone with a deep respect. "Captain Bai, due to your serious violation of military district regulations, I am here to arrest you... Please cooperate," he said. Bai E remained silent, stood up, and voluntarily stretched out his hands. "Click!" The senior member of the Mechanical Court pulled out a pair of metal handcuffs and snapped them onto Bai E''s wrists. The Mechanical Court was the absolute force in the city for judging high-end entities. Their opponents were targets like Bai E, who were beyond the city''s control and posed a significant threat to it... whether they were mutants, smart machines, beastmen, or demons. Compared to "unstable" Spiritual Energy users, humans always trusted the power of technology more. The handcuffs that locked Bai E were made of an unknown metal, and they clearly had special Spiritual Energy effects added to them. The moment Bai E put on the handcuffs, he felt the flow of his Spiritual Energy slow down by nearly 99%. At the same time, a prickly sensation emanated from where the handcuffs were, and Bai E felt a strange pheromone being injected into his body. [Your body has been infected with a toxic substance, reducing your physical performance by 50%.] Weak and powerless. Accustomed to Spiritual Energy and a strong constitution, Bai E instantly felt weak at the knees, fully exhibiting signs of being suppressed. However, a pair of strong arms supported Bai E''s nearly collapsing body. The senior member of the Mechanical Court looked at Bai E intently, with warmth in his eyes, and said in a low voice with absolute confidence, "We''re just going through the motions... Don''t worry, even if the military district wants to abandon you, we at the Mechanical Court won''t agree." One hand on Bai E''s shoulder, the other expressed his reliability in a calm and steady voice, "We won''t let anything happen to you." Even though the senior member of the Mechanical Court deliberately kept his voice low, it was still loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. The players exchanged silent glances, their eyes betraying a sense of ''I knew it.'' With such formidable strength, their leader must have an extraordinary position in the military district, and of course, he would have backers. What''s a minor infraction against military regulations in comparison? Regardless of their testimonies, the leader was sure to be safe. If anyone truly betrayed the leader, they would be truly blinded by ignorance. Just as awkwardly, the instructor heard the senior member''s proclamation and a wry smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. His allegiance lay with the military district, and they hadn''t yet determined what to do. The Mechanical Court, however, seemed eager to intervene. Even if he personally longed to join the Mechanical Court, he was still an officer of the military district. He couldn''t help but feel a bit awkward as he spoke out, "Senior... Captain Bai''s case is not yet decided. Isn''t it premature for us to be saying these things?" "..." The senior member of the Mechanical Court glanced at him. His white eyes stood out starkly against his dark skin. Obvious disdain. ... The military base was restless through the night. The news of the mecha desertion had spread to every corner of the military base. Even without knowing the actual truth, the sight of a mecha acting alone without orders, followed by an unexpected curfew and the nighttime mobilization of the base''s troops, was enough to alert every soldier that something serious had happened. All of the military base''s generals were gathered in the large reporting hall that night, as the desertion of the first mecha pilot was a matter of concern for everyone. "Just now, one of our Mech Armored Corps'' mech pilots took his mecha and left the camp without any orders, after forging a military command," reported the officer with a serious and stern voice. "His name is Bai E, but he can also be called¡­ 95B27." As his voice faded, the information about Bai E instantly appeared on a big white screen in front of everyone, clearly displayed. Everything about Bai E, from his "birth" until today, was detailed in the records, even the top-secret elevation of an artificial human to a natural person couldn''t be hidden under such a breach of discipline. The multitude of officers who had been suddenly summoned only knew the general direction of the event and were still unaware of what had actually happened or who was involved. Now, seeing the individual''s information appear on the screen, an eerie silence enveloped the room. ''Artificial human?'' Some officers grasped the keyword and immediately stood up with fiery eyes, ready to passionately express their opinions. However, upon rising, they realized that the entire room was looking at them with a strange gaze, so they forcibly swallowed the harsh words that had reached the tip of their tongues. ''What does this mean?'' ''Why is everyone silent?'' In the military, there were clearly defined factional disputes, and normally any small matter would provoke a fierce attack from the opposing party. This officer had recently been promoted from the lower ranks, eager to fight for his faction and to make a strong impression on his superiors. But now¡­ what did this all mean? The officer looked at the leader of his faction with confusion. Hamilton sat with his thick arms crossed, seated without even glancing at the information on the screen, as if it had nothing to do with him. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire ''That''s right! A mech pilot from the Mech Armored Corps!'' Could just anyone join the Mech Armored Corps? Those who were part of it were certainly core elites trusted by the leader. No matter whether one is an artificial person or not, those trusted by the leader are definitely one of our own. So¡­ what about the opposition? If it''s one of our own, the other side would certainly want to suppress it, right? The officer then looked toward the distinct other side, where Carlos, the leader, was looking up at the ceiling as if the ceiling held the most fascinating object, absorbing all his attention. "..." What''s going on? Below us, there''s a fierce battle raging, but above it''s all harmony? The officer swept his gaze around, only to find not a single warrior willing to speak out at this moment. ''What on earth has happened?'' Weslin also had a dark expression on his face. Bai E was someone he had promoted personally, someone whom he was fond of, as the young man''s words and actions had often matched his expectations. But now, with such a big incident occurring, as the marshal of the military base, he couldn''t be without a stance. With a deliberate cough to capture everyone''s attention, Weslin looked towards a corner of the hall below, "Dewa, say something?" "I won''t speak," Dewa simply shook his head bluntly, a man known for his straightforwardness who never minced his words, "I won''t do something as offensive as this. But since the marshal insists, I will say just this¡­ the commissioner in charge of investigating the truth has not returned yet. Captain Bai E may not be a deserter. If there''s no rush, we could all wait a bit longer." Chapter 542 - 542: 437 The Legendary Road "What are you saying? What is this talk?" a dark-faced military officer, who had been standing aside, asked seriously, "Just because it''s not desertion, does that mean one can casually violate military discipline and pilot a mecha outside the camp? If everyone acted like that, what would be the point of military discipline?" The person who suddenly spoke was not affiliated with any of the factions within the military region, nor was he a part of the Military Department itself. The meeting involved not only military officers from the barracks but also personnel from the Legal Affairs Department, who were crucial to this meeting. It was for this reason that Weslin had no choice but to step forward to carry out justice. If such serious breaches of discipline occurred within the Military Department, it would give the Legal Affairs Department even more justification to interfere with the affairs of the Military Department in the future. As soon as the investigator from the Legal Affairs Department spoke up, the room once again fell into silence. However, the investigator from the Legal Affairs Department obviously did not intend to let Dewa off the hook, the first to jump out. He keenly sensed the incident was filled with secrets unknown to many, and the reason the Military Department had not made substantial contributions to the city these years might very well be due to their bloated and corrupt system! The investigator fixed his eyes on the dark-faced military officer standing there, just like a hawk scrutinizing its prey. The officer''s recent words sounded fishy, "Officer, is the soldier who broke the rules under your command? Are you trying to cover up his serious breach of discipline?" On hearing this, Dewa let out a wry smile and shrugged his shoulders, "I said I didn''t want to offend anyone... Forget what I said, my lord. I don''t have any comments on this matter; you''re free to investigate me however you like." Having said that, he sat down and kept silent, only crossing his arms and looking away. Weslin''s mouth twitched slightly, feeling that the situation couldn''t continue like this. With the people from the Legal Affairs Department present, it wasn''t the time for them to handle matters in-house as they pleased; they needed to come up with a formal set of procedures for handling the situation. Although he did rather like the young man in question, it certainly wasn''t worth compromising his complete control over the Military Department for a mere soldier. It would be better to make an example of this soldier... S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a thought, Weslin cleared his throat and said sternly, "Lord Lowis is correct, military discipline must not be violated. Whoever breaks the rules of the military region must be punished severely. Mechas are a critical combat unit of our military region, and piloting a mecha away from the camp without authorization poses a significant hazard and risk, both to the military region and to the outside world. This behavior must not be encouraged; issue a pursuit order immediately. No matter his reasons for piloting the mecha away from the camp, they are irrelevant. Upon sighting the target, shoot to kill without hesitation!" "Cough!" "Cough, cough!" Weslin''s decision clearly went against the wishes of many officers present. Carlos and Hamilton almost stood up at the same time. However, each opened his mouth only to find, at first, that no words would come out. The motive behind Bai E''s unauthorized departure from the camp was unknown. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire As long as it wasn''t desertion, they were prepared to make a certain sacrifice to protect Bai E. But the problem was, the current situation was unclear, and they dared not place their bets until they received news from the personnel sent to pursue Bai E. If Bai E truly harbored rebellious intentions, what Carlos and Hamilton stood to lose might be much more than a little sacrifice. Carlos and Hamilton exchanged glances, lips moving slightly. Eventually, it was Carlos who slightly lifted his chin and stated calmly, "I think Major Dewa was right, the situation is not clear enough. Why don''t we wait for news from our people at the front line before making a decision?" "..." Dewa looked sidelong at Carlos with a face full of speechlessness. The technical department''s in-charge personnel at the side suddenly looked up with delight, interrupting everyone''s thoughts, "We''ve received contact from the front line! They have captured the target! They''re currently on their way back." "Good!" "Additionally, they are still investigating the exact reasons for the target''s unauthorized departure from the camp but, they have sent back a recorded video first. I wonder if..." Mechas are large units, and naturally, the equipment they carry is not limited by size. The little gadgets Bai E made himself were already capable of ultra-long-distance communication without delay, so the new equipment developed by the city''s scientific research department was naturally even more powerful. Despite the distance of a thousand miles, they were still able to transmit video files. Weslin nodded and commanded, "Let''s see it." The opinion of his own officers under the Legal Affairs Department also needed to be considered. It seemed that both Carlos and Hamilton intended to protect Captain Bai, so, Weslin thought, why not do them a favor¡ªprovided the situation wasn''t too serious, they might be able to present some favorable "evidence." "Received!" The technician who received Weslin''s order nodded and then tapped a few keys on the control panel in front of him. A slightly shaky recorded video appeared on the massive white screen in front of everyone. In the video, starlight twinkled in the sky. "What is this recording?" "Can''t see anything clearly..." "Looks like it''s on the move?" After all, the direction of those twinkling stars was getting closer and closer. The officers focused, watching silently. As the shapes of sharp, angular shadows began to emerge into a visible and clearly observable field, the person behind the camera drew nearer to the sparks of light. "Robots?" "Robots!" "And there''s a mecha... Is that our deserter mecha?" As the image gradually became closer and clearer, a series of low gasps erupted among the officers. Chapter 543 - 543: 437 The Legendary Road_2 "The original Intelligent Mechanisms!" "And there are two of them!" "Isn''t that white original Intelligence Mechanism flying in the sky the one with the highest authority from the Mech Central Base on the northern plains? How can it appear in such a place?" "How did our deserter Mech Pilot end up fighting with these Intelligences?" "Could it be that he found out these Intelligences intended to storm our Blackwater City and went ahead to intercept them?" Knowing that their superiors intended to protect the deserter Mech Pilot, some clever officers had already proactively concocted a reasonable excuse for the breach of discipline. However, the stern-faced representative from the Military Department glanced indifferently at the officer who had spoken, then turned his gaze back to the screen. Even if he had learned of the situation and gone to intercept the Intelligences, it was still a serious breach of discipline. One cannot disregard the evil in the process because the outcome is just. What the Military Department cared about were the rules, not the reasons. No matter how righteous the deserter Mech Pilot''s reasons, breach of discipline is a breach of discipline! He would not be spared! But... it seems there''s no need for them to spare him now. On the screen, the ochre original Intelligence Mechanism had fully revealed its might under the command of the "white devil." Fire at full power! The light of the guns illuminated the faces of many officers present, some of whom sighed softly. "He''s done for..." "No wonder he was captured so quickly, turns out he''s already a dead man..." "To be targeted by two original Intelligences, Captain Bai really has bad luck." "Deserting and running into an Intelligence the first thing, who could be blamed?" "Boom!" On the screen, a shell was split in two, and the blue-and-white figure darted out of the onslaught of shells like a specter and charged toward the ochre original Intelligence Mechanism. The only weapon equipped on the Mech¡ªa composite metal sword¡ªsuddenly slashed toward the seemingly indestructible original Intelligence species. The suicidal attack brought astonishing results¡ªall shattered with a single slash. It split the ochre original Intelligence Mechanism, as well as the minds of all the officers present. "Ah?" "Ah?" "Ah?" Thousands of words couldn''t compare to a single, simple question. What had just happened? Right before their eyes, an original Intelligence Mechanism was slashed apart by that rogue Mecha? When had the Military''s Mechas ever possessed such a level of output power? Or was the sword held by the deserter Mech actually a secret cutting-edge weapon covertly given to him by a certain scholar from the city''s scientific research department? Otherwise, how could one explain the explosive scene that unfolded before their eyes? However, the development on the video did not waver for anyone''s will and continued. With two more slashes, the large ochre original Intelligence Mechanism was sliced up like a harmless watermelon and exploded where it stood. "That''s an original Intelligence Mechanism!" "We have encountered that white devil before, and it easily annihilated one of our field army divisions." "Yet it seems to have been scared off..." "I''m actually seeing this!" At this moment, even those officers in the camp who usually held opposing views were looking at Hamilton in amazement, asking, "Hey! Are all the Mech Pilots in your Mech Armored Corps this fierce?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hamilton was also completely stupefied. My people are this fierce? How come I don''t know about it? If they were all this fierce, wouldn''t I have flattened their Intelligent Mechanism homeland by now? Intelligences don''t have the kind of large-scale mental control ability that the bug masters have. The reason everyone is reluctant to touch the Intelligences is because they are tough to fight and yield little gain. If all the Mech Pilots in his Mech Armored Corps were at this level, couldn''t he just send a corps to wipe out the Intelligent Mechanism Base and avoid any competition for resources with humans? He knew Bai E was fierce, but he had never thought she was this fierce. Just one blow to cripple, and three slashes to tear apart a first-generation intelligent mechanism; one wouldn''t even dare to dream of doing such a thing. The fierce performance subdued every officer present, or perhaps it burned out their CPUs causing a momentary short circuit, as everyone silently watched the video progress, their brains already emptied. However, the explosive scene they first witnessed was far from the limit. As the filming perspective followed behind the runaway mecha, the camera meticulously swept over every detail they passed along the way. Wreckage everywhere... The fires started by the intelligent mechanism stretched out into a legendary path that left people speechless. The two first-generation intelligent mechanisms were not acting solo. Before the charge and slaughter of the two, that renegade mecha first took down an entire army of intelligent mechanisms. "What the hell kind of level is this?" "I have no idea¡­" "I know! I know! It must be a secret order from the scientific research department! This is a test of secret weapons for them!" "Stop spouting nonsense! The mech''s inspection report is still lying in the files¡­ It even only has one blade." Just one blade... to take down an entire Intelligence Machinery Group Army. "Hahaha! Hahaha!" The first outrageous laughter echoed through the conference hall. Hamilton slammed the table and glared at the investigator from the Legal Affairs Department, "I ordered him to go! What breach of military discipline? Meaningless drivel! It''s just that I didn''t get the chance to go through the proper procedures! You want to investigate me? Has nothing to do with him!" The investigator from the Legal Affairs Department was completely subdued by the fierce combat record as well, but Hamilton''s words were undoubtedly a provocation to his intelligence, "If it really was your order, why didn''t you come forward as a witness earlier? And if I''m not mistaken, that deserter mech pilot is an artificial human, right? Promoting an artificial human to the status of a natural person, and also entrusting them with such an important role, you owe a reasonable explanation for this!" "Explanation?" Hamilton arrogantly waved his hand, "No fucking explanation needed!" Power is the explanation. In the barracks, if someone had that kind of power, Hamilton would worship him as his father. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire At this moment, even if Bai E truly intended to defect, it didn''t matter to him. Defection was simply for profit. No matter the price offered by the other side, he would double it! Or was it because Bai E was wronged by someone in the barracks? He would immediately air out the entire family history of the person who wronged Bai E! Confronting head-on, no one backs down! Even if the city lord came today, Bai E leaving the camp privately was by his order. "In a word, if you want to investigate me, it has nothing to do with him." It''s all my doing, so come and arrest me! Hamilton held his head high, not caring about anyone. "You! You! You!" The investigator, enraged, pointed fingers but couldn''t utter half a sentence. Arrogant! Way too arrogant! The people from the Military Department really are rotten to the core. No matter how strong, one person''s strength isn''t enough to settle this chaotic world; it''s the rules... that ensure the city''s enduring prosperity. Such brainless warriors! Weslin shot Hamilton a look, signaling him to tone it down a bit. The Legal Affairs Department was part of the upper echelons of the city''s power structure; if this escalated to the City Senate, their entire military region would be sanctioned. It really wasn''t worth it to fall out with them over a mere soldier, even if that soldier''s might was somewhat over the top¡­ "Don''t be so hasty, Lord Lowis..." Weslin said with a cheery smile, the video''s emergence providing a bit of confidence, "Based on the video sent back from the front lines, our Captain Bai left camp late at night, and it was also for the sake of humanity. We shouldn''t so hastily decide his fate; even if there is a minor procedural error, we can allow him an opportunity to atone for his mistake, right~" Weslin deliberately avoided the word "defection." The visitor from the Legal Affairs Department certainly couldn''t be offended, but such a fierce fighter also couldn''t just be discarded on a whim. The attitude was positive, the protection firm. That was his plan now. "Lord Lowis, isn''t the man already on his way back in custody? Why not wait until we meet Captain Bai himself and talk with him, then decide how to handle this incident, what do you think?" The investigator thought for a moment and nodded, "All right." The incident had happened so suddenly; they probably hadn''t had the chance to collude on their testimonies yet. Just bring him back and confront him in court immediately; the truth would naturally emerge. At this thought, Lowis turned his head towards his subordinates and whispered, "Go! As soon as the escort personnel arrive, bring them here directly. Don''t let anyone contact the target in transit." Chapter 544 - 544: 438 Hiring rush? Bai E and two others, escorted by an instructor and members of the Mechanical Court, were again escorted by a line of people to the vast conference hall. Sweeping his gaze over the faces of everyone present, Bai E lowered his eyes in silence, hands simply hanging in front of his chest, waiting for what would happen next. A stranger approached quietly, his stern eyes fixed on Bai E. The man''s voice, captured by the microphone and spread through the speakers to the entire hall, said, "95B27, you forged orders and unauthorizedly piloted a mecha to leave the military camp, which constitutes a serious violation of the military district''s regulations. Are you aware of your guilt?" 95B27? It''s been a long time since I heard that designation... Lifting his head slightly, Bai E looked calmly at the other party, "self-restraint" tightly controlling his body''s hormone levels, and replied evenly, "I am aware." "¡­" The investigator from the Legal Affairs Department paused briefly, "You are aware?" Not even trying to make a defense? It felt like punching into cotton. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire "I am aware," Bai E said sincerely, looking at the other, "but I had to go." The investigator wasn''t interested in entangling further with a soldier who had breached discipline, "Since you admit to leaving the camp unauthorizedly without a superior''s command, there''s no need to say more. Whatever your reasons might be, they should not serve as an excuse for you to disregard military camp regulations." Having said that, the investigator turned away and looked down at the still-standing, arrogant officer, "I''ll settle the score with you later for trying to deceive the Legal Affairs Department. For now... we need to first pass judgement on this mech pilot who disobeyed military discipline. Marshal Weslin, according to military district regulations, Titan-class armed mechas are classified as special military equipment. You should be clearer than I am about what kind of crime it is to steal special military equipment." "This...," Weslin glanced at Bai E, the rest of us are still trying to find a solution for you, and yet you''ve confessed to everything as soon as you arrived. Looking at the likewise motionless Hamilton and other officers, Weslin''s face was filled with concern, wondering what to do next. In the corner, a slender figure hidden in a black cloak gently stroked the sheath of her Longsword, a fleeting, dark glimmer passing over the hilt. The commotion Bai E caused was too great, and she was unsure whether her "face" among humans was enough. If not... her sword would speak for her. "You plan to execute him, don''t you?" The person from the Mechanical Court, who had been silently observing, hadn''t spoken since the return, until now, when no one could think of a good solution, he broke the silence, "If so, it means Captain Bai is hereby stripped of his military status, correct? In that case, I formally represent the Mechanical Court in sincerely inviting Captain Bai E to join us. Before coming here, I had already informed our Chief Justice, who is on his way here. We from the Mechanical Court claim this man." On the way back, this judge from the Mechanical Court had been subtly inquiring about the reason Bai E was reluctant to join them previously. Learning that the core reason was actually just Bai E''s reluctance to accept mechanical augmentation, the judge couldn''t help but feel rueful. To those in the Mechanical Court, undergoing mechanical augmentation is seen as forming a deeper connection with machinery, a prerequisite for qualifying to communicate with a mech soul. But now that Bai E already possessed a mech soul, forcing him to accept mechanical augmentation would be putting the cart before the horse. Of course, perhaps after mechanical augmentation, Bai E would form an even tighter link with the mech soul, thereby maximizing the mech''s potential, but that would have to be after Bai E voluntarily joined the Mechanical Court and chose to undergo augmentation after prolonged persuasion. The prerequisite was Bai E joining the Mechanical Court first. The judge had been contemplating how to persuade Bai E to voluntarily join their Court; after all, the Mech Armored Corps didn''t have superior authority over the military, and while most mech pilots aspired to join the Mechanical Court, all such decisions were down to personal will, and formal proceedings still required communication and coordination between the Court and the military... If the military was adamant about not releasing someone, they couldn''t just force the issue. But now... the military was planning to execute Bai E. Could there be a better opportunity than this? A mere charge of military indiscipline was all, and if the Mechanical Court insisted on protecting him, no one would dare to challenge them. This round was secure! "What are you talking about?" Hamilton slammed the table fiercely, "Did we say we were going to deal with Captain Bai? Is it your place, the Mechanical Court, to protect him? Not needed! Captain Bai, alive, belongs to our armored camp; dead, he is the soul of our armored camp!" After that, Hamilton fiercely turned to Weslin, "Marshal, Captain Bai is the soul of our Mech Armored Corps; without him, our whole corps would cease to function. As to how to deal with him, you decide!" Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A coup! For Weslin, who was parachuted in as Marshal, not many of the original high-ranking military officers were convinced by him. In ordinary situations, they''d give each other face and let it pass. Now, during a core incident, could an outsider step in and make our military district kneel? "I stand with Hamilton on this," said Carlos with resolute voice, "Captain Bai''s capability is second to none in the military district, and he has earned great merit multiple times for us. If we really decided to dispose of him, I believe it would cause dissension among the entire military district''s soldiers. Moreover, in a few days, we will launch the total offensive against the Black Rock District Hive. It''s utter folly not to utilize Captain Bai''s tremendous combat power. Even if Captain Bai is truly at fault, we can delay the discussion until after the total offensive against the Hive, giving Captain Bai a chance to redeem himself through meritorious service. I trust he will provide us with a satisfying answer. Here, I am willing to ensure Captain Bai with my own military rank. If he fails to contribute sufficiently in the offensive against the Hive, I am prepared to accept any consequences alongside him, no complaints!" Chapter 545 - 545: 438 Hiring rush?_2 The two military factions, usually at loggerheads over the treatment of artificial humans, for the first time stood united in their stance. Weslin, who had been forcibly cornered by his subordinates, looked as black as charcoal, but he knew all too well the character of the officers beneath him¡ªhe knew they were all a bunch of muddled fools. ''I''ll get someone to replace you all when I get the chance!'' Heart hardening, Weslin, with a bitter smile, looked towards the investigator from the Legal Affairs Department, "Lord Lowis, what they said is not without merit. To kill Bai, with such formidable strength, seems a waste. It would be more fitting to give Bai a chance to redeem himself through merit, don''t you think?" "I think..." The investigator smiled coldly. He never believed that just one or two high-end combatants could change the course of the world. If the situation was winnable, they didn''t need this insubordinate Mech Pilot, and if not, having him made no difference. In the end, it was just personal agendas at play, everyone wanting to groom and win over their loyalists! "Sizzle sizzle~" A sudden electrical noise flashed through the entire conference hall, followed by a solemn voice booming overhead like thunder. "What''s this? The Mechanical Court wants a person, and it''s this difficult?" "The Judgment Chief!" "The Judgment Chief has arrived!" A cry of surprise rose from the crowd. The Judgment Chief of the Mechanical Court was one of the few true top figures of the city, and with his involvement, there was likely no need for further dispute. Hamilton and Carlos exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting the same gravity. Although their military faction was the largest, they didn''t have much say over high-end combat forces and top-tier levels. If the Marshal of the military faction was prestigious enough, perhaps they could have contended with the opposition. But Weslin, this parachuted Marshal... If he couldn''t even manage the internal affairs of the military faction, how could they expect him to stand firm in front of the Judgment Chief? In the silence, a clear, young girl''s voice rang out from a corner of the hall. Franca, with a smile on her lips, looked askance towards a certain direction of the ceiling, "Your Honor, the Judgment Chief, I bring greetings from Nolanitz, the Grand Judge, to you. I may need to remind you of something, Bai E was always a potential seed under the watchful eye of the Arbitration Place. If the military faction doesn''t want him, Bai''s first consideration should be our Arbitration Place, not the Mechanical Court, don''t you think?" No major event at the barracks slipped past any officer of significant rank. Franca, as an instructor stationed in the barracks for the Arbitration Place, saw no reason not to join in the excitement. Upon discovering the protagonist was Bai E, she promptly took interest. Of all those present, only she knew the true identity of Bai E. The video that had been played earlier was indeed shocking, but in Franca''s eyes, it still didn''t compare to what the other could achieve in the field of Spiritual Energy. Single-handedly combating and killing an invading war demonic prince from the material world¡ªthis level of combat strength was rarely matched even within their Arbitration Place. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The combat power of the material world could be converted into the equivalent of weapon yield, but it was the demons of the Spiritual Power World that humanity must truly be wary of as the eternal enemy! She knew Bai E had no intention of leaving the barracks before, but if Bai really couldn''t stay in the military faction any longer, then their Arbitration Place was his true home! As for Grandfather Nolanitz... he would certainly understand her acting first and reporting later. "..." The sudden interjection from Franca was obviously yet another wrench in the works. Arbitration Place, as the city''s institution solely responsible for armed combat against demonic entities, held an equally substantial weight in influence. And the Judgment Chief, Nolanitz, stood on par with the grand judge as one of the city''s top figures. But that presupposed... that the young lady speaking out truly had the credentials to speak for Judgment Chief Nolanitz. Everyone was aware that the grand judge was watching the young lady who had raised her voice. After a prolonged silence, that imposing yet hollow voice finally spoke softly, "Young girl, if what you say is true, I can go talk to Nolanitz." Considered separately, whether it was her identity as a third-generation member of that family or as Nolanitz''s favorite new executive officer, neither was enough for this young lady to have the right to speak before him. However, when these two identities were combined in one person, even the grand judge dared not disregard Franca''s words lightly. However, with a "bang," the conference room door was suddenly thrust open with brute force, the clear sound of heels striking the floor approached rapidly, and a raspy yet sharp voice fearlessly addressed the grand judge who had come from afar, "I think you''ve all forgotten something, Bai E is an asset of the Scientific Research Institute!" Striding through the doorway in a white lab coat, the tall figure swept in. The guards at the door were confounded, not understanding why they were seeing so many important figures tonight¡ª Helen! As the youngest rising star of the Scientific Research Institute, Scholar Helen had authority second only to the director of the institute. Even though, in theory, armed institutions such as Arbitration Place, Mechanical Court, and cultural institutions like the Scientific Research Institute all belonged to the city''s elite institutions, as the provider of all the city''s cutting-edge technology, the institute''s status was inherently superior to all others. The legendary tale of a Mech Pilot single-handedly wiping out an entire mechanized army swept through every top institution in the city this deep night, and the prominent name of Bai E naturally appeared on the desks of most of these institutions'' leaders. A familiar name, remarkable feats. Upon hearing the news, Helen immediately wanted to check on this warrior who had left a deep impression on her and whom she hadn''t seen for a long time to see what his physical condition was now, but she hadn''t expected to walk into such a scene upon arrival. A struggle for possession? "The original intention of the synthetic human project was for us to collect data for mass-producing super soldiers, and these artificial human soldiers are only lent to the military district for use. Fundamentally, they''re assets of our Scientific Research Institute. Since when is it your turn to fight over them here?" Helen''s slender brows swept across the room, her petite figure backing the overpowering energy of the Scientific Research Institute. Gazing indifferently at the military district marshal, Helen''s eyes flashed as she issued a stern warning, "Even if they are to be scrapped, it must be done with the signature of the Scientific Research Institute. Since when is it your turn to take things into your own hands?" The room erupted in shock. None of the officers participating in the conference had anticipated that the situation would escalate to what it had become. For a mere synthetic human soldier, the top figures of the city''s elite institutions were all jumping out to fight over him? While the soldier''s personal ability was indeed staggeringly high, it seemed excessive to act this way, didn''t it? Eventually, all eyes converged once more on the silent figure standing before them all. The individual''s head was slightly bowed, the breath calm, appearing utterly unconcerned with everything unfolding around. Was it a prediction or a complete lack of desire? Regardless, such nonchalance still elicited admiration from the officers present. Taken as today''s events would be, putting any of them in place of the protagonist would probably be overwhelming with the dramatic ups and downs. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire Just what kind of magic power did this legendary Mech Pilot possess that he made the entire city restless tonight? ["Lucky Strike" charge +50.] Chapter 546 - 546: For the sake of humanity! How did the situation evolve into what it is today? A perfectly good accountability meeting, how did it become a scramble for people? The investigator from the Legal Affairs Department had a gloomy expression on his face. In a gathering filled with top brass like this, it wasn''t his place to push any further. Yet, to fall silent thus did not sit well with him. Legal statutes must govern above the entire city, only then can it develop sustainably and healthily. Right is right, wrong is wrong. If you are correct, you should be rewarded; if you err, you must be penalized. Right and wrong are not interchangeable. If those in power are allowed wanton behavior, even the greatest city will one day crumble and fall apart. His fists clenched tightly; suddenly, a gentle male voice came from behind, "Believe in what you stand for, don''t give up." Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire The man donned in a green semitransparent trench coat silently appeared behind the investigator. Looking at Helen, he gave a slight smile, resembling a harmless and gentle breeze, "Helen, when a child turns 16 and leaves home to work, the parents can no longer bear any responsibilities or obligations on their behalf. Once this soldier stepped out of the cultivation pod and joined the world of his own volition, everything he does should be his own responsibility. Artificial humans with normal genes are not slaves, and the Scientific Research Institute does not have absolute dominion over them. This is explicitly stated in the charter related to the artificial human project. When you discuss him as a commodity, you''ve already deemed him a defective product of the project... So, tell me, Helen, do you think this soldier is a defective product of the artificial human project?" "..." Helen narrowed her eyes, staring at the other party. The man was all smiles, his eyes squinting into a slender slit; even his words were whispered softly, appearing totally harmless. But even those who had not seen the head of the Legal Affairs Department had heard of his cunning and ruthlessness. The people of the Legal Affairs Department were like cold poison snakes coiled around everyone''s necks, greedily flickering their icy tongues at every fresh and tender throat. When dealing with any other armed department, the Scientific Research Institute could seize control and behave unreasonably if desired. However, for the Legal Affairs Department, an institution that governs the city purely with reason and philosophy, they had no fear of being thwarted by the Scientific Research Department. If they cannot truly "defeat" the opposition on moral grounds, even the Elder Council must take the department''s demands seriously. Helen was a tech person, not very good at, or interested in engaging in, this kind of sophistry. At this moment, she remained silent, merely staring intently at the other party. The man didn''t care and just looked tenderly at Bai E, his words gentle, making one feel like basking in the spring breeze, "Bai E? Here, I would like to first apologize on behalf of my subordinate for the rudeness shown to you earlier. He should not have overlooked the motives behind your disciplinary violation, perhaps you truly had no choice but to act as you did. Now, may we hear your side of the story?" Standing not far from Bai E, Helen immediately instructed Bai E after the man finished speaking, "It''s okay, speak freely. I''m here, and no one can do anything to you." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if the issue escalated to the Elder Council, no one could touch Bai E. What she said, no one could counter. Bai E still did not utter a word, merely glanced at the technical staff in the distance. Having returned for so long, the military camp''s investigative officials should have already uncovered the whole "truth" behind her departure and reported back by now. The same matter, coming from one''s own mouth, always feels different than when others speak on one''s behalf. Bai E did not wish to blow her own trumpet; perhaps the investigation reports from the military zone specialists recounting the same story might be somewhat more convincing. ''What''s taking so long? Can''t you hurry it up?'' Seeming to sense Bai E''s anticipation, a technical staff member suddenly leaned back, carefully confirming the content on his screen before hurrying over to Weslin, whispering something into his ear. "What?" Weslin''s eyes flashed, joy evident on his face. After patting the shoulder of the reporting technician, Weslin gestured for him to proceed with the task, and then, clapping his hands to draw everyone''s attention, he spoke in a deliberate and solemn voice, "The account of the involved party may not be reliable. I have here an investigative report from the commissioners, which should be more accurate." The Minister of the Legal Affairs Department, his seemingly gentle and delicate eyes, gave one last look at the silent Bai E, then turned to Weslin with a smile, "Since the Marshal has already obtained a frontline investigative report, we naturally need not waste time on the party involved." Weslin nodded, gestured towards the technical personnel on the sideline and instructed, "Begin." "Yes." The white screen came to life with video. The investigating official, still stationed in the town and dressed in military uniform, held all the collected data, standing upright as he eloquently addressed the camera. "The path of the rogue Mecha is clear and traceable, with a definite target and no pauses in its course." "The forces involved in combat are distinct, all combat traces are followable, consistent with the accounts of eyewitnesses." "There is a high number of survivors, who all describe the events consistently when sampled separately, largely excluding the possibility of collusion in advance." Chapter 547 - 547: For the sake of humanity!_2 "After our detailed investigation, we have reconstructed the entire truth of Captain Bai E''s unauthorized departure with the mecha..." "On xx month xx day, while Captain Bai E''s special squad was executing the task of cleaning up synthetic organisms in the Northern Mine, they encountered a group of refugees who had just been expelled from Grey Iron City. At that time, the refugees were discovered by a group of passing synthetic organisms and were fortuitously rescued by Captain Bai E''s squad." "Captain Bai E, who had rescued the refugees, originally planned to lead them back to Blackwater City. However, having suffered from injustice in Grey Iron City, they were reluctant to have any contact with another city. At their plea, Captain Bai E led them to a group of ruins from the Golden Age, which he had passed by on a previous mission, and helped them clear the threat of the mutated beasts in the ruins." "Considering the refugees'' isolation and helplessness in the wilderness, Captain Bai E left them with a personal communicator through which they could directly contact him." "It was because they contacted Captain Bai E that he piloted the mecha out of the camp in the dead of night when they encountered a retaliation from the synthetic organisms. The communication information and the devices are now in our possession, and these pieces of evidence cannot be falsified." "This report is the preliminary report of the first phase; it is not guaranteed to be entirely correct but holds certain reference value." "We will also send personnel to investigate the place where they claim to have encountered the synthetic organisms, and to Grey Iron City, to verify the truthfulness of their statements and provide a second phase report... That is all." "Buzz~" A flash of light passed, and the video went out. The Minister of the Legal Affairs Department looked at Bai E again with a smile, "Captain Bai E, it seems that this isn''t the only time you have committed a breach of discipline tonight. No one would blame you for saving those refugees in the wilderness. But encountering large groups of refugees and choosing to conceal that fact, how would you explain yourself?" "No explanation..." Bai E looked directly at him, his gaze calm, "I didn''t want to see people who had been harmed by ''the city'' get agitated again." "..." The man smiled with a touch of coyness, "Then, how would you explain the communicator? The wireless communicators developed by the Information Department shouldn''t be equipped by every special squad, not even if they were given to you privately by Helen. It was meant for you to test, as an asset of the city. Your unauthorized transfer to an outsider is a grave offense." S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E stared straight ahead, expressionless, "The main parts of the communicator were exchanged for with my military merits, and I modified its functions myself. Theoretically, it is a private asset." "..." The man fell conspicuously silent, having not expected such an answer. He turned to look at Helen, only to find a visible surprise on her face. It wasn''t given to him privately by Helen? A warrior of such formidable strength also capable of such technical work? This kind of assertion couldn''t be faked. The devices were in the hands of the military district''s commissioner, a quick check upon their return would reveal whose work it was. As long as this warrior wasn''t foolish, he wouldn''t lie about this. "Fine," the man moved on from the topic. The more exceptional the warrior, the harder it was for him to take action against him. The more he focused on these trifles, the more he inadvertently revealed this soldier''s superior qualities, making those people more frenzied. It would then become even harder to deal with... In fact, he could almost do nothing about the soldier himself now. Being able to slightly extend the influence of the Legal Affairs Department through this incident was already the limit of his abilities. "So, your reason is...for a group of refugees in the wilderness, you chose to blatantly defy military discipline, unauthorized piloting a critical armed mecha of the military district out of the camp at night to provide assistance?" Bai E truly looked up, eyeing the man''s gaze with a pair of pupils filled with resolute strength, so steadfast, "Refugees are also human beings." "Yes! Refugees are also human beings." Helen, who had been listening silently, had her eyes light up, as she finally found a point to interject, "The first clause in the genetic prohibitions implanted in synthetics is that ''humanity'' is the supreme asset to be protected. Before his duty as a soldier in a military camp, and above it, making every effort possible to protect every human being he encounters is his highest mission since birth. Being a guardian of humanity comes before being a ''soldier''! Choosing to conceal the existence of the refugees is also a form of protection for ''humanity.'' If there is any wrongdoing in this incident, it only lies in the conflict and confrontation between the synthetic human genetic prohibitions and the current practical regulations. As an individual bearing contradictions, Captain Bai E is blameless." There was no disciplinary breach, only technical limitations. Looking at the resolute Bai E, Helen''s eyes were filled with visible admiration. Just as when she first met him, every action of this soldier was as clear as a mirror. He had no selfish desires, no compromise, everything¡­ was solely for the sake of humanity as a group. Perhaps the city institutions that used such soldiers occasionally found this "rigidity" bothersome, but until their grasp of technology allowed for more delicate editing of the gene ban, he was perfect! "¡­" The man from the Legal Affairs Department stared intently at Bai E''s face, unable to find the slightest flaw in this resolute warrior. Even with Spiritual Energy detection, it couldn''t bring the slightest useful flaw to light for him. Not a violation of discipline¡­ not a violation of discipline¡­ An artificial human stood upon the great justice of "humanity," with all actions originating from the most noble and primitive starting point. No one could blame an artificial human for not being "smooth," nor could they demand that he abandon the human stance for "flexible action." It was not about disciplinary violations. ¡­Only the sincere heart of an artificial human. "But you should have reported in advance before piloting the Mecha and leaving the camp, instead of making up lies!" The initial investigator from the Legal Affairs Department couldn''t help but speak up and question. "Time was pressing, the cumbersome procedures were foreseeable, I had no time," was the retort. "¡­" Impregnable! With a light sigh, the Minister of the Legal Affairs Department showed a clear look of dejection, "I have nothing to say." Turning to Weslin, he continued, "But the fact that something everyone didn''t want to see happened, and it can easily be misunderstood and lead to crises, suggests that we should learn a lesson. Whether such ''rigid'' individuals are capable of bearing heavy responsibilities, whether their choices at critical moments align more with the city''s needs, we cannot predict. Whether we should be more cautious in the future in dealing with this group, ensuring enough monitoring angles and a rapid feedback mechanism, is something we should give more thought to. Of course, these are just my personal opinions, as for the specific operations, it''s up to you¡­ Marshal Weslin." "Yes¡­" was the response. "Those outside the city, can they even be called humans?" The faint voice spread among the officers below. Successfully driving out the people from the Legal Affairs Department was undoubtedly a fortunate occurrence, yet the Minister''s words were not without reason. In future incidents like this, would these artificial humans act against the interests of Blackwater City? Within the military district, there had always been opposition to granting artificial humans the same treatment as natural persons, and this sudden incident undoubtedly provided more evidence for their viewpoint. Even Hamilton, who was very optimistic about Bai E personally, didn''t dare to forcibly silence the murmurs of other officers from his own faction. His position stemmed from the support of the entire faction, and being chosen as a leader wasn''t entirely about power. Weslin obviously disliked such unstable factors even more, "Captain Bai really isn''t suitable for such an important position in the barracks..." "Then perfect, come to the Mechanical Court, we don''t mind," the person from the Mechanical Court escorting Bai E back seemed excited at the prospect. Franca naturally didn''t want to give up, "If it''s for humanity, if it''s just to fight against demons, we are the better choice!" "No need for such trouble¡­ I can still be the cornerstone," Bai E calmly voiced his own thoughts, his gaze sweeping around the circle. Chapter 548 - 548: Doubt 440 No matter what, the military district is always the best starting point for one''s development. Having spent so much time here, neither the fame nor the well-established network of relationships he had built within the military district could be matched by starting anew elsewhere. Moreover, the military district''s vast scale was unlike elite institutions such as the Arbitration Place and Mechanical Court, which tended to focus more on individual combat. From the laxity of management to the convenience of gaining fame for increasing recharging after completing certain events, both make the barracks more advantageous. As his own strength grew increasingly formidable, so-called military regulations? For him, they were nothing but empty talk. And opportunities for transfer were always available, there was no need to rush the moment. Bai E''s words undoubtedly placed the choice entirely in Weslin''s hands. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Powerful, rigid in perception, yet incredibly sincere. No matter how annoying Bai E''s flaws appeared, the virtues of this soldier were sufficient to cover them all. In the military camp, even if there was no need to bear crucial responsibilities, he could still be used as an excellent pioneering force. And instead of letting him go today, it would be better to keep him on hand as a bargaining chip. If institutions like the Arbitration Place and the Mechanical Court truly wanted this warrior, a deal could be struck, provided they were willing to offer enough in return. Looking at the soldier with an unruffled face, Weslin was filled with admiration. "Good! Then let him..." "Cough cough~" An elderly voice suddenly interrupted Weslin, the chief examiner who had been present during Bai E''s shooting test spoke up, giving everyone present an inexplicable explanation, "This is an internal arrangement of our military district, so let''s not take up any more of your esteemed time." The old man exchanged a brief look with Weslin''s incoming gaze and shook his head calmly. The military district''s status was not below that of any faction leader present, and if a leader did not have overwhelming strength, at the very least they should possess foresight and decisiveness. As a marshal of the military district, there was no need to report everything to other institutions. "..." Weslin fell into a brief silence, realizing he had indeed panicked for a moment, "Yes! This is an internal personnel arrangement of our military district, so let''s not delay any further. Now that the cause and investigation of the recent incident have been clarified, we can conclude the meeting." After giving Bai E at the center of the incident a deep look, the jovial Legal Affairs Department chief patted his shoulder without uttering a word and turned to leave. The crowd gradually dispersed, and Helen approached Bai E, staring into his eyes and said with a gentle smile, "Follow me." She had rushed over to the barracks specifically to test Bai E''s current physical data to see if there could be any new discoveries. As she said, the initial intent of the artificial human project was to create the ultimate warrior by collecting experimental data. Bai E represented the strongest individual produced since the beginning of the artificial human manufacturing, growing rapidly with almost no weaknesses. If such an exception could be replicated... Life is, of course, filled with wonders, but even a little bit of experience that could be referenced was invaluable. No one dared to stop Bai E as Helen led him away. And apart from outsiders and most of the junior officers leaving, several high-ranking officers at the core of the military district clearly had their own opinions on the matter. They were like stones in the sea, and only after the meeting hall had almost completely emptied and quieted down did the ever-silent Hamilton, Carlos, and others approach Weslin, who was also waiting in silence. The real decision on what to do with Bai E still had to be made among them. "What does the marshal plan to do?" Carlos was the first to ask. If Bai E could just return to his original status, he would accept that. As long as Bai E was within the control of his own regimen, rank, and such were merely superficial titles. Artificial humans might have their rigidities and restrictions, but Bai E, being the first to perform so outstandingly, still held the potential to carve out a future for artificial humans. "His current status as a Mech Pilot and special forces team leader certainly can''t be continued," said Weslin with a stern expression, simply stating the current facts without giving his own opinion. Which meant he was kicking the ball back to the high-ranking officers before him. "How about... we make him a Mech Servant?" Hamilton was not yet ready to give up. An invincible Mech Pilot who could eradicate an entire Intelligence Machinery Group Army with a single alloy blade, to completely strip him of the possibility of being a pilot again for such a minor risk was undoubtedly a huge loss for their armored regiment. Perhaps... "We can think of something?" "Oh?" Weslin raised an eyebrow curiously, "What''s the plan?" "The ban on artificial human genes is not absolute, is it?" Hamilton''s eyes flashed with confidence. As the leader of the faction opposed to the heavy reliance on artificial humans, he had a thorough understanding of the characteristics of such beings. "The prohibitions in the genes and the realities encountered after birth combine to twist everything in the prohibition into rules fitting for reality. Even those artificial human warriors most loyal to humanity would, under the pangs of hunger, kill a thoroughly evil person for food, a fact attested by past events. So the rules that Bai E firmly believes in now could potentially be changed. Couldn''t they?" Chapter 549 - 549: Doubt 440 ``` As long as Bai E could be made to understand that anyone beyond Blackwater City was not part of the "humanity" he was required to protect, then the artificial human warrior known as Bai E would no longer have any flaws. Even without the unstable factors, Bai E could still become the sharpest blade in their Mech Armored Corps! "So... what do you want to do?" "Commission Helen to help us brainwash him. Detailing programming against the general human genetic ban might be difficult, but deep brainwashing for one or two individuals shouldn''t be too challenging for the Scientific Research Institute... right?" Carlos frowned slightly but, after hesitating for a long time, did not voice any objection. Brainwashing could cause some damage to an already developed personality and might even harm one''s sanity. But Bai E, in his current state, could not be trusted by the military district. There would be resistance to his promotion in the future. If they wanted Bai E to go further, they had to take the risk that came with brainwashing. If successful, a perfect Bai E would undoubtedly become a rising star in their military district! "This..." Weslin hesitated slightly, somewhat tempted, "I''ll think about it." "Then, before Bai E undergoes any changes..." Hamilton looked at Weslin with some expectation. "Just as you say..." Weslin waved his hand nonchalantly and turned to leave. As for Hamilton''s suggestion... of course, he gladly accepted it! A goal that could make the Mechanical Court, Arbitration Place, and even the Scientific Department all vie for it was, of course, better to keep in his own hands. A commander does not envy the strengths of his officers, as long as they pose no threat to his position as marshal. The stronger they are, the better. Moreover, as an artificial human, Bai E naturally had a huge drawback; as long as the city''s fundamental policies remained, artificial humans would always be considered inferior to humans. What better candidate could there be for support? And he hadn''t forgotten about the recent "palace coup" instigated by these so-called senior officers. If he could promote Bai E, the artificial human, to become his confidant and replace Hamilton and Carlos... then the military district would truly fall completely under his control! It would also become his most important political capital in the city! Weslin strode away, the flicker in his eyes betraying his clarity about the future direction like never before. ... It was still the familiar white surgery room. Helen looked kindly at Bai E before her, seeing his beautifully streamlined body as the most perfect art in the world. It was hard to imagine how out of millions of repetitive products, the development chamber could create such an outstanding individual. Helen''s fingers trailed over the unobstructed flesh, her gaze filled with intoxicated obsession. "Same as usual, I need to check your current physical condition." "Understood," Bai E nodded calmly, not showing any unusual emotions despite not wearing a thread on his body. In the presence of Helen, "self-restraint" was always monitoring all unusual hormones within him, trying not to let any of his reactions reveal even the slightest flaw. As Bai E lay down on the instrument bed, Helen withdrew her gaze and, at an angle Bai E could not see, patted her own cheeks. She felt her cheeks warming up, her ears heating, her vision becoming dizzy as if she were floating on clouds. She had seen countless test subjects'' bodies, but she had never experienced this before. "What am I thinking about?" Muttering to herself, she shook her head as if to fling away those romantic thoughts, not until her mind was clear again did Helen seriously look at the instrument screen in front of her. She lightly pressed a few buttons, and the device started... With a soft beep, the machine''s subtle movements gradually ceased, and the results appeared before Helen''s eyes¡ª [Physical Ability]: 18.2 sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Insight]: 15.6 Find your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire [Reflex]: 16.5 "..." All exceeded the 15-point limit of an ordinary human! Yes! Bai E had once been injected with the Gene Optimization Solution, and his body''s upper limit had long surpassed 15 points. Being able to raise his actual abilities to this level in just a few short months, Bai E''s rate of improvement was still terrifying, not at all inferior to those initial days right after his creation. Of course, attributes were secondary. To achieve the military exploits that Bai E had accomplished, relying solely on these basic attributes was already insufficient. Those personal capabilities that could only be mastered through extensive training and actual combat were the key. And the ability to train those capabilities was known as talent. And that was what Helen truly wanted. "Next, I need to draw some of your blood and take some tissue samples. It won''t threaten your health. Some unusual sensations, including stinging, pressure, and so on, are normal. Don''t mind them." "Understood." Operating the machine again, Helen casually asked, "Your Mecha, it has a spirit now, doesn''t it?" This was common knowledge among all somewhat knowledgeable figures in the city upon hearing this news. Without the aid of a spirit, relying on a standard Mecha equipped with only an ordinary alloy sword, even the ace Mech Pilot from the Mechanical Court would not be able to accomplish everything. Not to mention that Bai E had done it solo, without the help of another Mech Pilot. ``` Chapter 550 - 550: Doubt 440 "I don''t know what a ''mecha soul'' is¡­" Bai E''s eyes glazed over as he stared at the white exterior of the mecha, as if he were sinking into memories, "But I can hear it talking to me, whispering incessantly. I can''t make out the words; it''s like a hallucination, yet it also feels as if someone is really speaking into my ear." A gentle hum rose by his ear, accompanied by a warm breeze carrying a faint scent, brushing past Bai E''s earlobe, "Is that so?" "...Similar." Bai E''s heart skipped a beat, but he immediately suppressed the fleeting tumult, "However, it''s not clear, and as for the ideas I am about to have, it always seems to anticipate them. Since then, piloting a mecha has become easier for me. They say it''s hard for a person to drive a mecha, but it seems I can do it." "Really?" Helen''s fingers brushed over the resolute face before her, tracing the jawline upwards, gliding over his facial features, and lightly touching his eyelids. Her gaze was focused and cold. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire "Pop~" Completely unexpected. A moist imprint landed on his cheek, and Bai E''s heart quivered, instantly suppressed by his self-control. He turned his head belatedly to look at Helen, who was retracting her charming face, with an innocent expression and a puzzled tone, "Professor?" A meaningless smile flickered at the corner of Helen''s mouth, "It''s nothing, don''t overthink it." After speaking, she glanced to the side. In her heart, there had always been doubts about the true nature of this artificial human warrior. Bai E''s performance was flawless, but there was an undeniable discordance with those tasks that required quick, witty responses. She always felt that beneath this expressionless face, there should be another face, one that was cleverly crafted, hence... she conducted a little test. But... there was no fluctuation on the instruments'' display. Was this artificial human warrior really so innocent all along? Although artificial humans were bound by ''thought dulling'', how long had he been in existence? In such a long time, he should have developed a basic understanding of this world. Was he truly ignorant? Or¡­ did he have some special method to control his emotions? Mechanics could only detect physical data, those special personal abilities were difficult to represent in data form. "Ding ding ding~" The room''s doorbell suddenly rang. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The assistant''s voice came from the door, "Teacher, Marshal Weslin is here to see you." "¡­" After glancing at Bai E, who wore an expressionless face, busy with the instrumental sampling, Helen replied loudly, "Got it." The moment she stood up, Spiritual Energy released the brief suppression of her emotions, and a rush of crimson swiftly spread from her fair neck to her cheeks. Testing Bai E was also a challenge to her own heart. She was convinced that the brief stirring she had just felt was merely a primal urge of her body, but unfortunately... she had lost. An admiration for the strong, pity for the weak, awe of the ability to adapt in a crisis, and reverence for the upholding of human values, miraculously merged all within the same individual. ''Should I hope that he has another face? Or should I hope that he is just a simple artificial human warrior?'' An entity that was mysterious, dangerous, yet irresistibly attractive. Someone powerful, serene, and sufficiently reliable. Can such individuals truly be deconstructed by science and then mass-produced? A tinge of doubt crossed her mind as Helen stepped towards the door. Chapter 551 - 551: 441 "Academician." "What is it?" Helen''s tone was cool and detached, a lock of curled hair trembling slightly on her cheek, betraying a hint of impatience. "There''s a favor I''d like to ask of you." Weslin said with a smile, looking at the radiant yet aloof woman before him. Even though he could see the obvious impatience in her eyes, he had no choice but to patiently curry favor. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the youngest academician at the Scientific Research Institute, and universally acknowledged as the top candidate to succeed the next directorship. If he could secure her support, it was as good as claiming half the skies over the city. "Speak." "It concerns Captain Bai..." Weslin''s voice carried a moment''s hesitation, "You''re aware of his current situation." "Hmm..." Helen''s eyebrows quirked, a flicker of interest in her eyes, "What are your thoughts?" "Continuing like this... it''s undoubtedly a waste of military force for the city, and for his personal future development, it''s not promising. Don''t you agree?" Helen crossed her arms, her gaze icy, "Marshal, if you have any thoughts, I would prefer you speak plainly. We researchers don''t appreciate beating around the bush." "Then I''ll be frank... I understand that because of current technological limitations, we can''t precisely edit the genetic prohibition imposed on all artificial humans. However, for a limited number of individuals, we should be able to tweak their cognition through postnatal means. What I''m suggesting is, maybe we could try to... brainwash him." "Brainwash?" Helen squinted her eyes, a dangerous glint flashing through as she stared at Weslin. The technology of brainwashing varies in sophistication. A basic method involves inundating the subject with a barrage of meaningless information to break their psyche and construct a new mental framework. But this technique is primitive and unstable, and for the brainwashed, it inflicts tremendous psychological harm. If they can''t withstand it, they could end up as imbeciles. Even if successful, it''s starting from scratch, akin to a blank slate. More advanced neural techniques don''t cause such severe side effects, but the psychic damage is similarly irreversible, varying only in degree. Such brutal methods applied to Bai E... But Marshal Weslin had a point. With the personality Bai E is showing, if no change is made, neither the military nor any power within the city would make further use of him. The best outcome would be nothing more than becoming a high-end enforcer. Did she wish for Bai E to have a future? The future of the city was already grim, let alone that of an individual. Yet, for this artificial warrior who exhibited exceptional traits from the start, Helen wished for him to go further... "I see," Helen murmured softly and turned to leave. Left without a clear answer, Weslin called out from behind, "What do you mean, Academician?" "I''ll inform you of the outcome." "Thank you, Academician!" ... "Tsk~" The gentle sound of the door opening and closing was heard. Glancing sideways, one could only see the long legs of Bai E as he "click-clacked" his way in and waited quietly, the rustling noises arising above his head in front of the machines. The working devices had just stopped. The city''s technology in the field of biology was pretty decent. While Helen was out dealing with matters, the machines had already completed the procedures she had previously set. All was quiet. Helen was likely checking the freshly baked reports. ''It doesn''t show...'' Helen''s brow furrowed slightly. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire A basic physical examination could only display the three primary attributes of the human body. Bai E''s attributes indeed far exceeded the limits of an ordinary human, but they still didn''t account for his alarmingly terrifying combat record. From the tissue samples she had taken from various parts of Bai E''s body, she could understand the supporting details behind those attributes, such as cell activity, cardiovascular strength, muscle tenacity, the number of visual cells, and other indicators. And... the comparison of genetic maps. Even after one round of genetic optimization, Bai E''s current genetic map showed no significant difference from when he first came off Production Line 95. The changes in the fragments were almost indistinguishable from the soldiers who had undergone genetic optimization, with variations all falling within predictable ranges. If one were willing to invest the resources, creating a clone of Bai E on a one-to-one basis was entirely feasible. But such a cloned individual would not be significantly different from the mass-produced artificial warrior clones from Production Line 95. From any perspective, it was difficult to pinpoint the reason for Bai E''s uniqueness. Yet the reality was right before her eyes... Helen''s gaze drifted, finally resting on the steadfast warrior lying before her, eyes fixed on the ceiling, expressionless as ever. Her normally cool eyes softened slightly as Helen sighed softly and instructed gently. "Get up, and get dressed." "Yes." Watching Bai E dress himself meticulously, Helen, seated in her armchair, suddenly spoke up, "They want me to brainwash you." Bai E paused in his actions, looking at Helen with confusion, "Brainwash?" "Yes, brainwash." There was no trace of emotion in Helen''s eyes; although she was looking at Bai E, her gaze was unfocused, as if she was looking through his apparition to something far beyond, "Even the most advanced technology would unavoidably cause some damage to your body. To be honest, I don''t want to use it. But they fear what you are now and insist you must change." "..." Helen blinked, coming back to the present, her eyes finally focused. Chapter 552 - 552: 441 She stared intently at Bai E''s expressionless face, "So, can you make a change?" "What, a change?" "Become more obedient, stop engaging in those dangerous acts¡­ You should know which of your actions tend to alarm others," Helen said, her tone light but her eyes firmly locked onto Bai E''s, "Or perhaps, become more covert, without letting others spot any flaws." "..." Was this a negotiation? Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Had she discovered something? Indeed. In all of Blackwater City, she had the shrewdest mind and the most intimate knowledge of her own body, and it was impossible that she hadn''t noticed anything unusual during their several encounters. Even though he had always provided perfect explanations, when facts and cognition clashed dramatically, rationality would question everything. Seeing her current attitude, even though she knew he had an ulterior motive, she seemed willing to help him cover it up. But he wasn''t sure if she was just bluffing, ready to have him seized the moment he stepped out¡ªif he admitted to anything¡­ Should he take a bet? However, if he continued to hide the truth, he might never have the chance to establish a good relationship with her again. If he rejected the olive branch, only weapons remained. But he couldn''t simply confess everything either, for then he would lose all initiative. In a slight pause, Bai E glanced downward, looking at the "shackles" he still wore on his hands. These were placed on him by a person from the Mechanical Court, and after putting them on, his physical strength and Spiritual Energy were both tremendously suppressed. Wearing these, Bai E had no leverage to turn hostile. Bai''s subtle movements were not too noticeable, but Helen, who kept a vigilant watch over every move he made, would not miss any detail. Seeing this almost imperceptible action, Helen, who had kept a stern face, finally revealed a bright smile. Walking toward Bai with her long elegant legs, her right hand casually swept through the air, and with a slight fluctuation of Spiritual Energy, a silvery-gray metal key suddenly appeared in her hand. Inserted into the lock, electronic password accepted¡­ With a "click," the shackles binding Bai sprang open and with a "thud" fell to the ground. Feeling his body swiftly regaining power, Bai E moved his wrists slightly. Meeting Helen''s eyes, which held a trace of amusement, Bai E''s face remained calm, "Thank you, Helen." Helen raised her right eyebrow slightly, neither confirming nor denying, "I can cover for you." "I don''t quite understand, Helen." "I don''t need you to ''understand'' right now," Helen turned away to tidy up the experimental table and documents, "You can go if there''s nothing else." "No need for a mind wipe?" Helen turned her body halfway, revealing part of her face, "Do you wish for it?" Bai E fell silent for a moment, gazing into Helen''s eyes before slowly replying, "I don''t wish for it." Helen beamed a bright smile, "Then that settles it. Go on, the rest room is next door. Stay there for a couple of days¡­ Also, after a mind wipe, there''s a recovery period ranging from a few days to a month, during which we will keep observing you." This was the downside of current technology. If Weslin knew about the mind-wiping technology, he wouldn''t be unaware of its associated symptoms; deception was pointless. With that, Helen stopped paying attention to Bai, solely focused on organizing her materials, letting Bai stay or leave at his discretion. Bai stood still for a moment, then turned and walked toward the door. "Hiss~" Upon hearing the sound of the door opening and closing, Helen, who''d been packing away items, paused her movements and relaxed, sinking into her chair and whispering in a voice only she could hear. "As expected¡­" The communication between smart people didn''t need to be too explicit; an unspoken understanding left more room for both parties to maneuver. Bai was gambling; she was gambling too. Fortunately, Bai was betting correctly, and she probably wouldn''t make a wrong bet either. Rather than risk exposing themselves, they went so far as to do things that raised alarms, all for the sake of saving some unrelated wilderness wanderers. How dangerous can a person with their own awakened will be, even if such a person exists? Starting today, you will put on a new mask, but also tear off the old one. Bai E... Let me see, once the mask is removed, what you truly look like. I just hope, you won''t disappoint me. ... Weslin immediately gathered the senior officers, including Hamilton, who had just dispersed, upon receiving news from Helen. "Helen has successfully brainwashed Bai, a big success!" Upon hearing this news, both Hamilton and Carlos''s faces lit up with pleasure. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s great!" "However..." Weslin pondered slightly, "The recovery period for brainwashing surgery can range from several days to a month. This time is an observation period to confirm the results and the recovery of the mental state. So, we still need to consider it a bit longer." "Then let''s stick to the plan we agreed upon earlier, let him serve as a ''mech servant'' for me for a month. We can''t afford to have him completely lose his familiarity with mechas because of a wasted month." As long as the defects of Bai E as an artificially created person disappeared, this combat power, capable of single-handedly annihilating an entire Intelligence Machinery Group Army through mecha combat, could not be wasted no matter what. "Just do as you say..." Weslin waved his hand dismissively, unconcerned with these minor details. In Hamilton''s eyes, the armored battalion was his private territory. But in his own eyes, the entire military camp belonged to him. As long as Bai E could perform well subsequently, how he should be promoted was entirely up to his discretion. After all, wasn''t he the one with the greatest say in shaping Bai E''s future? This kid knew gratitude, and nurturing him would surely yield an obedient and promising talent. "What about the general offensive that was scheduled for five days from now?" Dewa was the only senior officer called in who thought about matters other than Bai E. "It remains unchanged." Weslin said nonchalantly, making the decision with a casual wave of his hand. However impressive Bai E''s combat power might be, he was still just one person. However strong an individual is, how much decisive impact can they really have on a battle against the Bug Race? Keep in mind, the Bug Race, humanity''s greatest adversary, is far more challenging than mere mechanical contraptions. The same achievements, if given to a mech pilot from the Mechanical Court, could be replicated with just a few more added to the mix. To curry favor with the military camp, in hopes of getting priority allocation of Bai E later on, even the Chief Justice of the Mechanical Court promised to pitch in several excellent mech pilots for the upcoming total offensive against the Bug Race, to help them secure this crucial battle. With or without Bai E, he didn''t see any immediate and absolute impact, and there was no need to hold back the foundation they had already established everywhere, just to wait for his recovery period which could take up to a month. The recent large-scale troop withdrawals from the barracks for pre-war training were meant not only to enhance the soldiers'' combat abilities but also to cut off the "tentacles" the Bug Nests had stretched out. Five days later would be their planned optimal time for the offensive, and it would not be altered due to any unforeseen event! "Is there anything else?" "No." "Then let''s disband. Hamilton... Bai E is in your care. Pay extra attention during this time. The technology of the Scientific Research Institute isn''t foolproof; we still need to keep an eye on it ourselves. By the way, Helen said he''s quite exhausted from the brainwashing and has gone to rest. Don''t disturb him tonight, talk to him again in a couple of days." "Got it," Hamilton replied cheerily, his departure quickening with a brisk stride. After everyone had left, a shadow moved slightly in the corner of the meeting room. A slender figure holding a sword and with hands folded across her chest stepped out from the shadows silently. Should she wish, she could go anywhere in this military camp that was now defenseless against her¡ªonly the so-called scholar''s lab was a bit of trouble. So she had waited here... "Brainwashing... ''mech servant''?" A trace of worry flickered across Yue Ying''s dark pupils. The military camp hadn''t taken forcible measures against Bai E, so it wasn''t fitting for her to make a move directly. But brainwashing... Could they have damaged the kid''s brain? Chapter 553 - 553: 442 Defend In the pitch-dark room, Bai E sat cross-legged, hands forming seals before his chest, cultivating his Spiritual Energy. Although the battle against the intelligent machine army was quick, the consumption of Spiritual Energy was extremely terrifying. In pursuit of a swift resolution, Bai E had unleashed his Spiritual Energy output at maximum efficiency throughout. Compared to the last cleaning of the factory, it was not as exhausting, but it still significantly strained his spirit. From the end of the fight until now, Bai E had been preoccupied with dealing with other characters, only now getting a brief moment to recuperate and catch his breath. His increasingly mighty Spiritual Energy swelled and contracted with each practice session, becoming more condensed and robust. Being able to actually feel this power, each cultivation session brought about new sensations. During practice, his "Heavenly Eye" trait constantly monitored all changes within a certain range, as if having countless eyes watching all 360 degrees around him, making it difficult for any minute change to escape Bai E''s gaze. Therefore, the slight squirming shadow in the corner naturally caused Bai E, who was resting with his eyes closed, to frown slightly. The door was tightly shut, but Bai E still looked coldly toward the darkness in the diagonal corner of the room and asked in a cool voice, "Who''s there?" "You can detect me?" A voice tinged with curiosity, sounding familiar, spoke up as a dim soft orb of light rose from the corner, revealing a slender figure in a black robe with arms crossed, leaning against the wall. "Sister Yue Ying?" Bai E''s voice was slightly surprised. Since his return, he had not seen Yue Ying, and now knowing that she was still by his side, he felt even more reassured. While those in the military camp might support and protect him when deceived by his outward appearance, once they realize he has another personality unknown to them, those people might not continue their support. Even now with Helen... Her attitude was unclear, and their relationship was only maintained by a fragile tacit cooperation. What decision she would make if he failed to meet her elusive expectations was still an unknown factor. In the face of all of them, Bai E had to maintain complete camouflage and be constantly vigilant. Only in front of Yue Ying could he let his guard down a little and drop the pretense. Feeling Bai E''s sincere joy and the affectionate way he addressed her, Yue Ying''s lips unconsciously curled into a smile, "Are you alright? I heard they brainwashed you? I didn''t intervene because it seemed like they didn''t mean to harm you." "No," Bai E lowered his crossed legs and stepped off the bed onto the floor, "that Scientist from the Scientific Research Institute didn''t brainwash me for some reason, and even agreed to cover for me." "Hmm..." Yue Ying''s eyebrows knitted slightly, her expression grave, "Humans indeed have many cunning thoughts; that''s something I can''t help with. Just be more careful." "Yeah." Watching Yue Ying in the corner, who didn''t seem to want to say more, Bai E hesitated before speaking up, "Sister Yue Ying, can you do me a favor?" Yue Ying replied cheerfully, "Tell me." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You should know about the Black Street outside the camp. Usually, I take care of it, but I''ve been practically under house arrest lately. Also, I''m aware that a power from the outer city has its eye on that area, and I''m afraid they might harm Black Street. I hope that during this time, you could look after it a bit." The power from outside the city was none other than the doctor from Grey Iron City and his subordinates. Not to mention that Black Street itself was hardly peaceful; demons found ways to infiltrate everywhere, and the city''s other battle gangs were always coveting every profitable territory. The dangers of this world did not only exist in the wilderness. Under normal circumstances, with his badge that allowed him to leave the camp, he could run back and forth. Now... his leave badge had been confiscated upon return to the camp, and for the foreseeable future, it seemed he would be unable to escape the watchful eyes of the surveillance within the camp. In such a situation, Bai E had to seek help. As for those players... now that they were on the right track, they would thrive or perish on their own. Without issuing them tasks for a while, he probably wouldn''t completely lose their trust. Bai E believed in the players'' creativity; they were the biggest variable in this world. "Okay," Yue Ying agreed without any hesitation. She knew of Bai E''s deep connection to Black Street and had always harbored a mild curiosity about what he was up to behind the scenes. But Bai E never spoke of it himself, and she didn''t take the initiative to ask. Now that she had the chance to get involved, she felt quite pleased. ''I''m sorry, sister.'' Normally, she couldn''t get involved in human affairs, which was an agreement she had with her sister when leaving the elven settlement. Now that she was entrusted with this task, there was no choice. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be leaving," Yue Ying said calmly, her toes turning slightly. "Yeah... I''m fine." "Good." ... Outside Black Street, several chilly gazes watched the human settlement quietly from afar. The small town was silent in the early morning, with the sun yet to rise¡ªthe darkest time of the day. "The doctor has waited too many days here; he is usually not this indecisive..." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire "Is capturing ''Zero'' really that difficult? It''s not the first time we''ve caught her." Chapter 554 - 554: 442 Defend_2 "Don''t you think... The Doctor has a rather particular attitude towards this settlement?" "Rather than saying he has a particular attitude towards the settlement, it''s more accurate to say it''s towards Number Zero... This is the first power that can completely suppress Number Zero''s ''cannibalistic'' desires. It''s not hard to guess what the Doctor is thinking." "We can''t let the Doctor waste any more time here; Grey Iron City is still waiting for his leadership. I''ve heard that quite a few changes have taken place in the city during the time we''ve been away. Taking advantage of our absence, some people have even started rebelling against the city''s rules!" "How about... we make the decision for the Doctor? It''s just a small settlement, right? We can simply snatch Number Zero back. The convoy hiding Number Zero came back, I saw it first thing this morning." "Are you sure? Their leader is not easy to deal with... I heard from the others that the leader took down an entire Smart Machinery Factory by himself, that small factory on the west side of the city. A brother just glanced at the leader from a distance and almost got his brain shot through. If he hadn''t dodged in time, the grass over his grave would be a meter high by now." "Leader?" One of the figures in black leather snickered, "He''s already fallen." "My brothers and I have been keeping a close watch on the military camp... A Mecha suddenly left the camp on an emergency mission last night, and the military zone immediately sent people to pursue it. When they returned, I had a glimpse; the person who drove the Mecha away from the camp was that so-called leader. That guy''s status in the military isn''t high; he''s probably been executed by now." "You sure?" "Even if he hasn''t been executed, he must be skinned alive. Wasn''t the Doctor here just to assess this guy? Now that he himself is in peril, what''s the necessity for assessment? We might as well act first and report afterwards, just kidnap Number Zero and be done with it." "A real kidnapping, or a fake one?" "A real kidnapping!" "Does everyone agree?" "Agree!" "Agree!" "I agree too! Dammit, we can''t let the Doctor waste any more time here. The Doctor is humanity''s pioneer; how can something like Number Zero deserve so much of the Doctor''s attention? Even if I get punished after we return, I''ll accept it! Let''s do it!" "Then let''s do it!" The shadows took advantage of the night to stealthily creep towards the human settlement that was still in slumber. After a long period of observation, they found the human settlement to be riddled with holes from their viewpoint. Except for their leader and that Arbitration Place girl who occasionally strolled around, the rest were no better than rotten fish. If they could avoid those two, even if they slaughtered the entire Black Street, it would probably take quite a while before any wind of it was leaked. On the contrary, kidnapping Number Zero or taking them by force was likely to cause a bigger commotion. But that didn''t matter, for the sake of the Doctor... Such risks were entirely negligible. What''s a little noise, as long as that leader is not around... "Hey! Are you from Black Street?" The shadows moving through the darkness suddenly heard an emotionless interrogative sentence. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking towards the source of the voice, they saw a slender figure cloaked in black standing at a nearby dark corner. The men in black leather exchanged silent glances, "There are still many of Black Street''s sentinels around..." One of them, a brutish man with a volatile nature, grinned wickedly at the shadow, "Originally we weren''t planning to kill anyone, but you''re just unlucky, girl." One of the more cautious black leather clad warriors began to realize something was amiss, "Wait, how come we didn''t notice..." In the corner of his eye, a sword light that seemed to sever the fabric of time itself came slicing through the air, accompanied by a gentle murmur from the woman, "No wonder he said there were quite a few bad guys targeting Black Street..." "Pfft!" A sword executed by decapitation. The only one remaining, a warrior with ribs fused like plate armor across his chest, looked towards Yue Ying''s direction with eyes full of horror, "How... How is this possible..." How could there be such a powerful master hidden in Black Street? Why had they not detected even the faintest clue of this master''s existence? Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire How could such an inconspicuous gathering place outside Blackwater City harbor so many extraordinary masters? Unfortunately, nobody could answer his question. He couldn''t even voice it properly. Yue Ying caressed the hilt of her Longsword, feeling slightly annoyed. Having not struck for many days, was she now unable to kill a person with a single stroke? "Swish!" The Longsword was drawn once more, and another fierce sword light struck precisely on the same wound. As long as no one could tell she used two strokes, she still counted as having only used one... ``` "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Several lower halves of bodies, cut in two from the middle, lost control of their own will, and slowly toppled over where they stood, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust. Yue Ying, cradling her longsword, made her way to the highest point in the center of Black Street. There she sat down cross-legged, her breath merging with the natural world. ''I want to see just how many bad guys are keeping an eye on this place.'' With an indifferent glance around, Yue Ying''s eyes gently closed. At the same time, the will of Spiritual Energy enveloped all directions... ... "Do... Doctor..." a slightly panicked voice woke the doctor who was deep in sleep. "What''s wrong?" the tall doctor asked in a low voice as he sat up from his simple bed, his indifferent eyes turning toward the black-clad warrior who had come to report. "Xiao Qi... Xiao Qi and the others are dead." "Dead?" the doctor''s eyes sharpened, "Who did they provoke?" "Don''t... don''t know." The reporting warrior swallowed, eyes filled with fear, "The bodies were found not far from Black Street, a total of six brothers... someone... someone sliced them with a sword." "One sword?" The warrior nodded with difficulty, "One sword... six men." What kind of power is this? Unthinkable. Even if those Demon Princes themselves descended to the world, it would probably look something like this, right? "..." The doctor furrowed his brows deeply, silent for a long time. It wasn''t that leader he knew well! There''s a master behind that so-called leader? He couldn''t think of any familiar existence with this level of power. The Empire''s War God? He''s not in Blackwater City though... And that muscle-head only knows how to rely on his brute strength to charge blindly; when did he ever learn sword techniques¡ªsomething he would consider heretical to his style? Since when did humans have such a level of existence? He was completely unaware... and it was right near that Black Street? And more importantly... "Who allowed them to get close to Black Street?!" the doctor''s face twisted in anger, like a fearsome beast choosing its prey. "They... they... Some brothers said they planned to directly snatch Number Zero back..." "Boom!" The doctor slammed the table, his beard bristling in fury, "Get everyone back here! Send out my orders, don''t let anyone get close to Black Street again before we figure out the situation, offenders... execute!" The reporter bowed deeply, his body trembling slightly, "Yes! Doctor!" Stepping out of the gloomy sewer entrance, the doctor looked distantly at the human settlement that was just waking up in the early dawn light. The early morning sunlight spread over the rooftops, reflecting a dazzling golden light. Vibrant sounds rose from all around Black Street. The doctor rubbed his cheeks, shifting his facial expression from stiff indifference to a deceptively benign one. Daylight had broken, and it was time for work. "What a lovely day..." Hefting his hoe, the doctor walked back into Black Street from outside, warmly greeting the familiar residents he met along the way. "Good morning, Mr. Wang." "Good morning, Ms. Wang." "Is Li Dan''er still not awake?" During the occasional moments when no one was around, a pair of cold and sinister eyes would scan every dark corner of Black Street, as if some deeply hidden, cunning beast lurked there, waiting for each ignorant soul to fall into the trap of Black Street. ... "Yawn~" At the military camp''s gate, a uniformed officer who had just finished yawning turned to greet the soldiers on guard with a smile, "Hey~ good morning! You haven''t changed shifts yet?" Watching the officer''s retreating figure heading towards Black Street, the puzzled gate guard scratched the back of his head, "Since when is Officer Ge Lan so easy to talk to?" ``` Chapter 555 - 555: 443 Leaks As the early morning came, the guard squads took turns handing over duties in batches. Looking at Dai Lian standing silently in front of everyone, even these artificial human veterans who had once served in the military, couldn''t help but feel respect from the depths of their hearts. They, as artificial humans, were famously known for not treating themselves as human, yet the captain of the Black Street Guard surpassed them by far. Ever since these old soldiers had served under the captain, whether day or night, he had always led the team; they had not seen the captain take a moment to rest. He was truly a superhuman! So, when faced with Dai Lian''s inquiry, they appeared somewhat ill at ease due to their reverence. "Where''s Song?" "He... he''s not feeling well today." "...Not feeling well?" Dai Lian''s eyebrows creased slightly, and his youthful and handsome face took on an unexpectedly imposing air. These veterans had all been discharged from the battlefield, and to be released by the military, they usually faced extremely severe disabilities. Even though almost all of these old soldiers had replaced their limbs with mechanical prostheses, pain still often accompanied them. Minor pains from old injuries had long since honed their nerves, and even slight pains might be subconsciously filtered out by them. Pain that was unbearable enough to resist... likely wouldn''t be endured alone in the camp by anyone. So, even after so much time had passed, these old soldiers still hadn''t entirely opened up to Black Street... or rather, to the boss. Privately, they still had access to resources only they could control. Like... prostheses. Money is one thing; connections are another. Thanks to several recent transactions in the steel business, Black Street was relatively wealthy, especially with the steel that had just been brought in from the outside two days ago and had been sold, making its current wealth considerable. But for them to search for the relevant resources on their own was still fraught with difficulties. And the so-called excuse of not feeling well was probably another private contact with those unknown channels. ''I must take the opportunity to deal with these guys...'' Dai Lian''s eyes flickered as his gaze swept over the line of veteran guards, and he barked, "Attention!" "Shh!" "Lately, under the leadership of the boss, Black Street has become quite rich, and the covetousness of outside forces towards us has become more unrestrained, something I believe you all are aware of. We are one entity; the boss has entrusted the safety of Black Street to me... and to you. Any trouble in Black Street won''t please the boss. If the boss isn''t happy, none of us can escape." Dai Lian''s cold voice passed slowly over each veteran''s face, "Don''t be complacent; the boss will get angry, and I will get angry too. Remember, you do not have the opportunity to make mistakes!" "Yes!" Despite having been away from the military camp for a long time, the old soldiers still maintained their discipline. The response was in unison. After Dai Lian turned away, several old soldiers exchanged glances in silence, conveying the meaning in their eyes. ''What''s Song up to? The doctor hasn''t contacted us lately, right?'' ''Who knows...'' ''It could be someone from the military camp, right? It''s not a connection that can be cut off just like that. We''ll remind Song later.'' As usual, the guard team first had to patrol around the edge of Black Street. As the guard team approached the closest direction to Black Street from the wilderness, Dai Lian raised an eyebrow at some noise he heard. In the distance, there was a stir. "Quiet!" commanded Dai Lian, and the guard team halted. Dai Lian closed his eyes, listening intently. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire "Rumble, rumble, rumble..." A glimpse of an image flashed by. Dai Lian opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ''A small convoy is coming?'' The Black Street convoy had returned the other day, so who could this be now? The military? Or other powers from the city? As the shabby convoy appeared in the morning light before Dai Lian''s eyes, several familiar faces also peeked out from the windows of the vehicles. The loudest among them, Kuang Xin, was the first to stand at the front, vigorously waving his arms, "Hey! Guang! We''re back!" It was Kuang Xin and the others! Dai Lian felt a surge of joy inside. As the convoy slowly drove up and came to a stop nearby, Dai Lian finally spoke out, "How come you''re back? Weren''t you with the boss on a mission?" "We had to come back..." Kuang Xin was the first to jump off the vehicle and turned to help open the doors of the other cars. Dai Lian got out of the driver''s seat and stretched lazily on the spot, explaining with a smile, "The mission''s done, but the brothers are worn out. We''ve come back for the organization''s help..." Kuang Xin, grinning, slapped the metal car door and shouted loudly, "Brothers, come on out, we''re home." The Grey Iron City players, missing arms and legs, helped each other out of the dark cabin, and facing the line of well-prepared veteran guards, they didn''t dare to be noisy at first. To them, the players, missing limbs was not a big deal; as long as they didn''t die, they could explore new game content. But orderly places, like Grey Iron City, always made them subconsciously a bit fearful. Not fear of authority, but fear of the boring content under authoritative rule. "Is this our turf?" a player cautiously approached Kuang Xin to ask. "Of course... don''t be afraid, we''re home! This is our real territory." Kuang Xin looked at the distant, orderly fields with a somewhat relieved smile. Chapter 556 - 556: 443 Leaks_2 Li Ming town was too far from Blackwater City; even if they sought help at the first sign of trouble, it would take at least an hour for the adults to reach them in their mechas. Only by the military camp next to Blackwater City could they truly feel the peace of being under the adults'' protection. Looking at the almost entirely injured team, Xu Ruoguang''s eyes were full of surprise, "Goodness! What kind of mission did you undertake to end up in such a state?" "Don''t even talk about it; we ran into those vengeful, petty intelligence machines. Luckily, the adult mecha pilots came to support us; otherwise, we would have been completely done for." After the incident, every surviving participant had the right to discuss it casually, "Mecha! It was my first time seeing a real mecha in this game! Damn! It was so cool!" "Mecha?" Xu Ruoguang''s eyes narrowed slightly. Last night, someone on Black Street said they heard a huge commotion in the direction of the military camp, reportedly having seen a "giant" flash by that was dozens of meters tall. Following that, an entire convoy drove out from the military camp. The military camp was in an uproar all night, with blinding laser lights brightly illuminating half of the sky. Could that commotion have been caused by the adult? Hearing Xu Ruoguang''s feedback, Gu Lan nodded thoughtfully, "Probably, the so-called officers in the camp asked us a barrage of questions. The adult seems to have acted on his own this time and might be in some trouble when we get back. But for the first time, we found out about the adult''s real identity in the camp. Who would''ve thought that besides being the special forces captain, the adult is also a mecha pilot." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a carefree wave of his hand, he said, "Hey, leave it be, let''s hurry and fit them with prosthetics... These are players who followed us from Grey Iron City to fight the revolution, and this time the entire resistance against the intelligence machines has been crippled. We can''t let them down." The adult''s identity in the camp wasn''t important. No matter what position the adult held in the NPC world, in Gu Lan''s eyes, the adult was their leader, possessing such strength that even a low status in the military camp would be akin to a hidden dragon in a well, deliberately concealing its edge. The attitude of the camp''s investigating officers indicated that the adult alone, piloting a mecha, annihilating the entire intelligence machine''s army of vengeance, was an unimaginable miracle. As long as the NPC''s in the camp weren''t stupid, the adult''s exposure of his strength this time would probably result in him being assigned an even more significant position and responsibilities upon his return. The adult had nothing to worry about; it was they, his player brothers, who should be more concerned. "Prosthetics, huh..." Xu Ruoguang hesitated. He had just thought of this, and now it seemed they were immediately getting involved. The channel for prosthetics lay in the hands of the old veterans behind him; while they treated him with utmost respect on the surface, whenever it came to their private "connections," these veterans were deeply secretive, each more silent than the last. Seeing Xu Ruoguang''s troubled expression, Dai Lian asked curiously, "Is it difficult to handle? Black Street should be quite wealthy now, right?" "The money is alright, but some things can''t be resolved with money..." Xu Ruoguang glanced at the line of old veteran guards behind him and then moved closer to Dai Lian, whispering, "Let''s not talk about this now, let''s get them settled and rest. For the prosthetics, I''ll talk to you guys in private later." Dai Lian didn''t waste words and agreed at once, "Okay." The convoy entered Black Street, and every player who came from Grey Iron City took in the scenery along the way. The buildings of Black Street might be old, and the people mostly ordinary. Yet, that thriving and vibrant vitality was something they had never felt in Grey Iron City. How fortunate were Kuang Xin and his friends to have been born in such an environment and to have such a boss to watch over them... Arriving at a new area of prefab buildings, Xu Ruoguang gestured, "This area was originally intended to provide a better living environment for those in poor conditions, but since they''re here, let''s have them recuperate here for now. Once we figure out a solution, we''ll fit them with prosthetics." As he spoke, Xu Ruoguang turned to look at the guards who had been following him and said, "You go on patrol first, I need to arrange various matters for these newcomers." The vice-captain at the lead saluted and replied with composure, "Yes, sir!" Watching the guards jog away, Xu Ruoguang faced the gazes of Kuang Xin and the others, then shook his head with a wry smile, "These veteran soldiers have never fully submitted to me. They alone have access to the channels for installing prosthetics. If we hurry to find our own, it will only result in us being severely overcharged. Even being overcharged isn''t the worst; my fear is that even if we spent all of Black Street''s spare cash, we still wouldn''t be able to provide safe and reliable prosthetics for all these brothers." "Then what do we do?" "We did promise these brothers that we''d definitely help them get prosthetic limbs that are stronger and more useful than their original bodies." With a faint, wry smile, Xu Ruoguang shook his head, "We can''t rush it. We must catch them in a compromising situation so they will offer the solution themselves; otherwise, they won''t budge." "Do you have any leads?" "It''s hard to say..." Xu Ruoguang''s eyes lost focus, looking into the distance, "Some of them maintain a feeble link with the outside world. I don''t know who the other party is yet. If we could find any solid evidence, it wouldn''t be impossible to force them into compliance." With a slight gleam in his eyes, Xu Ruoguang continued, "But now that you''ve returned, it will be much easier to handle. Before it was just me, and I always had to lead the team in public, so it was easy for them to avoid me. Now that you''re back, you can track and investigate secretly; I think there''s hope." "Alright!" Kuang Xin was visibly delighted. As long as there was something to do, he was happy, "We''ll go and be your spies!" Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire ... After a day''s work, the sun slowly set behind the distant mountains. In the twilight of Black Street, everything seemed quite languid, and the veteran guards shifted shifts again. The old soldiers returning to their barracks couldn''t help but feel irritated when they saw the silhouette swaying back and forth on the rocking chair inside the camp. "Song, you sure are something! Where did you go again today, letting us scold that kid for you?" "Scold?" The rocking chair paused, and the tall, thin veteran lying on it turned his gaunt face, which was somewhat frightening to look at, but his eyes shone like two bright black gems, "He will soon lose the right to scold us anymore!" "What!" The soldiers hadn''t caught what Song had said, but they were startled by his current, somewhat horrifying appearance, "Song, what happened to you?" "What happened to me?" Song contorted his neck exaggeratedly to the right, at an almost unbelievable 90-degree angle, "What have I become?" The eerie tone of his voice, coupled with his strange movements and expressions, made the soldiers watching Song feel a chill. "Song, are you alright?" "Alright? What could be wrong with me?" Song''s mouth corners stretched into an exaggerated arc, unnaturally stretching to the root of his ear, "The one with problems should be the master of Black Street, that mysterious... sir." "Sir? What happened to our sir?" asked one of the curious old soldiers. No matter whether they still harbored their own ulterior motives, they all shared a mutual reverence for the mysterious sir who had completely changed Black Street. Knowing that the sir also came from a military camp, they had always intended to recruit him into their ultimate plan privately. Song slightly nodded his head, his voice haunting, "Today... I met with Ge Lan from the military camp. Guess what he told me?" "What did he tell you?" One of the soldiers responded instinctively, then paused abruptly, realizing the logical connection in Song''s words, "You mean... it''s related to our sir?" Chapter 557 - 557: 444 comes into action "Do you all know... what exactly is the identity of our lord in the military camp?" A single sentence immediately aroused the curiosity of all the veterans, "What identity?" Such a powerful lord in the military camp must be a high-ranking official, right? Without the corresponding strength and status, how could he possess such confidence and ability to control the overall situation? "Just a grunt! Hahahaha!" Song, who had been lying in the rocking chair, suddenly burst into mad laughter, his neck thrown back as he arched up like a snake, his face contorted in insanity, "Just a damn grunt! What the hell has he been pretending to be!" After learning the true identity of the lord of Black Street from Ge Lan, Song''s past beliefs had completely collapsed. Once, when he first saw the true face of that lord, he only knew that this lord was also a member of the military camp. The lord treated the ordinary residents of Black Street, who were not seen as people by the city, with kindness¡ªcould they, the man-made soldiers who were similarly abandoned and dehumanized by the military, also receive gentle treatment in the eyes of this lord? Song had once been full of such illusions. Fantasizing that this lord was a high-ranking official in the military zone. Fantasizing that this lord was the savior who would bring a glimmer of hope to all the man-made soldiers. However... he''s just a damn man-made soldier! A man-made soldier... just like themselves! What use are man-made soldiers? What use are they? Man-made soldiers will never be accepted by the naturals of this world! Man-made soldiers will forever struggle to grasp real power. You, a man-made soldier... do you deserve our deep trust and support? Ge Lan''s words shattered all his illusions, and the so-called "lord" who was just a grunt made a big mistake in last night''s impulsive action and is now being thoroughly investigated by the top brass of the military. He''s nothing! Reality taught him a harsh truth¡ª Relying on a mountain, the mountain collapses, relying on a person, the person falls. You can''t rely on anything! You can only rely on yourself! Song''s words also left the expectant group of veterans momentarily stunned. The lord... just an ordinary grunt? But still some refused to accept this fact, and with a trembling voice asked, "How do you know what Ge Lan said is true? What evidence do you have?" "Evidence?" Song looked down and sneered darkly, "It''s simple... our ''lord'', he''s in trouble. The commotion in the military zone last night was caused by him, and now he''s been placed under house arrest by the military zone''s commanders... He''s done for! If you want to know the truth... we just need to make a scene. Our captain alone can''t hold us back, unless the lord steps in, otherwise..." Otherwise... Black Street, which has grown, may change hands. By completely controlling Black Street, which has already developed, they can have more resources to win hearts, ally with other powers, and add a bit more to the odds of success for the man-made soldier revolution! "What do you say? Dare to do it? We give him time, we just want to see the lord! If the lord doesn''t show up..." Song''s voice floated ethereally, as if coming from the far horizon, making people feel as if they were in the clouds. The group of veterans, slightly confused, hesitated and then, as if possessed, nodded, "Alright! Let''s try!" "Right! After all, we just want to see the lord! Just to see him once..." Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Then let''s go... while there are still plenty of people around," Song took the lead toward the camp entrance, his skinny silhouette staggering as if ghostly shadows flickered within. By evening, everyone had finished a whole day of labor. There was still some time before the rest period, and everyone was scattered lazily around Black Street, either eating or chatting in small groups, each taking a stroll. The collective movement of the veterans naturally attracted the attention of some, and looking at Song, who was leading them, someone asked with warm curiosity, "Hey! Song, what are you guys up to?" "We need to ask the lord for some justice!" Song waved his hand as he spoke. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some immediately picked up on the key point, "Justice? Aren''t you guys the ones maintaining order in the street? Why do you need to ask the lord for justice now?" "..." Song, suppressing a dark sneer, remained silent; the veterans'' procession could only keep quiet, silently saying nothing. They themselves didn''t know what kind of justice they were supposed to ask the lord for¡ªit was just a spur-of-the-moment excuse from Song, and the more he said, the more mistakes he might make. Better to keep silent. Just to leave. However, Song''s words undoubtedly opened up a vast space of imagination for the residents of Black Street¡ª Who else could cause indignation for the veteran guards, who themselves represented Black Street''s order? Ji Lande, the lord managing Black Street, seemed kind and approachable, everything he did seemed to consider everyone on Black Street, but beneath that bright and luminous exterior, could there be some degrading, ignoble secrets hidden? Pulling those high and mighty down into the mire was a hidden dark desire in many people''s hearts. Perhaps they were not even aware of this thought themselves, but driven by the excitement of the spectacle, they still followed behind the veterans, squeezing toward the center of Black Street, the administration office and residence of Lord Ji Lande. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The violent knocking sounded on the old wooden door, and hearing the commotion, Gilder got up as quickly as he could with the help of a Mouse Person and scampered to the door. Chapter 558 - 558: 444 comes into action_2 With a creak, the timid rat-people pushed open the great door, and a sea of faces flooded into their field of vision, causing them instinctively to retreat a few steps before hiding back in the shadows inside the house. Gilder adjusted his clothes and stepped over the threshold, his gaze slowly sweeping around before he asked in a deep voice, "What has happened?" "We want to see the lord!" "Yes! We want to see the lord!" Looking at the group of old soldiers causing the commotion, Gilder frowned and asked, "Why do you seek the lord if there is no issue?" "No issue?" An old soldier sneered sharply, "We are here to demand justice from the lord!" "Justice? What justice? Tell me what''s the matter, and if I can''t solve it, then I''ll report it to the lord." "You can solve it?" Song shoved his way to the front, stepping forward a pace, "We are here to accuse you! Recently, you''ve been covertly importing a large quantity of steel, which you then trade with another group of people we don''t recognize! From start to finish, none of these dealings have been disclosed to us. Where did the fairness and transparency you initially promised go? And the money you''ve made from these transactions? The steel business should be very profitable; why are we still eating mantou and wild vegetables all day?" Song turned around to face the others, his back to Gilder, "You won''t be able to explain this, and I don''t trust your explanation. Only the lord can give us a satisfactory answer! You all agree, don''t you?" "Yes, we do!" "Exactly!" "Can''t believe you''ve been doing such things behind our backs..." The sound of the crowd''s footsteps approached quickly from afar, and Xu Ruoguang''s voice sounded from the distance, "What''s everyone doing here? What''s everyone doing here? Don''t you know that unauthorized assembly is prohibited?" Black Street was small, and even the slightest commotion could trigger a chain reaction. Xu Ruoguang, who was leading a patrol, had come at the first news of the disturbance. The crowd scattered in fear, and Xu Ruoguang, now joined by another group of soldiers on shift change, appeared within the circle. Song fearlessly glared back at him with a sinister smile, "We''ve merely come to demand an explanation, and we will not rest until we get one!" Xu Ruoguang glanced at Gilder, who looked somewhat troubled, realizing the old soldier''s question was probably a delicate issue not fit for public sharing. Thus, he decided to suppress it with authority, "What explanation? What explanation!" In the process of maintaining the order of Black Street, many specific incidents would arise. Even the gentlest sheep will occasionally butt heads with humans, how much more so people each with their own demands? In facing these individuals, sometimes one must learn to be a bit more forceful. Pushing residents aside, Xu Ruoguang darkened his face and bluffed, "What are you all doing here? All full and idle, is it? If there''s nothing, don''t stand here and gawk, go home!" While saying this, he turned and glared at the old soldiers in his own guard, "What are you all standing there for? Why aren''t you maintaining order?!" However, those old soldiers didn''t budge, neither daring to meet Xu Ruoguang''s gaze nor making any move. Seeing this, Xu Ruoguang instantly understood, "Fine! Fine, fine! As law enforcement, you know the law yet you break it!" "My lord!" Song bellowed, "You don''t need to threaten us. Our demand is simple¡ªwe want to meet the lord! As long as the lord comes forward with an explanation, whatever punishment you give us, we will willingly accept. We only trust the lord!" Immediately, echoes of agreement rose, "Yes! We only trust the lord!" "That''s right! Let the lord give us an explanation!" Their intention was quite clear... ''They''ve come for the lord!'' A realization struck Xu Ruoguang, and his gaze shifted toward the crowd lurking in the dark¡ª Kuang Xin and others were also hiding among them. Seeing the current situation, they had roughly guessed the true motive behind the ruckus caused by the old soldiers. Could it be that they had guessed... or rather confirmed the fact that the lord was deeply trapped in the military camp and definitely couldn''t come out for the time being? Last night''s misconduct by the lord had consequences that extended way beyond the military camp''s internal affairs. ''What should be done?'' Before they could collect evidence of weaknesses from these old soldiers, they were instead blatantly accused by them. Song, not intending to give Xu Ruoguang a chance to breathe, immediately initiated a power play, "Lord Ji Lande, we all know you have a way to contact the lord directly. Please call the lord over... Otherwise, my brothers, they won''t be appeased." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ji Lande squinted his eyes, his brain rapidly calculating. Of course, the lord would support his actions. Yet these people were blatantly demanding to see the lord? No! Seeing the lord was not their goal. ''Not being able to see the lord,'' that was their true aim! Observing the anxious look on the faces of Xu Ruoguang, Kuang Xin, and other acquaintances of the lord, even Ji Lande, who hadn''t received the message, could roughly guess the core conflict of this incident. "The lord is busy with many affairs..." "But this is a bright future the lord personally promised us!" Song cut Gilder off again before he could speak, blocking all his avenues of retreat, "Whether the lord comes or not is up to him, whether you call him is up to you. Just give us a definite time, and we can wait." "..." Gilder fell silent for a moment, knowing he couldn''t give in to their demands. In the face of the silence, a smile spread across Song''s face, growing wider until it turned frenzied. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire He looked at his fellow old soldiers, his grin menacing, "Do you see now? Do you see? He doesn''t dare, because the lord can''t come out." Chapter 559 - 559: 444 comes into action_3 Song turned around and scanned every Black Street resident staring his way, "Our respected lord is nothing but a dog in the military! A mere common soldier! He committed a crime last night and he won''t be coming out again! The person we revered as sacred, is just a man-made being born a few months ago in the barracks!" "Whoa!" The revelation of the true identity caused a huge uproar. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire In everyone''s eyes, the image of the lord had always been that of a high and lofty leader, a person who should be the absolute top of a power hierarchy, no matter where he was. However... the fact that Song had suddenly exposed undoubtedly created a huge disparity in their hearts. A crisis of faith was, after all, inevitable. Song turned to face Gilder, a crazed, bloodthirsty smile spreading across his face, "Ji Lande! Your backer is down!" With a chilling sweep of his hand, he commanded, "Brothers, what are you waiting for? Black Street needs a new lord!" Song''s actions apparently exceeded what his comrades had planned. At the critical moment, some began to waver, "Maybe... we should wait and see?" "Yeah... we agreed just to come over and meet the lord, didn''t we? Isn''t this too hasty?" "Maybe the lord is genuinely busy with important affairs; waiting a bit longer isn''t a problem..." Even if the so-called "facts" from Song''s mouth were convincing, the lord''s towering image had long been entrenched in their hearts, and they dared not act rashly. What if the lord was actually fine? Wouldn''t they be the ones to suffer? "A bunch of useless cretins!" Song''s eyes darkened as they swept over his comrades, his mocking tone merciless, "Fortunately, I never counted on you..." Mid-sentence, Song reached into his bosom and pulled out an object, pressing it fiercely toward the sky. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Whizz!" "Pop!" A flare shot from the signal gun traced a bright arc across the sky. Everyone''s heart nearly stopped¡ª ''This is bad!'' Something big had happened! Although no one knew precisely what, they all felt that tonight, they had witnessed an extraordinary event. "Kikikiki~," Song, having launched the signal flare, jerked uncontrollably in place, emitting a strange and inhuman laughter. Yet as the seconds and minutes ticked by, the surroundings remained unchanged. Even the utterly bizarre Song returned to a semblance of normalcy for a moment. His gaze turned toward the distance, a hint of confusion in his heart¡ª ''Where are my people?'' "tap, tap," A slender figure in a black cloak appeared at the edge of a nearby rooftop, throwing a round object. With a cold and indifferent tone, the figure asked, "Are you waiting for them?" "Gurgle, gurgle," The round object rolled around the circle of people before coming to a stop. "A corpse!" "A head!" A cry of alarm rose. Some recognized the identity of the target, "It''s the boss of the Black Axe Gang!" Song suddenly turned toward the shadowy figure, his tone thunderous, "You!" Yue Ying remained silent, her fingers subtly rubbing together beneath the cloak, feeling somewhat relieved in her heart¡ª Fortunately, she had not killed the wrong person. Bai E had only entrusted her to keep an eye on people outside of Black Street; she dared not interfere with the disputes within it. She couldn''t intervene in the ruckus caused by that group of old soldiers, but the gang that came from outside armed with weapons... they were definitely bad guys! Chapter 560 - 560: 445 Gazing at the head that had died with eyes wide open on the ground, Song''s gaze was dark and eerie. How is this possible? How is this possible! With so many people in the Black Axe Gang, how could they all have been killed without any noise? Even if that person of high status were here, he probably couldn''t have carried out such a swift and clean slaughter, right? It must be fake! It must be fake! "Dead people... so many dead people..." Far down the street, someone''s panicked cries could be heard. With a gust of wind, the thick scent of blood wafted over, and now everyone could smell that sweet, yet metallic rusty scent in the air. Seeing all eyes focused on her, Yue Ying, who disliked being in the spotlight, felt uncomfortable and shuffled her toes, ready to bolt. She didn''t understand the internal affairs of Black Street. Ensuring the safety of Black Street''s main body was her sole responsibility. "I didn''t expect him to have a contingency plan..." A low, contemplative murmur came from Song, accompanied by a chilling laugh that made one''s skin crawl, "Giggle giggle giggle giggle~ This makes it fun... this makes it real fun!" A ghostly purple aura rose from him within the visual spectrum of Spiritual Energy, and people with the ability to see such energy, including Gong Yan and Gu Lan, immediately noticed this sinister change. "Spiritual Energy!" ''No...'' Yue Ying, who had intended to leave straight away, stood still, her eyes slightly narrowed, and inwardly sighed, ''It''s a demon.'' Such a concealed demonic blessing, she hadn''t even noticed it. The few times she encountered demonic blessings or their true presence before, even from afar, she could smell that distinct "scent" of demons. It was only because it didn''t concern her that she was reluctant to take action. And this time... despite being almost face-to-face, she hadn''t caught any scent related to demons from him. Only now, as he voluntarily exposed himself, did that unique, sinister, and strange demonic scent begin to spread. Conspiracies and schemes are always buried deep. Yue Ying had a rough idea of where this blessing demon came from. However, Song''s actions on the field did not halt¡ª Since you''ve prepared a contingency, I''ll just have to destroy it. Taking advantage of Bai E''s absence, he had already made the most impactful plan in the shortest amount of time. He knew that someone as powerful as Bai E would always be able to find another opportunity to rise again as long as he wasn''t dead. The Military''s suppression would only be temporary. He also knew that the residents of Black Street were just momentarily shocked and panicked, even feeling a sense of betrayal upon suddenly learning that their lord was just a little soldier in the barracks. Given some time, these people would remember their lord''s kindness and wouldn''t forget his strength and demeanor. He knew everything. Those who plot schemes must know the opponent''s attributes better than any arbiter. This sudden aggression had to be swiftly executed amidst the confusion of misinformation. The situation had reached this point, and in the end, it still depended on oneself to complete the last part of the plan! "Buzz~" Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire As Song''s hands moved rapidly to form seals, the fluctuations of Spiritual Energy caused spatial tremors. Behind Song, in the vision of Spiritual Energy, a circle of Array light drawn by ghostly purple lines began to emerge. In the center of the Array, the light gradually formed a pattern resembling a sinister eye, and as the Array gradually took shape, that sinister eye seemed to come to life... "What kind of Spiritual Energy is this?" "We must stop him!" "Go!" Gong Yan, Gu Lan, and the other players instantly reached a consensus. They didn''t know what exactly Song was trying to do, nor did they know the consequences of the never-before-seen Spiritual Energy Array once it was complete. The one thing they did know¡ªwhatever the opponent wanted to do, they must resolutely prevent it from happening. Gong Yan pulled out her gun directly, her bullets enhanced with Spiritual Energy. With a muffled "bang," the dim weapon launched a bullet, striking in an instant. Dai Lian also drew the bowstring from within the crowd. The arrow, full of force, took off towards Song, who was forming seals, under the boost of the skill¡ªPower Shot. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The players reacted incredibly swiftly, almost taking action the moment Song began his incantation. However, the incoming attacks from different directions passed through Song''s body like ripples on calm water, causing nothing more than ripple-like distortions on the surface of his flesh, with no further feedback. [Your attack has successfully hit the target. Physical impact is ineffective, only the added impact of Spiritual Energy caused a slight hit on the target.] [More impacts will have a higher chance of interrupting the target''s casting. The current probability of Spiritual Energy impact interrupting the casting is 0.49%...] [...Failed to interrupt.] "It''s no use! We can''t hit him!" "Only Spiritual Energy attacks work!" "I know!" Gu Lan clenched her teeth in response. Kuang Xin and Dai Lian''s mastery of Spiritual Energy was not mighty. They had merely learned to use Spiritual Energy like a mana pool from their lord. Indeed, they could deploy skills by consuming Spiritual Energy, but when it came to a straightforward Spiritual Energy strike, of course, it couldn''t compare to Gong Yan and Gu Lan, who had talent in Spiritual Energy since the creation of their characters. While Gong Yan''s Spiritual Energy was more functional, Gu Lan''s leaned more towards combat. Gu Lan lifted her skirt slightly, pulling out a small silver Spiritual Energy pistol from the strap around her thigh. Her eyes focused intently on that figure emitting a ghostly purple glow, the silver aura deepening within her eyes. Chapter 561 - 561: 445 "Annihilation!" When utilizing Spiritual Energy, all of Gu Lan''s attacks would carry a trace of absolute damage known as "Destruction Damage." However, the level of Spiritual Energy wasn''t just a representation of the reserve of mana; the efficiency of mobilizing Spiritual Energy was incomparable as well. Even among those gifted with Spiritual Energy, Gu Lan''s level of expertise might have led the pack amongst players, but among the natives, it could only be considered to have just started taking shape. If he wanted to fully mobilize his Spiritual Energy into a single strike, it would require a certain amount of time to concentrate. "Hum~" The tremors of Spiritual Energy almost reached their peak, making the bullets'' trajectory beyond control. "Bang!" The brass bullet, cloaked in a flash of silvery bright brilliance, vanished in front of everyone''s eyes in a blink. "Pfft!" [Your attack has successfully hit the target; the physical strike is ineffective, and only the added impact of Spiritual Energy has caused a slight blow to the target.] [A greater impact will have a higher probability of interrupting the target''s spellcasting; the current chance of interrupting the spellcasting with Spiritual Energy is 21.3%...] Time seemed to slow down so much in the passage of sensory perception that, with his consciousness fully focused, Gu Lan felt as if he could clearly see the veteran''s progress as he trailed behind a faint purplish line of light. ''Did I interrupt it?'' This thought flashed through his mind in the brief time available. [...The interruption was unsuccessful.] "Swish~" As light and shadow returned, Gu Lan''s eyes dimmed. "I''ve failed..." "Hum~" The Array patterns took shape, and the purple eyes suddenly opened wide. The first glimpse they threw was directly at the lone dark figure standing on the edge of a roof. "Bang!" Shattered to pieces. The purplish Array under the view of Spiritual Energy instantly fragmented, falling from mid-air like broken glass. Within the shards that glowed oddly, Yue Ying''s indifferent eyes were continuously obscured. If the real body of the opponent had descended, there might have been a great battle. But mere power bestowed upon ordinary people was trivial in front of her. Even if the enemy managed to cast a spell, she just wanted to see who the demon behind the villager really was. Now... she had confirmed it. "Conspiracy!" With the Array''s shattering, the power supporting Song''s body receded like a tide, and the foundation of his body, which had already been hollowed out by demonic erosion, collapsed like a deflated balloon. The only thing left in this world was the final eerie laughter that was unlike any human voice, "Kikikiki~ Jijijiji~" Even the villagers who knew nothing of the situation could sense the excitement and satisfaction that pierced their hearts from this laughter. As long as it involved plotting, whether successful or not, it was enough to console a conspiracy demon. What it wanted was merely the process itself... Not to mention, a conspiracy planted in the hearts of others was even more exhilarating and maddening for it. Yue Ying sighed softly, feeling somewhat fatigued. Of course, it was not because of the simple act of making a few moves. It was because... Black Street was indeed a place of "outstanding people and exceptional spirits"... She had seen demonic corruption before, but Black Street was too frequent and too intense. Demons tempted the mortal world everywhere, of course, but most of the temptation was just that¡ªtemptation. Turning people into zombies, into mindless raging butchers, into beasts obsessed with rutting... these were normal acts of demonic corruption. If any ordinary person willing to embrace a demon could immediately receive the demon''s blessing, then even the most stringent laws would likely fail to stop those at the bottom of society from defecting to the demons'' ranks. A demon''s blessing was a rarity among rarities, a privilege only the so-called "Chosen Ones" might attain, reserved for absolute elites. For most common people at the bottom, even if they joined the demons'' ranks, they would still be the lowest of the low, just beasts of burden. But in Black Street? Every demon incident she encountered involved demons bestowing blessings directly, or even incarnating in the flesh. Could it be that every resident in Black Street is a one-in-a-million chosen one? Or is there some other special factor at play? It''s baffling... my head hurts. But since it''s still human territory, as long as Bai E can move freely, let him deal with these matters... Now that the conflict is over, I can become invisible again~ A whirlwind suddenly rose from the flat ground in the midst of the Spiritual Energy senses, and behind the withered bodies and shattered Array fragments, a torrential vortex drew in the attraction from a high-dimensional space, absorbing back every trace that existed in the mortal world into the basic "nutrients" needed by the high-dimensional space itself. "Whoosh whoosh whoosh~" Yue Ying seemed to hear the howling winds caused by the storm in the high-dimensional space. And mixed within it was a distinctly clear yet fleeting seductive female voice that would make anyone blush and stir with restlessness upon hearing it¡ª ''Hee hee~ Found you!'' Self-control took over instantly, and Yue Ying stumbled back a step. Hidden beneath the black hood, a fair, delicate face blushed at once, and even the soft touch of the graceful fabric brushing against her skin made her involuntarily shiver. "Thank you, my lord, for taking action," Gilder, who had regained his composure below, took the initiative to speak. "..." Yue Ying clenched her silver teeth on her lower lip, her figure flickered, and she vanished into the vast night sky. "..." "..." "So aloof..." "But so strong..." "How would our lord fare against her?" "I don''t know... maybe fifty-fifty." Watching the slender black shadow leave along the edge of the roof, players murmured curiously among themselves. Players from Grey Iron City who had been drawn in by the commotion were also full of curiosity, patting Kuang Xin on the shoulder and asking eagerly, "Hey~ buddy, who was that? So fierce?" "Don''t ask." Kuang Xin didn''t know either, but it didn''t stop him from pretending, "Our Li Ming organization is full of talent; there are secrets you''re not yet qualified to know." "Oh~" The Grey Iron City player, leaning on a wooden stick, nodded in agreement, "That''s true..." But then he turned his attention to another matter, "What he just said, was it all true?" Their glorious leader, was he just a small soldier in the military district? Hearing this, Kuang Xin glanced sideways at the other man, "What about it? Since when does strength not speak for itself? How many NPCs can you find at our lord''s level of power?" As long as you have strength, you''re the boss anywhere. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire A temporary identity means nothing; one''s own strength is the eternally unchanging truth. There''s no inherent fear of authority in the hearts of these players; how strong could an in-game force be if they can''t come through the internet to beat them up in their own home? Their leader is strong, their organization has countless masters, and most importantly, it provides endless assistance to them. Just faithfully follow, and the background of the game world becomes but a tale for their amusement. "Stop chatting." Dai Lian tugged at Kuang Xin''s arm. Xu Ruoguang began to take control of the remaining scene, and they needed to help. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As enforcers of Black Street, you took the initiative to gather and cause trouble. You know what the consequences are, right?" Faced with Xu Ruoguang''s interrogation, all the old soldiers hung their heads low. They merely wanted to follow Song''s lead to test the lord''s strength, not really harboring much of a rebellious intention. It was all Song''s personal agenda, and they were simply caught up in it. But they couldn''t voice this truth, and everyone remained silent like a mute, letting Xu Ruoguang reprimand and handle them. As for resisting? The lessons from the Black Axe Gang and demon-blessed Song were still fresh before them... Although that black-robed lord hadn''t shown much, her strength was probably no less than that of the real lord. Resist? Impossible. Xu Ruoguang exchanged a glance with Gong Yan as she approached, and their eyes betrayed a hint of surprise¡ª They had wanted to trouble these old soldiers but didn''t expect them to deliver themselves into their hands, providing a perfect opportunity to fit those Grey Iron City players with prosthetics. Chapter 562 - 562: 446 Neural Link The old soldier complied willingly, handing over the contact information for the "doctor." When the person in charge arrived, those following behind Xu Ruoguang, including Kuang Xin responsible for the liaison, were all gaping in surprise. "How come it''s you?" It had been a long time since they had seen Zhou Wenjie, who scratched the back of his head and laughed, "I didn''t expect it either, haha~" Xu Ruoguang turned his head to look at the old soldier following him, "Is this the ''doctor'' you were talking about?" The old soldier replied softly, "The doctor is an organization..." "..." Zhou Wenjie''s face was all smiles, "I came because I heard there was a chance to leave the city. I was planning to sneak out and find you guys, but it turns out the ones making contact with our organization were you..." "Cough~" A cool voice echoed from the shadows of the room not far behind, coming from a woman dressed in a purple-red cheongsam, revealing her graceful and enchanting figure. "She..." "Hey~ Don''t mind her." Zhou Wenjie casually waved his hand, "She''s just here to protect me, afraid the local forces outside the city won''t play by the rules." The voice of the woman retorted coldly: "It''s surveillance." "Whatever you say~" Wenjie responded nonchalantly to the figure behind him, then turned eagerly to Kuang Xin and the others, "What kind of surgery? How many?" "Probably dozens." Among the survivors from Grey Iron City, quite a few of the original residents of Black Street were missing arms and legs. Since they were going to be taken care of, fairness was essential. "No problem..." Wenjie agreed immediately, "Where are they? Let''s get to work!" He was a man of action; when he said he would do something, he did it. "No... Guys, what about the money? How much do you want?" Xu Ruoguang took the initiative to ask. Although he knew the man, after all, this was a negotiation between two forces, and some procedures had to be followed, no? Zhou Wenjie waved his hand nonchalantly, "No need for money. We''re all buddies here, why worry about money?" "Cough~" The woman in the cheongsam coughed lightly again from a distance, her tone sounding somewhat cold and disgruntled, "The organization has been short on funds recently..." "Oh~" Zhou Wenjie complied obediently, then casually threw out a price, "...Then it''s 10,000 Blackwater coins." Xu Ruoguang''s expression darkened upon hearing this. That was exorbitantly expensive, wasn''t it? Weren''t they buddies? The old soldiers all said they used to charge at most 5,000 per person, and now it''s doubled with you? With a confirmation in mind, Xu Ruoguang instinctively clarified, "Each?" Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire "Bulk deal." The woman''s voice rose again in the background, her words sending a chill down the spines of even the unrelated bystanders like Kuang Xin, "Bulk deal!?" Dozens of them! That would be dozens! At the rate of 5,000 each, the total cost would be tens of thousands, even after a buddy discount of 20% or 40% off, it would still fill a considerable gap in the organization''s funds. But now, he wanted to do them all for just 10,000 in a bulk deal? "Zhou! Wen! Jie!" The woman''s face turned dark, the scar on her face looking particularly ferocious. Zhou Wenjie turned around, spreading his hands, "What''s to be done then? Why not just kill me?" "..." The woman, called Wolf-Scorpion, paused for a moment, her words sharp, "The organization raised you..." "Shut up!" Wenjie suddenly shouted sternly, silencing Wolf-Scorpion. She watched as Zhou Wenjie''s face became expressionless, doubt flickering in her eyes, "..." "I''m the one exerting effort, not you." Wenjie quickly put on a docile, ingratiating smile, "You can just go back and say we did two, no one will know, right~" "But there are dozens..." "You know." Wenjie flexed his thin arms and legs, "I''m super fast." "But the material costs..." Seeing his chance to interject, Xu Ruoguang immediately exclaimed with delight, "I''ll pay! I''ll pay! We''ll cover it ourselves! We''ve already bought all the materials!" Xu Ruoguang, knowing the number of people involved, had made arrangements to purchase all the materials early on. With money, there were no barriers to acquiring them. The true barrier to installing prosthetics was never the materials but the technical skills. The direct interface of machinery with human nerves without causing conflict is a challenge that had led countless generations to painstaking trials and research. Organizations possessing this technology invariably treated these abilities as core competitive advantages. Wolf-Scorpion narrowed her eyes and bit her lower lip, then fell silent. Seeing Wenjie turn towards them, Kuang Xin, Dai Lian, and Xu Ruoguang each involuntarily gave him a thumbs-up¡ª Brother, you''re awesome! A role model for our generation! They had long thought that this young man, sent into the city, had ended up as a black slave; they didn''t expect that even a black slave could have his day as a master. Awesome! "Don''t talk anymore, let''s go, let''s go!" Eager to start the surgeries, itching to work. Every skill in this game was imbued with Magic Power, inspiring desire. Seeing that they had reached a consensus, Dai Lian made his way to where the players were waiting, "Who wants to go first?" "Me, me!" "Me!" Eager to experience new things in the game, the players, leaning on their broken limbs, jostled to be first, buzzing with excitement. "Then it''s you," Dai Lian said, picking someone at random and bringing him to the somewhat gloomy operating room. "Lie down." Zhou Wenjie, who had already changed into a white surgical suit, issued the command with equal excitement. In the operating room, he was king. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do you want anesthesia?" Chapter 563 - 563: 446 Neural Link_2 "No need!" the player lying on the surgery bed said, tilting his neck back. In reality, just getting a tiny cut on a finger requires a long hiss of pain, so why not go all out in the game and experience everything that was never experienced in reality? "Fine!" The brutal and bloody spectacle had the lurking observer in the corner, assigned to "watch," continuously twitching her eyelids. She always felt that the little brother cultivated by the organization wasn''t normal, but she hadn''t expected that the people he met would be just as abnormal as he was. Who else would watch the sawing off of their limbs, without any anesthesia, with such interest? Even making¡­ making those dirty-sounding moans. Both parties were enjoying themselves¡­ which was quite unbelievable. In Wen Jie''s focused gaze, there was only the thrill of rapidly gaining experience. [You are attempting to perfect the Knowledge ¨C Neural Linking (Completion), current progress is 86%. Upon completion, you will receive: Knowledge ¨C Neural Linking; Scientific Research Experience +1000 points; Technology Points *2.] The technology for connecting machines with nerves owned by the organization was quite rudimentary, limited to just being usable, and certainly not comparable with the cutting-edge technologies possessed by the city''s research institutes. Zhou Wenjie, who gradually gained the organization''s recognition and trust through his basic computer skills, noticed the limitations of the prosthetic limb implantation technology as soon as he encountered it. The city''s research institutes, of course, would not publish their cutting-edge achievements. If one wanted to develop personally, they needed to make breakthroughs in this area on their own. And for any technology to break through, there was no doubt a need for a large number of cases to practice on. The organization only wanted to make money from this, but Zhou Wenjie only cared about the cases he could use to boost his experience and proficiency. Not only towards the brothers who had sent him into the city, but even towards complete strangers, Zhou Wenjie was willing to perform surgery for free. It was like when he first joined the organization without any sense of consciousness that a black slave should have, working overtime with a crazy fervor. "Next!" "Next¡­" "Next." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Watching Wen Jie buried in frenzied surgeries, the observer in the corner''s stern expression gradually softened, and eventually, she moved closer on her own, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. The makeshift operating room lacked advanced equipment, and large-scale surgeries like these required a tremendous amount of physical strength, which Zhou Wenjie was depleting rapidly. But fortunately, the results were very satisfying. [You have completed a prosthetic limb installation and successfully connected it, Neural Linking experience +0. Current Knowledge ¨C Neural Linking (Level 2) experience has reached full capacity, awaiting a breakthrough to further raise your capability limit.] [You are trying to perfect the Knowledge ¨C Neural Linking, current progress is 100%.] [You have completely perfected the Knowledge ¨C Neural Linking (Completion), rewards: Knowledge ¨C Neural Linking (Full); Scientific Research Experience +1000 points; Technology Points *2 have been awarded.] [You have acquired "Knowledge ¨C Neural Linking (Full)," unlocking the knowledge cap, current knowledge level cap is level 5.] "Whew~" Zhou Wenjie let out a long breath and didn''t bother to check what was behind him as he plopped down to sit. As a "doctor" specializing in "surgical operations," how could his physical fitness be poor? But the long spells of continuous high-intensity surgeries had drained every ounce of strength from his body. [Through long-term maintenance at the limit, your physical fitness has seen substantial improvement, physical fitness +0.1.] Feeling invigorated again... However, his body, which still followed the trend and fell, was caught by another soft and warm embrace. The usually icy and venomous tone softened for the first time, "If you''re tired, take a rest, no one is pushing you." Wen Jie directly took out a tube of pale blue liquid from his embrace and gulped it down. After wiping the liquid from the corner of his mouth, Zhou Wenjie smiled brightly, "Rest? I don''t have time to rest!" Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire "Next!" ... [Feedback from the commission: Physical Strength +0.1, Knowledge - Neural Linking Experience +200.] [You have learned "Level 1 Neural Linking" and have also received *1 Technology Points.] [Current Neural Linking Experience 100/300, mastering "Level 2 Neural Linking" when full 300 points are reached.] [Source "Knowledge - Neural Linking" category changed, the current "Knowledge - Neural Linking" has been automatically replaced by "Knowledge - Neural Linking (Complete)".] [Knowledge - Neural Linking (Complete) (1/5 levels): Understanding of the commonalities between the human body and machines has granted you the initial ability to mount mechanical bodies onto flesh. Starting from now, you have the capacity to perform surgeries installing mechanical prosthetics onto the human body and can ensure the probability of rejection reactions occurring remains below 30% within three years, below 50% within five years, and below 99% within ten years. Note: Neural linking technology is a prerequisite knowledge necessary for developing "Advanced Knowledge - Bio-mainbrain Theory," and can only be advanced to research development of "Advanced Knowledge - Bio-mainbrain Theory" once it is at full level.] Bio-mainbrain? Sounds familiar. One of the requirements in my own mecha transformation plan 2.0 seems to be this technology. I''ve been considering where to acquire this technology, and didn''t expect it to be delivered into my hands by the players. I''m well acquainted with those players connected to me, and it''s been several days since I''ve assigned them missions. This means that there is only one possible source for this feedback¡ª "Wen Jie!" Awesome! Just as Bai E was secretly delighted, he heard a call from not too far away, "Captain Bai, Hou wants you to come over." "Oh~ Got it." The hangar is spacious, with a very high dome. When usually piloting within the hangar, its vastness goes unnoticed. Now, by walking through it, one realizes how minuscule the human form is in comparison to the entire hangar. This was the third day after the "brainwashing" surgery. The military district doesn''t keep idlers. As a mech servant plucked for thorough use, I must diligently shine in my position and safely get through the probation period before completely earning the trust of those higher-ups in the military district. Of course, perhaps due to their knowledge of these insider secrets, even after being "demoted" to a lowly mech servant within the armored battalion, the attitude of the other mech servants, as well as the head of all the mech servants¡ªthat is, the hangar manager who was tricked by Bai E¡ªremained utterly respectful towards him. Seeing Bai E''s approaching figure from a distance, Hou, mentioned by the other mech servants, greeted Bai E cheerfully: "Captain Bai, there are many tasks for a mech servant. Those mech servants who go to the battlefield and those like us who stay back here are two different concepts. The mech servants heading to battle need to learn some emergency measures required on the battlefield and the rapid loading of ammunition. As for us in the rear, we need to learn the maintenance and care technical skills for overseeing the mecha as a whole, which is a different direction. I wonder which type do you prefer?" "Either is fine..." Bai E did not limit his own development. If one cannot fight on the front lines, learning some logistical skills is always worthwhile. "Then start with following me," Hou said with a smile, his demeanor humble and gentle, a true standout among old mech servants. With Bai E aboard the vertical elevator, accompanied by the sound of the motor operating, Hou began to explain, "This mecha, it''s like the more commonly seen tanks and combat vehicles. To maximize its combat abilities, it absolutely requires solid logistical support. A mecha is not a person; it doesn''t speak when it hurts. Identifying all possible hidden faults in the mecha to ensure it doesn''t fail at a critical moment is our sole responsibility." "Click~" With a light click of mechanical engagement, the elevator stopped at the back of the mecha. In front of Bai E, Hou opened a heavy plate on the mecha''s back, revealing a dense array of various signal lights, "Our mechas have various self-diagnostic systems. Captain Bai, you should be aware since you came from being a mech pilot. But the self-check indicators you saw from within the cockpit only relate to the loss or damage of broad functional modules. These self-check lights here can show more details of the mecha''s condition. Of course, it''s the hidden corners that harbor potential but not yet occurred faults that are our biggest enemies." "I''ve heard that in the past, there were skilled masters who could merely start up a mecha and listen to its sounds, feel its vibrations, and locate those most hidden faults. But I can''t do that, nor can anyone here. We must learn to use tools. Maintaining a mecha not only requires meticulous attention to detail but also efficiency. This is even more important for mech servants who will be going to the battlefield. From now on, I''ll demonstrate it to you." Chapter 564 - 564: 447 Mecha Quick Repair The instruments were certainly not handheld; they were mounted on huge remotely controlled mechanical arms. Mechas required regular and frequent maintenance to utilize their combat capabilities, yet the instruments for servicing these mechas needed a complete production industrial line as support. Every detail in the background was the accumulation of the city over hundreds of years; even for an individual, ample logistical support was the true foundation to exert combat power. Aspiring to act independently of resources and social connections to establish one''s force seemed somewhat unrealistic in this world... Watching the gigantic mechanical arms flying up and down before him, Bai E gained a deeper understanding of the underlying rules of this world. He would need to pay much more attention to this if he wanted to build his own force in the future! Silver-grey mechanical lights tumbled in his eyes, and Bai E, who was multitasking, didn''t miss a single word spoken by Master Hou. [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªMecha Maintenance," progress 1%...] "When the fault light is on, it''s already a very serious situation. Often times, a loose armor plate or a missing screw can become the core reason for the downfall of an armed mecha," said Master Hou. [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªMecha Maintenance," progress 3%...] "Seals like this rubber ring and rubber strip also need constant attention and should be replaced according to the technical manual regularly. Actually, once you do it often, you''ll gradually become familiar with the areas that commonly have potential risks." Master Hou paused with a serious tone. "Of course... you must never become negligent because of familiarity. Those corners that don''t usually have problems can also become fatal weaknesses during critical moments. We always conduct technical analysis after each battle; if problems arise due to poor maintenance... heads will roll." The military district had extremely stringent requirements for these mecha servitors, who, despite their technical skills and low status, had to always be on edge. Most mecha servitors were artificial humans, and the majority of artificial humans who arrived at the armored battalion would be assigned to the mecha servitors, as obedient artificial humans made the best technicians. Of course, a few natural persons with mechanical aptitude were also stuffed into this role, like Master Hou. They often became the core of the entire hangar. They were well-compensated, but the demands were equally strict. Mecha servitor was an absolutely, absolutely faultless position. Meticulousness, patience, and efficiency were the absolute requirements for every technician. "At the same time, the newly replaced modules also need to be tested a certain number of times to ensure their stability. Any part produced by a lathe has tolerances, and even a 0.1% performance difference in a critical moment or critical component can have vastly different outcomes. Additionally, you need to know what is normal to identify what is abnormal. Otherwise, even if you see those risks, you won''t know there''s a problem. Like here... this armor plate should be smooth and seamless, but now..." Bai E listened intently, feeling the satisfaction as knowledge was gradually stuffed into his brain. [You are learning "Knowledge¡ªMecha Maintenance," progress 50%...] [The learning progress of "Knowledge¡ªMecha Maintenance" has reached the minimum requirement; teaching mode activated.] S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Teaching: You have understood quite a bit about the basic knowledge of mecha maintenance. Hands-on attempts and guidance from your seniors will be very beneficial. You can pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) to correct your mistakes and learn from the experience your mentor provides during guidance to complete your understanding of mecha maintenance. (Cost: 20 points of experience/min)] Well then... it''s time to begin. "Master Hou..." Bai suddenly spoke up. "Can I give it a try?" Master Hou, who was controlling the mechanical arms through a panel, was slightly taken aback, and looked at Bai E with a questioning gaze. "You want to try?" How long had it been since the lesson started? Normally, a mecha servitor would have to watch for a few days before they could gradually attempt to take over. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire "Let''s just try it; I need to get my hands on it to verify right from wrong, right?" said Bai E with a smile. "That''s true..." But it still felt too soon. Master Hou hesitated for a moment but then nodded, "Okay." After all, it was Bai E, and his joining the mecha servitor team was surely only temporary. One couldn''t defy the will of such a person; if he wanted to try, then let him have a try. Realizing one''s limitations was more conducive to future teaching. Making way, Bai took over. He operated the mechanical arm to different positions, switching between various inspection tools, and using methods such as sonar and probes to check for any possible issues within the mecha''s insides. Even if some tentative risks were detected, the instruments wouldn''t trigger an alarm. Those potential issues that had not yet caused damage were beyond the machine''s ability to discern. The whole process required the operator''s own meticulous observation. Master Hou stood to the side, arms crossed, silent. This first attempt would be the perfect test of Bai''s capabilities. Any mistakes made during the process could be pointed out after completion, providing sufficient room for reflection and retention. He had already decided that even the slightest error would be addressed afterward. It was understandable to have shortcomings during the first try. Chapter 565 - 565: 447 Mecha Quick Repair_2 First and foremost, he had to learn to respect and awe! Respect and awe are the first rule that all mech servants must learn. [You are paying combat experience points to correct your mech maintenance behavior¡­] [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Mech Maintenance", progress 55%...] [...Mech Maintenance experience +1.] [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Mech Maintenance", progress 61%...] [...Mech Maintenance experience +1.] [Current Mech Maintenance experience 0/300, mastery of "Level 2 Mech Maintenance" will be achieved at 300 points.] [Mech Maintenance (1/3 level): You have learned most of the common knowledge about mech maintenance and acquired basic hands-on ability. From now on, you can handle most minor malfunctions and potential hazards on the mech, albeit "slowly".] ''Quite slow, but it wins through carefulness.'' Hou, who was watching from the side, stroked his chin, somewhat satisfied. Regardless of ability, at least the attitude is correct. Newcomers shouldn''t aim too high. Only when one''s own duties are carried out meticulously, can they gradually aim for faster efficiency. As time passed, experience points occasionally jumped up. Until after he had finished working on the entire mech, the sunset outside the hangar cast a dim, dusky yellow light. 3000 combat experience points converted into a total of 900 knowledge experience points was completely insignificant for Bai E now. [You are learning "Knowledge ¡ª Mech Maintenance", progress 100%...] [...Mech Maintenance experience +1.] [Current Mech Maintenance experience 500/500, you have successfully mastered "Level 3 Mech Maintenance".] [Mech Maintenance (3/3 level): You have learned all the common knowledge about mech maintenance and possess extensive hands-on ability. From now on, given the necessary facilities, you can handle all malfunctions and potential hazards on the mech, with "extremely high" efficiency.] [Detection: Character possesses notable "Spiritual Energy" cultivation and has previously formed a "link" with similar mechanical structures, you have the qualification to unlock advanced "Knowledge ¡ª Quick Mech Repair".] [Trigger side quest ¡ª Knowledge Training.] S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Knowledge Training: Advanced knowledge encompasses the coordinated abilities from broader aspects. You need to integrate and apply your mastered skills into your current art through continuous trials. Quest requirements: Complete a certain number of repeated mech maintenance operations 1/??? Reward for completion: Scientific research experience +3000, Knowledge ¡ª Quick Mech Repair, Spiritual Energy +10/10, current link strength conversion delay reduced by 50%.] "..." Bai E was slightly taken aback. There were more advanced things? "..." Hou was stupefied. Completed... completion? Hou, engrossed in his observation, realized a fact¡ª On his first try, Bai had already completed a full maintenance check on an entire mech. Even though he was set on pointing out mistakes, having watched the entire process, he couldn''t find a single opportunity to correct anything afterward. The speed indeed was a bit slow, but for someone on their first attempt, the ability to fully apply what was learned to conduct a complete inspection of the mech was already an impressive feat. On such a foundation, it was too nitpicking to demand speed, and he just couldn''t say such words. Not to mention that ''slow'' was only at the beginning stage¡ªlater on, as Bai became more adept, his movements were anything but sloppy. Unable to utter the words to teach the newcomer to respect and awe, Hou could only pat Bai E on the shoulder after restraining himself for a while and sincerely exclaimed, "Well done. Want to give it another try?" The mech he had chosen was a new one, recently manufactured to deal with the expanding Mech Armored Corps. Even though there were some minor issues with the mech, there certainly weren''t many, and nothing that was beyond the curriculum. It''s only the old mechs that have been in service for a long time strange issues can arise, issues that even experienced technicians like them couldn''t predict. Today was the first lesson, and it was essential, no matter what, to teach Bai, this newcomer, to respect and awe! Bai E nodded, "Okay." I couldn''t ask for more! Unlocking new advanced knowledge required repetitive tasks, and although there was no clear upper limit, doing as instructed was definitely the right choice. Perhaps what Hou mentioned about that legendary master was a manifestation of some mech quick repair technique. "Then we''ll just wait..." There weren''t many mechs in the hangar to begin with, and the other two remaining were also new; there was no need to waste time on them. It was only when the mech pilots from the Mech Armored Corps returned from their training that they could gain enough hands-on experience from the truly old machines. "Boom!" "Boom!" As the two were talking, a slight tremor was felt. The heavy mass shook the ground, the vibrations drawing closer from afar. "They''re back!" "They''re back!" The watchful mech servant shouted loudly, and suddenly the whole silent hangar buzzed with activity. Without Bai E''s mech in training, it was so lonely; almost all of the mechs returned in one piece on their own. Bai E''s gaze suddenly focused on a particularly wretched-looking mech among them, the number on its ankle¡ª W0721 That was his mech... Bai E stepped aside and silently waited for the pilots to climb out of the mech cockpits. Most of the pilots coming down from the mechs didn''t look back at the hangar, but one pilot with golden curly hair jumped down from the ladder and immediately scanned the entire hangar, trying to find a particular figure. Bai E hadn''t informed anyone in the squad of his actions that night, and after the incident, they were all ordered not to contact Bai E or even to inquire about his whereabouts without permission. But there were quite a few who knew about Bai E''s situation, and for Rose, who had a wide network, finding out Bai E''s whereabouts wasn''t difficult. Should the mech servant be here in this hangar, right? "Rose, what are you looking at?" a fellow pilot asked enthusiastically from behind, "The training''s over, let''s go eat together?" Rose glanced at him as one might look at trash, "You fought like shit in today''s training, and you still feel like eating?" This was the new partner assigned to her from above, allegedly the son of some mid-level military officer. Rose wasn''t averse to trying new things; if he had a good character and they got along well, then she might be able to do more for Bai E in the future. After learning that Bai E had taken his mech out alone and wiped out an entire Intelligence Machinery Group Army, Rose knew that even if she got the chance to pilot a mech again, Bai E would most likely not act with her. But what she hadn''t expected was... this guy was all talk and no skill. When working with Bai E, she only felt the strain of chasing after him, but with this guy, she felt helpless with her skills going to waste. Perhaps that''s how Bai E felt when he worked with her... Irritatingly, Bai E''s "intimidation" was still influential; during training, those kids targeted his mech with a ruthless beatdown, almost dismantling it. "Stupid! All so stupid!" Although Rose was usually well-mannered, now she was utterly frustrated. The military leadership were all fools; they were willing to sideline someone with Bai E''s fighting capabilities, no wonder he kept so many things from the military base. Right now, Rose just wanted to take this rare opportunity to find Bai E and ask about the specifics and his future plans. If there were secrets he couldn''t share, she could make preparations for him in advance. But with this guy sticking around, that would definitely be impossible. Rose showed her disgust openly, "If you have time, ponder more on how to pilot a mech. We''re about to go into battle, and I don''t want to die with you." Chapter 566 - 566: Sweep all 448 Rose''s undisguised expression seemed to stab the man''s heart, and the man retreated slowly, his gaze fixed on Rose, his tone steady, "Okay, I understand." Enor had come with a mission behind his back. Bai E''s mecha had already birthed a mechasoul, and from then on, this mecha could no longer be treated as ordinary. In general, individuals capable of communicating with a mechasoul would certainly not be deprived of the bond with their own mechasoul. However, Bai E''s situation was clearly an exception. The natural disadvantages of artificial humans existed, and even if they were brainwashed by the academicians of the Scientific Research Institute, they might not be absolutely "safe." This observation period for Bai E was less an inspection on the danger posed by Bai E himself than an exploration into the possibility of mechasoul theft. Valuable resources must be in the firm grasp of the true core of the city to be reassuring. How could it be more suitable for the interests of the military region and even the city to have an artificial human like Bai E pilot a mecha with a mechasoul, rather than placing it in the hands of high-ranking officials'' direct descendants? Of course, Rose could not be replaced. As one of the mech pilots responsible for the mechasoul''s birth, if both individuals were replaced at once, the likelihood of successfully communicating with the mechasoul would undoubtedly be greatly reduced. Therefore, Enor became the outcome selected after the power struggles among the military bigwigs. Of course, Enor wanted the mechasoul. As the descendant of a legitimate official''s family, being able to communicate with the mechasoul would undoubtedly catapult him to the top echelons of the city. However, after two days of interaction, this artificial human female soldier called Rose unexpectedly stirred his heart. Her lovely figure and face, her valiant and spirited character, all deeply intoxicated him. To cause such an excellent lady to feel disgust deeply wounded his proud heart. Leaving the hangar to find his father, Enor made his request. "Father, I want to undergo Mechanical Court''s enhancement. That female mech pilot''s driving skills are too impressive. I won''t be able to catch up with her level in a short period of time." In front of his father, he spoke truthfully. Being chosen as the hopeful candidate, Enor was certainly not useless. Possessing Spiritual Energy talent, he had always been exceptionally quick at learning and understanding in all aspects since he was young. Behind every boastful claim was the real capital that bolstered his confidence. However, faced with Rose, Enor knew that he had no way of meeting her standard in the short run. Originally, he was confident that after some time, he would be able to catch up swiftly through the strong learning abilities granted by his Spiritual Energy talent. However, the female mech pilot, wholeheartedly loyal to the city and thinking of the upcoming battle, did not give him much time to learn. His father frowned deeply, "You must know, the enhancement from the Mechanical Court is a one-way road..." Not everyone is willing to abandon their original flesh. The belief in the natural body and the adoration of technological power have always been an unresolved debate. But clearly, regardless of the viewpoint, there are enough supporters for each. "Father, I''ve thought it through. I don''t need extensive modification, just a little compatibility with the machinery will be enough for me to catch up to her quickly." His father pondered for a moment before slowly nodding, "Okay, you have considered your own matter, you were chosen from among many candidates, don''t let me down." "I understand, Father!" ... Having sent away her new partner, Rose once again tried to find Bai E, but a gentle voice called out to her from behind first, "Rose." Turning around, there stood Bai E, dressed in a maintenance uniform. He had noticed Rose earlier but decided not to appear and disturb her as she was accompanied by someone else. The moment she saw Bai E, even with Rose''s temperament, she couldn''t help but feel a tinge of redness around her eyes, "Captain!" Upon hearing that Bai E had been severely dealt with for violating military discipline, her initial reaction was dizziness. If Bai E was gone, she didn''t know what the purpose of her continued fighting would be. For humanity? That impulse didn''t seem so strong. Seeing Bai E in person now, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Captain, are you alright? They wouldn''t let me see you... " Bai E smiled warmly, "I''m fine, what can happen to me?" "They said you can''t return, and I''m to be the captain of the squad from now on..." "Then be the captain," Bai E said lightly, smiling. After all, being the captain of a special squad wasn''t such a big deal. "And the Mech Pilot? They''ve chosen someone else to be my partner..." sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Partner, was it the person just now?" "Yes!" Bai E pondered for a moment, and quickly realized the military''s intention behind their actions. "Let them be." There''s no damn mechasoul in that mecha; it was just an explanation others had come up with because they couldn''t understand how he could perform so well in battle. The only link between him and that mecha was established after 48 hours of contact, and even if he were not given the mecha back, establishing another link on a different mecha within 48 hours probably wouldn''t be a problem. He would let them perform as they pleased. "And what about you?" Rose looked intently at Bai E, "What will you do in the future?" "See how it goes~" Bai E shrugged with indifference. The military wouldn''t keep him on ice indefinitely. According to Helen, as long as he got through the so-called surgical observation period, they would have to find him work to do again. Chapter 567 - 567: Sweep all 448 ``` And he himself also cherished the days he spent working as a mecha servant in the hangar, as it was an opportunity to accumulate technical knowledge for his future development. Under normal circumstances, the work of a technical worker like a mecha servant would have nothing to do with him, but now¡­ He still had a task here that was not yet completed. Seeing that Rose''s face was still filled with unease, Bai E smiled and teased the tip of her nose, "What are you thinking about? I''m fine. I''ve said, I can accept whatever happens." Looking at the figure in front of her, who still shone brightly despite being in the depths of despair, Rose suddenly bowed her head and muttered, "I understand." "If there''s nothing else, go and attend to your work. I can''t keep using Spiritual Energy to block off this area." "Okay!" Watching Rose run off, Bai E wore a comforting smile. His trust was not misplaced; these friends who had no blood or close intimate relationship with him had come to offer help as soon as something happened to him, and this was the only solace he could find in this cold and heartless dark age. "Bai, Master Hou is calling for you!" "I''m coming!" Bai E immediately responded and, taking one last glance at Rose''s retreating figure, he turned and ran towards where Master Hou was. To pressure Bai E, Master Hou specifically selected what seemed to be the most severely damaged mecha from the returning units. Of course, he couldn''t perform a full-body check on each mecha with instruments in such a short period, so he had to use his experience to make a rough visual judgment to decide which mecha was more seriously damaged. And so... Looking at the mecha in front of him, Bai E''s expression was rather splendid. "Master, are you sure it''s this one?" "Certain!" Master Hou affirmed without hesitation. W0721 This was Bai E''s own ride. The news that this mecha had birthed a mecha spirit was just a reasonable explanation from the Mechanical Court for Bai E''s combat abilities and had been unanimously accepted by the upper echelons. However, this information was restricted to high-ranking officials and completely unknown to the lower-ranking officers and soldiers. Not to mention Master Hou, a front-line technical worker who dealt with machines every day. "Alright." Bai E, following Master Hou''s wishes, stood on the elevator platform behind the W0721 mecha. Even just by approaching, Bai E could feel a familiar warm aura spreading from the mecha. So even during the inspection and repair process, Bai E seemed to intuitively find those deeply hidden hazards, which translated into... a dazzlingly efficient performance. Compared to the first maintenance, which had been nearly ten times slower, by the time Master Hou emerged from his immersion in the smooth, flowing operation, Bai E''s calm voice had already sounded by his ear. "Master, do you see any other issues?" [Current side quest¡ª¡ªKnowledge Training, completion 6/???] One counts as five? Worthy of being his own exclusive ride, Bai E''s palm gently caressed the mecha''s cold shell, and in a blur, he seemed to feel a warm response. "Let me take a look." Master Hou nodded gravely. The first inspection had been so slow, yet now, the second one was done so quickly, there were parts he hadn''t even seen clearly before the kid passed over them¡ªit couldn''t have been a thorough check of every detail. The overconfidence of a rookie often occurs with geniuses. It mustn''t be encouraged. However... Nothing! Still nothing! And still, no faults to be found! After a thorough and careful inspection, Master Hou couldn''t find a single detail to critique. Flawless! The mecha that had been badly damaged just moments ago now appeared as pristine as if it had just rolled off the factory floor, not only efficient but also accurate. What level was this? If it were him, he might not be able to achieve this level of perfection, right? Could he really be a genius? Watching Master Hou''s frozen movements, Bai E cheerfully suggested, "Master, I have a proposal, what do you think about it?" "Ah... go ahead," Master Hou responded subconsciously. Bai E''s eyes scanned over the mechas parked in the hangar and he said with a smile, "How about letting everyone take a break today? I''d like to fix these mechas by myself." Time was of the essence. If the military district''s higher-ups decided to make him the main combat force again before he finished this task without a defined number of attempts, he would hardly have any chance to complete this technical task for quite some time. ``` The damaged mecha were one fewer to fix each time, as the mech pilots only had one training opportunity per day, which naturally meant only one chance to damage them. If someone else fixed them, there was nothing left for Bai E to fix, so he needed to cherish every hard-earned opportunity. The request Bai E made was obviously a bit exaggerated, and Master Hou stared at him incredulously, "Just you alone?" "Mm-hmm, I find this very interesting and want to deepen my impression while I''m still learning. Don''t worry, I won''t sleep tonight. If there''s even one that isn''t fixed by tomorrow, you can take me straight to trial." "..." Master Hou stared at Bai E, his eyes expressing something strange. So you''re the kid who deceived the hangar''s manager, and now you want to fool him too? With your own strong capabilities, you''re held in high regard by the military brass; even if you stole a mecha and left the base without permission, you got off lightly. But what about them? If the Mech Armored Corps needs the mecha for training tomorrow and a few are missing because they haven''t been checked and repaired, do they really just blame you for it? But the personal will of Captain Bai... "Wait a moment, I need to ask for permission from my superiors." Upon receiving the news, the Mech Armored Corps instructor waved his hand, "No problem." Missing a few means fewer mech pilots will train, and besides, didn''t they just receive a few newly made units? It''s not a big deal to use those as a temporary replacement. To him, Bai E was now the True God! Any request from Bai E could be accommodated. After receiving approval from his superiors, Master Hou let out a sigh of relief; he was glad not to be caught between two sides. "I''m leaving it all to you." Master Hou patted Bai E on the shoulder, "I''ll come to check the results first thing in the morning." "I guarantee to complete the task!" With time pressing, Bai E didn''t hesitate and immediately got to work. [Current side quest¡ªKnowledge Training, Completion: 7/???] [Current side quest¡ªKnowledge Training, Completion: 8/???] ... [Current side quest¡ªKnowledge Training, Completion: 15/???] ... [Current side quest¡ªKnowledge Training, Completion: 34/???] When one is engrossed in something, time always flies by quickly. As the first rays of the morning light shone through the cracks of the hangar doors, Bai E stretched lazily at the control stand. Looking at every mecha in the hangar, now as good as new, a sense of accomplishment rose in Bai E''s heart. "Not bad..." He had finished fixing them all. The task wasn''t yet complete, but a quiet enlightenment had already dawned in Bai E''s mind. The goal of the task was to get him to gradually adapt his Spiritual Energy to the process of inspecting mecha, so that in the future, he could get direct "intuitive prompts" from the Spiritual Energy when inspecting any mecha. Simply put, Spiritual Energy was the key to this ability. And the "intimacy" that had once been established with a mecha was the absolute factor supporting Bai E''s ability to "empathize" with the mecha''s body. Both were essential, and it seemed he was just one step away from completing it. The doors opened, and Master Hou, yawning, led a group of mech servitors into the early morning hangar. Seeing that the mechas were completely renewed, and even all the used tools were neatly arranged by category, every mech servitor gaped in surprise. Thanks to Bai E, they had all taken an "early shift" the day before and knew only Bai E had been repairing them last night. And now... "They''re really all fixed?" "It''s not just a superficial job, is it?" "Hurry up and check! Hurry up and check! Everyone, go and verify it again!" Master Hou was skeptical. Captain Bai was someone he had taught himself, and even if Captain Bai''s aptitude seemed a little absurd, the idea that a newbie who had just learned the day before could fix so many mecha overnight was the most shocking thing to him. Reports from various mech servitors quickly came in. "Report, no problems found!" "Report, no problems found!" "Report, no problems found!" "..." Thus, all eyes converged on the figure that looked incredibly small leaning at the foot of a mecha, seemingly asleep. Awe rose from within, more from the worship of abilities they did not possess. ["Lucky Strike" Energy +50.] Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 568 - 568: 449 Youre right, but this is Bai E! "Tomorrow is the final assault," Hamilton felt a bit melancholy. The last total attack on the Bug Race''s nest led to the annihilation of the entire Mech Armored Corps, creating a significant fear of the gigantic alien creature within him. Although, during this period, all the mech pilots of the Mech Armored Corps had undergone special mental resilience training with the help of the Arbitration Place''s enforcer, which should have given them some resistance to the fear domain of that giant bug, he was still deeply troubled by the prospect of the forthcoming confrontation after having suffered a great loss before. Naturally, he wanted to find a source of confidence for himself¡ª For example, Bai E, the captain who could maintain freedom of movement within the fear domain of the Bug King during the last confrontation. Last time, even though he was just a common soldier, he had managed to save thousands of fighters amidst the total defeat, making an indelible contribution to preserving the core forces of the camp as intact as possible. And now... Even though it might still be a while before his maximum observation period came to an end, Bai E''s combat effectiveness in piloting a mecha was not to be underestimated. Even though in the recent internal military meetings Enor was selected as the successor to Bai''s mech spirit, and the progress in the last few days was fierce; even though the Mechanical Court also dispatched several groups of elite mech pilots to join the army on the campaign, unverified strength was still difficult to earn Hamilton''s trust. For some reason, he had complete trust in that silent warrior who had been promoted from an artificial human. If he could bring him along and appoint him on the spot in the battlefield, that would serve as the last insurance. However, to bring such a controversial focal person into the battlefield, there needed to be a reasonable excuse... Under normal circumstances, the meaning of other senior officers was to not let him be in touch with external matters for the time being. Let me see what sort of progress Bai has made in the hangar these past few days? The person in charge of guarding the hangar saw Hamilton swaying over and instantly perked up, "Commander, what brings you here?" This was the boss of the entire armored camp. To him, in the military district beyond the marshal, Hamilton was the most important. "Nothing much," Hamilton waved with one hand and casually glanced around the hangar, seemingly asking offhand, "That mecha servant named Bai E who was transferred here a few days ago, how''s his performance been lately?" "Bai E?" The person in charge''s face stiffened, gradually becoming more expressive. "He''s under Master Hou''s guidance. Shall I call him to speak with you about the details?" Hamilton nodded, "Alright." Then, the person in charge picked up the communicator and shouted into it, "Master Hou, please come to the central control tower." Hamilton stood at the entrance, casually surveying the hangar. Seeing a collapsed scene in a corner, he raised his eyebrows in surprise and slightly lifted his chin toward the area, softly asking, "What happened over there?" So, the face of the person in charge became even more animated, "It collapsed... Bai E did it." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That was why he had been acting strange when Bai E was mentioned. Early that morning, when everyone started work in the hangar, they were greeted by a completely collapsed mecha stand. It was always the mechas that broke, but a mecha stand needing repair... that was a first. No one knew exactly what kind of procedure Bai had used to detonate the mecha stand, which had never had any problems before, into that state. It was known that Bai had made a mistake in the operation and destroyed the structure of the stand with a mechanical arm; others who didn''t know better might have thought it had been blown up by a smart weapon''s rocket. The damage was quite bizarre, and people were still being sought to repair it. Mecha servants could only repair mechas, not mecha stands. However, the chief culprit, Bai, had proactively offered to study it after damaging the stand... It couldn''t get worse anyway, so he should be studying it now, right? "Oh~ I see," Hamilton nodded, appreciating this attitude. Daring to explore, eager to progress, very good, very good. Soon after, Master Hou came running over. The person in charge gestured toward Hamilton, who stood with folded arms, and whispered, "The commander wants to know about Bai''s performance over these past few days. Since you''ve been leading him, you know better. Please tell the commander." Master Hou''s face also began to show a colorful array of emotions. Looking at Hamilton, his lips trembled, hesitating whether it was appropriate to speak. Hamilton''s eyebrows quirked up, "What is it? Speak frankly." So Master Hou blurted out, "Captain Bai is an absolute genius like I''ve never seen before. If he can delve deeper here, I believe he could bring about a revolutionary reform to our entire mecha maintenance logistical system! The efficiency of future repairs could greatly improve. If it''s possible... I hope the commander could approve for Captain Bai to become the core technical person for our maintenance center!" The person in charge: "???" Hamilton: "???" Looking at Master Hou''s fervent expression, Hamilton was somewhat astonished and uncertain, "What does this master mean?" "The commander may not be aware, but these past few days all our mecha servants have been out of work. The inspections and repairs of the Mecha Armored Corps'' training mechas have all been completed by Captain Bai alone, without ever delaying any training opportunities, and without a single oversight. Captain Bai seems to have a natural sensitivity to mechanical structures; he was simply born for this job!" Chapter 569 - 569: 449 Youre right, but this is Bai E!_2 "..." "..." Hamilton hesitated, his expression somewhat cautious as he asked, "What about battlefield rapid repairs?" "Rapid repairs?" Hou''s face flushed with excitement. "As long as the structure of the mecha body is sufficient, I think it wouldn''t be a big problem for Bai to roll one out on the spot." "..." "..." "Ch¨¬ ch¨³." Hamilton nodded with difficulty, roughly recognizing the achievements Bai E had made over the past few days. "You have detailed records in each of your maintenance reports, right?" "Of course." "Bring me the electronic files." "Yes!" ... The mobilization of all soldiers before the start of the war was indeed a necessary procedure; however, before that, the senior officers in their camp needed to have a detailed preliminary plan for this battle. The speeches in the conference hall and the occasional discussions were gradually coming to an end, Weslin looked seriously at the officers in front of him, "Does anyone have anything else to add?" "I do." Hamilton, who had been mostly silent, finally stood up. He took out the electronic records he had gotten from the hangar. "On the list of soldiers mobilized for this battle, I need to add one more person." Even if it was a full-scale attack, it did not mean that the entire camp would be deployed all at once; there were always some technicians needed in the rear or for logistics that remained in the camp. Clearly, the name "Bai E" or "95B27" had not appeared on the previous mobilization list. Weslin had a rough idea of who it might be but still asked softly, "Who?" "Bai E." "No!" A senior officer immediately stood up. It was none other than Enor''s father. With his own son having taken over Bai E''s role, he was the least willing to see Bai E make a comeback. Once on the battlefield, there were endless possibilities. If Bai E once again achieved outstanding merit in the face of the impossible, then the mecha spirit his son had yet to secure would be completely forfeited. Therefore, even though he belonged to the same faction within the army that was strongly opposed to artificial humans as Hamilton, he had to be the first to stand in the way. "The hidden dangers within Bai E have not been confirmed as cleared, and until we can confirm that Bai E is completely loyal to our city, we cannot take any risks. We can lose, but we must remove all possible unstable factors from the plan beforehand." Hamilton stared at the man, nodding slowly, "You''re right, but this is Bai E! Even if he''s not part of the main combat formation, Bai E has excellent vehicle driving skills, top-notch logistical maintenance, and a perfect ability to protect himself! In the face of spore mine bombardments, Bai E can protect a large area around him from being disturbed by the mines. When facing the Spiritual Energy domain of the Dominators, only Bai E can freely navigate through it." As Hamilton spoke, the achievements of Bai E up to now, including the maintenance records obtained from the hangar this morning, flickered on the white backdrop behind Weslin. "In the face of the Bug Race''s final assault, we should certainly make use of every bit of strength we can muster. Even as a mecha servant, Bai E can still play a critically important role. Even if there are certain risks involved with him, I don''t think these risks will impact us when facing the Bug Race on the battlefield. On the contrary, I think this is an excellent opportunity to test whether Captain Bai has truly eliminated the hidden dangers after undergoing the brainwashing surgery!" "There''s no need to argue." Weslin did not care to listen to this nonsense; the deployment of one or two soldiers was irrelevant to the overall situation, and although he admired Bai E, he did not believe that one person could reverse the tide of such a macro-scale battle. When his subordinates were chaotic, it was time to cut through the mess quickly. "Let''s vote on it, simple and fair." The result was, of course, very clear. The choices that seemed the fairest were actually the least fair. The votes against artificial humans split fifty-fifty, but supporting Hamilton, who had chosen Bai E, was the backing of Carlos''s faction. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The number of officers betting on Bai E was much larger than the number betting on Enor. Ever since his birth, a battle after another, Bai E had deeply engraved his near "invincible" posture in the minds of every officer in the military region. Even officers who had nothing to do with Bai E did not resist the presence of such a "War God" in their team! Looking at the voting results, which were obviously predictable, Weslin waved his hand casually, "32 to 11, add the name to the list... just like that, meeting adjourned!" ... "Mecha Servant Bai E, you will go into battle tomorrow. As a combat Mecha Servant, you will march with the army!" The messenger conveyed the military order expressionlessly, and the receiver, Bai E, calmly acknowledged. "Received! Sir!" ''Still... going to the battlefield, huh?'' For Bai E, this total offensive against the Bug Race was indifferent to him. In several encounters with the Bug Race, he always felt that their power was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. The feeling that humans could finish them off if they pushed a little harder might just be a guiding signal released by the Bug Race intentionally. What was their purpose? It remained unknown for the time being. In any case, Bai E did not believe that this total offensive, which mankind approached with full confidence, could truly take down the Bug nest perched on the Blackrock Plains. He indeed had a mission, but to slay that Overlord... was it really that easy? Going to the battlefield... then let it be. Bai E glanced at the collapsed Mecha position behind him, casually threw down the wrench in his hand, clapped his hands, and strode away. After occupying all maintenance resources in the hangar for two days to complete the task, he conveniently blew up one of the Mecha positions... [Side quest ¡ª Knowledge Training, completed.] [Reward: Scientific Experience +3000, Knowledge ¡ª Quick Mecha Repair, Spiritual Energy +10/10, Current Link Strength Conversion Delay reduced by 50%, issued.] [Loot Acquired: Steel*50000, Technology ¡ª Mechanical Repair Factory Experience 3000 points, Technology: Mechanical Repair Factory.] The loot was not substantial, but the technology acquired was crucial for developing his own power in the future. Whilst influence within the city needed to expand, power under his control outside the city also had to be developed. In critical moments, it could become a solid backing for his strength. Even though he was promoted to a "natural person," his essence was still that of a man-made being. The people who promoted him always remained aloof; it would be extremely difficult for a man-made being to gain sufficient influence in the city without seizing political power by force, inevitably leading to failure in the end. It was prudent to start preparing now for the future. ... As the sun just spread the first pale milky rays of dawn, the steel torrent of the army had already once again rolled out from the barracks. Compared to the last total assault on the Bug nest, the army had a higher proportion of mechanized units this time. The city was not devoid of technology, nor was it unaware of the power of heavy artillery. But a city needs to eat, factories require manpower to operate, and spending more money in one area means someone else goes hungry. In a post-apocalyptic city tightly wound like a string, tightening one section too much could lead to the total collapse of the city''s ecological chain. However, the emergence of new types of Bugs from the Bug Race also stimulated the city, and even the usually tight-budgeted city finance department allocated more funds for the military region''s planned total assault against the Bug Race. More V3 rocket launchers, aerial drones capable of carrying missiles threatening to large Bugs, more Mecha and more pilots... The Arbitration Place could not offer widespread training on resistance to Spiritual Energy pressure to the whole camp, but there were other alternative solutions ¡ª the main members operating combat vehicles were all equipped with helmets made of Spiritual Energy, providing certain resistance to the Spiritual Energy field of the dominant Bugs. Not to say they were completely immune, but at least they could recover from the "fear" state faster after being affected. For this offensive, the city almost gave its full support! Chapter 570 - 570: 450th Mech Armored Corps, move out! Every three mech servants formed a squad, each responsible for servicing their designated support objects. The role of the mech servants on the battlefield was to track the mecha they were assigned to within a certain distance. Then, based on the battle situation, the ammunition consumption of the mecha''s weapons, and the radio communications, they would plan their actions to ensure that their assigned mecha could perform at its fullest potential in combat. As a mech servant deployed in combat, Bai E naturally sat in an armored transport vehicle with two other mech servants, trailing at the very end of the formation. Mecha were strategic weapons and were naturally the last to be deployed; therefore, as the logistic team for the mecha, their squad of mech servants naturally had to position themselves even further to the rear. If it were Bai E from the beginning of his arrival in this world, he might have thought that the mech servant unit was the safest place to be. With a bit of luck, some mech servants might not even need to be deployed from start to finish. It could be that the mecha were so badly damaged and the mech pilot killed that rescue was unnecessary, or that the enemy was never strong enough to require the mecha to exert full strength. But now¡­ After the Bug Race successively deployed various Titan-level behemoths, the mech servant squads that needed to follow the mecha were probably not so fortunate anymore. Bai E didn''t have much of an impression of the other two mech servants sharing the ride, but they obviously recognized him. As soon as they got on board, they took the initiative to offer their services, saying, "Captain Bai, you rest. We''ll handle the driving." When it came to a critical situation, Bai E would still have to contribute his strength. The logistic vehicles of the mech servants had extremely thick armor but were loaded with the ammunition and weapons required by the mecha, making them very heavy and slow to move. Moreover, there was no additional space to equip weapon modules. The only weapons available in the vehicle might be the personal gear that the mech servants themselves could carry. A knife and a gun were their entire armament for self-defense. Guarding an entire vehicle with just three guns on the chaotic battlefield, despite the assured protection of allied forces in the vicinity, was still unnerving. The two mech servants were thrilled when they heard they''d be teamed up with Bai E. Facing his companions'' eagerness, Bai E didn''t refuse. They had not yet reached the actual battlefield, so it wasn''t a problem to conserve his energy and build his strength. The vehicles rumbled forward, stirring up sweeping clouds of dust. The path they took was nearly the same as the last time, and along the way, there were numerous bones that time had not yet fully cleaned away. The flesh had long been consumed by the wild creatures of the wasteland, yet the hard chitin bone armor of the Bug Race was clearly not something ordinary creatures could digest. Humans had difficulty directly utilizing the Bug Race''s chitin bone armor. The costs of collecting, transforming, and producing were far greater than the output. Normally, the Bug Race would send out small-scale bugs to reclaim their lost chitin bone armor, and these wandering bug squads were one of the most common forms of conflict with human patrol teams. However, seeing bone armor left unclaimed to the point where even the flesh had been devoured was still a rare sight until now. Clearly, the military camp''s frequent large-scale sorties in the previous period had nearly severed all the outstretched tentacles of the Bug Race. All this preparation led up to today, only to thoroughly eradicate the Bug hives in this final battle, freeing Blackwater City from the threat of the hives, thereby enabling future reductions in military spending and a shift of focus towards other areas of development. The military zone''s influence might shrink after this battle, but Weslin, as a marshal with this achievement, would be paving a wide-open path in the city''s political trajectory. Through the transparent windows, Bai E gazed at the scenery outside and suddenly found himself harboring a thought that even he found strange. It was just a moment, and Bai E quickly suppressed it deep within his heart, never to resurface again. Nurturing a threat within one''s own ranks? He was not yet so deranged to that extent. If possible, he would certainly do his utmost to help the military truly complete this thorough annihilation of the Bug Race. As the more mechanized columns swiftly advanced, the mech servant squad trailing far behind Bai E could already feel the heat of the frontline battle from the thunderous bombardments of the heavy cannons. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rows of V3 rocket launchers slowly elevated their snow-white missiles right before Bai E''s eyes, which then took flight amid bursts of white vapor, traced countless different arcs in the sky, and ultimately pounded into the true heartland of the Bug Race. The last time Bai E was on the front line, when the rockets flew over his head and dispersed across the vast battlefield, he only felt that human firepower was so weak. Now, whether it was due to expanded equipment or the fact that the grouped rockets were all concentrated together, from behind the rows of V3 rocket launchers, Bai E realized for the first time that human firepower was not inferior to that of the Smart Machinery Factory where he had charged alone, and it may even be much more powerful. To ensure the intensity of the strike, the rocket launchers fired in sequences. As one salvo was launched, the next round of rockets was already rising from the launchers'' racks. The retaliation from the Bug Race was equally fierce; blue energy streams easily shredded human armored vehicles, and Bai E occasionally caught glimpses of small mushroom clouds igniting amidst the distant human military formations. Even in broad daylight, the skies were alight with fire! The unceasing artillery bombardment shook the earth and masked signals that were already difficult to detect... Beneath the ground at fixed intervals, special sonar devices scanned the earth beneath the military formation. Those bugs moving deep underground were not entirely untraceable. Chapter 571 - 571: 450 Mech Battalion, move out!_2 Humanity, of course, devised corresponding solutions to the various types of bugs that the Bug Race had unleashed, while simultaneously developing equipment. However, capturing the sandworms that move as freely underground as they do in the air amidst the chaos of the battlefield was no easy task. Only half of the attacks that could be precisely located and anticipated in advance; the other half of the sandworms always appeared where humans least wanted them to. Dispersing elite infantry, main battle tanks, and tanks evenly among the rear ranks aimed to counter these underground assailants; during the confusion, the melee between humans and the Bug Race wasn''t limited to the frontline clashes¡ªboth sides'' rear bases also fell into the same strife. These stealthy underground attackers truly represented a deadly blade the Bug Race wielded against the rear. "Mecha, deploy. Eliminate the sandworms and stabilize the formation," came the stern command, resonating among the Mech Armored Corps and the related mech servitor voice systems. This was not a general assault, the time for that had not yet come; the objective was only to deal with the sandworms within the ranks. For individual soldiers, sandworms were certainly a difficult adversary, and even for tanks, dealing with one sandworm posed a struggle. However, for Mechas, the titanic warriors of war, the sandworms were as laughable as slightly slippery worms. Thus dozens of Mechas, each over ten meters tall, mobilized in unison, striding towards the marauding sandworms causing havoc within the ranks. Alloy blades swung, the Chitin Bone Armor of sandworms providing little resistance; their bodily fluids spattered in all directions. The lowly worker bugs, bee bugs, mantis bugs, and cannon bugs were just the usual vanguard; with enough biomass, these low-level bugs intended to consume human ammunition and energy could be had in any number. Combat in the Bug Race''s territory meant death on one hand and recycling on the other; their legions of low-level bugs seemed almost infinite. If humanity''s advance could not outpace their rate of recycling and regeneration, then just relying on a swarm of low-level bugs, the Bug Nests would have no concerns about their rear. However, the low-level bug swarm clearly could not withstand the advance of the greatly mechanized army of Blackwater City; an hour into the battle, the human line had advanced to a perilously close distance from the heart of the Bug Nest. It was then that the Bug Race''s newly encountered behemoths¡ªthe Thunder Beasts and the Nest Guardians¡ªalmost simultaneously emerged from within the Bug Nest. "Seven Thunder Beasts! Seven Thunder Beasts!" The scouting reports from the frontline echoed instantly; the devastating power of the Thunder Beasts had been fully demonstrated in the previous battle in which Bai E took part. A force of impressive size had been humbled by a single Thunder Beast before; now the appearance of seven at once had all the senior officers inside the command vehicle tensed to the breaking point. They knew Thunder Beasts were not some irreplaceable behemoth of the Bug Race, but having seven appear at once was still beyond their prior expectations. "Mech Armored Corps, full force assault!" The order from Hamilton came without delay. The destructive power of the Thunder Beasts was far too great for human forces to allow them to bombard at will. "Roger that!" Enor, the current captain of the Mech Armored Corps and a Mech Pilot in coordination with Rose, responded promptly. Thus, the Mechas originally deployed to clear out the sandworms charged from various locations simultaneously. As the acting commander shouldering the temporary command of the Mech Armored Corps, Enor swiftly allocated combat tasks to every Mecha in the unit. With a total of thirty-two Mechas in the corps, they could nearly coordinate five Mechas to decapitate one Thunder Beast at a time. However, the Guardians of the Nest, serving as protectors to the Thunder Beasts, remained the same three as before. As Bai E had said, the seemingly less threatening Nest Guardians, in fact, represented a rarer special behemoth for the Bug Race. Compared to Bai E''s last rush to decapitate, the widespread assault on the Thunder Beasts on the battlefield this time was much easier. The sight of over thirty Mechas charging together was breathtaking. The first volley prepared by the seven Thunder Beasts also showcased their horrifying killing power. "Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom!" The combination of special seed bullets and bloated tick bullets made the artillery strike terrifyingly powerful, with a much wider damage range than that of the Bug Race''s Bio-Plasma Cannon. It was like a series of oversized fragmentation grenades, with the ejected seed shells instantly clearing everything artificial and living within the blast radius. Two less agile Mechas were also affected by this wide-area strike. One had its right leg instantly shattered, while the other was damaged to a degree that its self-check system immediately reported damage. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the Mechas charged, the Mech servant vehicle fleet, serving as logistical support, quickly followed. Perhaps they would never be of real use until the end of the battle, but when needed, the servants had to appear at their designated positions without delay. The two damaged Mechas remained stationary for a while, with the Mecha whose right leg was shattered likely beyond salvage in this battle, while the other Mecha, which had only been hit by "fragments," might still be recoverable. Several Mech servant armored vehicles responsible for emergency repairs ignored every chaotic element of the battlefield between them and their targets, braving the risks of rampant Sandworms and the constant danger of artillery strikes, as they headed straight for their objectives. Bai E''s gaze swept coldly through the side window, emotionless. To prevent system disruption, each Mech servant armored vehicle had its own Mecha to prioritize, and only when their designated Mechas were fully withdrawn from combat could they attend to others in need. Of course, to prevent rigidity, the battle command system could make temporary adjustments and flexibly redistribute resources as necessary. Having received no command messages, it would be impossible to act against his original responsibilities. And the target his Mech servant armored vehicle was responsible for was... W0721. The Mechas drove deep into the fray, easily crossing the swarm of enemies. The Mech servant vehicles roamed the edge of the battlefront, unable to penetrate deep into the danger zone. The low-level Bug Race at the frontline, though unable to stop the advance of the human forces, still posed a threat to the weaponless Mech servants. If Mechas embedded in enemy lines suffered damage, the responsible Mech servant vehicles would face the pressure and quickly push forward, while the surrounding main battle units would provide immediate support. Or if the injured Mecha pilot had enough strength to withdraw, the Mech servants'' repair actions could be a bit safer. Human artillery and the Bug Race''s Bio-Plasma blasts streaked past the transparent side windows, the thunder of guns mixing with the screeches of the creatures. Bai E, gripping his machine gun, felt his blood starting to boil. The battlefield ignited his veteran''s combat spirit, but under his current identity, he had to keep that impulse deeply repressed. Bai E hadn''t forgotten that he was still in an "observation period." Any action he took could not exceed the expectations of the Observers, nor could he let them sense even the slightest threat of "loss of control." Thirty Mechas collectively surged forward, creating carnage behind enemy lines. The multitude of heat weaponry modules carried by the Mechas decimated the low-level Bug Race with terrifying efficiency, indirectly easing the pressure on the main battlefront units. As the leader of the Mech Armored Corps, Enor fixed his gaze on one of the thunder beasts charging its cannon. The third mechanical eye implanted in his forehead by the Mechanical Court allowed him to see more information than the naked eye could ¨C predictions of the target''s destructive capability, the limits of his own mech''s abilities, and other data streaming before his eyes. "Keep up with my pace," he said. "Understood," came Rose''s cool response. As his partner, he could sense that this artificial Mech Pilot named Rose was not entirely satisfied with his performance. But the fact that Rose could achieve such a perfect coordination with him, after undergoing Mechanical Court modifications, was undeniably impressive. "Leave this one to me; you guys handle the others!" he declared. Having marked his chosen target on the shared Mecha tactical system, Enor began to forcefully control his burst into a surge. Chapter 572 - 572: 451 the mechanical servant opens the way Bai E''s original daring decapitation attack video on the Thunder Beast had been watched over and over again by almost every Mech Pilot in the Mech Armored Corps until it was practically etched in their minds. The Thunder Beast was an opponent that every Pilot in the Mech Armored Corps had to face in this battle, and the "successful experience" of their predecessors was undoubtedly an obligatory course for them to graduate from the corps. Enor, as the current commander of the Mech Armored Corps, remembered every single move Bai E had made, despite viewing him as a target he must surpass. Yet, before he could surpass him, imitation was essential. Facing the charging Thunder Beast, the team leader''s mecha, almost identically, broke free from the endless horde of lower-tier Bug Race, taking with it many forcefully "hitchhiking" lower-tier bugs as the entire mecha swiftly closed in to a perilous distance. Raising an arm, with a single slice, another artillery bug that was in the way was instantly cut in two. Without reducing momentum, the blade continued to slice towards the lower end of the Thunder Beast''s enormous body. The Thunder Beast''s back armor was as thick as a small hill and unmatched in defense. Only its lower body had a lighter Chitin Bone Armor for mobility''s sake. However, even the unenhanced lower limb armor didn''t break instantly against a strike coordinated between Enor and Rose. Without the double bombing by rocket clusters that occurred that time, the Thunder Beast''s seemingly fragile lower body was not as vulnerable as imagined. Yet, in the Mech Armored Corps'' internal tactical discussions, these were all situations they had anticipated might happen. But that was alright, the mecha''s maximum output capability was more than enough to deal with a single Thunder Beast. As long as one could operate it, there was always an opportunity. If one strike proved ineffective, the team leader''s mecha rolled to one side and casually planted a cluster of explosives beneath the body of the Thunder Beast. The effect of the previous rocket cluster bombing could be replicated by the mecha. The bombs, placed point-blank, detonated with precision. The giant beast''s body shook violently under a series of explosions. However, the biocannons on its back, belonging to symbiotic organisms, were unaffected. The two cannon rounds, already charged, were still launched fiercely, but due to the beast''s own trembling body, the direction of fire was severely off. The rounds were off-target, but it was a serendipitous misfire. A mecha, slowed down and struggling to break free from the sea of bugs, was dealing with countless bugs climbing onto it when it looked up to see two round cannonballs heading straight for its face. "Boom!" The chest plate, where the cockpit was located and also the strongest part of the mecha, took the hit. But against the Thunder Beast''s Shatter Cannon, it seemed utterly powerless. It shattered instantly. Pieces of the mecha''s body flew in all directions as the whole mecha was nearly blown apart, its upper torso teetering precariously. Without the Mech Pilot''s control, the massive body collapsed backward with a thunderous crash, swiftly submerged by countless bugs, becoming part of the terrain. Traversing the sea of bugs to charge at the Thunder Beast was no easy feat. Not all Mech Pilots could make an instant breakthrough like Bai E. Indeed, the mecha was powerful, but in complex situations, the Mech Pilot''s control commands often conflicted with the actual situation due to a blurred perception of feedback. The direct consequence manifested as being stuck in the relentless sea of bugs, temporarily unable to make any progress. Although the plan was to have four or five mechas tackle a single Thunder Beast simultaneously, this ideal scenario was hard to achieve in reality. And the fewer than ten mechas that had successfully broken through to the Thunder Beast still had to confront the three "Nest Defenders" already waiting there. The Nest Defenders, resembling gigantic apes, swung their hammer-like arms and violently smashed down at the charging mechas. The group of Mech Pilots that advanced had swiftly deployed the alloy shields attached to their mechas, but unfortunately, the "Nest Defender''s" blows were as powerful as the Thunder Beast''s massive cannon. The alloy shield shattered in an instant, and the supporting mechanical arm behind it was completely twisted and broken amidst a grating noise. The hammer from another Nest Defender, smashing in from the side, landed a solid hit in the middle of the mecha, and the seemingly invincible mecha was rendered completely combat-ineffective in the blink of an eye under the coordinated attack of the two "Nest Defenders." Such damage was beyond the Mech Servants'' capability to rescue. The mecha was certainly humanity''s most powerful technological weapon, magnifying a soldier''s capability, but it could not simply rely on its mechanical quality to dominate nature. Against the Bug Race''s elite behemoths, Mech Pilots who failed to fully unleash the mecha''s capabilities were almost no match for them. "Rescue! Rescue!" The Mech Servants'' comms were complete chaos. Some mechas were trapped in the sea of bugs; others lay fallen before the Thunder Beast. As long as the Mech Pilot was still alive, they demanded, dismissing any hardship or danger they might encounter, that the Mech Servants responsible for their mechas arrive immediately for emergency repairs. This was, after all, the Mech Servants'' duty; no one mourned their sacrifice. Bai E''s Mech Servant repair vehicle remained silent. The W0721 he was responsible for was still fighting at the front lines, currently unharmed, so their group had no immediate tasks to undertake. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Requesting backup! Requesting backup!" As calls for assistance flew through the comms channel, Enor, as the commander, didn''t forget to observe his teammates'' situation while he focused on killing the particular Thunder Beast he had chosen. Chapter 573 - 573: 451 the mechanical servant opens the way_2 Overseeing the mecha battle information, he reacted swiftly, "All mecha maintenance vehicles that are not currently tasked with emergency repairs on the primary mechas should immediately repair nearby repairable mechas, and must ensure their quickest return to combat readiness." Sitting quietly in the back of the carriage, Bai E''s gaze narrowed as he patted the shoulder of the driver in the front row, "Let''s go." The driver was slightly startled, "Go where?" Bai E pointed straight at a mecha in the midst of the insect swarm that had suffered minor malfunctions due to being surrounded by bugs and having its wiring damaged. Mechas that returned from severe damage repairs could only regain basic mobility to preserve the mecha''s core, while those that returned from minor damage repairs could rejoin the frontline battle immediately. In this battle, if humanity wanted to win, they couldn''t just think about preserving assets; they must ensure the assault was the most pressing need of humanity at the moment. Looking at the dense swarm of bugs in front of him, the bugs that were blocked by the main combat units were showing their claws and teeth, causing the driver to feel a chill. Just skirting the edge of the combat line had already drained all his courage, and now he was asked to charge into it... "Are we really going?" There were clearly two damaged mechas behind them too... Bai E ignored him and simply gave a final command, "I''ll clear the way for you, just rush over!" As he spoke, he picked up a machine gun that a teammate wasn''t using, and his whole body flipped out of the opened car window. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Standing high atop the carriage, looking at the overwhelming sea of bugs, Bai E felt a surge of emotion. The last time he faced the swarm of bugs, he was just a piece of driftwood in a chaotic world, relying mostly on luck to survive. But now, this piece of driftwood that appeared inexplicably in this world had acquired the capital to declare war on this world. ["Gun Fighting Skill," activate!] "Bang bang!" Stomping his feet on the roof of the vehicle, Bai E urged the driver to move faster. The driver and his companion in the co-driver''s seat exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and then slammed down hard on the accelerator. "Vroom!" The wheels kicked up dust and sand as they instantly headed towards the battle lines. "Dadadadada!" An endless stream of bullets flipped over every bug in their path, and even the mantis bugs, once seen as undefeatable in the eyes of individual soldiers, were turned into sieves under Bai E''s barrage of bullets. As the power of Spiritual Energy grew stronger, the overflowing energy naturally attached itself to the high-speed bullets, adding more Spiritual Energy damage and impact to the ordinary machine gun rounds. Watching a mantis bug in front with its scythe-like arms spread open as if adopting a hunting posture, the driver pounding on the throttle went blank with fear. Extreme terror made it difficult for him to even dodge, but in the next moment, the seemingly invincible mantis bug stiffened and fell to the ground, easily crushed under the rolling wheels. The driver, realizing only later, "saw" that a moment before the vehicle arrived, a series of bullets had torn through the chitinous shell on the mantis bug''s back, with broken shell and bodily fluids splattering and flesh flying everywhere. "Boom!" The maintenance vehicle bounced high after running over the mantis bug''s corpse and then crashed down heavily. The intense vibration brought the two mech serfs inside back from their extreme state of mental tension, recalling the genuine sense of security that Bai could bring. The rumors in the military districts were deeply ingrained; Bai, the War God who could single-handedly traverse massive enemy formations of bugs, beastmen, and intelligent machines, was an existence akin to a war deity. Sitting in the same vehicle as such a character, even if they were to charge directly into the heart of a bug nest, they could probably come back in one piece, right? The boundless fear instantly turned into unwavering faith under extreme conditions, as if there were always a dazzling sun shining brightly overhead. ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +10.] "Cover the mech serf maintenance vehicle!" The main combat unit''s command system also issued a synchronized order. Mech serf maintenance vehicles were an oddity on the battlefield; the huge mechanical arms mounted on the large rear carriages for mecha repairs drew significant attention, and all nearby soldiers could spot the presence of such distinctive vehicles immediately. "Cover our allies!" A special forces squad leader, mindful of the order, drove a recently rescued multi-functional infantry combat vehicle, planning to break into the bug nest before that incoming maintenance vehicle to clear the way for it. However, a large shadow whizzed by, and after the roar of the engine, only the dust and sand left swirling in its wake remained. The special forces team leader, who had stomped on the accelerator but failed to charge into the sea of bugs before the repair vehicle, could only watch the vehicle drive into certain doom with a sorrowful expression, "What''s the rush? Eager to court death?" However, in front of the repair vehicle, the endless sea of bugs seemed to be welcoming their king, as all the creatures along its path were stiffly falling before it, their corpses carpeting the ground. "Dada dada dada!" It was only after the distinctive sound of gunfire reached the special forces team leader''s ears and the vehicle had traveled some distance that he saw a warrior standing atop the repair vehicle, wielding dual guns and dressed in a mech servant uniform. ... ??? Since when have such fierce warriors been put into the mech servant ranks? Am I hallucinating, or have the leaders'' brains been chewed on by the bugs? Shaking his head, the special forces team leader watched the repair vehicle burrow deeper into the sea of bugs, the bloody path it had made slowly being overwhelmed by the surging, clawing insects. "Well..." The special forces team leader gave a self-mocking smile and communicated helplessly with his team members through the voice comm. ...we''re not needed. While the main combat units were making a laborious advance on the front lines, a repair vehicle from the mech servant brigade had charged in. Perhaps it was worth considering swapping their combat objectives? ... Sitting in the command vehicle at the rear, a group of officers watched the live footage of the battlefield with solemn expressions. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was as heavy as ink, and almost no one dared to break the dead silence. Eventually, someone couldn''t suppress their concern, "We can''t make any progress..." "We''re performing worse than last time..." At the rear of the human battlefield, under the intermittent attacks from both the sandworms and the newly emerged thunder beasts, the area had become riddled with holes. The front lines were still holding up fairly well, but the middle and rear were close to being shattered. The still-mysterious overlord had yet to show itself, and the mere presence of the thunder beasts had already proven to be an immense challenge for the human army. The highly anticipated Mech Armored Corps had failed to become the swift breakthrough blade on the battlefield. "There''s no helping it, they''re all new recruits." To quickly restore the ranks, the selection criteria for regular mech pilots had indeed been lowered. Although the numbers had barely returned to previous levels, in terms of both skill and experience, these regular mech pilots were definitely less reliable than the last batch. Even breaking through the bug sea had become a problem for them, let alone charging forward to face the thunder beasts and beheading them. "Why don''t we send in the people from the Mechanical Court?" someone suggested. But the idea was immediately countered, "No! They''re our last trump card, specifically here to deal with the overlord. If we send them in now and something unexpected happens, we''ll be at a loss when it comes to facing the overlord at the last moment. It would be a pity. It''s not the final hour yet; we can still trust Hamilton''s mech pilots for a while longer!" "But..." Looking at the mechas struggling in the sea of bugs on the screen, many officers remained silent. Without getting past the sea of bugs, how could they even begin to tackle the thunder beasts? If they didn''t take down the thunder beasts soon, the rear of the human formations would be almost blown to pieces. "Look! Some mechas are starting to break through!" Suddenly, an officer excitedly pointed at one of the blurry screens. "It seems like our Mech Armored Corps pilots are getting the hang of the battlefield rhythm." "But why do I see a little black dot in front of the mecha... What is that?" Chapter 574 - 574: 452 The Dominator Arrives The black dot moved in sync with the mecha, maintaining a fixed distance. And before the black dot, the sea of bugs parted like the tip of an arrow, "clearing" a broad avenue. Yue Ying''s eyes shimmered slightly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. An officer realized something and suddenly shouted, "Zoom in for a closer look." A technician operating the drone immediately responded "Yes," and then the screen zoomed in. An armored vehicle... with a mechanical arm mounted on its back. "A Mech Servant Repair Vehicle?" an officer voiced in surprise. "No, there''s a small dot on top of it." As the image gradually enlarged, the silhouette of a person became clear. "..." "..." Inside the command vehicle there was silence. The military had high hopes for the mecha that were supposed to open the way and decapitate the enemy, but now they were stuck in the bug sea, unable to advance an inch. Yet, a Mech Servant Repair Vehicle that wasn''t even equipped with a weapon system was leading the way for the mecha. How fresh... The path that the mecha couldn''t forge was paved by a single soldier. What in the world kind of monstrous strength did Captain Bai have? They always thought they had seen the extent of Captain Bai''s abilities, but every time a new challenge arose, Captain Bai was always, well, Captain Bai. "It''s not right!" Someone suddenly realized the issue, "Is that mecha the one Captain Bai is responsible for repairing?" Captain Bai''s performance was astonishing, but the military didn''t question his contribution to the city simply because of his strength. It was whether he was willing to follow orders that concerned the higher echelons of the military. "No." "But we just asked, and it was the Mech Armored Corps commander who gave a temporary order for the repair team responsible for his mecha to go and assist others. The repair team with Captain Bai is the one responsible for the commander''s mecha." In short, Captain Bai had not committed any infraction this time. Although the current operations were making everyone''s eyelids twitch. You are a Mech Servant, a member of a repair team; you are the logistical support for the mecha. No one ever said a Mech Servant should be leading mecha into a frenzied slaughter. ... "Go ahead..." Bai E, cutting through the sea of bugs, said cheerfully over the Mech Armored Corps'' comms to the mech pilot inside the mecha. Unable to participate in the war in mecha form, he could still ensure that these mecha, difficult to deliver to the needed battlefront, arrived where they were supposed to be. "Tha... thank you~" The mech pilot inside the guided mecha''s cockpit responded with a slightly trembling voice, "We, we''re going." "Good luck!" Bai E waved toward their transparent viewport, then slapped the metal hood of the vehicle below, "Hey! Turn around!" "Huh?" The two Mech Servants inside were slightly startled, glancing back through the rearview mirror at the endless sea of the Bug Race, "Turn around?" They had already made it to the very rear of the Bug Race''s lines, where there was a gap between the low-level bug surge point and the true main nest of the bugs; that''s where they were located. Though a few bugs smelling the repair team emerged from their underground lairs instants later, holding one''s ground still seemed easier and more secure than turning back and weaving through the swarm again. Moreover... "Aren''t there mecha over there that also need repairs?" Above the vast battlefield where the Thunder Beasts were decapitated, under the attack of "Bug Nest Guardians" colored crimson, several mecha had completely fallen. Some were not so severely damaged and still had a chance to be saved. "That''s not a battlefield we can partake in." Bai E glanced in the direction of the enormous crimson beasts. Without the boost of a mecha, he didn''t have confidence with only his body to take on those three crimson giants. "Let''s head back, turn around." Bringing more mecha to the battlefield with the giants was the most he could do in his current role. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The driver Mech Servants reluctantly complied, "Understood." The vehicle turned around, and with a rumbling engine noise, dove back into the teeming sea of bugs. ... "Everyone behind, hurry up and follow!" Enor gritted his teeth and roared over the comms. Seven minus two. A total of seven Thunder Beasts; he had personally taken down one and a half. Out of the dozen mecha that first charged in, only five remained. Tangled up with three "Bug Nest Guardians," they were no longer able to turn their attention to the remaining Thunder Beasts. It wasn''t just about being unable to spare a hand; any slight negligence would see the encirclement they formed with their five remaining mecha instantly smashed by the three brutally formidable Bug Nest Guardians. The key was the five of them could only manage to contain, trying to minimize further losses on their side. Facing the new type of Bug Race giants, with their chitinous armor stronger than ever, they couldn''t find any method to break through the defense. Only the mecha jointly piloted by Enor and Rose could barely maintain a position on the front line while the other four took turns providing cover. However, this standoff couldn''t continue for long. Under the assault of the relentless information stream, Enor began to feel the mechanical eye on his forehead heat up and his brain felt as if it were being stirred by several red-hot steel needles. Faster! Hurry the hell up! What were they doing, entangling themselves with those low-level bugs behind? Enor was seething with anger. Without their mecha to kill off the Thunder Beasts, the remaining five could fire unimpeded. If this continued, the massive push against the Bug Race would once again end in vain. "They''re here; they''re here!" Mech pilots sent to the Thunder Beast''s battlefield by Bai E chimed in together. "Go kill the Thunder Beasts; don''t concern yourselves with this spot!" Chapter 575 - 575: 452 The Dominator Arrives_2 The Thunderbeast had countermeasures against close-combat units, but these tactics were somewhat futile against large Titan Units like mechas. Therefore, even mech pilots less skilled in strength could always inflict effective damage on the Thunderbeast, the difference was merely a matter of time. The only thing that troubled mechas when up close to a Thunderbeast was its thick carapace. The contest was all about speed. It was a race to see whether the human army would crumble under the Thunderbeast''s barrage first or if the mechas could swiftly take out the firing Thunderbeast. "Where are the others! Hurry up and charge in!" Enor slashed with his sword and quickly retreated after making contact. Facing the immense strength of the double-hammer guards, only skill could ensure his prolonged endurance. ... One... two... three... With the addition of the Thunderbeasts, the advance of the main battle formation slowed considerably; even though the human army had expanded its personnel and enhanced its steel armament during this time, it was merely enough to withstand exhaustion and maintain the frontline against the horde. The Mech Armored Corps could only advance the frontline once they had eliminated all the Thunderbeasts. With high hopes placed upon them, mechas began joining the front lines against the Thunderbeasts one after another. However, this process of joining could only be considered barely satisfactory. Watching the black dot that moved fearlessly through the swarm, the faces of all the officers inside the command vehicle turned blank. It would be one thing to escort a single unit, but what did it mean to almost take full charge of escorting all the lightly damaged mechas needing repair from within the insect tide? Seven times in, seven times out? And always leading the mechas by a body length. Bai''s value continued to rise! The addition of new mechas undoubtedly raised the efficiency in slaughtering the Thunderbeasts by a notch, and with the fall of the last Thunderbeast under the combined strikes of several mechas, a strange fluctuation instantly rippled out from the insect nest at its core. Familiar waves swept through every will present in another dimension, pressing down like a monstrous beast overhead, instilling terror. "Here it comes again..." an officer in the command vehicle murmured with a light sigh from deep within the battlefield. Even with prior anticipation of this scene, the actual occurrence still sent shockwaves at the unimaginable power displayed. "People from the Mechanical Court can move out now," Weslin said softly. "We have already informed them..." The voice fell silent, and everyone through the monitoring screen stared intently at the temporarily quiet battlefield ahead. The performance of mech pilots who had undergone special training, and the conduct of all soldiers who had been equipped with Spiritual Energy Pressure Resistance Helmets and had collectively undergone basic Psychic Pressure Resistance Training, would become crucial factors in the outcome of this battle. The city indeed placed great importance on this total assault, but in this era, no one dared to claim that an attack launched into the unknown would surely succeed. Many things could only be understood after attempting them. If this total assault also failed, the city would have to reevaluate the significance of the "Supreme." Before confirming possession of truly overwhelming strength, they would no longer have the power to organize efforts of a similar scale. However... A scene of despair shattered everyone''s perception at the first moment. The first to move were units not belonging to any of the humans. The insects that had been immobile during the "Supreme''s" previous Spiritual Energy domain were now all capable of moving! As if an invisible wave swept across the arena, the Spiritual Energy domain seemed to have no effect on these insects. They continued to hungrily charge towards the nearest human flesh in a bloodthirsty frenzy, their symbiotic weapons festooned with ghastly white spikes, dark and bloody. Countless warriors at the front froze in the last moment of their charge before being completely engulfed by the endless swarm. The hard-earned advancement that was enough to threaten the insect nest was repelled in an instant. "Bang!" Weslin smashed the tactical table in front of him with his hammer, his expression cold as eternal ice. "Didn''t they say the insects would also be suppressed in the Supreme''s domain?" The faces of the officers present were ashen. "The intelligence... was incorrect..." "Last time¡­ were they pretending?!" "Or perhaps the Overlord is evolving too? Is it also getting familiar with its own capabilities?" Debating the cause of this situation was no longer important, resolving it was the far more pressing issue. There were only two choices before them¡ª Continue the attack? Or retreat as quickly as possible? Humans had made extensive preparations for this general assault, but the insects had displayed characteristics in this battle that humanity had not understood before. Count on the mech pilots who had undergone psychic training to counterattack? Or perhaps the elite mech pilots from the Mechanical Court with their decapitation capability? If they could successfully decapitate the Overlord, there might still be a chance for turnaround. "Should we notify the Mechanical Court to stop their actions?" "Shush!" Weslin suddenly raised his palm, stopping the foolish question of the inquirer. "Send them in!" If the Mechanical Court''s mech pilots died, they died, but such a chance to probe the true abilities of the Overlord was rare. Last time they only discovered the Overlord''s psychic control abilities, its own combat capabilities¡­ were completely unknown. If they could glean information about the Overlord, even if they were completely defeated this time, they would be able to respond more appropriately in the future. And if they could really succeed in a decapitation¡­ subduing the insect nest would happen today! ¡­ "Hiss-ha!" An electric current shocked the brain, the extreme sensation of danger making Enor instantly alert. A brief moment of darkness felt like tens of thousands of years; when he came to his senses, he found a terrifying pair of armored hammers heading straight for his "face". Rose, operating the mech alone, took over all the permissions from the main mech pilot and fighter pilot at the critical moment, struggling to maneuver the mech to evade the attack. "I''ll help you!" Enor, the first to indicate that he had regained consciousness, took back his permissions and worked with Rose to issue orders at the last second, narrowly avoiding the encirclement by the two insect nest guards. However, their teammates were not so lucky. Even after going through the Psychic Pressure Resistance Training at the Arbitration Place, even just a moment of distraction could prove to be their undoing. Faced with the attack of "Insect Nest Guards", a single lapse in attention could mean utter ruin. "Boom!" "Boom!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fragments flew in all directions, as the mechs made of octanium alloy crumbled against the attack of these terrifying monstrosities as if they were paper-thin. "Wake up! Everyone wake up!" Enor''s voice roared through the comm. The mech pilots who underwent special training were certainly not worthless; the instant they sank into the sea of despair, they struggled fiercely to awaken. "Huff~" "Huff~" Even with cold sweat on their brows upon waking, these mech pilots did not forget where they were. Seeing three ferocious beasts baring their teeth and claws, the pilots maneuvered their mechs to charge fearlessly once again, buying time for their comrades who had not fully recovered to come to their senses. Through the comm came commands from the higher-ups, "Engage the target! The elites from the Mechanical Court are on the way to provide support!" "Roger that!" Enor gritted his teeth, veins on his forehead bulging, "Mech Armored Corps, hold the line!" The silhouette of a red behemoth slowly rose from the very heart of the insect nest, not far away. Meanwhile, three sleek mechs, more streamlined and luminous, shot up from the rear of the human encampment, tracing a beautiful arc across the sky as they rushed toward the point where the red behemoth had risen. Due to cost issues, the mechs used by Mechanical Court pilots could not be widely distributed, and those with even more formidable performance needed even more excellent operators. The primitive approach of relying solely on human brain to operate with keys and levers couldn''t handle the load. Mechas equipped with cutting-edge technology ought to possess far superior mechanical qualities. Standing atop a vehicle, Bai E''s gaze slid from one end of the sky to the other. The mech pilots from the Mechanical Court, who bore the high hopes of the military camp, could they truly shoulder the weight of everyone''s earnest expectations? Chapter 576 - 576: 453 To take charge during a crisis The Mechas of the Mechanical Court made a grand entrance, soaring through the air across the battlefield. A flying kick struck directly at the shoulder of a "Hive Defender" from the Bug Race as it raised its dual hammers to smash down upon a military Mecha. Even chitin bone armor that could not be pierced was no match for the direct force of the impact. The terrifying behemoth was kicked over and crashed onto the ground with a thunderous fall. The moment the Mecha, coursing with strange energy flows, touched down, it flicked its right arm, and three dark, oddly shaped blades instantly shot out. "Pull back and provide support, let''s see what these ''defenders'' are made of." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court, watching from behind, had long been interested in these boisterous giants. Had it not been for the military saying their role was to deliver the final blow, they would''ve rushed to the front lines much earlier. The Mechanical Court was Blackwater City''s most cutting-edge power on the physical plane, scarce in number but formidable in strength, existing only to deal with high-risk matters. They resided at the city''s center, rarely mobilized. These massive creatures of the Bug Race far outside the city, had the insectoids not reached the city boundaries, the pilots might have never had the chance to face such novel opponents in their lifetimes. Now, presented with a rare opportunity, the nerves of the three Mech Pilots inside the Mechanical Court''s Mechas were excited to the extreme. "One each, kill them all before that Overlord arrives!" "Roger that!" "Let''s see who''s faster!" The Flowing Light Mech Armor instantly pounced forward, its pitch-black blades vibrating at a frequency invisible to the naked eye. High-Frequency Cutting! This was a brand-new technology developed by the Scientific Research Institute, and due to cost reasons, only top-tier organizations like the Mechanical Court could equip it immediately after its technical implementation. So-called impenetrable alien carapaces, when facing the creations of humanity''s finest technology, were no match at all! "Buzz!" The blade sliced through the carapace, but not as cleanly as a knife through tofu, as one might imagine. It only managed a shallow diagonal cut into the top layer before the three blades slid off, following the curved body of the "Hive Defender." The vast torque from the full-throttle swing, having missed, pulled the large mechanical body sideways towards the defender''s flank. Even the mechas of the Mechanical Court couldn''t avoid the inherent delay in feedback. The only difference was that their directly connected neural operating systems allowed for a more timely reaction to the unexpected change. The moment they sensed the imbalance of the Mecha, certain parts of the three mechas powered up almost simultaneously, forcefully pulling up their teetering bodies. The counterattack and stabilization of the bodies happened almost at the same time, with the three mechas in mid-air performing a spin and a flying kick. The right legs of the Mechas swept across the head of the gorilla-like "Hive Defender." The moment they landed, the rocket thrusters under their feet erupted with powerful thrusts and the three mechas leaped forward again in an unrelenting assault. Compared to the "clumsy" military Mechas, these three mechas of the Mechanical Court were more like highly skilled Martial Artists, moving with incredible agility as they surrounded and attacked the heavily armored "Hive Defender." After a flurry of flashing blades, the attacking stance of the Mechas almost seemed oppressively one-sided. The three Hive Defenders could only chase blindly after the afterimages left by the three Mechas of the Mechanical Court, like headless flies. Compared to the previous performance of the military Mechas, it was a world of difference. "Well done!" "Worthy of being Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court!" "It is truly a feast for the eyes!" As long as the Mechas of the Mechanical Court could hold the Overlord''s area, the gradually awakening human soldiers and the military Mechas could easily clear out the remaining low-level sea of bugs. Without the terrifying war engines like the thunder beasts to contend with, the elite bugs such as artillery bugs, sand bugs, and mantis bugs had been almost entirely wiped out, leaving only the worker and bee bugs on the front lines, no match for the humans. The difference was merely one of time and casualties. However, in a quiet corner, Yue Ying watched it all with a slight frown, not blindly optimistic. The situation on the field seemed strong, yet those Mechanical Court Mechas were in truth walking a tightrope at the edge of a cliff. A single moment of carelessness could lead to an irrevocable downfall. Could they maintain such an intense onslaught easily? No! Perhaps they could at the beginning, but now¡­ they could no longer stop of their own volition. The three terrifying creatures of the Bug Race were rapidly adapting to the performance of the human Mechas. What seemed like blind pursuit was increasingly pushing the limits of the Mech Pilots'' maneuvers. If they were struggling to kill even three "Hive Defenders," what hope did they have to kill the final "Unknown Overlord"? Through internal comms, the six elite Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court gritted their teeth and communicated. "Can''t break through their defense¡­" "These damn things have too tough a hide!" Even though they wielded brand-new technology blades developed by the Scientific Research Institute, the potential damage they could inflict on the creatures was still limited. Each strike could barely scratch the surface layer. Despite trying their hardest to focus multiple strikes on the same spot, the Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court despairingly realized a fact¡ª The injuries they caused seemed utterly insignificant to the Hive Defenders, not even extruding an excess droplet of bodily fluid from the wounds they inflicted. However... The even more terrifying and unknown behemoth known as the "Overlord" was slowly approaching. Chapter 577 - 577: 453 To take charge during a crisis Apart from its large-scale psychic control abilities, no one knew what kind of close combat strength it possessed. But just by looking at its extremely explosive muscular form and those four terrifying blade-arms, no one would doubt this point. The Bug Race, a species that extremely craves practicality, would never evolve useless traits for the sake of so-called face or appearance. "Perhaps, our target should not be these ''guards''." "There is always a reason for the way the Scientific Research Institute names and identifies them, guards simply exist to protect important characters. Maybe we can bypass these guards, and first take down the real leader." Thus, their gazes turned towards the slowly approaching crimson behemoth. "As long as we kill it, these ''guards'' will not be feared!" Not being able to break through the defense was just a temporary state, every material has its fatigue limit. Constant dripping wears away a stone. As long as the striking lasts long enough, the Bug Race''s carapace is not an absolutely invincible existence. First take down the supreme overlord, let the main battle formation push through completely from behind, a whole army group''s firepower focused on these three ''guard'' behemoths, they won''t believe they can still stand unshakable like this. Recognizing reality, the Mech Pilot from Mechanical Court made a decision in an instant. Through the connected voice channel, he issued orders across systems to the Mech Pilots in the military camp, "Enor, lead your men to hold off these guards! We''re going to behead the ''supreme overlord''! Buy us as much time as possible, victory will eventually belong to humanity!" Enor''s face lit up with excitement, "Roger that!" With shield and sword in hand, Enor once again lifted his spirits, "Brothers! This is the final decisive battle! For the future of Blackwater City, fight to the death!" "No retreat!" The remaining eight Mecha still capable of fighting valiantly charged at the three behemoth-like creatures without fear of death. Without their constraints, the three Mecha from Mechanical Court would have struggled to escape from the increasingly responsive Bug Race guards. A moment of carelessness could easily result in severe damage. They were key to the expedition against the Bug Race and could not afford the slightest risk. The first one, wielding shield and sword, pinned down the twin hammers with its face, while another Mecha maneuvered behind to jam its rotary machine gun into the guard''s forehead. The god of fire roared, and the metal storm instantly unleashed an unimaginable terrifying impact. The behemoth that had not had time to crush the audacious blue and white Mecha with its terrifying strength roared as it collapsed to the side, this was the restraint humans in their numerically superior Mecha could coordinate. Of course, no matter how effective the restraint, facing the terrifying defense of the "Bug Race guards," they still were but adventurers dancing on a tightrope at the edge of a cliff. The only hope lay in the three Mecha from Mechanical Court that had gone to behead the supreme overlord. ... The supreme overlord''s eyes looked disdainfully at the three colored Mecha breaking through the air. Underneath its seemingly slow movement, the speed of its four blade-arms almost ignored space and time. "Pfft!" Like a knife slicing through tofu, colorful Mecha fragments flew across the sky. The Mech Pilots from Mechanical Court that had thought they could behead the supreme overlord or at least hold on, couldn''t withstand a blow from the unleashed true strength of the supreme overlord. Deciding to reveal its real power, the supreme overlord no longer hid, its enormous body charged fiercely towards the eight military camp Mecha entangled with the guards. The momentum was overwhelming, like a mountain collapsing and a tidal wave surging. "Swoosh!" Beneath the blade-arms, all things were equal. The shattered Mecha fragments scattered in the air before the supreme overlord, an invincible posture chilling to any onlooker. "Run!" The sense of danger nearly exploded the mechanical vertical eye on Enor''s forehead, he called Rose to exert force along with him. Yet, the instant they turned to flee, a crimson claw blade easily slashed through their machine. The entire army was wiped out! The sky above was bleak, and on the vast land stood only the four crimson behemoths, an endless sea of bugs chasing the human warriors barely conscious from the Spiritual Energy field. Humans suffered an utter defeat! "We need you!" from among the broken cockpit fragments, Rose''s gaze turned to the black maintenance vehicle far within the sea of bugs. Bai E was there. ``` She knew, Bai E was right there. She also believed that Bai E could hear her voice, he had the power to turn the tide! A calm and steady voice rose in the silent command vehicle, "This is Bai E, I request to sortie in my mecha form!" "It''s over... all over..." "This battle, we''ve lost completely..." "That giant beast, it''s not an enemy we were meant to face!" "Let''s go! If we don''t retreat now, we won''t even be able to save these last few of us..." Many officers couldn''t stop replaying the scene of various mechas being instantly sliced apart in their minds, whether they were military mechas or those from the Mechanical Court, they all seemed to stand no chance against that tremendously terrifying ruler. How were they supposed to defeat such a terrifying giant beast? Once again, the lonely voice came through the communicator, unanswered, "This is Bai E, I request to sortie in my mecha form!" Hamilton''s eyes, slightly dazed, moved, as the familiar voice sparked his last bit of hope. Bai E! We still have Bai E! As the entire Mech Armored Corps and the mechas of the Mechanical Court were decimated, Hamilton couldn''t imagine how that warrior, who had created miracles time after time, would change the outcome. But some unknown magic power led him to believe that only Bai E could turn everything around when the building was about to collapse. "Permission to sortie!" Hamilton snatched the communicator, flipped the switch, and responded with a roar. "Received." The calm voice responded immediately, and Hamilton collapsed into his seat as if he had lost all his strength. Some officers turned their dull eyes, smiling miserably, "Still sortie? We don''t have any mechas left." "We''ve lost... lost..." "We can''t lose!" Suddenly, a resounding voice tried to inspire everyone, as Yue Ying, who had remained calm and seemed to have anticipated this outcome, spoke up from the corner. She pointed to a corner of the surveillance screen. Amidst the tide-like swarm of the Bug Race, a blue and white mecha that had fallen earlier was now standing up again. The color of its metallic coating was no longer so pure, with many areas revealing the gray-black base color of the metal itself; it was mottled and difficult to speak of, but in any case... it was still a functioning mecha. ...except for the cockpit leaking air. The technician operating the drone immediately controlled the camera drone to approach, and through the blurry footage, a vague figure could be seen moving within. "Psssh~" One hand held a black repair vehicle, and the other started a flamethrower. The mecha, which had just stood up after being patched up again, used the flamethrower to clear a large clean area around it the moment it arose. Then the mecha took big steps forward, heading straight for the deepest part of the Bug Race''s nest, where all the mecha wreckage lay. A ruler and three guards waited with cold eyes. Bai E, who had sent all the mechas to the final battlefield behind the Bug Race''s nest, didn''t just slaughter lower-ranked bugs in the swarm. This unfortunate mecha, the first to be hit by the thunder beast''s cannon and have its chest cavity shattered, was urgently repaired and fixed under his protection by two mech attendants from inside the repair vehicle. Octametal was tough and naturally difficult to forge. However, the alloy used for battlefield repairs was only a temporary fix and couldn''t compare to the toughness of octametal. But it didn''t really matter much; facing the ruler''s sharp blade, even a mecha built from octametal was only good for a one-hit shatter. As long as it worked, the difference was insignificant to Bai E. The mecha strode across the sea of bugs, easily reached the area behind, and on a calm clearing, Bai E controlled the mecha to bend down and place the repair vehicle that the mecha''s left arm had been carrying. The two mech attendants in the repair vehicle, with its windshield already shattered, were yelling frantically at Bai E, "Go for it, Captain Bai!" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Damn it all! I knew you''d return to the ranks of mech pilots! They''re nothing without you!" ["Lucky Strike" charge +10.] Bai E gave a slight smile to the two fanatical believers and once again manipulated the mecha to stand and move forward. ``` Chapter 578 - 578: 454 Level 8 Specialist! Passing by Rose, who was severely injured from a high-altitude fall and crawled on the ground, Bai E controlled the mech to gently squat down. With two large fingers, he carefully lifted her up from the ground and placed her back in the cockpit, which was battered and exposed to the elements, before he went to pick up the final fragment that had originally belonged to the W0721 mech but now was needed by himself. The engraving on the right shoulder of the mech¡ªW0721. A ship called Theseus was nearly replaced in every component during its years of service. Could this entirely new ship still be called the Ship of Theseus? The same could be said for the mech. Every time it was heavily damaged, it needed a large amount of new material to replace and fill in. So how should a mech that had been endowed with a mech spirit lock onto its proper place? W0721 had no mech spirit. But a link existed between W0721 and Bai E. Bai E had always been curious about how this linkage should work. He didn''t know the exact answer, but the omnipotent Spiritual Energy brought him an almost intuitive certainty. As the W0721''s shoulder insignia was set in place, Bai E could feel his consciousness instantly spread throughout the entire mech. The discomfort of manually piloting the mech just moments ago vanished in an instant, replaced by the absolute confidence as natural as controlling one''s own limbs. In the flash of a thought, the formidable Spiritual Energy spread out from Bai E as its center. Through the transformation of the linkage, a power more suited for a mechanical body wound through the mech like a spiritual snake. The many minor issues left over after the battlefield''s rapid repair were instantly renewed under the self-repair function of this mechanical power. Like an invisible spirit light swiftly sweeping over the mech''s body, the mech that had been patched up and stood up again from a battered state now once again radiated a reliable confidence. A pale blue barrier, purely generated by the mechanical power, took the place of the original transparent window in the cockpit, which was made of expensive material comparable to an eight-element alloy, and also sealed off the hot and stenchy wind blowing in from outside. "Be careful, the guards are very capable of learning; they are evolving through battle," Rose said weakly in a corner of the cockpit as she tried to secure herself and quietly tipped Bai E about the experience they got from destroying mechs. "I know." While observing the battle, Bai E did not just clear up the lower-level Bug Race members, but he also kept a vigilant eye. The guards'' slow movements evolved from futile chasing at first to later having patterned predictions and combo attacks. The evolution obtained through combat was evident, and even though Bai E hadn''t completely engaged with them, he knew how troublesome these creatures were. Swinging the combat blade in his hand, the mech surged forward like a proud dragon. Even facing four opponents alone did not instill much fear in Bai E at this time. The endless Spiritual Energy supported his constant expenditure, skills like Absolute Defense, the Blade of Magic, and Dance of Lightness were fully activated. Through the linkage transformation, they became mechanical power to exhibit the same effect in a way that was suited for a mechanical body. The mech leaped high into the air, and the massive alloy combat sword came crashing down. Even as the guard, which resembled a giant ape, raised its arms to block, the combat sword easily evaded and accurately targeted the neck of the guard beast. "Puchi!" The blade cut three inches into the flesh. After imbuing the standard combat sword with the effect of "High-Frequency Cutting" using the Blade of Magic, Bai E''s combat sword could, much like the cutting-edge creations held by the Mechanical Court mechs, effectively attack the bone armor of the giant beasts. And the bone armor on the bodies of the guard beasts was not uniformly hard everywhere. For agility in movement, many of the armor''s joints and limb connections had to be compromised in strength. When it was utterly impossible to breach the defenses, it was all the same; but the moment there was any ability to penetrate, selecting the point of impact became crucial. [As the pilot of the basic Titan-class armored mech, you used a proficient weapon attack and hit the target, "Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm" experience +1.] [You caused 30 points of slashing damage to the target!] [Current "Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm" experience 230/2000; at 2000 points, you can master "Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm (5/7 level)".] [Based on the effect of your attack, you obtain the following information¡ª¡ª] [Bug Hive Guard (Bug Race): Health 19350/20000; Defensive Power: 1000; Attack Power (Type: Blunt) 1000~1200; Traits: Behemoth Template, Trait: Diamond Chitin Armor, Trait: Symbiotic Weapon¡ªRending Claw Blade; Mobility: 100%...] [Rending Claw Blade: Crafted with a special Diamond Chitin structure, even among the special material structures of the Bug Race, this is extremely rare. The seemingly short claws can rend anything! Be careful! Don''t get hit head-on by it!] The pair of short claws near the head of the guards were their real trump cards. Bai E knew the horror of these weapons the first time he saw them, and in this battle, because they were often outnumbered, they seldom had the chance to use these symbiotic weapons. With a single strike, Bai E did not linger for glory; he withdrew his sword and left. Facing the onslaught from three Bug Hive Guards at once, staying in one place was simply courting death. Only by keeping himself mobile could he continue to entangle with them. The massive mech moved as agilely as the most dexterous human, darting ghost-like between the three "Bug Hive Guards." These behemoths, akin to giant apes, had unstoppable speed when they charged from a distance, and their powerful impacts were capable of destroying everything. After the "special training" by other mech pilots, their hammer-like arm attacks became noticeably quicker in altering strikes. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the huge figures still had their fatal flaw¡ªif the attack involved frequent and unpredictable changes in position around their bodies, they could never keep up. Chapter 579 - 579: 454 Level 8 Specialist!_2 Like a ghostly shadow that perpetually loomed behind, the blue and white mecha exhibited a level of agility that no one could have anticipated. No matter how the three guardians pursued the shadow to launch their attacks, it was all in vain. Wielding its four-bladed arms, the Dominator finally stopped watching indifferently from a distance. The moment this insignificant human launched another counterattack, it was time to let him know what true despair was! The Dominator''s footsteps were heavy; each one seemed to split the earth and shatter the sky. As it charged forward, a terrifying voice once again resounded in Bai E''s mind. The voice was arcane and hard to comprehend, but Bai E could only intuitively guess at part of its meaning¡ª "Bind ''It''." Thus, the pursuit and attacks of the three Bug Race guardians abruptly changed in style, ignoring the Mech Armor Alloy Battle Blade that Bai E wielded, even if they had to use their very bodies as shields to press Bai E into a corner with no escape. If he wanted to run, Bai E certainly could have escaped at any moment. But Bai E wanted to test the strength of the Dominator as well. Maximizing the output of Spiritual Energy supply to the magic blade, Bai E''s will hardened, and with focus, his battle blade was directed towards the Dominator''s two massive arms that slashed together at him. "No!" "You can''t take it head-on!" The Mech Court pilots scattered across the battlefield watched with eyes wide with horror. A mech''s destruction did not mean the pilot''s death. The mechas, which were the crystallization of humanity''s top technology, naturally provided exceptional care for their pilots. After all, in terms of cost, training a qualified Mech Court pilot was much more expensive than manufacturing a mecha. Pilots who had escaped from their cockpits were scattered around, and now all their gazes were focused on the battle situation that everyone was banking on as their hope. When they saw Bai E''s mecha play the three guardians like toys, each of them was greatly heartened. But upon seeing this mecha, regarded as the last hope, brazenly attempting to confront the Dominator''s blades head-on, they were instantly terrified out of their wits. Even the Mech Court mechas equipped with basic energy defensive fields couldn''t withstand a single strike from the Dominator. Where did he get the confidence to take on the Dominator''s twin blades with his ordinary military mecha? "E!" The sound of metal clashing echoed in midair, followed closely by the crisp sound of tearing metal. Under Bai E''s will, the shattered blade fragments shot out like flying knives, all smashing towards the Dominator''s body. [Your attack has successfully hit the target, but failed to penetrate the defense.] [Based on the effect of your attack, you obtained the following information¡ª] [Dominator (Bug Race): Health ???/???; Defensive Power: 800; Attack Power (Type: Strike) 2000~???; Traits: Behemoth Template, Trait: Activated Chitin Armor, Trait: Symbiotic Weapon¡ªBiological Bone Spur Blade, Trait¡ªAdaptive Evolution; Action Power: 100%...] [Activated Chitin Armor: The Dominator''s will controls everything, with all the Spiritual Energy power of the Bug Race node network at its disposal, it can twist reality at will. To defend against the target''s attack, the Dominator can continually bond carbon and silicon atoms to temporarily enhance the thickness and hardness of its Chitin Armor. The armor, rich in strong acid, can easily corrode any external matter that intrudes into it.] [Biological Bone Spur Blade: At the tip of the blade is a brain that functions independently of the Dominator''s will. This brain can absorb any substance that the blade comes into contact with to repair any of its damage and uses powerful Spiritual Energy to maintain a mono-molecular edge on the blade. The Spiritual Energy coating on the blade''s surface forms a deadly bio-catalytic "fissure field," and the "resonance" between Spiritual Energies allows two or more "Biological Bone Spur Blades" to amplify the effect of each other''s bio-catalytic fissure fields when they are close to each other. Remember, it''s alive! It''s alive!] [Adaptive Evolution: With the collective will of the entire Bug Race node network, it possesses endless wisdom and can make real-time tactical adjustments and specific structural evolutions to counter the traits of its opponents. Every member of the Bug Race within the node network is controlled by this effect!] The previous speculations about the guardians were inaccurate; their adaptability to combat situations stemmed from the Dominator''s remote control, not their own abilities. As the absolute Dominator, it was not only the commander of the entire battlefield, but also the ultimate killing beast evolved by the Bug Race. When the twin blades joined forces, it seemed any creation of humankind would likely meet its end with one stroke. The only flaw that could be considered a weakness was its defensive power, which was just a notch below that of the "Hive Guard." The Bug Race also had to obey the laws of physics, so in order to maintain more agile combat abilities, the Overlord could not bear the same thick Diamond Chitin Armor as the Hive Guard. But it was evident that the three Hive Guards were its ultimate shield. No one could bypass the brainless, staunch support of the Hive Guards and directly take down the Overlord itself. Bai E, whose blade had been shattered with one strike, maneuvered his mecha to flip backward and fly out, escaping the encirclement of the four giant Bug Race creatures. As he landed, he executed a roll and picked up a Mech Armor Alloy Battle Blade that had fallen on the battlefield but remained intact. With a light flick of the blade, a pale blue screen panel appeared in Bai E''s eyes. "Current Light Weapons Mastery experience 277/5500, mastery of ''Level 7 Light Weapons Specialization'' available at 5500 points." (Note: Unlocking an attached skill tree (Second-Order) at specialization level 7.) "Tip: Your current specialization level has reached the limits of a mortal body, and you will struggle to make further progress before your abilities surpass these physical limits. To continue improving your specialization level, your Insight and Reflex attributes need to exceed 15 points each." "Insight": 15.6/24 "Reflex": 16.5/24 A substantial accumulation of experience, attribute requirements met. The combat power composition of a mecha is diverse, but the only thing that can be improved on the spot is the specialization level, which can be instantly upgraded through expenditure of experience. A Second-Order Improvement Skill Tree attached to a specialization? Bai E was curious about what it would be like. Just frickin'' boost it to the max! "Level 8 Light Weapons Specialization acquired," with 2 latent points gained. (Stacked) "Light Weapons Specialization (Level 8): Attack speed +40£¥, armor penetration +16£¥, detection break (special) +10%." "Current Light Weapons Mastery experience 0/30000, mastery of ''Level 9 Light Weapons Specialization'' available at 30000 points." "Detection of character''s current Level 8 Light Weapons Specialization and mastery of all tactical traits has unlocked: Absolute Mastery (repeatable), Enhanced*Magic Blade in the Second-Order Improvement Skill Tree (random pool)." "Unlocking now requires: General/Combat experience*10000 (each subsequent skill at the same level doubles the consumption), latent points*4 (fixed)." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After exceeding level 7 in specialization, the base rates of increase experienced a qualitative leap. The base increase to attack speed per level of specialization rose from 3% to 5%, and armor penetration from 1% to 2%, while only the special attributes maintained a steady increase alongside specialization levels, without further enhancement. The attack speed bonus, which more than doubled compared to before, made the blade in Bai E''s hand as light as the wind, and a higher likelihood of penetration made Bai E''s gaze as sharp as a hawk, feeling as if he could intuitively find the weak points in the target''s defenses and strike more precisely at the spots he intended to hit amidst the rapidly changing combat. The instantaneous improvement had nearly depleted the experience Bai E had stored up over many days. Although the stored experience seemed plentiful, after spending 5223 points of experience for the level 6 to 7 upgrade, and another 12000 for the level 7 to 8 upgrade, he was left with only 26241 points of experience. That was not enough to raise his specialization to level 9, nor was it enough to mindlessly unlock all the skills in the Second-Order Skill Tree. He had to make a choice between the two new Second-Order skills that had appeared¡­ Chapter 580 - 580: 455 Frenzy! Light weapons encompass a variety of types, such as swords, short guns, hand axes, etc., all falling under this specialization. The key lies in the weapon''s quality and size compared to the user''s strength and physique. "Absolute Mastery" is like diving deep into the understanding of a particular shaped weapon, much like the specialty *Swordsmanship, which can significantly enhance proficiency with that type of weapon, that could be gleaned from Yue Ying. As for "Enhanced *Magic Blade," it''s an upgraded version of the original first-tier skill "Magic Blade." By slaying specific creatures repeatedly, one''s enchanted weapons can gain a permanent special attack bonus. In simple terms, it allows one to create divine weapons by hand. Neither of these skills offers an immediate boost to sky-high levels, but rather they are like growth abilities that can become powerful in certain aspects after sufficient "training." To creatures of the Bug Race with alien body structures, the gains in combat from increased skill beyond a certain point become marginal. No matter how advanced the skill, it takes but one strike from the dominator''s Biological Bone Spur Blade. In contrast, Bai E felt the "Enhanced *Magic Blade," which can inflict special damage on specific races, more suited to the current needs. Decision made¡ª [Payment: 4 Latent Points, 10,000 Combat Experience.] [Skill Acquired¡ªEnhanced *Magic Blade.] [Enhanced *Magic Blade: From now on, as someone who has mastered "Magic Blade," you can, upon activating Magic Blade, hunt specific targets to grant your enchanted weapon attack effects against those targets. The special attack effect''s strength will increase based on the number and level of the targets slain. Current hunting target: None. Recording template: None. Basic enhancement: Final attack power +10% (No consumption).] The Enhanced *Magic Blade is an accompanying enhancement to Magic Blade, so there are no additional costs. And even without any special attack bonus, just learning it directly adds 10% to the attack power, which is an additional multiplication stacking at the end, a substantial gain. A renewed spiritual light spread from Bai E once again, extending to the alloy battle blade in the Mecha''s hand. The blade, already bearing the "High-Frequency Cutting" enchantment, shimmered once more with a colorful spiritual light, waiting to be bathed in blood to record information on the enemy, in order to perform targeted special attacks. ''The special attack''s strength increases based on the number and level of targets slain?'' Bai E pondered quietly in his heart while staring at the three seemingly indestructible gorilla-like behemoths with a fierce gaze. The first targets for activating the special attack effect¡ªlet''s start with you! The strong Spiritual Energy erupted once more, and even Yue Ying, commanding from afar inside the command vehicle, could keenly sense the fervent burning of spiritual energy on the battlefield. ''Such a formidable cultivation...'' Yue Ying narrowed her eyes slightly, a sense of shock rising in her heart from beneath her hood. Bai E''s Spiritual Energy was taught by her hand, and no one knew his starting point better than she did. Yet in the short time they hadn''t seen each other, this human powerhouse''s Spiritual Energy had soared to such levels, a rate of improvement that would be considered top-notch even among her elf kin. ["Lucky Strike" Charge +3.] S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E, now fully aware of his opponent''s certain characteristics, held nothing back. In a melee against a greater number, reducing the enemy''s numbers is always the truest wisdom. "Buzz!" The Mecha hummed, mechanical energy surged, and the burning of Spiritual Energy transformed into mechanical power suitable for the machine''s structure after a brief 0.79-second delay. Instant Slashing Hundred Heads! The blue-and-white mechanical body made a swift change of direction, and the battle blade held in its hand became almost an invisible shadow in the air. The considerable enhancement of light weapons brought a high attack speed bonus, making Bai E''s strikes ghostly fast. One slash fell, followed by a thousand more. The endless shadow of the blade chased down the spot where Bai E''s sword had struck, slashing down one after another, faster and deeper with each hit. However, this scene, which could be seen only from a Spiritual Energy perspective, was nothing but a "moment" in the real world. The formidable bone armor of the Bug Race''s guardians, never showing weakness against any attack, was deeply cleaved into by a single strike for the first time. With a pull, flesh and blood were scattered. [Your basic Titan-class armed Mecha made a proficient weapon strike against the target, "Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm" experience +3.] [Dealt 500 points of slashing damage to the target!] [The bloodthirsty magic blade has absorbed a bit of the target''s flesh, generating a special attack effect in progress 2/1000.] Withdrawing his blade, Bai E turned and slashed at the back of another guardian as he dodged the pursuit of the other three behemoths. These behemoths, primarily in dark red hues, had such thick Vajra Chitin Bone Armor on their backs that it appeared black, and they never feared confronting enemies with their backs due to their strength. However, when facing them head-on, an opponent must deal with a pair of giant hammers as well as the slightly shorter Diamond Ripping Claws near their heads. These tactics, based on their robust armor, had been their strategy. Even if an enemy, relying on agility, clung to their backs, they were bound to lose in a prolonged battle without breaching the armor. They were willing to use their backs as a kind of shield to pressure the enemy''s movement and ensure the effectiveness of their encirclement. Chapter 581 - 581: 455 Frenzy!_2 However, now... Gliding through like a specter, each strike of the blue-and-white phantom inflicts tons of damage; such tactics from the past are no longer effective. Bai E even uses these Bug Race nests'' guards, mindlessly blocking damage for the Overlord, borrowing their cumbersome bodies, always dodging the Supreme Blade Edge of the Overlord. No matter how powerful a weapon is, if it doesn''t hit its target, it is utterly useless. Facing the elusive edge of Bai E, the four behemoths hinder each other, and for a moment, they can''t seem to do anything to Bai E. There are only repeated, relentless slashes tearing flesh and slowly eating away at the lives of the three Bug Race nest guards. "The Mech Soul can actually do this?" The elite Mech Pilot of the Mechanical Court, lying seriously injured on the ground, widened his eyes, utterly baffled by the scene unfolding before him. "Having a Mech Soul means you can do whatever you want." The Mech Pilot next to him was greatly comforted, looking at the blue-and-white Mecha threading through the beasts, its appearance made crude by repair marks yet unexpectedly exuding a sense of reliability. Envy filled his gaze. The birth of a Mech Soul within their own Mecha and achieving communication with it was almost a superstitious belief among every Mech Pilot of the Mechanical Court. These elites, born of humanity''s cutting-edge urban technology, were all in pursuit of the unpredictable magic. "A gun with ten bullets can shoot twenty, that''s Mech Soul! Do you understand the value of a Mech Soul?" ... "Good! Good!" In the command vehicle, filled with despair, the flower of hope bloomed once again. Watching the blue-and-white Mecha on the monitor, "surrounding" and battling the four giant beasts all by itself, Hamilton clapped his hands in satisfaction, "My decision was indeed correct." If they hadn''t brought Bai E along, they would''ve been packing up to escape by now. "So what? Hasn''t even killed one, has it?" Not all gazes were focused on the Overlord-related battlefield. In important positions within the main battle formation, like the tank and armored vehicle operators wearing Spiritual Energy helmets, they could quickly awaken from the Overlord''s psychic domain, but it was always the tens of thousands of ordinary soldiers on the frontline who truly bore the brunt. They were the ones whose ability to rapidly free themselves from the influence of the Overlord''s psychic domain mattered for the victory or defeat at the front lines. And clearly, these ordinary soldiers could not live up to the profound expectations of their superiors. The lower-tier Bug Race, no longer suppressed by the Overlord, advanced slowly like a carpet in motion, bloodthirsty insects devouring everything fleshy in their path, swallowing it whole. The sound of chewing filled the entire frontline, and occasional artillery and gunfire would only provoke a momentary counterattack by a swarm of insects; human bones, at their toughest, were the greatest contributors in resisting the spread of the Bug Race tide. With an indifferent gaze, the Overlord lifted its suppression, but the "reminders" sent time and again seemingly failed to teach these humans a lesson. Perhaps only a thorough annihilation would make them truly realize the disparity in strength! As for now... what difference would one more slightly more powerful human make? The Overlord is indestructible! The strength of the adversary would only serve as another opportunity for their kind to evolve once more; defeat was also the beginning of plunder! ["Lucky Strike" Charge +47.] "Eat!" The incomprehensible voice of chaos echoed once again in the deepest recesses of his heart, from which Bai E felt that raw and blazing desire. Bai E was certainly aware of the main battle line''s dismal failure behind him. Currently, he only wished he could split himself in two to manage both sides. From the moment the Overlord appeared, this battle had fallen into a pure race between life and death. It''s a race to see whether human Mechas can behead the Overlord on the high-end battlefield first, or whether the Bug Race''s tide will devour every living human soldier. The battlefield collapsed on both sides without Bai E. And even when Bai E joined the fight, he could only stabilize one side. Each slash could inflict tons of damage on the Bug Race''s guards, yet even as each cut pained them to the bone, their hefty 20,000 hit points kept them upright. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He could land each strike in the same spot on the giant beasts, but he couldn''t hit the same beast with every swing. Not to mention that each strike required 100 points of Spiritual Energy for the instant kill of a hundred heads, along with the continuous drain from various sustained abilities. This insane consumption, spread across three guardian beasts, left Bai E wondering if he could actually get past their defense and kill the true determiner of the battle''s outcome¡ªthe Bug Race Overlord¡ªbefore his rapidly replenishing Spiritual Energy ran dry. Anxiousness transformed into the fiercest combat intent; Bai E knew he had to race against time, hurriedly taking down the four giant beasts in front of him to break the encirclement on the battlefield. In a roll, while dodging the Overlord''s charge, the mecha Bai E piloted discarded its left-hand shield and picked up another unbroken alloy combat sword. With blades in both hands, the increasingly heated Spiritual Energy surged out wildly, and both magic blades activated "instant kill a hundred heads," with the mech''s surface Spiritual Light shining a blinding crimson. "Kill!" "Hum~" In the moment the battle sword struck, Bai E suddenly felt as if the world of reality had distanced itself from him for an instant. All sounds and images were momentarily isolated, and only after a few breaths in consciousness did these separated elements fill back into Bai E''s awareness seamlessly. The highly reactive Bai E immediately shook off the discomfort from this interruption in consciousness, and the next moment he realized one of the four giant beasts had an astonishing appeal to his "temptation." His mind was clear of distractions, focused only on taking down that one target. The misty red light almost materialized in the cockpit, syncing with the high-dimensional space where countless shadowy phantoms danced wildly at the edge of the hot light sphere. They sensed the "scent of war" from this light of Spiritual Energy mirrored from the "lower world" creatures. There was no absolute reverence for Order in the high-dimensional world; these demons born from extreme desires would stop at nothing for the "strength" they instinctively sought. Such a rich soul would surely taste delicious. In the space illuminated by the light sphere, countless demons, like sharks that smell blood in the sea, converged from all directions. Rose, who was lying seriously injured not far from Bai E, weakly watched the violently trembling transparent light screen, her stomach churning with nausea amidst the endless turmoil. However, at the moment when Bai E madly charged at the Overlord, Rose''s eyes subconsciously drifted towards a spot in the void. A twisted, tentacle-like limb suddenly grew from the deck on the ground; Rose instinctively squeezed her hand, and with an inaudible scream, the twisted tentacle shattered to dust. With a frown, Rose came back to reality, curiously examining her palm, but found no trace of anything else ever having been there. Like an invisible, immaterial "black hole" loyally guarding the edge of the vast light sphere, any demon daring to invade was instantaneously absorbed by this "black hole," ground up as if by a millstone, eventually becoming a wisp of high-dimensional essence in the high-dimensional space. They were then absorbed by a strange suction, merging into the gradually expanding light sphere. [Your "Skill - Soul Black Hole" has digested a wisp of alien Spiritual Energy, and converted it into your power, Spiritual Energy +2/2.] ... [...Spiritual Energy +3/3.] ... [...Spiritual Energy +5/5.] The sporadic support was like streams flowing into the sea, but Bai E''s progress in this special state was far from just that¡ª [Your will is burning passionately, the tumult of Spiritual Energy is unprecedented, all high-dimensional gazes shattered, you are the only true master here! Spiritual Energy +100/100.] "Boom!" The aura of Spiritual Energy surged again, the magical coating on the dual blades shining with astonishing Magic Power. [The bloodthirsty magic blades have absorbed a great deal of the target''s flesh and blood, creating a special attack effect in progress 100/1000.] (Stacking) Chapter 582 - 582: 456 Awe Fervor surged! Bai E knew clearly the state he had entered; in his eyes, the crimson behemoth with four blade arms was his only target. Beyond that, the three Bug Race guardians, also impressive in their offensive capabilities, were not on his kill list at this moment. This power, which burst forth from that prince of the war demons, was used in actual combat for the first time by Bai E. It was similar to the rage-fueled ability unleashed from the Blood God¡ªapparently, the special abilities of these war demons required a certain "emotion" to activate. Only when Bai E cast aside all strategies, desiring nothing more than to defeat his target in pure combat, did this ability truly show its usefulness. Wielding twin blades, the blue and white Mecha transformed into an undying warrior, indifferent to any impact from other entities. In his eyes, he was single-mindedly focused on slaying the Overlord controlling everything! The faithful guardians naturally wouldn''t stand by and watch their duty to protect suffer any harm right before their eyes. Facing the path Bai E charged down, all three Bug Race guardians prepared to attack. The Diamond Ripping Claws beneath their heads were primed and thirsty for blood, a cold glint passing over the blades that had not yet had a chance to be used. "He''s gone mad!" "Captain Bai is rushing it!" The Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court not far from the battlefield watched this mad move, anxious as if they wanted to rush forward and stop the Mecha charging headlong. They knew that their main battlefield in the rear was collapsing, but how could they be careless in the face of the Overlord? No matter how pressed they were, they couldn''t abandon their tactics. Captain Bai''s attacks were clearly effective. If he had continued to grind down the enemy as before, the three guardians would have fallen to his blade sooner or later. Once the guardians were down, with Captain Bai''s strength, facing the Overlord directly might not be totally hopeless. But now... "Boom!" With a deafening sound, the Diamond Ripping Claw struck the Mecha as if hitting an impenetrable barrier, the grating noise causing all nearby creatures with hearing to feel a tearing pain. The scene unfolding was unbelievable; the Mecha, which didn''t attempt any defensive maneuvers, was completely unaffected by the attack of the Bug Race guardians. Instead, the behemoth, forced into a retreat by the incredible recoil and having exerted too much force, staggered backward. But that wasn''t all; a blade as fast as lightning almost followed the retreating figure of the guardian, slashing at it. The flash of the blade passed by, nearly exceeding the dynamic visual limits of an ordinary person. An unenhanced slash grazed the breastplate of the guardian, slightly weaker in defense, causing minor damage. The guardians, with brains not capable of any intelligence, couldn''t learn any lesson from the events unfolding before their eyes¡ªthe remaining two behemoth guardians had already raised their sharp claws, smashing at the incoming blue and white Mecha. "Boom!" "Boom!" The flash of the blade passed by, the counterattack following the retreating figures of the behemoths closely. With blades flashing almost too quickly to see, the blue and white Mecha cut through the defenders like they weren''t there, making a beeline for the Overlord at the end. The four-armed Overlord, wielding blades, had no fear of the human Mecha before it. Underneath its unparalleled Biological Bone Spur Blades, no known material could withstand a single slash. "Buzz!" A dense aura of Spiritual Energy surged forward dramatically, and the coat of magic on the blade showed new changes. Bai E had reached level 3 with the Fission Field Generator technology that burst forth from the original intelligent machine. "Fission Field Generator: From now on, you can create core emitters that generate fission force fields and attach them to the surface of objects made of specific materials, maintaining a constant state for the field. Note: You must use this technology in conjunction with the core knowledge of Miniaturized Kinetic Theory." To apply the magical enhancement to the blade, Bai E needed a clear understanding of the desired effect and the underlying principles; the clearer the understanding, the more likely the effect would activate with substantial power. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E, now an expert in the technology, had the means to replicate the kinetic weapon he once observed on the original intelligent machine fully. High-Frequency Cutting alone was no match for the Overlord''s combined blades, but the essence of High-Frequency Cutting combined with the Fission Field of a kinetic weapon was something Bai E felt could clash with the Overlord. With the idea of concealing his abilities, it wasn''t until this final moment of engagement that Bai E used his Spiritual Energy to add a new layer to his blades. Spiritual Energy transformed into mechanical force, materializing out of thin air. A thin force field layer clung to the blade instantaneously, with Bai E''s twin blades chopping toward the body of the Overlord. The Mecha spun through the air, twin blades against the Overlord''s four. The existence of a mechanical mind allowed Bai E to multitask with ease; even wielding twin blades, each hand could fully utilize its blade, and with both blades striking together, it was almost as effective as two Bai Es collaborating to face the enemy. And with the bonus from being a weapon master, his specialization in light weapons now showed the prowess of level 9, a high attack speed enhancement allowing Bai E, two against four, to barely keep up with the Overlord''s attacking speed. Chapter 583 - 583: 456 Jingwei_2 The frequent clashing sounds almost merged into a continuous stream, and if Bai E hadn''t just upgraded his light weapon proficiency to level 8, he would have had absolutely no room to fight back against Hamilton''s four blade arms. However, even so, Bai E still found it somewhat challenging to deal with Hamilton''s close combat capability. When Hamilton''s multiple blade arms drew near, his powerfully enhanced Dissolution Stance was astonishingly potent, so Bai E dared not casually test their edge, only by using his own war blade to interweave with the opponent''s single blade arm could he avoid having multiple blade arms chopping down on his war blade together. Faced with Bai E''s melee capabilities, Hamilton with his four blade arms was not at ease either. Unable to combine his blade arms for strikes meant he lost that terrifyingly sharp lethality, forcing them together made it difficult to hit the extremely cunning human mech in front of him, and even risked exposing his own flaws, putting himself under the threat of attack. When faced with an opponent who couldn''t be quickly defeated, this Hamilton, who had never encountered a worthy opponent, experienced for the first time the emotion humans referred to as "fear." Perhaps it was too early for ''fear,'' but for the first time, it felt threatened. This feeling was unprecedented... Evolving was necessary! This was an opportunity for another evolution! The rapid blade battle between the blue-and-white mech and Hamilton wasn''t isolated; the three massive guardians who were shaken off, after steadying their forms, immediately counterattacked toward the blue-and-white mech once more. The guardians, having learned no lesson, raised their most powerful weapons again¡ªDiamond Chitin claws whose might was formidable¡ªand yet, when they struck the mech which had just entangled with Hamilton and couldn''t dodge, they still had no effect at all. "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" Almost invisible sword flashes passed in a blur, the mech barely paused before launching a counterattack, then swiftly leapt back into action, charging at Hamilton for a second time. The chaotic shadow of the blade ceaselessly reflected sunlight, the blinding brilliance nearly dazzling the eyes of every onlooker. "Amazing!" "Amazing!" "Amazing!" The Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court exclaimed in unison, their astonishment hard to fathom. That the mech, operated by Captain Bai, could ignore the also powerful attacks of the insectoid guardians had already baffled them; yet, the speed of the counterattack displayed while facing four opponents was unbelievably fast. This speed, which was nearly imperceptible to the naked eye, should not be occurring in a mech''s frame¡ªat its showing had utterly surpassed the theoretical limits of mechanical quality that were anticipated at the onset of military mech design. Larger bodies move slower, an inviolable truth of this universe. No object can have a perfectly rigid structure, where one end responds instantly to a command issued from the other end. And even if such a structure did exist, the force required to move such a massive object from one end would be unimaginably colossal. But now... S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The speed demonstrated by Captain Bai''s operated mech had reached levels that theoretically, only the smaller, special-type mechs in the court were supposed to achieve. "Is the mech spirit really that fierce?" "Are we sure it''s the work of the mech spirit?" Even those Mech Pilots from the Mechanical Court, who endlessly revered the mech spirit, began to question the exaggerated perspective that the higher-ups had of Bai E''s performance. "Maybe among mech spirits, there are disparities too," "A powerful mech spirit can indeed do whatever it wants!" Yet in their voices, came the disheartening command, "All units, prepare to retreat." Captain Bai''s performance was indeed consistently stellar, facing four enemies and even managing to bypass the guardians'' defense to pressure Hamilton gave everyone hope. But the battle wasn''t just happening at his location. The insectoids'' devouring ability had no limit, and as they consumed more biomass, the insectoid nest so close at hand could produce even more new insects. Under the current unfavorable conditions, the frontline was verging on a total collapse; without regrouping soon, all the troops involved in this sortie might end up buried in the bellies of the beasts. Watching the invincible War God in the monitor, slashing through enemies with a chill-inducing blade amidst a one-versus-four battle, every officer felt a profound sense of regret. If only they had let Captain Bai charge at the forefront of the Mech Armored Corps from the start, how could things have devolved to this extent? There was no point in sending so many mechas to the dominion''s battlefield, where they were being dispatched as easily as slicing vegetables. Had they known, it would have been better to have all the camp''s mechas hold the front line to delay the swarm''s advance, and then let Captain Bai rush into the fray alone, betting on when he could take down the four behemoths. The odds would have been much better than now. "But it also looks like Captain Bai is having a tough time causing significant damage to the overseer," an officer observed attentively. Despite Captain Bai controlling his mecha to engage energetically with the four giant beasts, the fact remained that none of the five participants in the battle had yet shown any sign of sustaining severe damage. "Captain Bai might only be able to delay the four behemoths." "If only we had another 95B27!" Weslin cut off the officers'' discussion agitatedly, "Enough talk, those elite pilots from the Mechanical Court aren''t dead yet, we need to figure out how to rescue them!" The military could afford their losses; at worst, they would simply recruit and enlist more soldiers upon their return. There were plenty of lower-class citizens in the cities willing to join the military, and the production lines for artificial humans had never been operating at full capacity. There were no shortages of expendable lower-class citizens, and for the city, deaths were not the biggest problem. It''s a pity to lose so much machinery, but it couldn''t be helped. The only thing that could be salvaged now was the relationship with the Mechanical Court. The elite pilots who hadn''t yet died on the battlefield absolutely couldn''t be allowed to perish; their value was much greater than the lost mechas. This mention of pilots filled some officers with irritation. "Didn''t they say that a few more pilots from the Mechanical Court could achieve similar battle records to Captain Bai? Where are those results?" Hamilton was utterly disappointed in the performance of the elite pilots from the Mechanical Court. Look at Captain Bai, and then look at the Mechanical Court. You boast that a few more would have the same effect, but what were you doing when Captain Bai faced four enemies alone? Lying on the ground shouting your prowess? If they had known these pilots were ineffective, it would have been better to let Bai E take the lead. How could the situation have developed into its current state? "There''s nothing we can do. Our Intelligence Machinery Group Army can''t compare with the insect nest here; that battle clearly hadn''t pushed Captain Bai to his limits. It''s just that we all assumed that was the real extent of Captain Bai''s strength," remarked another officer. "After this battle, there should be no more excuses for downplaying and suppressing the rise of Captain Bai, right?" Carlos said cautiously, glancing at Weslin. Perhaps this piece of news might be the only good news amidst the great defeat. "I need solutions, not blame games," Weslin said, his expression cold as ink. But obviously, this was asking the impossible. In the current situation, besides Captain Bai, who dared to claim they could move freely through a sea of insects? And if they ordered Captain Bai to rescue them¡­ who would dare to distract him at this critical moment? As they watched the lone figure battling against four, an invisible awe had surreptitiously seeped into the hearts of every officer present. And orders? Perhaps the word "command" had, from this moment forward, ceased to apply to Captain Bai. Even if he was an artificial human, this artificial human''s capabilities had completely shattered all of their former perceptions. "I''ll go." From a corner, a black figure that had gone unnoticed suddenly stood up. When she remained silent, the human officers subconsciously overlooked her presence. It was only when she volunteered to stand out that all the officers inside the command vehicle realized the presence of such a powerful entity among them. This lady born of the Elf Race was, in their eyes, the true upper limit of single combat strength. Weslin''s face brightened, "Then I''ll have to trouble Miss Yueying." Chapter 584 - 584: 457 slay the guards! The shadowy figure in a black cloak walked gently down from the command vehicle, able to barely make out the general entanglement of the several behemoths from a distance far too remote from the battlefield. Even Yue Ying did not dare to say that she could inflict enough damage when facing the Domineer and its three guards alone. As long as the enemy''s life force was stubborn enough, it would actually be she who ran out of Spiritual Energy first, placing her in danger. In fact, she felt puzzled by Bai E''s performance. In terms of the intensity of perceived Spiritual Energy, Bai E had indeed improved rapidly, but it still fell far short of her own level. Yet, in a battle where she herself was powerless to persist, he managed to withstand the siege of four giant beasts for so long without falling short, which was simply incredible in terms of Spiritual Energy''s endurance. Volunteering to rescue others, she also intended to get closer to observe Bai E. The Longsword unsheathed, Yue Ying watched the surging Bug Race from afar, a sharp light flashing in her eyes. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The blade tore through everything, and Yue Ying''s figure burst forth unhindered in an instant, shooting toward the battlefield above. The sword light ripped open a chasm, and the world darkened for an instant. The Bug Race along a line was instantly shattered, with limbs flying everywhere. The figure in the black cloak did not stop for a moment, as an individual''s power was always limited in the face of such a vast battlefield. Even using up all her Spiritual Energy would only delay the Bug Race''s advance for a short time. Her body, protected by the light of the sword, smashed everything, almost like a black hole devouring everything in its path, the cloaked figure charged through the rift directly towards the rear of the battlefield¡ª That is, near the site where the five behemoths were engaged in combat. Initially, Yue Ying did not rush to rescue the Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court. There were only five giants currently in battle at the rear, with no other low-level bugs present. Unless accidentally affected by the aftermath, the scattered Mech Pilots did not have any immediate life-threatening concerns. What she cared about more was Bai E''s current state... Amidst the explosive and violent outbreak of Spiritual Energy, she sensed an ominous scent. "You are using War-type abilities," Yue Ying transmitted her voice secretly, the Spiritual Energy wrap allowed her voice to directly reach Bai E''s mind. "I know." The ability that surged with fervor was being triggered for the first time. Only an absolute Believer in war could use such abilities. Even if he could use them, it certainly meant on some level that he met the necessary requirements. But that didn''t matter, as he knew his own will. Walking the path to the summit inevitably required endless battles. As long as he constantly examined his own heart, the capabilities of the high-dimensional space and divine domain might not necessarily be a bad thing. Ability does not concern good or evil. "It''s good that you know," Yue Ying just gave a kind reminder, believing in Bai E''s ability to judge for himself. "They are preparing to order a retreat. Do you have the confidence to take down the Domineer?" "..." Bai E hesitated slightly, dodging a combined slash from the Domineer, before finally responding with Spiritual Energy, "... I''ll do my best." "There isn''t much time, take care of yourself." With one last glance at the Mecha, which was amidst the siege of four behemoths yet danced with blade light, Yue Ying, who found no clue as to why Bai E''s Spiritual Energy never seemed to run dry, began to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to her. She used Spiritual Energy to lift up the bodies of various Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court, the journey home was far from as smooth as the arrival had been. However, Yue Ying, who was single-handedly lifting several living Mech Pilots with Spiritual Energy, still made her way slaughtering through the Bug Race, as if entering a realm devoid of others. Upon learning of the retreat ordered by the commanders behind him, Bai E no longer hesitated to unleash his full strength, learning from the Domineer''s panel that it possessed the ability for Adaptive Evolution and even the capability to automatically adjust its Chitin Bone Armor properties depending on the type of attack it received. But he didn''t understand the limits and the rate of such adaptation and adjustments. Finally, after several successful breaches of the Domineer''s four-blade defense to reach the inner circle, Bai E saw the Domineer''s true stats¡ª [Domineer (Bug Race): Health Points 99,180/100,000; Defensive Power: 800...] The health points massive to the point of despair, but the good news was that the so-called active Chitin Bone Armor did not seem to be able to fortify to the strength of the Vajra Chitin Bone Armor of the Bug Race''s guards, and the efficiency of the Adaptive Evolution wasn''t so fast as to take immediate effect; the Domineer''s defensive power remained at only 800. That meant, as long as he could hit the target, each of his blades could break through the defense and cause effective damage. That also meant that he did not need to combine all nine blades into one against the Domineer, as he did against the guards, but could use each blade separately. The difficulty with the behemoth template lies in this: small-scale damage, no matter how strong, is naturally limited when inflicted upon such gigantic creatures. Against the defense of the Bug Race''s guards, Bai E could not choose to increase the area of impact; if he didn''t use the nine-blade technique, each hit from the Instant-Kill Hundred Heads could only deal about twenty points of damage, making it far too inefficient. But now, facing the Domineer''s 800 points of defense, the Instant-Kill Hundred Heads could truly showcase its other aspect of lethality. Determined, Bai E burst forth in an instant. Having decided to use Instant-Kill Hundred Heads, he no longer had to consider whether his fighting blade would be blocked by the Domineer''s Biological Bone Spur Blades. Even if his blade was blocked, the other eight shadows of the blade that were launched at the same time could land in dispersed areas around the target. Blades chopped in quick succession, speed maximized. For a moment, endless shadows of blades almost enveloped the Domineer entirely, and its health points, exceeding 100,000, were reduced by the thousands under such terrifying blows. Chapter 585 - 585: 457 slay the guards!_2 The only thing that constrained Bai E was the speed of the virtual world''s recovery of Spiritual Energy. The cost of 100 points of Spiritual Energy to instantly kill a hundred beasts with replenishing wasn''t keeping up with Bai E''s current attack speed. The flesh of the dominating beast sprayed blood as it plummeted, and the drastic rise and fall of Spiritual Energy inside Bai E gave him the strange sensation of being alternately drained and filled. With a total of 100,000 hit points, was his Spiritual Energy replenishment enough to deplete the overlord''s health bar? Judging by the experience of the previous two intense uses of Spiritual Energy, his limit was about thirty cycles of depletion and replenishment. Apart from other miscellaneous expenses, at his current Spiritual Energy cap of 470 points, each full replenishment in reality could only allow for three strikes capable of the instant kill. Totaling ninety strikes, each hit about a thousand in damage. By all accounts, it was nearly enough, but the Spiritual Energy consumed earlier on the guardians of the Bug Race''s nest meant that after a simple calculation... the final result was actually not very optimistic. 99,000... 98,000... 95,000... 89,000... The overlord couldn''t see its own health plummeting madly, but it could feel that it was undergoing a terrifying assault. Even its loyal guardians couldn''t stop the human''s steel machine of war. True fear began to echo in the consciousness of the creature with self-awareness, and then the terrifying voice rang out again in Bai E''s consciousness. All the lower-ranking swarm heading towards the human army suddenly halted, then surged backward towards the rear in great numbers. A singular beast struggled to endure the multitude of human low-caliber gunfire, so how could the human Mechas withstand a mass attack by countless bugs? The sudden turn of events brought joy to the officers inside the rear command vehicle, who promptly ordered all capable soldiers to try to bring back every frontline fighter still alive. This time there was no Bai E, but there were more fighters with a clear mind. "Let Bai attract some fire, cover our retreat!" "Understood!" "Bai, we have suffered severe losses in the rear. Please hold on for a bit longer." "Copy that," Bai E immediately responded. Come on! Come on! The final form of the magical blade required an infusion of copious amounts of blood. The flesh and blood of low-level bugs, too, belonged to the Bug Race! [The bloodthirsty magical blade has absorbed a substantial amount of blood and flesh from the target. The special attack effect is in the process of building, 200/1000.](Stacking) "The overlord... is retreating," an officer inside the command vehicle at the rear of the battlefront muttered in awe as he watched footage captured by a drone. The artificial human warrior called Bai E had created a myth that no one had foreseen. The overlord''s power had been a source of fear to humans, yet the strength of their Captain Bai seemed even more astonishing. Despite being entangled by three Bug Race guardians, he managed to beat the previously invincible overlord so badly that it had to recall the bug swarm for protection and flee in disgrace! Witnessing the blue and white Mecha unleashing full firepower amidst the bug swarm, for a moment they couldn''t tell who the real Demon God was. [The bloodthirsty magical blade has absorbed a substantial amount of blood and flesh from the target. The special attack effect is in the process of building, 300/1000.](Stacking) ... [The bloodthirsty magical blade has absorbed a substantial amount of blood and flesh from the target. The special attack effect is in the process of building, 500/1000.](Stacking) The supplemented special attack from the blood of the colossal beast was slow, whereas the relentless deaths of the lower-class bug hordes allowed the war blade to absorb more experience in delivering devastating effects to the Bug Race. [...600/1000.] [...700/1000.] [...800/1000.] "Captain Bai, we have basically completed the evacuation. You can look for an opportunity to break away," the officer in charge of communications respectfully conveyed the command, accompanied by a notification on the dashboard¨D S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +50.] Bai E pointed his blade toward the direction of the Bug nest, his gaze sharp as a dagger. Through calculations, he knew that he most likely couldn''t annihilate the Dominator before his Spiritual Energy was exhausted. Moreover, having attempted to charge his weapon by drawing life from the lesser Bug swarms, he had automatically exited the "Frenzy Emergence" state. But what of it? Now that he had recognized his own limits and those of the Dominator, what would you do when he returned, stronger than before? This time he was merely a hair''s breadth away. Next time, his Spiritual Energy might be even further enhanced, and how would the Dominator withstand him then, with his Demon Blade fully formed? Before departing, it was time to collect some interest. With blades dancing, Bai E twirled and charged at one of the three guards. In the successive chaotic battles, the health of one guard had been whittled down to a mere 5,000 points. Even if the defensive power of the Bug nest''s guards was astonishing, such a health level no longer inspired despair. "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" Under the disorderly light of his blades, fresh, blood-visible cracks were added to the behemoth''s body. [Activate "Lucky Strike".] Without any hesitation, Bai E relied on the skill''s tenfold critical hit damage for the first time, in pursuit of certainty. Instant kill plus Lucky Strike. A terrifying slash bisected the Dominator at the waist, clearing the remaining 3,000 points of health in a single stroke! [Your skilled use of the basic model Titan-class armed Mecha weapon to hit the target has earned you "Expertise¡ªMechanical Rhythm" experience +427.] (Stacked) [You inflicted 3,080 points of execution damage on the target!] [Loot acquired: Bug Tribe Essence Extract *5000, 30,000 points of combat experience, Technology: "Vajra" structure.] [The Bloodthirsty Demon Blade has absorbed a significant amount of the target''s essence; its special attack effect has reached 1300/1000, successfully activating Phase One of the Demon Blade *Solidification.] On the right hand of Bai E''s Mecha, the combat blade that had dealt the final blow to the Bug nest guard shimmered with a rainbow luster, signifying the last step in its evolution. Even without Bai E''s control, the blade now permanently possessed the properties Bai E had imbued in it. [Alloy Combat Blade (Demon Blade): Blessed by the true lord, this once ordinary alloy combat blade now permanently possesses all the blessed attributes¡ªHigh-Frequency Cutting, Disintegration Field, +20% Attack Power against the Bug Race, Ignore Bug Race''s Armor by 20%. You can name this combat blade, and only those who have your permission and praise its true name can wield its full power.] [Your skill¡ªReinforced *Demon Blade has successfully registered a new racial special attack attribute: +20% Attack Power against the Bug Race, Ignore Bug Race''s Armor by 20%. From now on, whenever you use any enchanted weapon, you can add this special attack attribute to it. However, if you wish to further enhance this effect, you must use the "Prime Blade" that was the first to achieve the leap. Current secondary special attack effect progress: 300/3000] Name it? Then let it be called... the Star Devourer Blade. In official records, the Bug Race is known as Planet Devourers, and their strength is not limited to just this one nest. Star Devourer? A blade that devours Planet Devourers, destined to end all of the Bug Race! Bai E swung his combat blade, the endless shadow of the blade instantly overturning the land before him. Beneath the upturned earth, the chasing swarm of Bugs was utterly annihilated. Following the retreating main forces, the blue and white Mecha stood alone at the rear, yet not a single creature dared cross the boundary cut by the Mecha''s blade... A battle that immortalized him as a legendary warrior! On the road back, the remnants of the army, now merely a thousand or so in number, would occasionally glance back at the tall mechanical figure at the end of their ranks. When the whole army was on the brink of collapse, it was that legendary warrior, well-known in the camp, who single-handedly overturned the doomed situation. "Once we''re back, what kind of reward could possibly befit Captain Bai''s performance this time?" While the defeat was regrettable, Captain Bai''s performance momentarily alleviated the sting of failure. With such a War God among them, a counterattack against the Bug Race seemed to be only a matter of time. If not for the army holding him back, Captain Bai could probably have singlehandedly overturned all the high-level forces of the Bug Race. "I have a rough idea..." Weslin said thoughtfully, eyeing all the officers present and slowly unveiling his plans. Chapter 586 - 586: 458 volumes of imperial editions Urban warfare initiated by the city wasn''t always smooth sailing, for the lack of information made it difficult to accurately assess the enemy''s combat strength; many outcomes could only be known after the battle had been fought. There was nothing that could be done about the gap in strength, and the city''s upper echelons would not be unaware of this. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But understanding was one thing; policymaking was another. Not to mention that in this defeat, many high-ranking military officers had inescapable responsibilities. Bai''s instabilities only emerged when facing humans outside the city, as he might make choices against the city''s interests for the greater human good. But facing the Bug Race, what problems could there be? In such situations, Bai had never caused any problems, even when he had defied military orders, it later proved that Bai''s choices were correct and brought significant merits. The unwillingness to let Bai join the battle was purely based on the hope that during his observation period, it could be seen whether the military high command''s legacies could firmly keep control of the Spiritual Energy in their own hands. This was the common opinion of many high-ranking military officers, although Weslin was actually reluctant. Bai E was someone he had personally nurtured, a confidant. The direct lines of other officers were their little schemes, and they were of no benefit to Weslin. But what say could a semi-powerless marshal have? With the collective stance of the officers, he could only comply. And inevitably, when it came time to assign blame, he couldn''t escape his share. Now that a battle had been lost, as the marshal of the military district, how could he be unaffected? Weslin needed to consider the possibility of his own dismissal... Thus, the most pressing matter was to find anything advantageous to himself amidst this negative impact. As the key figure in this battle¡ªBai''s performance was remarkable. His outstanding actions directly repelled the Dominator, and he even slew one of the Bug Race''s nest guards; no doubt, he must now have sufficient understanding of the nests. Whether in terms of grasping the battle situation or from a standpoint of strength, Bai E now surely had the opportunity to step onto a larger stage; the future military district would undoubtedly have a place for Bai. This defeat had nothing to do with Bai; one might even say that Bai single-handedly averted a complete military collapse, minimizing the losses to the barracks. Whoever was in charge afterward would surely reuse this perfect soldier. If he could ally with this rising star, perhaps he could secure a sliver of capital to be re-elected. "This time our attack on the nests was just one step short; with one of the three nest guards slain and the Dominator driven back in disarray, as long as we prepare well for next time, letting Bai lead the vanguard, our hope of eradicating the Bug Race''s nests is substantial!" Listening to Weslin''s words, the assembled officers remained expressionless, but a hint of disdain flickered in their eyes. It was all hindsight. Had they not suppressed Bai and prevented him from entering the battle promptly, would the situation have reached its current state? However, many of the officers present were the instigators of Bai''s suppression; even if they were keenly aware of the core issue this time, they had no room to talk. "And to continue our attack on the nests next time, we''ll need to rebuild our forces. Conscription from the civilian population is too broad¡ªI propose we massively increase the production of artificial humans." A standard response, and through this war, everyone had seen the truth. When the Dominator unleashed its power, ordinary soldiers were just fodder. In a situation where lives were merely used to fill gaps, using civilians as cannon fodder truly seemed extravagant. Even the least privileged civilians have one or two friends. After their death, bereavement payments must be issued¡ªit''s the foundation of the city''s conscription. Much better to fill the ranks with cheap and serviceable artificial humans, and after a campaign against the Bug Race''s nests, conveniently reduce the barracks'' numbers. Business as usual, even without Weslin''s proposal, this would probably be the course of action. "But artificial human troops have always been dispersed among various units within the barracks, and vaguely defined roles often lead to disputes... So, I''ve decided to appoint Bai E, Bai, to become the supreme commander of all the artificial humans in the barracks. From now on, all matters related to the artificial humans'' organization will be under Bai E... oh no, Bai''s unified command. Other officers will henceforth only have temporary wartime command over designated artificial humans, and at critical moments, Bai can override rank to command any low-ranking soldier to support his actions!" "Weslin!" An officer burst out in anger instantly. Weslin''s eyes, faintly glowing, fixed on the other person, "Hmm?" He had never truly been angry in the barracks; perhaps these officers really thought he could be bullied? Realizing his mistake, the officer immediately lowered his head, not daring to meet Weslin''s gaze. In fact, Weslin himself was a powerful Spiritual Energy user, but there had never been any situation that required him, the marshal, to face a threat personally. "Marshal, isn''t your decision somewhat hasty?" Another officer stood up, speaking in a gentle tone to dissuade him. At the same time, more officers showed signs of unrest, as if to support each other. Weslin''s decision was undoubtedly parachuting a "deputy" marshal on everyone''s head. Currently, the barracks had about a thousand people, many of whom were artificial humans. And in the future expansion plans, artificial humans were the main focus of recruitment¡ªthis effectively meant that the future composition of the barracks might consist of over 90% artificial human soldiers. Chapter 587 - 587: 458 volumes of imperial editions_2 What else could there be that commands over 90% of the military camp''s establishment, besides a marshal? Weslin himself was the marshal and, of course, he did not care if a man-made person threatened his own position. But what about the others? The military district was the place where man-made people were used the most and where attitudes towards them were the most intense. Allowing a man-made person to suddenly rise and stand above everyone, to defecate and urinate on their heads, how could they accept this? Even the moderates who had always supported reasonable treatment for man-made people dared not show support for Weslin at this moment. They indeed wanted man-made people to shine in some important positions, but they did not mean a status where one stood above tens of thousands... Except for Carlos... "I think the marshal''s words make sense! Bai''s strength and achievements are there for all to see. I have no objections to him leading all man-made people!" Weslin looked at Carlos with appreciation, ''Young man, you''re on the right path.'' S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But it might also be the narrow path. He knew that there was a great possibility he would be removed from his position, so he had to bet all his chips on Bai E, hoping the city''s upper echelons would value Bai''s strength enough to keep his own marshal''s position. In case the city''s higher-ups didn''t actually value Bai as much, he would still have to step down and return to the city to become a second-generation wastrel living off his family''s legacy... At that time, Carlos, who openly supported him, would be the one out of luck. But what did that have to do with him? He was not soliciting everyone''s opinions. "Pay attention, gentlemen. The outcome of this battle against the Bug Race and everyone present here are inseparable from responsibility. Who are the ones who insisted on holding Bai back from the battlefield, leading to this defeat? You all know in your hearts." Weslin''s sharp gaze swept across the face of each officer. Being cordial on a day-to-day basis was one thing, but when it came to their careers, Weslin was not one to swallow his pride and concede defeat. "You have all seen the process of the battle and the performance of some soldiers. I do not intend to settle scores after the fact, but you should pay a price." There were systems upon systems at stake behind so many officers. Even if they were at fault, they wouldn''t all be replaced upon returning to the city for an assessment. But who should be replaced? Weslin''s words could in fact determine the fate of many. And those who had done wrong should pay the price. Balance is an elastic rope that, when pulled tight, requires as much force as it will exert when it snaps back. They wrongly bet on the progeny of high officials, and reality had slapped them in the face; they should have foreseen the time to pay the price. "..." The scene fell silent. Before the truly serious Weslin, the senior officers who had made mistakes first did not dare to confront him directly. After a sweeping glance, Weslin confirmed with a stern face, "Since there is nothing much to be said, then this resolution is hereby officially passed and effective immediately!" "Effective immediately!" While piloting the mecha, Bai E suddenly heard a calm and forceful male voice in the mecha''s audio channel, "Bai, this is Weslin." "Marshal! What are your orders?" "Your performance just now convinced every member of the Military Department, so we''ve decided to officially appoint you as a general in the Military Department. From now on, any soldier born of man-made origins will be under your command. Only when you are too overwhelmed will those man-made soldiers designated by you be commanded by specialist generals. Do you understand?" Bai E was slightly startled; he hadn''t expected to hear such unexpected news. After a moment, he fervently responded, "...Received!" "Excellent! Your appointment letter and epaulettes are being made. Upon your return to the camp, we will hold a ceremony to present them!" "Received." When the resolute voice from the public announcement finally ceased, a sigh echoed in the command vehicle, and the atmosphere became somewhat eerie for a moment. An artificial human had ascended to such a position overnight. This was beyond everyone''s expectations. But for a warrior who displayed such terrifying combat power, it would seem odd not to let him rise through the ranks. In the past, the relentless oppression of artificial humans was viable because there had never been a "War God" of this caliber among them. Now... perhaps the military camp''s landscape was truly about to change. The news that the army had suffered another defeat, dwindling to merely a thousand remaining in a devastating loss, had spread through the city early in the morning. As the army was returning to camp, several vehicles from different agencies had already been waiting at the entrance early on. The first person Weslin saw when he got out of the car was a man with handsome features but a scruffy beard, giving off an unkempt appearance. The man was leaning against a car door, smiling warmly at Weslin as if greeting a friend whom he hadn''t seen in days. "It''s really you..." Weslin walked over lightly, and his voice turned cold by the man''s ear, "So eager to take over my position, are you?" The man raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Under your ''wise'' leadership, the military sector fought against the Bug Race twice, suffering huge losses. Someone of suitable stature must take the fall for such losses, right? You could have enjoyed the good life as the city lord''s second generation, indulging in luxuries within the city. Why insist on coming to the military camp to meddle with knives, guns, and cannons? Do you really think you''re cut out for that?" "You''re right..." Weslin nodded sincerely, "I hope you get your wish." A group of elegantly dressed individuals who had been waiting in the conference room were growing impatient at the sight of the empty hall. An elderly man turned to a technician by the long table and asked softly, "Song, didn''t you say people have returned? Where are they?" "They have returned..." the technician immediately responded, then seemed to receive new information and quickly added, "They said they need to conduct a conferring ceremony first before they can come over." Upon hearing this, the old man scoffed, "A conferring ceremony? What a time to be holding a conferring ceremony." ... Under the spotlight on the vast training field, Weslin''s voice, amplified by Spiritual Energy, spread throughout the audience as he looked upon the thousands of surviving soldiers. "Gentlemen, we have just retreated from that horrific Bug Nest." "Yes, we have failed once again." "But our actions were not without meaning!" "The invincible sovereign has shown its weak side in front of us. Through the united fight of all our warriors, we have found a path that can surely defeat it!" "When we return to fight once more, it will be the final phase of annihilating the Bug Nest!" "And here, I must first apologize to a great warrior." "It was my lack of resolve; I did not insist on letting him join the battle as part of the main force from the start, only after we were defeated did I insist on letting him enter the fray, leading to such heavy losses for the entire unit!" "This legendary warrior, I believe, should be known by every soldier present here! They all deserve to know!" "He is our invincible Bai E, who single-handedly fought against the Bug Race behemoth, securing enough space and time for our remaining forces to retreat!" "I also believe that when we venture once more to the Bug Nest, Bai E will lead us in thoroughly seizing that massive threat beside the city!" "Starting from now! Bai E, will become the highest commander of all the artificial human soldiers in our military sector!" "Now, please, Bai E, come up to the stage to be honored!" The disheveled man following close behind, standing in a shadow untouched by the light, looked at the familiar figure under the spotlight with curiosity in his eyes¡ª ''Has Weslin gone mad?'' Knowing he was about to be ousted, so he starts acting recklessly? He had heard of Bai E''s reputation, but it was just a fighter capable of communicating with the Mecha spirit, what of it? Appointing an inconsequential general, could that stop his own downfall? If he signed the appointment, he could undo it later, wouldn''t it still be useless? "Madness." The man''s lips curled into a derisive smile. Chapter 588 - 588: 459 You are right... Facing the delayed arrival of Weslin and a host of military officers, the city representatives who had been waiting for a while all looked somewhat displeased. Among them, an old man spoke bluntly, "You''re about to step down, and you''re still holding an award ceremony?" The official of the former court is the target of the new. Unless there''s a grudge... but there''s no need to settle scores at this time, right? Weslin glanced at the old man who had spoken, said nothing, and steadily stepped onto the highest platform at the front of the meeting room in his metallic war boots. As long as the dismissal order doesn''t come down, he remains marshal of the military district. "Does Marshal Weslin have anything to say about the failure of this operation?" another vigorous old man, sitting on the side, asked in a toneless, heavy voice. This was his father''s man. Weslin glanced at the other party and knew his intentions. He feared that he himself was unaware of the situation he might face next and reminded him to produce something in his favor. "Regarding the failed operation against the Blackrock District Hive, as the marshal of the military district, I cannot shirk the blame. We misjudged the combat capability of the targeted hive, resulting in incorrect personnel deployment. Although changes were promptly made at the critical moment, preventing the total annihilation of our forces, the loss inflicted upon our military''s strength is not negligible! This mistake lies with our overall command and has nothing to do with the soldiers at the grassroots level!" "..." Several old men at the edge of the room looked at Weslin with strange eyes. What did his words mean? At this critical moment, instead of trying to shift the blame onto others, he was hurrying to take responsibility upon himself, as if to curry favor with the rank-and-file soldiers... Right, wasn''t it rumored that he directly promoted an infantry grunt to general of the military district because he knew what was coming and went mad? An old man under the city lord, who couldn''t bear to see Weslin act so carelessly, took the initiative to search for evidence, "At the moment, we only have the rough report of your losses from the expedition. The specifics are not very clear. Could we perhaps view the overall recording of the battle? After all, that hive is not just an enemy of the military district but the whole of Blackwater City. The decision to bring down that hive was made by the entire city." "However, the timing of the strike and the specific battle formation arrangements were decisions made by the military district on its own!" the first old man who had spoken in ridicule insisted on pinning the blame on Weslin''s head. "Let''s watch and then talk," said another old man, clad in a purple, unusual overcoat, who spoke airily. The overcoat, imbued with an air of mysteriousness, gave away the identity of its wearer ¡ª from the Spiritual Power Managers Center. The city''s core decision-making body is made up of representatives elected from various city institutions. However, these representatives naturally would not run around casually. They have their own small Elder Councils, which form trial committees to judge matters that are not of utmost importance but still significant. Like the matter at hand... the replacement of a military district marshal. "Yes!" The technician, following the order, began to selectively edit and display various angles and segments of the recorded battle. Facing a massive swarm of low-level insects and some elite bugs, the human mechanized forces advanced triumphantly and steadily pushed forward. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This standard tactic, including the progress made, didn''t have too many issues. No one could find fault with it from this perspective. It was just the constant emergence of sand worms from the underground behind and within the ranks that caused a significant impact and made the advance less than ideal, which was somewhat concerning. But this was not a crime of war. "In the future, we need to let the Scientific Research Institute pay attention to defenses and strikes against underground threats." "Defense is easier said than done. We can lay defenses and monitoring equipment underground in advance, but fighting proactively on enemy territory, to have achieved this much is already quite good." Among those who came from various city institutions were those who genuinely wanted to learn from this battle in hopes of one day completely annihilating the hive. They watched the images projected on the white screen with rapt attention. The shaking footage recorded on the actual battlefield was unnerving, but it made the situation all the more gripping. The arrival of seven Thunder Beasts instantly tensed up everyone present. The emergence of these strategic behemoths often marked a turning point in the battle. Even those from the city who hadn''t participated in this battle knew that the true challenge of the expedition had begun from the moment the Thunder Beasts appeared. Mecha deployment! Yet half were stopped by the low-level swarm... "The level is too poor..." "The selection requirements for the Mech Armored Corps are not strict enough." If all mech pilots had been blocked by the swarm, it could have been due to the mecha''s incapability of breaking through. But clearly, some mecha were able to break through, so what about those mech pilots who didn''t? How should they be explained? Apart from "incompetent," there were no excuses. And to relax the selection standards, allowing these technically insufficient pilots to drive Titan-class armed mecha which cost a fortune to produce, without demonstrating their proper capabilities, was undoubtedly a waste of resources. Anyone involved in the selection and training process of mech pilots, at any point affected by this entire line, could not escape blame! Chapter 589 - 589: 459 You are right..._2 Many Observers silently made their notes, continuing to watch. The gunfire from the Thunder Beasts brought significant damage to the army, but the speed with which the Mech Armored Corps, burdened with high hopes, cleared these behemoths was pitiful. Only when one Mecha after another was sent out by a black maintenance vehicle from the sea of low-level Bugs did the situation slightly improve. Looking at that unremarkable black maintenance vehicle in the footage, many Observers'' eyes began to show doubt. What is this thing? A path that Mecha couldn''t break open was cleared by a maintenance vehicle? The crane on the maintenance vehicle was clearly visible, was this some new black technology from the Scientific Research Institute? Their gaze swept over the silent conference hall where the footage was being viewed, and all Observers temporarily suppressed their impulse to ask Weslin, curious about another matter¡ª "Why didn''t they let Mech Pilots from the Mechanical Court fight?" After all, to review is to look for every detail that could be optimized throughout the process, to perform better next time. No matter who is in power, the Bug Race''s Hive is humanity''s enemy, a target that must be eradicated. Could the Thunder Beasts have wreaked such havoc on the human army if the Mech Pilots from Mechanical Court had taken action earlier? They borrowed manpower but didn''t know how to use it! The worst of the useless! Fortunately, the Thunder Beasts barely had any means of resistance in close combat, and the only three Hive Guards were kept busy by a greater number of elite Mech Pilots, which allowed the ordinary-level Pilots to effortlessly take down seven Thunder Beasts that were quite far from the main battlefield. "The losses are too great..." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "At least half of the people here are dead." "Thunder Beasts are truly terrifying!" Thick-skinned ultra-long-range artillery. When they appeared as a group, the strike they could deliver was simply too dreadful; it required a team of elite Pilots to carry out a surgical strike to head off the danger the behemoths posed to the human army. In the end, the Mech Armored Corps'' selection criteria simply weren''t strict enough. Not to mention matching the standards of the Mech Pilots from the Mechanical Court, if they had even the level of the Pilot of W0721 Mecha, they wouldn''t have suffered such heavy losses. All of them are military Pilots, so why is the gap so big? After this battle, if nothing else, the Mech Armored Corps'' organization must undergo a complete and thorough reshuffling! The video did not shift with people''s will and continued to play. Only when the Thunder Beasts were exterminated did the Dominator quietly appear. An impact wave that the video could not convey instantly radiated across the field, and all soldiers were immediately frozen in place as if struck by a petrifying spell. This scene had been showcased during the last expedition against the Bug Race, so it wasn''t surprising this time. But what no one had anticipated was that the low-level Bugs, who had been similarly immobile in the Dominator''s Spiritual Energy field last time, seemed unaffected this time, as they launched their sharp claws and teeth at the immobilized bodies of flesh and blood. The sounds of "krzz krzz" echoing through the recording filled the entire conference hall, as though gnawing at everyone''s sanity, chilling to the bone. "The Bugs can move!" "The Dominator''s Spiritual Energy field can be selective against enemies only!" Upon seeing this scene, everyone felt a penetrating chill. This completely different situation from last time instantly plunged everyone into confusion. With the vast majority of their own forces unable to move, yet the enemy''s Bug swarm was completely unaffected. How was this battle to be fought? Putting themselves in the shoes of those officers, they felt lost. The deeper the empathy, the greater the panic. Purely getting hit, any talk of tactics and strategy was in vain. "Only by cutting down the Dominator, and quickly at that, can this situation be ended." "Didn''t they have the support of the Mechanical Court? They should have taken action by now." Indeed, they took action. The strikes launched against the Hive Guards were sharp and dazzling, showing a standard of operation entirely different from those military Pilots. "As expected from someone of the Mechanical Court, that fluidity is much more comfortable to watch." "With the Mechanical Court''s people taking action, they should have been able to handle the Dominator, right? How did they end up in such a disastrous retreat?" And so, the three Mechas from the Mechanical Court were each cut down by the Dominator with a single stroke... "..." "..." "..." Watching the colorful fragments dance across the screen, the faces of all the Observers in the audience displayed absolute stupefaction. What had happened? Was this the pilot from the Mechanical Court that everyone had placed their high hopes on? You must know that the pilots of the Mechanical Court were the highest level of combat power their city could proudly boast of. Indeed, high-end combat power institutions like the Spiritual Power Managers Center and the Heretical Arbitration House were formidable, but against a colossal individual like the Dominator, individual Spiritual Energy, no matter how powerful, could hardly cause sufficient damage. Even if they could inflict injury, it would undoubtedly require the concerted efforts of numerous high-tier Spiritual Energy users. Throwing all the rare high-tier Spiritual Energy users in the city into such a battlefield as expendable assets was a luxury the city had not yet afforded. Even if they could successfully eradicate the Hive, the substantial loss of Spiritual Energy users would undoubtedly lead to weakness in other areas; if demons took advantage of that vulnerability, the city''s fate was unimaginable. The people from the Mechanical Court were also inadequate! The scene fell into an absolute silence for a moment. Many Observers in the audience began to feel sorry for the high-ranking military officers involved in the battle, especially Weslin... With such a gap in strength, being able to save back a thousand soldiers to ensure basic formation was already a stroke of luck amidst the misfortune. However, after returning in defeat, they would still have to face the judgement against them... "If the Dominator is this powerful, won''t we be unable to clear out this Hive forever?" The destruction of three Mechanical Court Mecha was not something the city could not accept; what they truly couldn''t accept was that the Mecha from the Mechanical Court had been annihilated without even managing to probe the true strength of the Dominator. What display of strength is a one-hit kill? Not seeing the limit of the Dominator only led them to endless speculation. Many Observers began to ponder inwardly, secretly worrying about the future fate of the city. With such a formidable enemy at their side, how could they sleep peacefully at night? Following the military personnel into the conference hall, the man with the unkempt beard who was now leaning against the doorframe squeezed his chin, his sharp eyes fixed on the image of the Dominator displaying an absolutely invincible posture, and he began to think about how to defeat this unrivaled beast in the future. After all, even if he took over the military district, the Blackrock District Hive was the greatest threat he was destined to face. ''What should I do?'' This thought rose in everyone''s mind. A calm voice suddenly resounded from the external speakers of the meeting hall¡ª "This is Bai E, I request to sortie in Mecha form!" Bai E? Such a familiar name. "Permission to sortie granted!" The voice of an unknown man surged instantly. Consequently, in the footage captured by the unmanned drone, a Mecha that had previously fallen on the ground stood up once again. It crossed the sea of bugs and picked up the fragmented shoulder badge that originally belonged to W0721. Watching the blue and white Mecha standing alone on the ground, the memories of countless people were instantly activated. "It''s Bai E!" "It''s Captain Bai!" "Wasn''t he benched because he was prone to losing control?" "You''re right... but we still chose to bring him along," said Weslin for the first time after the playback of the recorded video. "If the pilots of the Mechanical Court couldn''t overcome the Dominator, what use would he be?" "Yeah... With just him left, what could it change?" The combat prowess Bai had shown during the clean sweep of the Intelligence Machinery Group Army, after thorough verification by the Mechanical Court, was deemed to be equivalent to the combined might of three to four groups of elite Mechanical Court pilots. So with three groups of elite Mechanical Court pilots having been obliterated in a single strike, could he alone withstand the blade of the Dominator? "Clang, clang, clang, clang!" The sounds of dual blades clashing with four bone blades melded together. Watching the blue and white Mecha in the video fighting alone against four giant Bug Race creatures, everyone''s brains ceased to function... Chapter 590 - 590: Establish diplomatic relations with 460? Even the multitude of officers who had already witnessed this scene found it utterly incredible to behold once again. Only they knew how awe-inspiring it was that such an absolute main force, on a battlefield filled with despair, could withstand the greatest pressure and miraculously turn the tide from certain annihilation. However, the standoff was just beginning. Neither the army nor the Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court, even when united, could kill any of the behemoths; four of them together still couldn''t do a thing to the solitary blue and white Mecha. The blue and white Mecha became even more frenzied as it fought, chaotically hacking at the Dominator. In the video recording, they couldn''t see the flashes of the blades and swords emitted by the skill that instantly killed hundreds; they could only witness how the Dominator was forced into retreat under Bai E''s relentless pressure. It was only when the insectoids that had been feeding on humans suddenly turned around¡ªa sign that the badly injured Dominator¡ªtogether with its three loyal guards, began to retreat towards the hive and out of the battlefield, that everyone immersed in the footage realized what had happened¡ª The invincible Dominator had been repelled by the strikes from the Mecha piloted by Bai E alone! The Dominator, who had been slaying Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court with ease, found itself outmatched by a standard-issue Mecha from the army despite the protection of three equally formidable loyal guards. The Mechanical Court had always been synonymous with high-end combat strength in the city. Which made the disparity in strength all the more breathtaking when compared to the three Mechas of the Mechanical Court. For a moment, many speculative glances were exchanged, all directed at a man in the adjudicating panel, clad in a grey iron-colored trench coat and donning a military cap. Seeing the Mechanical Court relegated to a mere backdrop was indeed a fresh experience... The watched man''s face was ashen, and he remained silent. There was no doubt about the Dominator''s strength. But being chopped up in one swift strike seemed far too exaggerated. Even if one couldn''t win, being cautious meant not being smashed to pieces by a single blow. It seemed the Mech Pilots who went out to support had become complacent. They needed a good reeducation upon their return¡ªsubject three required a retake! With not a word spoken by the individuals of the Mechanical Court, naturally, no one actually provoked them. But as they watched the Mecha that was gradually engulfed by the three hive guards and the swarming insectoid sea, concern appeared visibly in many eyes. "He won''t be in danger, will he?" "The man''s already back receiving his decoration, what danger could there possibly be?" "Maybe it''s an additional award? Have we seen him yet?" Unaware of the outcome, they let their imaginations run wild. But the Mecha stranded in the sea of insects was never a lamb to the slaughter. Besieged by the endless swarm and unable to escape the planet''s grip, it still wielded its basic combat sword to cleave one of the thick-skinned hive guards¡ªwho had not shown any signs of damage before¡ªin two. Split apart! Withdrew unscathed. Before the boundary drawn by the sword, not a single creature dared cross the line. The epitome of guarding a pass alone and challenging the world! "Fuck!" "Damn!" "(A type of plant)!" "Why do I feel like he could solo the hive¡­" "Why bother sending so many others? Just let him wipe out the hive and we can clean up afterwards, right?" "Is this the power of the Mech Soul? Why didn''t those two old guys from the Mechanical Court act sooner? If they had wiped out this hive, wouldn''t we have been safe long ago?" "Truly fierce... With such a powerhouse, why didn''t they let him act sooner?" "I heard he''s an artificial human with too much unpredictability. The city dares not grant him an important position." "More than that... With such power in the hands of an artificial human, of course people are uneasy. They actually want to transfer that power into the hands of someone they can truly trust." Such behavior was commonplace and understandable anywhere. Not only in the army were artificial humans viewed as aberrant; other institutions in the city were similarly distrustful of them. The decision-making issue regarding this was almost tacitly ignored by everyone. But time and again, the fact demonstrated the sheer strength of this artificial human was absolutely undeniable. Irreproachable and indelible. No matter how lowly viewed one may be in the hierarchy of power, one''s status based on strength was beyond question. The rise of this artificial human was unstoppable! Observing Weslin standing proudly and expressionless on the stage, a light of realization finally dawned in the eyes of the disheveled man. No wonder... No wonder they rushed to bestow honors as soon as he returned. The bet had been placed on this artificial human. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Being promoted to such a rank, this person named Bai E was bound to hold Weslin in high regard. Even if he took over the Marshal post, using Bai E was expected; not using him... would only draw contempt. Such formidable combat prowess could no longer be treated as a mere enforcer. All institutions in the city would undoubtedly vie for him. Was this Weslin''s way of self-preservation? While people respected the owner for disciplining the dog, this fellow intended to discipline the owner by showcasing the dog''s might... As the recorded footage on the screen came to a close, Weslin once again took center stage at the conference hall podium, his voice calm. "We failed in our recent campaign against the Black Rock District Hive, but having ascertained the hive''s limit of strength, we are confident of victory in our next assault. Taking valuable lessons from this battle, the Military Department has decided to appoint Bai E as our sector''s new admiral, who will be responsible for the overall supervision of all artificial humans. Moreover, due to the underperformance of the Mech Armored Corps in this battle, we shall thoroughly reshuffle its ranks. The future Mech Armored Corps will also be under the command of Admiral Bai E, accountable for all affairs of training and combat! Now... I would like to invite our newly appointed Admiral Bai E to come to the podium and share a few words with us." Chapter 591 - 591: Establish diplomatic relations with 460?_2 ``` Weslin''s tone was calm and forceful, firmly controlling the rhythm of the scene. He knew that the post-war analysis was targeted at him, but as long as he laid out all his advantages for everyone to see, suppressing their real plans from being voiced, then the idea of removing him from his position as Marshal of the Military District was nothing short of a pipe dream. He just hoped that Bai E was smart enough to understand the hints he gave him in private. He also hoped that the tribunal would value Bai E''s performance enough to give his words significant weight. At the news that the Mech Pilot with legendary accomplishments was about to appear, every person in the room craned their necks. In fact, even among the officers in the military camps, there were many who had never observed Bai E up close. Everyone was eager to see, what sort of extraordinary being was this legend who had achieved such formidable combat records. Bai E slowly entered the room, his boots echoing, his expression calm as he swept his gaze over everyone present. This was the first time he had attended such an event in such a highly anticipated role, his self-discipline firmly controlling every aspect of his demeanor. Whispers arose from below¡ª "He doesn''t look that remarkable..." There was nothing out of the ordinary about his build; he was not some bald, muscular hunk with a thick chest full of hair, nor did he have the face of a fierce beast. Beyond his even features and build, he looked completely unremarkable. This average-looking person was the Legendary Mech Pilot who had achieved all this? Bai E approached the podium. Weslin patted his shoulder and stepped back, yielding the main position to him. His gaze moving evenly across every inch of the space before him, Bai E''s eyes seemed to make brief contact with each person, "I don''t know what to say, nor do I know what to do. All I have achieved today comes from the teachings and nurturing of the officers in the military. I don''t understand what ''Admiral'' means, nor do I know exactly what I''ll have to do in the future. If the officer tells me to fight bugs, I fight bugs. If the officer tells me to fight orcs, I fight orcs. The officer''s orders are my everything. I give my utmost, never dying, never resting!" Weslin, listening from the side, had a strange look of amusement on his face, both gratified and stiff. He was gratified that this young man always knew who had brought him all this, but his speech seemed too rigid... As expected, someone immediately found a flaw and stood up to speak, "Forgive my bluntness, but perhaps, while Bai E is indeed an excellent soldier, a top-tier Mech Pilot, due to his age and experience, having him lead all the artificial human soldiers might be somewhat premature?" The speaker nodded respectfully to Bai E, who had turned his attention to the source of the voice, his tone as gentle and humble as possible. He certainly had no personal gripes with Bai E but voiced his doubt purely out of consideration for the bigger picture. "Perhaps Admiral Bai E could share some of his future plans and strategies in advance? So that we might have some confidence." The request was reasonable, and all eyes turned to Bai E, waiting for his response. Bai E looked somewhat bewildered as if he had never considered this question before. After a moment, he replied calmly, "I have not learned these things, nor has anyone taught me how to do them. I only know one thing..." "When heretics tread upon our soil, rise and protect our clan''s civilization. Even if we fall in battle, humanity''s glory will forever shine!" "..." As his voice faded, the entire place fell silent. "Loyalty!" "Such loyalty!" These "politicians", filled with thoughts of interests and calculations, had never expected to hear such a pure statement in a setting like this. "Is this what an artificial person is?" "This is what an artificial person should be!" It is precisely such an artificial being who is more suited to take on this heavy responsibility. ``` "As long as the daily training and selection requirements are rigorous enough, when the real battle comes, where is there much strategic arrangement to speak of? I think it''s Bai E! No problem!" "If Bai E could teach even one or two successors with his own abilities, that would be a great fortune for the city!" "But I''m still afraid that Bai E might waste his strength in endless trivial matters, which would be a loss greater than the gain." There were both doubts and supports, but they were all interrupted by a voice that suddenly rose up from a corner. "The existence of Bai E, your military region''s General, allows me to see the strength that your human race should possess. If it is under the leadership of Bai E, I think it''s about time for our two races to start forging true joint cooperation." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was Yue Ying! Yueying, who had always lacked much presence in the military camp, took the initiative to speak up for the first time at an official event in the city, and her first statement was such explosive news. Humans and the Elf Race joining hands! Humans have always had but a fragmentary understanding of the elves. These aliens, who had suddenly appeared on this planet who knows how long ago, had always maintained a kind of aloof contact with humans. Humans only knew that these elves were few in number and individually strong. In fact, their concrete image was almost entirely based on Yueying, this familiar member of the Elf Race. As for the cultural history and technological level within the Elf Race, there was only a hollow understanding on paper. Fully establishing diplomatic relations with another race of no small size might just be the biggest achievement of this post-war debriefing meeting. "Is Miss Yueying serious?" Weslin said with delight, picking up the microphone again to ask. Yueying, taking off her hood for the first time in public, nodded lightly, "Naturally." The true face of Yueying revealed in an instant brought the entire meeting room into a complete silence, as everyone looked at the elf whose pale complexion and delicate features seemed otherworldly, they suddenly gained a clear conception of what so-called divine beings were. Even the elderly who had already grown frail were lost in a dazed fascination under the impact of such a Spiritually Energized visage. It was Weslin, who had once had the good fortune to see Yueying, who was the first to snap back to reality, "Then may I know when specifically the cooperation will begin? How many from Miss Yueying''s race will come? We''d like to prepare early and arrange the reception and interface." The meeting and handover between two races, of course, would not just be completed by Yueying alone. From the beginning of her arrival, she had made it known that she was an Observer from her race to scout out humanity. Only after determining that humans had the potential and value for cooperation would they send more of their people to deeply engage with human society. "About a dozen or so," Yueying replied succinctly. The elves may not have the recently developed Internet technology of humans, but she who had the guts to come alone to human society naturally had her own ways of keeping in touch with her race. After knowing that Bai E''s rise was unstoppable, she had already communicated with her sister back in their race. Yueying was just an Observer, but the real decision-maker was her sister, whom their people called the "Prophet." It was her sister who was even more curious about the deeds of Bai E. The mysterious last words that her sister said to her were¡ª "The history of humanity is always created by certain heroes, from ancient times to the present, it has always been the case..." Prophets always speak like that; the previous one did too. Yueying had long been accustomed to it. She could only hope that these humans would not disappoint her sister... Including Bai E. Chapter 592 - 592: 461 Spiritual Energy? Under the unexpected turn of events, nobody could offer any other opinions. Change the marshal? Under Marshal Weslin''s leadership, the military region had successfully cultivated strategic forces as outstanding as Admiral Bai E, and even demonstrated sufficient strength to establish diplomatic relations with the Elf Race. Such a performance could not be considered poor by any means, and naturally, the idea of changing the marshal became difficult to voice. The old man and the decadent man leaning against the door exchanged glances, with a hint of regret in their eyes. They had not anticipated their suggestion would be smothered in the cradle before it could even be proposed. The decadent man''s gaze, however, showed little discouragement; on the contrary, he looked at the silent figure on the stage with an abundance of interest. Bai E... quite interesting. The post-battle analysis ended in an unexpected way, and with Bai E''s final performance, everyone had full confidence in the next expedition against the Hive. As the newly appointed general, Bai E listened in throughout the discussions of military development strategies, even though he did not voice any opinions. These were essentially the general ideas shared between Weslin and the senior military officials on the way back to the loop. The conscription of naturals could be slowed down for future reserve of junior military officers. Artificial humans, as cannon fodder, could be produced faster than before to increase the soldier count rapidly. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The training of the Mech Armored Corps and the selection allowed to become official Mech Pilots was up to Bai E to decide. Only after participating in these decisions did Bai E, according to the pre-arranged request by Helen, visit her research laboratory alone. "Sit," said Helen without turning her head as she heard the door move. In front of her was a tablet displaying a video recording of Bai E on the battlefield, fighting the Overlord and three Hive guards. After watching the video again, Helen turned around, removed the gold-rimmed glasses from her face, and with a smile at the corner of her mouth, looked at Bai E, "Care to explain?" While the military was holding the debriefing meeting, all key videos of the battle had already been sent to the hands of the upper echelons of every city. Even Mech Souls could not explain Bai E''s exaggerated performance this time. Though the city was not without beings capable of communicating with Mech Souls, even two experienced elders, working together, could not have achieved the same feats as Bai E if relying solely on Mech Souls. To force everything to be explained by Mech Souls would really be an insult to everyone''s intelligence. With Bai E''s current strength, he naturally would not be subjected to such offensive research as dissection, nor would anyone dare to interrogate him by force. But if Helen, who was in charge of research, could not provide a reason that convinced everyone, she would be in a difficult position. "Explain?" Bai E extended his hand, and a gloomy glint of Spiritual Energy converged in his palm, exhibiting a fluctuation of Spiritual Energy without any attempt to hide it for the first time in front of non-absolute insiders, "Does this count as an explanation?" Through the senses attuned to Spiritual Energy, one could vividly "see" Bai Chu''s Spiritual Energy blooming wildly. It was like a lotus flower made purely of Spiritual Energy, shining faintly and flickering on and off in the void. "Spirit... Spiritual Energy!" Helen lost composure for the first time. Her lips parted in astonishment, utterly incredulous at the sight before her. "How is this possible!" "How is this possible?" How could an artificial human possibly possess Spiritual Energy? Even though Helen knew that Bai E definitely had some cards up his sleeve that she was unaware of... which might be an expertise honed to perfection, a gift from some ancient relic, or even a deal with a demon, she had never imagined it would be Spiritual Energy. Having spent considerable time delving into the artificial human production chambers, Helen knew more than anyone about the absolute nature of the genetic prohibitions within. Not to mention Bai E''s Spiritual Energy was so powerful, the blooming lotus of Spiritual Energy was even imposing enough to make her feel the pressure. While she was not a major practitioner of Spiritual Energy, her decently gifted self, through natural growth and the city''s resource allocation, had achieved a level two in Spiritual Energy strength. Yet, upon witnessing that lotus of Spiritual Energy, she still felt an oppressive sensation. "When did this happen!" Helen suddenly focused, staring intently at Bai E. "Probably... after the first injection of the Gene Optimization Solution," he replied. "Gene Optimization Solution?" Helen murmured to herself. The Gene Optimization Solution has such an effect? It''s uncertain. There wasn''t enough of the Gene Optimization Solution to afford experimental use. The number of artificial humans previously injected with Gene Optimization Solution was too sparse, and Bai E was the first case of its kind. As for the natural humans... There were cases where those with Spiritual Energy talents improved after being injected with the Gene Optimization Solution. But to develop it from nothing has never happened before. Even among naturals, Bai E''s situation, awakening Spiritual Energy talent after being injected with the Gene Optimization Solution, was unprecedented. Of course, it could also be a matter of insufficient cases, as the cities had only been using the Gene Optimization Solution to enhance human genetic potential for the past few decades. Initially, the production was limited¡ªit was a matter of inadequate sampling. "But the strength of your Spiritual Energy... it''s a bit too powerful," said Helen, her expression one of fascinated reverie, "When did it start to improve so drastically?" Chapter 593 - 593: 461 Spiritual Energy?_2 Bai E''s powerful Spiritual Energy certainly couldn''t have slowly increased through everyday training, and even those exceptionally talented executors at Arbitration Place didn''t have such outrageous power. There must have been some sudden enhancement that instantly elevated his Spiritual Energy to another level. Bai E''s gaze seemed vacant, as if recalling something, "Probably, it was after every major battle I took part in. At first, I wasn''t sure what this sensation was, only recently did I understand that this is what Spiritual Energy is." After every major battle? The strong fighting spirits of warriors found a vessel to pour into, bestowing their remaining obsessions in the form of Spiritual Energy onto the same individual. Could it be that such a miracle, said to occur only in a few individuals with a king''s destiny, has happened in this artificial human? Helen observed Bai E intently, struggling to discern his true thoughts from his not-so-lively eyes. This fellow had always maintained the appearance of an honest and naive artificial human, yet the strength he exhibited and his precise judgment of situations made her feel deceived by his words now. Real? Fake? It was impossible to speculate. But since he said so, for now, she could only choose to believe. "But you haven''t undergone any training in Spiritual Energy." "When operating the Mecha, it seems like I can hear a strange voice instructing me on how to use it¡­" "¡­" ''Mechanical spirit?!'' Dammit! Science-believer Helen felt helpless about this concept. For her, the Mechanical spirit was completely foreign. Although the two old men from Mechanical Court were willing to cooperate with her research, they spewed out hardly any useful information amidst their gibberish talks. Helen''s understanding of the Mechanical spirit had always been rather one-sided. But could this guy be deceiving me again? With suspicion in her narrow, willow-like eyes, Helen asked, "Do you mean the Mechanical spirit is teaching you how to use Spiritual Energy?" "It''s less about teaching and more about actively taking in and then converting it into another form of ''energy'' that I don''t understand, affecting the Mecha''s body." ''Mechanical force!'' A jolt went through her heart, and Helen started to believe a bit in Bai E''s words. Given Bai E''s rank and position, he shouldn''t have access to the true core abilities of Intelligent Mech. If he felt a similar effect, it might be something that truly happened to him. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Mechanical spirit actively drawing from his immense Spiritual Energy, converting it into a Mechanical force more suitable for the mechanism, enabling it to exceed the theoretical limits of its capabilities¡­ It indeed seemed to be a suitable explanation. But was this an answer, or an excuse? Helen inherently held doubts about Bai E now. But her skepticism was kept to herself. Even if Bai E really had something to hide, what else could she do now but "trust" him? Helen nodded, documenting the newly acquired information, while also instructing, "Now that you possess Spiritual Energy, you definitely shouldn''t let your talent go to waste. It''s such a waste to passively use such powerful Spiritual Energy only with the help of the Mechanical spirit. The city will likely send someone to teach you some methods to use Spiritual Energy." "Understood," Bai E nodded in agreement. While registering the details, Helen quietly asked, "Do you have any plans or requests for the future?" "I would like the chance to see our artificial human production line¡­" Bai E expressed his request quietly with his head slightly bowed, seemingly offhand. Although the production pods for artificial humans were in the barracks, their ownership was tightly controlled by the Scientific Research Institute. Other than when first born, wanting to take just one more look proved exceedingly difficult. Even with the rank of admiral, commanding all artificial humans, stepping half a step into the Scientific Research Institute without their special permission was impossible. Bai E wanted to go inside not out of any particular desire, simply to see if he could destroy one of the machines there. When he was newly born, his thoughts were chaotic; he didn''t get the chance to see whether that thing fell under the jurisdiction of a lucky hit, let alone know what treasures blowing it up might yield. Helen''s beautiful eyebrows gently arched, "You want to see those things?" "Yes," Bai E said bluntly, "I want to see what the things that made us look like." After a moment of contemplation, Helen nodded, "Alright, I''ll give them a heads up later." "Swish, swish, swish~" Helen, rapidly scribbling with a marker on the paper in front of her, lifted her head once more, "If there''s nothing else, you can go back first. I still need to hand over the results to those waiting for me, and besides..." Helen''s eyes fixed on Bai E''s, beguiling and captivating, "Lastly, do you have anything you want to proactively tell me?" "I do," Bai E asserted firmly, "The warblade." After combat, all mechas must be sent to the hangar for their mechanical servants to repair, an inevitable procedure. Even mechas that have birthed a ''mecha spirit'' still need external care and meticulous attention. A severely damaged mecha could temporarily become overwhelmingly powerful with the mecha spirit''s buff, but the spirit couldn''t always output at its maximum power. Logistic maintenance and resupply are forever indispensable in the wars of this era. This is a regulation. Therefore, the anomalies on the alloy warblade that ultimately killed the hive guardian would inevitably be spotted by those mechanical servants. That blade... had been permanently enchanted. With a smile playing on her lips, Helen lifted the tablet that was on the table in front of Bai E, "Are you referring to these two?" The screen showed the moment when Bai E''s final stroke set the limit. The two warblades, closest to the drone, had their details clearly visible through restoration¡ªa warblade that had seen endless slashing with not even the slightest scratch on its surface. Helen, who had studied not only people but had also scrutinized this video repeatedly, naturally noticed every minute detail. "Don''t worry, both blades including your mecha are now in our hands," Helen playfully winked with her right eye, "I told you I''d cover for you. You can trust me completely." Bai E fell silent for two seconds before he spoke softly, "What I mean is, the warblade that ultimately killed one of the hive guardians has been permanently modified by the mecha spirit. It''s similar to the power used on the Dominator''s bio-blades. Perhaps you can glean some inspiration from it to innovate the current armaments in the military." Helen, feeling her flirtatious gaze was wasted, nodded with a touch of embarrassment, "I see..." "If there''s nothing else, I won''t keep Helen from her duties," Bai E said. Watching Bai E''s meticulous retreat, Helen pressed a hand to her forehead with a troubled expression, her lips parted and sighed, "Why do I feel like he still doesn''t trust me..." ... The moment Bai E stepped out, he spotted a familiar figure waiting in a shadowed corner of the building. The unkempt man who seemed to have a bone to pick with Weslin. As Bai E appeared, the man quietly stepped out from the corner, extending a hand with a cheerful smile, "Admiral Bai E, a pleasure to meet you, I''m Caesar, from the Spiritual Power Managers Center." ''Spiritual Power Managers Center?'' The woman who took Kiro Lan and Morphie away came from that place. Bai E extended his hand for a brief handshake, his expression one of pure puzzlement, "You were looking for me..." "I''ve heard about you from the mouths of the two little ones. They''ve said they miss you and hope you can visit them when you have time." Bai E furrowed his brows in confusion, asking, "Which two little ones?" "Kiro Lan and Morphie." Chapter 594 - 594: 462 exploded again? ``` "Understood, my lord." Bai E nodded and left politely. ``` Were they the ones the children truly trusted? Or was it just someone who had once heard his name from the children''s lips and was now using it as a pretext to get closer? When Bai E first made contact with Weslin, he was present as well, but back then, the other party did not show the slightest hint of friendliness upon hearing his name. It was only after learning more information that they showed this "kindness." Was this kindness genuine or merely out of self-interest? Bai E had no interest in further interaction; the promise Helen had made to him was far more significant. It was time to visit his production pod! While walking towards the underground production hall, there was a barely perceptible breeze. Helen was very efficient in handling matters; she had arranged the necessary greetings well in advance. Upon seeing Bai E, a skinny, dark elder who was in charge of supervising the underground production hall gestured him forward, "Admiral Bai E, please come in!" Entering the underground production hall required passing through multiple checkpoints, each heavily guarded. The thick steel walls were of a reliable quality; even intense heavy artillery fire would likely fail to breach it quickly. Moreover, the moment Bai E stepped into the hall, he felt a brief stagnation in his Spiritual Energy. Its activity also greatly diminished. Not only did the intelligences that inherited technology from the Golden Age have measures against spiritual energy users, but humans themselves had their own means of defending against spiritual energy users. Only after passing through several barriers did Bai E arrive in the area where the underground production line was actually located. The lofty hall seemed endless, and rows of production pods like single beds were neatly arranged within it. From underground, numerous tubes extended up and connected to the head casings of the pods. A pale green glow emanated from the transparent lids of the pods. Nearing one, Bai E looked through the greenish light to see the dormant individuals inside. These were artificially created humans nearing completion, their naked bodies submerged in what appeared to be a green solution, their eyes closed, serene and tranquil. Where the soul originated from was unknown to anyone. But those artificial humans who had been out of the pods for only a short time seemed to soon possess their own thoughts. Even Bai E, who had once personally experienced the process, found it quite miraculous. However, at the moment, Bai E had no time to ponder these ultimate cosmic mysteries. Looking at the production pod in front of him, Bai E''s gaze fixated on a line of tiny letters that only he could see¡ª [Artificial Human Production Pod (Neutral)¡ªUse "Lucky Strike" to destroy and loot: Guaranteed£¨Integrated Control Chip*50, Research Experience 1000 points£©; High Probability£¨Technology: Artificial Human Intelligent Production Line£©; Possible£¨Knowledge: Genetic Modification£©] The possible loot wasn''t much and seemed straightforward. But what it provided was precisely what he needed at the moment. All these things were the foundation upon which the city stood; while he might not be an expert, having control over them at least gave him the capital to say "no" to the city''s power structure in the future. Not to mention, with all this technology and knowledge, the force he would develop could eventually have the credentials to stand against the city. Looking around, he noticed that there wasn''t a single person watching this area. It seemed that Helen''s orders had been effective, and everyone was quite at ease with his arrival, allowing him to move about and inspect as he pleased. Moreover, his "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy, though suppressed and functioning at low efficiency, enveloped the space around him at all times. Even actions observed by cameras from outside the range could be perceived by his Spiritual Energy. Unless there were special cameras with spiritual energy detection capability, whether he was under surveillance was crystal clear to Bai E. At the moment, of course, there were none. Still, looking down at the nearly-completed dormant human body in the pod in front of him, Bai E hesitated for a moment before walking away. With so many production pods available, there was no need to destroy one that was about to give birth to a "newborn." After moving a certain distance from the first pod, Bai E set his sights on another, where the green solution in the pod was almost empty. You''re the one! "Crash!" To make his actions a bit more credible, Bai E purposely moved very close, as if drawn by the machine and wanting to observe it up close. "Snap!" The moment the pod exploded, the green solution splattered all over Bai E''s face. Sticky and a bit sweet... [Loot acquired: Integrated Control Chip*50, Research Experience 1000 points, Technology: Artificial Human Intelligent Production Line, Knowledge: Genetic Modification.] Got them all! Wiping the thick liquid off his face, Bai E turned to see a large group of white coats and the armed soldiers following them, quickly approaching the explosion. Bai E stood still, arms hanging by his side, trying to appear as harmless as possible. "..." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The person in charge of the underground production pods looked at the machinery debris scattered on the ground and the green solution splattered even onto the walls of the neighboring pod. The first look in his small eyes was anger, but upon resting on Bai E, it quickly turned into helplessness. ``` Chapter 595 - 595: 462 exploded again?_2 This was a person specially instructed by Helen to be allowed in, and she even specifically told them to let him look around freely and not to follow him. It should be known that even if other high-ranking officials from different departments wanted to inspect this underground production hall, they would have someone from their team accompany them throughout the visit. On the one hand, to supervise and fear that the other party might accidentally damage these valuable machines, and on the other, to provide a popular science introduction about some basic knowledge of the artificial human production chambers. So now, the target specifically instructed by Helen, even if he destroyed one or two machines, how to deal with it would have to be reported to Helen before she could make a decision. They had no authority to punish him. At most, they could only "respectfully" ask him to leave. The thin, dark person in charge stood behind the slowly closing alloy door, looking at the departing figure with a face full of distress. At this moment, he suddenly remembered a "rumor" that circulated among a few people¡ª "Keep dogs and Bai E out!" Don''t get close to Bai E, it will bring misfortune. Although it''s said that anything electrical might explode, why does it have to explode precisely when Bai E gets near? That overturned maintenance dock in the hangar, it''s said that it still hasn''t fully recovered its proper maintenance function... "Damn it! Encountered a ghost!" ... Right after reporting to the so-called "big shots" in the city waiting for results about the new breakthrough found on Bai E, Helen received a message from her subordinates about Bai E''s achievements¡ª Successfully destroyed one production chamber! Helen lightly curled the corners of her mouth, helplessly shook her head, and chuckled, "Really impatient..." She had just given him permission to visit, and he turned around and took action. As for Bai E''s "talent" for blowing up whatever he touches, Helen had long harbored suspicions. Since she decided to study this person Bai E, any information she knew about him was included in her calculations. The slurry machine, the food production workshop, the maintenance dock in the hangar... and now the artificial human production chambers. Even the target that Bai E had shot to pieces with a real gun when he was first introduced as an artificial human soldier. If there is a purpose and an action, there will inevitably be traces. Everything that Bai E has touched has, without exception, ended up destroyed beyond repair. A coincidence? Or is it intentional? Until now, Helen''s attitude towards behaviors exhibited by Bai E was one of skepticism, but it was only this time, when she specifically ordered everyone to stay away and turned off all surveillance cameras, that she could truly confirm what Bai E needed to acquire from these actions. What could it be? Unknown. Is he studying the essence of these things? From the shooting target... Of course, this cannot be affirmed for certain, as there isn''t even any official record, let alone the time difference between this and the subsequent incidents. From the slurry machine, food production workshop, to the hangar, and now the artificial human production chambers. Food, mechanical repair, artificial human creation, and decoding? A clear logical thread formed in Helen''s mind. Can he truly understand what he''s researching? "Teacher?" The apprentice''s inquiry came from beside her. Helen nodded and rose to her feet. Her silky leg, previously resting on the other, tucked away beneath her wide robe as she walked toward the scene of the incident in the underground production hall. Upon arriving at the scene, Helen nodded and murmured to herself, "Just as I thought..." Another disaster. Although destroying something and then reconstructing it is indeed the fastest way to learn the structure of something. But what research requires things to be destroyed outright to their raw materials? With the structure no longer existing, is the plan to study from the molecules? The person in charge of the production hall passed over a tablet from one side, which recorded the scene photos taken immediately after the incident, along with verbal descriptions from bystanders. It included Bai E, covered all over with green solution¡­ After a swift scan, a flash of purplish spiritual energy glimmered in Helen''s eyes. What exactly he had gained after performing these actions, and what kind of changes he could bring about¡­ She was truly curious. Turning to leave, Helen''s icy voice gave the order, "Clean up the scene, let the Logistics Department build another one. No need to record this incident, I will handle it." "Understood!" ... Ever since his return, Bai E had been busy with all sorts of things, only managing to doze for two to three hours just before dawn; then he got up and went straight to the city outskirts. Ever since he had been locked up due to the "risk of loss of control," it had been a long time since he last visited Black Street to see how the players and residents had developed the place. Bai E believed that the image he had established in the players'' hearts from the beginning would prevent them from easily giving up on him, but these capricious fellows always needed occasional guidance. Otherwise, who knew whether they would suddenly entertain the idea of conjuring up a nuclear bomb with their hands and blasting the city into the sky? Although, the chances of such outlandish ideas coming to fruition were slim. After successfully becoming a military General, even without the token that allowed for leaving the camp at will, no guard would stop Bai E from coming and going, not even requiring a greeting. Wherever he walked, he was met with nothing but reverent gazes. ["Lucky Strike" Charge +1.] ["Lucky Strike" Charge +1.] ... ["Lucky Strike" Charge +1.] Exaggerated¡­ Merely by taking a stroll in the military camp, Bai E received a barrage of skill charge notifications. It was only after reaching the limit of 50 charges that could be obtained in a short time through the same action that the notifications finally ceased. "..." So, once one''s status reached a certain level, could they really farm goodwill just with their face? No! In fact, it was still about strength. It was with strength that he had climbed from an ordinary soldier to his current position, filled with desirable fantasies. Another officer born into such a high position wouldn''t receive the same treatment. Bai E inwardly sneered. Compared to the time of his birth, earning charges in this way was much easier and more pleasant. If just walking around the camp every day could net him 50 charges, the day when each of his shots came with a "Lucky Strike" wasn''t too far off. Outside the city, Black Street. A thriving scene. On this land, which he hadn''t visited in a long time, the old houses and dilapidated roads were visibly refurbished. Today was the weekend, and everywhere he looked, people lazily chatted in groups or found sunny spots to bask in the sun by themselves. Now that it was winter, although the slight temperature changes had no effect on Bai E, for these ordinary people, basking in the warmth of the winter sun was considered a great pleasure. With Helen, the academician from Grey Iron City, always coveting Black Street at the back of his mind, Bai E was especially careful to observe the surroundings of Black Street. His spiritual energy of Heavenly Eye was always disseminated around him, as he tried hard to find any suspicious traces. He had indeed told Yue Ying to help keep an eye on Black Street while he was under confinement, but since he had entrusted Yue Ying with the task, the two of them had not had any opportunity to be alone together, and naturally, there had been no chance to discuss any special changes she might have encountered while looking after Black Street. ''Nothing¡­'' ''Nothing¡­'' A picture of tranquility. Black Street now seemed like a real paradise, free from disputes and hidden dangers. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The lively figure with mechanical limbs bounded past him, giving Bai E the fleeting illusion of playing a cyberpunk-style video game. ''Huh? Are these players all so wealthy? They''ve all got mechanical limbs installed?'' This question flashed through his mind, and in the distance, he suddenly spotted a tall and burly figure sitting on the steps, gazing into the distance¡­ Chapter 596 - 596: 463 missing? Such a tall and burly figure, even among the brawny warriors in the military camp, was quite rare. In this Black Street, he naturally stood out even more. A familiar silhouette immediately came to mind for Bai E, almost like an instinct. Bai E shifted his steps and headed straight in that direction. Sitting down next to the imposing figure, Bai E turned his head and could see the man''s stout, white stubble. The hair, looking dirty and curly, hung wildly; the whole person was unkempt, resembling a farmer who had grown tired from labor and also an artist experiencing life. "How come I have never seen you before?" Bai E asked with a smile. The man didn''t turn his head, just kept gazing into the distance, "I haven''t seen you either... but I''ve heard of you." Although he didn''t receive the news immediately when Black Street had an accident last time, when he returned to his ordinary labor in Black Street afterward, the influence brought by the old soldier from Black Street who had received news from the military camp and the words he said could always be heard from the mouths of various people. The mysterious and powerful ruler of Black Street, it turned out, was just an ordinary soldier from the military camp. "Oh? What have you heard about me?" Bai E raised an eyebrow, curious about what he knew. The tall and burly man didn''t answer immediately, instead, he seemed to talk about other unrelated topics, "The expedition to the bug nest yesterday, it failed again?" Ordinary people certainly didn''t dare to observe military operations, for if discovered, they could lose their heads, but such a large-scale operation obviously couldn''t be concealed from the Doctor, who had elite warriors. More than ten thousand people went, but only about a thousand returned. This astonishing rate of casualties undoubtedly represented one outcome¡ªfailure in the campaign. However, under the premise of a failed campaign, to still see Bai E here in a casual pose already explained a lot. He didn''t lose despite the campaign''s failure. It was even possible that he had shone brilliantly during the collapse of the entire army after the failed campaign, so much so that he was immediately put to thorough use upon returning to the military district. Otherwise, Bai E, who was confined last time for disciplinary violations, wouldn''t have been able to leave the military camp so easily. "Yeah... it failed," Bai E nodded, "Many people died..." "In this era, isn''t it only natural for people to die?" the Doctor shook his head with a wry smile, "Your pointless kindness will be your greatest enemy." "Whatever," Bai E responded noncommittally, simply staring at the man''s profile and calmly asking, "So should I call you ''Doctor''? Or what?" "Whatever you like, since this is likely our last encounter anyway." "Huh?" Bai E was startled; the Doctor''s response was somewhat unexpected. "You think I''m definitely going to fight you?" For the first time, the Doctor turned his head, his rugged face suddenly giving off a somewhat familiar feeling. "¡­" Bai E pursed his lips, not making a sound. That was indeed what he thought. No matter from which channel he obtained information, this Doctor was always portrayed as a cold-blooded and ruthless mad scientist, following behind the girl named Nova he had taken away. To reclaim Nova, the other side was bound to have a bloody showdown with him. But only with his current strength at hand could he afford to sit here and chat with the other side as if they were friends. "Nova is my daughter." The Doctor calmly dropped a bombshell of a revelation. "She actually died in an accidental incident..." "All the souls in that area reside within Nova''s body, to the extent that her own personality has completely fallen into slumber." "In that final moment, Nova subconsciously protected everyone, so everyone also subconsciously protected her." "All the souls within that body exist to protect Nova''s main soul, and only when it''s truly ''safe'' will they allow the soul named ''Nova'' to truly control her own body." The Doctor''s somewhat aged eyes looked at Bai E, and for a moment, his eyes reflected a touch of paternal tenderness, "I came after her just to see if she''s doing well." Bai E pursed his lips, silent for a long time. He never expected that the truth about Nova would be this. "Nova is the most perfect creation of my life; do not let down her trust in you, otherwise... I won''t let you off. But for now, I must return." The moment the old man stood up, it was as if the aura of iron and blood surged through him again, "The reason these natural disasters pose such a huge threat to humanity is that our human bodies are too fragile. I want to create a batch of ordinary human angels who can ignore all difficulties and execute our human will to sweep away all formidable foes." "Of course, you''re averse to the sacrifices in this world, so naturally, you''re also averse to everything I do in Grey Iron City; we are naturally enemies. I have no intention of justifying my actions now, but if you can''t stand the current situation in Grey Iron City, then come find me when you have enough power in the future. I will do everything I wish to, until success, or until I am taken down." The old man walked towards the distance, his tall figure burning like the sun at midmorning. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 597 - 597: 463 missing?_2 "In the end, let me leave you with this, kid¡ªthe reverence for power is far stronger than the bonds of gratitude and obligation. If you wish to grow and eventually rule over everything, the first thing you need to learn is to harden your heart." The doctor left, with his legion in tow. After a series of clandestine observations and tests, a father seemed to finally feel assured enough to entrust his daughter into the hands of a stranger. When Bai E arrived at Gilder''s house, a petite figure immediately sprang up like an octopus and clung onto him, "Bai, you finally came!" Petting the fluffy white-haired head in front of him, Bai E smiled indulgently, "Didn''t you go to work?" Nova was responsible for the communication convoy between Black Street and Li Ming Town. Without a powerful candidate overseeing it, Bai E was not at ease with the convoy frequently traversing the wasteland back and forth carrying large amounts of materials. In fact, even with Nova''s combat abilities alone, Bai E was not entirely reassured. He would definitely need to assign more people in the future. "Just got back," Nova looked up at Bai E, with eyes shining brightly, "Haven''t seen you for a long time, they said you were locked up by the bad guys in the military camp?" "Locked up?" Bai E narrowed his eyes slightly, "Who said that?" "It has been dealt with, sir," Gilder responded respectfully from behind, "Some of the old soldiers heard some rumors about you from individual officers in the camp and spread them here. Of course, with Nova absent, there were still other guardians arranged by you in place. The foreign combat group that was colluding with that old soldier has been completely annihilated." Yue Ying? Bai E instantly realized who had intervened. The combat groups'' strength varied, but given the military force on Black Street, a full assault by even the lowest-level combat group would be more than Black Street could handle. Without Nova and without Yue Ying stepping in, they would have been doomed. "What about the old soldier who colluded with them?" "He died too, it seems he was corrupted by demons, when he died not even his flesh and blood remained." "Demons again..." Bai E''s eyes sharpened. The demons in this world seemed to infiltrate every aspect of humanity, finding their way into every crevice. Wherever there was a slight gap, they could stretch out their claws. "Do you know what kind of demons were involved?" "I don''t know..." They didn''t have that much knowledge. Perhaps the guardian who had been protecting them in secret hadn''t spoken up to explain, "Maybe you can ask the guardian you arranged." "I understand," Bai E nodded. Since the incident had passed, and trusting in Gilder''s abilities, Bai E decided not to pry further into the matter. Yet, he asked about another concern, "What about the subordinates I had before?" Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "They? It seems they ran off to the city with the people who came to Black Street last time to perform limb surgeries for the disabled." "To the city?" Bai E nodded to show he understood. Indeed. The players were not ones to sit still. Having been out of touch for several days, they wouldn''t have just waited in one spot. He wondered what new maps they might have opened up in the city. Speaking of which, he had yet to see what the inner city actually looked like... ... "Darn it! Where''s Kuang Xin?" "Nowhere to be found~" The underground space expanded by steel was also vast, its broad dome almost as comforting as being on the surface, without any sense of oppression. Under Wen Jie''s enthusiastic guidance, a few players were navigating through the liveliest black market underground. Witnessing all sorts of strange and cyberpunk-style gadgets, they were marveling at the sights. Turning around, however, they realized that the composition of their group was a tad off. Dai Lian counted heads one by one and finally seemed puzzled, "Seems like we''re one short." "Right, where''s Kuang Xin?" Gu Lan was also a bit curious. "Wasn''t he just behind us?" Gong Yan tried to recall. Zhou Wenjie took the lead and looked back to search, "It''s okay, let''s go find him. Maybe he got distracted by something and wandered off without us noticing?" In this bustling underground black market, losing one or two people couldn''t be more normal. "I''ve been lost here several times before and each time I was found by the wolves and scorpions." Wen Jie chuckled, "Don''t worry, we usually can find them." The tall with a scar on his face, the Wolf and Scorpion, followed behind the group, rolling his eyes in resignation. How clueless could this kid be to just blurt out such ''noble deeds''? Of course, if he wasn''t so innocently clueless, perhaps she, someone used to the cunning hearts of others, wouldn''t have found those moments of tranquility and peace by his side. It''s just hard to figure out how someone with his personality has managed to live this long... "Come on, I''ll take you to find him." Seeing the youngsters wandering the streets like headless chickens, Wolf and Scorpion took the initiative to step forward and speak out. However, after a thorough search, even the well-connected Wolf and Scorpion couldn''t find out where that impressively handsome gorilla had gone. "That blockhead gorilla," Dai Lian gritted his teeth, wishing he could see Kuang Xin right in front of him to sock him a couple of good ones. "We can''t log off and ask him? Let him wait at some conspicuous place for us. Speaking of which, who here knows him in real life?" specifically avoiding Wolf and Scorpion, Gu Lan suggested proactively. "Don''t know him..." "Don''t know him..." Everyone tacitly shook their heads, adhering to the principle of an online acquaintance with a touch-and-go approach. "But I think I heard Kuang Xin say that he met Xu Ruoguang offline before." "But Xu Ruoguang is outside the city¡­" "What else can we do?" Dai Lian was so frustrated, he wished he could flay Kuang Xin on the spot, "I''ll head back to Black Street and ask Guang. You guys keep searching for him here." "Alright." "We''ve got no other choice." Zhou Wenjie hadn''t said much. His interaction with these players had been limited, and since entering the game, apart from aimlessly wandering around initially, the rest of his time was spent working in silence for Wolf and Scorpion in her guild. It was for this reason that he wasn''t very familiar with the other players but knew the tough on the outside, tender on the inside, gang leader Wolf and Scorpion quite well. It wasn''t just the players who deliberately avoided Wolf and Scorpion; she also deliberately kept her distance from them. Wolf and Scorpion, who was lost in thought with her head down, had a noticeable shadow in her eyes. Watching the players discuss amongst themselves, Wen Jie cautiously approached Wolf and Scorpion, "What''s up?" Wolf and Scorpion glanced at him, "What is it?" "You know what''s going on, right?" Wolf and Scorpion pursed her lips, glanced at the other partners who seemed to still be discussing, and then slightly lowered her gloomy face closer to Wen Jie''s ear. The warm breath accompanied her words into Wen Jie''s ear, "I have a rough idea... Your friend, he''s really good-looking, right?" "I suppose¡­" Wen Jie wasn''t too concerned about such matters. The appearance of characters in the game was far less exciting to him than the rules within it. "..." Wolf and Scorpion rolled her eyes helplessly, before continuing on, "With his looks, he''d likely attract a lot of attention in this underground market. He might have been targeted by someone the moment we entered this black market. Now... he''s probably been knocked out and taken to some corner, and you guys are almost certainly not going to be able to find him." The barbarity inside the city is no more civilized than that outside it. Even from certain perspectives, it''s even more chilling. Wolf and Scorpion, speaking these words, hung her head slightly, looking somewhat guilty, "It was my negligence. I didn''t think of this at the beginning." She''d been mingling with these mischievous fellows for the past few days, and the underground fighter in her had become a bit lax in her thinking. Which led to such a grave oversight. "Ah~" Wen Jie was just thinking about how to resolve this, "So what do we do?" "Auction... or maybe some, that place, we might be able to find him there." Chapter 598 - 598: 464 Enjoy! Seeing that everything in Black Street was developing on the right track, and the threat to Black Street that she had previously worried about from the doctor had been completely eliminated, Bai E returned to the military camp with peace of mind again. And she surreptitiously found Yue Ying. Yue Ying was sitting idly in a familiar corner, meditating as if she was waiting for Bai E''s arrival. Feeling someone approaching, Yue Ying''s meditative posture wasn''t affected at all. When she was meditating here, except for Bai E, no one could see her. "About the matter I asked for your help with last time, did you encounter a demon?" Bai E got straight to the point, expressing her intention. Yue Ying gently opened her eyes and glanced at Bai E, "Yes, a conspirator Believer." After a moment of silence, Yue Ying spoke again, "There''s something not quite right with your territory." "?" Bai E looked at Yue Ying, full of confusion, "What''s not right?" "Demons," Yue Ying stated firmly, "In that area of Black Street, there have been too many incidents of the Evil God''s blessings." "So?" Bai E was still puzzled. Demons infiltrate wherever they can; where there are twisted desires, there''s the potential for demons to appear. Humans, due to their harsh environment and the fickleness of human nature, naturally have their own desires, and suffering breeds evil, which easily attracts demons ¨C isn''t this only logical? After all, this world has come to this point; what else can be done but to adapt? Bai E had never doubted the rationale behind this. Yue Ying''s eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Haven''t you ever thought, if other places were like your territory, with a Believer granted power far beyond ordinary humans by the Evil God showing up every few days, how could the local people continue to live normally?" It seems that the only alternative would be to join the ranks of the Evil God, wouldn''t it? "Aren''t there arbiters from the Arbitration Place handling incidents related to demons?" Due to her limited perspective, Bai E couldn''t fully understand the entire city''s landscape. "Too few," Yue Ying shook her head gently, "The number of people with Spiritual Energy talents among your humans is too low in proportion to the overall population, they can''t possibly perfectly protect every hidden corner." Plus, humans don''t have the resources to train every non-Spiritual Energy talented person like the Elf Race and develop them into beings with Spiritual Energy. Under these circumstances, Believers of demons, proliferating everywhere, can easily infiltrate the city like a sieve. This world should have been a playground for demons, rather than the current reality dominated by the human will. Yue Ying continued, educating Bai E with some basic knowledge, "In fact, most of the Evil God''s Believers, even if they zealously worship the high-dimensional Evil God, only become the lowest rank among the Believers of demons. They might be slightly stronger than when they were human, but the advantage is limited. Only those who have performed a significant amount of sacrifices and whose faith is fanatical have a certain chance of receiving some blessings. But even then, their power may not be as great as the demonic blessings you and I have seen. Therefore, there definitely exists a problem in your territory. It''s causing an unusual gathering of demons and they are determined to invade this material world through your territory!" "This..." Bai E mused slightly, "Black Street?" What''s special about Black Street? She was completely unaware. There are countless places like Black Street on the outskirts of the city, and before she ruled over Black Street, it was as filled with savage Order as any gathering point beyond the city. Barbaric, yet ordinary. If there was indeed something special about it... Perhaps it''s because it was actually under her control?! Bai E''s gaze grew sharp as she suddenly noticed a detail she had overlooked. As a shut-in who played games in the original world, she woke up in this unfamiliar and lousy era after a dream-like haze. No one explained why she appeared in this place; she was just thrown into a battlefield with other races shortly after she came of age. Was she special? Of course, she was special. Being a player who traveled to become an NPC in a game, how magical does that sound? There were even other players who came to play this game with her, the difference was that they could play it like a real game, while she had to be careful at all times because once she died, there would be no second chance. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To transform from a player who should belong to a higher dimension to an NPC in a game who has to constantly worry about dying¡ªit was indeed special, wasn''t it? But to say how special... so many players were still playing with her. She was just one of the countless players; perhaps there had been a tiny error in the way she launched the game. Countless times, Bai E had doubted whether she had forgotten an important part of her past¡ª Like "Galaxy Online" having already been released, and she had already obtained access to the gaming pod, it''s just that there was a little programmatic error when she logged in, causing her consciousness to be trapped forever in this game. If she died, could she actually return to the original reality? She didn''t know. Bai E didn''t dare to try. She even dared not ask those players about the specifics of their world, whether they could find her home to see if she was indeed lying in bed... But is this amazing place really just a game? And was her original world really real? Chapter 599 - 599: 464 Enjoy!_2 Endless thoughts tangled in his mind like a ball of yarn, Bai E suddenly thought of the most precise possibility¡ª Perhaps the demons "saw" his characteristic of being a player who descended into being a character in the game, and they wanted to trace his origin, thus finding a way to invade the "real world." "..." Isn''t that special enough? It just required some time to verify. Bai E shook his head indifferently, "Never mind, I''ll deal with the demon when I meet it next time." Whether it was because of the special nature of Black Street or because of his uniqueness, time would naturally reveal all. After all, as his status in the city rose, the map of his activities would not be limited to just the line between Black Street and the military camp. The possibility of coming into contact with more things had increased substantially. Like tonight... Weslin had made plans with him to visit the inner city, saying he wanted to experience the local customs and culture, and later he would take him to mix in the inner city. "Do whatever you want; it''s your own business," Yue Ying said helplessly. The demons'' homeland was in a higher dimensional space, where they could infiltrate humanity recklessly, yet humans couldn''t do anything against them. "I don''t have other matters, but I still need to accompany Weslin to the inner city tonight." Yue Ying''s face was expressionless, as if it had nothing to do with her, she lightly responded, "Got it." Watching Bai E''s departing figure, Yue Ying''s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, her face full of confusion. She felt that Bai E obviously had some guesses but he didn''t state them explicitly. Did he have some reservations? ... Bai E changed into a suit that Weslin had prepared for him. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. According to him, the individuals he was about to meet were all high-ranking figures in the city, and since the destination leaned toward entertainment, wearing a serious military uniform would be somewhat out of place. The suit fitted Bai E perfectly, his figure tall and straight, his features strong and handsome. Weslin, who had also changed into a suit, was impressed when he saw Bai E. Good-looking but not enough to outshine himself, with a strong presence and even physical prowess¡ªwhat could be better than such a partner and bodyguard? The key was his unwavering loyalty; even if he left the military camp in the future, he would have to lure this guy away to stay by his side. "Let''s go to the inner city," Weslin took the lead, taking Bai E to his private car and darted toward the city. The city lights had just come on, and the scenery of the inner city didn''t seem as bustling as the metropolises Bai E knew from his original world. The dim lights barely illuminated the long streets, the road sides desolate, the facilities old and worn. Busy figures could be seen everywhere along the roadside. However, at the sight of Weslin''s car, they all instinctively maintained a certain distance. In this city, some people were simply untouchable for the ordinary folk. No matter how harsh the apocalypse, humans still had to live. Labor, exchange, resources¡ªthese were the eternal social forms of humanity. "After so many years of city development, the surface space just isn''t enough; many people live deep underground," Weslin said while driving, educating the Bai E sitting beside him on the co-pilot''s seat with some common knowledge of the inner city, "The place we''re going to is underground, to give you a bit of an eye-opener." Weslin truly wanted to keep Bai E''s absolute combat power by his side, so he began to try luring him firmly onto his own chariot with things all humans liked. The only inviolable command in the Artificial Human''s genes was "for the sake of humanity." But apart from that, their bodies, identical to those of natural humans, allowed them to fall in love with various pleasures just like natural humans. Only when they shared similar hobbies and secrets could he truly establish a closer and more intimate relationship with himself in his heart. Bai E''s eyes watched the bright lights outside the window without making a sound. He was well aware of Weslin''s intentions, but he also wanted to take a closer look at the scenery within the city. After all, he was always destined to take over at least 51% control of the city. Naturally, he needed to understand every aspect of it. The car traveled down the spiraling road, passing through at least three checkpoints, but Weslin''s car bore a special emblem, and none of the checkpoints required them to stop for inspection. "The city''s top indulgences are all in its lowest layer, the most chaotic and craziest place. Of course, for us, it''s all about pleasure," Weslin''s lips curved slightly, enjoying the various gazes that lingered on the vehicle as it passed by. The pursuit of a city lord''s successor wasn''t much; power was something his father had told him to strive for¡ªat least to the extent that he didn''t appear so wasteful as to be disrespected. Only genuine pleasure is the fun life should have. Life is short and living in these dark times, he didn''t think humanity could shine again... at least not in his generation. For himself, it was enough just to play. The lower they went, the more turbid the air seemed, and the temperature rose slightly. Through hundreds of years of development, a city that could not expand outward had to dig downward. Geothermal heat and the difficulty in circulating air created the harsh environment of the lower levels. The steel avenue emitted the smell of machine oil, which entered the car through the cycling system and was somewhat pungent. Apart from the "important people" coming down from the upper levels for fun, the physical bottom dwellers of the city were simultaneously at the lowest rung of political status. The military''s recruitment was actually aimed at these poor people. Only those with no hope for the future would risk their necks, attempting to win a future through military exploits. Their status in the barracks was not much different from that of artificial humans. Yet, precisely because of this, these people were the ones more eager to distance themselves from artificial humans. Only by securing the artificial humans at the very bottom could they feel that they were not truly the lowest class. And now, under the watchful gaze of those greedy yet repressed eyes, Weslin''s car''s taillights traveled along the city''s bottom layer''s only steel avenue to its end. At the end of this avenue was a gigantic building adorned with colorful neon lights. The spacious circular plaza was even slightly larger than the military camp''s drill ground, with its fountains'' bases emitting a golden glow and statues of holy goddesses so white and immaculate. Pleasant music wafted across the entire plaza, where passersby were all well-dressed elite members of the city''s upper echelons. The darker and more hopeless the times, the more people needed excessive pleasures to numb their senses. This intoxicating, opulent atmosphere far surpassed anything Bai E had seen or imagined in his most extravagant dreams before crossing over to this world, enticing one to linger and completely lose themselves. Bai E slightly furrowed his brow, feeling subconsciously uncomfortable. In such an effete place, wouldn''t it draw the attention of demons? As the car passed a certain boundary by the plaza, Bai E distinctly felt an odd sensation sweep over him. Looking back, he realized he had just gone through some kind of Spiritual Energy check. Seeing the look on Bai E''s face, Weslin chuckled and asked, "What''s wrong? Not quite comfortable with the atmosphere here?" A battle-hardened general might feel out of place in this hedonistic environment on their first visit. But no one would reject pleasure; Weslin believed it was a basic human instinct to pursue it. Bai E admitted, "A bit... But what puzzles me more is how such a place doesn''t attract the attention of demons?" In a place so rife with desires, Bai E found it hard not to associate it with the dens of demons. "Do you know how many seasoned executioners from Arbitration Place are watching over this area? Not to mention that a lot of money was spent here to inscribe an Array that filters out demonic temptations. Moreover, demons don''t corrupt the real world so easily; it''s not easy for them to penetrate the core of our human world unless there''s deliberate sacrificial conduct. Don''t worry, this place is absolutely safe." With a "zizz" sound, Weslin steadied the car and patted Bai E''s shoulder, his face beaming with a smile, "Come on, indulge, relax once in a while. You need to learn to take it easy. This is our kingdom!" Chapter 600 - 600: 465 Auction After getting off the vehicle, Bai E followed Weslin, walking together across the square toward the opulent domed castle-like super Gothic building. "Let''s go, I''ll give you a quick tour first," Weslin said with a warm smile, his golden hair fluttering in the wind, full of spirit. The hall had a very high ceiling, bustling with constant streams of people. After arriving here, that feeling of being the center of attention all the way here diminished a lot. Those who could come to the deepest parts of the city were no ordinary people in the city; it''s possible that after a few connections, everyone might be related. Amidst the melodious music, Weslin led Bai E towards the elevator shaft in the center of the hall. Once inside the elevator, Weslin directly pressed for the second basement level. Bai E glanced around and saw that the building had around a dozen or so floors, both above and below ground. The soundproofing here was almost perfect, and as the elevator doors slowly opened, the lively roar suddenly poured into the ears, as if the previous silence and the noise were two completely different worlds. The explosive yet non-jarring music instantly squeezed into the spacious elevator interior, giving Bai E a sudden sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu as if he were back in the underground bare-knuckle boxing abandoned building where the war-series demonic prince was born. Sensually dressed ladies with suggestive figures swayed past with drink trays, while Weslin and Bai E one after the other stepped into this wild party. Neon lights swept all around, the dynamic music setting bodies in motion. Within the four steel cages set in the corners, scantily clad beauties were dancing passionately to the music, And on the central core stage, two handsome, muscular men were engaged in fervent combat, fist against flesh, blood flying everywhere. The onlooking crowd was boiling with excitement, equally ferocious, as if they were part of the intense clash themselves. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If you observed closely, you could tell that the movements of the two Martial Artists fighting in the ring were filled with discrepancies, as if another will existed within their bodies, fighting for control over their physical actions. What should have been a knockout punch exploiting an opponent''s weakness ended up being a violent deviation, losing the precision it was meant to have. "You might have come across similar unrestricted fighting outside," Weslin explained with a light laugh, his fingers sweeping across the audience in the specific area seats, "but what appears here is completely different from outside. Even the most thrilling conventional unrestricted fights have ceased to satisfy these people. Hence, the fighting here is more... immersive." Weslin nodded towards the two fighters on the stage with his chin, his eyes smiling, "Those two fighters are pumped full of hormones. They hardly feel any pain, so they don''t care about the injuries they sustain. Moreover, their physical stamina and resistance to blows have been specially trained and enhanced with drugs. Only such fighters can make everyone enjoy themselves to the fullest." Bai E''s gaze swept across the audience in those specific areas, and through his spiritual perception, he could clearly see a layer of hazy Spiritual Energy enveloping them. The Spiritual Energy that enveloped all areas ultimately converged on one point and was directly connected to the central core stage. On the faces of those audience members, Bai E saw many feverish and manic flushes. Their flailing fists and feet sometimes seemed to meet resistance, unable to move forward, and occasionally, as if being struck by an invisible force, their cheeks would suddenly whip to one side. Yet those who turned back seemed even more excited and fervently waved their limbs as if fighting an invisible opponent in front of them. Bai E closed his eyes and a hazy layer of Spiritual Energy covered his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, the whole Underground Colosseum seemed to split into two distinct and opposing colors. One side red, the other blue, just like the fighters'' shorts on the stage, clearly divided into two distinct camps. The battle on the stage was less a fight between the two individuals and more a battle between the two camps of audience members throughout the Colosseum. Of course, the audience''s influence often had detrimental effects. The chaotic amalgamation of countless wills resulted in significant deviations in the actions of the two Spiritual Energy-influenced fighters, often making their struggle appear somewhat comical. Under Bai E''s observation, the streams of red and blue Spiritual Energy sometimes strengthened and sometimes weakened. This meant that the spectators'' influence on the fighters on stage varied in intensity. A fighter unhampered by tugging limbs on the side naturally could perform better. But in an instant, they could be at a disadvantage due to the audience''s interference, making the fight incredibly entertaining amidst this tug-of-war. And, of course, the audience members on the stage also felt a thrilling sensation of participation and received a certain ratio of "feedback," as if they were part of the battle themselves. It was exciting yet without real danger. This 4D experience was far more stimulating than the simple visual impact of the underground fights Bai E had seen in the outer city. Of course, besides this, Bai E saw two gray areas at the midline, likely where the new spectators, those who had just come to "broaden their horizons," stayed. That was where Bai E and Weslin were standing now. "What do you think? Want to go in and experience it for yourself?" Chapter 601 - 601: 465 Auction 2 Bai E simply shook his head, showing no interest at all. The battles he had participated in weren''t something these greenhouse-controlled deathmatches could compare with. "Right..." Weslin nodded, "These fights might be a bit boring for you. Shall we go check out some other places?" ... "This is the largest gambling venue in the city where millions of blackwater coins can come and go every second. By the way, do you have any money?" Looking at Bai E''s clueless expression, Weslin couldn''t help but smile wryly, "Money is a good thing. In human society, money is everything. When you come to the inner city more often and see something you want, you''ll understand the benefits of money." ... "This is the dance hall, where many people who come here for the first time choose to stay overnight." Weslin said this with a wink and a mischievous grin, "You''ll spend the night here, and we''ll head back to the barracks tomorrow." "..." ''Old lecher!'' Bai E thought to himself without changing his expression. He was well aware of what these traditional activities involved. Just by seeing the provocative dances and those closed-off rooms, Bai E had a good idea of what kind of place this was. Forget spending the night, he''d rather go back and practice Spiritual Energy. ... "Finally, this is the auction house. Anything that can be sold or can''t be sold in the city, you can see it here. Or you can make a request for them to find even the hardest to find items," Weslin said, leading Bai E into a private box to sit down, leaning back on the comfortable sofa as he watched the real-time footage of the auction stage on the screen in the box, explaining with a smile, "Actually, I came here today for one of the items..." Even if he were the frivolous type, he wouldn''t come all this way for enjoyment without much need. Even if he wanted to, his pocketbook wouldn''t allow it. The auction clearly hadn''t started yet; the host on stage was spouting off some nonsensical babble, which was nothing more than about the nature of the valuable items that would be auctioned today and leaving some suspense to pique the interest of visitors who had no intention of staying. Bai E, brought to this kind of place by Weslin, was feeling utterly bored, even a bit eager to seize the time for meditation to train his Spiritual Energy. However, as his gaze swept over the transparent windows surrounding the box, Bai E''s eyes narrowed and he looked slightly stunned. In the fleeting glimpse just now, Bai E thought he saw several familiar figures. Like... Dai Lian and Gong Yan? The enhancement of Bai E''s tri-dimensional attributes had made his senses even sharper and, coupled with his increasingly powerful cultivation in Spiritual Energy, he had an intuition-like judgment for those fleeting inspirations or previously uncertain things, which were often quite accurate. Bai E was increasingly sure that he had seen those players. But what were they doing here? "..." Right, he had heard that they had come to the inner city. Only he hadn''t expected that these players, who had just entered the inner city not long ago, could also find their way into such a high-end place as described by Weslin. Could it be the prerogative of being players? He just wondered what they were planning to do here? Judging by their sneaky movements in that fleeting moment, it didn''t seem like they were up to any good? Should he help them? Feeling a bit bored and slightly resentful towards this lousy place, Bai E''s heart began to stir. ... "Don''t mess around, if you guys cause trouble here, I can''t save you," said Zhou with a pack of youngsters in tow, admonishing them repeatedly, unable to control himself. If it hadn''t been for Wen Jie''s continuous pleading of "sister," "dear sister," she definitely wouldn''t have brought these kids straight to a place like this. Mainly because she suspected that Wen Jie''s handsome, robust friend was probably taken to this place. After all, his friend was full of prowess, especially in close combat. Lang Xie didn''t think he could gain much of an upper hand against that guy. If someone with that level of combat skill could be kidnapped without anyone noticing, then the capabilities of smaller places probably just didn''t measure up. And if that guy with his talents had been kidnapped to a place like this, he was either set to be a gladiator in the negative second floor or a special toy for those with particular tastes in the titillating area on the third floor. But all of this was predicated on the assumption that he wouldn''t be sold at auction or that he wouldn''t fetch a decent price. So, it was definitely the right choice to first take a look around the auction venue. But what to do after confirming the person was indeed here? Lang Xie felt somewhat at a loss. Should she spend a fortune to buy the person back from this place? Or should she just take action and snatch him away? The former was out of the question due to a lack of funds, and the latter was likely beyond her strength. Neither option seemed particularly feasible to Lang Xie. If it hadn''t been for Wen Jie incessantly calling her "Sister," "good sister," she wouldn''t have even been willing to voice this speculation. Wen Jie, however, didn''t pay much heed to Lang Xie''s repeated cautions and dismissively waved his hand, "I got it, I got it, we know what we''re doing." When us guys are on a job, do we really need a woman nagging us? Besides, they were players¡ªif they died, the worst that would happen was a restart after a three-day wait. What''s an NPC like you doing sticking your nose in this business? Your job was to sneak us in; now that''s done, roll back home and wait for news. But no, you insist on hanging around with us, getting all worried. Women! Such a nuisance! "I went back and asked Guang, who had just logged off. Guang had also contacted Kuang Xin privately. Kuang Xin said he really had been kidnapped; someone apparently injected him with something, and he blacked out instantly. When he opened his eyes again, he was in a sealed room. No more information could be found out until he logs off today to get the next update. I figured we can''t just wait around, so I came right back," Dai Lian softly exchanged information with his companions. Gu Lan nodded and followed up, "Then let''s search. Where do they deliver goods to the auction stage? Why don''t we follow their path to sneak in and take a look? We might just find traces of that big gorilla." "But there are cameras and guards everywhere; it doesn''t seem realistic to just sneak in. How about we observe the situation for a while, gather some information, and then decide what to do?" Facing this sudden change, none of them were too worried. This wasn''t reality; even dying in the game simply meant a restart. Although all the achievements they had accumulated in the game so far would be wiped, in the end, it was just a game. What did it matter if everything was reset? On the contrary, encountering such a unique situation made each of them exceedingly excited. The hidden storylines triggered by the unique templates of individuals in their group made the game much more interesting. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They even wished similar scenarios would happen to them, just to see what was really going on. "Let''s go, let''s go!" "Act natural, don''t draw suspicion by looking like you''re up to something." "Split up and meet back here later." Making up his mind, Dai Lian turned and walked away. ... In the private room, Bai E was hesitating about whether to make up some excuse to go out and mingle, to confirm if those familiar figures were indeed Dai Lian and the others, and secondly, to ask them what they were planning to do here. If there was a chance to lend a hand without too much trouble, Bai E didn''t mind improving his favorability with these players a little more. But before he could make a move, he saw through the clear windowpane the players splitting up and going their separate ways. Those who initially seemed to have a special aura about them blended into the auction house atmosphere after just a couple of steps. Among the scattered guests coming and going, they didn''t stand out at all. They do have a bit of a spy gene in them... Bai E, chuckling to himself, folded his arms and decided to see what those fellows were up to. In this place he found somewhat dull, perhaps these players could provide some amusement. However, in the next moment, the sound of a gong echoed throughout the venue. Weslin, who had been meditating, opened his eyes and spoke softly, "The auction has begun¡­" Chapter 602 - 602: How much can Kuang Xin sell for? ``` Weslin was just giving a reminder. He had no interest in the initial items on stage, and his purpose in reminding Bai E was to let him know that the main event was about to begin. As expected, as a briefcase was brought to the center platform of the central auction stage, the seats farther from the auction in the regular seating area nearly settled down. Even those who weren''t interested would often stop to see what exactly was being auctioned on stage. The few players mingling among the crowd had no choice but to stay in place, pretending to be attracted by the item up for auction. "This is a Gene Optimization Solution that has accidentally leaked from the channels of the Scientific Research Institute. As a basic type of Optimization fluid suitable for zero to five degrees, its value need not be elaborated upon further by me or anyone else. Also, as a bonus, we will provide absolutely safe and reliable injection services, free of charge, ensuring the highest possible success rate. The starting bid is ten thousand Heishui coins, and each bid must increase by no less than five thousand Heishui coins. Now, let the bidding begin!" The starting bid wasn''t important; any scarce item has its value in the hearts of people, and a vial of Gene Optimization Solution could potentially create an absolutely powerful warrior. It was the only possibility for ordinary people or those from general powers to transform and ascend their social class. Not to mention, this was a basic entry-level Optimization fluid suitable for zero to five degrees, the most broadly applicable type of fluid. Even most individuals with genetically optimized talents who were going for their second injection of the Optimization fluid would use the same grade of fluid. Moreover, it was a product that had leaked from the Scientific Research Institute, ensuring absolute quality, much more trustworthy than those concocted by other organizations. The use of it would significantly improve the development and safety of the physical body after injection. By using such a highly sought-after item to kick off the auction, they ensured that the proceedings would not start on a dull note. As the auctioneer''s words fell silent, a cacophony of frantic bids immediately echoed through the seats at the venue. "I bid twenty thousand!" "Thirty thousand!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thirty-five thousand!" "Fifty thousand!" The Scientific Research Institute''s supply of various materials to the city''s official organizations was limited, and facing constant internal and external threats, the city did not have the luxury of indulging in nepotism. Only the most outstanding members of many families could join the core institutions of the city, qualifying to compete for the allocated quota from the Scientific Research Institute to each organization. However, bloodline-maintained families always needed resources to sustain these tight familial relationships. Those in the family who had been capable had received support from the family in the past, and now that they were capable, they naturally needed to find ways to repay the younger members of their family through various channels. Generation after generation, this tradition continued. Moreover, the city was too large, and consolidating power was difficult, with various families, both large and small, and the countless emerging combat groups like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, being defiant of each other. Without the ability to expand their territories, they could only ensure their own survival by preying on others'' resources. As a result, any item of value would inevitably lead to fierce competition. The auctioneer looked at the bids coming from the individual seats with a smile, not in the least bit anxious. He knew that only the big players in the private booths upstairs had the absolute say in the fate of such hotly contested resources. Of course, occasionally, when none of them desired the item, only then would a precious resource slip through their fingers for the other strays to fight over. This time, however, appeared to be one of those occasions. From beginning to end, it seemed no one in the upper-tier private booths took any interest. In the end, the item was acquired for a bid of 105,000 by a buyer in the individual seats, seemingly a bargain. Judging by the buyer''s jubilant departure, this opportunity might have been a once-in-a-lifetime chance for him. Perhaps he could craft a powerful warrior who might someday shine on the grand stage of the city and leap to prominence. Bai E watched quietly, forming a general impression of the city from these little details that emerged. "Next item!" the auctioneer took out a paper document from the tray held by an attendant behind him. "A contract for the sale of four hundred pounds of Origin Crystal ore. The city recently reintroduced internet technology, and creating your own private network center requires the use of Origin Crystals, a special crystalline material. Those interested in developing in this area must not miss this rare contract! The starting bid is five thousand Heishui coins, and each bid must increase by no less than two thousand Heishui coins. Now, let the bidding begin!" The reintroduction of internet technology in the city had not been long, and spreading it to the general public would take even more time. Fearing a lack of demand due to obscurity and risking the auction flopping due to a lack of interest, this was the first time that this kind of technologically demanded ore was being auctioned, thus the estimate was relatively conservative. As expected, this level of resource naturally had a certain barrier to entry, and hardly anyone on the individual platforms bid, until, after some waiting, the first offer came from a private booth on the second floor¡ª "Five thousand!" The first bid seemed to light a fuse. "Seven thousand!" "Ten thousand!" "Fourteen thousand!" "Thirty thousand!" Some were determined to win, observing the others and realizing that actually, not many were in dire need of this commodity. ``` Chapter 603 - 603: How much can Kuang Xin sell for?_2 A bid far exceeding those around instantly dissipated the thoughts of those who only wanted to buy for a trial play. No one in the private suites knew who the others were, and there was no need to purposely drive up the price just to spite others. In case the bid was won on a rash impulse, it would result not only in a loss but also in offending people; everyone was there for what they truly needed, each with their own demands. Standing by Weslin''s side, Bai E nodded, suddenly forming his own idea. Being able to appear in the auction house implied, in an indirect way, that the benefits handed over to the city were definitively less than those from auctioning. If this was the case with the source crystal ore essential for internet technology, would the steel produced by Li Ming Town be an exception? As the doctor left, the steel orders from the wild frontier warlords dissipated along with him. Before his power could completely absorb the steel he produced, Bai E urgently needed a channel to liquidate the steel. Originally still worried about which channel to transport through, the current auction might just be a decent destination. If there was a chance in the future, he could come here alone, avoiding Weslin, and inquire. Auctions continued one after another on the floor. Items that appeared at the auction had all been carefully selected by the venue, and there was almost never a dull moment at any of the events. Individuals in the general seating began to move around gradually, and Bai E, who was always monitoring those players, distinctly noticed they had begun to take action again. But seeing their random blundering, Bai E felt they were probably looking for something? It was strange that he didn''t see Kuang Xin among them. Perhaps, to them, their movements were sufficiently covert, but Bai E was certain they had been marked. The cameras high above were far too clear; if it weren''t for the fear of disturbing the atmosphere of the auction, Bai E even felt there should be fully armed men pointing their guns and herding them out by now. But they seemed completely oblivious. As the dust settled on yet another treasure, the circular central stage suddenly descended. Amidst the hum of mechanical operations, the corner of a steel structure slowly rose from beneath. The corner of the steel structure gradually became visible, and only then did the gray iron cage fully reveal itself for all to see. If the previous items were of practical value, then it was only at this moment that the luxury items of the auction came to be presented. People! Four people. Two men, two women. Their bodies were exposed with only key parts covered by scanty fabric; all four were suspended by hands and feet in a "big" character, displayed within the steel cages. The auctioneer stepped aside, his expression fervent and voice impassioned as he introduced the items behind him, "Four excellently conditioned, top-quality slaves! Whether you wish to train them as the most loyal personal guards, beasts that dominate the underground fighting ring, or cultivate them into outstanding assassins, they are the perfect choice! All four will be auctioned together! The starting bid is 50,000 Blackwater coins, with each increment no less than 5,000 Blackwater coins. Now, let the bidding begin!" The four bound figures all seemed somewhat lethargic, obviously controlled by some drug. But on the enlarged screens within the private suites, one could clearly see the fine details of the four "slaves," with complete medical data directly provided for each person. The three-dimensional attributes of each individual had one attribute close to the peak of an ordinary person''s 15-point limit, the remaining two also not lagging too far behind, especially the biggest of them all. With physical and reflexes both at 15 points and insight not far behind at 14 points, their attributes were luxurious indeed. Additionally, the men were handsome, the women beautiful, with pleasant faces and robust physiques. They weren''t overly muscular, exuding a sense of health; their well-defined, clearly trained muscles indicated a solid foundation for each one. Aside from one of the male figures, the other three "slaves" appeared very young, looking to be perhaps only in their early teens. The perfect age for grooming. Bai E''s gaze sharpened, locking onto one figure in an instant¡ª Kuang Xin! His previous questions were answered in a flash. No wonder he hadn''t seen this guy among those players running around aimlessly. No wonder these players had mingled in a place momentarily above their station. They had come looking for a companion who had been kidnapped... wait a minute! Knowing the players'' unconventional ways, it''s possible they deliberately sold Kuang Xin to get the money and then planned to rescue him. Typical of wanting to have their cake and eat it too¡ªthey wanted the money but not to give up the person. But regardless of the truth, they were probably about to kick a steel plate this time. This place was not somewhere they could act brashly and without consequence. Four "slaves" of outstanding appearance caused a sensation. With proper training, these individuals could not only possess formidable combat power, but also serve as personal bodyguards that provide companionship in bed, the perfect sidekicks for many core members of influential forces. Not to mention, as the temporary "face representative" among the four "slaves," Kuang Xin, at the moment, attracted countless fervent gazes. The effect of a +10 charm bonus was indisputable, common folks simply didn''t have such heaven-defying, naturally enhanced appearances. No matter how you looked, they were pleasing to the eyes, captivating to behold. Some wealthy madams, just by ogling Kuang Xin''s face and figure, couldn''t help but salivate. "I bid fifty thousand!" "I bid sixty thousand!" "I bid eighty thousand!" The scene was momentarily insane. Players scattered throughout the venue promptly converged, watching the explosive scene on stage, collectively rendering their minds into a state of paralysis. "Damn, is Kuang Xin really that valuable?" "Maybe he''s just making up the numbers?" "Suddenly, I don''t feel like rescuing him anymore..." "What if we save him and then tie him up to sell again?" Then rob and sell again! Rob and sell again! A golden avenue to fortune was just before their eyes! With money, each could get a vial of the very Gene Optimization Solution that appeared at the beginning of the auction, one for each person! A must-inject! If one isn''t enough, get another one! Money equates to domineering power. After locating Kuang Xin''s position, the group suddenly felt no rush. Under the watchful eyes of the public, of course, they couldn''t just storm the stage and snatch him. Either find a way backstage¡ªeven though they still had no idea how the intricacies of this auction house worked¡ªor track down the buyer and play the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. After a brief discussion, everyone agreed that the latter method had a higher success rate. So they all cheerfully pretended to be spectators of the "how much can Kuang Xin sell for" show. In the end, the final deal was struck at the astronomical price of two hundred and ten thousand! "Good, good, good!" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dai Lian''s eyes were filled with murderous intent, "we''ll definitely have to sell him again later, it would be such a loss not to pocket this money!" Emotions surged, hearts raced with fervor. The fervent emotions of the entire venue almost converged to a single point. Standing next to Weslin, Bai E, who had been watching the excitement all this time, suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck at that moment. His supernatural perception of space and time almost came to a standstill instantaneously, as if every movement in front of him had slowed to a crawl. From the private room screen, the actions of certain players in the common seating area, such as turning heads and waving hands, seemed to play out frame by frame, and the auctioneer''s mouth, shouting with passion, was wide open, with the gavel frozen in the endless process of descending. In a corner, several fully armed guards were targeting the clustered players on the orders of a supervisor. Everything seemed to unfold in an inherent logical sequence. Bai E suddenly closed his eyes, trying to locate the source of the odd feeling. The next instant, Bai E''s eyes snapped open, his sharp gaze suddenly shifting towards the stage. At the same time, the two women and a man, bound hand and foot in an "X" shape on stage, also abruptly opened their eyes at that very moment... Time resumed its normal flow, carrying all the sounds into Bai E''s mind. However, within Bai E''s head echoed a resonant buzz, like the sound of a tolling bell! Devil! He''s arrived... Chapter 604 - 604: 467 Desperate situation! ``` The surging demonic aura emanated from the three "slaves" whose eyes opened, almost instantaneously flooding the space above the platform. Kuang Xin, the auctioneer, and the three waiters not far away were naturally among them, but from within the distorted space, Bai E could no longer clearly discern the specific conditions of those affected. In fact, the demonic aura that Bai E "saw" with his spiritual perception wasn''t just emanating from them; the aura they released was condensed and restrained, merely enveloping their bodies. However, from the corners of his eyes, Bai E could "see" even more black aura, flowing like currents in all directions. Whenever it encountered any figure with a hint of life, the black aura would, as if alive, separate a strand from its source and, like a spirit snake, burrow into the bodies of the unwitting from behind. Including Weslin, who was within arm''s reach! Bai E''s immediate reaction was to grab with his arm imbued with Spiritual Energy, but it was like grabbing at an illusion and he grasped nothing but air. It was unclear whether the black aura was merely an illusion or some special effect that transcended basic Spiritual Energy. For the moment, Bai E couldn''t detect any visible changes in those individuals who had been penetrated by the black aura, but it was obvious that he couldn''t allow the situation to develop further. "Marshal, we need to leave now," Bai E spoke, keeping in mind his fundamental duty to accompany and protect Weslin. If the marshal were to die by his side, Bai E couldn''t shirk responsibility. Even if there was compelling evidence that he''d done everything within his power, as long as the fact remained, there would always be an indelible stain on his reputation. The current demonic incident took place in the Inner City, and whatever adverse effects it had would be dealt with by the Inner City''s professionals. Bai E wasn''t so arrogant as to think that only he was indispensable. In a situation where he was absolutely certain of not losing, Bai E, alone, might have risked a direct confrontation, but with such an important person by his side, he couldn''t act on a whim. "Go! Go!" The moment the catastrophe struck, Weslin, sensing that ultimate sinister presence, panicked. Weslin, bolstered by Bai E''s prompt response, grabbed the arm Bai E offered and, using the strength provided, tried to make his way out, "Hurry up! Move it!" He too possessed Spiritual Energy and could also see the black miasma that was visible only to spiritual vision. The aura spread at the edges of all visible things, enveloping everything. The transformation on the field became genuinely terrifying, kindling fear from deep within the heart, even for those lacking Spiritual Energy, as the drastic changes occurred in the real world! The previously normal space now seemed as if refracted and reflected by countless irregular crystals or mirrors, creating a kaleidoscope of confusion. The auctioneer, waiters, and iron cages within this space were already shattered and distorted beyond recognition. The entire space around seemed like the blurred, distorted atmosphere above a furnace, filled with surreal distortions. A heartbeat-like pulsation echoed from this hazy space, and those individuals with slightly weaker resolve merely felt their hearts beat a few times before a thread of blood trickled from the corner of their mouths, and they collapsed to the ground, never to rise again. "How are those Arbitration Place enforcers monitoring the situation?" "A great demon is nearly tearing through the barrier between high dimensions and reality to descend directly, and they still have discovered nothing!" It wasn''t just Bai E and Weslin; all the city''s upper echelons in the private boxes¡ªwith their own Spiritual Energy experts or accompanied by them¡ªwhat was happening, even if they had never truly witnessed it, was something they''d surely heard about during their Spiritual Energy practices. An invasion from higher-dimensional demons! All those who could still move and realize this began to flee from the private boxes, while many others, upon hearing that heartbeat pulsing from the distorted space, plunged into boundless panic and confusion. They either scampered around biting the dust or stood frozen in place like petrified chickens. In the midst of the chaos, Bai E even lacked the time to concern himself with the whereabouts of the few players close to him. Escorting Weslin through the crowd, Bai E realized that outside the auction hall, chaos reigned just as much. The endless black aura continued to wriggle and spread at the edges of his vision, that horrifying presence constantly eroding people''s sanity, like heavy drumbeats striking incessantly at their hearts. "Slap slap slap slap!" Someone rushed to the elevator shaft and frantically pressed the button, but as the elevator doors opened, the one who first pressed the button had already become meat under the feet of those who stampeded in. "This is the top floor!" Although the building connected to even higher structures outside, the higher you go, the more the building is reinforced with special materials. Even one person''s strength would not suffice. Even a barrage of missiles would likely take a while to blast even a crack open. "Head to the first floor!" Bai E only glanced at the chaos around the elevator door and didn''t plan on taking Weslin down by elevator. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If the people on the top floor wanted to leave, wouldn''t the people on every other floor below be just as eager? At these times, it would stop on every floor, and every floor would require a fight for escape. And the elevator would not close its doors as long as there was something blocking them at the entrance. Unless those inside had sufficient deterrent power and were ruthless enough, anyone taking the elevator would probably never reach the ground floor in their lifetime. ``` Chapter 605 - 605: 467 Desperate Situation!_2 As for the stairs¡­ Staircases in such places are generally for show. Aside from the circular staircase in the central hall of each floor that connects only a few stories, staircases that connect the major floors are tucked away in dark corners and stairwells. The paths are narrow and exceptionally dim. Moreover, they had already been filled to the brim with a crush of people. Forcing his way through the crowd with Bai E''s strength was certainly possible, but it would inevitably result in much unnecessary killing. Glancing down at the floor beneath his feet, a flash of murderous intent passed through Bai E''s eyes. Spiritual Energy concentrated, fire at full blast! Overlimit Drive, Gift of Liberation, Instant Kill of a Hundred Beasts! Multiple skills unleashed at once, Bai E, carrying Weslin, directly jumped from the third floor atrium down to the first floor and punched downwards at the floor. "Hiss?" Beneath Weslin''s horrified gaze, Bai E''s right fist resolutely smashed towards the ground beneath his feet. In such dire urgency, he couldn''t even utter a word, only managing to emit a meaningless hiss. The reason this place had become the pinnacle of the entire undercity''s black market was that it was taken to extremes in every aspect. Even the floor here was no ordinary matter. It was made of reinforced stone material that was no less than that of an alloy of eight elements, and furthermore, it was inscribed with several Arrays that strengthened defenses and added rebounding capabilities with Spiritual Energy. Shoot a barrage of bullets at this kind of wall, and you might just get half a barrage bounced back at yourself. What sane person would head-on confront such a wall? If you want to die, don''t drag me into it, agh! However, lightning-fast thoughts could barely keep up with Bai E''s actions. "Boom!" His fist, swift as lightning, suddenly crashed down, and a powerful rebound force was instantly absorbed and reflected back in some strange way. Even Bai E, who had applied "Absolute Defense" to himself, felt his insides quiver violently. ''Thank goodness the rebound has an upper limit.'' If the rebound truly reflected back the force at an absolute ratio, Bai E felt he probably couldn''t withstand even half the force of his full-powered strike. This rebound was not only directed at Bai E but also spread outward from him in a booming shockwave. All those who were unsteady on their feet staggered violently from this one blow on the floor. Those who were closer simply slipped and crashed to the ground. Countless angry glances were thrown in an instant, but Bai E ignored these stares and once again gathered strength for another punch towards the floor below him. With the first punch, cracks had already appeared on the floor. As long as this thing didn''t have the absurd self-repair capabilities of the first-generation intelligent machines, a few more punches, and Bai E felt it was not impossible to carve out a brand new path downstairs. "Boom!" "Boom!" Punch after punch! The hall vibrated, the chandeliers swayed wildly. Those unsteady decorative pieces tumbled down to the ground one after another, and the people who had been glaring at Bai E with rage could barely believe their eyes as they saw the floor genuinely being broken through with fists, their eyeballs nearly popping out of their sockets. "Which god descended here?" "This floor can even be breached, damn it!" Weslin propped his hands on the ground, unable to rise anyway, so he might as well just lie there; his only task was to ensure he wasn''t thrown by the vibrations. Looking at Bai E, his eyes were filled with awe for his strength. He only knew that this guy had invincible marksmanship, clearing a path with a pair of machine guns through a sky filled with bugs that even ordinary Mechas would struggle to carve. He only knew that this guy was unbeatable when piloting a Mecha, able to send even a Mech Pilot from the Mechanical Court scurrying in defeat. But he never imagined that this marshal, whom he had personally promoted, could break through a special floor that even a barrage of missiles would take several rounds to penetrate, all with his bare hands. "What kind of War God have I picked up?" Weslin''s face was blank, his expression collapsing. ... ["Lucky Strike" charge +50.] "Boom!" The sound of the system notification ringing in his ear did not affect Bai E''s movements in the slightest. As the final punch thundered down, the force of the rebound had already vanished. "Whoosh~" Mixed with some metal rods, massive stones crashed thunderously down toward the empty floors below, as people on the next level, already aware of the commotion overhead, didn''t foolishly stand still to watch the spectacle unfold. No ordinary person was harmed by the falling boulders; Bai E grabbed Weslin''s ankle, hoisted him over his shoulder, and jumped down through the large hole he had smashed. "Holy shit! He really broke through?" "What ''War God'' on earth?!" Many who could move freely, already attentively following Bai E''s movement, lined up behind him, jumping down into the hole without a second thought. Falling the ten or more meters felt impactless, thanks to Bai E''s quietly diffused force. Weslin, hoisted over Bai E''s shoulder, gazed blankly at the expressionless warrior before him, feeling for the first time the damn safety of having such a War God by his side. "Snap!" The moment he landed, Bai E casually threw Weslin aside. This was the fourth floor, and they were a long way from the first floor! He started smashing again! "Boom!" "Boom!" His right fist was bloodied and blurred, but under the power of Bai E''s unlocked super "Rapid Recovery," his wounded skin and bones were indeed regenerating quickly¡ªall while excruciating pain gnawed at Bai E''s will. Even with "Self-Restraint" actively suppressing it, the pain was still heart-wrenching. Had it not been for the "Highly Effective Pain Relief" from the Blood God, Bai E would have lost the courage to strike the next blow. Nevertheless, the next punch always arrived steadfastly without delay. "Boom!" "Boom!" The building trembled unstoppably. One floor! One floor! Another floor! Only those who kept closely behind Bai E knew how incredible the War God before them truly was. He was basically a superhero! "Rumble!" Almost simultaneously with the landing rubble, Bai E, carrying Weslin on his shoulder, was about to rush out of the first floor. In the time it took him to break through floor by floor, the demon''s scent had become so intense it was unimaginable. With each breath, it seemed one could smell a kind of sweet fragrance that was hard to resist indulging in. Some with Spiritual Energy but slightly lower levels of it thought they saw a thin, pink mist and, with infatuated smiles, staggered into it. What followed were horrific screams mixed with an inexplicable sense of delight. Such sounds were incessant, arising from every corner of the building. The survivors following Bai E were petrified, their hearts in their throats, as if they might leap out at any moment... And indeed, one individual spat out a still beating heart right from their mouth! However, the person themselves continued to follow Bai E as if completely unaware of their own gruesome act. Bai E merely glanced at this scene before continuing, without looking back, carrying Weslin to the open square outside. His "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy was burning at all times, shielding Weslin within its range from the demonic breath''s interference as much as possible. Yet the moment he stepped through the vast stone archway of the castle, Bai E saw a layer of neon-like colorful coating bubble up before his eyes, enveloping the entire Gothic castle. Extending his hand towards what appeared to be a bubble layer so fragile it seemed it would pop at a touch, it felt as if he would be scattered and ignited by an endless high-dimensional space storm. The demons had cut off the castle''s reality to some extent from the actual space around it. This void barrier prevented people outside from coming in and those inside from holding on to any hope of getting out. Bai E turned back to see the misshapen humanoid monsters emerging from the underground fighting ring, now almost flooding the entire first-floor hall... "Hiss~" "Hiss~" In the eyes of those monsters, looking at Bai E and the survivors following him, there was nothing but endless greed and desire... S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 606 - 606: 468 I want to give it a try ``` A hand clad in a pair of black gloves gently caressed the "membrane" in front of her eyes, which rippled slightly like water waves. Aglaya narrowed her eyes slightly, a mysterious and faint light emanating from her pupils. What seemed like a simple layer of space-time distortion barrier effectively isolated the inside and outside of the castle into two distinct worlds. "Still can''t break through?" An officer from the Arbitration Place not far from her, drenched in sweat, explained, "We initially suspect that under the long-term influence of demons, the entire castle has been corrupted into a nest of desires. It''s spontaneously sacrificing all the living beings within the castle to the demons in exchange for complete corruption. If everyone inside is sacrificed or corrupted, this castle will forever fall into the realm of high-dimensional space!" Aglaya''s sharp eyebrows furrowed slightly with displeasure, cutting in, "I only need results." There are experts in every field. Even though her Spiritual Energy level might surpass everyone present, when it comes to demons, the officers from the Arbitration Place are the experts. "We are trying!" was the only response the officer could give. The officers were the ones who needed to detect the presence of demonic essences faster than anyone else. However, in the face of such a degree of demonic erosion, any of their responses seemed inadequate. He knew that Aglaya was a top figure in the city and also knew that she was the core high-ranking official of the Spiritual Energy Administration Bureau. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And because of this, some things were difficult for him to say outright. The corrupt sacrifices within the castle were just the surface; the essence of this demonic invasion event was the result of the extreme desires of the entire city fermenting over many years. It did not target any individual, nor was it a deliberate attack by those high-dimensional demons... but merely the ultimate backlash of the city''s dark underbelly! Long-term suppression could not completely solve underlying dangers, and the extremely developed desires deeply embedded the seeds of demons into every corner of this castle¡ªthe more it was suppressed, the deeper it hid. And the backlash... thus came all the more fiercely. The dire consequences of these desires originated from every single person currently within this castle, and even more so from every person who knew of the existence of this castle! The "desire" of each individual was the absolute cause of today''s backlash! The entire city, not one could escape! In the face of such a large-scale invasion of this level, almost everyone related to this in the city would find it nearly impossible to make any impact on this corrupted and degenerate castle. Therefore, breaking through this barrier, which seemed as gentle as paper, would likely be as difficult as ascending to heaven! "Who are the important figures who came here tonight?" An officer of the Arbitration Place, clad in a red robe, approached quickly from behind and asked coldly to the person coordinating with various forces. "So far, we have only confirmed *** and ***..." "That''s a relief..." The officer, upon hearing the names and their affiliations on the list, relaxed his expression slightly. Being from the Arbitration Place, he was more aware of the difficulty of breaking through this barrier. If the task was impossible, they would already consider minimizing the loss as part of their contingency plans. Relieved to hear that no truly important figures were trapped inside, he allowed himself to breathe a bit easier. Not far away, Aglaya''s brows knit tightly, "Arnold, what do you mean by that?" "I don''t mean anything." Even though Aglaya was in a position of power, Arnold, who did not report directly to any department head, did not care about her opinion, "Most likely, those people can''t be saved, and this place will probably completely sink into the high-dimensional space." Anticipating this outcome, Arnold almost seemed to take pleasure in the misfortune, "This damn place should have been eradicated long ago. Good riddance; I''d like to see who dares to cause such messes in the city again!" So many officers from the Arbitration Place had to guard it every day, but it was just to maintain an outlet for the majority to indulge and vent. This pathological outburst was inherently unreasonable, and most in the Arbitration Place had long been displeased with this place. It was a pity that they were a sword with a master; otherwise, they would have leveled the place long ago. Aglaya''s piercing eyes firmly raised, "Do you intend to just give up like this?" The people of the Arbitration Place only cared about the outcome of single battles with demons, but the researchers studying the ultimate path of Spiritual Energy in the world would consider every bit of loss to the real space and the impact it would cause to both the real and high-dimensional worlds. Sooner or later, the balance would be broken. If one day the world was completely engulfed by high-dimensional space, where would humanity go? "Look! Someone is coming out!" Someone suddenly pointed at the scenery behind the transparent, water-like barrier and shouted. The barrier had different effects on each side. Perhaps from inside, the barrier was covered with twisted, deadly beauty, which were manifestations of the high-dimensional space storms'' distortions to human senses. But from the outside, in the real world, it looked at most like a mirror smeared by a stream of water¡ªsomewhat blurry, but it did not hinder sight. At that moment, from the high arching stone entrance of the castle, suddenly, a large group of creatures still capable of moving freely and maintaining human features emerged. "They are alive!" "They are not dead!" Aglaya''s eyes suddenly widened, exclaiming in surprise, "Weslin!" Commander of the military district, the lord''s son. He would usually be stationed outside the city in the military camps, and despite much questioning, nobody had linked the issue to him. ``` Chapter 607 - 607: 468 I want to give it a try_2 Although the personal ability of this military district marshal seemed so-so to most people in the city, his status meant that he could never be a disposable pawn. Arnold, who also saw Weslin, had his eyes round with astonishment and cursed emphatically, "Fuck!" "Why is he here?" What was the governor''s son doing wandering around here for no reason? "Find a way to get him out!" Aglaya narrowed her eyes, not distracted by Weslin''s arrival. Those slender, sharp eyes just swept over Weslin and then settled on the figure who was carrying him beneath. For some reason, the figure who carried Weslin out from under the archway seemed very familiar. As the person approached within a meter in front of her and reached out, grazing the air beyond the barrier, a fragment of memory spontaneously leapt out from the clutter in Aglaya''s mind. "¡­Bai E." She pronounced the two syllables in an odd tone. It was this warrior, a member of a special military squad at the time, who had rescued Kiro Lan and Morphie, along with the refugees accompanying them, from the fear nests outside the city, and brought them back. It was obvious that the two youngsters had greatly admired this soldier at the time, but due to the natural gulf between them caused by talents and background, and to protect both sides, she had chosen to separate them. It had not occurred to her, however, that in the recent series of military operations, this warrior named Bai E had won the recognition of a Mecha Spirit with his perfect talents in mecha piloting, thus once again entering her field of vision. What was more unexpected was that¡­ just these past few days, having returned from a campaign against the Bug Race''s nests, he had brought back an unbelievable message through the lips of Scholar Helen from the Scientific Research Institute¡ª Bai E, whom she had considered completely devoid of Spiritual Energy talent, had successfully awakened his Spiritual Energy talent with the help of Gene Optimization Solution and could even absorb the intense combat spirits and remnants of the souls of surrounding warriors to replenish his Spiritual Energy so that, with the assistance of the Mecha Spirit, he, without any training in the use of Spiritual Energy, was able to defeat that extremely terrifying Bug Race Overlord! "It''s really him..." He was here too? Yes¡­ he should be here. Any commander who was not a fool would want to recruit such an outstanding warrior like Weslin! So, the way to recruit him was to bring him to this den of iniquity... Watching the figure leading the charge, Aglaya''s face became a little blurry. Had she been too heartless before? But what could she do? Caught in the thick of it, even the enforcers from the Arbitration Place had almost given up hope¡­ "They''re doomed." "The demons have caught up..." "All demons, they''re not going to make it..." Demons layered upon demons surged like a tide, almost completely sealing off the small archway entrance. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The group that had escaped was cluelessly following the warrior named Bai E as if entrusting their fates to him. The crowd parted behind Bai E, who put down Weslin and turned back alone towards those ferocious looking demons... "Teacher, I want to give it a try!" a gentle voice appeared from nearby, at some point. "It''s too dangerous, Kiro Lan!" said a hearty voice, not willing to let his prized pupil take such a risk. Kiro Lan was the most intelligent and talented Spiritual Energy user he had ever seen; she was perfection itself. Without her dying an untimely death due to an accident, her future was bound to uphold half of the city''s sky! "But it''s such an ordeal that we need to advance to the third stage of Spiritual Energy, isn''t it?" Kiro Lan''s gaze was fixed on her teacher, resolute. Morphie looked at the figure inside the barrier with a complicated gaze. It was him again! It was him again! Every time he was around, he attracted everyone''s attention like the greatest hero! On what grounds! Morphie suddenly turned his head and looked at his own teacher, "Teacher, I''ll accompany her." As a top-level talent with Spiritual Energy, Kiro Lan''s talent was multifaceted, almost all-around. However, Morphie was almost purely a combat-oriented Spiritual Energy user, with rapidly soaring combat power. When it came down to a real fight, there were probably only a few ordinary enforcement officers at the institute who could be his match. And his feelings for Kiro Lan¡­ The tall figure fell silent, not daring to make this decision lightly. Aglaya, in her long boots, walked over, "If you want to try, then go ahead and try." Bonds, emotions. These are treasures that Spiritual Energy users must not overlook. Not long ago, Pansen, a Spiritual Energy user who was merely a common Second Order in the military camp, became curious about the makeup of an electronic demon. However, after that "peep into the secret," he leaped to become a rare Third Order Spiritual Energy user in the entire city. Despite recently falling into a coma yet again due to the "treasure" left behind by the electronic demon, this does not deny the significance of such adventures. The growth of a Spiritual Energy user is never smooth sailing; those raised in a greenhouse are doomed to mediocrity! "Lady Aglaya!" The two youngsters'' teacher looked at the tall woman who had come over with a complex expression in his eyes. He hadn''t forgotten that these two were originally from the Spiritual Power Managers Center and had only been temporarily placed under their instruction at the Arbitration Place due to a late start in their foundational learning. Now that she had spoken, he had little room to refuse. With a complex look in his eyes at the two still youthful faces before him, the teacher remained silent for a long time before sighing and waving his hand, "Go on then¡­ Perhaps it''s only you who can break through this barrier here." How could he not know the secret that all the enforcement officers were aware of? Every person familiar with this castle in the city carries a natural "original sin"; their very existence is the source of power that sustains the castle exiled in high-dimensional space. Only these "blank pages," who know nothing of this existence, might attempt to forge a "path" with their Spiritual Energy that could be passable. "Thank you, my lady." Kiro Lan bowed deeply to Aglaya who had spoken, then turned and walked away, "Morphie, let''s go!" Morphie suddenly drew his sword from his waist, and a rich Spiritual Energy formed a barrier on the blade that seemed as if it wanted to devour everything, "I''ll take the lead!" Facing the twisted barriers that nearly all the Spiritual Energy users in the city were powerless against, Morphie struck down from the air with all his might! A brilliant light burst forth, blinding all beings present, whether they possessed Spiritual Energy or not. Even the perception of Spiritual Energy blurred under the glare, with only the knowledge that after the two powerful bursts of Spiritual Energy, the two teenagers had disappeared from the spot... "Where did they go?" "They¡­ went in?" The others who came back to their senses spoke in amazement, filled with disbelief. The twisted barrier that so many enforcement officers from the Arbitration Place had been unable to handle had been penetrated by two barely grown children? "Where did they go?" Arnold asked urgently. The teacher shook his head, "The twisted barrier is just a visual manifestation; passing through it could potentially connect to various places inside the castle." Aglaya, looking at the spot where the children had disappeared, clenched her hand slightly. ''I hope you can succeed¡­'' She turned and looked towards the only visible arch-shaped door. Those survivors¡­ backed up against the barrier of despair, they had nowhere left to retreat. ''I also hope they can hold on until Morphie and Kiro Lan find them...'' As the two children disappeared, everyone''s gaze could only turn towards the arch-shaped doorway where they could see into parts of the castle''s interior. Watching the figure who led the charge break away from the group and walk toward the back alone, someone couldn''t help but express their alarm, "What is he doing!?" Chapter 608 - 608: 469 Slave Desire Bai E didn''t want to do anything, but the environment he found himself in left him no room for choice. Behind him was a Void Barrier that isolated everything, and in front of him was an endless horde of high-dimensional demons. The environment he was in wasn''t entirely in real space, but it wasn''t completely part of the high-dimensional space either. His "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy could sense the attributes of the space¡ªthis was a transitional "interspace" lying between the real world and high-dimensional space. The corruption of the demons had temporarily severed this castle from the real world; as long as he could calm all the demonic auras within the castle, it could still be restored to the boundaries of the real world, somewhat similar to that "blood pool" where the demonic prince of war was born. And now, in a castle with a more robust aura than the "blood pool" of that time, it was likely that a demon more terrifying than the demonic prince of war would be born. Bai Chu knew not where the adversary was, nor whether it had already taken shape within the castle. But the only choice left for him, who was deeply trapped in this place and the only one who could escape the danger and return to the real world, was¡ª Wipe out the demons! He casually pulled out a ceremonial longsword worn at the waist of a short, chubby man passing by his side and ran his left hand, formed into a sword gesture, across the blade. A layer of active Spiritual Energy suddenly attached to the blade, more active than it had ever been before. [Enhancement*Magic Blade: Current hunting target: Demons. Template record: None. Basic bonus: Attack power +10%.] Reaching out, he grabbed from the void a transparent glass bottle filled with a pale yellow liquid. As the longsword was doused liberally with the liquid, the drops of Exorcism Essential Oil sizzled wildly as they burned in the presence of the endless demonic aura! "Storage space!" Aglaya, who was outside the barrier, whispered incredulously upon seeing this scene, "Wasn''t it said that he had never systematically learned any skills for using Spiritual Energy?" Other spiritual power users and enforcers who were ignorant of the details merely sighed in admiration, "It seems that there are powerful spiritual power users among those survivors after all¡­" Arnold nodded slightly, "It looks like they won''t be wiped out so quickly." "Hiss~Ha~" The demon''s tall form was crimson all over, with healthy and long thighs as voluptuous as those of the healthiest human beauties. Its waist was thin like a wasp''s, its chest muscular, and its forehead adorned with upward-curving horns. On its four arms, structures resembling scorpion pincers "creaked" as they opened and closed, with sinister spikes revealing a bloodthirsty desire. Yet the demons walked with a swaying posture, as graceful as if on a catwalk, easily evoking in humans that endless desire. The cold blade hissed through the air, sweeping across the demon''s throat. How could these ordinary demon foot soldiers withstand Bai E''s level 9 expertise with light weapons? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Exorcism Essential Oil sizzled in the wounds, the dense smoke burning the non-physical bodies of the demons. "Puff!" Another sword strike as fast as lightning, and the body of the demon was split in two before Bai E. [Your attack hits the target successfully, inflicting 200 points of fatal damage!] [You have completely killed the target, gaining 20 battle experience points.] [The soul-absorbing magic blade has absorbed a small portion of the target''s essence, with special attack effects now being generated 5/1000.] Behind the edge of the sword, Bai E''s face was handsome and resolute, with an expression of icy ruthlessness. Even the domain of spiritual energy dominated by the demon lord could not affect him in the slightest; how much less the characteristics carried by these small demon foot soldiers? Desire... These were the slaves of desire! Enveloped by the "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy, the origins of these demon foot soldiers, transformed by the demonic aura at the moment of their death, were instantly analyzed¡ª These were the "spectators" attached to the fighters in the underground combat arena, now transformed into demon foot soldiers belonging to the series of demons driven by desire, raising their mutated claws against their fellow humans. In the beginning, they just wanted to see a fair fight. Latterly, they sought a taste of blood for stimulation. Further on, what they yearned to see was flesh and blood flying. Now¡­they were no longer satisfied just watching others enjoy this excitement. They wanted to experience it themselves! The threshold of their desires was fulfilled as they continually broke through the lower limits; yet in their constant fulfillment, they grew ever harder to satisfy. They craved. They sought. Their search for increasing stimulation eventually caught the attention of the Evil God residing in the high-dimensional space, the ruler of "desire." This instinctive longing brought the high-dimensional authority known as "desire" to focus spontaneously on this land. And now, irrespective of whether they supported "red" or "blue", they had all become but minor demon foot soldiers in the service of desire, turning their mutated bladed limbs against their own kind. If they were not satisfied with spectating, then it was time to join the fray themselves! To tear the flesh of others or to be torn apart. In that instant of tearing, these demons experienced the utmost satisfaction. Bai E could clearly see that the demon he had just split in two had a twisted smile of satisfaction upon its face, happy and content even as it rushed towards death. The contentment of the demon foot soldiers in their final moments was perceived by all other demons, and the fleeting thrill and satisfaction instantly drove the remaining demons into utter madness. Find, the enemy! Tear apart, or be torn apart. Indulge in the temporary pleasure of absolute destruction of the body to satisfy the unceasing thirst for desire! Chapter 609 - 609: 469 Slave Desire_2 Bai E could visibly notice that the moment the first demon died, the bodies of all the remaining demons seemed to swell in size. The overall demonic aura never waned in strength, but the aura from each demon became even more concentrated. [Based on the effects of your attack, you have obtained the following information¡ª¡ª] [Desire Slave (Demon): Health Points 0/200; Defensive Power: 15; Attack Power (Type: Blunt) 20~30; Trait: Death Rattle; Mobility: 50%...] [Death Rattle: The moment each Desire Slave dies, it spreads its "pleasure" to other Desire Slaves within a certain range, driving the recipients even more frantic with the instant gratification. The effects of "Death Rattle" can stack, and each time a certain threshold of layers is exceeded, it will cause substantial power-ups! Current "Death Rattle" Effect (One-layer): Attack Power +1, Defensive Power +0.5.] "Death Rattle..." Bai E''s eyes were sharp. "So what if it is?" Only by eliminating these demons can the castle be completely purified. For every one slain, the rest of the demons would grow stronger. By the end, there might be a terrifyingly strong demon that surpassed everything else. But by then, what kind of exclusive enchanted blade might he possess? Gaining power through battle? Let''s try it then! "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" Sword light chaotically intertwined; Bai E, sword in hand, entered the fray alone. Countless crimson figures of demons fell in succession, determined to seek the ultimate thrill in their final moments, a transformation that transcended all experiences! Many demons had their eyes on the other survivors huddled in trembling groups in front of the Void Barrier. Not to be torn apart completely, to methodically deconstruct the flesh and bones of others before their eyes, to pull out intestines... even using the blood vessels to paint, was also an exhilarating new experience. Demons who still retained many human characteristics suddenly trembled with excitement at this unexpected thought, and roared as they charged towards the survivors. Among these survivors were also masters proficient in Spiritual Energy, but when facing these demons, they felt their limbs go weak, unable to exert even half their strength. "Puchi!" A blade slashed through flesh. Spikes growing on the scorpion-pincer-like claws easily tore open a ferocious and terrifying wound, and the Spiritual Energy user, in severe pain, squeezed towards the others behind them. "Why do I feel like my reactions are getting slower?" This sudden remark instantly resonated with everyone. "Me too! It feels like my limbs are getting heavier..." "I can barely lift my sword..." The defensive line formed by the Spiritual Energy users wavered under the relentless assault of the demons. The scene made the spectators watching from outside anxious and terrified. "These are demons of the Desire series! They naturally have a ''Sluggish Aura'' around them that numbs their opponents, and as their desires grow stronger, this effect intensifies. Even if we were to go in, we wouldn''t be able to avoid being affected by it," said the teacher instructing Morphie and Kiro Lan in a grave voice. Precise knowledge about demons like this is only known by seasoned exorcists from the Arbitration Place. "It''s his slaughter that''s amplifying the desires of those demons!" Arnold looked at the figure almost swallowed by the mass of demon Desire Slaves with complex emotions in his eyes. "We can''t let him continue killing!" "By the time he finishes, the other survivors will have been annihilated." "He could have waited for Morphie and Kiro Lan." "But those inside have no idea that Morphie and Kiro Lan have already started the rescue. If they don''t kill the demons, they will die themselves!" No matter what the people outside thought, they were unable to pass even the slightest message, and that was an even deeper layer of despair. "But why isn''t he affected?" Enveloped by countless demons, the sword light remained fierce, showing no signs of being "sluggish." No matter how many demons there were, they were all ended with a single stroke of his sword! In the midst of the melee, Bai E''s gaze remained cold and clear; he had sensed something was off long ago¡ª "Your will is as firm as a rock; with the aid of ''self-restraint,'' you have successfully passed a ''mental check.''" "You have successfully passed a mystical check, adding +0.1 to Mysticism." "You''ve sensed a special effect covering your body: the Aura of Slowness." "Aura of Slowness: While in its domain, your actions will gradually become slower, and as the ''Death Whisper'' stacks increase, the effect of this aura will strengthen. Current ''slowness'' effect: reflex attribute performance -10%." "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy provides an even more thorough analysis. The so-called Aura of Slowness is actually a twisted delay from thought to action. In this world, no one can completely escape the influence others have upon them. Therefore, when undertaking any action, everyone must consider its impact on others. The influenced individuals, in turn, may affect you. This back-and-forth consideration becomes the greatest hindrance to action. So-called slowness is the consideration of one''s own interests. So-called interest is the desire to ''gain.'' For these higher-dimensional demons, the effects manifested by laws are more direct and cannot be cleansed. Even with awareness, Bai E at first had no way of coping with such effects. None of his existing abilities could specifically weaken their influence on him. In the chaos of battle, the only countermeasure Bai E could think of was to continue enhancing his combat skills. As long as his martial prowess always surpassed the reactions of these demonic grunts, he would always have the upper hand against them. Until the "Magic Blade" was unlocked and solidified. So... "[Payment: Potential Points*4, Battle Experience 20,000 points.] "[Skill learned ¡ª Absolute Mastery.] "[Absolute Mastery: From now on, you may choose any specific weapon as the focus of your mastery. When wielding this weapon in combat, you can enhance your combat abilities with it as your proficiency increases. Current selected weapon: (To be chosen). Base bonus: (To be confirmed).]" When his gaze fell on the noble''s ceremonial rapier in his hand, the skill panel clearly marked the targeted category ¡ª Longsword. "[Selected weapon: Longsword.] "[Base bonus: Attack speed +50%.] "[Current Longsword proficiency 0/1000, ''Personal Style'' in formation...]" Swiftly increasing skill bonuses temporarily counteracted the intensified effects of the ''Aura of Slowness'', and every demon fell completely under the Longsword, contributing to Bai E''s continuous growth. "[Your attack hits the target, dealing 1000 points of critical damage!]" "[You have completely killed the target, gaining 10 battle experience points.]" As the targets'' health and defensive power became thicker and harder to kill, the experience they provided grew scarcer; Bai E began to make up for insufficient damage with ''Instant Kill Hundred Heads.'' But clearly, the combat power of these demons was continuously growing under the blessing of ''Death Whisper.'' "[Based on your attack results, you have obtained the following information¡ª] "[Desire Slave (Demon): Health Points 0/1000; defensive power: 25.5; attack power (type: blunt) 41~51; traits: Death Whisper; action speed: 70%...]" "[Death Whisper: ...current ''Death Whisper'' effect (twenty-one layers): attack power +21, defensive power +10.5, health points +800/800, action speed +20%.]" The only good news might be that his own abilities are also rapidly growing amidst the battle. "[The soul-devouring Magic Blade has absorbed a small portion of the target''s essence, and the special attack effect is generating 325/1000.]" "[Current Longsword proficiency 370/1000, ''Personal Style'' in formation...]" Not enough! Not enough! Killing them off one by one like this is too slow! He must reach his peak performance before these lesser foes grow strong enough to threaten him and before that true great demon lurking somewhere shows up! sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 610 - 610: 470 Flow state! It seemed as if Bai E''s determination was felt, as intense battle will stirred up the Spiritual Energy. In this place infinitely close to a true high-dimensional space, the performance of Spiritual Energy was more active than ever before. One stage of Spiritual Heart Passage, two stages of Heavenly Heart Connection. The basic effect, when added to Bai E, also exhibited a power far beyond the usual. Even the special talent from the Blood God, which was usually hard to trigger, was playing its role at this time¡ª "[Infinite rage ignites your soul, anger''s flames dominate your actions. With the blessing of ''Raging Fury'', your ''Reflex'' performance +3, due to special environmental factors, the actual performance bonus is: Reflex +1.5.]" The sword light is me, eradicating all filth! "Shua shua shua shua shua!" Bodies of demons were flung in front of Bai E, and as he cleaved another slave of desire in a moment, the ''Heavenly Eye'' Spiritual Energy, which decrypted everything around him all the time, instantly analyzed the origin of the opponent! Endless carnal desires and raucous laughter flooded Bai E''s mind in an instant, attempting to drown out his original consciousness. Analyzing the enemy, he was also contaminated by them. Ultimate carnal desire was also a kind of extreme human craving, with unspeakable acts washing over Bai E''s mind. However, a piercing sword light easily tore through the veil. Bai E''s gaze moved beyond the endlessly surging slaves of desire to the staircase entrance, where countless demonic soldiers with scorpion-like arms were howling and rushing over. The demons converted from the underground coliseum were not yet all dead; more flesh-devouring demons from the individual rooms on the second floor rushed down to join the fray. Bai E stood alone in front of all the survivors, but the power of one person was ultimately limited and couldn''t completely block the large archway''s gap. "Save... save us." A weak cry for help came from the crowd behind. "The person you''re protecting is about to lose their ground..." The only hope rested on Bai E, and the increasingly powerless survivors could only wish that the lone figure fighting would quickly resolve the battle. Or that, while still having some strength, he could spare a glance at the situation behind them. That was their last and only hope. But the demons that joined the fray almost completely submerged that solitary fighting figure. So much so that the originally sharp sword light was about to be drowned out for good, seeing only endless demons swarming towards the same spot, with the snow-white sword light no longer chaotic in people''s sight. "Is he going to die..." "Surrounded by so many demons, it''s impossible to survive..." Outside the barrier, a group of enforcers specialized in dealing with demons sighed in pity as they watched the figure being gradually swallowed by the demons, losing all sounds. They knew better than anyone the tricky nature of these demons. The strength of a single slave of desire, of course, wasn''t tough, but swarms of them coming together, with each death making all the remaining slaves stronger and also affecting humans, made these demons the most troublesome existence in large-scale battles. Without large-scale lethal means to kill them simultaneously, the slaves of desire left at the end would grow into super beings that even the enforcers would have difficulty dealing with alone. Frankly, if they were put in the same situation, they wouldn''t know what to do either. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Surrounded by demons, fighting alone. If truly alone, that would be one thing, but this valiant figure clearly intended to protect a special individual that he had carried out, not to mention a bunch of survivors dragging their feet that needed to be considered. "Where are Morphie and Kiro Lan?" "This warrior has held out for so long, why haven''t they arrived yet?" "If they don''t come soon, everyone will be dead!" Listening to those noisy voices, Aglaya, who seemed calm, clenched her hand tightly. It''s a pity... It''s a pity that Bai E awakened to his Spiritual Energy without self-awareness, and the city found out too late! If only it was known sooner that he had the capacity for Spiritual Energy, and had passed on some of the city-developed burst techniques unique to Spiritual Energy users, if only he could have learned one or two of them, perhaps in the face of such a predicament, there might have been a glimmer of hope. But now... The attributes of the slaves of desire were probably at their zenith. With the combat power he demonstrated at the beginning... there was no chance left. Moreover... Aglaya could clearly see the bodies of demons shattered by Bai E converging under a strange force. This convergence was no coincidence; even without seeing it, Aglaya could easily guess the reason behind this change. In the wake of Bai E''s rampant slaughter, the bodies of such low-level demons as the slaves of desire could no longer withstand the enhancement brought on by higher strata of "Death Whispers." And yet, the demonic aura within the entire castle was unprecedently strong, the power of those "Death Whispers" had nowhere to go, only higher-level demons could withstand the infusion of such force! Even the slaves of desire were not easily defeated, facing the higher-level demons that were about to appear, what could Bai E use to counter them? A deep sense of regret and remorse appeared in her sea-blue pupils, yet within the space wrapped into a spherical shape by the crimson creatures, a thread of white light suddenly struggled to emerge through those weak gaps! Aglaya, the first to notice this subtle change, suddenly widened her eyes. The void barrier isolated all sound and perception, aside from sight they knew nothing. Chapter 611 - 611: 470 Flow state!_2 Yet even though it was just an image, the conspicuous white light was definitely extraordinary. What is that! What has happened! ... The longsword had finally quenched its thirst on the blood of demons. [Current longsword proficiency 1005/1000, "Personal School Formation" is in progress...] It had been some time since Bai E sensed the power of these slaves of desire continuing to rise. The bodies of lower-level demons could only withstand so much power; they could not endlessly draw endless strength from the increasingly higher layers of "Last Words." They had reached their limits! Moreover, his newly acquired absolute mastery had finally accumulated enough proficiency to unlock the most basic so-called "combat school." The formation process of the personal school seemed instantaneous, yet in Bai E''s consciousness, it felt like a long time had passed. An invisible probing tentacle was searching through Bai E''s soul at that moment. The instant of school formation was constructed based on Bai E''s current emotions, abilities, understanding of the present situation, and the rough idea of breaking the game in his mind. This exploration of the self was incredibly fascinating. Bai E could clearly perceive this process but was unable to precisely control the direction of its development. [The formation of the current "Personal School" requires reliance on a certain existing ability, now attaching to: Rage Torrent.] [The current "Personal School" keywords: Burst, Group Attack.] All information flashed through his mind, and by the time Bai E understood it, his ability had already taken shape. ["Personal School" has formed.] [Absolute Mastery (Longsword) *Heartflow (Rank 1): When using a "longsword" type weapon and fully immersed in battle, you will enter the "Heartflow" state. In this state, you can perfectly manifest your understanding of combat and will completely ignore any external factors affecting you¡ªthe world must listen to the whispers of your heart! Any opponent who dares to face your inner world will suffer the wrathful counterattack from you. In the "Heartflow" state, your reflex performance is increased by +3 (Rank 1). Current progression to Rank 2: 5/3000.] Burst: Whenever your rage accumulates to a certain level, any target facing your inner self will suffer the violent backlash of your inner fury. The endless rage sweeps over everything like a towering wave, and the longsword becomes the sole vessel carrying it. Within a certain range, you can instantly deal a fatal blow to every target that probes your heart! Energy consumption: up to 50 points of Spiritual Energy.] The snow-white sword light burst out instantly with Bai E at its center. The boundless rage transformed into waves sweeping across the mortal realm, and the pulsing sword intent instantly swept across the entire first-floor hall. The stroke imbued with "Instant Kill Hundred Heads" was equally applied to every demon of desire under the influence of the Heartflow counterattack. Even without the additional conversion from the Exorcism Essential Oil, this strike, which reached the essence of the soul, still dealt devastating blows to these demons. The fierce flames that burned voraciously consumed the bodies of each demon of desire present in an instant, and the momentary sensation of being burned alive as they died made them feel an unprecedented scorching ascension. Their twisted desires made them find this strange shock infinitely pleasing, and the layers of "Last Words" almost instantly piled up to the point of exploding! An endless cold wind whirled above the entire atrium, and the dense black aura emitted an almost tangible shriek. Those beyond the barrier could not see the endless black aura that was only visible to the spiritual senses, nor the incessant winds that acted solely on the soul. All they could see was another dazzling sword light flashing before their eyes, and the next moment, all the demons of desire on the field were consumed by the surging flames. [The soul-devouring demonic blade has absorbed a small amount of the target essence, special attack effect is generating: 920/1000.] Sword cleanses evil spirits! Such terror! "This this this..." "What kind of move is this!" "I knew it, our mentor definitely held back when teaching us!" Morphie and Kiro Lan''s mentor''s eyes widened in confusion, his white eyeballs especially conspicuous on that black face, "I don''t know this either!" The information exchanged just a short while ago was clearly not precise; Arnold suddenly turned to look at the tall woman with a hint of dark blue in her hair not far away, "Was he not said to have received no training in Spiritual Energy?" Aglaya, too, widened her beautiful eyes. The dignity and pride that usually marked her face were now full of confusion, "I have never seen this move either..." Among all the spiritual energy tomes in Blackwater City, there was never a record of a similar move. Bai E could never have accepted the guidance of Spiritual Energy from Blackwater City! Had he come into contact with the Spiritual Energy guidance of other forces outside the city? Or had he self-created it? The former seemed unlikely, because if Bai E, with his strength, had truly been touched by other forces outside the city, they would hardly be willing to let such a formidable talent return to serve Blackwater City. Especially after teaching him such powerful Spiritual Energy techniques, they would be even less willing to tolerate such a loss. So, could it only be¡­ self-created? Indeed. If he had possessed such abilities all along, why would he have waited until this last moment to release them? The only explanation was that under the endless fierce attacks of the demons, Bai E had delved deeply into his own heart and, with Spiritual Energy as the guide, successfully created this terrifying move to annihilate evil demons. Those few ashes drifting down after being burned by the bodies of demons were the best medal for the heroic human at the gate. "This is too fierce, isn''t it?" "It seems we still have a chance to snatch back the space where this castle stands from the hands of demons!" Bai E''s astounding performance reignited a glimmer of hope in the hearts of the disheartened enforcers. But after only a brief attempt, the effort was once again defeated by reality. "Can''t break through, can''t break through at all!" "The barrier is as strong as before, with absolutely no sign of weakening." Aglaya, who stood not far from Arnold and also heard the reports from the enforcers, squinted her eyes slightly, "Of course there''s no change." Only some basic pawns died, which hardly touched the core. After all, the ones truly corrupted are not the individual humans who step into it; they are the enablers as well as the victims. The real target of corruption... is the castle itself, steeped deeply in countless desires! Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As long as the high-dimensional ripples echoing within the castle remain unabated, the Void Barrier maintained by high-dimensional forces will absolutely not weaken in the slightest. Even if Bai E used his newly awakened powers to cleanse the demons, a new wave of them would soon attack again. And with so many desire slaves dying at once, the "whisper" layers they provided would be terrifyingly high. The next enemy to appear... is likely the death sentence for everyone! "We can''t win this." Aglaya bit her lip gently, her gaze anxious. Her originally indifferent attitude had now undergone some clever changes. Bai E''s strength was undoubtedly formidable, and when piloting Mecha, he was even regarded as the War God of the military district, an important strategic force for the city''s outward expansion. But before dealing with external threats, one must secure the home front. Compared to external enemies, the demons that constantly coveted humans and infiltrated everywhere were an even greater threat to mankind''s heart, incurable and needing constant vigilance. In such a situation, Bai E, who had only awakened his Spiritual Energy but did not know how to wield it, could not provide much assistance to the city in the field of Spiritual Energy. If Kiro Lan and Morphie could take one person out, it would naturally have to be Weslin, the son of the city lord. Taking out just one person was already extremely difficult. Taking out two was even more insurmountable. Now, Aglaya had begun to waver regarding the single possible slot for escape. She had never expected Bai E to be able to make his mark in both piloting Mecha and the field of Spiritual Energy. In her heart, Bai E''s strength had already surpassed the status of Weslin, the son of the city lord. Unfortunately, Kiro Lan and Morphie had already gone in and currently could not be contacted. In the end, the choice would in fact depend on the preferences of the two youngsters themselves. Chapter 612 - 612: First doubt, then become 471 "We cannot be left here!" Feeling the difficulty of the demon before them, Kiro Lan became somewhat anxious. She did not know which part of the castle she and her companion had entered after breaking through the barrier, nor how far away they were from Bai E. All she knew was that this demonic invasion was out of the ordinary; Bai E was fighting a losing battle on his own, and if they didn''t escape the pursuit of the demon before them to reach Bai E''s side and get him out, they might all end up dying here! Even after spending considerable time learning and training, facing an invasion of this caliber was still a first in their lives. For two children, how much confidence, how much certainty could they have? A burning desire to help was the only reason why Kiro Lan, upon seeing Bai E also inside, had volunteered to enter. As for the instructions given by Aglaya and the others... if there was any strength left after rescuing Bai E, then they could consider trying to help the rest. "I know!" Morphie gritted his teeth, his war blade hacking away at everything around him. The black breath transformed into endless specters and demons, each phantom circling in the mist appeared both illusory and real, yet if their claws touched someone, it would cause a terrifying pain that seemed to bore into one''s bones. Morphie''s Spiritual Energy was nearly pushed to its limit, his attributes enhanced by Spiritual Energy allowed him to barely maintain an undefeated stance. "But you don''t seem to be in very good shape?" Like a flowing iridescent bubble, a round light shield protected Kiro Lan; the phantoms'' attacks were relentless, but futile against the shield. The light shield connected to Kiro Lan''s spiritual will allowed her to feel the force of the specters'' impacts. The attacks, realized by the authority of the world, turned into tangible assaults in this void realm, bombarding Kiro Lan''s spiritual world wave after wave. Calm was certainly out of the question, her face pale as death. Yet she knew Morphie''s combat strength; fighting against the same enemy, he should not have appeared so strained. He should have been cutting a swath through his foes! But facing the same adversary''s assault, his performance seemed even less tenable than hers. Kiro Lan bit her lip, looking towards the darkest part of the mist. Whether through spiritual perception or vision, the central area beneath the high platform was hard to fully scrutinize in her observation. She could just make out three... maybe four shadows entwined and swaying within it. It seemed that the central force had not been completely seized. Once the "struggling" shadows finished unifying their power, they would probably lose their ability to resist. Furthermore, once the highest demon completed its power consolidation, it would inevitably sweep through everything in the castle. By then, the entire castle being stripped from the real world and cast into higher-dimensional space would be an irretrievable event. Before that happened, they had to reach Bai E''s side and get him out! "Something''s not right about this place! It may be the core area where the entire castle has fallen!" Morphie responded through gritted teeth: "We need to find where the exit is!" The entire hall was shrouded in darkness; even with Spiritual Energy enhancement, they were unable to see through the fog that was purely demonic in nature. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This place already possessed some characteristics of higher-dimensional space. In that wondrous world, space was no longer in the conventional sense of north, south, east, and west; someone could be moving in what they believe to be one direction but, in the eyes of a true higher-dimensional being, they might as well be spinning in place. Without a "beacon" to guide them, those lost within would never find their desired direction. And with their abilities, breaking the concept of higher-dimensional space or the architecture of the castle itself was out of the question. Prior to arriving here, they had learned some basic information about this place from their teacher. That''s why they felt particularly desperate now. "Maybe I should try to lead the way?" Compared to Morphie, who was fully committed, Kiro Lan, cocooned in her light shield, seemed a bit more relaxed. Just as a person in a maze might have a slim chance of finding their way out by wandering, they too, if lucky enough, might possibly find a way out of this accursed place against all odds. "Okay!" Morphie trembled as he responded in the moment. A phantom unexpectedly slammed into his lower back and burst out from the front of his abdomen. The black mist solidified into something resembling a human head, which turned to look at Morphie. The sinister laughter sounded ethereal and mocking, and the pain tearing through his body and soul nearly drove Morphie to madness. Yet a persistent clarity inside him, crucial at that moment, violently cleansed his soul, relieving some of the intense pain. Morphie quickly regained his bearings and swung his war blade once more; traces of his past style began to reemerge within his movements. Initially, having observed combat techniques from a certain figure, and capable of delineating the underlying logic of their combat style, Morphie could instinctively overlay the observed tactics onto his current combat style. Having a photographic memory which allowed him to analyze and replicate the fighting methods he had seen, even if only in part, he could swiftly deduce all aspects of the adversary''s approach. Now, having accepted a gift from that person once again, his struggle against those ghostly apparitions seemed to become much easier. Chapter 613 - 613: First doubt, then become 471 Morphie, engrossed in battle, had no time to attend to the emotions in his heart. When faced with adversity, his instinctive choices superseded all his thoughts at the moment. "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" The light from the blades became more intense, dancing together to form a curtain. The confidence that came with battle reignited the light in Morphie''s eyes. ''I can do it! I can do it!'' ''What he couldn''t accomplish, I can!'' ''I will take everyone out of here!'' ''This time, I am everyone''s savior!'' "Swoosh!" A ring of blade light flashed past, temporarily clearing out all the phantoms within a large area. Even the omnipresent dark mist was swept away for a short while. Devoid of the black miasma and not truly being a high-dimensional space, a small area within this illusory realm momentarily revealed its original form. "It looks like there''s someone over there!" Morphie pointed in a direction, his expression somewhat surprised. Living people! And they hadn''t been corrupted by the demons! The space Morphie had cleared with his attack was like a faint firefly''s light in the endless darkness¡ªdim and fleeting, but in this dark world, it was undoubtedly the "beacon of light" for everyone. Guided by her Spiritual Energy senses, Gu Lan instantly noticed this momentary change. Her level of Spiritual Energy was slightly stronger than Gong Yan''s, and she was better at combat and capturing intuitive insights in split seconds. At times like this, the entire player team almost depended on her for navigation. "There is ''light'' over there! Maybe someone has come to save us!" "It could be the War God!" Gong Yan''s eyes lit up. In this place, only the War God could possibly save them from peril. They had all seen the silhouette of the War God when he made his breakthrough just now. It''s just a pity that it seemed the War God hadn''t seen them, and considering they had to take care of Kuang Xin, who was trapped with the three aberrant sources'' "slaves", they hadn''t chosen to run away immediately. But who could have known that the situation here would become so rapid and dire. Now they couldn''t rescue Kuang Xin, and it seemed they also had a hard time escaping. "Let''s move towards that direction! Quick!" The brief flash of light was enough to serve as a temporary "beacon". Even if it went out, it could support them to move a few steps within the fog. They were not afraid of slow progress, only of the absence of hope. Of course, they also weren''t very afraid¡ªafter all, the worst outcome was just waiting three days for a reset. Hehe~ "What about Kuang Xin?" "Never mind him! Let him fend for himself, it''s better for one to die than for all of us. If we survive, when he revives and finds us, at least we can still help him out." Dai Lian made the most rational decision, and directly ordered, "Wen Jie, you and Zhou stand in the middle of us, we''ll protect you!" Wen Jie was the weakest in terms of combat power, and Zhou hadn''t cultivated Spiritual Energy, being purely a master of physical skills. In a domain against demons, Zhou, the strongest fighter in the team, had far less presence than any member of the player team. Even Dai Lian, who had no talent for Spiritual Energy, had exchanged the option to cultivate Spiritual Energy with the War God. "Okay!" Wen Jie grasped Zhou''s hand, feeling her big sister''s palm for the first time so cold. Gu Lan, Gong Yan, and Dai Lian formed a circle, standing at the outside, holding hands to face the onslaught of howling phantoms¡ªtogether, hand in hand, was the only way they wouldn''t get separated in this eerie place. And under the lead of Gu Lan at the forefront, they could also move a few steps whenever the distant faint light occasionally flickered on. Facing the endless assault of phantom shadows, Gong Yan tightly clutched a small banner in her hand, casting a faint light that shielded the entire team, offering them fragile protection. Wielding the Longsword, Gu Lan energized its blade with Spiritual Energy, occasionally managing to disrupt one or two of the attacking shadows. Apart from that, the endless phantoms seemed to pass in and out of their bodies, each passage forcing them to make a willpower check and determining what they would lose¡ªperhaps Spiritual Energy, perhaps their reserve of movement, or possibly even life itself. Their level of Spiritual Energy was basically at the stage where they treated it like mana, with only Gong Yan and Gu Lan capable of using some of the skills from their Spiritual Energy talent. As the two groups hurried toward each other from opposite directions, they quickly converged. Seeing that their targets were only five "ordinary people," Kiro Lan and Morphie were momentarily taken aback. But they showed no displeasure or disappointment; Morphie even smiled warmly at the five, "It''s okay, you''ve been rescued. Follow me, and I''ll lead you out!" That was the feeling the great one had given him, so warm and reassuring. Morphie would never forget that feeling, and when facing others, he subconsciously imitated it. Seeing that their rescuers were just two childlike figures, Dai Lian, Gu Lan, and the others were stunned. This was not quite what they had expected... However, seeing the child make such an adult declaration, the five of them couldn''t help but feel a certain trust. ''Maybe these two really have some strength.'' ''That makes sense. How could a major city''s core building not have a few experts in residence? So these two are the experts, though they look...not very tall.'' "Keep up," Morphie waved his sword and turned toward a certain direction. His trust in a certain figure''s battle techniques grew stronger, and it seemed to become easier to face the phantoms. Every slash he made effortlessly cleared a large area of space, dispelling the demons'' presence. With Morphie taking the lead, Kiro Lan sheltered under the protective spell immediately felt much more at ease. Glancing over his shoulder at the few people following, Kiro Lan paused slightly, his gaze focusing on the object in Gong Yan''s hand¡ªa flag supported by an iron rod with a piece of cloth. Upon seeing that item, his keen Spiritual Energy talent immediately analyzed all the details of the target. After a brief hesitation, Kiro Lan concentrated on casting a spell, and under the focus of Spiritual Energy, an orb of light floated up from above his head. The warm glow, like a veil of light, gently enveloped everyone present. The players were the most aware of this ability; as soon as they were covered by the veil of light, the rate of willpower checks caused by the impact of the phantoms visibly decreased, the probability of failing the checks also dropped significantly, and the Spiritual Energy, movement reserves, and even health that they had lost began to slowly recover under the illumination of the light orb. Under a more advanced ability, the small banner in Gong Yan''s hand suddenly seemed dull and lackluster. Feeling this sudden surge of power, everyone''s gaze turned in astonishment to the seemingly frail girl. Dai Lian exclaimed in a low voice, "So fierce!" "Indeed..." Gu Lan glanced at the light orb above everyone''s heads and then at the small flag in Gong Yan''s hand, "NPCs are just fierce." The orb not only offered everyone more effective protection from the phantoms but also lit up the area around them to some extent. Even the invasive black demonic presence, which seemed to penetrate everywhere, struggled to enter when it encountered the light spread by the orb as if it had come across some kind of barrier. Under the orb''s cover, even their vision into the black fog seemed to clear up a bit. With Kiro Lan''s support from behind, Morphie seemed even more like a War God, striding confidently in the chosen direction, his voice rousing and uplifting. "The exit is right ahead, let''s get out of here first!" "Squeak!" The simple door was violently burst open, and the wandering monster at the entrance appeared stunned by the sudden appearance of living beings. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was also the players'' first glimpse of a demon''s true form¡ª The demon, entirely red, had a tall figure, muscular thighs, a slender waist, and a robust chest, with two horns curving upwards on its forehead. Its gait was swaying, like a dancing girl, full of grace and charm, easily arousing endless desires within humans. "So seductive..." "But also so weird..." "Don''t get entangled with them! The real battlefield is on the first floor! There''s a hole down there! Jump in!" Morphie, leading the way, headed straight for the irregular hole in the center of the hall. Chapter 614 - 614: Can Bai E achieve 472? Morphie, holding his battle saber, hacked down at the approaching Desire Slave in front of him. The Desire Slave, which was out of range and not blessed with "Death Speech," only had its initial strength and was almost powerless against Morphie''s slash. "Hurry up!" Dai Lian called to everyone to quickly catch up, only Gong Yan, who was at the back, turned to look at the auction hall they had escaped from. Kuang Xin was still inside, his condition unknown. The pitch-black mist was like some sort of inherent barrier, precisely stopping at the boundary of the auction house''s doors, with a mysterious and elusive aura within. Occasional tendrils of roiling mist reached out, but the ghostly shadows hidden within showed not a trace. The feeling of being in the fog just moments before echoed in their hearts, but that very real sensation always seemed to be blocked by something, like scratching an itch through a boot, making it impossible to truly immerse oneself... ''Strange...'' S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Keep up!" Morphie cleared the way at the front and, seeing a figure lagging behind, couldn''t help but call out. If they were to rescue, they naturally couldn''t let anyone die! When did Bai E, when saving others, ever abandon anyone? "I''m coming!" Gong Yan replied immediately, running to keep up. Everyone''s physique was now far beyond that of ordinary people; a platform several meters high posed no challenge to them. Jumping down instantaneously from the high corridor''s edge, the floor beneath them was the lowest level of the building. The elevator had long been damaged, and at the staircase entrance on the side, there were many bones and demon infantry lurking; to get to the first floor as quickly as possible, this huge hole was the fastest and safest way. Surrounding the hole, Morphie and Kiro Lan looked somewhat astonished. They were familiar with the castle''s construction techniques and knew that with their abilities they could not disturb any inherent wall within the building in a short time, yet the power that had punched through the flooring between two levels was hard for them to accept. "Was it him?" Morphie''s expression was complicated. His emotions made him want to believe it was the work of demons, yet reason told him that the only one capable of this feat here, apart from Bai E, was none other! Had Bai E''s physical abilities already reached this terrifying level? But unfortunately, even the strongest physical skills were insufficient against demons. Bai E was devoid of Spiritual Energy talents; back when he saved them, it was by using Exorcism Essential Oil obtained from gods-knows-where, plus arousing everyone''s will to resist, that they successfully fended off that terrifying demon. Now, within the demon''s domain, only he was the true savior! ''This time, it''s my turn to save you!'' Glancing at Kiro Lan who was closely following him, Morphie cast aside distracting thoughts and peered through the giant hole in the floor to observe the situation on the layer below. The numerous Desire Slaves still roamed beneath, trying to spot any human figure that could provide them with a bit of fun. Without looking behind, Morphie backhandedly sliced off the arm of a Desire Slave and then with a spinning back-kick, he sent the one-armed Desire Slave flying towards other oncoming Desire Slaves. The kicked Desire Slave barreled into several others in pursuit, and Morphie''s gaze swiftly swept around. Looking at his companions forming a circle, he said, "I''ll go down first to clear the way; you guys follow quickly! Don''t be afraid, I''ll be below to cover you. Got it?" Morphie''s gaze fell on the leader-like figure among the few people he had just saved, the one who seemed the most mature, the Wolf-Scorpion, "Do you understand?" Wolf-Scorpion nodded blankly and replied, "Understood." But as someone who came from an ordinary city fight club, when had she ever seen such a spectacle? Her own abilities were almost useless against demons, so besides running, there was little help she could offer; not getting in the way was her highest expectation for herself. "Good!" Morphie nodded and leaped down. The group did not tangle, killing the Desire Slaves they could and repelling those they could not, single-mindedly heading for the first floor to meet the survivors. Regular Desire Slaves on the floors were no match for Morphie''s war saber until they dropped to the second level, where for the first time a four-legged demon with lower limbs like crab pincers blocked the blow Morphie aimed with his battle saber. Even as Morphie subconsciously increased his Spiritual Energy output, the four claw-like pincers still firmly gripped the saber, and for the first time, his advance was halted. "Clack!" "Clack!" Sounds of landing came from behind; Morphie grew impatient, withdrew his saber with a flick of his wrist, and the blade furiously burned with Spiritual Energy. Under the intense stirring of Spiritual Energy, the surface of the war saber seemed to be coated with a layer of orange, scorching flames. Morphie leaped on the spot, soaring high, and with the next slash, the four-clawed demon''s raised pincers cut as easily as butter under a hot knife. "Hiss!" Steam rose as several cut pieces of claw helplessly fell from the air. Kiro Lan behind Morphie mustered his Spiritual Energy and thrust out a palm. A palm strike at Morphie''s back came with an extra boost provided by Kiro Lan; Morphie pulled out his saber and spun around to strike again. As he hacked, the size of the saber greatly increased; the four-legged demon, twice the size of a normal person, was hit on the shoulder with the blow, emitting a sound of perverse and eerie ecstasy. "There are more behind!" "And to the left!" Chapter 615 - 615: Can Bai E achieve 472?_2 The people who landed later, including Dai Lian, immediately noticed in the other corners of the second-floor hall, several demons of the same kind entangled with Morphie were rushing towards them. The types of demons on the second floor were clearly entirely different from those on the upper floors, with a stature twice or thrice the size of ordinary people, and a form with four arms and four legs, making them appear quite menacing. Moreover, even this NPC, who seemed quite formidable in their eyes, could not quickly eliminate a single one; wouldn''t they be directly doomed if it were up to them to fight? "I''ll hold it off! You all run ahead!" Morphie kicked back the four-legged demon mid-air, tumbling down from the sky with exceptional agility. Apart from the one in front of him, there was only one other demon left between them and the hole in the floor leading to the first level. While these newly emerged demons were certainly powerful, facing one was still preferable to being attacked from all directions by even more demons. Staying put and resisting was undoubtedly akin to waiting for death, their only chance was to quickly reach the hole and jump down to the first floor. "Follow me!" Kiro Lan made a snap decision, and even before Morphie could speak, he had already acted, leading the others past Morphie''s side towards the front. As he walked, Kiro Lan stretched out his left hand and drew a circle with his right hand above it, and then a pale blue orb instantly formed. The orb was dazzling, emitting a faint coldness. As the four-armed demon with pincer-like arms raised them high, Kiro Lan thrust his left hand forward violently, and the orb hovering above his palm was instantly propelled forward, crashing into the demon''s chest. Amidst the "crackling" sound, layers of frost spread from where the orb had hit to the rest of the demon''s body. However, with a shiver, the demon shook off the frost, the ice crystals scattering into the air and vanishing before they could hit the ground. The impact of the orb did not slow down the four-legged demon for long, and those following closely behind Dai Lian knew they could not simply wait to be killed. Gu Lan took out her Spiritual Energy handgun from the root of her thigh, while Dai Lian bent his bow and notched an arrow, with Spiritual Energy raging within him, driving his skills. A powerful strike was the strongest attack he could deliver. Gong Yan was following close by, directing her Spiritual Energy onto the arrow nocked by Dai Lian. As they became more familiar with their cooperation and the development of their Spiritual Energy, their combined attack abilities occasionally showed their power. "Whoosh!" A tearing gust followed the arrow, and as the four-legged demon gazed at the bowling-ball-sized hole in its chest, its blood-red eyes suddenly fixed on Dai Lian, who had delivered the shot. The demon''s face, androgynous yet somewhat human-like, twisted into a strange smile, after which it moved its four crab-like legs forward, charging at Dai Lian like a war chariot gone mad. "Whoosh!" A streak of light flashed by, the ensuing wind lifting the edges of everyone''s clothes. Standing atop the corpse of the first four-legged demon, Morphie still held a bow of light, the bowstring now empty. Clearly, the arrow of light had just been shot by him. An opening the size of a bowl appeared right in the center of the forehead of the demon blocking their way, its body frozen still. After pausing for a moment, it crashed backward onto the floor, shaking the boards. "Move quickly!" Morphie''s expression was cold, void of any joy. As the two four-legged demons fell dead, he could clearly sense the surge in the aura of the remaining demons. The "Death Whisper" trait possessed by common thralls was naturally also present in these higher-level demons. And due to their rank, the enhancements these high-level demons could bring to their cohorts were even more terrifying! "Understood!" Kiro Lan charged forward, leading by example. With Morphie covering their retreat, there was no doubt that only she could pioneer their escape. Morphie, who was now in the rear, drew his bow of light once more, glancing back at the other demons and catching sight of Dai Lian''s side profile. There was a hint of strangeness in his eyes. In the hands of these seemingly unremarkable folks were techniques of such a high level. Inspiring flags and that extraordinary arrow... Both he and Kiro Lan could analyze all aspects of the skills used by these people the moment they made their moves; they just didn''t expect these individuals to wield abilities that were so unexpectedly useful. If they hadn''t learned these two techniques for using Spiritual Energy on the fly, their journey would not have been so easy. "Whoosh!" Another arrow... And another... And another... Under the volley of three arrows, another four-legged demon that had been strengthened by two layers of "Death Language" collapsed with a boom. "Morphie! Come quickly!" "Got it!" The falling of the corpse was like welcoming the new king of this place. With the bow of light in hand, Morphie felt he took another step closer to becoming the savior of this place! Apart from the excessive consumption of Spiritual Energy, he felt his condition had never been better. He couldn''t help but wonder if even their teacher, if personally present, could kill such demons as swiftly as he had? Could you still do it, my lord? Several figures fell one after another; the moment they landed, Morphie, holding the bow of light, vigilantly looked around, ready to guard against any potential demonic attacks. However, after scanning his surroundings, there was not a single tall figure attacking. Instead, a dark shadow flying backwards quickly enlarged in front of his eyes and was caught by Kiro Lan with Spiritual Energy, slowly lowering to the ground¡ª a freshly dead four-legged demon corpse. The dead four-legged demon looked extraordinarily serene, with a slash that nearly bisected its entire body. Only upon seeing the scene on the first floor did Morphie gasp in shock. Corpses... corpses... They were all corpses. A pile of four-legged demon corpses lay scattered around the vast first-floor hall like trash. Some of the demon corpses were already starting to dissipate at the edges, indicating that the nature of their high-dimensional space was being reclaimed, thus brewing new and even higher-level demons. Five... ten... or twenty, thirty? "Gulp!" Morphie subconsciously swallowed, looking for the mighty being who had accomplished all this. Although he had his suspicions, he was entirely unwilling to accept them. But beyond that group of people huddling in the corner, shivering, there was only one figure with a sword standing in the center of the hall in front of the archway... Bai E. ... "They''ve regrouped!" With the demonic bodies no longer obstructing the view, through the spacious archway, the people outside could clearly see most of what was happening in the castle''s first-floor hall. Seeing the legendary War God of the military district use an ordinary noble''s decorative longsword to pierce through the constantly surging elite demons, and realizing that Morphie and Kiro Lan, whose whereabouts had been unknown, were also on the first floor, everyone outside breathed a sigh of relief. All eyes of the Observers converged on the figure holding the longsword, filled with deep reverence. "He can even kill the Sons of Desire like dogs; what is the background of this person?" "I heard his name is Bai E, the War God of the military district that has been very popular lately." "Isn''t he a god of mecha piloting? How come he''s also an expert in dealing with demons?" ''He''s not an expert,'' Aglaya thought, her gaze flickering, ''Not an expert at demon confrontation, especially at the beginning, he appeared particularly unfamiliar.'' With the terrifying dominance he displayed at the end against the Sons of Desire, he would not have performed so poorly against those servants of desire at the start. He had simply broken through his limits in the battle with the demons and swiftly made adjustments to the characteristics of his Spiritual Energy, which allowed him to display fearsome combat skills in a short time. A natural-born warrior who can rapidly learn from battle experiences! No wonder this ordinary synthetic man could rise so rapidly in the military, astonishing everyone, to the point that even she had to view him in a new light. However... ''The next step will depend on Morphie and Kiro Lan''s decisions...'' With the imminent threat temporarily cleared, Kiro Lan and Morphie, both possessing the ability to break through dimensions, likely couldn''t move in and out without restraint¡ªhaving enough strength left to only carry one person, they must make a choice. The only instruction given to them by themselves and their teacher before entering was¡ª Bring out Weslin. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 616 - 616: 473 Demon-Expelling Grand Array Weslin''s condition was poor, his limp body supported by a spiritual energy practitioner. Knowing that this man was the one War God Bai E was sworn to protect, Weslin became their primary target to protect while Bai E valiantly battled against a horde of demons. Even during the most ferocious onslaught by those creature slaves, two of the strongest spiritual energy practitioners always guarded Weslin''s side. Now that the situation seemed temporarily settled, the spiritual energy practitioner supporting Weslin managed to make his way to Bai E''s side with difficulty, "My Lord, I have not failed you." With one hand, Bai E received Weslin and, sensing the latter''s feeble state, "Heavenly Eye" spiritual energy made a quick revolution around him. However, some invisible force emanating from within the man''s body resisted, making it difficult for Bai E''s spiritual energy to penetrate deeply. Everyone has their own "life force field," and the more robust one''s vitality, spirit, and mind, the larger this field tends to be. Although spiritual energy is mysterious, unless one''s realm is far superior, it is quite difficult to directly take effect within someone else''s "life force field." Even though Bai E could effectively have infinite mana, his realm might not necessarily be higher than Weslin''s own level. Facing resistance from the other''s self-conscious life force field, it was hard to forcefully break through and inspect the condition of his body. It was also unclear what impact the "black breath" that had previously penetrated his body would have on him. Moreover... that terrifying heartbeat that had resonated before those demon entities had truly appeared was still of an unknown status at the moment. The danger was far from over. Looking at Morphie and Kiro Lan, who had just jumped down from the second floor, Bai E''s gaze swept over the players behind them before settling on Morphie''s face, "How did you get in here?" "The news of the demon corruption here spread immediately throughout the city. The Arbitration Place''s people gathered outside at once." Facing Bai E once again, Morphie tried to muster all his courage, hoping to maintain an equal stance with his chest out in front of this man. Only what he himself didn''t notice was that his supposedly firm and stable voice involuntarily quivered slightly. The four-legged demons that Morphie found quite a challenge to kill were slaughtered like pigs in the presence of Bai E. The disparity in strength couldn''t have been more obvious. Standing slightly behind Morphie, Kiro Lan took a step forward, his eyes filled with a fervent admiration as he looked at Bai E, "But due to some special reasons, they were unable to break through and enter this place, which is currently in a special state. Only Morphie and I, who were completely unaware of this matter beforehand, were able to cross the barrier and enter." After openly sharing these details, Kiro Lan channelled his spiritual energy for confidential communication, "People outside can see in through that archway behind you; be mindful to conceal anything you''d prefer not to expose." Upon hearing Kiro Lan''s reminder, Bai E''s expression remained unfazed, simply nodding slightly to show he understood. "Then what can you do now? And how are we going to get out?" Kiro Lan proactively stepped forward and took Weslin''s body from Bai E''s hands. Gentle spiritual energy transformed into healing power, softly nourishing the marshal''s depleted vitality, "Our mission is to get him out. He''s the son of the city lord; if he dies, the Arbitration Place won''t be able to withstand the city lord''s wrath." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having laid eyes on Bai E and seeing that even in such dangerous circumstances he still possessed the power to slay enemies left and right, the urgency that Kiro Lan had previously felt eased somewhat. The Lord was always like this... Even when everyone was in desperation, he stood like a pillar holding up the sky, never wavering. "Then let''s get him out first," Bai E handed Weslin over to Kiro Lan completely, feeling somewhat relieved. The bodies of the four-legged demons he had slain were dissipating, returning to the pure essence of high-dimensional space. However, in places dense with emotion, the essence of high-dimensional space would inevitably follow certain intrinsic laws, transforming into demons bound by those rules. The four-legged demons were not the ultimate crisis; an even more formidable wave of demons was brewing! "What about you?" Blocked by Bai E''s silhouette, Kiro Lan looked up, his eyes as gentle as water, fixed on Bai E''s face, and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "With our current abilities, at most we can take one person with us. If we take him, what will you do?" "How would they, the Arbitration Place, resolve such a matter?" Bai E originated from a wild background, without any systematic study. When it came to knowledge about demons, these two kids sent to the Heretical Arbitration House certainly knew more. When it came to his field of study, Morphie stepped forward confidently, "They wouldn''t be able to do anything." "..." ??? "Everyone who knows of the existence of this castle is, in some abstract way, a source of power for it. Naturally, a source cannot sever itself; only we can!" "Then you..." "We can take someone and leave this place!" "..." Fine. "Actually, there is a way..." Kiro Lan said softly, his expression grave, "If you can buy me enough time to inscribe an Array, I think I can completely purify this fallen castle. However, it will take a long time, and... I can''t guarantee absolute success. If we fail, we will all actually fall into high-dimensional space. In the realm of high-dimensional demons, it will be hard for us to find our way back..." Chapter 617 - 617: 473 Demon-Expelling Grand Array_2 The secret message, unknown to others, once again rang directly in Bai E''s mind, "So, shall we take you out after all? Morphie and I are among the rarest top talents in the city, and no matter how furious the city lord gets, it won''t affect us." Barriers blocked everything, and apart from images, nothing else could be seen. And just the children''s faces were completely obscured by Bai E''s back, making it impossible for even an expert in lip-reading to know what the people inside were actually saying. Aglaya frowned with some hesitation. On one hand, she hoped the two kids would act according to the instructions given before entering, which would definitely not cause any trouble. The death of a so-called War God of the Military District in exchange for the life of the city lord''s son seemed quite a bargain. But now... the strength of this Military District War God was outrageous. Most importantly, it hadn''t been long since his rise from birth to prominence. And his terrifying ascent during the fight against demons had happened right before her eyes. The potential for the future was unimaginable. It was the first time Aglaya felt that an individual''s strength could possibly overturn the world Order. If there were truly no hope, she wouldn''t hesitate or struggle with the decision. But these two kids had been saved by Bai E initially, and they seemed to share a deep bond at first; had it not been for her intervention, they might have maintained close contact to this day. Now... if the two kids still remembered their initial bond and chose to help Bai E escape, she truly didn''t know whether to be happy or scared. Of course, if they made that choice, it would definitely be bad news for the Arbitration Place... As the organization fully responsible for this incident, they would be the primary entity directly accountable to the city lord. Seeing Kiro Lan holding Weslin''s body motionless for a long while, Arnold grew anxious. "What are you hesitating for? Have you not already captured the person? Hurry up and come out!" The crisis within the castle was far from over, which was known to everyone. The longer one stayed, the harder it would be to escape. No one knew when the demonic presence inside would build up to a breaking point. If it exploded, with the kids'' current strength, it might not be enough to secure their escape. "Hurry up and move!" ... "Morphie and I joining forces can only send one person through the breach, and as the pathfinder, he must go first, but in the final moments, I can break away and return. I don''t know what you''ll choose, but if you truly want to save everything in this castle... this time, I''ll stand by you," Kiro Lan said, looking at Bai E with a gentle gaze, willing to sacrifice everything rather than see Bai E fight alone. "Even if all the demons are slaughtered, it won''t work?" Bai E asked curiously, as this was his initial thought. "It won''t work..." Kiro Lan shook his head slightly, "The demon''s aura has already filled this castle, and mere killing can''t purify it completely. Only the Demon-Expelling Grand Array, empowered with the Power of Laws, can eradicate the aura of desire from the foundations of the castle." "Does the Formation have to be executed by you?" Bai E narrowed his eyes, spotting an opportunity in the details. "In the entire Arbitration Place, fewer than five people have learned this Grand Array..." Kiro Lan shook his head, his gaze firm as he looked at Bai E, "And among those present, I am the only one." Morphie stood behind Kiro Lan, his gaze complex as he stared at Kiro Lan''s back. A feeling he had suppressed in his heart surged up again in an instant. There were things Kiro Lan hadn''t said; only he knew how difficult it was to accomplish what seemed to be a simple statement. The demons'' strength would keep increasing, and it was uncertain when the master of the black fog in the auction house would achieve unification. Moreover, Kiro Lan was alone in setting up the Grand Array, while dealing with the endless erosion of "desire" at this place, and the duration was unknown. Most importantly, to successfully activate the Grand Array in the end, the required Spiritual Energy was beyond Kiro Lan''s current capacity. Only after managing to advance to the third rank of Spiritual Energy would she stand a chance to succeed with great difficulty. With such a decision, Kiro Lan was almost resolved to share fate with her superior. Either succeed in breaking through and triggering the grand array or fall into the high-dimensional abyss with Bai E. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this thought, Morphie couldn''t help but interrupt, "Kiro Lan, you know that even if you can successfully inscribe it, you won''t be able to activate the array! You need to advance to the third rank before your Spiritual Energy is sufficient to sustain the consumption of the grand array. Only you can inscribe and power the array, and there''s no way I can be of any help." But if Kiro Lan really insisted... he could only accompany her to the end. "Not necessarily," Bai E''s mouth curved into a slight smile, "Perhaps you can try to cast it now." Learn a skill? I''m all too good at that. As for the consumption of Spiritual Energy? Let''s see how much "mana" this so-called grand array can drain from me. Seeing that confident smile reappear on Bai E''s face, as if controlling everything, the two children who had originally prepared for certain death once again saw the brilliant savior who had pulled them from despair. Morphie clenched his teeth hard, shaking his head in an attempt to shake off the involuntary admiration rising in his heart. "Let''s begin," Bai Chu tossed his longsword lightly, his tone somewhat cheery, "The next wave of demonic attacks will come soon, let''s act during this quiet period!" Kiro Lan nodded vigorously, believing with all her heart, "Yes!" "Go guard her," Bai E said to Morphie with a smile, his face solemn, "Don''t let her suffer any harm, I believe you can do it." Feeling the trusting gaze of Bai E, Morphie''s mouth tightened slightly, with a hint of soreness in his eyes. Yet stubbornly shaking his head, he followed Kiro Lan away, leaving only his voice trailing from afar, "Of course!" The action finally beginning inside startled all the onlookers. The two children who had been picked by Weslin did neither follow the original plan of sending him out nor did they send out the notably outstanding War God. The unusual behavior left Aglaya, who was mentally prepared to make a choice between the two, somewhat confused. But as Kiro Lan, who had almost run out of sight, began using Spiritual Energy to sketch something, Arnold, Aglaya, and the teacher of the two children were all momentarily stunned, realizing something. "She''s inscribing the Demon-Expelling Grand Array!" "She''s mastered this grand array?" Aglaya''s incredulous gaze turned to the children''s mentor. The mentor wore a pained expression, "She has learned it, true... but that''s limited to inscribing. To activate it, her current level is far from enough. Unless..." Arnold, impatient, promptly asked, "Unless what?" "Unless she can break through her own limits in endless tempering and advance to become a third-rank Spiritual Energy wielder! Otherwise, the inscribed array will just be a soulless skeleton." When inscribing the array, one must immerse their entire mind and spirit into it. And since the goal is to purify the entire castle, during the inscribing process, one needs to continuously combat the sin and desires soaked into every inch of the castle walls with their willpower. This process will forge the individual''s will to the fullest extent, and its effect on the cultivation of Spiritual Energy is also significant. If the inscribing is indeed successful, there might be a chance to break through with such tempering. But that''s only if the inscription is successful. If it fails, it''s doomed forever! "...The sin and desires will instantly invade Kiro Lan''s body, and then it will be her, mutated into a demon, who becomes the greatest enemy of everyone inside!" Of course... if that really happened, there would be no need to consider the consequences anymore. Without Kiro Lan''s help, Morphie alone wouldn''t be able to break the bounds and leave. Everyone in the castle would tumble into high-dimensional space, at which point it wouldn''t matter who the enemy is. "How could they be so reckless!" Arnold slammed a hand against the wall beside him, causing stones to fly. Chapter 618 - 618: 474 Big Devil! Kiro Lan mysteriously produced an engraving knife imbued with Spiritual Energy. The moment its tip, filled with Spiritual Energy, pierced the wall for the first time, an invisible shock instantly shot through Kiro Lan''s entire body. At first, the shock was minor. After a barely perceptible shake of her body, Kiro Lan continued with a serious face, her small hand tightly grasping the knife as she slowly traced the design. Bai E stood not too far away, with his "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy enveloping everything within its range. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within the Heavenly Eye, everything could be seen clearly. However, the extent of knowledge one gained through it was limited by the user''s own breadth of understanding. If everything could be analyzed and learned, then the original owner of "Heavenly Eye," the spiritual practitioner Pansen, would have long become an all-knowing deity. At the moment, the grand formation that Kiro Lan was depicting was also beyond Bai E''s basic knowledge. He could only "see" that, under the influence of Spiritual Energy, lines containing some peculiar rules were being slowly drawn out. It was as if they were being engraved directly into the void, detached from the physical walls of the castle, lighting up a line that snaked through the pitch-black world of his mind like a luminous serpent. He could also "see" the backlash from the "wall" entering Kiro Lan''s body bit by bit through her act of engraving. And as the scale of the engraving grew, so did the accumulation of the backlash''s essence within Kiro Lan''s body. But his role was irrelevant; this challenge was one that only Kiro Lan could face on her own. Bai E didn''t know how long Kiro Lan could withstand it, but he knew one thing¡ª Relying on the "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy, he clearly couldn''t cheat and learn on the spot. He couldn''t just coast along without effort. [You are observing a demonstration of a professional formation. Should you gain any insights...] [Tutorial: Sensing the professional skills of the other party, you are determined to pay a certain price (combat experience/general experience) to learn the corresponding abilities. Note: The skills demonstrated by the target are too advanced; you need to pay more to speed up the understanding of this ability.] Add, add, add! It''s just experience. He had over twenty thousand points of it saved up, and the skirmish he had just now netted another three thousand points of combat experience. As long as he could master a new ability, experience existed for this very purpose! [You are paying combat experience to understand and memorize the array being depicted by the target...] [The target has successfully completed a node, node record +1.] "Ding~" With the completion of the first node, a soft chime suddenly rang within his spiritual senses. In the dark expanse of his mental world, the end of the snaking luminous line suddenly lit up with a bright star. Bai E, who had been observing constantly, discovered the sudden change immediately with his "Heavenly Eye"¡ª A denser black essence surged out from where Kiro Lan''s knife was carving, tracing back along the knife and violently rushing into Kiro Lan''s body. The impact was relentless, yet Kiro Lan, who was holding the knife, couldn''t withdraw even a fraction. To relax now would waste all her previous efforts. Faced with the abnormal impact, Kiro Lan''s complexion turned pale, and she involuntarily let out a muffled groan. Yet, the hand holding the knife never halted, always moving forward. "She can''t handle it! She won''t last!" Through the wide archway, the external tutors, clearly anxious, could be seen moving. Inscribing the Demon-Expelling Grand Array across the entire castle was akin to filtering the ultimate desires causing the castle''s corruption with one''s own will, first and foremost. It was hard to imagine the strength of will needed to complete such an unimaginable feat. Indeed, maintaining a clear mind under fierce confrontation was a rare trial for one''s will and Spiritual Energy, naturally leading to increased strength. However, Kiro Lan hadn''t even been at the second stage of her Spiritual Energy for very long. Could it truly be expected that she would advance to the third stage amidst her struggle against those desires? "Maybe we should call upon the Holy Artifact." Arbitration Place could accept the loss of a Weslin; that would merely mean facing the lord''s wrath. But they could not accept the loss of two future pillars of the city as well, even if it meant risking the city''s foundation to call upon the Holy Artifact. Aglaya''s gaze was fixed intently on the two children inside, and the steady figure holding the sword. Her intuition told her that the people inside would not be so reckless. From the peculiar actions exhibited by both parties after receiving Weslin, Aglaya knew that the heartlessness the two children had shown her before was an act. They had never forgotten who brought them out of that fearful lair, nor had they ever abandoned the bond they shared with Bai E. These children hadn''t volunteered to go inside for their own training or to rescue Weslin for Arbitration Place. They went for Bai E! Looking over Bai E''s rise to power, one could see that this synthetic warrior was not a reckless brute! What was he plotting?! "Let''s wait and see, there may be a turn of events..." Aglaya said with furrowed brows, suppressing the unease in her heart. ... Endless, fading whispers circled around her ears, dazzling lights and shadows encircled her eyes. All the most licentious, indulgent, pleasurable, and stimulating images, sounds, and even sensations of the world constantly eroded Kiro Lan''s entire being. In a daze, Kiro Lan even thought she could see herself grown up in her fantasy, naked, welcoming the endless charges from a certain figure. The enticing pleasure stimulated her whole body, almost making her moan aloud. Chapter 619 - 619: 474 Big Devil!_2 ``` The figure standing before them was so mesmerizing that the familiar face seemed just within reach, as if extending a hand would allow one to touch it. As their eyes clouded with confusion and desire, a cold sun rose high in the distance of their vision, its endless radiance shining upon each of its believers. It also brought a moment of clarity to Kiro Lan''s consciousness. Spiritual Energy, which seemed to spontaneously generate like a suddenly bursting spring, filled his eyes with clarity as his engraving tool again thrust forward with force, stabilized by the steady infusion of Spiritual Energy¡­ [You are currently expending combat experience to comprehend and memorize the Array depicted by the target...] [Target successfully completes a node, node record +1.] ¡­ [¡­ node record +1.] Perhaps it was getting past the initial discomfort, but Kiro Lan''s pale face surprisingly looked much better now. The engraving flowed smoothly and swiftly, even faster than when he started. However, this fallen ancient castle would not give them endless time. In the perception of Spiritual Energy, dark auras arose like a tempest in their consciousness; a thousand-armed monster, covered with various bizarre organs, slowly presented itself before the eyes of all survivors within the castle. Seeing the monster that suddenly appeared, Arnold''s face turned ashen outside the scene as he exclaimed, "Great Demon!" The mentor''s eyes were dark, his tone dead, "¡­A thousand faces." Every Great Demon represented the absolute fighting force within a faction of demons. No one knew exactly how many demons there were in the higher dimensions. Apart from the supreme lords of the four major factions, there might be quite a few other faction origin demons with abilities not inferior to the four pillars. Beneath the four pillars, there were the numerically scarce demon princes or the God-chosen children who rose from among humanity; they were the outstanding ones just below the pillars. Following them were the Great Demons, the highest tier of high-dimension demons humans commonly encountered and the main manifestation of the combat power within the demonic ranks. The higher-tier demons would probably never be seen in the real world unless humans ventured deep into the higher dimensions. There were not a few Great Demons, and the strong among them could even wrestle with some of the demon princes, while the weaker ones¡­ weren''t much weaker either. A thousand faces, indeed, were what the Arbitration Place¡­ or rather, what the Arbitration Place had encountered before the Empire had completely fractured¡ªa Great Demon of the desire series. In that battle, nearly all of the second-tier Spiritual Energy users were nearly wiped out. However, the final outcome was only to shatter the real-world body of that Great Demon, sending it back to the higher dimension to wait for a long "resurrection." Unexpectedly, at this moment¡­ it had manifested in this fallen castle through such an opportunity. Demons entering the real world were almost always suppressed by the laws of reality, which prevented them from fully displaying their original strength. Yet now, a Great Demon in the interlayer between two worlds, even if not at its prime as in the higher dimension, was probably not comparable to when it arrived in the real world before. "We''re really in trouble now!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Trying to leave¡­ probably won''t be possible anymore!" "Quick, call for the Holy Artifact!" the mentor demanded with stern eyes. "The Holy Artifact isn''t something you can just move whenever you wish¡­" Aglaya narrowed her eyes lightly, "You''ll have to apply to the Elder Council." "Then go apply!" However, watching the commotion inside the castle, Aglaya spoke calmly, "Let''s¡­ wait and see." The arrival of a Great Demon should have instantly killed the lower-tier power holders. But not to mention the lower-tier power holders, even those survivors without Spiritual Energy seemed to be unaffected, standing still in place. Apart from the evident bewilderment, Aglaya didn''t find anything unusual about them. In fact, she had sensed something amiss from the beginning. At first facing the Lust Slaves, the other survivors besides Bai E already seemed to be struggling greatly. As the "Murmurs" accumulated layer by layer, the "Slowing Aura" exerted its maximum effect. Yet after the arrival of the four-legged demon "Child of Desire," who inherited the "Murmurs" ability, the performance of those survivors actually became noticeably lighter. ``` The ability possessed by the Desire''s Child was not few, yet how did those survivors suddenly become able to ignore the presence of the "Slow Aura"? The answer might just lie with that military area War God who created endless miracles¡ªBai E! ... The longsword in his hand emitted a cool radiance, waves of which rippled outward, invisible to anyone but Bai E himself. Having acquired enough proficiency through "Absolute Mastery" to form his personal style¡ª"Heart Flow"¡ªhis sword, nurtured by the essence of demon after demon, had finally unlocked a fixed magical blade that specialized in attacking demons. [Noble Longsword (Magic Blade): As a blade blessed by radiance, this decorative noble longsword has completed a transformation of its mission. From now on, it will permanently possess the attributes of eternal light¡ªexorcism, Heart Flow, and +30% attack power against "Desire Demons"; all members under his command will ignore the effects of "Desire" laws, unless they actively "touch" it or the bearer of the sword falls first. You may name this longsword, and only those who have your permission and extol its true name can utilize its full power.] [Your skill¡ªEnhanced*Magic Blade has successfully recorded a new racial special attack attribute: +30% attack power against "Desire Demons", and all members under your command will ignore the effects of "Desire" laws, unless they actively "touch" it or the bearer of the sword falls first. From now on, when you use any enchanted weapon, you can bestow it with this special attack attribute. However, if you wish to continue enhancing the effect of the special attack attributes, you must use the very first blade that completed the leap¡ª"The Blade of Origin". Current level 2 special attack effect progress: 2300/3000.] Lawful Blade of Heart! This was the new name for the noble longsword. Before Bai E fell, all warriors who believed in him would not be beguiled or controlled by the demons of Desire. Not even by the newly arrived great demon! Bai E''s longsword trembled as he took the initiative to strike first. Like a tower, the great demon''s body focused its eyes on the charging human warrior instantly. "Hah!" A fierce shout and the illusion shattered. Under Heart Flow, the world operated solely according to Bai E''s will. Sensing the uselessness of illusions, the great demon immediately switched combat style, filling the entire first floor of the castle with a plethora of false shadows in the blink of an eye. From the bodies that seemed both illusion and reality, countless arms waved, and black auras, fast and slow, attacked towards Bai E''s position. For a time, the entire first floor of the castle seemed to be filled with dense, dark malice. Malice is the bone-scraping knife. Each stroke shaved at the heart. Swirling sword shadows around Bai E, the malicious aura struggled to approach him. However, passively taking hits was never a good strategy. As one sword stroke opened a curtain of light, Bai E instantly reached into the void and drew out a bow and arrows. Suspended in midair while being sent flying backward, he drew the bow and notched seven icy-cold arrows, which shimmered coldly on the bow. In the next moment, endless Spiritual Energy converged in his hand, exploded at the tip of the arrows, and transformed into a force as solid as reality. In this layer between two worlds, not only were the powers of demons manifested at their source, but his Spiritual Energy was also more active than ever before. Kill a hundred with a single shot! The seven arrows dispersed like swimming dragons, followed closely by a myriad more shadowy arrows all rushing out together. One arrow shot out as if it were an army of a thousand troops. The endless arrows traced a curved trajectory, successively piercing through the bodies of several great demons. It must be said that the strength of the great demons was particularly horrifying, with each illusionary body possessing a physical form as real as the original. But when struck, they did not hold up nearly as well as the original body. [Your attack has successfully hit the target, causing 100 points of penetrating damage.] [Your attack has successfully hit the target, causing 100 points of penetrating damage.] [Your attack has successfully hit the target, causing 20 points of penetrating damage.] Among the dense numbers indicating damage, the smallest feedback visibly allowed Bai E to lock onto his target. Chapter 620 - 620: 475 Thousands of people, thousands of faces! It was just over a thousand experience points away from leveling up the mastery of remote weapons. In the final moments of his attack, Bai E directly raised his stagnant remote weapon mastery to level 5, which naturally elevated all the various special attribute bonuses that came with it. Under the additional bonuses of the Weapon Master, the expressiveness of the mastery instantly reached level 6. The scatter shot, initially allowed to shoot seven arrows at once, under the now extremely active surge of Spiritual Energy, and with his spirited will, turned even the lowest probability into a certainty. Morphie, who was guarding Kiro Lan''s side, felt an intense urgency in his heart at the sight of the demons'' shadows filling the space. The "one arrow" shot by Bai E instantly gave him hope of strangling the demons. Not to mention that within this one arrow, there was a hint of the aura he had just become familiar with. The process of the arrow unfolded in slow motion in his eyes, and every detail was replayed in his mind. Piercing through the phenomenon straight to the essence, the myriad of intricate skills following it seemed to instinctively overlay onto his body. However... Morphie, who was subconsciously drawing his Light Longsword, paused ever so slightly. Normally, witnessing others'' abilities directly translated into a thorough analysis in his mind, allowing him to use those endless skills subconsciously even if he didn''t understand them. But now... The complete set of skills behind that one arrow seemed to whirl chaotically in his mind like a jumbled jigsaw puzzle, and for the first time his usually infallible subconscious imitation encountered something seemingly unreplicable. He tensed and then relaxed, relaxed and then tensed again. No matter how much Morphie gathered his Spiritual Energy to attempt imitation, he could not find that fleeting sensation. Unable to imitate? Looking at the imposing figure surrounded by countless shadows, a dark and indescribable look flashed in Morphie''s eyes. The master was still the master. "Just protect Kiro Lan, leave the rest to me." Through the feedback of the damage numbers, Bai E successfully located the true body of his target. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He vibrated the longsword in his hand and launched an instant attack toward the target. In the seemingly chaotic world before him, there was only a narrow path linking him directly to his target in a straight line. Beyond that, nothing else mattered to Bai E. Zeal surged! "Clang clang clang clang!" The evil aura thrown out by the shadows when it hit Bai E''s body seemed as if it was absorbed, rendering it futile. Bai E, ignoring all blows, rushed straight at the true body of his target, even slashing with his sword reflexively when struck by attacks from other sources. The counterattacking force, manifested by Spiritual Energy, turned into tangible Gang Qi, cleaving into the shadows, splattering blood and flesh. [Soul Devouring Demon Blade has absorbed a portion of the target''s essence; special attack effect is upgrading, 2310/3000.] [¡­2315/3000.] [¡­2320/3000.] Plunging through, blood and flesh flew in all directions. Even the shadows, in some sense, allowed for the extraction of some essence to strengthen the blade after successful damage. The phantasmal shadows, which could be tangibly attacked, were comprised of the demon''s essence and the laws of higher-dimensional space. Hitting these shadows and the main body made no difference to the enhancement of the magical blade. "Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Those outside the fray could only see sword lights flashing across the castle, dazzling to the eye. The Great Demon''s most troublesome technique, "Thousand Faces of a Thousand Souls", seemed utterly useless against him. However, the Great Demon was by no means an easy adversary. Upon realizing that simple attacks were ineffective, a multitude of fleshy tendrils suddenly burst out from every shadow. Countless tendrils intertwined in front of everyone''s eyes, to the extent that even the onlookers, including Aglaya, had their vision partially obstructed by the rapidly woven fleshly vines. The red, fine blood vessels, like mysterious patterns, crept over the pale meaty walls resembling human intestines, and the throne of bones rose under the true body''s target. A symphony of agonizing screams, akin to the moaning of thousands, rang in Bai E''s ears, and it seemed as though he could see the revelers who, in a frenzy, had torn open their bellies with their bloodied, sharp claws, pulling out their intestines, and then wrapped them around the necks of others, pulling till they tightened. "Pull harder! Pull! Don''t you eat?" The one with their neck entwined laughed maniacally as they plucked the blood vessels from another person''s body, adoringly looking as if they were admiring a piece of art, while leaking a foul, pale yellow liquid in throes of asphyxiating climax, their hoarse voice spent. The intestines still connected to their own body twisted violently against the friction, pulled by the other end, and the dizziness from excessive blood loss blissfully closed their eyes as they collapsed. Yet, with a flash of light and a swath of bloodiness, the figures who had been mangled just moments ago ran from afar, tearing at each other''s scalps, attempting to rip off each other''s faces from their flesh. At the edge of the vision, male and female figures intertwined under the crimson veil, wildly seeking to merge each other into their own bodies like beasts. An endless carnival of hell... An immortal paradise of ecstasy! Innumerable shadows swirled around Bai E, and a cage named "bondage" was silently spreading its claws towards him. Chapter 621 - 621: 475 Thousands of people, thousands of faces!_2 "Pfft!" The sword light, as white as snow, shredded the intertangled and wriggling intestines before it. The throne made of bones collapsed, with only the mortal who challenged the gods offering up the sword blade that slaughtered the divine. The heart flow surged into a frenzy! "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" Blood and flesh flew everywhere, the sweet, putrid smell of blood nearly pervading every inch of space within the castle. The heart flow spread Bai E''s strike across the entire field. Faced with the strongest strike that bore all of Bai E''s abilities, those fragile shadows burst like bubbles upon contact, instantly disintegrating. Damage from the shadows seemed to significantly affect their true form as well; with all shadows shattering in an instant, the true body of the great demon "Thousand Faces, Thousand Forms" also trembled momentarily. [The soul-devouring demonic blade has absorbed a small amount of the target''s essence, special attack effect upgrade in progress 2850/3000.] However, such slaughter seemed to bring the opponent even greater pleasure from the so-called "abuse." When faced with another sword strike from Bai E, the spire-like body covered in countless arms opened its embrace, as if waiting for the attack to descend. [Your attack successfully hit the target. Under the effect of some peculiar rule, the target''s health points +100.] Feeling the intensity of Bai E''s lash, the demon body covered in countless faces revealed endless sounds of ecstatic groans. Seeing this, Bai E promptly stopped the rhythm of his attack. He had encountered such a monster for the first time, and the combat information he had acquired so far was popping up one ability after another. Only after discovering them could he read the specific explanations of these abilities. Before the opponent relied on the same abilities in combat, he could only plan his fight based on his own reactions. In the instant his consciousness became clear, the frenzied state that had surged through Bai E invisibly dissipated from his body. "..." Bai E slightly paused, and instantly, he discerned the demon''s intentions. This was its purpose! This kind of demon seemed to possess a wealth of relevant experience against his particular abilities, deploying powers with extreme targeted effectiveness. "Damn it!" As they watched the War God of the military district fall into confusion under the endless abilities of "Thousand Faces, Thousand Forms," the spiritual energy users outside instantly grew anxious. "Thousand Faces, Thousand Forms" possessed the most unique abilities. War demons are fierce, and desire demons are strange. Demons are the most special beings, the greatest enemies of mankind. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The more powerful the demon, the less people should know about it. The more one knows about a demon''s detailed information, the easier it is for them to hear the evil whispers of temptation from the demon. Are some of the dark thoughts that flash through one''s mind the result of demonic temptation? Who can really tell? Therefore, information lockdown on high-level demons is also a strategic policy adopted by humanity in their battle against demons. However, this also means... when humanity''s lower ranks encounter these demons, their understanding of the target''s specific abilities is extremely limited. Those present did not know how many powers "Thousand Faces, Thousand Forms" had displayed in that battle, nor the specific effects and weaknesses of each power. Regarding "Thousand Faces, Thousand Forms," they only knew one thing¡ª The answer lies on the surface of the mystery. The name "Thousand Faces, Thousand Forms" itself is the greatest exposition of its abilities! However, their anxiety was of no use; even if they knew in detail every characteristic of "Thousand Faces, Thousand Forms," at this moment, it was difficult to get information to Bai E through the barrier of the void. "You can''t lose!" Aglaya clenched her fists tightly, determined to impart all the knowledge of spiritual energy in the city to Bai E as soon as he emerged. Such an exceptional talent was the opportunity bestowed by the universe for the empire to reunite once more. In comparison to his radiance, even Morphie and Kiro Lan by his side seemed a step behind. After all, facing such a greater demon, Morphie on the same side could hardly launch an offensive at all but could only protect Kiro Lan as they huddled in a corner, continuing to trace the Array. Lines of light and shadow were drawn, the luminous lines imbued with spiritual energy gradually occupying half of the wall in the first-floor hall. Bai E didn''t think that the outcome of the battles between the great demons could fully affect the final outcome. Only the Demon-Expelling Grand Array that she had engraved could truly save the fallen castle from the high-dimensional space! However, as more and more black breaths were devoured, Kiro Lan''s condition grew increasingly strange. As Spiritual Energy ebbed and flowed, the aura fluctuated in strength. Morphie, who stood guard with his sword at her side, could do nothing but watch as Kiro Lan pressed almost her entire weight on the carving knife in her hand, her face pale as gold leaf, her arm trembling slightly. "This is too forced!" Morphie frowned deeply, wanting several times to forcefully stop Kiro Lan''s actions, but hesitating to reach out his hand and then pulling back. He knew Kiro Lan''s temperament; if he forcibly interrupted her at this time, she would hate him for a lifetime... "You are paying with your combat experience to comprehend and memorize the array that the target has depicted..."] "Target successfully completes a node, node record +1."] "Can you hold on?" Bai E, having just shattered a withered bone arm with a single slash, asked Kiro Lan in passing. "Still... can!" Kiro Lan said with a pale little face, her hands pressing the carving knife forward. No training session in the past had ever pushed her limits as much as this. She could feel her Spiritual Body burning fiercely within the high-dimensional space. Yet, as if the an eternal cold sun was burning close by, its brilliance concealed her own, so that until now, not a single high-dimensional demon had stretched forth its sinful claws towards her Spiritual Body. Even though she was equipped with the protective Spiritual Energy artifacts issued by the Arbitration Place, she naturally couldn''t withstand too many hits. The War God was protecting her! Kiro Lan was clear about this. What she had to confront was just these black desires. These desires, stemming from the dark side of the city, with centuries of gloomy thoughts steeped into every inch of the castle''s land. Conquer it! Conquer them! As long as she could keep going, her level of Spiritual Energy would leap unimaginably. As long as she could keep going! As long as she could keep going! "If you can, then hold on." Bai E''s nearly merciless words were the last encouragement for Kiro Lan. If not, he would at any time lead the two youngsters to cut their way out! Even if it really came to the high-dimensional space, Bai E didn''t think it would definitely be a road to certain death. In this chaotic era, if humans truly wanted to control their own fate, relying solely on oneself was far from enough. Seizing every opportunity to train oneself to the limit, to grow to the point where one can face any challenge, was something everyone should do. "You are paying with your combat experience to comprehend and memorize the array that the target has depicted..."] "Target successfully completes a node, node record +1."] "Collection of nodes is approaching 50%, you will soon be able to deduce on your own, please keep up the good work."] ''Almost there... almost there...'' Bai E occasionally glanced back at Kiro Lan with a flicker of encouraging hope in his eyes. It''s almost time. Just a little bit more, then let me take over your duty! ... "He really is heartless!" "I knew it! It must be he who taught these kids to embark on such daring ventures!" "Just because he''s powerful, he recklessly thinks he can challenge everything!" Bai E''s orders to Kiro Lan, translated by those adept in lip-reading among the Spiritual Energy users, only then made everyone realize who had orchestrated this extremely adventurous operation. However, even among the infuriated remarks, there were only those who called him arrogant, none who decried his strength. Aglaya silently watched the struggling figure, feeling that from the character and spirit shown by the other, he didn''t seem like someone arrogant and ignorant. ''Whatever trump card you have, use it quickly!'' Chapter 622 - 622: 476 Exorcism! "[You are paying with combat experience to understand and memorize the Array depicted by the target...]" "[The target has successfully completed a node, record of nodes +1.]" "[50% of nodes have been collected, you may either pay 10,000 points of combat experience to deduce the rest on your own or choose to continue observing others'' demonstrations.]" Observational learning costs far less experience than direct payment, but at this moment of life and death, Bai E simply didn''t have the luxury to conserve that bit of experience. Pay directly! "[You have mastered all the key nodes of the Demon-Expelling Grand Array; from now on, you can set up the ''Exorcism Magic Circle'' anytime and anywhere, and as long as sufficient Spiritual Energy is injected based on the situation, the Array can be activated to exert its power.]" "Kiro Lan, that''s enough." Bai E, who had just sliced through a blast of black evil aura, suddenly said. It was unknown what level of demon they were facing, and while in their home field, the demons'' power seemed inexhaustible. Despite continuously dealing damage to it, Bai E still couldn''t see the end of its health bar. It was as if Bai E was always facing just a void shadow, even the so-called "true body" appeared just the same. The approach of resolving everything through combat wasn''t absolutely effective against high-dimensional demons. Only the right methods could purify the original demons birthed from the world''s ripples. And right now, the "Exorcism Magic Circle" was his only option. Upon hearing Bai E''s voice, Kiro Lan''s body shook, and she quickly looked in the direction of Bai E. With a somewhat weak voice, she stubbornly responded, "I can still hold on!" Bai E, having cut through bindings of flesh and vines, arrived in front of the two youngsters. "Trust me, you''ve done everything I needed you to do." Facing Bai E''s calm and confident eyes, Kiro Lan bit her lip, her grip on the engraving knife gradually loosened. As the engraving knife fell to the ground, her body seemed to lose all its supporting strength at the same moment. Bai E caught the girl from behind immediately, the palm on her back transferring a warm bundle of Spiritual Energy, soothing her unsettled will. Under the nourishment of Bai E''s Spiritual Energy, Kiro Lan slowly opened her eyes, her young face filled with a heart-wrenching determination. "I''m sorry..." She knew that with her current capabilities, setting up a Demon-Expelling Grand Array that enveloped the entire fortress was still too much of a stretch. Her earlier statement was just bravado. Bai E probably noticed she was running on empty, which is why he comforted her and suggested she give up. Right now... the lord might be planning to abandon this place, right? Making a decision that goes against his nature... "It''s okay, leave the rest to me." Bai E gave her a gentle smile, then turned to shout at Morphie, "Morphie, protect Kiro Lan." "Got it!" Hearing that Bai E was willing to let him take Kiro Lan and leave first, Morphie felt a bit excited, yet also a bit resentful. If he knew the task was impossible to complete, he shouldn''t have taken the risk. Why wait until everyone was in poor condition before thinking of running? What if there was an unforeseen event and they couldn''t escape? A fallen castle, let it fall into a high-dimensional space then. According to his original thought, if he took Bai E and left, wouldn''t everything be taken care of? As for whether the city lord would hold them accountable because his son died... that was a matter for later. Considering the potential they had shown, the city wouldn''t move against them. As long as you''re alive, anything is possible. Is there anything more important than staying alive? What about the other survivors who might still be alive inside the castle? Important? What do they have to do with them? ''This decision should have been made earlier.'' "Let''s go!" Bai E took the lead, his sword cleaving through the demons. Once Bai E exited the state of "Fervent Emergence," the spire-like monster split into endless copies again. The screen filled with attacks was dizzying, only the sword light spinning like a ball of light protected the surroundings. The Spiritual Energy practitioners in the outer area grew excited at this turn of events. "He''s finally come to his senses!" "Exactly! They should''ve run when they couldn''t beat them." "As long as they can get out, it''s okay. Even if Weslin dies, it''s not the end of the world, but these two cannot afford to have any accidents." People always make compromises. When the whole team was at risk of downfall, the death of a Weslin seemed somehow acceptable. "No! He doesn''t seem to have given up on Weslin." As the changes inside the fortress unfolded, everyone''s eyes widened. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E, having fought through a host of demons, took back Weslin from Dai Lian and the others, covered the rear by himself, and threw Weslin to Morphie, "Take him and go!" "My lord?" Morphie was taken aback and looked at Bai E, confusion filling his eyes. The lord''s intent was clear, sacrifice himself to let them escape with Weslin. Despite Morphie''s difficulty accepting that Kiro Lan had always regarded the lord as more important than her own life, the thought of having to part from the lord forever was filled with unwillingness and sorrow. "Come with us!" With one arm holding Weslin''s limp body, Morphie looked at Bai E''s silhouette, trying to retain the lord with his plea, "The city lord won''t do anything to us!" "My lord..." Kiro Lan, too weak to say much, simply called out softly. She knew that once the lord made up his mind, it was irrevocable; nobody else could change it by even a smidgen. But... Bai E, sword in hand, had an endless array of bloody tendrils reaching out behind him. Chapter 623 - 623: 476 Exorcism!_2 On his face was still the same confident and calm smile as always, "It''s just a bit of a predicament, I will lead them out of here. Weslin''s condition isn''t right, you guys take him and go first. I promise you, I''ll come back!" The spiritual energy adept who was good at lip-reading repeated word for word what Bai E said to the two children. Together with Bai E''s actions, this fact was crystal-clearly displayed before everyone''s eyes. "He''s not leaving?!" "And he still chose to bring Weslin out in the end?" For a time, everyone''s hearts were filled with mixed emotions. If Bai E had just died straightforwardly at the start, then there would naturally be no controversy over the choice between him and Weslin. Yet this War God of the military district wasn''t just the pillar of their military; even on the battlefield against demons, he had displayed unimaginably terrifying strength. It also caused a sliver of indecision that shouldn''t have existed to rise in everyone''s hearts. But now... This War God of the military district, who had showcased his personal strength and charisma, still chose to sacrifice himself for Weslin at the last moment... Only one of the two little ones could be taken away; when Weslin was brought out, the remaining people could only die inside. There was even no chance left to turn the tables. One could only say that the thought imprint of artificial humans is terrifying indeed. "Didn''t he say he had a way?" Some officers were confusedly voicing their doubts. Watching Bai E fight against the great demon inside, this officer, who had immersed himself in the fight against demons, found his first semblance of faith. Believers can do anything! "What could he possibly do?" An older officer laughed helplessly, his smile tragic. "Buzz!" A dazzling white light flashed through the twisted barrier. Morphie, holding a longsword and leading the way, struggled to crawl out of the gap, and Kiro Lan, who had been providing support, also staggered out. Weslin''s limp body was thrown to the ground, and the myriad officers from the Arbitration Place rushed over to tend to him as they noticed the commotion. Morphie fiercely drove his battle blade into the ground before him, his face full of unwillingness. If Bai E died in there like this, then he could never surpass Bai E''s image in Kiro Lan''s heart for a lifetime! The last bit of Kiro Lan''s strength was completely drained, and returning to the present world from that spiritually energetic interlayer made it feel as if the last bit of supporting power had left her already threadbare spiritual energy. Lying on the ground, she looked at the parallel ground with a look of despair in her eyes, a cold and silent stillness. "Quick, save him! Save him!" On Weslin''s body, faint tentacles could already be seen writhing around, a typical sign of demonic corruption. If they didn''t address it quickly, the Lord''s Son who was hardly brought back to the present world would still be treated as a fallen demon. In the midst of a chaotic panic, only Aglaya''s calm eyes continued to stare at everything inside the castle. Seeing the only likely savior sent by the Arbitration Place truly leave, even those inside who had always been protected completely despaired. However, the leader who made all the decisions seemed not to have given up resistance because of this. Bai E, who was being chased by endless fleshly tentacles and black miasma, did not attack the great demon itself as he had done before. Through the long process of combating demons, he should have learned the special characteristics of this great demon by now. A thousand faces for a thousand people... in addition to a thousand abilities, it also has a thousand lives! This was why the great demon was so hard to kill. Aglaya knew everything but could not actively disseminate this detailed knowledge. Within a short time, Bai E could not possibly clear these thousand lives. His purpose... lay elsewhere. "Swish, swish, swish!" The sparks struck by the sword tip against the wall flashed past in her eyes, and bright trails of light moved along the curious patterns infused with spiritual energy. Aglaya, suddenly hit by a terrifying possibility, truly lost her composure for the first time, her eyes wide open and her whole body trembling in shock. ''He wouldn''t¡­'' ''He wouldn''t¡­'' ''How could that be possible!'' Her mind was in turmoil. She had thought of countless possible responses Bai E might choose, but she had never considered this utterly impossible possibility! "Lady Aglaya! Kiro Lan and Morphie are unharmed!" The children''s tutor rushed to bring the good news as soon as he discovered the kids were fine. However, noticing that something was off with Aglaya, he called out softly with curiosity, "My lady? My lady?" After calling out twice without a response, the tutor finally followed Aglaya''s gaze towards the barrier that everyone had deemed a hopeless situation. At a glance, there was a new, warm stone sculpture in place. "Shushushushu!" Sparks flew! On the hard castle walls, the sword tip danced like a dragon. The Spiritual Energy infused within it was like a capricious dragon-snake, leaving behind mysterious and magnificent patterns on the walls. The Exorcism Magic Circle lines, which were difficult for Kiro Lan to manifest, now seemed like merely a few simple words under Bai E''s hand. An endless stream of black aura poured into Bai E''s body along the blade, yet not a single abnormal reaction could be seen on that ever-expressionless face. "Shushushushushu!" It seemed that the great demon, sensing Bai E''s intent, became even more frenzied in its assault. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, as the Longsword swept across the walls, Bai E managed to block every attack from the demon. The speed of the Longsword''s swings was so fast it seemed inconceivable that attention could be divided, as if two sides were engaging simultaneously. So rapid that the Array could not even discern if the tracing of the lines had ever been interrupted. In the flurry of sword movements to the front, back, left, and right, there emerged a sense of utmost beauty as if it were a dance. "What, what, what... what is he doing?" More and more people began to notice everything that was happening inside the barrier. The sword light, pure as snow, continued to glitter, leaving behind walls aglow with luminous patterns. Patterns infused with magical power flickered like breaths, and a peculiar aura that could be felt even through the impenetrable Void Barrier touched everyone''s hearts. "What is that?" "Is that... an Exorcism Magic Circle?" "It looks a bit like it..." Most of the people here had never seen a real Exorcism Magic Circle, but just moments ago Kiro Lan had demonstrated it in front of them all. "He studied the Exorcism Magic Circle too?" "Is he also from the Arbitration Place?" Endless speculations instantly arose. Aglaya and the tutor exchanged a silent glance filled with a glimmer of shock. The Exorcism Magic Circle was a closely guarded secret of the Arbitration Place... Of course, it wasn''t that they didn''t want to teach it, but rather that there were simply too few capable of learning it. They would have wished for everyone to learn it, ideally even a demon to expel itself. That would have been the best possible outcome. But the reality was that nobody could. Every Spiritual Energy wielder who could learn the Demon-Expelling Grand Array was a precious gem to them. Bai E''s name had never been among them. In fact, before Helen''s research came out, no one even knew this warrior possessed Spiritual Energy. So the only answer was... ''Kiro Lan had used it in front of him just now...'' And he hadn''t even used the complete form! Realizing this, Aglaya felt a darkness looming before her eyes. Only at this moment did she recognize just how ludicrous her initial decision had been. But what followed was a tide of joy enough to sweep everything away. Thankfully he had learned the Exorcism Magic Circle, and fortunately, this formidable warrior was not an enemy of humanity and bore significant goodwill towards people. Sword Dance, Dragon Snake! In just a short while, the walls on the first floor of the castle were covered with mysterious and magnificent patterns carrying a mystical aura. An infinite Spiritual Energy flowed in cycles within them, a vast aura like tidal waves purifying the entire space progressively. Just a bit more... Just enough Spiritual Energy was needed to fully unleash this cleansing tide! Bai E stood at the focal point of the Array, his Longsword swinging to ward off the evil spirit, now placed behind him, as an endless flow of Spiritual Energy gathered in the palm of his hand. Kneeling on one knee, his will already connected with the Array, he drew in a tumultuous surge of Spiritual Energy, the bright light nearly submerging Bai E completely¡­ Chapter 624 - 624: 477 Return! Spiritual Energy was being extracted so violently that even through the twisted barrier, people outside could imagine a thing or two. To drive such a powerful Array, the required Spiritual Energy was immense beyond imagination. The lowest historical requirement to drive an Array in Blackwater City demanded Spiritual Energy of the third order. This was the real reason everyone thought the plan was unfeasible from the start. Even with his exceptional talent, Kiro Lan couldn''t possibly have broken through to the second order just recently and then make another breakthrough to the third order in the midst of this calamity. The will of the soul could not withstand such a terrifying impact. However, what no one had anticipated was that this artificial human War God, who had never before displayed the slightest inkling of Spiritual Energy talent, could easily supply it. "Is it... done?" "How can he possess such vast Spiritual Energy?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The powerful gleam of Spiritual Energy penetrated everything, no longer confined within the barrier. The supreme power of the Array even pierced through the isolation of the barrier, enveloping the entire location of the castle within it. When the Array was fully activated, waves of purifying white light swept over the space where the castle stood from the Spiritual Energy level. The endless dark aura was forced out like mites being squeezed from the skin, emerging from every inch of the castle''s walls. And under the blazing white light, it melted like snow under the sun, leaving not a single trace of its existence. The tentacles and flesh that had been proliferating wantonly on the walls of the castle also vanished inch by inch until finally, all that remained was a clear and clean ancient castle. The barrier that excluded everything flickered in and out of visibility, and at a moment when no one was conscious of it, the barrier suddenly vanished. The surviving humans who belatedly realized this, upon regaining their senses, saw the Arbitration Place''s enforcers who were nearly "within arm''s reach" standing guard outside. "Quick, save them!" Upon receiving the command, the enforcers nearly surged into the castle. The grand demon "Thousand Faces," whose projections had filled the entire castle hall, also completely disappeared under the cleansing force of the Array. What remained was only the silhouette of its main body. However, as the castle began to depart from the higher-dimensional space and return to the real world, the silhouette of the great demon also flickered in and out of existence, as if about to vanish at any moment. A great demon unsupported by the rules of higher-dimensional space could not manifest in the real world without a substantial sacrifice of humans. Yet the greed for the real world is etched into the instinct of every demon; "Thousand Faces" let out a series of silent roars that shook the heart, and every creature that "heard" it felt their souls tremble endlessly, gradually drifting away from their bodies. Lower-ranking enforcers only felt their arms and lips numbing from the vibration, while those ordinary survivors who had been protected by War God Bai E inside the castle seemed to experience no discomfort at all. Only at this moment did they truly understand, even without mentioning his combat strength, just how powerful War God Bai E''s protection over those around him was. It''s difficult enough to be strong oneself, but even harder to protect those around you. "Stay focused, don''t let it snatch your soul! Hold on, it won''t last much longer," the instructor roared. This was "Thousand Faces"'' massive group attack tactic on living beings. If the soul was shaken out of the body, it would be captured and taken to the higher-dimensional space, to become another lowly grunt in the army of desire. The rules of the real world were rapidly expelling the great demon, but amid the endless trembling, already some people couldn''t help but clutch their heads as if they could see their own bodies... "Swish!" The cold sword light tore through the silent roars, and the great demon "Thousand Faces" let out one last scream from the depths of everyone''s heart, filled with joy and yet tainted with unwillingness and pain. "Whoosh!" The raging suction once again acted upon everyone''s souls! "Swoosh! Swoosh!" Two insubstantial shadows flashed by right in front of Bai E, heading towards the vortex at the center of where "Thousand Faces" was disappearing. Realizing this, Bai E instinctively reached out, but some innate trait was a step faster. "Hiss~" The last thing thrown towards Bai E from the vortex seemed to be a pair of eyes filled with an eerie charm of desire. The great demon, unable to snatch anything from the real world through Bai E''s hands, was filled with resentful unwillingness, and a deep craving for Bai E''s very existence. "Phew~" With the real disappearance of the great demon, everyone on site finally relaxed a little. This great demon''s past feats were quite exaggerated; at first within the barrier, it seemed helpless in front of Bai E, leading them to believe that the recently revived "Thousand Faces" had already lost its former terrifying dominion. However, after manifesting in the real world, a mere minor ability shook many souls out of their bodies in an instant, making them realize the great demon''s power was still terrifying. Even more terrifying, however, was simply the power of War God Bai E of the military district. "Check the castle! Search for any other survivors!" They could only see survivors on the first floor within the archway''s view, but within the many levels of the entire castle, who knew if there were any other survivors. This intense external erosion differed from the voluntary plunge of humans; the invasion of demonic aura into humans resembled a kind of corrosion from the outside in. Chapter 625 - 625: 477 Return!_2 If discovered quickly, there''s still a chance to save people. And even those individuals who can''t be saved... For example, low-level demonic grunts like "Lust Slaves" need to be cleared out as soon as possible. It''s to prevent these demons from taking the opportunity to hide, thereby infiltrating human society. "Thousand Faces" such powerful demons can''t exist in the real world without sacrifices or other special circumstances. However, low-level demons won''t be repelled by the laws of reality, and there are certainly more of these low-level demons on the other floors. "Wait a moment!" Morphie, who had been watching everything, suddenly tensed and remembered something. "The auction house!" The Thousand Faces are the Thousand Faces, but the situation at the auction house doesn''t seem to stem from the same source. "There''s also a special situation there, one that Kiro Lan and I find difficult to deal with. You''d better be careful!" "Understood, rest up for now!" The instructor soothed Morphie, then turned and led by example, heading toward the interior of the castle and up the stairs. The castle had returned to the real world, and even demons as powerful as the "Thousand Faces" had been repelled back into higher-dimensional space by the realities of this world. Therefore, the only demons that could remain were either common foot soldiers or they couldn''t stay at all. Morphie''s concerns might not be necessary. But to prevent the presence of elite demons that fall between the foot soldiers and the powerful, he still took the lead, aiming to minimize the casualties among the regular enforcers. Bai E also appeared concerned about the survivors that had come out with him and moved closer to the players, such as Dai Lian. "Where''s Kuang Xin?" The voice of spiritual communication penetrated directly into their minds; Gong Yan, being uniquely gifted with this technique, softly replied, "Still at the auction venue." Not dead? Bai E nodded his head as a sign that he understood. The players had only appeared at the end, which meant they must have been in the auction house all along, trying to rescue their comrades. That Morphie and Kiro Lan could reach them probably meant they had entered the auction house''s domain after breaking through the barrier. But now, even Morphie said that place had something troublesome, potentially as threatening as that spire-shaped monster. At this thought, Bai E took the initiative to approach a man who was overseeing everything and seemed to be the leader from the Arbitration Place. However, a woman with tall stature, blue-purple hair, and wearing a grey-white coat suddenly blocked his path. "General Bai, I am Aglaya, you should remember me." The newcomer''s face bore a gentle smile. As a core figure in the Spiritual Power Managers Center, which oversees all the spiritual energy users in the city, even Weslin, the regional marshal, was cautious and eager to please her. However, when facing Bai, the regional general, Aglaya''s demeanor was exceptionally gentle. In any place, strength is the foundation of status. Moreover, a natural basis for friendship existed between them, with the connection of Kiro Lan and Morphie. "Thanks to you for this incident, otherwise this castle would undoubtedly have been erased from the map." Having a piece taken out of the real world is far less trivial spoken than done. The consequences of a large area of the castle suddenly vanishing... would be the surrounding space rushing in like water. The overall effect wouldn''t be like a water cistern that''s been scooped out and lowered by a layer, but more like diluted air. It would still fill the "space" that should have been there, just at a decreased density. This drop in density on the scale of the entire universe wouldn''t even amount to a fraction of a billionth of a billionth of a billionth, yet the impact on the real world would undeniably be permanent and negative, meaning the force of the laws governing the entire real world would be weakened by the same proportion. Of course, such far-reaching effects might not be of immediate concern to the city, but the city could face even greater dangers. Space flowed like water, and how would human architecture fare amidst it? It would only present itself in a twisted form when influenced by the influx of space. This predicament was far more troublesome than an earthquake. In an earthquake, as long as the building structure was robust enough, the damage could be minimized. But when space contorted and flowed, what talk was there of any substance''s solidity? Consider that this place was the very bottom layer of Blackwater City, an unimaginable chain reaction would be triggered by the surrounding space influx. Unthinkable, uncontrollable, and even unpredictable. Worse still, it could potentially affect the foundational structure of the entire city. Aglaya, who had intended to educate Bai E on some basics of Spiritual Energy, the world, and even the laws, condensed her lengthy explanations into a few essential words with the power of Spiritual Energy, enabling Bai E to grasp her meaning. Upon learning these details, Bai E''s eyes narrowed slightly, "If not for this castle, none of this would have happened." During the recent delineation of the Exorcism Magic Circle, he had gone through the same experiences as Kiro Lan. Though he could ignore the corrosion his body suffered from the black mists, thanks to his various abilities, Bai E had "seen" everything that had happened in the city over the centuries within the walls of the castle, imbued with the desires of darkness... Endless phantom shadows, like silhouettes of time, flickered before him one scene after another. Scenes of wailing and laughter hardened Bai E''s fists at times, stirring in him an urge to smash to smithereens the past happenings within the castle all the way back to their origins. Beneath endless indulgence lay increasingly rampant hidden dangers. Human desires have no end, and indulgence only leads them to chase after even more depraved "entertainments." Even in a world where high-dimensional Evil Gods existed, these pleasure-seeking individuals still hoped that a cage of Mithril Refined Gold, coupled with the protection of Arbitration Place enforcers, would keep their endless desires safe. The roots of the castle reached into every corner of the entire city, and every person aware of this place and tacitly accepting its existence without an attempt at overthrow was nourishing it. When a mishap occurred, only the likes of Kiro Lan and Morphie, who were blissfully ignorant, qualified to carve out a path of resistance against everything. If a similar event were to occur again, would anyone be able to survive? And if he had known of the castle''s existence beforehand and momentarily lacked the capital to overturn it, would he not also become one of those silently supplying power to its presence? After this battle, Bai E felt an even greater dread of those high-dimensional demons. Even a momentary weakness of compromise could become a channel for them to tear through reality. Aglaya''s gaze turned steely as she nodded solemnly to Bai E, "I assure you, such a situation will never arise again!" After this incident, all the influential figures in the city who knew of the castle''s existence would have to reassess the danger level of this place. The Spiritual Power Managers Center and Arbitration Place would never again allow a massive loophole within the city that high-dimensional demons could exploit at any time. "Boom!" A massive impact suddenly emanated from the upper levels of the castle, and Bai E, who had just exchanged a few words with Aglaya, narrowed his eyes and moved instantly. The auction house was where he had been at the start of the incident, and the three "slaves" confined with Kuang Xin could very likely be the focal point of this abnormality. The sound of a great commotion coming from there indicated that it might be linked to the last stir caused by the three "slaves." "What''s happening? What''s going on up there?" Arnold from Arbitration Place, clutching a walkie-talkie outside the castle, asked loudly into it. Amid the "sizzling" static, only the messy sounds of collisions and the loud replies of the two junior instructors could be heard, "There''s one more inside... can''t identify the source!" Upon hearing this news, Arnold''s expression turned complex, instinctively looking in the direction where Bai E had been. But in a flash, Bai E had already vanished from the spot. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 626 - 626: 478 Evil Stare When Bai E arrived, the battlefield was already in a fervent and intense state. Spectral shadows flitted through the air everywhere, and even without the support of high-dimensional spatial rules, there was still a thick black fog that left visibility nearly nonexistent. This fog affected everyone''s spiritual perception and sensory realities, leaving them to grope blindly within it. The headsets worn by everyone rapidly exchanged information, and Bai E''s "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy easily intercepted part of it, inserting itself into the conversation. "Physical bombardment is ineffective; we must find the entity emitting these ''spectral souls''!" "We must act quickly, we can''t let this phenomenon spread." "But this place has already corroded into a mix of illusion and reality, our spatial awareness is greatly distorted!" "Ah!" "It hurts! The damage from these spectral souls is too high!" Many Arbitration Place enforcers were lost, including Morphie and Kiro Lan, who were unable to discern direction, leaving most ordinary enforcers to flounder helplessly. Various forms of Spiritual Energy techniques emerged one after another, each enforcer was born with innate spiritual talent, and each talented individual had their unique Spiritual Energy attribute. Attack, defense, support... every type of Spiritual Energy unfolded before Bai E. Had there been time, Bai E would have liked to find a target and see if he could mimic another Spiritual Energy attribute again. However, the immediate danger was of greater concern. From the enforcers'' communications, it was clear that even they, with all their experience, did not know the origins of the unknown high-dimensional demon driving the shadows; its presence might be even more problematic than the so-called "Thousand Faces" demon they had just encountered. Surrounding cries of agony pierced Bai E''s ears as he drew his Longsword, but as he marched straight ahead, not a single "spectral shadow" dared to attack his position. Walking alone through the black fog, Bai E felt as though he was venturing solo into a silent, ancient forest, seemingly fraught with danger at every moment, yet never actually arriving. The blade of law in his hand emitted rings of soft spiritual light, yet it couldn''t protect any Arbitration Place enforcer present. The target of protection had to first submit to Bai E''s command, and given Bai E''s display of overwhelming combat power among the previous survivors, the others naturally followed his lead. The current enforcers were subordinates of the Arbitration Place, acting under a unified command and completely unaware of Bai E''s arrival, unable to trigger the protection effect. Fortunately, even if he couldn''t protect others, the black fog still dispersed to some extent under the glow of the blade of law, and even the half-illusory, half-real factors affecting the senses receded in the glow''s presence. What laid before Bai E was nothing but a path with extremely low visibility. Following his memory of the terrain observed at the auction earlier, Bai E found his way to the auction stage. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The three "slaves" that first displayed anomalies during the incident and Kuang Xin, who had not yet been rescued or escaped on his own, were here; Bai E was sure to check this place first. However, as Bai E steadily approached the target point he had in mind, suddenly there came a series of thudding and roaring noises from the direction of the target. "Bang bang bang bang bang!" The sound of fist against flesh was incessant, and getting closer one could even hear the clear roar, "Damn it, come on! Come at me again! Watch me smash you bastards to pieces!" The voice was deep and powerful, It was Kuang Xin! The instant Bai E heard this voice, he was certain he was heading in the right direction. However, just as he took a bold step forward with his sword raised, an endless black miasma seemed to swallow up everything like a whale gulping water, instantly retracting from the entire area to a central point. The fierce suction acting upon each person''s soul rendered everyone incapable of looking after themselves, only able to focus on stabilizing their souls without the capacity to be distracted by investigating further. Bai E''s longsword pierced into the ground as he coldly gazed at the center where the dark qi was swirling into. The three figures stained with ink under Kuang Xin''s fists had long since been disfigured, their vital energies wilted. The black miasma was indeed funneling into the three figures through their mouths and noses before finally disappearing without a trace. Kuang Xin, his body drenched in blood, slowly straightened up after laying down the last limp body, his fervent eyes swiftly scanning the surroundings as if a hungry beast in search of its next prey. However, beset by an overwhelming sense of dizziness due to overexertion and a barrage of system notifications, Kuang Xin still felt a darkness before his eyes as the game world plunged into complete blackness. "Damn it!" This was Kuang Xin''s last thought. As he fell unconscious in the game, he lost all ability to act, including the capacity to perceive his surroundings. At the same time, his real-world body also entered a deep sleep. Unable to move, unable to speak, not even a hint of sensation. Both worlds simultaneously slumped into a profound slumber. Only a few pairs of malevolent eyes of different appearances gently opened in the darkness of an unknown place... Bai E caught Kuang Xin''s body as it fell towards the ground. The surrounding officers, armed with bizarrely shaped weapons, quickly gathered around after the soul-scouring gale had passed. Yet, seeing Bai''s figure, everyone''s expression shifted as they respectfully stood in place and saluted, "We have seen General Bai!" In the darkness of the black fog, it was impossible to see anything. As the black fog receded, the fleeting clairvoyance was only able to discern that Bai E was standing right at the center of the tumultuous change. So, it goes without saying who resolved all the unfolding calamities. The leading instructor of all the officers approached, sword with a broad blade in hand, "General Bai, may we take the person in your hands?" "He''s also a victim," Bai E advised as he handed over Kuang Xin to them. He had already used Spiritual Energy to examine him, and there was hardly a trace of demonic energy on Kuang Xin. As for which direction the chaos among the players would turn their hearts, that remained an unknowable proposition. "I understand," the instructor nodded in agreement. "We won''t harm him, we just need to ensure that none of the individuals involved pose any danger to human society." "Mm." Bai E cast one final glance around, and finding nothing else of interest to attend to, he made his way towards the exit, intending to leave. With matters here concluded, there was no reason for him to stay any longer. However, the voice of Aglaya echoed directly in his mind, stopping him, "General Bai, please hold on. We would like to take a moment of your time for you to attend a meeting with us." Chapter 627 - 627: 479 City Council "Sure," Bai E responded instantly. He got into Aglaya''s private car, and the two sped along, crossing the city''s endless corridors, finally arriving within the city''s true inner circle. Above the ground, at the city''s core... this was the real inner city. The supreme seat of power¡ªthe City Lord''s Mansion¡ªwas located here. Golden pillars of brilliance soared into the sky, and atop the towering summits floated several copper metal spheres of varying sizes, unattached to anything substantive. An endless stream of energy radiated from them, bringing waves of terrifying pressure to the senses attuned to Spiritual Energy. Sitting in the car, Aglaya spoke softly, explaining to Bai E at her side, "After this incident, the city will definitely have to reconsider its stance on the castle. However, the castle involves the interests of many people, and those nobles who haven''t personally experienced the difficulty of this incident might still be blinded by their own desires despite the clear explanation of the stakes. It''s unknown how many are like that, and it may still come down to a vote. Now, with Weslin unconscious, as the highest-ranking officer in the military, your stance represents the entire military''s attitude." This was news she had just learned. Normally, the military''s say in such matters wasn''t significant, being a simple force responsible for external enemies and not meddling in the city''s affairs, big or small. Moreover, if Weslin were in charge and the incident happened while he was outside the city, they probably wouldn''t even be called. But now, Bai E had a voice, and from his recent attitude, she knew he was a firm opponent; furthermore, Bai E had been at the scene, fully participating. To not call him would be somewhat unreasonable. The only thing that aroused curiosity was how Bai E''s ascension to the rank of general, akin to being parachuted in, hadn''t caused the slightest controversy within the military. The news that Bai E could represent the military with full authority was something she had just learned after making contact. "Hmm," Bai E nodded nonchalantly, remaining silent. Aglaya, who was driving, occasionally swept her gaze over the soldier''s profile beside her, her eyes filled with a strange light. From an artificial soldier initially dismissed for his lack of Spiritual Energy talent, he had now become the absolute controller of the military''s strategic forces, an All-around soldier fully endowed with Spiritual Energy. This artificial being had performed an incredible reversal that many could scarcely imagine. The reason for summoning Bai E was not only to gain his support on the matter of the castle but also to showcase his current strength at the upcoming meeting attended by many important figures of the city and to propose the strengthening of Bai E''s Spiritual Energy. She couldn''t stand idly by and let Bai E, with such powerful Spiritual Energy, waste his talents¡ªeven if his insight was unparalleled, even if he could learn the Exorcism Magic Circle by briefly observing Kiro Lan''s demonstrations, he couldn''t be expected to break through every situation by learning on the spot. The decision to open all the city''s precious archives to an artificial soldier was extraordinary, and even if this individual had demonstrated absolute combat dominance, utmost caution was still needed. Moreover, if the proposal opposing the continued existence of the castle passed and Bai E made his stance clear, as a retaliation, the nobles and the forces they could influence would likely not sit idly by and allow the proposal to succeed. Aglaya knew that the upcoming meeting might witness bloodshed of another kind. The city''s true council hall was resplendent with gold, and by the time Bai E and Aglaya arrived, the irregularly arranged seating was already filled with people. The buzzing noise of the pre-meeting chatter filled the hall, yet when Aglaya, with Bai E in tow, made her entrance, all those sounds instantly hushed. Since the internet had been reactivated, the world might not yet be reconnected to each other, but news within the city had become incredibly swift. Almost immediately as the incident occurred, all the city''s significant figures learned of the anomaly at the castle, and the roles of those who stood out during the chaos. "Bai E," this name had appeared before everyone''s eyes a bit too often of late. Even those figures unconcerned with mere fighting had to take an interest in this artificial soldier who had risen like a comet. Bai E could clearly feel the inquisitive gazes upon him, some curious, some intense, some like a breath of spring, others as fervent as flames. Those seated here were the true powers controlling the city. Bai E''s gaze swept lightly across the audience, suddenly feeling a certain revulsion towards the task at hand. To gain the support of at least 51% of the people here? Did that mean he would have to stoop to consorting with them? The end result of such collusion was to allow places like the castle to exist within the city. Today the castle might be gone, but tomorrow another den of iniquity could arise in its stead. The castle wasn''t the essence, it was merely a phenomenon that revealed human nature. Bai E spotted two small figures; they too had been brought here, sitting on a long bench. "They''re not here to make a stand, but to face judgment," Aglaya whispered by way of explanation. Of course, to call it judgment wasn''t that serious. But since the two hadn''t acted according to plan, they had to face some questioning. The more prodigious their talent, the more attention must be paid to their loyalty to the city. As Bai E calmly made his way past many seats alongside Aglaya, he looked around curiously and asked, "Where is the City Lord?" When mentioning the city''s absolute ruler, Aglaya''s tone became a bit strange, "The City Lord... hasn''t come. Usually, he only shows up when there are matters that threaten the city''s very survival. At ordinary meetings... he comes if he wishes or absents himself if he doesn''t. Even if he does come, he usually remains silent or even unseen." "Hmm," Bai E nodded, finally taking a seat next to Aglaya in the inner circle of the front row. "The military''s seats should be over there, but since it''s your first time, just sit beside me," she said. "Yes," he replied. An elderly man, distinguished and with silvery hair, who seemed to have been given a signal, stood up to preside over the meeting, "Alright, since everyone is here, let''s discuss the changes at the castle that happened tonight¡ªat 8:58 p.m., a disturbance occurred in the underground castle, causing it to briefly lose contact with the rest of the city." "First, we would like to ask... Morphie, Kiro Lan, what exactly were the initial instructions you received? And thereafter, under whose directive did you undertake such risky actions?" sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 628 - 628: 480 Accountability Morphie spoke calmly and initiated the conversation, "Our initial instruction was to escort the military marshal out of the zone, Marshal Weslin." "Then why didn''t you transfer Weslin out immediately after receiving him? Who instructed you to act beyond your orders?" "No one instructed us." Morphie responded emotionlessly, "It''s just that we felt there was still hope for saving that castle, so perhaps it was worth a try." After spending a long time in the city center, even a child would have to possess some political savvy. Morphie understood his and Kiro Lan''s positions. Even if they took all the blame, it wouldn''t have much impact on them. Not to mention that the eventual outcome of the incident was positive. Outcomes can justify intentions, but intentions cannot justify outcomes. However, the inquisitive elder was relentless, determined to find an absolute scapegoat for possible future accountability, "So ultimately it was you who saved everyone in the castle?" Morphie looked intently at the other party, his gaze sharp as a sword, "The castle was ultimately saved, but not by our own hands." In the midst of speaking, Morphie felt a twinge of pain in his heart. "So your actions were meaningless, right? Because of your delay, Marshal Weslin is still in a comatose state. Do you admit your guilt?" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We do not admit guilt." Aglaya, who was sitting next to Bai E, suddenly stood up, "Their assistance played a critical role. Without their aid, General Bai E would have had a hard time liberating the entire castle." "But who authorized them to save the castle? Lady Aglaya, you were involved throughout the process, so you must know what were the initial orders given to the two Saint Heirs? As for General Bai E¡­" The old man''s sharp gaze then turned to Bai E, who was sitting composedly next to Aglaya, "General Bai E, please explain why you were not in the military area on guard duty, but instead entered the city secretly without orders?" Bai E replied without emotion, "To protect the Marshal." "Humph!" the elder snorted coldly, turning to fire at the other group, "Then what about the Arbitration Place? What role did you play in this event? Just watching from outside? Stationing so many people permanently on guard, yet completely unaware that the demons had hollowed out the interior?! Following the incident, you even appointed two utterly untrustworthy individuals for important tasks. What exactly have you been doing!?" Aglaya, who had sat back down, stared at the elder who was speaking, and explained to Bai E in a low voice, "These people are firing all around to distribute the blame and to frame the core cause of this catastrophe as a human operational error, rather than an inherent hazard of the castle... Such malice!" Bai E responded expressionlessly, "Thank you for the advice, Lady Aglaya." As the person fully responsible for the Arbitration Place''s action, Arnold, a man of rigid temperament, stood up furiously in response, spraying saliva, "To preserve the existence of the castle, even our own people have become the nourishment for the demons'' essence. Demons are pervasive, and I had long proposed the elimination of the castle!" "Nonsense! If you really had no means to deal with the castle, then why were two Saint Heirs sent out to take action?" "That''s because they were still in their study period, not exposed to more... to more details of the city." "If it can be done once, it can be done twice! If the Saint Heirs you trained could enter, why couldn''t others? Ultimately, it''s because your talent reserves are insufficient and your contingency plans are lacking, leading to the numerous sacrifices following the castle incident!" "To have us stationed in a place that will surely breed demons is a desecration of every officer''s mission! If not for shift monitoring, we wouldn''t have enough hands!" "That''s your Arbitration Place''s internal resolution and has nothing to do with this matter! Guarding the castle is your entire institution''s responsibility, and such a great oversight now is a result of the Arbitration Place''s inefficiency!" Arnold had bloodshot eyes and looked furious, "You have no idea what kind of opponent we faced this time!" The grand demons have a thousand faces! An ultra-dangerous high-dimensional demon whose mere images could erode everyone! At the time, those present had no way to handle it, and besides the survivors in the castle, those outside were the enforcers from the Arbitration Place, who deal with demons daily and did not care about the potential risks. However, now in the council chamber, there were plenty of high-ranking individuals without Spiritual Energy talent. Not to mention complete corruption; even if merely one of them had been infiltrated by a demon, it could cause unimaginable disaster to the city. The Arbitration Place has always been like this, undertaking the most dangerous and troublesome tasks in the city and always unable to make their own difficulties public due to the nature of demons. "Let it go." An old voice arose from a corner, "I''ve set up a mental filter Array around the meeting place. You''ll forget everything once you leave. Let it go." Following the voice, everyone looked and saw only a young girl pushing an elderly man in a wheelchair slowly entering through the passageway. Someone exclaimed in shock, "Judgment Chief Nolanitz!" "How come even he was invited?" Franca, pushing Nolanitz''s wheelchair, caught sight of Bai E in the crowd and cheekily winked at him. Chapter 629 - 629: 480 Accountability_2 "Yes!" Arnold seemed to have found his mainstay in an instant, excitedly agreeing. The image was not from within the castle, but rather atop the dim ruins of a city. The thorny flower flag flying high above the ruins reminded many of the famous city that had long vanished into history¡ªFreedom City. That was during the days when the empire had not yet completely fallen apart, existing in name only. However, the moment the demon, which had devoured countless souls of the entire city, slowly emerged from the void, was also the first act of the empire''s decline. The spire-like demons were almost scattered across the entire city''s ruins, endless enforcers from the Arbitration Place fearlessly launched a desperate assault against the higher-dimensional demon. Then they fell amidst the ruins... One after another, endlessly. Unlike with the Bug Race or orcs, humans occasionally managed to launch a counterattack and even harbored ambitions to completely clear the opponent from the planet. But against higher-dimensional demons, humans could only adopt the most conservative defense. Preventing the enemy''s arrival in the real world was the most common task of the enforcers. When a demon of sufficient significance truly descended, the price humanity had to pay was bound to be extremely severe. And when the scene switched, to the images of the inside of the castle taken from outside the twisted barrier, it was apparent. The one that appeared inside the castle this time was the same desire-based great demon that brought painful lessons to the empire¡ªThousand Faces! S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The nearly identical skill display, the sky full of clones including the networks of blood and flesh vines, were all signature skills of Thousand Faces. "It''s that one!" "It has reincarnated again!" Anyone with a slight understanding of history would not forget the scars this great demon had brought to humanity. The ruins of Freedom City are still laid out on the land for subsequent visitors to mourn and commemorate. But there are always those unwilling to accept their opponent''s strength and by extension, acknowledge their own team''s weakness, "Does looking the same mean it has the same strength? Back then, so many executors gave their lives just to narrowly defeat the physical body of the great demon in the real world. Now it can be... it can be stopped by General Bai E alone? Could it be that General Bai E''s strength surpasses that of so many executors combined? Being stoppable indicates that this reincarnated great demon no longer possesses the formidable power of the past. Could the demon that almost devoured an entire city''s worth of souls back then be on the same level as the one summoned by this decaying castle?" "I truly wish you were at the scene when the barrier broke!" Arnold stared at the speaker, his eyes icy cold. The soul-piercing scream of Thousand Faces, unwilling to be repelled by the laws of the real world at the last moment, caused even him to feel his soul tremble and nearly disengage. If these ignorant fools were to take his place, their souls would likely be torn away on the spot, becoming the most basic and senseless chaos eggs in the high-dimensional space. It was only through the desperate struggle of countless warriors that these so-called nobles standing here casting their verbose judgments had the opportunity. However, watching the continuous playback of the video, even those of the same rule spoke up¡ª "Perhaps... General Bai E is indeed strong enough." "He... he knows the Exorcism Magic Circle, too?" "Wasn''t it said that General Bai E had never studied any ability related to Spiritual Energy?" "Perhaps it''s... learned from Kiro Lan." Even though Kiro Lan and Morphie didn''t disclose it outright, their interactions were too obvious to be concealed from anyone. The origins of the two Saint Heirs had a close connection to General Bai E, with most of the information laid out on the desks of the attendees after the incident. Thus, it''s understandable that the two Saint Heirs would follow General Bai E''s arrangements upon meeting again. This point was insignificant, as they only needed someone to take the blame, regardless of who it was. But now... merely from observing Kiro Lan complete half of the Array and then being able to perform it himself, General Bai E truly exceeded the expectations of most people. Being able to become nobility invariably means having elite family members who are connected with various main organizations of the city. Although a family''s spokesperson might not understand the intricacies of the Spiritual Energy field, there''s always someone elite in the family who does. Unable to bear seeing their family''s spokesperson continue to make a fool of themselves, they notified their representative in their own ways, in secret, to prevent them from truly embarrassing themselves. While General Bai E was engaged in sword combat against thousands, the Arbitration Place''s Saint Heir Kiro Lan was struggling to inscribe a certain Array, and anyone with a bit of visual acuity and wisdom could tell at a glance that it was the Arbitration Place''s treasured secret skill¡ªthe Exorcism Magic Circle. The Arbitration Place has never been stingy with such skills; anyone with Spiritual Energy who wanted to learn could do so, yet those who managed to master it... were one in ten thousand. Kiro Lan''s ability to master the Exorcism Magic Circle had created a sensation among their Spiritual Energy wielders at the time, let alone... a military soldier who had never been exposed to the Exorcism Magic Circle yet managed to learn it after merely watching someone use it halfway? What was even more preposterous was... Watching the figure in the screen fighting against the great demon, while dancing with the sword so fluidly and completing the Array in one fell swoop, everyone felt their worldview shattering. Is this something a human can achieve? Kiro Lan''s performance was by the book, conforming to everyone''s serious perception of exorcism. But General Bai E fought like he was on a rampage in the home of demons. It was probably only the concern that other survivors couldn''t hold on for too long that stopped him, otherwise, he might have simply taken a sword and slaughtered all the demons in the fortress. "Absurd." "Indeed..." Even those who had been reluctant to speak out before no longer insisted on their stubbornness. Even if the Bug Race had just resurrected and lost its prestige, it was still on the demon''s turf after all. While enduring the frenzied attacks of the demon, the person was multitasking, inscribing the Array at an accelerated pace. Then considering the disrepair shown by Arbitration Place''s enforcer during his last struggling roar against the Bug Race, perhaps the just-resurrected Bug Race hadn''t lost its stature to that extent. Praise be as it may, everyone knew that the Arbitration Place was an organization fighting on the frontlines against the demons within the city. Even if their power wasn''t heaven-defying, they were far from weak. In comparison... For a moment, everyone''s gaze towards Bai E was filled with fervent meaning. "If General Bai E could be stationed at the fortress, would we be completely secure in the future?" someone excitedly suggested. This immediately drew a snort from Arnold, "Anyone who allows the fortress to exist will become a part of its nourishment. This is General Bai E''s first visit here, and if he were stationed here, there would not be a second General Bai E to break this siege in the future." Aglaya, who had been seated beside Bai E and had hardly said anything, seemed all of a sudden to have received some message. She hummed softly twice and with a wave of her hand, a small electronic USB drive appeared in her hand. Controlling the USB drive with Spiritual Energy to fly towards the technicians, Aglaya stood up and said, "Additionally, our people made some predictions after capturing sufficient real-time spatial data on site. This is the result of those predictions. Everyone can have a look." The 3D structural diagram symbolizing the entire city''s structure cast aside the obstructions from the building bodies, using only a form of dots, lines, and planes to depict the city''s core structure. The very bottom of the city''s virtual diagram, which displayed in a gyroscopic shape, had a small area marked in red¡ªthat was the location of the fortress. When the fortress was instantaneously hollowed out, the overlying space poured into it like water. The flow of space spread throughout the city, causing certain disruptions to the entire city''s building structures. And when the projection zoomed in on the detail, the architectural structures borne by the space immediately showed a distorted form at the area closest to the source. Aglaya''s voice echoed throughout the hall, "If the fortress truly falls, at least the structures within three levels in proximity will suffer devastating damage. The number of deaths won''t just be those inside the fortress!" Chapter 630 - 630: 481 votes decided Aglaya''s words officially brought forth the core issue at hand in this meeting¡ªshould the castle''s existence be completely abolished? Such an alteration is not, as some might think, just about ensuring the rescue of a few key individuals. The localized impact caused by carving out a piece of space from the real world can be far more troublesome than the wide-ranging, long-term effects. Especially since the castle is set so deeply within the city, its collapse would spell trouble on a grand scale. A spokesperson clad in the robes of the Arbitration Place was the first to stand, speaking out loud, "I propose that we completely abolish the castle. The city can no longer tolerate such a den of filth!" Immediately, a chorus of agreement erupted, "Seconded!" "Seconded!" Those truly concerned about safety were completely different from that batch of profit-seekers. An area bound to attract demonic attention could only be abolished without any room for compromise. Facing this sudden backlash, the first speaker, an elderly man, had a dark expression on his face, "The castle cannot be abolished! We must provide space for the rational venting of desires. If we do not establish toilets, the entire place will become a toilet; if we do not establish order, the market will find its own order. It is much better for us to control such trading within the castle than to allow such transactions to develop freely and unchecked!" "Then go search! Go investigate! What is the city security squad for? We should not indulge these uncontrollable desires! In the face of demons, we must be vigilant as a whole!" "Desire is an inherent attribute of humanity; we can''t go against everyone''s nature! You are shaking the very foundation of the city!" "Are these so-called desires truly those of the entire city, or are they just your own private desires?" the Arbitration Place speaker retorted with a scoff, his words vehement. Seeing the topic veering towards chaos, another lavishly dressed elder stood up to end the dispute, "Enough! Since there''s disagreement, let''s settle this with a vote!" For regular members, it was one person, one vote, with roughly over a hundred votes in the venue. The remainder belonged to key institutions like the Arbitration Place, the barracks, the Scientific Research Institute, and their opinions carried more decisive weight, with a spokesperson''s vote counting as ten. Bai E held a voting device in his hand; once authenticated by the representative of the barracks, his vote counted as the decision of ten votes. Without a doubt, Bai E cast his support in favor of abolishing the castle. Before long, the voting results were in, showing the pro-abolition side winning by a slim margin of 5 votes. Ordinary council members, burdened with family missions, mostly voted against abolition. Yet the Arbitration Place, the Spiritual Power Managers Center, the barracks, the Mechanical Court, and even the city security squad, extraordinarily united in consensus on this matter. This turn of events sounded the alarm for all institutions genuinely concerned about the city''s safety; no one could stand by and allow the same to happen again. "Very well, very well!" The elder who first raised the issue, visibly indignant upon seeing the vote''s outcome, said, "Since everyone is so confident in the order of the city, let''s wait and see the performance of your security squad and the Arbitration Place then!" The resolution was settled, and Aglaya, who hadn''t attracted too much attention since the beginning, now stood up calmly to speak. "I have another proposal to put forward." "Considering General Bai E''s exceptional performance in the recent castle incident and his demonstrated potential in Spiritual Energy, I suggest granting him access to all of the city''s secret magical techniques. If General Bai E had earlier access to the Exorcism Magic Circle, Kiro Lan wouldn''t have even needed to risk demonstrating them." In fact, the anomalies that occurred at the beginning might have been dealt with by General Bai E right from the start. "General Bai E? A general promoted from an artificial being also to master so many secrets of the city? I am not at ease with this." "Exactly! Teaching him combat skills is fine, but granting access to all Spiritual Energy techniques... I''m sorry, but I cannot agree!" "Aglaya, have you forgotten the fact that General Bai E just recently lost control! Do you realize the significance of granting access to all secrets?" The city''s foundation relies on various energy Arrays, and the maintenance of these related Array nodes are all recorded within the secret techniques. If one day the controller intends to make a move, others won''t stand a chance. Aglaya''s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Even knowing full well that this inevitable counterargument was coming, she still couldn''t help but feel it was a thorny issue. If General Bai E couldn''t seize this opportunity to gain access to all Spiritual Energy techniques now when his performance was so outstanding, finding a similar chance in the future would become difficult. How many life-changing events can one encounter in a normal lifetime? Some opportunities, if missed, may never come again. With such thoughts, Aglaya''s gaze shifted towards certain corners of the room. The Spiritual Power Managers Center also had its networks; it was time those connections were called upon for support. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If there weren''t enough explicit signs of support, there wouldn''t even be a chance to try voting on it. She wondered if her web of relations was strong enough to push this through... However, the next moment, Aglaya saw an unexpected figure, not well-acquainted with her, standing up. "I support Lady Aglaya''s proposal. General Bai E has made remarkable contributions and is loyally devoted to the city. The strength of General Bai E is the strength of our city." An unfamiliar representative suddenly rose, "I also agree with Lady Aglaya! The presence of General Bai E could deter criminals lurking in the shadows. The stronger he is, the safer our city will be." "I agree too..." Representatives from the Scientific Research Institute, the security squad, the Arbitration Place, and even from the Mechanical Court¡ªan institution that usually stood on the opposite extreme from the Spiritual Power Managers Center¡ªwere all standing up to express their positions at this moment. After speaking, they all turned towards their respective sides, nodding and smiling with a sense of goodwill as if to curry favor, seemingly with ulterior motives. Though the existence of the Spiritual Power Managers Center was vital to the city, when did it gain such prestige over these parallel institutions? No! Perhaps it wasn''t her prestige at all. But rather¡­ Bai E. Their gaze had deviated slightly. It was Bai E, seated beside her, who was the true target of these powers'' overtures. When did this warrior, originating from the lowest ranks of the barracks, come to possess such influence within the city? Overwhelmed with shock, Aglaya watched as the proposal she had only tentatively suggested was miraculously passed with an overwhelming majority. Even more straightforwardly than the earlier controversy over the castle. Chapter 631 - 631: 482 asking for help At the close of the meeting, Bai E saw a familiar figure approaching him. Caesar. The handsome, melancholic man who had intended to vie with Weslin for the position of marshal of the military district. "Congratulations," the man said with a sincere smile on his face, "General Bai E, the security of the city will be relying heavily on you from now on." "?" Bai E narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. The other man was proactive in his attitude, ready to explain any queries. As long as he did not make a statement, the power and leadership would always be in his hands. Aglaya, observing this exchange, smiled with a knowing look, "So, you know General Bai. No wonder your men suddenly stepped up to speak." Was Caesar the head of the city''s security forces? Then why had he claimed to be from the Spiritual Power Managers Center before? As this question flickered through his mind, Caesar explained with a smile, "Before taking my position with the security forces, I was a registered spiritual energy user at the Center. And to be honest, my identity in the security forces was nothing to be proud of when I first met General Bai." His tone held self-deprecating humor, and he had a more likable presence than Weslin... If not for his initial impression, Bai E felt he would have a good opinion of him. "So, you have been promoted now?" Caesar shrugged, "Just yesterday..." Aglaya looked at him with an appreciative gaze, "Caesar has worked hard, always struggling on the front line against those battling gangs." Unlike Weslin''s meteoric, helicopter-style rise to marshal, Caesar''s ascent was purely the result of fighting his way up with his own two hands. Or perhaps... it was also partly compensation for the inability to support Caesar''s bid for the marshal position of the military district? Caesar''s gaze, warm and intense, was fixed on Bai E, "General Bai, I''m not one for pleasantries. Please take what I say to heart." Aglaya''s eyebrows furrowed, confused, "What''s the matter? Has the security team encountered many troubles lately?" Caesar shook his head with a wry smile, "Not now... but soon." "Soon?" "The intentions of those old men couldn''t be clearer; they''re just waiting for us to make a mistake." Caesar stripped the playful expression from his face, his countenance became earnest and grave, "If the crime rate in the city remains high post-castle dismantling, if vicious incidents keep happening incessantly, making everyone feel at risk, how do you think public opinion will be swayed?" Aglaya squinted her eyes, her gaze sharp, "They wouldn''t go that far, would they?" "Go that far?" Caesar let out a cold laugh, "What''s stopping them? If they can spout platitudes like ''Political wisdom is about fulfilling some human desires while ensuring overall benefits,'' what''s there they wouldn''t do?" "¡­" Aglaya pursed her lips, her demeanor cold and stern, "What do you plan to do?" "In the coming period, the enemy''s counter-attack will undoubtedly be the fiercest. The battalions they support will surely execute their will, and other autonomous battalions may take the opportunity to stir up trouble. Fires will break out all over the city, and just relying on our security team''s regular size won''t be enough to respond promptly to crises everywhere. Now that Weslin is unconscious, General Bai, you are the military district''s highest spokesperson. I hope that you can provide timely assistance when our security team is short-handed. As long as we can withstand their immediate backlash, they won''t dare to completely tear off the facade." The city is too vast, and the armed level of combat is low, our opponents are also our own kind. There''s no need for an institution like the Heretical Arbitration House, which targets demons, nor for elite forces like the Mechanical Court. What is needed is a vast number of ordinary armed personnel. In the city, apart from the security teams, only military barracks could provide large-scale conventional arms. Bai E stared into Caesar''s eyes, where only sincerity and openness could be seen. "I''m not familiar with this matter and dare not make a decision rashly. I need to go back and discuss it with other generals before I can give you an answer," Bai E said. "Then I''ll await your good news," Caesar replied with a slight smile. "I believe that anyone who cares about the safety of the city would not sit by and watch this chaos unfold. The generals in the military district should also understand the implications behind this." "Hmm." "Your military district suffered heavy losses on the last expedition; I''m not sure how the recruitment has been replenishing the ranks lately. In fact, it was common practice to draft criminals who caused trouble in the city into the military." Humans may fight amongst themselves, but that''s as far as it goes. In the barracks, the only enemies are alien races like insects and orcs. No human could defect to such alien races. If convicts wished to redeem themselves, they had to be fiercer than anyone else on the battlefield. "Thank you for the reminder, but as I just mentioned, I''m not clear about these matters. Marshal Weslin is not here, and I need to discuss with other generals before I can make a decision," Bai E said. "Alright, then I won''t disturb General Bai any further," Caesar said. Caesar retreated with a smile, efficient and without delay. Watching Caesar leave, Aglaya dropped her smile and admonished Bai E with a serious face, "I can''t see through Caesar either, so you should weigh his words carefully. The generals in the military district may not be far-sighted sages, but they are probably quite familiar with the intricacies of these matters. You can listen to their opinions. If you still feel uncertain about making a decision, you can come and ask for my opinion after gathering all the information. Now, let''s go. Didn''t you say you wanted to see how the survivors were doing? I''ll take you there." Being an artificial human seemed to naturally grant one the benefit of being considered a "blank slate" with pure thoughts by all those who came into contact with them. Even a high-ranking spiritual energy user like Aglaya instinctively felt at ease and close to them. ¡­ "How much longer do we have to be locked up?" "Didn''t they say they''ve already done the inspection? Why haven''t they let us go yet?" "I''m dying of impatience! Dying of impatience! Dying of impatience!" A group of players whined as they were locked up in a specially designed cage. Caged together with them, a woman with a scorpion tattoo between her brows couldn''t understand how these guys could be so carefree. Having witnessed the invasion by high-level multidimensional demons, she would have begged the City Arbitration Office to conduct dozens more checks on her to ensure she wasn''t compromised. But what about these people? All they think about is escaping? So, the demon invasion that just happened before your eyes didn''t have any sobering effect on you at all? "It''s them, if there are no issues, let them out," a voice called out from a distance. The moment he heard that familiar voice, Kuang Xin excitedly leaped up and exclaimed, "It''s the superior!" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 632 - 632: Wild Ambition 483 "Let''s go, you''re safe now," With the endorsement of the popular rising star General Bai E, several ordinary survivors, already deemed unproblematic, were easily let go. After saying goodbye to Aglaya, Bai E took them to a deserted corner outside. Unable to be in several places at once, he had a mission in mind for these players. "My lord!" Kuang Xin looked at Bai E with fervent admiration, as other players had recounted to him once again the General''s impressive performance in the battle at the castle. An all-out slaughter. They had been growing, but since Bai E appeared before them, his achievements in battle became more and more exaggerated with each account, seemingly outstripping their growth by leaps and bounds. It even led some to wonder who exactly was the player here. "Mhm," Bai E responded indifferently, looking at the group of players staring at him, his eyes reflecting a hard-to-define turmoil. All that he had seen in the city council had brought Bai E''s frustration to a peak. The dirty dealings could be openly discussed as if there were no line between people and objects in their eyes, as if everything in the world could be measured in terms of gain. Was there any point to the existence of such a city? Having been exposed to the core of the city''s upper echelons for the first time, Bai E felt waves of nausea from deep within. Never before had his desire to control the city been so intense. And then Caesar''s proposal sparked a wild thought in Bai E''s mind. Caesar''s suggestion that he should lead troops into the city, was it to quell the growing human disasters, or to initiate a grand revolution? Who knows? He could only hope that the so-called nobility''s stirrings of unrest would be slow enough, slow until he was sufficiently prepared to, under the guise of quelling unrest, overtly send troops into the city. Slow until he could first establish tight connections with the various power groups within the city so that they wouldn''t instantly react and obstruct his movements at the start of the revolution. To achieve this, first and foremost, he needed to gain control of an army that was entirely loyal to him and powerful enough. Black Street? Being just ordinary folks, they were only good for passing on some information and conducting basic transactions, but not much else. The town of Li Ming? As outcasts of Grey Iron City, it wasn''t easy for them to enter the city, and it wasn''t realistic to fully arm them and turn them into a reliable military force in a short period. What remained... was the military barracks. It was not good to recruit and he had no intention of recruiting natural born humans. The main policy set by the barracks was to intensify the production of artificial humans for use as disposable cannon fodder in the next campaign against the insect nests; thus, artificial soldiers would definitely make up the main body within the barracks. Artificial soldiers were, of course, loyal to humans, loyal to the city, but not necessarily loyal to the current city lord. The Genetic Prohibition didn''t have a mechanism to spell out loyalty to such a degree; the growth of artificial soldiers still required post-birth guidance. Would it be to guide them to become selfless cannon fodder for the city, or would it be to let them fight for themselves, becoming the new wave that changes the city? While Weslin was unconscious, the initiative was in Bai E''s hands. Not to mention, Bai E also held a certain capital to rewrite the prohibitions. Inheriting the technology of his predecessors certainly didn''t allow one to break their restraints, but Bai E could choose to add a personal worship alongside the loyal human subject. The current city lord hadn''t done so because he didn''t have the time to frequently show his face in the barracks. He was unable to trigger and reinforce that impression of worship, but Bai E... could. Of course, the tasks left for the players were certainly not limited to that, but rather... training. Let Dai Lian train their archery skills. Let Kuang Xin train their physical skills. Let Gu Lan train their affinity with Spiritual Energy. Let Gong Yan train their special skills in bandaging and medical care. The natives weren''t fools; they had their own learning systems. Having both learning and teaching interaction templates, maybe the players had them too. It just lacked an incentive to trigger it, Bai E thought he might try, so he began crafting tasks. "There are some things I plan to have you do." [Auto-generating commission description...] [Side quest¡ªDawn! (Resource-type Commission): Your monarch is plotting a groundbreaking feat. To ensure the power to initiate this upheaval, you must first build a trusted and valiant army for your monarch! Now, you have all been granted the "Teaching" authority, allowing you to impart everything you''ve learned to those in need. Dawn... is approaching! Quest requirements: Teach all the abilities you command. Quest reward: Each successfully taught individual grants progress, and you will also receive feedback on your abilities (rewards issued on a tiered basis).] S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. (Note: "Auto-complete" allowed; "Authority" and "Expenditure" will be deducted and locked upon confirming the commission.) [Would you like to issue this commission?] Bai E scrutinized it carefully, saw no apparent issues, and agreed to issue it. [Confirmed for issue!] At the moment the quest prompt sounded, every player was invigorated. Dawn! That was the name of their organization. The monarchy of their organization, namely their own lord, was finally ready to initiate a tumultuous campaign? Accept accept accept! Wen Jie, also brought along, looked utterly perplexed. Do I get a part in this too? With a smile on his face, Bai E looked at the group of players before him, "The only people I can trust are you. I will specify the targets that need teaching in due time. Whether our cause can ultimately succeed will depend on you!" "We will not fail the trust you''ve placed in us!" Several players were ablaze with enthusiasm, filled with excitement. Being part of the force driving major events in the game, they all felt an unparalleled thrill. And the words in the quest were clear¡ªmonarch. Who could be called a monarch? Did it mean that after this battle, they could become revered elders of a newly founded nation? Geez! Our lord is awesome! [As the leader of a power, your bond with the members of the organization has strengthened. Sociology +5] [Sociology +8: The population under your governance feels a stronger sense of identification with your identity. Commission authority content has been upgraded¡ªBasic combat-type commission authority for a single experience quota has been increased to: 50~450 points, authority for daily experience quota has been increased to: 50~1700 points; Basic resource-type commission authority for a single commission has been increased to: Science research experience 0~200 points, authority for daily commission quota has been added: Science research experience 0~450 points. (Effective upon issuing new commissions.)] Chapter 633 - 633: 484 Harvest "Additionally, I wonder how far you''ve come in understanding what you''ve learned recently?" The city had granted me access to all of the Spiritual Energy secrets, which meant that in the time to come, I would have to deal with things I had never touched before. Everyone thinks they''re a genius, but only I know I''m not. Without the aid of experience to assist learning, I am nothing. After the battle at the castle, my reserve of experience was left with just over nine thousand but less than ten thousand points. If I do not regain some from the players, Bai E would have no clue how to learn those Spiritual Energy secrets. Bai E clenched his fist, "I think a test is also necessary to make sure you truly have the ability to teach others." It wasn''t long before the players lay in a heap in front of Bai E. The perverted Kuang Xin still wanted more, only to be knocked out with a slap from Bai E. "All these days, your strength hasn''t improved at all!" Dai Lian clutched his chest, feeling stifled, and gazed at the adult in front of him with resentment on his face. ''Brother, it''s not that we''re not trying, it''s just that you''re too abnormal.'' Their strength, whether among the natives or the players, was considered to be at the very top in terms of progress. However, when facing Bai E, they were like helpless chicks, completely at his mercy. Apart from Kuang Xin, who had managed to gain a little progress in hand-to-hand combat, the rest were easily overpowered. As Meng Meng hugged Bai E''s thigh tightly upon waking, "My Lord, we are so eager to progress, please teach us some new skills!" "Hmm," Bai E hummed in response, which was exactly his intention. After going through his own abilities, Bai E found more that were suitable for teaching¡ª [Skill ¡ª Boon of Release (Requirement: Mastery of Combat Specialization Level 4), Price ¡ª Basic Instruction: 100 points of influence contribution.] [Skill ¡ª Firepower Suppression (Requirement: Mastery of Light Firearms Specialization Level 4), Price ¡ª Basic Instruction: 100 points of influence contribution.] [Feat ¡ª Overlord''s Grasp (Requirement: Mastery of Heavy Weapon Specialization Level 4), Price ¡ª Basic Instruction: 100 points of influence contribution.] [Feat ¡ª Sky-Shattering Strike (Requirement: Mastery of Heavy Weapon Specialization Level 4), Price ¡ª Basic Instruction: 100 points of influence contribution.] [Feat ¡ª Weapon Master (Requirement: Mastery of at least three types of weapon specializations up to Level 4, and possession of at least one skill from each of the three weapon specialization trees), Price ¡ª Basic Instruction: 200 points of influence contribution.] [Feat ¡ª Fury''s Tide, Price ¡ª Basic Instruction: 150 points of influence contribution.] [Unlock the choice for the next tier of exchange items after "four times" unlocking from the current tier, stay tuned...] Taking into account that there were almost no abilities suitable for Spiritual Energy practitioners in the third tier of the exchange store, Bai E added two practical abilities to the third tier¡ª [Skill ¡ª Blade of Magic (Requirement: Mastery of Light Weapon Specialization Level 4), Price ¡ª Basic Instruction: 100 points of influence contribution.] S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Skill ¡ª Dance of Agility (Requirement: Mastery of Light Weapon Specialization Level 4), Price ¡ª Basic Instruction: 100 points of influence contribution.] Considering that if players ever possess amazing personal expertise, and all the skills I can provide are already known to them, yet they still wish to unlock the store to see what is available at the higher levels, Bai E made all of the specialization abilities he mastered available in the store, though it was more of a makeshift effort. One must completely learn to the first level. 50 points of influence contribution are required to go from level one to two in the first-tier store, and 100 points of influence contribution are needed for level three to four in the second-tier store. The exchange continues at an equal ratio of two levels per tier store and 50 points of influence contribution. Kuang Xin was the first to signal excitedly, "My Lord, I want to learn! My Lord, I want to learn!" "What to learn?" "Overlord''s Grasp, Sky Lifting Strike, Weapon Master, Fury Torrent..." Kuang Xin wanted to learn all these abilities. Unfortunately, the influence points he had accumulated recently were not sufficient for him to learn all the abilities thoroughly, so he had to choose some that were more suitable for his current needs and learn those first. After several days, Bai E finally managed to completely harvest the experience from the players. That wasn''t to say it was completely harvested, of course, as without enough influence points, the experience couldn''t be utilized. In this game, everything required a process, not just a simple click of the buttons to achieve instant success. Even if Bai E had the time to interact with every player, collecting all of their experience was not an easy task. Instead of being distracted by collecting all around, it was better to focus on cultivating some core members he believed in. ["Teaching" ended, you have obtained a total of 72,000 combat experience points and 3,000 general experience points through the "Teaching" feedback.] It was clear that the players had been diligent and hardworking while he wasn''t supervising them, accumulating a lot of experience and making significant contributions to their own development. Watching the adult leave, Dai Lian and others looked at Kuang Xin and asked in some confusion, "Why are you learning such a mix of messy abilities?" They were also present during the teaching. Those not in teaching mode certainly couldn''t immerse themselves in learning with experience, but at least they knew what the adult was teaching. The things Kuang Xin learned were suspicious and disorderly¡ªBlessed Release, Sky Lifting Strike, Strong Shot, Gun Fighting Skill. He learned one skill from each of four different specializations. Gu Lan tugged at Kuang Xin''s sleeve, asking curiously, "When did you get Light Firearms Specialization and long-range weapons to Level 4?" You can''t learn skills under a specialization if it''s not at Level 4. Heavy Weapon Specialization and Combat Specialization Level 4 were common knowledge, as Kuang Xin''s main specializations, and he had long since leveled them up to Level 6. But as for the other two specializations, he hadn''t been seen using them at all since he got past the initial newbie stage. "Yeah!" Dai Lian frowned at Kuang Xin, "Don''t bite off more than you can chew." With limited experience gained, if you just dabble a little here and a little there in specializations, ending up without a single competent skill, that would be a joke. After all, at their stage, when facing some big bosses, it''s only when each person plays to their strengths that they can pose an effective threat to the boss. Only Gong Yan was staring at the smiling profile of Kuang Xin, feeling that something was off. Ever since the castle incident, Kuang Xin had become particularly active upon returning. Amid the surrounding chatter, Gong Yan asked casually, "Tell us, what benefits did you get when the adult saved you?" "Not much... just ninety thousand experience..." Kuang Xin eventually couldn''t hold back any longer, his grin splitting his face. After he defeated those monsters transformed from the three "slaves", the unimaginably generous experience almost drowned him. He couldn''t use it up! It was simply too much to use! Chapter 634 - 634: 485 Spiritual Power Managers Center ``` Bai E, having gained enough experience, finally had the confidence to step through the gates of the Spiritual Power Managers Center. Theoretically, all spiritual energy users in the city needed to be managed by this center, even the enforcers from the Arbitration Place were theoretically required to return to this place periodically for a variety of checks related to spiritual energy, providing important baseline data to deepen humans'' understanding of spiritual energy. But over time, most spiritual energy users with other identities generally did not adhere to this rule. Yet, the Spiritual Power Managers Center remained the absolute core institution representing the highest achievements and frontier results of spiritual energy users throughout the city. The library housing all secret spiritual techniques was located in this place. With city secret order permission, Bai E had unobstructed access, and Aglaya personally met with him, leading him to a dark building within the center''s underground. "This is your first time here, before we take you to the library, we need to conduct a comprehensive investigation of your spiritual energy, it won''t take much of your time, but it''s a necessary procedure," What Aglaya did not fully explain was that the entire research center was quite interested in Bai E''s spiritual energy. The fact that an artificial human possessed spiritual energy was already an incredible matter to them, let alone an artificial human who had done many things with spiritual energy that normal spiritual talent users found difficult to achieve. Bai E could learn the Exorcism Magic Circle, a secret technique difficult for normal people to master, just by watching half a demonstration, and if this extraordinary comprehension did not involve some factor of spiritual energy but relied solely on personal talent, they were skeptical of that as well. This case was extremely rare in the history of human spiritual energy development, and nobody was not curious about what kind of properties such a spiritual energy user''s energy actually had. Technology and spiritual energy achieved perfect harmony at the Spiritual Power Managers Center. Standing in a small room, Bai E could feel the various tendrils of spiritual energy touching his own. "Relax, freely extend your spiritual energy, just like in meditation," Aglaya''s voice came from the speakers in the small room. Bai E hesitated, then chose to follow the instructions. Of course, his hesitation was about which spiritual energy attribute to display. His original spiritual energy attribute was neutral, with no particular leaning, while the spiritual energy attribute he learned by mimicking Pansen was "Heavenly Eye." Showing which attribute was a choice for Bai E. After a moment of thought, Bai E decided to showcase his own spiritual energy. Pansen was a registered spiritual energy user at the Spiritual Power Managers Center, and the center probably had quite exhaustive data on his spiritual energy. If he displayed the same attribute as Pansen, the difference between the two would be too great, which could lead these people to doubt their lives... or doubt himself. It''s better to give them a spiritual energy attribute they have completely never seen before, to potentially make them accept all the unreasonable behavior. As Bai E aimlessly unleashed his spiritual energy tendrils, their wills began to communicate. Aglaya''s voice continued, "Keep releasing, don''t stop." Most research on spiritual energy could be quickly recorded during contact, but to test the limit of energy retention, one must see the limit of the spiritual energy user''s release. The higher the rank of the spiritual energy user, the slower this process. With Bai E''s previous exaggerated performance, many suspected that his level of spiritual energy had actually reached the third tier or could possibly be one of the only two examples of the fourth tier in the entire human empire. As the process of probing the limit progressed, the first phase contact report had already arrived in the hands of Aglaya and others. "How is it?" A middle-aged man with silver at his temples but still a vigorous bearing leaned over to inquire. There were several influential figures in the entire center, and Aglaya was just one of them, even the youngest and least experienced. They all came to witness the first study of Bai E''s spiritual energy. Without a sound, a look of puzzlement appeared on Aglaya''s handsome face. The man peering in from the side also saw the words on the report: Tier¡ªSecond Tier. The quantity of spiritual energy needs to touch the limit, but the quality is a static thing. No one can easily change the essence of their spiritual energy. If the energy of a first-tier spiritual energy user is like air, then the energy of a second-tier is like steam, and a third-tier''s is like actual liquid. There is a clear boundary between each, and there has been no ambiguous case to date. This test has never been wrong...which means that Bai E is truly a second-tier spiritual energy user?! "How could a spiritual energy user of this level learn the Demon-Expelling Grand Array?" "Kiro Lan is also a second-tier spiritual energy user." "But his performance is not on the same level, okay? And how could a second-tier spiritual energy user withstand the consumption of the Demon-Expelling Grand Array?" "Perhaps he''s a special ''wartime'' spiritual energy user?" In the empire''s long history, even the most special cases have occurred. In the previous study of Bai E by Helen, there was a description related to this¡ªBai E seemed to be able to sense the remaining unwilling wills of other warriors nearby. Will can transform into spiritual energy; in any place where human will surges, the performance of such spiritual energy users would be quite terrifying. ``` S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 635 - 635: 485 Spiritual Power Managers Center_2 ``` Even his own surging will could quickly transform into Spiritual Energy, as long as his anger was unquenchable, the flow of Spiritual Energy would not cease. "That''s not right, though... If he''s just a second-order Spiritual Energy user, shouldn''t he have reached his limit by now?" Someone looked toward the figure in the surveillance video. Even "wartime" Spiritual Energy users couldn''t just suddenly become inflamed with passion during such a safe and harmless check period, right? "There have been some cases in the past where users possess amounts of Spiritual Energy that exceed the limits of their tier but have yet to advance. There are quite a few such examples." Those kinds of Spiritual Energy users are generally failures. Their unique psychic worlds allow them to hold a large amount of Spiritual Energy, but their limited aptitude prevents them from breaking through to the next level. But even such accumulation would at most slightly exceed their tier''s limit. If the maximum capacity for a second-order user is 1000, then an increase of 50% to reach a storage of 1500 is already an exaggerated case. Would Bai even be like that? "Moreover... his Spiritual Energy attribute is also very strange." "None?" Or rather, undetectable? Having no specific leaning in Spiritual Energy means having no strengths. In this world, uniqueness is the advantage. Lacking uniqueness means lacking advantage. "Where exactly does his Spiritual Energy come from?" "The cultivation sects are not the methods of our Human Race." Any method of cultivation would form habits and create identifiable characteristics. Bai E''s performance... was completely unlike anything they had ever seen before. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But it''s not the method of the Elf Race either." The only known races capable of actively cultivating Spiritual Energy methods, aside from humans, are the Elves. And the Elf Race''s method... humans can''t even use it, right? "Or could it be just an instinctual operation?" Bai E had no instruction, and even when discovered, it was only after his Spiritual Energy had already become as powerful as it is now. How had he managed all this time until then? His application and exploration of Spiritual Energy must have all come from instinct. "It''s possible." Watching Bai E, who kept testing his limits without ever seeming to reach them, an elderly woman with a low voice speculated, "No-attribute Spiritual Energy may allow him direct communication with higher-dimensional space, and his body is merely a conduit for the emergence of Spiritual Energy. Could this be why he has an endless supply to use?" "But such people... don''t they usually become vessels for demons among humans?" "..." Turning oneself into a channel, only those completely controlled by demons, the crazed believers, would do so. This question truly exceeded everyone''s cognitive limits. "There will always be situations on the path of Spiritual Energy that we have not encountered before. Just record them; speculating too much is of no use." Only with a sufficient number of cases can a unified analysis be conducted. With only Bai E as a case, comparative analysis is not possible. "True... Instead, let''s see how long he can hold on." "Even crazed believers who turn themselves into conduits for demonic power have their limits, right?" Otherwise, if the four ultimate Evil Gods found a channel, wouldn''t they be able to bring all their power directly into the world? At that thought, everyone''s eyes were once again fixed on Bai E, to see just how long this artificially created warrior could last. How long? How long? Long? Long... "Not watching anymore!" The man with graying temples flung his arm and left, "Frustrating." A second-order Spiritual Energy user, yet with such an enormous capacity for Spiritual Energy. ``` ``` The normal testing time by now should have required at least a spiritual energy reserve of over ten thousand to sustain, right? No wonder everyone says that a monster has emerged from the city... if this ain''t a monster, what is? Realizing that she might not be able to comprehend the limits of Bai, Aglaya also terminated the final test. ["Lucky Strike" Charge+4.] Bai E saw Aglaya, who was responsible for leading the way, standing at the entrance to the small room. "Let''s go, I will now take you to the library where secret techniques are stored." "Can I see the test results?" Bai E asked with some curiosity. He didn''t know to what extent the city''s spiritual energy testing indicators could be precise, and wanted to see how the city''s recognition of his own strength would be limited. "No problem." Aglaya agreed immediately and handed over the test reports to Bai E. [Spiritual Energy Hierarchy: Second Tier/Dispersion 87.3%] [Spiritual Energy Attribute: None/Unmanifested] [Spiritual Energy Reserve: ???] The core three items, followed by a bunch of detailed analysis in fine print, but none of that mattered now. Seeing the report, Bai E felt somewhat relieved. Indeed, spiritual energy is the most mysterious thing in this world; even if he fully opened up, with the current level of humans, they still couldn''t figure out the peculiar traits of his own. The irrational parts, he had to make up in his mind. "Click-clack, click-clack." The sound of Aglaya''s high heels tapping on the floor guided Bai E deeper into the secretive areas of the center. In the midst of mechanization, the library took on an even more surreal and magical appearance. Gleaming green text floated in the void around them, and the mechanical bookshelves held not only books and scrolls, but also discs and crystals. The origins of spiritual power techniques varied, as did their media. Different media required different methods of viewing; some so-called spiritual power techniques were actually pieces of knowledge that only top-tier spiritual power users could access, while others were pure thoughts and considerations to be perceived with pure spirit and will, inexpressible in words. "Relax your spiritual tentacles; when you approach each technique, you will inherently know how to consult the different techniques through the feedback of your spiritual energy," Aglaya led the way only this far. Even she didn''t have full access to this library; it wouldn''t be appropriate for her to stay longer. Watching as Bai entered the library and the gates slowly closed behind him, Aglaya closed her eyes and sighed softly. The voices of the other higher-ups at the center sounded from behind her, "What''s your plan for locking him in there?" The library was both a treasure trove of knowledge and a cage. Those forbidden pieces of knowledge about spiritual power are like alluring poisons, tempting every person who comes into contact with them to keep delving deeper into their study. The knowledge stored here... For a normal spiritual power user, it would likely take years, if not decades, to leave this place. Even for ones like them, outstanding among spiritual power users, it would take at least a year or more to overcome the obsession with forbidden knowledge in their hearts. To learn everything... that''s impossible. The field of spiritual power is different from other things; if you can''t learn it, you simply can''t learn it, not in a lifetime. But the more you can''t learn, the more you want to learn ¨C that''s the curse that spiritual power users are doomed to carry. Even if General Bai E''s performance had been ever so heaven-defying before, once locked up here, no one would think he could come out willingly in just a few months. Aglaya opened her tightly shut eyes, a gentle gleam flashing through them, "The city has undergone a lot of turmoil recently..." The failure of the expansion efforts led to the city''s investment going down the drain, and the incident with the underground castle has exacerbated the conflict between noble interests and the city''s security to an extreme. General Bai E is a straightforward person; it''s best if he doesn''t get entangled in these complicated matters. Keep him locked up here for a few months, wait for the dust to settle outside, and after the city has established a new order, then it would be best to let him out. After all, with General Bai''s strength and temperament, no matter the outcome for the city, the real power-holders would not waste such a top-tier strategic talent. "Let''s go." Aglaya turned and strode away, no longer looking back, "The city''s atmosphere is treacherous, and the Elf Race''s negotiation team will soon arrive; there''s still much for us to worry about!" ... In the dimly lit green library, Bai E stood in front of a crystal-like gemstone, releasing his spiritual tendrils. ``` Chapter 636 - 636: 486 Showdown Aglaya pinched the bridge of her nose, returning to the management center with evident exhaustion. "My lord..." "My lord." As she passed by, the staff greeted her respectfully, and Aglaya could only muster a bit of energy to nod in acknowledgment. After a whole day of dealing with the greedy so-called nobles in the city, her spirit was utterly fatigued. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Struggling with human minds was much more exhausting than researching Spiritual Energy. If possible, she would rather indulge only in the world of Spiritual Energy instead of worrying about the messy affairs of the real world. Unfortunately, an organization always needs one or two people to take the lead, and none of the other bigwigs in the management center were willing, so the task had fallen on her, the youngest in seniority. "Lady Aglaya, it''s so good to see you. General Bai E has been waiting for you in the reception room for a while now, please hurry over." "Ok, I know, I''ll be right there," Aglaya automatically nodded in response, her steps already turning towards the reception room. However, her expression suddenly changed, and she spun around to look at the woman who had just passed by, "Who did you say is waiting for me?" "General Bai E..." The woman said as if it were obvious: "Didn''t you bring him to the center today? It seems he wanted to say goodbye to you." Bringing Bai E to the book storage to observe all the secret techniques was not publicly known news. Most people in the center were unaware, and it was natural for such a subordinate, who wasn''t privy to many details, to simply convey the message as it was. "???" Aglaya''s mind was filled with question marks, "General Bai E?" Hadn''t she sent General Bai E into the book storage? The knowledge in there was addictively attractive to any Spiritual Energy user, so why would he appear in any location outside the book storage at this time? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Aglaya didn''t ask any further but quickened her stride with her long legs towards the direction of the reception room. She wanted to see for herself who was playing tricks on her. "Lady Aglaya." The figure sitting on the reception sofa, seeing a visibly agitated Aglaya entering the room, calmly stood up and nodded in greeting, "I was just about to leave and wanted to say goodbye. I have been looking for you but was told no one could contact you." "Ah~" Aglaya looked at the Bai E before her, questioning the authenticity of this person. Was this really Bai E? But he didn''t seem to bear any sign of a disguise, and her own Spiritual Energy had not detected any suspicious signs. Was it really Bai E? But how could Bai E have left? How was it even possible for him to leave? "You¡­ are leaving?" Aglaya stared at the "Bai E" before her, hesitant and unwilling to jump to conclusions. "Yes." Bai E said, nodding with a smile, "There are many things to deal with back at the barracks, I said before coming that there was much to discuss upon my return." "Oh." Aglaya''s normally austere and cold face appeared oddly baffled and cute. "Will you¡­ be coming back later?" "Not really..." Bai E seemed a bit perplexed as well, "Unless there''s another book storage that contains secret Spiritual Energy techniques?" "Another place?" Aglaya''s gaze at Bai E grew increasingly strange, "You¡­ finished?" "Yes." Bai E nodded matter-of-factly, "Isn''t that all there is? I''ve finished reading it all." The number of secret Spiritual Energy techniques stored in the city wasn''t actually that large. On the contrary, there was a wealth of related knowledge in the field of Spiritual Energy. However, after Bai E had first learned a Spiritual Energy secret technique called "Instant Association," everything he viewed was simply scanned with Spiritual Energy, allowing all the content recorded in various ways to enter Bai E''s mind. With a mere command of Bai E''s will, it was available for his use. "What did you do after finishing?" Aglaya visibly swallowed, "Don''t you want to learn?" Bai E''s face remained serene, "Once you finish reading, don''t you know it?" It might have cost him over thirty thousand experience points, but as long as he learned it, it was worth it. The secret Spiritual Energy techniques almost covered any scenario of daily use, ensuring the owner would have more options in many situations. For him, this learning trip felt quite worthwhile. "Once you finish reading, don''t you know it?" "...don''t you know it?" "Know it?" Bai E''s words echoed repetitively in Aglaya''s mind, like a devilish chant, cascading layer upon layer. Is that even humanly possible? To know it just by reading once? "I just came to say goodbye. If you have no other matters, I must be leaving the city to head back to the barracks," Bai E continued to state his purpose. "Uh¡­ understood." Aglaya felt completely numb as she watched Bai E''s retreating figure. She immediately headed straight for the book storage. Even though she knew it was highly unlikely that General Bai E had the thought to "deceive," nor the motive to do so, such an unbelievably incredible occurrence was something she had to witness for herself. All the treasured volumes in the book storage, regardless of the storage method, were monitored by a Spiritual Energy security system. As long as she pulled up the access privileges, it was easy to see the browsing records, which was also why they, the guards, couldn''t "steal from themselves." Some knowledge that wasn''t open to them, even the ones acting as the book storage guardians, was off-limits to view. Chapter 637 - 637: 486 Showdown_2 And now... Aglaya, who had accessed privileged information, stared at the near-continuous record of book perusals, feeling a buzzing in her head. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The colleague of equal rank from the neighboring department came over with a chuckle, glanced over, and then the smile on his face vanished immediately. "Who is this? Someone has read through them all so quickly?" "Today, there was only one person in the library," Aglaya stated this fact with an indifferent expression. "..." "..." The man was shivering as he stroked his small mustache, looking at Aglaya with a shocked stare, and asked with a slightly trembling voice, "No... It couldn''t be, could it?" Aglaya nodded calmly, "It''s exactly as you''re thinking." "???" Is General Bai E human? "Could he be the chosen of the Lord of Curiosity?" speculated another manager who had hurried over, stroking his chin. The Lord of Curiosity is also a symbol of knowledge; if blessed by it, possessing such a heaven-defying level of comprehension ability would seem plausible. "But could the chosen of the Lord of Curiosity be as formidable on the battlefield as General Bai E?" "Then he is the chosen of the God of War!" "General Bai E''s regenerative ability is also terrifyingly unbelievable." "Then he is the chosen of the God of Eternity!" "To hell with whoever! Damn Spiritual Energy!" The robe-clad manager turned and walked away. The deeper one delves into this field, the more one discovers many illogical and incomprehensible things within it. Things one couldn''t understand should be left to successors; the only thing they could do was to preserve as many complete cases of Spiritual Energy as possible... ["Lucky Strike" energy +6.] After leaving the Spiritual Power Managers Center and heading straight for the Scientific Research Institute, Bai E''s lips curled slightly, knowing that Aglaya and the others had probably finally caught on. He knew those secret Spiritual Energy techniques must be quite difficult to learn, just like the "Exorcism Magic Circle" also found in the library. Just looking at people''s attitudes towards it, he knew it was not easy to learn. In the entire city, there would not be many who could learn it, and there were several items in the library of approximately the same level as the Exorcism Magic Circle. Having learned them all so quickly, he would definitely surprise them. Just how much he would surprise them wasn''t his concern though. Any irrational event that occurred had an explanation. They would hypothesize about it on their own; he didn''t need to worry about it. Ever since his return to the city, Bai E had been maintaining private contact with Helen. To make contact outside the city''s surveillance was quite simple for the both of them. Bai E, who sought Helen out in private, stated his intent directly, "I want to reset the technical standards of the Artificial Human production line." Helen stared at Bai E with her narrow and alluring eyes, her gaze flickering, a slight smile playing on her lips, "I knew your previous research on the production pods wasn''t aimless." Without letting Bai E answer this awkward question, Helen continued to speak on her own, wanting Bai E to know¡ªshe was aware of everything he was doing. "What do you want to change?" said Helen as she casually sat down, drawing her robe aside to sit on the chair behind her. Her posture was relaxed, striving not to make Bai E feel even a hint of uncomfortable aggression. The spring scenery under her robe was subtly visible, but Bai E did not look aside, staring into Helen''s eyes with an expressionless face as he replied, "I think there''s no longer a need to apply the cognitive delay restrictions on them." The trait of cognitive dulling indeed allowed artificial human soldiers to ignore, to some extent, the suppression from the Spiritual Energy field; during Bai E''s first participation in the total assault on the hive, artificial human soldiers showed a significant resistance advantage in proportion to natural human soldiers when the Overmind appeared. However, that was all. While this restriction offered slight protection, it was more limiting than anything else. It limited the potential for artificial humans to develop Spiritual Energy. If their purpose was to serve as cannon fodder, then having no potential was acceptable; the city only required them to be effective. But if every newly created artificial person is unwilling to be mere cannon fodder, then without lifting the ban, they will never become truly adept masters on their own. Helen''s IQ is top-notch in the entire city, and with just a thought, she understood the underlying meaning of Bai E''s words. "You want to develop artificial humans?" Helen''s eyes narrowed slightly, "But you must understand that the suppression of artificial humans isn''t just about their origins. Resources are always limited; if they consume more, others have less. Nobody wants to create a competitor who will eat into their own share of resources." If Bai E really intended to develop artificial humans, then the ultimate outcome would only be that everyone would choose to do without them. Under endless sacrifices, selecting from natural humans indeed became a bit difficult, but if they truly managed to conquer the Blackrock District Hive, then the last batch of sacrificed military camp fighters would become the final song. Even if the world''s situation remained severe in the future, the annual consumption of nearly ten thousand regular soldiers would not be necessary any longer. "I know, so... I have a Spiritual Power Method that can be shared with everyone for cultivation," Bai E said, staring at Helen, emotionless as he dropped a bombshell. The Spiritual Power Breathing Skill he had learned from Yue Ying and had successfully adapted after personal modification to suit human physique was his biggest gesture of sincerity. "I visited the Spiritual Power Managers Center today. After a thorough investigation of my spiritual power, they believe that my subconscious self-cultivation might have already formed an entirely new method. But privately, I''ve already tried it out. Aside from Rose, all the members of my special squad have already developed the seeds of spiritual power." No matter how Helen would think, after careful consideration, Bai E believed that this was his only chip to firmly tie Helen to his chariot. Helen is the most dedicated of researchers. Anything that could significantly raise the overall human limit, she wouldn''t be able to refuse. Indeed... "!" The veins on Helen''s hand resting on the armrest of her chair bulged, her face flushed slightly and her breathing became noticeably heavier. A brand new Spiritual Power cultivation method! Even artificial human warriors with innate limitations could nurture the seeds of Spiritual Energy with dedicated care. What about after discarding those innate limitations? What about all the natural humans in the city? Of course, there are many things Bai E didn''t articulate, but she roughly knew them. Bai E certainly would not be the "blank slate" he appeared to be; his emotionless facade was too deceitful, making even the current "laying of cards on the table" seem somewhat insincere. There is no essential difference between artificial humans and natural humans. When Bai E spoke of lifting restrictions on artificial humans, it was clear he intended to circulate his method only within a small circle¡ªor rather, only among "the artificial humans who obey him." He wanted power! He would not contemplate spreading this weapon throughout all humanity, or even throughout all the natural humans in the city, until he had enough power to satisfy his ambition. But what of it? As long as it was a discovery that could propel humanity to new heights, Helen would only support its emergence! Her loyalty was always to the overall limits of humanity, not simply to the three words "Blackwater City." As long as the implications roughly aligned, she could pinch her nose and work with it. But if there was a significant divergence, she would only adhere to her own inner path. Smart people never call out another''s flaws. No matter what pretense Bai E used, she would not raise it directly. In their conversations, they would only discuss official matters; only by doing so could she gradually make Bai E believe that she truly stood with him. "What do you need me to do?" "I only need access," Bai E said, asking for nothing else. Even though he had acquired the technology for genetic programming after blowing up a production chamber, without the access, he naturally could not interfere with the chamber''s backend. Sneaking around was one idea, but during the lengthy process of artificial human maturation, if the monitoring authorities noticed that anyone tampered with the backend technical parameters, they would need just a simple command to instantly stop all production lines in operation. Without Helen, Bai E could never achieve his goals. "Access isn''t a problem, but you don''t need my help?" Helen replied curtly. "No need." Bai E did not trust others to do it; only his own settings were truly within his control. "Fine." Helen glanced deeply at Bai E, her gaze filled with admiration as she agreed. Just through the research done last time, he had already mastered technology to this extent. It seemed that General Bai E had much more up his sleeve than he was letting on! Chapter 638 - 638: 487 Deep Collaboration "I need to go with you," Helen said bluntly. "For backend programming operations like this, even with my order, you couldn''t possibly go in alone. I don''t have the final say in the Scientific Research Institute, and you can only get in by pretending to be my attendant." "That''s no problem." As long as Bai E was the one doing the work, he wasn''t worried. "Shall we set off now?" Helen was a person of action; when she had something to do, she did it without hesitation or delay. "Yeah," Bai E nodded, although he also had other matters he planned to discuss with Helen. But things had to be done one at a time. The human heart is a black box; Helen seemed cooperative, but what she was truly planning, only she knew. Before verifying things one by one, Bai E wasn''t ready to throw out all his plans to work alongside her. The master control backend of the artificial human production line was also located underground in the military area, guarded by a tight security system; with multiple protective measures against violence and Spiritual Energy, getting in without Helen would be quite a headache for Bai E. There were also people inside the computer room. Upon arriving with Bai E, Helen waved her hand, signaling them to leave. "You guys go take care of other things; I need to check things over here," she said. Any machinery that runs for a long time would develop various faults and deviations, and the artificial human production master control console monitoring various technical indicators was no exception. Usually, Helen would conduct regular maintenance checks, and though the interval was shorter this time, it shouldn''t be a problem. "You can start now." Helen stood aside, watching Bai E with interest. ''Allocate the points!'' Bai E thought silently, spending experience. [Payment: Scientific research experience 400 points.] [Learned "Level 2 Gene Editing," simultaneously gaining 2* science points.] [Current gene editing experience 0/500, you can master "Level 3 Gene Editing" when full. Note: The knowledge acquired only allows mastery to a maximum of Level 2 Gene Editing.] [Gene Editing (2/? levels): You have mastered certain secrets of genetics; from now on, you have the ability to perform "simple" arrangements and modifications of the original genetic sequences. You may also try more complex genetic programming for additional experience and proficiency, but there is a high possibility of mutations. Please proceed with caution.] The knowledge upper limit extracted from the production chamber was only what the original owner knew, but the original owner''s level was sufficient to support Bai E in doing what he wanted to do. A dense array of data flashed rapidly across the screen in front of Bai E. Following the subconscious guidance of the knowledge in his mind, he input commands as if by muscle memory, changing the settings of the genetic prohibitions on artificial humans. Mastering meant mastery, and not mastering meant the absence of it. Watching Bai E''s fluent operations, Helen couldn''t help but feel deep admiration. It was not only knowledge but also familiarity. The proficiency of his operations was comparable to her own, despite being the one who had set up the prohibitions. Was this his talent? Glancing at Bai E''s profile, the thought that had long been suppressed in her heart surged once again. Gene segments that underwent optimization often became "distorted" during inheritance. The more potent the gene segment, the harder it was to pass down. Offspring born through normal reproduction were less likely to survive, and embryos cultivated through unconventional means often resulted in various mutations. This was the harm that gene optimization could cause to humanity as a whole. Unless this problem was thoroughly resolved, even if Gene Optimization Solution could be supplied on a large scale one day, those in power would not make it universally available. The strength of one generation could lead to the extinction of the entire species, and unless it was a dire life-or-death situation, no one would make such a choice. Yet such a potent talent, even though it might make reproduction more difficult and the chances of a normal offspring smaller, was still an incredibly tempting option. With this thought, a strange desire surged through Helen, making her body stir uncontrollably. In her daze, Bai E seemed to have completed his task. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "It''s done." His calm voice sounded as if it came from another world, jolting Helen, who had been lost in brief reverie, back to reality, "What?" "I''m finished. We can leave now." Bai E''s voice was like a touch of cool brilliance, dispelling the last threads of turmoil in her mind. Helen''s hand brushed her cheek, feeling a burning heat. ''Why is this happening?'' With that thought, Helen nodded to Bai E and firmly replied, "Then let''s go. This isn''t a place to talk." After leaving the core computer room, Bai E continued to speak to Helen, "Use this template for subsequent production. I need to urgently create at least ten thousand artificial human soldiers." "You need that many?" Helen narrowed her eyes, puzzled. "Uh¡­" Bai E hesitated, then explained the reason to Helen, "The city security forces'' chief, Caesar, came to me in private and said that the decision to close the underground castle would drive those ''nobles,'' whose interests were affected, into a frenzy. They might instigate unrest in the city by manipulating the fighting guilds under their control. Their security forces are having difficulty recruiting and cannot expand their ranks quickly. He anticipates that with their current manpower, they won''t be able to suppress the unrest, and military assistance from our barracks might be necessary. At the same time, we can''t ignore the threat from outside enemies. So, I think it''s best to quickly produce soldiers to ensure everything is under control." Chapter 639 - 639: 487 Deep Collaboration_2 "Those fools," Helen frowned tightly, feeling equally infuriated. However, there was an existing limitation before her. "The current biomass storage isn''t enough for the production of artificial humans you need, and this is a problem I also find difficult to solve." The technological component of the production line allowed for the rapid mass production of soldiers, but there were other restrictions. Rapid production required a substantial amount of biomass to provide nutrients, and the artificial humans produced were living beings indistinguishable from natural humans, requiring the same materials for sustenance of life. The city was certainly large, and it had no trouble supporting countless "tens of thousands." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But the city was already sustaining countless "tens of thousands," and the sudden addition of another "ten thousand" might just be the straw that breaks the camel''s back. To support these suddenly increased "ten thousand," Bai E must come up with a solution himself. "Lacking biomass?" Bai E was stunned and then, "looking" at the piles of meat stacked in his explosion rate warehouse, a bold idea sprang to mind. This idea, fleshed out quickly, could even kill two birds with one stone by making all the people in the city believe in the brainwashing effects Helen had previously applied to him, thereby truly starting to trust him. "I''ll find a way for this," Bai E said ponderously, "Also, there''s another thing that I''m sure you''ve already noticed." Helen had already mentioned that the mecha combat blade she used in the battle at the Black Rock District Hive had come into her possession. Others might not know the secret of the blade, but she certainly would. She hadn''t said anything, probably waiting for him to take the initiative. Since it was already a known secret, it was better to be proactive and reveal it, "The mecha combat blade I used contains a technological system that the city doesn''t currently have." Power-type weapons. Or, to be more precise, force field-type weapons. The efficacy of the power swords and shields from the Mechanoids was quite impressive, and Bai E, having used them personally, coveted such technology even more than Helen, who regarded any new cutting-edge technology as her lifeblood. "You''re finally willing to tell me," Helen''s gaze at Bai E burst into a visibly joyful smile, "The armor used by the Mechanical Court is also produced in collaboration with our Scientific Research Institute. I''ve been involved with their high-frequency cutting weapons, too, but their weapons shatter upon contact with the Sovereign''s bone blades. I suspect there must be some other special augmentation to the blade you used." Helen was also a Spiritual Energy user and had a basic understanding of some commonly accepted knowledge within the field of Spiritual Energy. Indeed, Spiritual Energy could conjure all sorts of special augmentations, but first, the user must have a certain understanding of the technology being used. In other words, the technology must truly exist in the world and be known to the user. Using Spiritual Energy to forcibly apply the concept of "invincibility" was certainly another way to achieve such enhancement, but that would be a pure Spiritual Energy confrontation. For Bai E''s Power Sword to match up to the Sovereign''s bone blade, his level of Spiritual Energy would have to be on par with that of the Sovereign''s first. What kind of existence was the Sovereign? The ultimate BOSS of the battlefield, who integrated the collective Spiritual Energy of all the bugs within a hive. If Bai E had that kind of overwhelming Spiritual Energy, his real performance on the battlefield would probably be much more exaggerated than the Sovereign''s. So, Bai E''s combat blade being able to counter the Sovereign''s bone blade definitely meant he either grasped or was aware of some weapon enhancement form different from high-frequency cutting! To earn Bai E''s trust, Helen never pressed him. She believed that as long as she showed enough sincerity, this completely self-enclosed artificial human warrior would sooner or later reveal his entirely vulnerable side to her. Right now, it was finally time for her to see the payoff. "Hmm," Bai E nodded, affirming Helen''s guess, "I''ve clashed several times with those Mechanoids who inherited the technology of the Golden Age. In the midst of combat, the mecha I piloted seemed to sense their technological forms, transmitting to me some vague notions akin to ''mumbling'' through the link of Spiritual Energy¡ªeven though I don''t quite understand the detailed specifics of those technologies, I could use them directly with the assistance of the mecha." Bai E had indeed upgraded the core technology of the Power Weapon¡ªthe Force Field Generator¡ªto level 3. However, the blueprint for the Dynamic Source Sword had many other technical details and knowledge that were difficult to reproduce quickly with my own knowledge reserves alone. Why not find someone to collaborate with? I could provide the key technology, and leave the rest, the minor details, to Helen to handle. "Perhaps we can try to reverse-engineer it?" Helen''s eyes lit up. I could deduce the nature from the performance, while Bai E had a vague understanding which could help ensure the direction of my research was generally correct. As long as we worked together, we could rediscover the lost technologies of the Golden Age, one by one. Even humans today covet some of the technologies used by the smart machinery. "That''s exactly my point. If we could mass-produce those weapons, or even just equip some elite warriors with them, it would greatly enhance our combat capability." "But we can''t activate that weapon..." Helen stared at Bai E with longing. Privately, they had conducted countless studies on that blade, and if it weren''t for Helen''s intervention, some insanely obsessed researchers would have already dismantled the sword for study. The laboratories in the city could already synthesize and mold sixteen-element alloys, so how could they not understand a typical alloy sword? Even if it was an enchanted sword. "Only I... and Rose can activate it." Bai E, seizing the opportunity, added an extra slot. There might be a lot of miscellaneous matters bothering me later, and if Helen wanted to research, she could ask Rose for assistance. After all, anyone I authorized could unleash the true power of the Star-devouring Blade. "Good!" Helen was thrilled. High-Frequency Cutting had already been proven to be a promising approach and had been used on a small scale in high-end combat units similar to the Mechanical Court, but why would humans ever complain about having too few points on their technology tree? If the new power weapons proved to be cheaper to produce, more powerful, or could work in conjunction with High-Frequency Cutting, they would undoubtedly offer more options in terms of cost, variability, or upper limits of combat capability. "Where''s the weapon? I''ll call Rose now, and we can go over together." "All right! I''ll have someone bring it right over." The sword had been transported to the Scientific Research Institute early in the morning, where more precise equipment was available. Sadly, faced with a weapon that appeared ordinary when unactivated, even Helen was at a loss. ... Inside the exclusive hangar of the Scientific Research Institute, Bai E and Rose exchanged glances and, after a long time, joined hands to start the mecha once again. "I knew you would come back." Bai E solemnly entrusted the hilt of the Star-devouring Blade to Rose, reminding her with a smile, "Feel this power; it will be our greatest weapon against the Bug Race." The moment the hilt was bestowed, Rose''s eyes suddenly widened. The empowerment from the rules made her feel an instant, blood-deep familiarity with the blade in her hands, as if, even through the transmission of the mecha, she had an intuitive sense of control. "Try it." Bai E, sitting in the adjacent pilot''s seat, handed over most of the mecha''s piloting permissions to Rose. With a simple control command, Rose was still able to manage on her own. Facing a target made of single-element alloy that had risen before her, the blue-and-white mecha raised the sword high... And then slashed down fiercely! Chapter 640 - 640: 488 Action begins! Helen stood in the control room of the separate mecha hangar, staring at the power output level the mecha''s blade had achieved with a single strike¡ªher eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. The maximum power output of a mecha is standardized, and the material of the combat blade wasn''t anything special, yet the target made from unialloy was instantly shattered by a single hit. It was only in the milliseconds before fragmentation that the hit data was transmitted to the computer in the control room. But according to the data, it far exceeded the output level of weapons made using High-Frequency Cutting technology in previous laboratory experiments! Bai E, stepping down from the cockpit, pushed Rose in front of Helen with a smile, "If you use bugs for targets, you''ll make some new discoveries, of course¡­ though it won''t have much to do with technology. Additionally, if you need help later, you can have Rose assist with the testing. I''m expected to lead a team out in the next few days and won''t have the time to assist with your research." Helen''s research progress wasn''t so swift; she first had to extrapolate something truly substantial from the weapon before Bai E could offer guidance under the pretext of a mecha spirit and transmit the two techniques he mastered to her. Before that, he had his own matters to attend to. "Okay," Helen nodded, "then go attend to your business, and I''ll contact you if I need to." After all, she and Bai E had a private means of contact and could get in touch at any time. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll take my leave." There were other matters to deal with in the military camp. With Weslin asleep, Bai E needed to complete everything he wanted as swiftly as possible! "Okay, go ahead, and leave Rose with me to help." Patting Rose on the shoulder, Bai E turned and left. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After leaving the separate mecha hangar, Bai E summoned all the officers in the military camp whose opinions mattered. In a private room, a projector light shone on Bai E''s face as he stood in the light, looking at everyone seated in the darkness. It was pitch-black and their expressions were indiscernible. This was once the position Weslin stood in, but now it belonged to Bai E. Not being able to see the expressions of others naturally made it difficult to grasp their intentions. Bai E knew standing in this position was fraught with controversy. Officers like Carlos, who firmly stood behind him, were always in the minority. Even though Bai E could be a leading figure within his own faction during peacetime, when it came to his own influence, not all officers from the faction supporting manufactured soldiers were as openly supportive as Carlos. Now, within the military camp, besides the preexisting factions divided over attitudes toward manufactured soldiers, there were two new factions over attitudes toward Bai E as an admiral¡ªeither for him or against him; this time, there was no room for neutrality. To make things difficult for Bai E, the opposition presented him with sufficient challenges. Bai E''s hands pressed down on the tabletop, his expressionless gaze sweeping over each officer assembled before him, "I''ve just discussed with Helen from the Military Department''s R&D, and she has agreed to increase the production rate for our military zone. However, she needs us to resolve the supply issue for the new manufactured soldiers. So, about the matter we discussed last time, what are your thoughts on it now?" The request Caesar and Bai E had mentioned, Bai E brought up immediately upon his return to the military camp and shared with the senior officers in the zone. But he hadn''t gone into detail, simply mentioning that, based on predictions, there could be a degree of unrest in the city and that the urban security forces might request their military''s support at a critical moment. "I''ll say it again, what does the city''s turmoil have to do with us? Our mission is to repel foreign enemies. Unless the city lord orders it, who is a security force captain to count for anything?" An irate officer, perhaps with grievances against Caesar or Bai E, stood up and burst out in complaint. "Calm down, calm down, didn''t we agree on this? As long as Admiral Bai E can solve our personnel issues, I''ll support all his decisions!" The military was drastically understaffed after deploying to the bug nests, the remaining forces barely able to form the basic combat formations, the daily drill scenes poignant in their desolation. A general is called so because of the power he holds. Without troops, they were nothing. And without Marshall Weslin, their Military Department couldn''t even make a splash with the draft requests they submitted. Some speculated this might be a deliberate play by the city lord, lacking vision, intending to make the military realize the importance of Marshall Weslin. But if Weslin remained comatose, it didn''t mean they could stop living. "Whoever can solve our personnel problem, I will recognize as our military zone leader!" "But we can''t just say that. Even if we had the troops, aren''t we supposed to guard against bugs, beastmen, and other non-human races? Are we still supposed to conduct daily patrols? Should we continue with our strategy of ''small sweeps every three days, major sweeps every seven''? All this requires people. If we are too busy with our own tasks, how can we spare effort for the city''s issues? In the end, if we fail in our duties and don''t gain any favor there, we''ll be blamed on all sides. If someone wants to curry favor, let them do it themselves; why drag everyone into it?" another person added in. Bai E looked deep into the eyes of the speaker, remaining silent. The influence of the nobility was not limited to inside the city. Many of these so-called high-ranking military officers in the camp were not all self-made men who had fought their way up from the battlefield; quite a few... were of noble birth themselves. Chapter 641 - 641: 488 Action begins!_2 Those privy to insider information certainly would not sit by and watch the security team find external support so smoothly. Hamilton couldn''t stand these insinuations. He was utterly convinced by Bai E; there and then, he genuinely rooted for Bai E, shouting, "Didn''t we already agree last time? Whoever solves the military district''s manpower problem, we all support every decision he makes. Why go back on our words now?" "Is it solved?" the sarcastic officer retorted with a rise in pitch, "What did Admiral Bai E just say? We need to solve the problem of supplies for the new production of warriors ourselves! Where are the supplies? Where are they? How many supplies have been prepared, how many troops can be rapidly produced?" Bai E''s face remained calm, "The temporary target is ten thousand; as for the supplies, I will prepare them right away." "Good! If you can also sort out the supply issue, whatever you say, I''ll comply!" The sarcastic officer slammed the table and walked out, "If not, just nicely stick to being a mech pilot and stay out of military affairs!" Watching the slow retreating figure of the other party, Bai E''s voice was low yet clear, "Good." What he wanted was to reinforce everyone''s commitment once more. Last time, it was only under the collective shouting of Carlos, Hamilton, and others that some officers reluctantly accepted the idea that resolving the troops'' issue would make one the boss. Now, using supplies to silence the remaining few officers was the purpose of this meeting. Objective achieved, Bai E left the meeting and headed out of the city. To fulfill his earlier plan, he needed to have people from Black Street liaise with those from Li Ming Town and ask them to put on an act. And before that, he first needed to find a way to procure more biotic mass. Indeed, his Burst Rate backpack stored quite a few chunks of meat, but that was only enough to serve as a lure in the initial phase of the plan. To truly solve the biotic resource requirements for creating thousands of people, he had to take action himself! Finding Gilder on Black Street, Bai E straightforwardly expressed his intention, "Find some absolutely trustworthy people to transport some things to Li Ming Town, and the town''s people must mobilize as a whole to help with something. The situation is urgent and probably a bit troublesome, but you can get Nova to help you." No sooner had he finished speaking than a petite figure popped out from a corner, "Big White, are you looking for me? I''m here!" Looking at Nova clinging to him like a little koala, Bai E simply and affectionately patted her head and turned back to Gilder, "This needs to be done quickly; I await your message." "No problem," Gilder said sternly, treating the tasks given by a superior with great importance, "I will make the arrangements now. I just need to know what and how much you need transporting, so I can prepare enough people." "Some... chunks of meat, and the quantity, we might need about a dozen trucks for transport." Bai E directly took out a piece from the Burst Rate Space. It seemed as if the concept of time didn''t exist in that space; the meat chunk retained its original state from the moment it burst into being until it was extracted. It looked like a fresh piece of flesh just carved off from a living creature, bloody and with a pungent smell that spread out. Looking at the meat chunk held aloft in Bai E''s hand, Gilder mused seriously, "Then we will need to seal them well." Otherwise, such a strong scent of blood entering the wilderness would undoubtedly become the most attractive thing out there. "...But don''t worry, leave it to me!" "Hmm," Bai E also trusted Gilder''s abilities, for the old man was meticulous and never had issues with his tasks, "Let''s leave it at that for now. And my subordinates? Are they here now?" "Yes! They seem to be waiting for you too." "Good, call them over for me." ... Seeing Bai E dressed in a high-ranking officer''s uniform, the players had a touch of emotion in their eyes. In their view, it was their repeated choices that had enabled Bai E, this game NPC, to achieve such growth up to this day. Every time they saw Bai E''s status rise within the game''s universe, they felt a sense of pride like a parent finally seeing their child come of age. Of course, there was also a sense of awe for the realism crafted by this game. "Sir, is it finally our turn to enter the stage?" Dai Lian proactively stepped forward to ask. After Bai E had imparted skills to them last time, he ordered them to stand by around the city for the time being. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Considering that the easiest place for the superior to contact was Black Street, they had endured the boredom of not finding many challenging tasks in the vicinity and stayed on Black Street on standby. "Mhm, the thing I mentioned last time, you all can start preparing for it. After I finish my upcoming arrangements, it won''t be long before you''ll meet the first batch of new recruits who need training. Remember, they are the future cornerstone of our Li Ming. You must teach them earnestly." "I guarantee to complete the mission!" Dai Lian saluted sharply, his eyes as resolute as if he were taking a party oath. "So, this mission must not fail. You will also need to follow the team and ensure the absolute success of this operation!" Bai E casually concocted a mission and sent it off, deciding that if he was going to train them, he''d do it well; by finding all sorts of excuses to strengthen these players, he could undoubtedly bring more positive feedback for himself. Once again receiving a mission with rewards richer than any others from the superior, the players all showed excitement and readily accepted, "Yes! Superior!" "If there''s nothing else, you can go discuss the operational cooperation with Gilder. I have other matters to attend to." "Superior! Superior!" Kuang Xin suddenly emerged from the group of players and approached Bai E, whispering, "Superior, I have intelligence I wish to report to you privately..." A burly and handsome man whispering like a woman did seem rather amusing, but Bai E waved his hand and cast a Spiritual Energy curtain, instantly creating a barrier that blocked all sensory perceptions, including sight and hearing, separating himself and Kuang Xin from the others'' awareness. Then he smiled at Kuang Xin and asked, "What is it?" "It''s like this, Superior." Kuang Xin''s face showed a rare shrewdness, "After observing for a few days, I think the organization that Wen Jie joined in the city... is anything but simple!" "Oh?" Bai E asked with a hint of curiosity, "What do you mean by ''anything but simple''?" Kuang Xin asserted confidently, "I think they harbor intentions of insurrection! That day Wen Jie invited us to visit their organization, and I saw some things that were being subtly concealed. Wen Jie mentioned something about cleaning robots... but from what I observed, they look more like some sort of biological weapons!" [Intelligence Acquired (Unidentified): The Disturbed ''Doctor''.] "Oh?" Bai E frowned slightly and nodded, "Alright, I understand." So, the organization Wen Jie was part of was also one of those combat groups covertly nurtured and supported by the so-called nobility? The information provided by Kuang Xin seemed to coincide with the intelligence Bai E already had, so it was likely not baseless speculation. He just wondered how much advantage this early insight into the "insider" news would provide for his subsequent actions. Bai E waved his hand and flicked out a Spiritual Energy seed, "This is a Spiritual Energy Seed that carries the power of my full-force strike. If you encounter any trouble you can''t resolve, you can use your own Spiritual Energy to activate this Seed, and it should help you repel a formidable opponent once." [You have received a Character Card ¡ª Bai E.] [Character Card ¡ª Bai E: Activate this card to launch a full-force strike from the game character ¡ª Bai E!] Kuang Xin, receiving the reward, was overjoyed, "Thank you, Superior!" "I won''t let you down." Bai E said with a smile, clapping Kuang Xin on the shoulder. "Do a good job." ... As he watched the superior disappear into the night, Gilder turned his gaze back to the subordinates he had gathered. "Lin De, this is the last mission." Gilder had promised something last time, but since the other party hadn''t mentioned it upon his return, Gilder hadn''t brought it up either. After all, there were very few people under his command whom he completely trusted to get things done. Yet, the young man smiled radiantly, "What are you talking about, Superior? I am the most loyal servant of our Superior!" Ever since he had witnessed his own superior single-handedly break through an artificial intelligence''s outdoor factory, the superior had become the True God in his heart! As for the so-called Spiritual Power Managers Center in the city? It wasn''t worth a hair of the Superior! Looking at the young man before him, Gilder seemed puzzled, "Huh?" "It''s nothing. Just give your orders. For the Superior''s matters, I would wade through fire and water without hesitation!" Chapter 642 - 642: 489 Kennado Behemoth Having assigned the task of setting up the lure to the players and Gilder and his company, Bai E turned and headed straight for the wilderness, where a cross-country motorbike he had ridden out from the military camp was waiting. Special forces teams generally operate in squad formations and often drive proper off-road vehicles when leaving the city. However, at certain times, single-soldier small vehicles are more suitable. The motorcycle was not standard issue, but could be exchanged for military merits. At Bai E''s current state, he naturally had no need for military merits. Dressed in a general''s uniform, Bai E lay on the aerodynamically designed low-riding motorbike. Spiritual Energy enveloped the bike, forming a Spiritual Energy blade that cut through the wind barrier. The black motorbike streaked through the night with a tail light trail, heading straight into the uninhabited wilderness. Simply relying on the chunks of flesh he had previously harvested was not enough; to satisfy the biomass needed for the production of tens of thousands of artificial humans, more biomass resources were necessary. Which place had the highest reserves of biomass in the wild? Of course, it was not the bugs. Even if Bai E dared to use the flesh cut from the Bug Race, the city would not dare to use it. It was the super-giant beasts that roamed the wilderness. After becoming a military district general, Bai E had the authority to look through many records within the military district. Some classified documents might be out of reach for the moment due to classification levels, but he could browse through the more common records at will. If the military district wanted to fight against external enemies, they inevitably had to be clearly aware of various threats of varying sizes within a certain distance around the city¡ª the expanding Bug Race, the wandering beastmen, the defected mutants, the natural wild beasts¡­ The wild environment was changing all the time, and the military district''s records were naturally updated regularly. That''s what those numerous scouts scattered everywhere were required to do in their daily patrols. By categorizing the external threats of different distances and origins into different threat levels, they could make the right choice at the right time. And now, with the data provided by the military district, Bai E easily found the target he currently needed most¡ªthe Kennado Behemoth! The bugs, the beastmen¡­ the arrival of these alien races from outer star systems had brought about permanent changes to the planet''s environment. It was not just the environment; it was the whole ecosystem. Their bloodline seeds, through another form of natural cycle, had thoroughly integrated into every corner of this planet. That included all the living organisms currently present on the planet. Under the influence of alien genes, scavenging crows could undertake death-defying attacks on human troops driven by a bloodthirsty desire, and octopuses in the ocean could grow hundreds of terrifying giant tentacles. The other wild beasts that had survived on land until now had naturally also reached a new symbiosis with this ecological environment. The Kennado Behemoth was one of them. Being the king of the mountains and forests, it is said that the bloodline of the ground dragon, originating from the giant lizards, could sheer off a large part of a mountain peak with a gentle sweep. This creature was omnivorous and even possessed the "photosynthetic characteristic" stemming from beastman genes, harboring both plant and animal aspects within its body. But regardless of which, it was undoubtedly within the "biomass" category Bai E currently needed. Bai E''s solo venture this time was specifically to seek out this giant beast. The size of a single giant beast, no matter how colossal, would definitely not be enough for the biomass needs of ten thousand people. But what if¡­ there was an increase from the "lucky strike" multiplier effect? This skill wasn''t only useful for dealing with formidable enemies or plundering skill traits; when needed, it could also transform into a resource amplifier, providing an urgent solution in desperate times. With the engine roaring, the model sped along crazily, driving toward the foot of a continuous mountain range. Gazing at the daunting wilderness in the endless darkness, Bai E, who now had no fear as he had in earlier times. With his current strength, on this planet, unless he ran headlong into the core nest of the Bug Race, nothing could prevent him from leaving when he wished to leave. The motorcycle Bai E rode was also a high-end model, utilizing a certain level of Spiritual Energy technology, conflicting with the properties of the storage space, and hence it could not be directly stored away. Therefore, the bike had to be left on the spot, and he engraved a Spiritual Energy Array for concealment. In the library of the Spiritual Power Managers Center, Bai E had practically filled the gaps in his capabilities. Looking at the dark mountains slumbering quietly in the distance, Bai E ignited a great fire. A fire to burn the mountains, to lure the snake out of its hole! S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had no intention of letting anyone discover the unusual actions of this military district general; he planned to complete this outing within a day and night. With limited time, he had no leisure to play hide and seek with the giant beast hidden within the mountain range. The giant beast had a fear of fire within its nature. Although the flames couldn''t cause the slightest harm to its invulnerable exterior, the extreme heat of the fire would undoubtedly make it extremely irritable. The dryness caused by the wildly evaporating moisture in the air would guide it to come seeking the source. Bai Chu sat cross-legged in the middle of the fire that was burning down the mountain, closing his eyes to rest while Spiritual Energy spread all around, waiting for the arrival of the giant beast. Sure enough, amidst the black night, with only the distant dim starry sky as a backdrop, countless ancient trees growing on the mountain surface fell one by one with a grating "crunch," as the furious giant beast patrolled its territory, intent on seeing who dared start this unanticipated conflagration! Chapter 643 - 643: 489 Kennado Behemoth_2 Bai E deftly stood up, staring directly at the somewhat oddly shaped, unfamiliar behemoth. Its tank-sized eyes reflected a dull yellow glow in the dark night, while two rows of even smaller eyes seemed to surround its main eyes, scanning in every direction. And now, the myriad eyes as cunning as human eyes, all focused on Bai E, the target with a peculiar aura. For a terrestrial beast to grow to such a gigantic size, simply being tough-skinned and hard-fleshed was not enough. Ferocious claws and a Plasma Cannon it could spit from its mouth were just the behemoth''s standard means of attack. Its all-round monitoring of the environment made it so that it would not miss any important piece of information¡ª The vibration in the air, the evaporation of bodily fluids, even the exploration of the entire light spectrum, left no place for an opponent to hide. Fortunately, Bai E had no intention of hiding. The transparent text floating above the behemoth''s head clearly displayed the rewards it could bring to Bai E¡ª [Kennado Behemoth (Beast) (Leader)¡ª"Lucky Strike" kill drops: Guaranteed (Fresh Meat*200000, Plant Tissue*50000, Combat Experience 5000 points).] It seemed that, due to the significant racial difference, the behemoth could not bring Bai E any benefit in terms of attributes. But just the massive amount of resources was enough to justify its demise. Bai E reached out his hand and pulled out his longbow from the storage space. After becoming a military marshal and securing that position, Bai E had also undergone an upgrade. The compound bow, previously made of monometal, could no longer keep up with Bai E''s level. A longbow made from variant isotropic alloys of the octometal used in Mecha construction became Bai E''s new equipment. The arrows, also made from octometal, were pitch black in the night. Their matte coating, even in the darkness, would not reflect a speck of light. Bai E drew his longbow, and Spiritual Energy surged wildly into it. The boost in basic damage of ten to twenty points brought about by the equipment innovation became terrifyingly effective under the endless multiplier of skills. "Whoosh!" An arrow that almost destroyed the heavens and the earth, bringing with it a fiery tornado, pierced through the multiple eyes'' shadows of the behemoth, leaving only a fiery line tearing through the air. "Pfft!" Flesh flew in all directions. [You caused 500 points of piercing damage to the target!] [Based on your attack effects, you obtain the following information¡ª] [Kennado Behemoth (Beast): Health 199500/200000; Defensive Power: 500; Attack Power (Type: Blunt) 400~???; Traits: Behemoth Template, Trait: Plasma Spit; Trait: Symbiotic Flora and Fauna; Trait: Extraordinary Regeneration; Mobility: 60%¡­] "Hiss!" The behemoth''s pained hiss almost resounded through the skies. The Kennado Behemoth had managed to roam the wilderness not because it was truly invincible but simply because it was far enough from those real sources of danger. Whether it was a city or an insect, to take down this behemoth was not something a small troop could achieve. And even if the behemoth were to be killed, the amount of resources expended in a large-scale operation would likely far exceed what the behemoth could provide. Even the orcs found little joy in clashing with such a tough, wild creature, and that was the core of its dominance over its territory. And now... it had caught Bai E''s attention. The behemoth, which Bai E had shot right through its massive body and created a "small hole," did not care about the power of this one arrow. Such a minor injury was negligible to something of its immense size. Moreover, as soon as the fiery tornado brought up by the arrow passed, the tissues around the wound were visibly and rapidly regenerating. Every cell within the behemoth''s body was like an energy tank with its own nuclear reaction, where the massive amount of energy stored on a regular basis could become a source of self-repair at critical moments. But this storage had its limits! As he watched the behemoth''s body return to its original state in the blink of an eye, there wasn''t the slightest ripple in Bai E''s gaze. He simply set up his compound bow from a distance, and fired another powerful arrow! "Whiz!" The arrow effortlessly tore through flesh and blood, and the beast''s counterattack had just begun. Innumerable tendrils, resembling both fleshy tentacles and thorny plant vines with barbs, plummeted down from the sky, and on the ground, numerous fiery tendrils like burning snakes attacked Bai E from all directions. Behind these whips, which usually hid within the behemoth and struck only at critical moments, there were even more sinister vines, hung with countless bone daggers, that swept towards Bai E mixed with the barbed tendrils. Bai E drew a longsword with two sharp edges from the void with a backhand motion, and the fierce sword light instantly shattered all that attacked him. Holding the longsword, he could enter the "flow state" at any moment, which as a normal state of continuous combat power explosion, was his strongest form for now. "Whiz, whiz, whiz, whiz!" The snowy sword light bloomed wildly in the night, and the mountains trembled beneath the clash of the two titans. However, the beast''s recovery ability ultimately couldn''t withstand Bai E''s output of Spiritual Energy, and as the first light of dawn spread across the sky, the beast finally awoke from its endless rage, clearly realizing that it was no match for the terrifying human before it. "Run!" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The somewhat intelligent beast had only this thought spinning in its mind, but the next moment, it discovered a biting sword light that seemed to split time itself, leaving nothing but a streak of sword light separating light from dark. "Pfft!" [Dealt 3000 points of slashing damage to the target!] The behemoth, covered in wounds, no longer had the strength to recover. Even escaping seemed so feeble. [Activated "Lucky Strike."] With the final slash of sword light, the behemoth that resembled a falling mountain range finally lay dormant upon the earth under the newborn sun. [Acquired loot: Fresh Meat*200,000, Plant Tissue*50,000, 5000 Battle Experience points.] The vast amount of loot nearly engulfed the perspective of Bai E, who was immersed in the Burst Rate Space, and only upon seeing the meat mountain he truly breathed a sigh of relief. Return to the city! ... Within just a few days, Bai E received a reply from Gilder¡ª "The bait is ready!" "Good!" The Bai E who was in the Mecha hangar assisting Helen in researching the alloy sword suddenly dropped what he was doing. "Assemble!" Watching Bai E march out of the camp with a small squadron, a distant commanding officer sneered with disdain, "Inferiors will be inferiors. What level does he think he is, still wanting to lead a team into battle himself?" "Isn''t that just perfect? He, a mere homunculus, should just stick to being an enforcer, but he wants to meddle in the city''s affairs, seeking death!" "But he claims he went out for the biomass needed for the production of those ten thousand homunculi. He couldn''t have actually found enough resources, could he?" The first speaking officer looked back derisively at his companion, "Ten thousand! Do you have any idea how much material is needed for ten thousand homunculi? Even killing fifty Kennado Behemoths might not be enough to gather such a number! Do you think there are so many Kennado Behemoths lined up for him to kill, or is it more realistic that such resources just drop from the sky?" "Indeed..." The other officer chuckled abashedly, feeling he might have been overestimating that individual who had climbed his way up from a homunculus. "Just wait and see! When he gets back, I want to ask him just how much material he managed to find!" said the leading officer with a malicious smirk, turning to leave. ... A casual command from Bai E, who led a small team of twenty, to the soldier responsible for driving: "Head north." Although he had determined the location of the "bait," one couldn''t just head straight there from the start. He had purposefully taken some unfamiliar regular soldiers with him so that, through their mouths, he could convey certain things to the officers in the military camp¡ªthings he wanted them to hear... Chapter 644 - 644: 490 Night Raid Four off-road vehicles crisscrossed aimlessly across the wilderness; Bai E sat in the original special forces vehicle, with You driving. With a touch of confusion in his voice, You asked, "Captain, where exactly are we headed?" Bai E was examining the electronic map in his hand and casually replied, "For now, just follow them." Mingle with them; maybe by their side, he could find the bait he had thrown out. That would be more convincing. In the leading vehicle, the driver-soldier sneered at the vehicle lagging at the end as seen through the rearview mirror, with a hint of disdain in his eyes, "Going out to find supplies like headless flies, they won''t find shit!" "Exactly! It''s probably just about yielding to pressure, having to do something proactive to show that they''re actually busy," his co-driver added supportively. The recent battle had decimated most of the military district''s combat organization, but among the remaining personnel, there were still some complete units to be proud of. As a man-made soldier, Bai E had subdued the bugs, but he still hadn''t managed to subdue the mouths of some natural-born humans. The squad under the care of their own higher-ups was indeed there with orders to monitor Bai E. "He might just hunt some wild beasts for the sake of formality and return, haha?" "I want to see how much useful biomass he can find in this wilderness." The four vehicles maintained a certain distance, spreading northward like an interwoven carpet. As the sun slowly shifted across the sky, from morning to dusk, there were hardly any useful sights within view. When it was time to make a fire and warm up their meal in the wild, the other three special forces team leaders gathered around the fire beside Bai E. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once there was nothing left to fear in terms of strength, lighting a fire on the wild plains at night was no longer taboo for Bai E. Facing Bai E directly, the team leaders of the three squads showed full respect on their faces, "Commander, which direction are we headed next?" Another team leader showed even more professional competence, unfolding a topographical map of the area surrounding the city. He traced his finger over the mildly undulating beige regions and circled, "The areas closer to the city, under our routine sweeps, should leave no stone unturned by now; it''s only the Sunset Mountain Range stretching toward the northwest continent that might hold the large amounts of biomass we need." At a distance that was not too close to any human city, coupled with its unique geological formation, it was difficult for human troops to gain much from the wild creatures growing in the rugged mountain ranges. Even during Blackwater City''s heyday, no one had considered plundering them, as it would have been a loss-making venture. But now... if Bai E truly wanted to give the city a somewhat reliable account, it would have to be here. "Then let''s head there," Bai E nodded, seemingly seriously contemplating the other''s suggestion, "I was thinking of this direction before we set out." From a practical standpoint, in this era, if one wanted to find a substantial amount of biomass in the wild, aside from the mountain ranges, there was the sea. However, under normal circumstances, given humanity''s current strength, distance limitations, and complex geography, even entering the mountains was troublesome, let alone venturing into the sea. But Bai E was, after all, Bai E. No matter whether his position as a general or his duties were acknowledged, no one could deny the gold content of this man-made War God''s combat ability. If it was him, perhaps he could ride a Mecha and plow through the mountain ranges, and then have the beasts they had hunted transported back by the military forces that followed. With his commitment to battle and his protection, whether it was hunting or the blood-soaked journey home, it would presumably be secure. Now Bai E leading a reconnaissance meant it was likely to first determine the feasibility of this idea; once confident, he would then pilot the Mecha here and call in the army to transport the carcasses of the wild beasts. This was the only plausible scenario that many who knew of the man-made soldier breeding program and pondered its potential could satisfy the biomass requirement; Bai E himself had naturally considered this approach. But it was too slow¡­ Moreover, making such a big deal meant numerous uncertainties, not to mention startled beasts could just keep running northwest. Even piloting a Mecha, it would be tough to hunt enough biomass in the endless mountain ranges. Had there not still been a shortage of materials, Bai E wouldn''t have wanted to truly take this step. "It''s too dangerous to enter the mountains at night, we''ll go in first thing tomorrow morning," Bai E decided, "Everyone should rest well, taking turns to keep watch through the night." "Yes, Commander!" As Bai E walked back to his own vehicle, one of the camouflage-dropped team leaders sneered with disdain, "Still ''I was thinking of this direction''... like he could think of anything!" "¡­" The other two team leaders glanced at him but didn''t dare pick up that topic. They were just soldiers, and their job was to follow orders. They didn''t want any part in other matters. Above the boundless wilderness, the four off-road vehicles stood quietly on the earth, their center being a fire that had gone out. On the gravelly ground of pebbles, a rustling sound suddenly emerged; Bai E suddenly opened his eyes from the darkness. But he didn''t make a sound. After a while, You, who was sleeping in the vehicle, and others like Zero awoke alertly, their first instinct was to scan their surroundings. Realizing the danger had not yet approached, they then turned their gaze towards Bai E''s direction. Chapter 645 - 645: 490 Night Raid_2 Bai E calmly "shushed" them gently. As the one who arranged these men, it wasn''t his place to directly wipe them all out. If a wilderness warlord with four well-equipped urban off-road vehicles lacked even this level of ambition, he would be excessively timid¡­ The wilderness warlord with a large store of meat was exactly the identity Bai E had crafted for the people of Li Ming Town. Originally, he planned to see if he could bluff his way past the "tentacles" that Li Ming Town sent out to roam the wilderness, but unfortunately, it wasn''t clear who was unlucky, as they never managed to run into each other. Bai E made a last-minute decision, calling over the players to expose themselves, then he could logically follow the trail. ... The eyes of Kuang Xin, Dai Lian, and the others were surprisingly bright in the dark night. "The boss''s order was to have us attack the squad he''s leading, right?" "If he takes action himself, what''s the point in us attacking?" "Slap!" Kuang Xin, who just raised the question, received a slap on the head from Gu Lan, "If the boss really wanted to take action, would we even get this far? It''s clear that the boss won''t make a move. We just need to cause some trouble for those soldiers, and that''s it." "Remember not to actually kill anyone. These soldiers are going to be under the boss''s command later; they are also part of our Li Ming. Act, but be careful." "Got it, got it." Kuang Xin, wielding a giant axe, smirked as he approached a quiet vehicle. But before he could get close enough, the car door suddenly swung open. As the car door slammed towards Kuang Xin, a war blade swiftly followed, slashing out at him. None of the military''s special forces soldiers were weak. Maybe they were no match for Bai E and Rose, but many veterans were not far behind the Blood God in terms of strength. The players, who had been fighting in the game until now, had probably just barely reached the Blood God''s level. Underestimating the special forces soldiers led by Bai E would only lead to a big loss. Fortunately, since they always considered their superior as the hypothetical enemy, Kuang Xin, the first to approach, possessed no underestimation whatsoever, prepped for a spontaneous response. He countered the ambush with a backhand axe swing that directly deflected the incoming slash. As the aggressors, Dai Lian and the others displayed impeccable cooperation with Kuang Xin, honed through countless real battles. As Kuang Xin charged forward, reinforcements from the rear were almost simultaneously in place. The soldier who had only managed to slash out once was immediately shot through the shoulder by an arrow from Dai Lian, letting out a muffled groan as he retreated behind the car door for cover, while his agonized cry echoed through the night. "Enemy attack!" "Bang, bang, bang!" The sound of car doors flinging open resonated in an instant. The wilderness soldiers maintained only the lightest of sleeps, ready to spring awake at any disturbance. Those with sharper reflexes, like You and Zero, had sensed the approach of outsiders even before Kuang Xin and the others made their move. "Captain?" You and the others inside the vehicle looked at Bai E, waiting for his signal. "Go, hold back a little. It would be best if nobody on either side dies; we can afford to take some injuries." "Understood!" Meng Meng, solid as a rock, nodded vigorously, burst out the car door, and charged directly into the battle that had already started. There were more than just the four people in Kuang Xin''s squad; the players who had defected from Grey Iron City and outfitted themselves with prosthetics had also stayed to develop in Black Street. Hearing of a major mission, they mobilized as a group. Although this night raid didn''t involve their entire forces, they had selected the most skilled among them. The special forces soldiers, armed with superior weapons, were caught off guard by a band of players extreme in their ferocity. "Bang, bang, bang!" Gunshots rang out only sporadically; the dark night and the tangled foes prevented the elite firearms of the military soldiers from being of any use. The fighters, teeth clenched in fury, cursed, "Where did these savages come from, daring to attack us directly!" "Must be one of those roaming warlords from the wastelands! It''s not the first or second time they''ve attacked our isolated teams to steal from us, but I didn''t expect them to hit us this time!" "Where is the War God? We''re fighting like this and he still hasn''t made a move?" the captain who had the most complaints about Bai E suddenly looked toward the silent vehicle, "Did you not see that Third''s arm got chopped off already?" The general War God surely couldn''t still be sleeping while the battle raged on, could he? "It''s obvious, isn''t it? The higher his status, the less he dares to risk taking action!" the deputy captain grunted, and his body was suddenly flung several meters away by a tremendous force. After several tumbles, he quickly got to his feet, eyes full of combativeness as he looked toward the opponent in the darkness brandishing an axe, "Damn, this guy with the axe is really fierce!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Watching the special forces squad almost completely collapse under the players'' onslaught, Bai E also felt a bit surprised. He had thought the players'' combat strength would be strong, but he never imagined it to be this strong. You and Ling and the others seemed to be holding back less and less, but even so, they could only ensure they weren''t getting hurt. Constantly creating local superiority by fighting with greater numbers against fewer, the method was being pushed to its limits by these players, making a lively commotion. It looked even more realistic than the real thing... What mattered most was that they could see the health bars, allowing them to precisely control the damage, never fatally injuring any gravely wounded soldier. ''It''s about time.'' Seeing that if he didn''t make a move soon the players wouldn''t even know how to carry on the act, Bai E sighed softly and swung his sword down, a Spiritual Energy-boosted blade shadow instantly cleaving out for tens of meters. "Boom, boom, boom, boom!" The earth trembled with a roar. Kuang Xin''s axe was cut off from the handle right before his eyes. "Holy shit!" Surprise was sincerely felt. Many of the Grey Iron City players who had never seen true high-end power cursed out loud together. Kuang Xin led them in shouting, "Retreat!" With the adult taking action, it meant that the show had come to an end. Like real disorganized and undisciplined warlords of the wilderness, the group of players turned tail and fled. Looking at the special forces squad scattered on the ground in the darkness, almost all of them wounded, Bai E''s tone was cold as frost, "I wanted to see what you were capable of, but I didn''t expect it to be only to this extent. If even a bunch of wild warlords can ambush you, what chance do you have against those brutal bugs?" The already injured soldiers didn''t make a sound; facing Bai E''s accusations, they had no room to protest given the facts in front of them. Even their energy recharge surged dramatically. ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] ... More than ten points were added in just a moment. They''d always heard about how fierce Bai E was, but they didn''t have much of a concrete idea because Bai E''s previous actions had always taken place far away from them. Those who could actually get close enough to see Bai E''s prowess usually didn''t live to tell the tale. So their understanding of Bai E''s fierceness was limited to paper statistics and hollow descriptions. Only now, witnessing with their own eyes, did the admiration for the strong deep down in their bones truly take hold. In the end, Bai E swept a final glance over them and only when he was sure that no one was truly dead did he snort coldly and give an order, "You, help those who are badly injured with their wounds, then catch up later! I want to see where those daring enough to attack the city''s army come from!" Having the invincible strength but choosing to let go of the group that had attacked the army provided a plausible explanation for tracing them back to their lair and thoroughly exterminating them. And then, when they discovered an inconceivable amount of "biomass resources" in the den of these so-called wild warlords, it all made perfect sense! ... The special forces soldiers who tracked the marks left by Bai E after a simple treatment smelled a thick stench in the air. "Do you smell something?" All seasoned veterans, they were highly sensitive to the scent of war, "Blood! Lots of blood!" Sitting inside their vehicle, several soldiers who had been initially doubtful of Bai E exchanged glances, horror flashing in their eyes, "The War God, just how many people did he kill?" ["Lucky Strike" charge +5.] Chapter 646 - 646: Storm Armor 491 ``` The bodies littering the ground were minced into chunks of flesh, and the stench of blood permeated the air, almost congealing into a fog. Especially in the enclosed, unventilated environment, even these battle-hardened soldiers couldn''t help feeling nauseous when they smelled the thick scent in the air. Not knowing whether it was blood or dew, as they stepped on the somewhat slippery ground and followed the markings left by Bai E, all the members of the special squad, including You, couldn''t help but widen their eyes at the sight of the flesh piled up into a mountain before them. The countless chunks of meat, already neatly sliced, appeared like an actual mountain of flesh, filling up the massive underground cavern. The smell of fresh blood from the flesh chunks that seemed to have been cut not long ago struck the special squad members with a sensory overload, making them feel dizzy. "So... so much meat." "Where did these warlords in the wilderness get so many beasts from?" Members of the special squad stopped before the mountain of flesh, looking up at the chunks piled all the way to the ceiling of the cavern; in the dim environment, it was almost impossible to see the top, "Where could they have gotten so many beasts to hunt?" One of the soldiers touched the flesh and tasted it with his tongue, "Moreover, it all looks fresh, as if it was hunted in the past few days." You approached Bai E and asked in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "We''ve just encountered a large squadron in retreat, heading to the northwest. Should we pursue?" "No need," Bai E replied coldly with a wave of his hand. "I called you here to watch over these things. This is our real objective. If they abandon this place, then so be it, let these be the price of their attacking us. If they dare to come back..." The chilling murderous intent in his tone made the members of the other three special squads shiver involuntarily. Was the only cost the spoils from these beasts... What about the dismembered limbs and chunks of flesh seen along the way, what were they? Wasn''t it said that Bai, an artificial human born into the rank of general, was full of love for his fellow humans, tenderhearted and soft-handed? Right now... it didn''t quite match the rumors, did it? Bai E waved his hand to continue giving orders, "This underground cave is large, with passages leading in all directions. Leave three squads to explore all the secret tunnels to prevent the wild warlords from coming back. The other squad is to return to the city and inform the army¡ªorder the entire army to march here and transport the resources!" All the soldiers responded in unison, "Yes, Commander!" As everyone dispersed, Bai E stood in the gloom, his expressionless gaze fixated on the mountain of flesh before him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason he had everyone in Li Ming Town find a sufficiently spacious underground cavern formation was to store the biomass resources he had obtained from the Kennado Behemoth. And to give this process a veneer of explanation, Bai E had also instructed them to create traces of human life and rebellion there beforehand. As for whether it was plausible for so many biomass resources to appear... who was bold enough to ask those "warlords" about it? A rough explanation would suffice; with tangible resources right before their eyes, who would care how they came to be? ... The officer who received the message slammed his fist onto the table and glared at the returning messenger, demanding, "What did you say?" "I said..." The soldier swallowed, apparently still reeling from the impact of the reality, "General Bai E led us through the stronghold of a warlord, and from that warlord''s base, we found an uncountable amount of flesh biomass! Now... now we have been ordered to notify the entire camp to march out, to escort the biomass resources back to the city! This is the commander''s direct order." "..." A group of hurriedly assembled officers exchanged silent looks and opinions, "Information department indeed received a simple message from General Bai E early this morning... but... but..." But nobody expected that the news brought back would be so explosive! "What should we do?" Panic crossed the face of a general who had never liked Bai E''s position as an admiral, "How could this guy''s luck be so good!" "What kind of warlord could accumulate so much biomass? It''s one thing to accumulate it, but how could he have been defeated single-handedly?!" "..." The officer next to him looked at the speaking general with a look of disbelief. The formidable Bug Race had been rout after rout by the War God ¨C how many times now? In the eyes of that War God, what was a mere wild warlord? It would be strange not to have won a complete victory... Hamilton, sitting at another corner of the long table, watched the generals and just scoffed with his arms crossed, "Well? Are you ready to acknowledge who the real leader of the military region is now?" There were still some dissenting officers who stubbornly retorted, "The resources haven''t been transported back yet. Whether it''s enough for ten thousand people''s production is still not certain, why the rush?" "That''s right! Besides, no one can guarantee whether an artificial human like him has any character flaws. It hasn''t been that long; have we forgotten the incident when Admiral Bai E once ''defected''?" Carlos set down the notebook that had recorded the messenger''s verbal report onto the polished long table with a motionless face, "Repeat to yourself what Admiral Bai E has done this time." ``` Chapter 647 - 647: Storm Armor 491_2 "Killing a large number of the field warlords!" The scattered corpses on the ground were a fact witnessed by the warriors of all special squads. "Helen''s brainwashing was extremely successful. General Bai E has now become our perfect leader. I don''t know what purpose you have in continuing to oppose him!" The officer, who was being rebuked, subconsciously moved his lips, wanting to retort, yet looking at the messenger who had returned, he knew well that the informer planted beside Bai E made it even harder to find any excuse for criticism. Yes... Admiral Bai E had already raised the slaughter knife against the humans outside the city. What reasons did they still have to pick on this invincible artificial War God, who nearly had no personal weaknesses? As biomatter resources were hauled back to the city by the truckload, amidst the soaring stench of blood, the production staff of the Scientific Research Institute roughly estimated the number of artificial humans that could be generated from these resources¡ª About eleven thousand people! After a simple safety test, the gathered biomatter entered directly into the smashing and utilization process. As long as it was confirmed that the biomatter was composed of elements usable by humans, and not the alien genetic material of the Bug Race, nobody was overly interested in the origins of these flesh and blood. The few voices interested in uncovering the complete truth were drowned out by the prevailing doctrine of rapidly restoring military camp combat readiness. At the reassembled regional military officers meeting, Bai E finally became the rightful leader of the military district under Weslin. "While our Marshal Weslin is unconscious, we have decided to leave Admiral Bai E in charge of all matters, big and small, within the military district!" ... "Congratulations..." Helen watched Bai E return with a smile full of meaning, her charming eyes blinking curiously. In a low voice audible to only the two of them, she asked, "I''m just very curious, where on earth did you get so much beast meat from?" She had ordered a simple safety inspection for the biomatter, but she herself was not subject to her own directives. Curious about Bai E, she wanted to know where he had found so much flesh and blood. The results of the investigation were beyond belief. Aside from a minority of tissues truly from human corpses, the main component of the returned flesh and blood biomatter astonishingly all came from the wild beast kings that roamed the earth¡ªthe Kennado Behemoths! Even if the Kennado Behemoth was the largest land beast recorded in Blackwater City, it was certainly not large enough to provide as much biomatter resource as Bai E had brought. Based on the size of the closest recorded Kennado Behemoth to the city, at least fifty or sixty beasts of similar caliber would need to be killed to provide as much flesh and blood. It had only been a few days since he had made this request, and he had already killed so many behemoths? There are definitely more than fifty or sixty Kennado Behemoths worldwide, but Blackwater City''s records only accounted for three. To achieve all this, what level of operational capability and information channels did Bai E possess? "..." Bai E smiled mysteriously, offering no explanation. Instead, he brought up another topic, "How is the research going?" Speaking of her main concern, Helen became serious, "Currently, I have grasped the core of the kinetic weapons you spoke of. The strength of these weapons lies not in their material or craftsmanship, but in something extra added to them... in a membrane. This is an unusual force field." The carrier for this "membrane" actually isn''t crucial, and the more advanced material of the carrier doesn''t directly affect the "membrane." The essence of the membrane is the core of the kinetic weapons'' ability to slice through metal like butter. "I can now simulate that layer of ''membrane'' for a short time, but I am still unable to form the special shape like on your weapons," said Helen with a slight frown. "If we can''t form the shape we need, we won''t be able to wield this power at will." "So we still need some kind of constraining device?" "Yes!" Helen''s eyes lit up, staring intently at Bai E. "Do you have any ideas?" "My thought process is like this..." Bai E didn''t know if he had the ability to impart knowledge and technology to NPCs. He could grant players such rule-like privileges through a quest, but he was unsure about himself. Many things he learned, he applied instinctively like eating, breathing, and drinking water, without knowing the rationale behind them. This time, when giving Helen a hint, he could only somewhat forcefully demonstrate by creating the first Fission Field Generator built by humans themselves using a method similar to a prototype sample. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the force field was steadily shaped over an ordinary alloy combat knife, Helen''s eyes nearly popped out of her head. "You..." "You, you, you..." "How did you do that?!" There were quite a few other research staff from the Scientific Research Institute in the studio, and upon seeing the pale blue force field attached above the blade, their eyes were filled with incredulous surprise. ["Lucky Strike" charge+12.] Bai E remained expressionless, "It''s just like this, and then like that... I feel like this thing ought to be done this way, right?" He admitted that his teaching was a bit like Yue Ying''s, which was also why he waited until Helen and the other researchers had a certain level of understanding before demonstrating. Otherwise, if they understood nothing at the start, even if he made the finished product right in front of them, they would still be in the dark. Now... they should be able to grasp a little bit, right? Looking at Helen''s thoughtful and beautiful eyes, Bai E was filled with anticipation. However, the next moment, the lights in the entire laboratory flickered suddenly then after a series of bright and dark flashes, the painstakingly formed Fission Field dissipated once more. Bai E was startled, checking the attribute of the item in his hand but not finding the word "damaged" anywhere. "The power ran out." Helen looked at the small Force Field Generator device in Bai E''s hand with a complex gaze, "The energy it consumes is not something a single soldier can sustain." "Oh~" So, it also needed an external individual power source that a single soldier could carry? No wonder the introduction of the Fission Field Generator technology stated that "Miniaturized Kinetic Theory" was the core prerequisite knowledge. The Star Devourer blade he used had Spiritual Energy as its power bank; naturally, it didn''t require external power. Actual technological products couldn''t avoid this limitation. I can only crudely craft technology by hand. Can I teach knowledge? "Cough cough~" Bai E coughed lightly, speaking indifferently, "Regarding power, I have also gleaned some insight from the Intelligent Mechanisms." Helen''s eyes shone, "Quick, tell me!" "The so-called miniaturized power, with our current level, is most suited to a miniaturized nuclear reactor..." [You are participating in the creation of blueprints¡ªStorm Armor; current progress 0.001%, upon full participation and completion, you will gain: Blueprint¡ªStorm Armor, as well as all scientific and technological levels required for the armor; Scientific Research Experience +50000; Technology Points*3.] A miniaturized power source naturally couldn''t be directly affixed to the weapon, and the most suitable users of force field weapons are the agile human beings themselves. Both limitations dictated a straightforward and inevitable outcome for this direction of development. Seeing the sudden appearance of the task event, Bai E''s eyes sparkled. From the link text of the quest event, he could see the general direction of application once the so-called armor was finished, like existing Mechas that amplify the limits of individual soldier''s capabilities! It was as if reducing the Mecha''s size countless times and restoring it to the scale of the human body itself. If such armor could really be constructed, it would be far more useful in many situations where it was not necessary to deploy Mechas at that scale; the smaller armor would have more room to maneuver! Chapter 648 - 648: 492 Elf Delegation! ``` The process of developing a technology from research to fruition is incredibly lengthy. Helen paid close attention to the Fission Field Generator and the Miniaturized Kinetic Theory recently provided by Bai E, which were the only two technologies in this field where Bai E could be of help. After providing essential support, Bai E who had no further tasks to do, left the grounds of the Scientific Research Institute. He received an unexpected telepathic message from Yueying. The telepathic communication could only convey the simplest of sensations, and Yueying''s message did not even carry an emotion, feeling like someone nudging him with their arm to get his attention because there was something to discuss. Upon meeting, Bai E noticed that Yueying had an unusually serious look on her face. "What''s the matter?" "My people, the Elf Race, will arrive tomorrow." "Isn''t that a good thing?" Bai E asked with a smile. If humans and the Elf Race could truly collaborate seamlessly, it would be a terrific development for both parties. Humans, with their large numbers and focus on practical technology; elves, with their strong individual abilities and greater achievements in Spiritual Energy than humans. If they could exchange what they each needed, they would certainly complement each other''s strengths and weaknesses, allowing both sides to develop. "Not necessarily..." Yueying said, shaking her head solemnly. Her slightly youthful face was now marked with visible concern, "I''ve heard from my sister that there are some within our race who do not agree with cooperating with you humans. They have accompanied us this time and may intentionally make things difficult for you, hoping to sabotage this cooperation." "..." Bai E paused in mild surprise, "And your sister?" According to what Yueying had said before, her sister held a position of high esteem within their tribe, revered with the honorific ''Prophet''. Her people regarded her sister''s attitude almost as that of a deity, viewing her will as a divine gift. If her sister was actively promoting this, would the opinions of a few "rebellious" tribespeople really count for nothing? Yueying shook her head, her smooth hair shimmering beautifully, "I don''t know..." As Yueying spoke, her face showed a trace of confusion, "My sister... there are many things she doesn''t want to discuss with me. I also don''t know her exact thoughts on this matter. According to her, revealing any words related to ''the future'' will only lead to ''the future'' becoming chaotic and unclear. It''s like stirring up a settled cesspool again, muddying the once clear water. She must carefully maintain this ''clarity'' and ensure as much control over events as possible." ''Mumbo jumbo...'' But in this world of Spiritual Energy, anything was possible. Bai E instantly thought of the river of time he "saw" on the day his Spiritual Energy awakened. It seemed as if understanding the mysteries of that vast river would allow him to traverse time and space, governing everything. But... that''s not something humans could achieve, right? The Prophet of the Elf Race...? Bai E blinked, "She didn''t share any of her inclinations with you?" Yueying shook her head and, mimicking her sister''s serious tone, said calmly and weightily, "Be prepared, we... are coming." Bai E stared blankly, "How are they planning to arrive? Do the other people in the city know about this?" "Isn''t that what I''m here to tell you about? I just got the news as well," Yueying replied. The elves had been preparing to establish contact with humans for a while, and Blackwater City was very keen on the matter. However, Yueying hadn''t given an exact time, and nobody knew how to prepare for their arrival. "Just got the news?" Bai E was puzzled, "So they contacted you right as they were about to arrive?" "No." Yueying gently shook her head, "They''ll leave tomorrow." "They''re leaving tomorrow and arriving tomorrow?" Bai E found it strange, "Are you suggesting you''re nearby?" On the ground? Underground? Or some kind of sealed barrier? There weren''t any known locations within a day''s reach of the city where the Elf Race was said to reside. "Not exactly..." Yueying stated coolly, shaking her head, "You''ll know tomorrow." Her sister''s wish for Yueying not to notify anyone in advance was part of the equation. To them, the superfluous pleasantries of humans were meaningless, and complex displays could only obscure true judgments. An unexpected approach made it easier to see the true nature of humans. The news that the Elf Delegation was arriving tomorrow spread rapidly through the city that night. Considering the significance of the meeting, the leaders decided to host a modest welcome ceremony despite the suddenness of the news shaking many important figures. "From which side are they planning to enter the city?" "The south gate... Additionally, Miss Yueying has made a request," Aglaya said, looking up from her notes, "She hopes that our Spiritual Energy practitioners present will minimize their spiritual perception to avoid unnecessary troubles." "Spiritual perception?" "Troubles?" Only those deeply versed in the domain of Spiritual Energy immediately thought of an unbelievable possibility. "Could it be..." ... "Teleportation..." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A tumultuous and vast wave of Spiritual Energy fluctuations churned in the senses of every Spiritual Energy practitioner, pressing down heavily like the foreboding silence before a tsunami crashes ashore. ``` Chapter 649 - 649: 492 Elf Delegation!_2 Even ordinary people without any Spiritual Energy talent could feel that the sky seemed to have darkened in the corner of their eyes. But when they turned their heads to look, they noticed nothing. The daylight was still bright; it was 10 o''clock in the morning. Unaware, ordinary people felt an unusual atmosphere and looked curiously into the distance, asking with curiosity, "Weren''t they supposed to arrive at exactly ten? Why can''t we see a single person?" "Wasn''t it supposed to be the South Gate? Hope you haven''t gone to the wrong gate." Some people''s gaze rested on the slender figure in the corner, dressed in a black mantle, "Can we really take this little elf''s word for it? It''s been only her talking the whole time." "You can talk about whether her words count or not after you can beat her..." A kind of silent pressure descended in an instant, and the covert whispering voices instantly vanished. Persons without Spiritual Energy talent looked around warily, feeling a chilling sensation as if being stalked by a giant beast. Meanwhile, all Spiritual Power Managers watched the empty expanse of land before them with wary eyes; the abrupt turbulence of Spiritual Energy caused their Spiritual Bodies to shake, and their close connections to their physical bodies loosened slightly in the tremors of high-dimensional Spiritual Energy. ''No wonder we were told to restrain our spiritual senses...'' The so-called spiritual senses are also a part of the Spiritual Body. In the midst of severe Spiritual Energy turbulence, any extended spiritual senses could be swept away, either pulling the Spiritual Body to destruction or permanently losing a small part of the Spiritual Body. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a Spiritual Power Manager, this is an absolutely unbearable loss to the soul. The next moment, under the Spiritual Energy hurricane, a group of unusually tall and slender figures with god-like handsome features, from the Elf Race, appeared in the blink of an eye before everyone in Blackwater City. A mature and elegant Elf Race woman, closely resembling Yue Ying but with a more mature and luxurious appearance, hovered a few centimeters above the ground with bare, luminous, delicate feet, holding a glinting golden scepter. After everyone completely emerged from the high-dimensional space, the Elf Race woman holding the Magic Wand quietly stepped onto the ground, and the blood-red gem at the top of the wand also retracted its radiating red light. "Hum~" With the dying echoes of the wild Spiritual Energy from the teleportation Spell dispersing, a strange humming sound resonated in the mind of every intelligent being for a long time. Each member of the Elf Delegation, once settled in the real world, looked down arrogantly at all around them, their eyes sweeping over each human present in Blackwater City. "Group...teleportation!" "Is this the strength of the Elf Race?!" Several high-ranking managers at the Spiritual Power Managers Center instantly widened their eyes. Even though they had some preconceptions, when the reality actually unfolded before them, they truly felt the terrifying pressure from the Elf Race. Tearing open the barrier between any point in the world and high-dimensional space, using the properties of high-dimensional space devoid of "time and space," transporting oneself to high-dimensional space bound to another point in real space, and then rending the barrier between high-dimensional space and the real world, achieves what, in the real world, amounts to "instantaneous teleportation." It was one thing for a single individual to accomplish this feat, but to bring along at least twenty companions was another. This terrifying proficiency in Spiritual Energy is a supreme realm far beyond the reach of any human Spiritual Power Manager. This new envoy from the Elf Race, judging purely by her cultivation in Spiritual Energy, might be much stronger than Yue Ying who had come earlier. But after all, they were high-ranking officials who had been highly influential in the city for a long time. Faced with the overwhelming power displayed by the Elf Race upon their arrival, the group of welcoming officials still approached with smiles on their faces. However, the Elf Delegate who had cast the spell bringing all her kin through spatial teleportation must have depleted a substantial amount of Spiritual Energy and spirit, for she wavered the moment she touched the ground. With the support of another elf by her side, she barely managed to steady herself before being escorted to the rear of the arriving Elves. Facing the humans who came up with smiles plastered on their faces, another elf who had previously been standing to the side stepped forward to initiate the interaction, "Our Prophet has expended a great deal, and she needs to rest quietly for the moment. We would trouble you distinguished humans to provide us with a secluded place to recuperate." The city elder at the forefront of the group stiffened his smile for a moment before nodding and squeezing out a smile to reply, "Of course, there''s no problem. The resting place for your delegation has been well prepared. Please, follow me." All the welcoming ceremonies and procedures Blackwater City had prepared went unused, but faced with the Elf Delegation that had already displayed their capabilities upon arrival, Blackwater City dared not show the slightest neglect. Bai E stood on the side of the welcoming group, and as the Elf Delegation slowly proceeded into the city gate following the Blackwater City greeters, Bai E distinctly felt a scrutinizing gaze from the elves passing over him. This gaze held a clear intent to probe, like a warm, tangible little hand gently lifting the clothes to see everything hidden beneath Bai E''s disguise. However, when Bai E tried to observe in return, he found it difficult to accurately fix his gaze on any individual within the Elf Delegation. It was as if he was in a state of distraction, where, although looking in a certain direction, his eyes lacked a precise focus. He knew a group of elves from the Delegation were passing by, but their exact number, the appearance, build, and characteristics of each elf... all were indistinct. Bai E instinctively turned to look at Yue Ying beside him, only to find Yue Ying also watching the direction of the Elf Delegation, a rare warm and brilliant smile appearing on her usually cold and reserved face. ... Inside a tranquil estate within the city, the settled elves gathered in a resplendent grand hall. "It''s been confirmed that these humans have no surveillance methods here." "Phantom, what is your opinion on these humans?" "Physically weak, willfully scattered, desires as vast as the sky..." "Even if the humans responsible for our reception are not the most prominent figures in this city, they must be among those with the most say, right? Even among all the cities where we have sent observers, the humans we have seen in this city are of the poorest quality. Even if we were to cooperate, we would not need to pick such a city for collaboration, would we?" "What''s with Yue Ying? Just this level of ability, and she called us over?" "Shh~" An elf made a quiet shush gesture to the speaking elf and cautiously glanced at the corner where the Prophet¡ªSpirit of the Wind¡ªseemed to be meditating and recovering alone. "It''s said that this... was the lady''s intention. The lady speaks and acts with her reasoning, and there are many things she cannot tell us openly; we must understand them on our own. The lady has exhausted herself and needs to recuperate; this mission will be commanded by the storm." The tall, lean male elf with a face as pale as gold and handsome features said proudly, barely lifting his chin as his gaze seemed to transcend space, looking toward the center of the city, "Then let us see, what exactly is special about this city!" ... "Sister?" "Sister?" The gentle voice arose within a high-dimensional space beyond the reach of others, where two beautiful spiritual bodies resembling mermaids secretly met in this exceptionally special place. "Sister, are you alright?" Yue Ying had not seen her sister use the group teleportation method before, but seeing her sister smiling gently among the crowd, Yue Ying thought she was probably fine. Still, her heart was not at ease, so she stealthily came to see her. "I''m fine." The mermaid-like spiritual body, more defined and agile, spoke with an ethereal and steady voice, "I''m quite well, just looking for an excuse to hand over the stage to them." "Sister, what did you see again?" "Shh~" Slender fingers rested on the lips of the spiritual body, and on that mature and stunning face, there was a playfully mischievous smile, "Don''t ask." Chapter 650 - 650: 493 Contest In the city''s council hall, the noise of voices buzzed. "Those elves are too much! They''re not here for cooperation at all!" a nobleman who was also part of the welcoming team was the first to stand up and level accusations. "Yes, the attitude of those elves is too arrogant, not treating us as equals in this discussion for cooperation." The humans had approached the meeting with full goodwill and enthusiasm, yet the representatives of the Elf Race were hardly willing to communicate, hastily ending the meeting on the pretense that their Prophet was overexerted. "No! I think they are demonstrating their power completely!" a staff member from the Spiritual Power Managers Center interjected, "They want to dominate in the cooperation with us, that''s why they want to put pressure on us from the beginning." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Whatever the elves can do, can''t anyone from the Spiritual Power Managers Center do the same? You''ve been occupying so much of the city''s funds to study the limits of Spiritual Energy, and now you are intimidated by their High-dimensional Space Teleportation?" Some turned their criticism to the members of the Spiritual Power Managers Center; if the city''s practitioners of Spiritual Energy could show nearly the same skill level, they wouldn''t be so disparaged by those elves. "There''s no point in talking about this now. Let''s see what those elves have to say next." Suddenly, a council official was taken aback, receiving a message from his subordinates, he stood up, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, "Fellow council members, the elves have sent five individuals stating that there is a minor matter regarding the cooperation between our races that needs to be discussed first." "A discussion? Let''s hear what they really want to say." one of the attending elders decided, "Invite them into the council hall directly. I want to see what terms they are prepared to propose." The invited elves glanced around the hall with an arrogant look, standing at the very center of the circular hall opposite the human elite officials, surrounded by the important members of the city, subject to such a gaze, any creature would feel a certain pressure. However, to the five elves attending the meeting, it was as if they were being watched by a swarm of ants; in their eyes, those gazes were synonymous with the worship and reverence of insignificant insects. Do these little scrawny humans really dare to boastfully talk about establishing close cooperation with the Elf Race? The leading male elf, with a braided tuft at the center of his head and a slightly golden complexion, gazed intently at the few old men who might represent the city''s highest will, speaking slowly, "In fact, we have sent members of our race to many of your human cities to express preliminary intentions for cooperation, and those members have reported back on various cities'' unique features and advantages. I know your human society is equally fragmented now, with the so-called empire existing in name only; each city is an independent autonomous body. But we of the Elf Race have no time to deal deeply with every single one of your governments. Our chosen partners must undoubtedly be special centers with an absolute advantage throughout the human empire. So I would like to ask, the human officials present, what do you think gives your city an advantage over other human cities?" This sounded like an inquiry from a superior being to an inferior one, undoubtedly making every human present uncomfortable. Yet, even though those words were unpleasant, they were relatively true. There is only one Elf Race, but many human cities. Many cities desire to cooperate with the Elf Race, but why should the Elf Race choose Blackwater City? The human reception team had anticipated such questions, and one of the older men sitting opposite the elf emissaries smiled benevolently before speaking, "Our Blackwater City possesses a mature capability to create artificial human legions, and in the era of global internet resurgence, our technology is also at the forefront. We have inherited most gifts from the Golden Age in material science and warfare weaponry. Being adjacent to the Bug Race''s nest, our battle-hardened army is the bravest and most efficient in the world; top scholars, Spiritual Energy practitioners who hold secrets, enforcers hunting demons...we are the most well-developed of all existing human cities, with the most complete inheritance from the Golden Age." "If the Golden Age was indeed as wonderful and powerful as you say, why did it crumble over time? If inheriting some technologies from your so-called human empire''s Golden Age can be considered your unique advantage, then please forgive me for having little trust in your city," the elf retorted. The elf''s words colored many of the attendees'' faces with anger, but since even those who were directly confronted didn''t make a sound, naturally, no one else had the right to speak out of turn in this setting. "Furthermore, I have yet to see¡­" the male elf''s lips curled into an odd smile, as if scornful, yet also friendly, "All that you have mentioned, I have not yet seen." The elder''s eyes flashed coldly, "So you mean to say¡­" "Quite simple. Let us see for ourselves." the male elf''s gaze swept across the room, and each attendee seemed to feel his eyes scrutinize them, "Your warriors, scholars, Spiritual Energy practitioners, enforcers, your unmatched legions, your great technology... show us everything. If all that your city boasts can indeed move us, then we will consider establishing a more intimate connection with this city. Otherwise¡­ It will be difficult to convince the rest of our race to forsake other better options." Chapter 651 - 651: 493 Contest_2 "Alright, how would you like to proceed?" The male elf''s smile at the corner of his mouth grew more pronounced, whether out of joy or disdain, "As it happens, among our kin who have come with us are warriors, scholars, spiritual energy practitioners, and demon-hunting adjudicators, to name a few. So, why not do it this way¡ªfollowing the categories you mentioned, let our kin compete against the most prideful individuals among you in simple contests. If your people possess unique proficiency in these areas, then I believe there would be no further disagreement about our cooperation. However, if the results of the contest are less than ideal... then I think the prospect of cooperation might still be negotiable." Regardless of how angry humans were at the arrogance of the Elf Race, the strength they demonstrated upon their arrival was not to be taken lightly. The other party had proactively suggested a contest, likely having prepared in advance. The old man''s heart trembled slightly, but without showing any sign of fear, he responded decisively, "Good! Since the distinguished guests of the Elf Race wish to see the strength of us humans, we will certainly not disappoint you." "Since it''s a contest, there should be some stakes, right?" the male elf''s smile turned even more radiant, "We are not strangers to dealing with the cities of the human race, and the cities we have had dealings with before were quite generous!" ''These elves are not dealing with the human race for the first time!'' ''This is their true objective!'' At that moment, such thoughts bubbled up in the minds of many astute attendees. Blackwater City isn''t unique, and these elves might not genuinely have come with the intention to cooperate. They have come to reap benefits! If they win, they will extort benefits from the hands of humans; if they lose... given their attitude, they probably haven''t lost before. And those cities that have already made contact with the elves¡ªhow is it that not a whisper has come through?! In an instant, many of those present cursed the federal states with malicious intentions. But with the situation at hand, no one was willing to bow their human pride in front of a foreign race. "Fine! Let it be as you wish!" the old man declared, flinging his sleeve back with a stern face, "Whatever you propose, go ahead. We of the Human Race are not so petty as to nitpick over alliances with friends." "Is that so?" the male elf chuckled coldly, "Then let''s keep it simple. The victor can make three reasonable demands of the loser, nothing so excessive as to damage the harmony between us." "We''ll do as you say!" the old man agreed without hesitation, "Given that you''ve come from afar, the time of the contest will be at your discretion." "No need... we do not require rest, let''s begin right away." The development of the situation surprised everyone, even the occurrence of this unexpected event was completely unforeseen. Without fully understanding what was happening, the participants found themselves already at the largest arena in the city. The city occasionally held official performances or warrior selections, which were meant for talent recruitment or festivity celebrations, not for profit. It wasn''t frequently used, but the venue was quite spacious and impressive. Sitting on the high platform, not far from each other, the spokespeople of both humans and elves exchanged glances. Looking at the sparsely filled spectator seats of the circular arena, the male elf leading the delegation smiled and asked, "For the first contest, shall we compare martial strength? I''ve heard from Yue Ying, one of our sentinels, that there''s a warrior by the name of Bai E in Blackwater City with outstanding martial skills, even said to be on par with our War God pathwalkers. Surely he is Blackwater City''s strongest warrior, right? Why not let him cross hands with one of our kin to see if he is as exceptional as Yue Ying describes?" Blackwater City may indeed not be the first human city the elves have made contact with, but that doesn''t mean it''s devoid of any special characteristics. This unique trait lies in the human warrior mentioned by Yue Ying... in fact, in Yue Ying''s report, the praise for that human warrior far exceeded what any elf would find acceptable. If what Yue Ying had described was true, then that human warrior with the surname Bai might even possess a strength and ability no less than that of their esteemed Prophet! This is impossible! If not for this reason, their Prophet would not have taken matters into his own hands. After all, when had their Prophet ever personally intervened in the past dealings with other human cities? Storm was very eager to see what the human warrior Yue Ying spoke of was really like. The elderly man sitting not far from the Elves wore a headset of technology, through which every word spoken by the Elves could be transmitted to the ears of the think tank behind him. The collaboration with the Elves was of great importance, and the contest at hand was even more crucial¡ªit would determine whether they, Blackwater City, could gain the upper hand in their interactions with this Elf Delegation, a matter of utmost significance. Therefore, they would dissect every word uttered by the Elf leader, closely scrutinizing the hidden meanings behind them. Upon hearing what the male Elf had said, the think tank behind the elderly man immediately sprang into action¡ª "We can''t agree to it!" "Exactly, they are specifically asking for General Bai E by name; they must have a surefire way to ensure victory over him. That Elf named ''Yue Ying'' who has been lurking in the camp surely knows far too much about General Bai E. The Elves have come prepared; we cannot let them get their way!" "Or maybe that''s exactly what they want us to think; what if they''re afraid of us putting General Bai E on the field?" "Gentlemen! Why are you so perturbed over a mere artificial soldier like Bai E? This isn''t a battlefield where one can operate Mecha, nor is it an exorcism fight against demons. General Bai E was never the best choice to begin with. Why create controversy over his participation? I propose that we ask Nolan, the Guard Commander of our city lord, to step forward. He is the strongest individual soldier, having undergone three rounds of genetic optimization. With him entering the fray, we should have no worries about the initial battle." General Bai E, despite his undeserved reputation as the invincible War God, had it only within Mecha-battlegrounds and when facing demons, with his endless supply of Spiritual Energy and unwavering conviction. However, if we were to discuss martial prowess alone, General Bai E had shown no remarkable performance in that area. The only record in the camp was of a selection event against another artificial soldier named "Blood God." In that match-up, an ordinary artificial soldier without any genetic enhancements had brutally defeated General Bai E. Sending him into battle as a "warrior" now seemed evidently inappropriate. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You have a point!" "Go and call for Guard Commander Nolan quickly!" "What about the city lord..." "It''s a matter of great importance for the collaboration; the city lord will understand." ¡­ Looking at the fierce-looking figure on the field, whose body was riddled with muscular knots, the male Elf Storm almost knitted his brows into a "´¨" character, "Is this the Bai-surnamed warrior from your Blackwater City?" "Oh no, not at all," the corners of the old man''s mouth curled slightly, "General Bai E is currently our military district''s marshal, and he isn''t exactly skilled in martial combat. The one who''s fighting now is a guard by my side; he has been with me for many years, and I have considerable confidence in his martial skills." "Guard?" Storm glanced at the side face of the elderly man, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes. His lips moved slightly as he sent a long-range command through Spiritual Energy to his kin who was about to enter the battle, "Cripple him!" Chapter 652 - 652: 494 Clash of Warriors "They didn''t let you go on?" Yue Ying softly asked beside Bai E''s ear. Since the competition began, she had unobtrusively made her way to Bai E''s side. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Except for Bai E, no one else nearby had noticed the presence of this elf lady. "I don''t know," Bai E shrugged indifferently, "The guard currently on stage is said to be the Guard Commander close to our lord, with exceptional martial skills. His strength is probably no less than mine." The so-called warrior competition focuses on pure martial skills since this is the first communicative competition between the two races that came about from the need to understand each other. It''s more about the clash of techniques than a straightforward contest of victory or defeat. The Elf Race is a rather pure breed. Their study of various skills is at its peak, and when discussing a skill, they instinctively exclude any unrelated influencing factors. In the contests between the two races, the Elves'' "purity" is naturally followed as well. The exhibition of martial skills using only the physical attributes is the focus of the competition, directly using Spiritual Energy to cast magic is heresy. Of course, certain abilities that can use both Spiritual Energy and the body''s action force reserves are still considered part of martial skills. After all, the contestants only wore magic-restraining bracelets and had no equipment that forbade the use of action force reserves. "Oh," Yue Ying''s eyes flickered lightly, "then he should be careful, as Zoro is also one of our race''s warriors, no less powerful than me." "No less than you?" Bai E glanced at his side with a somewhat peculiar look. As for the actual strength of this elf lady beside him, Bai E had never had a clear understanding. The most explosive display of her power he knew of was that earth-shattering sword she unleashed when rescuing the Mech Pilots of the Mechanical Court on the battlefield against the Bug Race. A single strike divided yin and yang, parting heaven and earth. Of course, achieving such a feat would certainly require using Spiritual Energy; without utilizing Spiritual Energy, it was uncertain what her standard combat strength was. Perhaps, through the strength of the elf warrior who entered the fray, a glimpse into Yue Ying''s true power could be seen. The two contestants on the field stared heavily at their opponents in front of them. The competition may have started as a simple exchange of skills, but both knew that it involved the first cooperation between the two races. Which side could seize the initiative in the battle negotiation likely lay in the outcome of their contest, and Zoro had been through such trials more than once. And every powerful human he encountered fell without exception at his hands. ''I really want to witness this so-called "War God" among humans...'' Zoro''s gaze flashed with a sharp light, his tall and slender body suddenly burst forth, charging like a sharp battle knife, cutting straight in. Guard Commander Nolan, who seemed burly, turned out to be extremely capable to serve as the personal guard to the lord, naturally making him a formidable force within all of Blackwater City. Facing the elf''s initial aggression, the muscular Nolan displayed a speed that starkly contradicted his build. "Bang bang bang bang!" In just a blink of an eye, the air was filled with several sounds of collisions between fists and feet. Dull and fierce, they caused a tremor in one''s heart. Both were aware that their opponent was certainly one of the best among their respective races; they wouldn''t take the fight lightly, beginning with the most basic of physical attributes and simple combat techniques. The most basic, yet also the most crucial. Bai E activated his Spiritual Energy, adding a layer of hazy spiritual light to his eyes. If he were in the midst of the fight, relying on his body''s instinctual response to combat, he could effortlessly fend off attacks launched by both sides without needing any time to think. But as an onlooker, the ongoing battle seemed to lack sufficient clarity. The enhancement from Spiritual Energy allowed him to observe the movements of both sides more clearly and helped him study their combat habits to a certain extent. The elf''s physique was vastly different from a human''s. Just a glance made Bai E feel uncomfortable. Projecting himself into the fight, he felt that many of the elf''s movements defied the natural limits of the body, with a slim frame possessing unimaginable muscle strength and skeletal capacity. A structure that looked similar to a human''s, yet with a level of physical capability beyond human reach. Against the elf warrior he encountered for the first time, Guard Commander Nolan, who hadn''t had prior experience, seemed uncomfortable. However, having undergone three rounds of gene optimization, his gene optimization rate had reached 5.7%, with his attributes'' upper limit reaching an astonishing 30 points! Developing his physical attributes to the extreme made him stand out in all of Blackwater City. Given more time to fully master his current body, he was confident about taking the next gene optimization injection, which would once again significantly boost his attributes. But even at his current level without the upgrade, such attributes allowed him to perform miracles with brute force. The occasional heavy punch he managed to land forced the elf to sidestep its edge. It seemed like the male elf was making a mockery with his more agile form, but he was, in fact, in a precarious situation. Chapter 653 - 653: 494 Clash of Warriors_2 The Elf Race''s strength was nowhere near Nolan''s, and even though their unique way of exerting force caused some temporary trouble for Nolan, it was... just temporary. "He truly is Nolan, the Guard Commander!" Nearly all the spectators were humans, and those who had a bit of judgment on the situation clenched their fists in excitement. Time was on the side of the humans. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As long as Nolan, the Guard Commander, could get used to the different bodily structures and unique ways of exerting force of these elves, he could counterattack effectively. That elf, who could only hop around like a fly or grasshopper, wouldn''t last a few more minutes. "Doesn''t your race have the Gene Optimization Solution?" Bai E, looking at the stunning profile of the elf lady beside him, asked with some curiosity. The elf who was fighting on behalf of his race must hold a position not too low in the Elf Race hierarchy. However, his attributes clearly did not match those of Nolan, the Guard Commander, and it didn''t seem as if he had been enhanced by gene optimization. "We don''t need it," Yue Ying shook her head, "As long as we study deeply in any path, our physical quality will also reach the ultimate sublimation within the path." The potential of an elf''s body is infinite, not naturally weak like humans, with all their limitations. Not enough attributes? After all, it''s just that their cultivation hasn''t reached perfection. "However..." Yue Ying''s eyes swept across the closest circle around the fighting arena where her people were watching, "Some of our people now think that your human Gene Optimization Solution is not a bad thing, it could help us reach the peak earlier. If... if you lose, they will most likely make such a request." "Hmm..." Bai E nodded, not too concerned about it. Winning or losing was still undecided; wasn''t it a bit early to make requests? Yue Ying''s gaze swept across the arena and then turned to look at the human warrior beside her. Her lips moved slightly, and she hesitated before saying, "If... if he loses, what will your humans do?" Some things, you could tell the outcome from just one glance at the beginning. Zoro was very strong; it was not a fair duel from the start. An elf who embarked on the pure path of a "warrior" was even rare among the Elf Race. Every elf can choose a "path," but the "path" does not necessarily choose the elf. The elves who can truly walk on the "path" have an initial requirement... the Dao. The human warrior didn''t comprehend the Dao; he couldn''t possibly be Zoro''s opponent. Of course, even Bai, who is respected as the current "War God" of the military zone, only showed a hint of the "Dao" when piloting his Mecha. At other times, Yue Ying hadn''t noticed him entering the "Dao" in any aspect. Yet even so, if Bai were the one to take the stage, there would be a chance for a different outcome. "He is capable of surpassing all that is known..." That was what his sister had said. Any experience, any judgment, seemed to lose their intended effect on him. Unconstrained, unrestricted, and capable of anything¡­ that is Bai E! "If Nolan, the Guard Commander, loses... they should win the next round, right?" Bai E''s gaze flickered to those seated on the high platform representing the true hierarchy of the city. Those people were extreme profit-seekers, anything that might infringe upon their interests, they would do everything possible to eliminate such possibilities! Whether the source of this possibility was bugs, beastmen¡ªthe absolute enemy races, or elves¡ªthe external allied races, or even... their own kind. When it comes to real interests, they would bare all their fangs and defend their wealth to the death. Hearing Bai E''s response, Yue Ying remained neutral and quietly turned to watch the fight in the arena, no longer speaking, "..." The situation on the field was turbulent and unpredictable. The elf''s onslaught flowed like tide, ceaseless; Guard Commander Nolan''s defense was like a rock in the sea, standing firm and unshakable. The clashes between the two produced continuous sonic booms. But at a moment that held no particular significance, the elf who seemed unable to find an angle to attack Nolan suddenly changed his fighting style. He became like the sharpest sword plunging straight into Nolan''s centerline, a line of blood quietly splitting open on Nolan''s forehead, with bright red blood oozing out. Nolan, who had remained as immovable as a mountain, suddenly seemed to be frozen in place by some strange magic power under this last strike, his eyes turning white as he thunderously fell backwards. The victor had been decided! "What happened!" "This isn''t fair! It must be those despicable elves using Spiritual Energy!" "Exactly! Despicable elves!" An initial loss was a reality many of the human spectators found hard to accept. Not to mention the result of the battle took such an abrupt and steep turn, leaving everyone confused. When an opponent has a stroke of luck, people will just say it was bad luck, the opponent was better, and to keep trying next time. But if it seems too overwhelming, people will suspect cheating. Why would there be such a one-sided domination in the pinnacle match? "But what if this wasn''t the pinnacle match?" The male elf, Storm, had a contemptuous smile on his lips as he gently stood up, "The match has been decided, sir. I think we can move on to the next contest, hoping you won''t still perform at this level, as that would be rather boring for us." The old man stared coldly at Storm with a sense of unwillingness to lose, He could accept the Guard Commander Nolan''s defeat, but not such an unclear loss. If he just swallowed his pride, his position would be in jeopardy. "An explanation?" A flash of disdain crossed Storm''s eyes. The world of the weak, where they can''t even see how they lost. "Perhaps, I can give you another chance." Storm''s lips bore an arrogant smile, "We elves would never ignore any request from an ally. If you''re unwilling to accept this result, I can give you another opportunity to try." Storm, tall and imposing, looked down from above at the old man who was still sitting in his seat, "Of course, if you''re still unsatisfied, we can accept one by one by one going down, until... every single person in your entire city is laid to the ground." "..." The old man gnashed his teeth and trembled slightly. The pride of the Elf Race was blatantly written on their faces; they were confident of an ultimate victory, even if they had to fight again. But admitting defeat now would mean losing this critically important first contest! Best of five rounds. They were unwilling to take on any possibility that could increase the risk of failure. "Let''s do another round." "Agree to it, Elder." "Our people have analyzed backstage the tactics used by that elf fighter. He merely caused countless subtle injuries through repeated combat, injuries even the Guard Commander Nolan failed to notice, leading to a moment of muscle relaxation! The one we send next will surely not fail!" "This is an order directly from the city lord!" The "Shadow" King. Or the Killer King. The master assassin who walks in the shadows, cleansing the city of all elements that are not easily dealt with in the open. Whether it''s a warrior of unrivaled martial prowess or a practitioner of powerful Spiritual Energy, none escape his assassination. Once he finds an opponent''s weakness, it signifies the impending death of that opponent. Perhaps some might escape "Death" once, but no one survives an undertaking from the "Shadow" King. ... The contest that was supposed to be decided in a single round somehow had a second chance. Shamelessness is always better than a true defeat. Moreover, since these elves were so arrogant, they deserved to suffer for their pride! Chapter 654 - 654: 495 Lose lose lose! Observing the figure clad in a black robe, standing motionless like a wraith without a shadow on the field, Yue Ying''s eyes reflected a flicker of interest, "This one is somewhat interesting..." But that was all ¨C just a bit of interest... This human had touched upon the threshold of the "path", but there was still a significant gap between him and Zoro, who was truly on the "pathway". Hopefully, with the aid of the Human Gene Optimization Solution, he could show a little more of something... Unfortunately, he did not. The highly anticipated "King of Shadows" had barely been in the fight for a minute before he was almost sent flying into the audience seats by a weighty punch from an Elf warrior, reminiscent of a black sack filled with junk. The "King of Shadows," an expert in the art of assassination, performed poorly in this head-to-head confrontation; aside from his initial explosive burst of speed, his performance was even less impressive than that of Guard Commander Nolan. Easily defeated by Zoro. The arena fell as silent as death; the audience was comprised entirely of humans. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Being defeated consecutively by the same person in a contest against another race felt like a slap to every human face present. Hot and stinging, none dared to utter a sound. "How about it? Shall we continue?" the Elf''s proud voice floated lightly, "If you''re not convinced, our warrior can fight a third match. If I may be so bold, the first two matches might not have even been a warm-up for him." The face of the old man in charge twitched uncontrollably, feeling as if his dignity was being ground into the dirt beneath someone''s heel. ''How could we lose like this?!'' With no power to retaliate! In consideration of the human audience''s feelings, the second match had openly strengthened surveillance on the scene to prevent the use of Spiritual Energy for cheating. Numerous high-definition cameras captured every angle without blind spots, and even after dissecting the footage frame-by-frame at high speed, no signs of foul play could be found. Simply outmatched, with no excuses to be made. "Accept his challenge!" "Have another match!" "We''re definitely sure this time." came the voice from the headset of the think-tank, what is a face worth, so long as you can win? However, the old man''s face turned ashen as he responded firmly, "No need for another match! Let''s move on to the next event!" The Elves, a race that values the development of elites due to their small numbers, naturally have formidable individual strength, but science requires extensive practical application to be verified. All top scholars are the product of immense resources, which the Elf Race, due to their limited conditions, simply cannot afford. Only humans have access to such fertile ground. There would surely be no problem in the next round of technological competition! The humans admitted defeat in the first match. "So, did you see it clearly?" Yue Ying asked Bai E softly from the stands. "...Not quite certain." Bai E shook his head. The pathway exhibited by the Elf warriors was indeed extraordinary, requiring no energy consumption, relying solely on their formidable comprehension. If there was even a slight deadlock, those who integrate their understanding into their craft would inevitably win. It was a bit... like when his own specialization in light weapons reached level 7, unlocking the skill "Absolute Mastery", which then evolved into "Flow State". Himself with "Flow State" activated and himself without it were on two completely different levels of combat ability. "If you were to try, do you think you could manage?" Yue Ying asked curiously again. "I don''t know." The two human contenders sent out earlier were indeed strong. With the restriction of not unleashing Spiritual Energy indefinitely, even matching their level was questionable, let alone challenging the Elf warrior. Sure enough, compared to these Elves who treated their craft as everything, humans still lacked depth in their technical studies. "But if we really need to try, I guess I could give it a shot," he mused. Soon, the next round began ¡ª the competition between scholars was underway. Two specially designed weapons appeared on the field... The technological competition was not about comparing the ultimate core technologies of the two races; that would be meaningless, even devoid of the concept of winning or losing. The agreed upon methods of competition were twofold: one option was to present a creation with a single core technology and see who could replicate the other''s creation more quickly; the other option was to collaboratively solve a technologically advanced puzzle created by the AIs and adapt it for use by humans/Elves. In the end, the first option was chosen. Whoever replicated it much faster would naturally be the victor, but if the times were close... It would come down to the level of replication achieved by both sides. The Elves provided a device called the "Spirit Dart Gun", a type of firearm that typically only Elf Race members could use. Humans, upon taking hold of it, would find no trigger. Called a gun, yet without a trigger, its method of attack was not so different from human firearm systems, except it fired a special conversion of half-energy, half-solid projectiles called "Spirit Darts". These projectiles hardly deviated en route, hit precisely where aimed, and even came without recoil. Knowing just a few tricks, even a naive Elf child or an old and frail elder could use it with ease and exhibit considerable combat effectiveness. As for humans... they presented the recently developed High-Frequency Oscillating Cutting Blade. This technology was also new to humans. Without sufficient funds, Elves did not prioritize this form of technology in their beliefs and certainly hadn''t researched it. Chapter 655 - 655: 495 Lose lose lose!_2 The technologies offered by both races contained a certain level of technical content, yet they weren''t exactly critical. If the object given was too simple, the opponent could easily replicate it, and wouldn''t it still be a loss for oneself? If the technology involved was too advanced, though it was called a competition, wouldn''t the technology learned in the process simply become one''s own afterward? Technological competition is such that even if one loses, as long as one can learn a bit of the opponent''s core technology, the game is worth playing, for the answer lies within the question itself. In fact, the choice of items for the competition already tested both sides'' understanding of knowledge and their analytical judgment of each other. "Let''s begin then," the old man said expressionlessly to the Elf designated Storm not far away. The Elves'' arrogance was almost palpable, and at this point, there was no need for any superficial politeness between the two sides. "Sure, let''s get started," Storm said with a smile and a nod, looking at his fellow Elves and the human scholars who had entered the arena. Helen was an absolutely pure researcher, immersed in Bai E''s "Miniaturized Kinetic Theory" and "Fission Field Generator"; she had no time to participate in what she considered a trivial contest. The representative for humanity was another scholar from the Scientific Research Institute. His status in the Institute was not as high as Helen''s, so he always hoped to do more for the city to earn a greater share of resources. But as he studied the "Spirit Dart Gun" before him for a moment, he began to sweat profusely. Was this device truly something humans could interact with? Without anyone to explain it to him, he found it very difficult to understand how it even operated. Looking at the sleek, seamless barrel with its uniquely Elven aesthetic, he felt a sense of disintegration and cluelessness. His spiritual energy tentacles reached out, attempting to communicate with the gun''s will... or rather, its spiritual energy module. But with little effect. "Racial Lock!" Only an Elf''s spiritual energy frequency could successfully connect to the control module of the Spirit Dart Gun! Such base and petty Elves! Fortunately, our "High-Frequency Oscillating Cutting Blade"... also has a supremely complex factorial password lock that requires computation to unlock. Hehe! The competition between scholars lies in the understanding of knowledge and the ability to break the other''s technological seals. An invisible battle of wits may lack a visual spectacle, but it can be just as thrilling and terrifying. ''Come on!'' ''You must win!'' sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Watching their own human Scientific Research Institute scholar, many spectators couldn''t help but silently cheer from below. Elf designated Storm indifferently retracted his gaze and looked to his side, "Just waiting like this seems like such a waste of time, doesn''t it?" "Oh?" the old man raised his eyebrows slightly, "Do you have a better suggestion?" "No great suggestions, but I just think it''s pointless to waste time like this. If they spend a day, two days, or three researching, are we supposed to just keep waiting?" "You mean we should proceed directly to the next competition?" Elf Storm nodded slightly, the smile on his face composed yet subtly laced with disdain, "Exactly." The old man glanced at the stage, knowing that technological research indeed couldn''t yield results in a short period, even if the technology provided by the other side wasn''t particularly complex. So, he turned to look at the Elf Storm, "Then just as you wish, let''s proceed with the next competition simultaneously." "Let''s do it together... After all, they do not conflict with each other, do they?" The remaining competitions included... the Spiritual Energy wielders who command the secrets, the Demon Hunters, and, the legions of both sides. Aside from the preparation required for the battle between the legions of both sides, the other competitions could proceed at the same time. After all, whether it''s the Spiritual Energy wielders researching the truths of higher dimensions or the Demon Hunters, their main battlefield lies within that mysterious and unpredictable high-dimensional space, having no intersection with the ongoing technological research. "Together, then let''s do it together." The old man''s voice was steady, displaying an unfathomable composure. Since all the competitions had to be held, might as well have them all at once. ... "They all lost?" "They all lost!" "Those incompetents! Who on earth did they pick?" The results of the various dimensional competitions were ultimately, and indisputably, announced to the ears of every human who knew of the event. At once, many among the audience were filled with fury towards the city officials who had overseen the meeting of the two races. The results of the technological competition''s analysis of the Elf "Spirit Dart Guns" were indeed out, and the research Scholar had the confidence that humans would eventually master this Elf technology entirely, ensuring that each captured Spirit Dart Gun could be jailbroken into a human version. But time waits for no one. The Spirit Dart Gun he replicated remained in a semi-finished state, while the opponent had already brought out a complete High-Frequency Oscillating Cutting Blade, stating plainly that this device was much more practical than the Elf Race''s katana, though a bit power-hungry... They hoped the humans could offer a matching energy solution, not to be unappreciative. "It seems that your people are not very convinced, eh?" The male Elf Storm said with a proud smile, "Don''t say I didn''t give you a chance, continuously repeating the competition is indeed quite pointless. How about this, if you can win one battle against us in the final legion war, then we wouldn''t mind giving you another chance to start over, how does that sound?" Looking at the man shorter than himself, the male Elf Storm''s face wore a smile that spoke of overwhelming superiority, "I wonder... do you wish to lose completely with dignity, or are you willing to repeat the same outcome over and over again? I am very curious about your current thoughts..." "You will know the answer," the old man said, looking at the Elf Storm, the fury in his eyes almost uncontrollable. "So for the final battle, will your General Bai E take action? Why keep him hidden, what''s your intention?" The Elf Storm asked with curiosity. "That''s none of your business!" The old man said with a cold expression before turning to leave. The competition had already been going on for three days, and the legion battle was definitely not happening today. At the late-night city mini-council, representatives from various factions were making their impassioned speeches. "We must win! We cannot accept the demands and intentions that those Elves have expressed during these past few days!" the Logistics Department minister said, gesticulating wildly, adamantly refusing to yield. "Since those arrogant Elves are so presumptuous, then why don''t we try once more?!" "Try once more? To be thoroughly crushed by them in front of everyone again? I can''t think of anyone else we could send to face them in these competitions!" "For Scholars, we have Helen; we could even ask the Institute Director; as for Spiritual Energy wielders, we can invite the Supreme Elder; Demon Hunters could let the Judge himself take action, and for warriors..." "Enough! Their choices are clearly just their race''s backbone! What, just because they showed a little skill, we should gamble away all our assets? Can''t we stomach a loss?" "Don''t forget, gentlemen, even if you want another chance to fight, we must first win the final legion battle!" "Have you considered who to send for the legion battle?" "Let''s go with General Bai E! With him there, there''s no surprise. This is his domain, having entered and exited the Bug Race''s nests seven times, I believe a mere band of roaming beastmen will certainly be a pushover." "But today, the opponent asked again if we would send General Bai E to fight in the last battle... I''m afraid..." "After these days of interaction, in my view, while the Elves are arrogant, their words and actions are mostly sincere; they might just truly want to witness General Bai E''s strength. In my opinion, we should''ve let General Bai E take part from the first battle, even if it was the one against the Demon Hunters, with Bai E fighting, we wouldn''t lose! I don''t know why you''ve kept him hidden all this time!" "Why?" Aglaya said with a cold, disdainful voice, "Because some people are afraid." Chapter 656 - 656: 496 Fugitive Beastmen Someone sighed softly, "General Bai E, he is ultimately a man-made being..." Mutants are not considered human, but man-made beings are? "Furthermore, I think everyone could also consider this¡ªif there were to be another chance, we would have to rely on which candidates to win the competition against the Elf Race." "Let me put it this way, whoever helps the city win this competition against the Elf Race, I won''t care whether they are man-made beings or not. Even if it''s one of those disorderly battle groups from underground, if someone among them can win these competitions. The right to speak that they deserve will be granted. After all, this boundary is something you all have deliberately created." ... While cultivating his Spiritual Energy, Bai E suddenly received a summons from Aglaya. When it truly involved matters that were not suitable for the knowledge of many, even Bai E, the highest commander of the Military Department in Weslin''s absence, was not entitled to participate. She was looking for him now, likely because the results of the higher-ups'' discussions had come out. The agreed upon best-of-five was already four victories to their opponent; the outcome of the competition was predetermined. But the very notion of competition was meant to foster friendship between both sides, so there was a necessity to complete it. That was how Bai E saw it... That she came looking for him specifically now probably meant that they had decided he would be the one to participate in the final battle, or else there would be no reason for her to seek him out privately. Having prepared himself mentally, Bai E then heard Aglaya say with a serious expression, "The last match, we must win." Bai E, whose face usually showed no emotion, showed a trace of astonishment and voiced his confusion, "Hmm?" Having already lost to such an extent, were they still afraid of one more defeat? Or perhaps those bigwigs thought that winning at least one out of five matches would salvage some dignity, despite the defeat? Hmm... That was indeed a reasonable line of thought. Aglaya explained, "If you win, we will have the chance to do it all over again. Those elves look down on us with arrogance unmatched, preferring to give us more opportunities just to trample our dignity underfoot. The elders have unanimously agreed that we must win this competition against the Elf Race. If we don''t thoroughly defeat those elves, even if we reach an agreement of cooperation, we are still worthless in their eyes. Dignity is only found at the edge of a sword! Do you have confidence?" "Should be..." It''s just a bunch of roaming beastmen, and of course beating beastmen shouldn''t be a problem. Of course, if they had better luck and ran into the beastmen head-on, then there was nothing that could be done. "Not ''should be''! We must win!" Aglaya''s eyes were earnest, "Winning this one match gives us the chance to contest the previous four! Also, from among the previous four matches, which one do you feel confident about? We are already discussing the candidates for those four." The city, although large, didn''t have many suitable mid-to-high-level candidates for this sort of occasion. Big shots like the head of the Scientific Research Institute or the Chief Judge of the Arbitration Place could certainly secure victory with ease, but as some council members had said, was it worth emptying our coffers for a casual move from the opponent''s side? If the truth were to be known afterward, wouldn''t they just laugh their heads off? Where would our dignity stand then? Bai E concentrated and thought seriously for a moment before responding, "Shouldn''t be a problem." ... "???" Aglaya looked puzzled and probed, "All of them?" Bai E nodded, "All." He had watched the competitions; for physical combat skills, if not adequate, then one could just train. The exploration of the Spiritual Energy realm... high-dimensional space was just like his home, utterly delightful. As for exorcism... he was quite adept as well. And technology, his weakest aspect... if it was a joint research on smart machinery, he happened to have some insight. It was worth a try. "This is no laughing matter," Aglaya stated, gazing intently into Bai E''s eyes, attempting to detect any hint of jest in the eyes of the general who had always been rigidly disciplined as a man-made being. Unfortunately, there was none. For a moment, Aglaya didn''t know whether to feel disappointed or relieved. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Relieved that Bai E was confident, but disappointed that he wanted to try in all fields¡ªsurely they couldn''t let him win them all, right? It meant that Bai E''s confidence... wasn''t all that certain. Bai E nodded again, more firmly, "I think it''s no problem!" "..." Looking into Bai E''s complex gaze, Aglaya after a long moment finally nodded slightly before saying, "Alright, I understand. For now, just secure the last match. If you win, we''ll talk about the rest." "No problem!" Bai E said, once again exuding the reliability of a soldier, "Mission guaranteed!" ... The next morning, as the sun began to rise, everyone gathered on the military''s training field. Under the milky white sunlight, two groups of combatants were ready. On the human army side stood an entire company of ??a hundred men, solemn and resolute. The elves had twelve nimble-looking warriors, each beside a particularly streamlined and aesthetically pleasing motorcycle. "Death or capture or complete annihilation of that band of beastmen wandering around the outskirts of the city, posing a significant threat to our people outside, that''s your objective. Whoever completes the goal first will be deemed the winner." Standing in front of both the elf and human troops, an explainer jointly appointed by the elves and humans detailed the key points of this competition. Since it''s a test of so-called "army formation" capabilities, it''s not just about the ability to face off head-on. Moreover, having two races about to collaborate battle it out for real would be rather impolite, wouldn''t it? Chapter 657 - 657: 496 Fugitive Beastmen_2 To ensure fairness, the target could only be an outsider. And since it was an army, abilities such as tracking, scouting, and encircling should be fundamental. Humans were numerous, hence they could dispatch more personnel, which was more suited for carpet-style searches, yet assembling them could be a bit troublesome. Elves were few but had strong mobility advantages; they could come and go as they pleased, but when it came to encircling, they easily let the target escape. Each had its strengths and weaknesses. "Additionally, from beginning to end, you will all be equipped with surveillance devices; if all the monitoring equipment is damaged, that will also be counted as a loss, understand?" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since it was an outdoor combat mission, casualties were inevitable. Monitors were necessary on both sides to prevent either from going mad and using any means necessary to win. Bai E, leading the team, responded loudly, "Understood!" The elf next door glanced over at Bai E not far away and also responded indifferently, "Understood." Humans were humans; they only knew how to rely on numbers. Useless trash, no matter how many, was still trash. A useful elite was a War God even if alone. "If everyone''s ready... then let''s set off." The old man and the Elf Storm stood on the high Point Soldier Platform, watching the well-prepared teams from both sides, smiling and nodding their approval. The Elf Storm blinked at the old man, saying with a smile, "I hope this isn''t our last competition, and I hope your humans still have the courage to send warriors again." The old man smirked coldly, "You''ll see." The other side could only see their human forces'' bloated organization, but were completely unaware that in truth, only General Bai E needed to make a full effort. Orcs, after all, General Bai E could chop them all down with his Mecha, right? If firearms and vehicles were part of the equipment, why couldn''t Mecha be part of it? This is our human mechanized army! Do you understand? Wait a minute! Where''s the Mecha? Why did they just leave without it? Hey! General Bai! You forgot the Mecha! Watching the figure leading the team away, kicking up a cloud of dust, the man on the platform was somewhat bewildered. Where''s the Mecha? What about the promised Mecha? "What''s going on with General Bai E?" The old man suddenly turned his head, glaring fiercely at someone behind him. Considering there were other races present, he moderated his tone and asked through gritted teeth. "I don''t know." "Oh~ General Bai E said he didn''t need the Mecha," the person replied. "He said it was inconvenient in the field and only useful in large-scale trench warfare." "Audacious! Who allowed him to ignore the plan?" Wasn''t the original plan to assign him a hundred scouts to find orc trails and then have Bai E directly take down the target with the Mecha, straightforwardly settling the matter? And now... what now? "But General Bai E is currently the highest commander of the military district..." replied the person, blinking and responding somewhat bewilderedly. In military operations, shouldn''t you listen to the most professional person among a group of professionals? There was nothing they could do to forcibly override the arrangements made by General Bai E. "..." All right, all right! The old man clenched his teeth, glowering fiercely at the gradually disappearing dust cloud. If I lose this contest, then this so-called artificial human warrior should just honestly go be a front-line grunt! As expected of my prejudice against artificial humans, these inferior beings should never be entrusted with important tasks! ... As soon as the army left the gate, Bai E casually took out his personal motorcycle and handed over command of the battalion to Zero, who had been following him all along. In the squad, You was not adept at giving strong commands to everyone, Rose had to coordinate with Helen and hadn''t even shown up, Stony was just a simpleton, leaving only Zero to take on some responsibility. "Do well, and let''s see whether you find those beastmen first or we do," Bai E said with a chuckle, patting Zero on the shoulder, then twisted the throttle and shot out like an arrow. There wasn''t much difference between his plans and those so-called big shots had arranged¡ªthe main force in capturing the roaming beastmen was still himself. The only difference was that they wanted him to pilot a mecha, and he didn''t feel like it. The only specialty I currently have mastered to the "Heartflow" level is light weapons; the rest are not yet there. In a battle between martial artists, both sides have a chance to ban and choose, testing their multifaceted abilities. The Guard Commander''s bout with Zoro was about pure physical combat, whereas the Shadow King''s match with Zoro was about agile weapons. If my light weapons were banned by the opponent, then I''d have to leave it to luck to decide what we would compete in. Having an extra option is always better than relying on luck. [Current Combat Mastery Experience 212/5500. At 5500 points, "Level 7 Combat Specialization" can be mastered. (Note: Auxiliary skill tree (second order) unlocks at specialization level 7.)] [Reminder: Your current specialization level has reached the limit of a mortal''s physique. Until your abilities surpass the physical limits, it will be hard to make further progress. To continue improving your specialization level, you need to enhance your physical and reflex attributes to exceed 15 points.] [Insight]: 18.3/24 [Reflex]: 16.5/24 With his attributes meeting the standards, Bai E directly added points. ["Level 8 Combat Specialization" acquired, along with 2 potential points.] (Accumulative) [Combat Specialization (Level 8): Strike Power +16%, Dodge +8%, Block +8%, Combo (Special) +8, Enhanced Guard (Special) +350%, Opportunity (Special) +14%, Joint Lock (Special) +140%, Interception (Special) +30%, Pressure Point (Special) +6%, Whip Tail (Special) +6.] [Current Combat Mastery Experience 0/30000. At 30000 points, "Level 9 Combat Specialization" can be mastered.] [Detection: The character currently has Combat Specialization (Level 8). Based on the character''s current mastery of all tactical features, the Second-Order Improvement Skill Tree (Random Pool) unlocks: Absolute Mastery, Mastery Downlink.] [Unlock Requirement: 10000 General/Combat Experience (cost doubles for each additional skill unlocked at the same level), 4 potential points (fixed).] With ample experience, the main thing to do is to be bold, and apply it directly. [Payment: 4 potential points, 10000 combat experience points.] [Skill acquired¡ªAbsolute Mastery.] [Absolute Mastery: From now on, every time you engage in unarmed combat, you will enhance your understanding of both the combat and yourself. When fighting barehanded, you can gradually strengthen your self-awareness and combat capabilities as your proficiency increases. Base bonus: Strike Power +10%.] [Current Boxing Proficiency 0/1000, "Personal Style" in the making...] The newly acquired skill urgently needed the blood of prey to be sharpened; the skill was already added, and he was just waiting to awaken it with the blood of beastmen. This time seeking out beastmen was precisely to get some practice first. ... Above the wilderness, a group of wandering beastmen were huffing and puffing, bustling with noise. A slightly lean beastman stood beside his boss, gazing together in a certain direction. He knew that in the unseen distance lay the place his boss wanted to conquer most right now! "Scarface, do you reckon I can finally take down that fellow?" asked Dagger-Tooth, sweeping his hand over the throng of beastmen kids in front of him, his thick lips curling upward, "I''ve already subdued the nearby tribes, ''bout time I had another go at him, right?" "Of course! Our boss is the toughest!" a youngster nearby immediately responded with a slow, deep voice, fervently echoing, "Boss is invincible!" "Boss is invincible!" The chant spread like a tide, and visibly, Dagger-Tooth''s muscles swelled a bit more in the air. "Not enough!" Feeling the real power filling his body, Dagger-Tooth still felt a lingering pain on his shoulder from the scar left by their first encounter. He''d thought the opponent''s archery was his strongest ability, but the second time they met, he was still beaten black and blue. Memories may blur, but the body''s genes never forget. Chapter 658 - 658: 497 Intelligence error? "Boss! Boss! Our boys have spotted some ''vroom vroom vroom'' bean sprouts!" The grinning Knife-face Orc turned his head when he heard the report from his subordinate, "But their ''vroom vroom vroom'' lacks power, not waaagh enough!" "Oh?" The smile on Knife-face Orc''s face immediately bloomed as he looked at Scar beside him, "I remember you saying your tribe had many young ones killed by a bean sprout, right?" "Yeah, yeah! That bean sprout was fierce, we just wanted one of her teeth, and she slaughtered most of us. Bad bean sprout!" Knife-face Orc moved his mouth, the thick muscles around his lips exaggeratedly writhing before he suddenly spat to the side, "tui!" A blob of thick spit directly made a big pit in the ground, and Knife-face Orc, clutching his blood-dripping, bone-covered machete, strode off in the direction his subordinate had indicated, "Let''s go, let''s see what these bean sprouts are all about!" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Deafening roars came from beneath Knife-face Orc''s behind as a colorful, spiky, orc-customized motorcycle belched two thick trails of dark smoke, leaving the faces of the few orc youngsters playing behind blackened. With a bang, the motorcycle shot out fiercely, the raging roars and howling wind making Knife-face Orc extremely exhilarated, and he couldn''t help but shout at the top of his lungs, "waaaaaagh!" The sound trailed away in the distance, and the large group of orcs left behind all raised their varied weapons to the sky, "waaaagh!" Under the endless cries, an invisible force field wrapped around both Knife-face Orc and the motorcycle, momentarily increasing their speed by a third as they kicked up a sandstorm several meters high. ... Upon seeing the rapidly approaching sand dragon at the end of the plain, the three elves riding their motorcycles slowed down a bit. "Those orcs have discovered us." One elf said with a stern face, his eyes focused. Some orc youngsters on motorcycles had seen them from a distance earlier, but those youngsters were apparently trained in some tactics. Their group scattered in all directions after spotting them, fleeing in different directions, evidently to go back and report. They had chased one of them for half a day, only to find they were being led on a wild goose chase across the wilderness, and their large force had probably already received the message. When they finally broke away and caught up with another track, they ran right into the scene before them. "Looks like... just one?" The rising sandstorm filled the sky, but there was only one trail. Was it another biker trying to lead them away from finding the orc troops, or... something else? "Doesn''t matter," another elf said coldly, pulling out his Spiritual Energy dart gun from beside his motorcycle, "Catch him, and it''s all solved." The orc youngster they had followed earlier had run too fast, they couldn''t catch up, and they couldn''t get any new information while trailing him, so they had to give up. Although the motorcycles ridden by the orcs were noisy and crazily bumpy, looking like they could fall apart at any moment, they just didn''t, and they were incredibly fast. Yet the biker who had been sending out thunderous roars from afar seemed to be heading straight for them, and they might be able to catch him. "Vroom vroom vroom!" The motorcycle roared all the way, the earthy yellow sand dust mingling with a black twister. Like a shark cruising through the sea of sand, its dorsal fin breaking the waves on the ground and charging straight towards them. Undiminished in momentum! The elf holding the gun in one hand and the motorcycle handle in the other had a fierce look in his eyes, and the motorcycle underneath him began to tremble lightly, ready to dodge at any moment. The orc-customized bikes were highly aggressive, with bodies and tires filled with steel spikes that posed grave danger¡ªif struck head-on by that thing, it definitely wouldn''t be pleasant. "Boom!" A colorful motorcycle suddenly burst from the dust, and the elf in its path reacted instantly, his motorcycle, directly linked with his Spiritual Energy, shooting out like an arrow and evading a potentially deadly collision. However, even with his swift reaction, he hadn''t expected that from atop the buzzing, oversized motorcycle, a large hand would stretch out in an instant and grab the elf by his slender waist. Feeling the surprisingly tough sensation in his hand, Knife-face Orc''s face revealed a cruel smile, and with a squeeze, a "crack" sound was heard as agony surged onto the elf''s face, yet he no longer had the time to dwell on the pain. "Snap!" Casually tossing aside the lightweight bean sprout in his hand, Knife-face Orc looked towards the other two elves on motorcycles, his eyes a little puzzled, "Just two?" The thick-lipped gruff voice sounded silly and simple-minded. Weren''t those brats saying there were several? And so feeble, no fun at all! Looking at the super-sized orc that had easily crushed one of their own, dark fear began creeping into the eyes of the two elves, now scattered to the left and right. Could an orc really have this level of strength? They, who lived in the wilderness year-round, had had their fair share of encounters with orcs, but among those they had dealt with, there was never an orc this formidable. They were the Hunting Team, tasked with this mission, and though their strength might not compare to those within the tribe on the path of the warrior, they were certainly skilled fighters in their tribe. Chapter 659 - 659: 497 Intelligence error?_2 Apart from the team leader, who was also a hunter on the path, the remaining eleven members were all more or less on the same level. Yet at that moment, one of their kin was easily crushed by the opponent, unable to fight back. What if the enemy was coming for them next? "We need to notify the captain quickly!" Two elves exchanged glances, communicating their will through spiritual energy. "I''ll draw his attention, you go inform the captain! We can''t take this beastman lightly; he''s no ordinary foe!" In just an instant, the two elves had arranged their respective duties. The elf who decided to stay gripped the spirit dart gun in their hands and fired at the terrifying figure, whose size was several times that of an ordinary beastman. "Whizz!" The will connected directly to the spirit dart gun channeled spiritual energy, which was transformed into some kind of spindle-shaped photon dart by the unique construction within the weapon. There was no sound and no recoil, ignoring air resistance and gravity, it shot straight towards the aimed part. However, such an attack was almost no threat to Dao Mianliao. He merely lifted his hand, and the machete he held blocked the path of the spirit dart, deflecting it effortlessly. The speed of the spirit dart may have surpassed Dao Mianliao''s reflexes, but the elf holding the gun could not. But as long as they could make the opponent expend energy to block, it would create a chance for their comrades to escape. "Whizz, whizz, whizz!" The firing rate of the spirit dart gun was also remarkable. The structure of the weapon itself and the will of the user acted as factors limiting the spirit dart gun, but its firing rate was not too different from that of a human''s semi-automatic rifle. Dao Mianliao''s gaze swept over the elf fleeing on a motorcycle but did not make an effort to intercept. The Elf Race was rare in number, so they treated every member of their race as precious. As long as he captured the elf at hand, the rest would come to him on their own. Therefore, with a cruel smile, he twisted the throttle of his motorcycle, charging toward the direction of the elf who had stayed to hinder him. To say hinder, but the elves were not so foolish as to stay in one place waiting for death. If it was difficult to catch a beastman on a motorcycle, did that mean it would be easy for a beastman to catch them, the elves? Neither side had any pressing burdens to protect; on this boundless wilderness, wasn''t it all about running wild? Yet the elf could never have imagined that the seemingly simple beastman who blocked the spirit darts with his knife simultaneously launched a treacherously small dark shadow, hidden behind the machete in his hand. "Whizz!" The knife thrown by the beastman had immense power, piercing the motorcycle''s tire in an instant. With the motorcycle losing balance at high speed and even a well-trained elf finding it impossible to control, the rider was flung far away. Despite being conscious of another strong enemy, the impact scattered them widely, making it difficult to recover quickly. "Boom!" A massive foot stomped down on the struggling elf, and Dao Mianliao carefully controlled his strength while grinning cruelly at the elf, who was half-buried in the soil. "Is this all you bean sprouts can muster? I remember there is a bean sprout girl among you who is quite skilled with a knife, right? Call her out to fight with me, and if she does, I won''t kill you. How about it?" Progress! Dao Mianliao just wanted to make progress! He yearned for progress like nothing else! Only through constant progress could he have the confidence to stand before that human who had twice caused him extreme fear. "You... keep dreaming!" Despite feeling all his internal organs crushed together under the pressure and gasping for breath, the elf still managed to respond with a retort. "Hmph!" Dao Mianliao''s mouth curled into a cold smile as a dark shadow fell from the sky. "Bang!" ¡­ Xunying received the distress signal from one of his subordinates. "Captain! Captain! The intelligence was wrong! Among those orcs, there''s a tough big guy, Kolo was killed by him in just a single grip, and Roger covered my retreat to block that orc brute, he might... he might not make it back either!" "What! The intelligence was wrong!?" "Those humans deceived us!" "They knew these orcs were tough to deal with, the humans wanted to use us to take out this group of orcs!" "It''s also possible they wanted to use these orcs to take us out! If they had the ability to deal with these orcs, they would have acted already, why would they just happen to leave it until our contest now? These cunning humans!" The team members, also filled with prejudice against humans, instantly erupted in anger. What was that about this being just a typical small-scale roving orc band? Were they mocking the team''s lack of experience with genuine small-scale orc groups? In fact, they had already noticed certain clues. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Based on the various traces they had found in the wilderness so far, that so-called small-scale orc group was no longer describable as "small-scale." Perhaps it was small-scale not long ago, but through some changes within the orc ranks in the past few days, it had grown. The group of orcs they were currently tracking... was far from simple. So even the humans might not be aware of this news yet. Of course, both ''knowing and not telling'' and ''limited ability'' were not favorable terms in Xunying''s heart. However, Xunying, who had anticipated such an encounter, would not let these negative emotions interfere with his judgment. "Shh!" With a wave of his hand, Xunying silenced the complaints of his people and just looked gravely at his subordinate who had just barely escaped back, "Where did you encounter them?" Without technology like the human''s rebooted internet, which allowed for communication regardless of distance, the Elf Race coveted Blackwater City''s technology as one of their goals¡ªif they emerged victorious, it was surely a prize they would claim. In the meantime, they kept agreeing to endless contests with the humans, precisely to undermine the humans'' negotiating power time after time, in order to obtain what they truly desired. Before they could acquire human technology, their current means of communication relied on Spiritual Energy, and powerful users like the Prophet could indeed transcend time and space to send messages to their intended targets. The ordinary members of the Elf Race didn''t possess such abilities; once they exceeded a certain distance, they found it difficult to contact each other. Thus, Xunying couldn''t immediately know the direction and distance of the incident. "Over there!" the messenger pointed in the direction they had come from, "About ten or more kilometers away, not too far." Xunying made a swift decision, "Let''s go take a look." Every member of the race was vitally important, Kolo''s death was an unfortunate fact, but Roger''s death was not yet confirmed; if there was a chance, they had to rescue him! ... Under the blazing sun, the figure stripped of its clothes and tied to the top of a pole was scorched. The early spring sunshine wasn''t too intense, but the high-altitude winds howled, and the air was dry. Looking at the tribe member hanging high on the wooden flagpole, enduring torment above in the sky, Xunying clenched his white-pearl-like, silvery teeth and his eyes blazed with fury, "These despicable orcs!" The team members were filled with righteous indignation, "Captain! Let''s go and kill that group of orcs!" "The leading orc in the middle is very powerful!" The elf who escaped back was still frightened, warning cautiously. "..." Xunying''s gaze settled, locking onto the largest and most conspicuous one among the orcs, who seemed to be having a cookout. The overwhelming barbaric aura, even across a distance of a kilometer, was still palpable and aggressive. "Captain, maybe we should talk to those human armies instead, these orcs are far stronger than we anticipated. There''s been a deviation from the plan, and this contest has lost its purpose. Even opponents we find difficult, they definitely have no hope of defeating either. How about trying to collaborate with them, to see if we can rescue Roger?" One of the more clear-headed team members suggested quietly, only to be immediately rejected by Xunying, "No need!" Xunying took his Elf Longbow from behind, his eyes sharp as he issued combat orders, "Prepare the Gravity Gun, you just need to temporarily trap that big brute. The lives of those orcs... leave them to me!" Chapter 660 - 660: 498 Then Ill go take a look "Swift Wind Squad requests armory support, support target: Gravity Gun!" Xunying''s deputy was the first to use Spiritual Energy, utilizing their authorized Elf identity to initiate a remote request to some presence in the void. A certain ethereal echo in the void resonated only in the mind of the requester, "Request approved, support target is being teleported. Please ensure the teleportation target point is set up and the area cleared of debris!" "Confirmed!" "Teleportation underway..." Elf Squad formed a circle, and the deputy who had initiated the request marked the teleportation target point in the center of their formation with Spiritual Energy. And the Elf armory in that void used this as the target point to begin the Superspatial Transmission. With a giant silver gun-shaped object slowly appearing as a phantom and gradually solidifying. "Let''s begin." Leaving those words behind, Xunying advanced alone. The remaining nine Elves worked together to rotate the gun to aim in the right direction, while simultaneously adjusting their Spiritual Energy to match the waveband required by the Gravity Gun as closely as possible. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As the nine Elves infused their Spiritual Energy together, the silver gun transformed the energy into a form powerful enough to twist reality. The direction the gun''s barrel was pointing began to blur, shrouded in a mist as if engulfed by steaming vapor... Feeling the oppressive, stormy pressure that loomed from the void, the Knife-Face Orc glanced gently to the side and rear of his body without making any move. He had purposely hung the captured Elf high in the sky to lure out these hidden Elves. Otherwise, for his Orc kind, it was either to kill or toss the captive; there was no such protocol for treating prisoners. In order not to frighten the Elves, he had even brought only the weakest group of chopper boys from his subordinates to this wilderness far from their tribe. However, since the opposition still dared not show themselves directly in front of him, he might as well let those little sprouts prepare a bit more. Knife-Face Orc didn''t care, but the chopper boys laughing under his command didn''t have his strength and awareness. Those with sharper senses among them felt the inexplicable oppressive force in an instant and cautiously scanned their surroundings. The silver silhouette of the gigantic Gravity Gun set up by the Elves only a kilometer away surely couldn''t escape their gaze. And in an instant, they pointed in that direction and began to hop up and down with loud "huff huff hah hah" sounds. But before they could react in any way that affected the situation, the pressure solidified in an instant, and a mountainous force descended upon them. Every limb, even every cell in their bodies, groaned insanely and uncontrollably sank toward the ground beneath their feet. Almost simultaneously with this force''s arrival on each Orc, the whistling of cutting wind struck from afar. Even before the attack arrived, the sharp chill, like a blade grazing the skin, was chilling. "Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Arrows shot forth like rain, and those marked by Spiritual Energy to be exempt from the Gravity Field''s effect passed through the affected area without losing any force and unaffected. "Thud thud thud~" The sound of arrows piercing flesh rang out, and even the tough Orcs were easily penetrated by the arrows, pinned to the ground, struggling to move. The penetrating force of the arrows might have been fatal for humans, but for Orc physiology, such small puncture wounds were not a problem. The real issue was the extraordinary gravity imposed upon them that completely pinned their limbs to the ground, making it difficult even to lift a finger, let alone pull out the arrows that nailed them down. The green bodies trying to struggle on the ground looked like a bunch of writhing tentacled mutant octopuses, with only the figure at the very center remaining resolutely still, facing the arrows shooting down like rain without dodging, catching them all. Soon, he was turned into a porcupine. But not much time had passed. The Gravity Gun was already enhancing the weapon at maximum capacity for the members of the Elf Squad. But even with the level of Spiritual Energy of these elves, such a weapon couldn''t be sustained for long. As the nine members of the Elf Squad maintaining the energy output of the Gravity Gun began to turn pale and show signs of trembling, the extraordinary Gravity Field that had covered the Orcs'' area dissipated into nothingness. "Waaaagh!" "Waaaagh!" The group of chopper boys, suppressed for a while, started to cry out again. Their kind was naturally immune to being defeated by pain or injury unless their limbs were completely shattered. As long as the main body of their limbs was intact, these Orcs retained their maximum vitality. But that was all. Each Orc had been hit by at least several arrows piercing their core bodies, releasing quite a bit of Primordial Fungal Soup essential for life. Apart from their voices, they didn''t have much ability to move. Watching the Orcs pinned all over the ground regain some vitality the moment the Gravity Field vanished, a serious glint flashed in Xunying''s eyes. These chopper boys Orcs hadn''t died, but they had also lost the ability to fight. Just a spark would be enough to consume them. But if these chopper boys Orcs hadn''t died, what about the biggest one of them all? Chapter 661 - 661: 498 Then Ill go take a look_2 From beginning to end, there was never a hint of resistance from the other side. Was he shot dead on the spot without any warning? Or was there simply no reaction to her attack at all? No! It wasn''t without reaction! The diminishing life force after the injury was quite apparent in her perception, and for someone who specialized in the art of hunting like her, this was a change that only appeared in beasts when they were seriously injured. Not to mention that some of the arrows shot at this big fellow were poisoned. Those toxins could easily kill several mutated giant elephants, so they couldn''t be completely ineffective against this orc. Xunying''s gaze moved upward, looking at the figure of her tribesman tied to the tall pole, her cold eyes flashing with a touch of gentleness. Even if the enemy intended to lure them in with this, one had to admit that he had achieved his purpose. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they wanted to rescue Roger, they had no choice but to get closer. Xunying drew the slender katana strapped to her waist, her boots stepping with a quick and elegant pace, rapidly approaching the adversary. The swift, shadowy light of the blade swept across, and a spiky machete suddenly appeared in front of the blade at some unknown moment. "Ding!" Following the crisp clashing sound, the machete wielder with arrows all over his body turned his head, grinned at the elf who finally dared to approach, and said, "I''ve finally been waiting for you." As the machete wielder stood up, the arrows embedded all over his body were squeezed out of his flesh by the contracting muscles, and his body, which indeed had been weakened, rapidly recovered under the transformation of the fungal potion within him. Feeling the swift restoration of the orc''s vitality right before her, Xunying knew the fight could not be delayed. The enemy had used his own serious injuries to lure her into the fight, which could very well turn into a death trap set aside for her. She must take him down before he could fully recover! As long as she could seize this opportunity! "Swoosh swoosh swoosh!" The fierce light of the katana danced around, and Xunying''s lithe figure quickly circled the immense body of the machete wielder. "Ding ding ding ding!" A series of metallic sounds of striking against each other crisply spread through the air. The machete wielder did his best to shield himself and was not planning on using his powerful body to withstand the strikes head-on. Battling such skilled opponents was the perfect moment to strengthen his own skills. Only through constant combat could he improve his skills and one day have the chance to stand before that human again! However, how could the huge machete wielder keep up with Xunying''s speed? Flesh and blood fell from his body with each slice of the blade, imbued with Spiritual Energy. For Xunying, who often had to lead hunting parties in the tribe, there was no wild beast she hadn''t encountered. The one before her now was simply another beast that happened to look like a human! In the blink of an eye, a sly glint flashed in the machete wielder''s eyes as he crossed blades with Xunying. "Bang!" A heavy and sinister kick swept out from the shadow of the huge machete, catching Xunying off guard and sending her flying dozens of meters away. The slim figure spilled a trail of crimson blood midair, but before it could land, a huge noise erupted from the ground as an even larger body sped to her landing spot to wait. "Boom!" Just as Xunying touched the ground, without any time to react, her entire body was smashed into the ground by a punch from the machete wielder. As he lifted his fist, it was covered in fresh, blood-soaked flesh. Holding up the limp body of the scrawny victim before him, the machete wielder let out a cold laugh, "I thought I was facing some formidable sprout..." Saying that, his eyes casually glanced at several other elves in the distance, who seemed somewhat unsteady on their feet due to controlling the Gravity Guns. Needless to say, the elf he had captured was the most formidable among them. And the most formidable was usually the most important. "If I leave this little bean sprout behind, could I lure more bean sprouts? There must be some formidable expert among them, right?" The blade-faced beastman rotated his cunning eyes, pondering secretly. Thus, he gently loosened the grip of his hand to prevent crushing the even more formidable little bean sprout to death. "Tui!" Sensing the blade-faced beastman''s intention, Xunying, whose slender waist was held in his palm, suddenly spat a mouthful of bloodstained saliva onto his opponent''s eyes. "Kill me!" Even while heavily wounded, the feeble voice was still filled with valor. The beastman in front of him was incredibly strong; even Zoro, who followed the path of a warrior within his tribe, could not overpower him so swiftly. Not to mention the rest of the tribe''s beastman brats¡ªif his own people wanted to rescue him, who knows what price they would have to pay. Every member of the Elf Race was certainly important, but if the danger was too great and too clear, there was no need to risk more of his fellow beings! The blade-faced beastman nonchalantly wiped the saliva off his face; the saliva of an elven lady was fragrant, like the grace of dew enjoyed in the soil... "I am certainly not going to kill you." Holding the severely wounded Xunying in one hand, he turned and strode away, ignoring both the lesser toughs still nailed to the ground and the nine skinny bean sprouts in the distance. Fight! Fight! It was either fighting or on the way to a fight. Charging into human cities guarded by heavy artillery and getting blasted to bits held no appeal; beastmen craved the battle where fist met flesh. Hopefully, the bean sprouts who wanted the news would send some formidable figures over, or else the battle would be rather unsatisfying! ... "Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble!" The faint rumble of motorcycles echoed from afar, and the group of elves who were riding their motorcycles with heads hung low and at full speed instantly perked up their pointed ears. "Someone''s coming!" "That''s not the sound of those beastmen''s bikes." The beastmen''s bike engines were more aggressive, distinctly loud and obvious in the wilderness. This sound was from humans! "It must be the human military squad competing with us this time." "What do we do?" The deputy''s eyes showed hesitation but he spoke up nonetheless, "Let''s get closer and give them a heads-up." They had planned to return to the city and report to the Prophet about that band of beastmen. The strength of that band of beastmen had been unexpectedly formidable; their team leader had almost no chance to retaliate before being captured, rendering this competition meaningless in their eyes. Yet the human military force, a potential future ally, was still uninformed; if their main forces collided head-on, those savage beastmen would likely not treat the humans as they did the elves. Still possessing a bit of pity, the deputy decided.They naturally didn''t argue much. With their own leader captured and their morale shattered, they had lost interest in any petty disputes with the humans. Moreover, it was just a warning, which wouldn''t take much time. The deputy, joining up with others, looked with surprise at the lone figure approaching on a motorcycle. "Just you alone? Where are your men?" He recognized the solitary figure on the motorcycle, the army general who represented the humans in this contest. Since when did their human generals dare to abandon their main forces and act alone? "They''re behind. I came ahead to scout," Bai E replied calmly with a smile, his gaze sweeping over their somewhat disheveled appearance and asked curiously, "You... seem to be missing three people?" Bai E''s words pained the proud elves, and two of them glared at him, ready to speak harshly. But they were stopped by a gesture from the deputy; he wasn''t upset, only languidly pointed in the direction they came from, "Things have changed with this mission. The leader of those beastmen is very powerful. We need to go back and inform the Prophet and the others; I advise you to go back and report to your city''s leaders as well. Those beastmen... are not as simple as your intelligence suggests." "Oh?" Bai E raised his eyebrow slightly, a small grin appearing on his lips, "Then I shall have a look." Chapter 662 - 662: 499 Are all their human generals so reckless? "What?!" The deputy leader of the remaining Elf Squad looked at Bai E incredulously, "You''re going to check it out?!" As he spoke, he scanned Bai E up and down, then turned back with disbelief, "Our captain has already been captured there, and you plan to go by yourself?" Isn''t it said that human generals only command from behind their massive armies, observing the battle from a distance? Since when did they dare to charge into the front line? Of course, the fact that this human officer dared to ride a motorcycle alone away from the main force and arrived first was also surprising. "Yes," Bai E said with a gentle smile, "and could I trouble you to send someone to guide me?" Although he could follow the traces left by the elves untouched due to their lack of time, it would take a bit longer. It was better to have these elves, who had just come from that area, to lead the way so he could reach his destination faster. "Deputy leader." "Deputy leader!" The other elves immediately looked at Xunying, the deputy with the most authority in their team. The deputy looked at Bai E gravely and advised, "There''s no need to throw your life away. The best course of action now is to return to the city and report the orc incident to the higher-ups of both our sides." "Wouldn''t that take too long?" Bai E lightly furrowed his brow, "Or could you send two to guide me instead? I only need to have a distant look, and if I feel confident, I will advance. If not, we''ll just keep an eye from afar, and wait for the reinforcements who are notified to arrive, ensuring we find them at the earliest opportunity. That way, we can prevent the orcs from fleeing to some distant location that''s hard to find. How does that sound?" "But what if the higher-ups decide to abandon the mission?" The deputy locked eyes with Bai E, "You''re taking a risk." This human general before them had not seen the terror of the giant orc, and even just shadowing from afar could pose a great risk. If their reinforcements did not arrive in time and the surveillance team stayed too long, they might get caught by the orc and eliminated! "If they decide to abandon the mission, they will notify me right away," Bai E confidently smiled, taking out a small communication device and waving it in front of them, "Then we''ll retreat immediately." As the greatest controller of the internet access, he could reach Minister Eric and Helen at any time to communicate. If necessary, they would certainly inform him promptly. Moreover... once they found the group of orcs mentioned by these elves, how the situation would develop was not merely up to them, right? "This..." The elf deputy furrowed his brow, feeling that there was nothing wrong with this human general''s proposal, "In that case..." To be a member of a hunting squad responsible for external affairs in their community, second only to the captain, this deputy was not a hesitant person. After pondering Bai E''s suggestion and finding no issue with it, he made a quick decision. Then he turned to another elf behind him, "Yue Er, take the others back to the city to report. With our body-cam records, they won''t suspect you of falsifying military information. As for me... I will accompany this human general for a look." Without waiting for his teammates to persuade him otherwise, the deputy laid out irrefutable reasons in their mental network, "I have the least energy consumption when supporting the Gravity Gun, and I preserved the most strength. Even if something unexpected happens, I can protect this human general in time." Despite how arrogantly elves might behave towards humans, fundamentally, no elf truly wanted to see relations between the two races deteriorate. After all, in this cruel world, they were the only two intelligent and rational species capable of communication. Sometimes, arrogance was merely a bargaining chip and tactic for negotiation. Seeing the elf nodded after looking at each other, the chosen one responded, "Understood, deputy leader!" "Then let''s go, there''s no time to lose. Every minute we delay, our captain is in danger for another minute!" ... Watching his subordinates speed towards the city on motorcycles, the deputy''s gaze returned to calm as he addressed the human general, "General, where is your army? Don''t you also need to inform them, so they don''t run into the orcs head-on? As I said, those orcs are truly extraordinary." "I will make contact," Bai E waved his hand, wanting to depart as soon as possible to find the reputedly troublesome orcs, "Let''s go." Seeing the dismissive attitude of the human general before him, irritation flashed in the deputy''s eyes. He didn''t plan to make contact at all, did he? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sure enough, the attitude displayed toward them by those humans in high positions was correct! It was consistent with their long-standing prejudice against humans¡ª Those at the top among humans are only interested in seeking glory, greedy and arrogant. Relying on them to get things done is exceedingly difficult. The elves were not without the real intention to cooperate with humans; it''s just that all the humans they encountered were disappointing. Continuously failing to find a human city-state with whom to cooperate, they naturally lost patience and started looking only to take advantage of humans. Chapter 663 - 663: 499 Are all their human generals so reckless?_2 "Let''s go then!" The deputy''s tone grew even icier, and he decided it would be better to let this human suffer a bit before rescuing him¡­ Above the barren land, two motorcycles followed the same road back. Looking at the distant area where the group of orc machete youngsters was still pinned to the ground, now almost motionless, the deputy ran excitedly towards it. Upon seeing the empty pole end, he exclaimed somewhat forlornly, "He''s not here..." Bai E stood to the side, surveying the orcs scattered all over the ground. These scrawny orc machete youngsters had lost their formidable regenerative abilities as orcs once the arrows had pierced the containers of fungal broth within them. By now, they had already lost all signs of life. But for them, to live was to fight, and there was no fear of death whatsoever. Given time, these orc limbs scattered across the ground would be buried deep in the soil under nature''s influence and would grow anew into a fresh batch of orc youngsters. For them, this was the beginning of rebirth, the start of new life. Bai E lit a fire to thoroughly incinerate these insect-like orcs. The deputy added a bundle of kindling to the flames, causing the fire to burn even more fiercely. "I''ll find the way. The trail left by that orc is clear." It seemed that the abduction of his two kinsfolk had ignited the deputy''s fighting spirit. Leading Bai E, he pursued the direction of the departing giant orc, a trail blazed by the rising flames. He was the hunting party leader responsible for capturing prey and tracking through the wild was his forte. The trail didn''t lead too far. In just about half an hour, after crossing a small hill, the pair found themselves looking out to a vast sea of green in the wilderness beyond. In fact, the unique clamor of orc activity had reached their ears long before they crested the hill. Though harboring a cold flame of revenge, at the sight of such a vast ocean of orcs, the deputy''s will was momentarily weakened. "There are... so many?" Bai E glanced sideways at him and asked, "Aren''t these the same ones you encountered before?" "No... not these." The deputy''s eyes were like those of a hawk, quickly spotting the abnormally large super orc amidst the green sea, "We encountered only that one." As he spoke, the deputy felt his anger surging uncontrollably, even though his reason told him that things might not be as they seemed, and he had tried to convince other members of his team rationally before; but now, facing the human, he finally lost control of his emotions. He began to confront Bai E, "Is this the ''small group of nomadic orcs'' mentioned in your intelligence reports? With this scale, even a siege would be a problem for you, right?" His eyes bore into Bai E, waiting to hear if the human general admits to their incompetence or that they had ulterior motives hidden. The human officer just looked at the green sea, his pupils seemingly ignited with an excitement called "thrill," "Indeed, there are quite a few." Bai E felt his blood beginning to heat up¡­ "Hide well, don''t let them spot you." With that, he suddenly jumped out. The deputy was startled and instinctively reached out to grab him while growling in a low voice, "What are you doing!" But only a calm voice drifted back from afar, "Hide well." Seeing some of the orc youngsters'' gazes turn toward the human officer who had suddenly jumped out, the deputy cursed silently but could only shrink back, suppressing his voice as he roared softly, "You''re on your deathbed, and I won''t be able to save you!" "No need to save me." "..." ''Damn!'' With teeth nearly clenched to breaking, the deputy was powerless. ''Anyway, we both have activity recorders on our bodies. If you seek your own death, you can''t blame me for it!'' Thinking thus, the deputy who had withdrawn could only hear a thunderous explosion behind him, followed by a huge disturbance that seemed to shake mountains and split the earth. "Boom boom boom!" ''Did that orc just make a move?'' Even their own captain had been crushed underfoot by that orc as if he were a baby chick, so that human general must be nothing more than a puddle of mud on the ground by now, right? Driven by a strong curiosity, the deputy couldn''t help but want to peek, even if it meant risking his life. And so, he really did stick out his head... "..." "???" "!!!" The sight before the deputy''s eyes caused his brain to momentarily crash. Within the sea of green orcs, an enormous crater appeared out of place, with a tiny black dot standing right at its center. As for the orcs who had been where the crater now was... they were now flying through the air. Yet for these orcs, the strange impact, although somewhat damaging, wasn''t nearly as thrilling as the brief stimulation it provided. Even as they fell from the sky, they still laughed and howled with joy, "wooha wooha," "waaaaagh." The excitement instantly spread throughout the entire orc horde. The one sitting at the very center of the beast crowd, playfully poking the face of the elf lady in front of him¡ªa face smeared with blood¡ªwas Blade-Face E. He stood up immediately and looked toward the center where the vibrations originated. Not even the kilometers of distance crowded with orcs could obstruct his vision; the human standing in the center of the crater was clearly visible in his yellow-green pupils. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing the human''s face, Blade-Face E instantly felt a genuine shiver of excitement pass through him. It was him! It was him! Him again! He had finally seen him once more! Even though in the eyes of the orcs all humans looked the same¡ªno matter their age or gender¡ªonly this human''s image seemed to be eternally engraved in his genes. The moment he saw him, he instantly recognized who he was! "waaaaagh!" Immense excitement overwhelmed Blade-Face E''s mind, compelling him to roar out, "waaaaaagh!" This emotion quickly spread across the entire tide of orcs. Countless orcs, although not understanding what was happening, didn''t hesitate to join in the revelry, "waaaaaagh!" Under the collective screaming of countless orcs, Blade-Face E felt a temporary surge of mighty strength welling up inside him. With a stomp of his feet, he shot dozens of meters into the air, rapidly leaping toward his target. "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" Each high leap and crash down was like cannon fire. Wherever he landed, other orcs were sent flying into the sky like oversized rubber toys, shocked by the powerful shockwaves. Witnessing the giant orc that had grabbed their captain, now recklessly leaping towards the human general without regard for the well-being of his kin, the deputy observing from afar felt his heart quiver in fear, "I''m gonna die! I''m gonna die!" It was truly a death sentence! He could never have imagined that the human general could be so reckless. Even if his strength seemed formidable, facing off against the king of orcs head-on was a decision only someone with a waterlogged brain would make, right? Not to mention that they were fighting on the opponent''s turf. Were all human generals this foolish? However much he did not want to see what would happen next, the distance of a kilometer was nothing but a brief span for the cannonball-like leaping of the orc king, crossing it in mere seconds. In the end, the ferocious beast of an orc, with an overwhelming momentum of Mount Tai crushing down, threw a punch at the foolishly standing still tiny black dot... "Boom!" The ground cracked. A dark green figure was sent flying backward at a speed even faster than its approach! Chapter 664 - 664: 500 Overlimit Drive! The smoke and dust settled, and that lonely black dot still stood in the center of the large pit. But under that earth-shattering clash just now, the range of the large pit had grown wider and deeper... The human general''s body was almost completely submerged into the ground beneath him. His physical constitution might have been able to withstand a collision of this magnitude, but the earth beneath his feet wasn''t so resilient. Like a nail hammered deep into the soil, the human general pulled his body out from the ground that had nearly engulfed his waist, as he used Spiritual Energy to amplify his voice across the entire tide of orcs, "Haven''t seen you in a while, not much improvement, huh?" Bai E recognized his opponent. This orc seemed to have taken the scar on his shoulder from their first encounter as a mark of disgrace, leaving it there; otherwise, given the orcs'' regenerative abilities, they wouldn''t have any scars as long as they didn''t die. "Waaaaagh!" The only response Bai E got was an excited roar that bordered on crazed. Meng Meng felt his blood boiling furiously. The moment they clashed, the genetic craving and fear for a strong opponent surged within him. Still that same taste! Still as invincible! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E stood in place, assuming his fighting stance; his right fist with the palm facing up was in front, and his left fist with the palm facing down was positioned across his chest. With a slight smile on his lips, Bai E extended his index and middle fingers toward Meng Meng, who was howling at the sky in place, and hooked them provocatively. "Waaaagh!" Meng Meng patted his chest to psych himself up, then hurled his spiky great cleaver at Bai E''s direction like a savage axe thrower, the attack ferociously sharp¡ªit whistled through the air like the scythe of death. "Boom!" The huge cleaver smashed down right where Bai E had been standing, its formidable power splitting the earth, creating two cracks that spread out before and behind where the blade struck the ground. The cleaver''s throw was not meant merely as an attack but as a response to Bai E''s provocation. In their first two encounters, this human used a bow once, a sword another time... This time, he used nothing, and the stance he took suggested he planned to fight with his fists alone. How could he not agree? Orcs reveled in such fiery courage and head-on collisions to the death. Meng Meng roared, and his huge body burst from its position, slamming down towards Bai E like a cannonball. This time, he was wiser. He didn''t just blindly compare physical strength with this apparently not-so-bulky human. Several encounters had taught him a truth: when it simply came to a comparison of strength, he would never be his opponent''s match! His opponent''s own strength wasn''t particularly strong, but under some power that he couldn''t fully comprehend, his opponent''s strength received an unimaginable boost. A single punch packed the force of a dozen stacked together, easily capable of sending him flying. Everyone in the world thought orcs were brainless. In fact, they were not stupid at all, and they were especially clever in battle. Apart from strength, this opponent''s reactionary speed was actually not as good as his own. Meng Meng, moving swiftly around his opponent, had a cunning glint flash in his eyes. If he could dazzle him with speed and find an opening to his back, even this invincible human would have to suffer at his hands! Hehe! "Bang bang bang bang bang!" The sounds of messy punches and kicks almost merged into a continuum, creating a dizzying blur before the eyes of the elven assistant watching from afar. The speeds of the two individuals engaged in battle were so fast that they far exceeded conventional levels. One might guess the general direction of their movements, but the intricate strikes were practically invisible. If one were to place oneself in the shoes of any one of them as an opponent... The elven assistant shuddered. No! Impossible! How could one possibly be in their shoes? Wouldn''t that be just asking for a beating? Staring at the tiny black dot that was the human officer, standing still as a mountain in the center, the elven assistant''s gaze was filled with stupor. Is this really the level of a human officer? If they were really this fierce, how did they lose to their fellow Zoro in the first battle? Those cunning humans must be deliberately holding back, showing weakness to the elves! That''s just wicked! These humans must be brewing some utterly evil plan! Once back, they must inform the Prophet and warn them to be careful! The assistant, whose thoughts had drifted due to his stupor, suddenly jolted as one of the combatants was sent flying by a kick, smashing heavily into the crowd of onlooking orcs and bowling over dozens of them who laughed hilariously. "Bang!" "Bang!" The blade-faced Meng Meng got up and sent the orcs standing to his left and right flying into the sky with a punch each, his fierce eyes fixed on the distant human. The opponent slowly withdrew the whip kick that had sent him flying and stood still, beckoning to him with a hand, the provocation arrogant to the extreme! ["Lucky Strike" charge +3] [The extreme battle has brought out the pinnacle of your physical potential. Your strongest techniques have become your instinct. Under the enhancement of "Overlimit Drive," you are expending a small additional amount of stamina to make each strike 150% more powerful than the limit and accelerate the formation of your personal fighting style by 20%.] [Current combat proficiency 102/1000, "Personal Style" is forming¡­] A fierce and direct fight with a powerful opponent is the best opportunity to establish one''s own combat style. To Bai E, this orc, who had for various reasons escaped from him multiple times and whose strength increased terrifyingly with each encounter, was undoubtedly the strong adversary he needed most at the moment. In the battle against this familiar orc, all the special attributes learned in his combat mastery were fully validated on his opponent. Continuous strikes, enhanced defense, seizing opportunities, joint locks, intercepts, pressure points, whip cracks... Countless fighting techniques would spark inspiration at critical moments, revealing their intended effects in a form so instinctive and physical that even Bai E himself wasn''t aware of them. The whip kick that had just sent his opponent flying was one of these countless techniques ¨C a "whip crack." The striking force and speed at the extremities of the limbs far exceeded any other part of his body, catching the orc off guard, who had gotten somewhat accustomed to his attack force and speed, and was instantly sent flying. An orc who had taken a hit naturally wouldn''t fall for it a second time. Moreover, given the orcs'' robust physiques, they''d need to take the punishment dozens or hundreds of times before it could inflict a sufficiently deep impact. This forced Bai E to constantly seek new methods of attack during combat. Chapter 665 - 665: 501 Call of the Wild He could feel that these countless combat skills were gradually merging into one amidst the fierce battle. The changes that each individual ability could bring were extremely limited, but when different techniques were paired or even tripled in combination, the variations it brought to Bai E''s attack methods were endless. Those scattered, independent techniques were turning into some kind of more instinctive and coordinated personal combat style during this intense battle. Under the watchful eyes of countless orcs, their leader was being sent flying again and again by that strange fellow. This inevitably led them to start wondering to themselves. "This guy is so fierce, I reckon he must also be a very waaaaagh orc!" "Our boss can''t even beat him; he must be our new boss now!" "The boss is really amazing! The boss is really amazing!" "waaaaaagh!" "waaaagh!" The roaring of the orc wave, one after another, with a distinct fervor, woke the body that had been in a deep slumber. The sharp sense of danger from the battle before she passed out lingered in her heart constantly. Even in the coma due to severe injuries, Xunying''s spirit was in an extremely tense state. Xunying, who suddenly woke up due to the noise, instantly opened her somewhat heavy eyes, and the pain from various parts of her body and her hands tied behind her back to some kind of pillar prompted her to instinctively grasp the surroundings, immediately looking around. However, she found that there weren''t many filthy barbaric orcs around her; all the orcs she could see were no longer paying attention to her but were all looking in the same direction. Even though she was tightly bound within the orc crowd, seeing nothing but the backs of those orcs, the series of loud thuds from physical collisions and the green figure that was obviously being sent flying into the sky were unmistakable. That looks familiar... Isn''t that the savage orc that easily defeated her? What was happening now... Why was he being tossed around like a ball, flying all over the sky? Could it be... an internal fight among the orcs? Otherwise, why would the other orcs be "waaaah"-ing as if watching a play, without any intention of going up to help? These orcs spent their days fighting or on their way to fight. When there were no outsiders to beat up, they would joyfully fight among themselves. So... was there a presence even more formidable than the orc that had defeated her within this large group of orcs? For a moment, Xunying felt an overwhelming despair about her future. "Don''t come to save me..." That orc who defeated her would likely be a tough opponent even for Zoro, let alone the existence within this tide of orcs that was more terrifying than that orc, plus so many orcs... As far as the eye could see, there was a green sea. The number of these so-called wandering orcs... was simply too many. "Boom!" Another heart-stopping collision of power, the sound of plowing came speeding from beyond her line of sight; every orc in its path was sent flying by this formidable force. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ssshhhh~~" Watching the huge orc body being thrown backward, plowing a trail on the ground right up to her, Xunying blinked her eyes, straining to peer along the path that had been plowed, eager to see what the other "orc" that even this orc couldn''t withstand looked like. To satisfy... a final curiosity before death. Yet, seeing the tiny black dot at the end of the trail, Xunying froze completely. "What!" A human!? As her eyes focused like a hawk, the clear appearance of that human was revealed before her. It was the human competitor for their mission... that human general! He... Xunying''s gaze swiftly swept around, yet he didn''t spot any shadows of other human armies behind the general or around the orc horde. An astonishing guess couldn''t help but surface in his mind... ''Could it be that he came alone.'' That''s right... With the ability to stand alone amidst a sea of orcs and still move freely, what need was there for his army? But was this really the level of a human officer? Damn it, if they were really that fierce, how did they lose to Zoro in the first battle? It must have been those cunning humans deliberately holding back, trying to appear weak to the elves! Too wicked! The humans must once again be brewing some extremely evil plan! After returning, he must inform the Prophet and others to be cautious and vigilant! Oh... I might not be able to make it back. Xunying somewhat dejectedly remembered this fact. Right before him, the massive orc who had been sent flying with a punch shook his huge head, clearing the slight dizziness from being hit into confusion. Glancing at the elf lady beside him, he noticed that she had woken up and showed no reaction. But almost immediately, his eyes again focused on the guy at the end of the trajectory... "waaaagh!" With a loud roar, he shot forward once again. Far away, Bai E had already positioned himself in a punch-ready stance, stepping slightly forward in the face of the orc rushing at him like a train, with all his unparalleled strength focused in the fists he had readied. "Boom!" "Hiss~~~~" Bai E stepped back lightly, and the orc was sent flying even farther... [Current combat proficiency 817/1000, "personal style" is forming...] [A strange force field is attempting to awaken the primal genes hidden within you; you may follow this calling to complete a racial transformation or you can choose to steadfastly refuse...] Bai E also felt that wild call, as if emanating from inside of him, from the ancient past, from the depths of his soul, from a higher-dimensional space. It was as if countless voices were saying¡ªhe was meant to be an orc! An orc? I don''t think so! Always in a state of "self-restraint," Bai E easily crushed the impulse that this wild call brought to his body. [With the help of "self-restraint," you have successfully resisted a divine summoning, mystery +0.3.] "waaaaagh!" "waaaaagh!" As if sensing this rejection, the will from the higher-dimensional space invisibly issued some kind of "order" to the orcs who believed in it. Therefore, the entire group of orcs, with muscles swelling in a roar that came from their souls and eyes burning with madness, could no longer resist their innate berserk factor yearning for battle. All of them, with blood-red eyes, surged crazily towards that little black dot at the center, screaming wildly. Bai E stood firm at the center, watching the sky full of orcs surging toward him and closed his eyes with a smile. With his hands drawing circles, and stance rooted like a single whip, he calmly awaited on the spot... Chapter 666 - 666: 502 The Way of No Limit ``` "What! You''re saying Captain Xunying has been captured!" Bai E abruptly stood up in shock upon hearing the news from a group of Elf Squad members, who were reporting back while he sat with the human elders. The authority exuded by Bai E caused fear and trepidation in those around him. The elf chosen to speak for the squad struggled to swallow before nodding in confirmation, "Yes..." The human elders, who had been struggling to suppress their smiles as though they were more difficult to contain than a machine gun, now put on expressions full of pity, "My condolences, my deepest condolences." "There''s nothing that can be done when faced with such a strong opponent, right?" Bai E glared coldly at the elder who had spoken, then turned to fix his gaze upon his fellow clansmen, "What exactly happened? They were just a small group of roaming orcs. Even if outmatched, Xunying shouldn''t have been defeated and captured so easily. Did she become overconfident and charge alone into enemy ranks?" "No..." The elf delivering the message revealed a hint of fear in his eyes, "It was the orc leader... he''s too terrifying! He used our scout Roger, who had been sent to track the orcs, as bait. We even used a Gravity Gun in advance to clear out Captain Xunying''s signal arrows, but once the effect of the Gravity Gun wore off, even she couldn''t stand a chance against the orc leader. That orc should not have been part of any small roaming bands!" The vice-captain told us to come back and report, emphasizing that this group of orcs is far from the simple force mentioned in the intelligence reports." ''Gravity Gun?'' The human elder, who had been enjoying the spectacle, suddenly showed a crafty glint in his eyes upon hearing this unfamiliar term. It sounded high-tech, and if they managed to beat the Elves, maybe they could demand this technology. The Elves had a basic understanding of human technology, but humans did not know much about elf tech. So, if they ended up winning, there wouldn''t even be much to demand. But that didn''t matter. Win first, then talk! A cold stare made the elder shiver slightly. Looking up, he found himself facing Bai E''s eyes, filled with unending rage and coldness, "Can you explain why these ''small roaming bands of orcs'' possess such strength according to your intelligence?" The elder''s heart skipped a beat, sensing that the development of the situation may have been unforeseen by everyone. Originally, the plan was for the orcs to serve as a medium of competition between both factions. Both elf and human teams were supposed to defeat them with ease, the only difference being how quickly they accomplished it. Now, judging by the words of the elves, the scale of these roaming orcs might be far greater than what the intelligence had suggested. Of course, he knew that the Elf Delegation''s strength could not possibly be less than that of the Human Race. The elf who had been chosen by the Elf Delegation to lead their team was unlikely to be weak, but at this moment, it was impossible for the elder to admit that their intelligence had been flawed. So his face hardened, and he let out a cold sneer. "If you lack strength, there''s no point in blaming others. If you''re not strong enough, then train harder. The past is the past, and now is now." "Very well!" Bai E scoffed angrily and turned to his clansmen, "You mentioned the vice-captain sent you to report back? Where is the vice-captain himself?" "The vice-captain..." The messenger glanced at the human elders, "en route, we encountered the human general leading their team. Alone, he heard about our encounter with the strange orc leader and volunteered to investigate. Our vice-captain... went with him to guide the way." "Nonsense!" Bai E''s face darkened with storm clouds, and his handsome features momentarily took on a sinister cast. "The human general also said he wanted to see what the elders decided. If the elders resolved to attack the orcs, he requested that reinforcements be sent out immediately, as they would provide guidance to the main forces flanking the orc horde. If the elders decide to retreat... they should be informed as soon as possible so he and our vice-captain can withdraw early." "Attack!" Bai E''s face was ashen with determination as he made his decision, "Any foe that has harmed our people must be punished thoroughly!" "Yes! Attack! We must!" The elder''s face nearly contorted with fervor. The human''s leading general? Alone? S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What exactly is General Bai E trying to achieve? Without a Mecha, he dares to follow the orc horde alone. If discovered by the orc scouts... Though slightly dimwitted, those orcs possess terrifying physical prowess. If discovered, how could he and the Elf Squad''s vice-captain possibly escape? Artificial beings will be artificial beings! They have no adaptability in critical moments! Why isn''t the leading general firm in command rather than acting like a member of a special squad? "Send a message to General Bai E immediately, the main forces are on their way. Tell him not to take any more risks! The orcs won''t get far in this short amount of time!" The technician promptly agreed, "Yes!" At that moment, an elf cautiously moved closer to Bai E and whispered, "Should we consult the Prophet? Or perhaps take Yueying? With her present, our chances of success are even greater." Regardless of whether other elves admitted it or not, Yueying was widely recognized as the pinnacle of combat strength among the elves. As for Yueying''s sister, Fengling ¨C the Prophet of the Elf Race ¨C she represented the pinnacle of intelligence and decision-making. ``` Chapter 667 - 667: 502 The Way of No Limit_2 Having any of them stationed there would greatly boost the confidence of the other elves. After all, based on the report from the messenger elf, even Xunying had been easily knocked down, so the orc opponent they had encountered this time was definitely extraordinary in strength. As for humans...they were even less likely to be relied upon. Storm''s eyes flashed, but he nodded and said, "I''ll go and ask for instructions." ... Two spiritual bodies, akin to mermaids, were swimming through the spiritual world. As their mastery of Spiritual Energy became more formidable, only by traveling in high-dimensional space could they uncover more mysteries concerning Spiritual Energy. However, sensing something, the more stable and graceful spiritual body paused slightly and shook her head with a smile, "They''re here..." "They?" "It''s nothing." The awakened Wind Spirit showed a mischievous smile on her lips and said to her sister, who was also opening her eyes after sitting cross-legged opposite her, "I''ll just deal with them and it''ll be fine." No sooner had the voice dropped than Yue Ying heard a gentle knock at the door, "Prophet... Prophet, are you there?" "Cough cough cough cough!" After a rather violent bout of coughing, Wind Spirit replied with a "weak" voice that sounded perfect, "What is it?" ...Storm, who had been knocking outside, stopped and pursed his thin lips. After hesitating for a moment, the hand that had been knocking withdrew, "It''s nothing." The Prophet had expended too much Spiritual Energy due to numerous group teleportations. Although she had not personally visited the human cities, she had been using the ability of group teleportation persistently to establish an image of authority that humans wouldn''t dare to challenge at the first opportunity. Now... This was a trivial matter; there was no need to trouble the Prophet with it. "Right..." Just as Storm, who was about to leave, turned back, he asked in a low voice, "We had a bit of an incident during the military challenge, and we wanted Yue Ying to come with us. I don''t know if she..." "She is guarding for me and cannot leave." "...Understood." No matter how defiant he appeared in front of outsiders, in the presence of their own Prophet, Storm was just a docile and obedient child. At that moment, he respectfully nodded his head and strode away. Listening to his footsteps recede, Wind Spirit looked back into the eyes of her sister, who had a puzzled expression, and smiled as she placed a slender finger in front of her lips, "Breaking through the fog of prejudice starts right here. How could we be the ones to shatter it?" ... The urgently assembled army set off, and even Rose, who was helping Helen research the Dynamic Source Sword, had been urgently summoned and ordered to pilot Bai E''s dedicated Mecha to ensure the smooth progress of the battle. It was also a chance to flex their human muscles in front of these elves. Otherwise, after losing several battles in a row, the opposing elves might really think humans were easy to bully. The military district general, filled with anxiety, asked the technicians by his side, "Has General Bai E been notified?" General Bai E was their military district''s greatest face, and they couldn''t afford to lose him on such a minor mission! The technician, sweating profusely, said, "The message can be sent out, but... but there''s no response from General Bai E!" S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This Bai E!" ... "Beep beep beep beep~" The red light on the communicator stuffed in front of his chest was flashing urgently, but Bai E was clearly too preoccupied to attend to the calls coming from the direction of the city. Ever since he seemed to inadvertently reject a certain savage summons from a high-dimensional space or even from the depths of his body, an endless wave of beastmen surged towards him. But under some kind of viscous rotating force field, these endless beastmen could not get within half a step of him. The constitution of beastmen was such that they were extremely tough; unless they happened to be struck precisely where the fungus soup within their bodies resided, it would take a devastating blow to kill one. Under these circumstances, facing the beastmen required a combat proficiency that could endure their brainless, wave after wave of violent assaults. Even though Bai E''s Spiritual Energy could be depleted and refilled twenty or thirty times with the help of the virtual world, facing the wave-like invasion of the beastmen would still be challenging. On the battlefield, without a capability for large-scale annihilation, the power of one person is hardly a match for thousands of troops. Even if they used their lives as a stack, the bravest warrior would ultimately be worn down to exhaustion. Yet currently, Bai E''s aura of Spiritual Energy hardly fluctuated, resisting all the beastmen''s strength while maintaining a stable level. [Current Combat Proficiency: 1002/1000, "Personal Style" is in the process of formation...] [Your "Personal Style" needs to leech onto a certain existing ability for formation, currently attached to: Overlimit Drive.] [Keywords for "Personal Style": Synergy, Endurance.] The needs gradually comprehended in endless battle became the sole direction at this moment. ["Personal Style" has formed.] [Absolute Mastery (Combat)*Path of No Limits (First Stage): When you fight unarmed, you will enter the "Path of No Limits," where you will perfectly deploy every bit of understanding you have of the body and greatly enhance the efficiency of energy circulation of your own power! All enemies who enter your "Path of No Limits" will confront a domain called "Abyss" constructed by the cycle of your power! Under the "Path of No Limits," your power recovery +100% (First Stage). Current second-stage progress: 2/3000] Abyss: The domain formed by the circulation of your power will be like quicksand, and any enemy who enters will lose control over their own body in this unruly domain, with every move under your control! When the domain gradually expands to its maximum, you can instantaneously trigger an explosion within the domain, inflicting catastrophic damage on all targets within! Cost: None.] A "Path" without any expenditure. This is the ability and realm that one should possess upon setting foot on a "path of extremity." Yue Ying, Zoro, even Xunying were entities walking such paths, but the paths themselves were different, as well as individual understanding and realms, creating vast differences between those walking the same "path." And the moment Bai E''s combat-based "Personal Style" took definite shape, he finally gained full enlightenment of the seemingly chaotic streams of force swirling around him. The external forces that felt somewhat difficult to control just a moment ago were actually the ripple of energy he had unleashed while clashing with the waves of beastmen, ripples that had not vanished into thin air but rather been subconsciously "hooked" around him. It was not until the "Personal Style" was established that he took full control of this alternative form of exerting power. The invisible currents that were obscure when controlled subconsciously began to form an invisible, chaotic vortex around him as Bai E consciously manipulated them. Any beastmen who entered this vortex instantly lost their footing, pulled by the invisible streams, stumbling drunkenly within the domain, gradually losing control of their bodies and becoming puppets under Bai E''s command. Enveloped by these intangible currents, the approaching beastmen were instantly pulled close to Bai E. With punches and palms, they were swiftly carried off into the distance by the currents, spinning around inside the spherical domain. The beastmen, who had never experienced such a thing, even let out "heh heh heh" chuckles while tumbling around. The energy that Bai E unleashed slowed the rate at which it dissipated as it collided endlessly with the beastmen, and as more charged towards him, the "Abyss" domain, constructed by the cycle of force, expanded further and further in scope. As long as there was a never-ending stream of opponents entering, the eye of the cycle formed by this dissipating force would never reach an end. And Bai E, at the core of it all, needed to exert only a little control, finding the battle increasingly effortless. Sensing this change, the blade-faced Luau, who likewise received an intangible "will" and had hesitated to advance, let out a furious roar, "waaaaaagh!" The beastmen crazily rushing towards Bai E also shook their heads as though waking from a big dream, coming back to their senses. Without new forces pouring in, the domain finally reached its limit. "Boom!" Bai E spread his arms, and all the controlled beastmen within the entire "Abyss" domain blew up in an instant, green limbs flying through the air, raining down a green shower... Chapter 668 - 668: 503 Is that General Bai E? "Pat~" "Pat~" Green blood and flesh splattered before him, and Xunying, bound tightly all over, looked at the clump that had fallen onto his own feet, his eyes blinking dully. What had he just seen? S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The countless orcs besieging the human general seemed to have been sucked into some sort of vortex in the mire from which they couldn''t extricate themselves. Within that transparent spherical space And at the last moment, all the green figures within the whirlpool shattered explosively! When facing the giant orc charging at him head-on, the human general didn''t show any signs of excessive exhaustion, and his aura showed no signs of weakening. How formidable was this human general that even when alone in the heart of the orc wave, all these orcs were unable to do anything to him? And right before their eyes, the legend of this human general was still continuing. After recalling all his men who would have been pointlessly sacrificed, the lone giant orc who charged again faced the human general at this moment and couldn''t even get close. With every lift of the hand and kick from the human general, it seemed as if invisible force struck the orc''s body from a distance. It was as if there were several invisible copies of the general attacking the orc from all directions simultaneously. Faced with such strikes from the void, Xunying even thought he saw evident bewilderment in the eyes of the giant orc. Xunying squinted his eyes, feeling that it must have been a trick of sight. In this world, there wasn''t a concept of "chi," and while some skills that could be used occasionally might strike from a distance, it was utterly impossible to do so with every punch and kick. The only form that could achieve a similar display to the external release of energy was Spiritual Energy. Spiritual Energy could create a certain kind of blocking barrier against external assaults, which is a basic application of Spiritual Energy for the powerful. But usually, it''s fixed at a certain distance from the body and only has one form of repulsion¡­ Yet, at this moment¡­ the strikes made by the human general while maintaining a mid-range distance, with just a raise of a hand or a kick, clearly integrated this use of Spiritual Energy into his combat style, which made it much more flexible and variable. Otherwise, the typical barrier vibration that Spiritual Energy users could only employ at a fixed distance would pose no threat to the giant orc. When the human general lifted his left palm from afar and raised the giant orc''s body, the bewildered orc struggled with its limbs flailing wildly. When faced with something completely incomprehensible, the cognition awakened in their genes was simply not enough¡­ "Bang!" With a ferocious pull-back straight punch, the giant orc whose neck was being held from a distance by the human general''s left hand, was sent flying by a single blow. Before being flung away, Xunying clearly saw a horrific dent appear on the orc''s chest. The entire green body seemed like rubber, deformed by the punch and hurled backwards. Watching the figure that smashed heavily to the ground and plowed through the orc horde for hundreds of meters, Bai E''s eyes were filled with cold murderous intent. This orc had escaped from his grasp several times, and this time, he had even managed to rally such a large scale wave of orcs. If he weren''t there, no matter where this wave surged towards, it would pose a massive threat to humanity. Let it end here¡­ completely. The Knife-Face Orc, despite being battered and having a mess of injuries inside, didn''t care, as they didn''t have true vital points; even if their fungal soup was smashed, they would just temporarily lose their invincible regenerative ability. As long as he could escape, a bit of sun would restore him good as new. Run! Run! But that human definitely won''t let me run! "Waaaaagh!" The Knife-Face Orc got up and roared to the sky, and immediately, the green sea everywhere surged once more in the same direction. The boss had given the order, charge, charge! "Huff huff huff!" "Waaaaaagh!" The endless sea of green responded to the call of their only recognized king, marching to their deaths. As for the Knife-Face Orc who made the call, he was already slyly retreating while the tide of orcs was surging forward. He couldn''t let the human notice, nor could he let his own kin see. If they knew he was running, they would run even faster than him¡­ Facing the onslaught of endless orcs again, Bai E couldn''t completely ignore them. Even if their fists and weapons couldn''t hurt him, they could still bury him with just their bodies. And even if the Knife-Face Orc was killed, these numerable orcs would still exist, and another new king would be born among them. That''s how orcs worked; among a group of orcs, there was always a leader acknowledged by all, and this leader would gain infinite strength. Of course, not every chief was like the Knife-Face Orc, capable of uniting such a large group of orcs. More often, the leaders of two orc clans were evenly matched adversaries, unable to defeat each other, so neither could swallow up the other''s clan and unify them. Without the Knife-Face Orc, this orc wave would inevitably dissolve, but now that they were gathered, it would be best to take this chance to slaughter them all; it would always be a nuisance and a threat otherwise. Once again stepping into that cycle of ignorance, the bodies of these young orcs seemed to fall into an invisible vortex of mire, floating and spinning in the air, staggering like a drunkards "hehe" giggling foolishly. Chapter 669 - 669: 503 Is that General Bai E?_2 ``` The dancing green figures in front of him blocked Bai E''s line of sight to the Knife-faced Lycanthrope, and his men had almost all surged forward. The Knife-faced Lycanthrope''s eyes shifted, and he turned and bolted. Only Xunying, who was bound alone on a distant hillside, noticed the giant orc''s movement first. Without caring whether his voice could be heard by the human general, Xunying still mustered the last of his strength from within his chest to call out from afar, "He''s trying to escape!" "Boom!" As the shockwave exploded, a black figure shot up into the sky amidst the rain of green blood. ''Feather Fall.'' Using Spiritual Energy to slow his descent, Bai E reached into the storage space in mid-air to extract his new longbow. Three dark arrows were nocked on the bowstring, and Bai E, hanging upside-down in the sky, aimed with a piercing gaze at the fleeing silhouette of the Knife-faced Lycanthrope in the distance. The wind howled in his ears as his hair fluttered wildly before his eyes. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Knife-faced Lycanthrope, running at full speed, was even faster than a motorcycle, and appeared as a swiftly passing shadow to ordinary human sight. Bai E aimed as precisely as possible at his target''s path, pushing to his full capacity. Bow drawn to full crescent¡­ "Bang!" Amidst the trembling of the bowstring, the three dark arrows burst forth in an instant. Like three dragons sweeping through a fierce gale, they entwined and traced three unpredictable curves, swiftly overtaking the Knife-faced Lycanthrope''s shadow from behind. "Whoo!" The astonishing impact from behind triggered the Knife-faced Lycanthrope''s instinctive sense of danger to the extreme. His body tensed, and his path zigzagged unpredictably in an attempt to dodge the three arrow-twisters coming in curves. Yet, the three arrows entwined and changed their courses, almost sealing off all of the Knife-faced Lycanthrope''s dodging routes. Even with the Knife-faced Lycanthrope''s immediate reaction, he inevitably got struck by one of the arrows. "Pff!" A large hole, clean through from front to back, was pierced through the Knife-faced Lycanthrope''s robust body, the spot where he carried the fungal brew was likewise emptied. But such flesh wounds were trivial for a resolute orc. The imminent scent of death stimulated the Knife-faced Lycanthrope at that moment. Ignoring the flesh and blood that spilled from the hole in his chest, his feet pounded even more frantically in escape. In a blink, he had escaped beyond the range of Bai E''s shooting... Having slung his longbow over his shoulder mid-air, Bai E flipped his body in the sky, speeding up as he dove toward the ground. Some orc youths, aware that their boss had fled, were already "wailing" as they scattered in retreat; Bai E couldn''t allow too many of the orcs to get away. Punching was too slow to kill; upon landing and dispersing a group of orcs, Bai E pulled out a nimble longsword from his storage space. "Swoosh Swoosh Swoosh!" Endless flashes of the sword danced among the orcs, slashing from east to west, limbs and bodies flying through the air¡­ Gazing blankly at the scene after scene unfolding before him, Xunying''s eyes were filled with the image of that figure suspended in the sky, drawing the bow. The three arrows he fired were perhaps no less impressive than those of his own tribe''s Yue Ying... Amid the chaos of blades and shadows, Xunying suddenly felt that humans might not be as contemptible as his tribe had claimed... If he could return this time, he would definitely have to reconsider their cooperation with humans. ¡­ The savage howls of the orcs could be heard clearly from thousands of kilometers away, and both the elven and human team leaders were anxious. "Bai E must have been discovered!" "We''re in trouble! The vice-captain is in danger! It''s all because of that human insisting on dragging him along on a death wish!" "What are you doing? Since the dawn of time, when has any team leader left their troops to scout alone?" At this moment, Zoro, who had been entrusted by Bai E, was also called up to the command vehicle, facing a barrage of scolding from the higher-ups who had rushed out from the city. "Hurry it up! Isn''t the drone in position yet? See what the situation is like!" "What about the Mecha squad? Are they too slow even for a simple trek?" "Not everyone is General Bai E, sir." ``` "We''ve made a connection." In the midst of the chaotic din, the screen inside the command vehicle suddenly flickered like a flurry of snowflakes, then displayed a real-time scene of blue skies and white clouds. In the frame, a tiny black dot burst forth from a vast array of green on the ground, rising towards the sky and pulling out some kind of bow-shaped object. The humanoid figure hung upside down in the sky, slowly descending in a gravity-defying manner, and at the same time, bending a bow and aiming an arrow at a distant point. "Bang!" The sound of the bowstring echoed throughout the command vehicle as the arrow launched, trailing three dark tornadoes in its wake. The moment the longbow was retracted, it seemed that the humanoid figure noticed the distant drone filming, and glanced over lightly. The screen timely zoomed in on the captured face... "It''s General Bai E!" "It''s that leading general from the humans!" Exclamations of surprise filled the command vehicle. Watching the figure plummet like a cannonball into the midst of the orc horde, sword light flashing white at its side, cutting a swath through the green tide with unchecked slaughter, the command vehicle fell into a dead silence. "..." "Uh~" "Weren''t we supposed to be providing backup?" "What are we even here for?" A profound skepticism arose in everyone''s heart. Even the elves including Storm, watching the figure that was rampantly killing on the screen, could only show endless apprehension in their eyes. "Is this the true power they, as humans, actually possess?" "We''ve found Captain Xunying!" "And the vice-captain too!" Sharp-eyed elves identified the two figures they were most concerned about in the drone footage, "They''re both still alive!" "Mm." Storm hummed softly, then turned to hear the clear mockery near his ear, "I told you there was no need for support, didn''t I? If you''re not up to it, just train more. The things you elves can''t manage doesn''t mean we humans can''t either. But since you wanted to witness General Bai E''s heroics firsthand, I will accompany you for now. Zero, what are you waiting for? Your general is engaged in annihilating these ''roaming orcs,'' what more are you waiting for?" The consistently reprimanded Zero instantly perked up, turned around and ran, shouting to the warriors he had brought along, "Brothers, move out! Don''t let those orcs get away!" More and more orcs realized their leader had fled and had already taken action. Seeing the hard-earned assembly of orcs about to disperse, more than just Bai E were anxious. "Shall we continue the comparison?" the old man asked with a twinkle in his eye, looking towards the elf Storm, "The number of roaming orcs might indeed be a bit much for you, but in front of our General Bai E, it''s nothing." The resentment previously incited by the irritating elf''s derision suddenly dissipated, and for the first time, the old man felt a surge of favor towards the android in the drone footage. "No need." Storm replied with a cold face, "You win this time." The old man''s eyes crinkled with amusement as he slowly inquired, "What do you mean by ''you win''?" "You won." Storm''s eyelids twitched as he turned to Zoro beside him and ordered, "Go check on Xunying and Roger." "Yes!" The old man chuckled softly, turned his head, and casually waved his hand, "Let''s clean up, don''t let a single orc escape!" "Also..." the old man stepped towards the open door of the command vehicle, heading out into the world beyond, "let''s welcome our General Bai E!" ''Bai E... General.'' Storm thought silently to himself, his gaze cast far into the distance, where a figure was slaughtering through the orc horde. ''So this is the General Bai E that Yue Ying always mentioned...'' ... ["Lucky Strike" energy charge +50.] Chapter 670 - 670: 504 crush "Humans have won, ready yourselves for the next round of the contest," Storm, with a face harboring hidden rage, commanded his kin. He could accept that humans had won this contest by luck in finding the group of orcs first, but he couldn''t accept defeat due to his kin''s lack of ability. Although the members of the squad responsible for the battle all unanimously said that the orc leader was extremely formidable, and even the trusted Xunying said that the orc leader''s strength was definitely above Zoro, their reinforcements never faced them head-on. And that human general''s only performance was the three floating arrows... It seemed impressive, but couldn''t even stop a single fleeing orc, so what was it really worth? Defeat due to true strength, and even being ridiculed by humans, was a reality he found hard to accept. "In the next round of the contest, I want you to make those humans lose miserably! I will find opportunities to test step by step the limits of their condition acceptance." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But... Storm," Xunying, still unrecovered from serious injuries, coughed lightly, "these humans might not be as weak as they appeared before, I''m afraid you could be misled by them. The strength of that human general..." As Xunying spoke, she cautiously glanced at Zoro, convinced that he was not a match, and then her gaze shifted towards the tightly closed door of the inner room¡ªYue Ying was protecting the Prophet. "Xunying, just focus on healing your wounds," Storm instructed calmly, also signaling that she need not say more. Of course, he believed his own kin wouldn''t deceive him, but kin with limited strength could also make incorrect judgments due to their own limited perspective. Seeing the humans'' "helpless fury" in the previous rounds of the contest, he did not believe the humans truly had the ability to turn the tables. "Storm, I think we should seriously consider the matter of collaboration with the humans this time," spoke a male elf beside Xunying. Ignoring the male elf who spoke up beside Xunying, Storm stood up indifferently, "Alright, deputy captain, don''t disturb the Prophet''s recovery. Let''s step outside, the humans must be getting anxious." Within the closed room, Yue Ying sighed sorrowfully to her sister, "Sister, do you know that one of our kin will die this time..." This was what she had overheard in the discussion among their kin just moments ago. For the elves, every kin was exceptionally precious; the death of one was a painful blow to the rest. "No, predictive fragments are shattered; I can''t see such detailed specifics. But¡­" Aglaya smiled lightly, shaking her head with an air of nonchalance, "that''s not important. The seal is about to be broken, and we shall return. All kin who are sacrificed here will return to the Ark, as long we are not captured by ''that one,'' we are, in fact, ''eternal.'' Yue Ying was clearly puzzled, "The seal?" Aglaya looked at Yue Ying with dark, mysterious eyes, "Is there a record in our clan about how we appeared in this world?" "This¡­" No one had ever mentioned such matters; only now that her sister brought it up did Yue Ying find it strange, "It appears... we don''t?" Aglaya smiled and touched Yue Ying''s hair, her fingers inadvertently brushing the tip of Yue Ying''s ear, making the petite elf''s body shiver instantly, "Actually, I''ve asked you this question before~" Yue Ying''s eyes widened, "You mean..." "You forgot." "..." Yue Ying bit her lip, taking a while to process the shock that she might soon forget again, "But sister, you mentioned the ''seal'' being broken..." "Shh~" Aglaya raised her index finger to her lips with a mysterious air, "That is something we cannot speak of." As she spoke, her eyes glanced toward the outside, the direction where their kin had departed. "Just watch..." The variable lay right before them. ... The high-level representatives of both races met once again. Storm said with a stern face, "Congratulations, you''ve earned another chance to challenge us. However, as a penalty for continuously wasting our time, could we settle some details of the demands in advance... and let each bout''s victory or defeat be the final verdict. What do you say?" Ignoring the babble of advisers in his ear, the old man clenched his teeth and forcefully agreed, "Coincidentally, that''s exactly what we were thinking!" "Then, before this contest begins, shall we discuss the first demand? How about it?" It seemed as though a consensus had been reached between the human and elf high command, and Bai E received the absolute demand to participate as a warrior in the battle¡ªto win. The city must win! No other outcome would be accepted. "Their choice will definitely be that warrior named Zoro; you''ve seen his two bouts. Do you have the confidence?" Aglaya, tasked with relaying the messages, looked at Bai E with some concern. If this battle was lost, General Bai E''s reputation among the city''s elites might plummet to its worst again. That was his lot as a man-made being; he had to advance slowly by doing one thing after another correctly, but a single misstep in the process could result in an immediate fall from grace. "Yes," Bai E replied succinctly, striding towards the passageway leading to the arena. Chapter 671 - 671: 504 crush Since the situation had escalated to an outright stance under the sunlight, let it all be brisk and straightforward. For the maggots within the city, Bai E had little patience left to spar with them. Watching what seemed like a suddenly authoritative silhouette, Aglaya was completely taken aback. Before her eyes, the synthetic general, who had always maintained a calm facade devoid of any emotions or tendencies, suddenly became profound and obscure, elusive. ''Can he really do it?'' she wondered. The strength of the beastman leader who had escaped was unknown, and they were unable to pinpoint his location accurately. Though General Bai E''s Spiritual Energy cultivation was indeed formidable, how much of his strength he could exert in a battle where Spiritual Energy was forbidden... was hard to say. Moreover, Zoro of the Elf Race truly and reliably eliminated two of the city''s top combatants, his strength witnessed by all. It was still that center stage, under everyone''s watchful eyes, where Bai E stepped onto with light and steady footsteps, and unsurprisingly, facing him was Zoro, representing the Elf Race for the third time. Indeed, every member of the Elf Race followed the path of elite strategic development, but it was impossible to bring the entire wealth of their tribe on a single mission. Among the twenty or so tribespeople present, each had their specialization, covering almost every field that humans were adept in. Seeing Bai E''s familiar face approaching, Zoro, who had seen him once on the battlefield against the beastmen, smiled and clenched his fist, "Xunying said you''re very strong and told me to be careful." He couldn''t forget the look of admiration for a powerful opponent in Xunying''s eyes when he had said those words, an emotion he had never even shown to himself. Put simply, he was jealous. Therefore, he decided to strike even harder. "¡­" Bai E smiled indifferently, hands open and empty, "What do you want to compete in?" A bare-knuckle fight, a battle with nimble weapons. This Elf walking the path of a warrior seemingly had no particular weakness. "Let''s go with hand-to-hand combat, you''re not going to back down, are you?" Zoro smiled somewhat provocatively. Hand-to-hand combat could inflict enough hidden injuries; wounds caused by weapons were too conspicuous and made it easier to determine the winner, therefore not ideal for inflicting serious harm. "Fine by me," Bai E nonchalantly waved his hand, agreeing to the challenge. Neither party exercised their right to veto one and choose one, reaching a consensus through negotiation, which was the custom from the previous two matches. But... When the brain trust heard this decision, they exploded in uproar, for the pre-arranged right to veto one and choose one was intended to seize the advantage in the mode of combat. The lack of experience could be cited for the first two matches, but the precious lessons paved by the failures of their predecessors were invaluable. This Elf named Zoro apparently had a lesser command over agile weapons compared to his prowess in hand combat; their "King of Shadows" just lacked a little bit of luck, or else there wouldn''t have been a need for General Bai E to step in. Now, seeking comfort seemed futile as they should choose a style their opponent was weak in... or at the very least avoid their opponent''s strongest suit, "hand-to-hand combat," right? "Why did he just agree to it like that!" "That Elf named Zoro is a master fighter; not even the captain of our city lord''s personal guards could match him. How could General Bai E possibly be his match?" "But does anyone know what General Bai E is most skilled at?" "Mecha!" someone immediately answered. "¡­" "Maybe light weaponry, his skills with the longsword were quite impressive during the Castle Exorcism battle." "Hurry and have them change to light weaponry!" "The contestants have already decided on the mode of combat... it can''t be changed now." "Ah!" And so, another entry was added to General Bai E''s personal records - "arrogantly overconfident." As the "begin" signal sounded, Zoro''s face revealed a cold, mocking smile, "There is no room for regret now." "¡­" Bai E didn''t respond and simply stood still with his eyes closed, his presence emanating around him. Unperturbed and composed. "What does he mean by that?" The spectators on both sides scratched their heads in confusion. Only the injured Xunying and her team members, sitting together, looked at their compatriot Zoro with worried eyes and silently prayed, "Please be careful..." Beware not to be killed... After all, despite being elves, they aren''t as resilient as orcs. "Playing tricks!" Zoro sneered, and his not-particularly-bulky body shot out like an arrow, straight to the point. "Buzz!" A dodging punch failed to hit its target, not because the opponent dodged it in time, but when he got close to the human named Zhou, his movements in every direction seemed suddenly hindered by innumerable pulling forces. Some pulled his foot upwards, some pulled his fist downwards; the forces pulling from all directions momentarily complicated his control over his body. As a master fighter skilled in combat, he naturally would not face such immense abnormal conditions and forcibly clash with the opponent. When he stopped moving, he was surprised to find that the strange forces disappeared instantly, as if they had never been there. Exploding from his feet, he prepared to thrust forward again. Regrettably, the moment his body began to move, that bizarre force resurfaced from every direction, trying to hinder his action. ''What kind of weird stuff is this!'' Zoro coldly snorted internally, his strength surged, and he forcibly broke free from those restraining forces. These were merely forces with a pulling resistance, not yet decisive enough to significantly influence the situation. If this Bai E hoped to achieve victory solely through these strange methods, then he was in for severe disappointment. "Whoo~" The invisible air currents twined and flowed with the movement of Bai E''s hand, and Zoro, who had gotten dangerously close, discovered that the forces tangling around him suddenly increased during the flick of the opponent''s palm. At the same time, in a final backward jerk, a definite impact struck his chest mid-air, and his opponent also seemed to fly lightly backward from a sort of "recoil" force, escaping once more from that dangerous proximity. ''Splitting Palm?'' Zoro wondered in his mind. In a situation where the use of Spiritual Energy was not allowed, achieving such a feat with sheer physical strength and skill was no easy task. Observing that this human named Bai E indeed had some skills, no wonder Yue Ying had mentioned this human''s name several times. But mere fleeing is the absolute act of a coward! "Boom!" His figure flashed; thunder suddenly roared. The instantaneous burst surpassed the speed of sound, the sonic boom acting like thunderclap, also serving to intimidate the opponent. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Buzz!" However, as he approached, that strange force once again surged from all around, greatly increased in strength, causing Zoro to feel panicky for the first time. Would the opponent''s bizarre technique grow stronger over time? And at this untouchable distance, his own method of continually identifying the opponent''s weaknesses in battle to guide or secretly strike had nowhere to be used. Continuing this fight... he might truly lose! With a sense of alarm in his heart, Zoro became even more determined, his energies bursting forth, ignoring the pulling forces around him. And this time... Bai E did not dodge. After several collisions, the power within his domain had accumulated to an overwhelming extent. When Zoro charged in again, Bai E controlled his energy with a twist of his palm, landing multiple strikes at once that almost instantly broke down Zoro''s body balance, though this was just for an instant. An outstanding martial artist always maintains control over their body. But the stronger the attempt to control, the deeper one falls. Fully trapped within the "Abyss" controlled by Bai E, Zoro, like a drunken man, swayed, controlled by Bai E''s maneuvers, and ultimately lost complete control over himself. With a turn of his hand, Zoro''s body was spun around by Bai E and brought in front of him, and then, with what appeared to be a gentle push of the palm, his body was flung away instantly, the full power of the "Abyss" accumulating in one explosion, all focused into that single push. "Boom!" Like a sack of broken cloth, his body smashed far onto the metallic ground of the combat arena, making "bang bang" sounds with two bounces... Chapter 672 - 672: Is it still Bai E 505? The field fell into complete silence. Not just the elves, even the human spectators who had watched the previous two matches felt somewhat conflicted at this moment. The bizarre performance on the field looked too much like cheating with spiritual energy... Surely their own people, having lost the first two matches, hadn''t grown so desperate as to start cheating openly in this one? You cheat if you must... but does it have to be so blatant? We can hardly cheer for this. What to do? Pretend not to see... As long as we win. In the midst of this eerie quiet, the accusation from the Elf Race side sounded extremely harrowing, "You''re cheating!" "It must be your use of despicable means that ambushed our kin!" "You can request to fight another round." Bai E stood in the field, responding expressionlessly. What the elves imposed on humans was bound to be repaid. Only then could they gain a deeper acceptance from the many bystanders from the depths of their hearts. ''This scene feels a bit familiar...'' The thought flashed through Storm''s mind but vanished in an instant. This match could not be lost, nor, indeed, could any match. Only by claiming every victory could the wager agreed upon with humanity be completely honored. When sitting in a position with such stakes, any semblance of personal dignity became trivial. Even if psychologically one didn''t really believe the opponent had cheated, as long as there was a chance, they would not sit by and watch it slip away. This match... "I will go." Storm stood up and said with a deep voice. Of the kin who came this time, only his power was above that of Zoro. If he wanted to be more certain, he could only turn to Yue Ying, who was already stationed here... But she was guarding the Prophet, and it was not good to disturb her. Through the combat between that human named Bai E and Zoro, Storm indeed understood why this human warrior was the only human pointed out by Yue Ying. Although all the monitoring on the field and the spiritual energy suppression bracelets were provided by the humans, the elves'' perception was no trivial matter either. There truly was not the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy, but something closer to the "Way". This human named Bai E was also a mighty being on the path of the Way! Descending from the stand to the field, Storm voluntarily wore the spiritual energy suppression bracelet assisted by the field''s sideline staff, and then he truly looked at the human warrior in front of him with a calm face, his gaze carrying a subtle hint of admiration: "I can tell that your archery has elements from our Elf Race. Has Yue Ying taught you anything?" Bai E''s gaze flickered, never expecting such a hidden truth to be thrown out in public. The contact between Yue Ying and himself was known only to the two of them. Others wouldn''t even speculate, or else some hints of it would have reached his ears by now. However, now that his opponent had pointed it out so openly, even if he denied it, those in the city who were curious about his sudden rise would not let go of this possibility. Does it matter? Does it not? Might he be labeled as someone who fraternizes with another race? Who knows? But one thing was certain, the elf named Storm who pointed out this fact at this moment was definitely harboring some ill intentions. "She never taught me to hold back in a fight." Bai E''s gaze turned slightly frosty, whether to garner support or to prove himself, he needed to win decisively, "I will defeat you." Since it was already mentioned, might as well admit it generously. Skulking and hiding would only make it seem more suspect. "Good!" Storm''s handsome face beamed with a bright smile, "That''s what I think as well." Any warrior who does not fully embrace battle cannot make significant progress on this path. Once he truly stepped onto the battlefield, he too was a pure warrior. "Then... let''s begin." As Storm''s voice fell, breezes began to brew around him. Protected by the Wind King, this was the unique power of his Way. Feel the wind, control the wind, become the wind. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In many cases, he was the embodiment of the wind. Light-footed, he seemed to dance out of the dust. Considering the human warrior also seemed to possess a certain ability to control the wind from what had just happened, it was unknown how this would stack up against his own Wind King''s Protection. Watching the two poised figures on the field, the elves in the audience started to show signs of impatience for the first time. "Storm will definitely be alright, won''t he?" "In front of Storm, that human surely won''t be able to cheat anymore!" "Do you really think that human cheated? How could he cheat in front of everyone? If Zoro lost, it''s because he was careless." "That human''s abilities are somewhat similar to Storm''s, he surely won''t be caught off guard." "Xunying, haven''t you seen that human in action? What do you think the odds are between him and Storm?" The pain from old injuries made Xunying''s face turn somewhat pale, and at that moment, she furrowed her brows deeply and remained silent. She was not optimistic about the outcome of this battle. After all, in her view, even Storm... probably couldn''t defeat her as swiftly as that orc did. Meaning even Storm might not be as powerful as that orc, and that human general who had dominated the orc like a child... Chapter 673 - 673: Is it still Bai E 505?_2 If Yue Ying isn''t fighting, who dares say they have even a fifty percent chance? All one can hope for is that the "Wind King''s Shelter" of the storm can create some trouble for the opponent... ... ["Lucky Strike" Charge +3.] Bai E''s eyes, upon receiving this unexpected prompt, indifferently avoided the storm''s fist, which wasn''t particularly huge. Compared to Zoro, the Elf known as Storm was indeed slightly more troublesome. After falling into his Abyssal Domain, Bai E could distinctly feel another force that could contend with it to some extent. Before the power within the Abyssal Domain could peak due to repeated collisions, the invisible force surrounding the opponent was completely capable of neutralizing the pulling force of the Abyssal Domain on him. This allowed him to closely approach without being thoroughly toyed with and completely defeated like Zoro. "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" Storm''s strikes were as fast as startled swans, and his movements were far more agile than a fish in water. Seeing Storm immediately display a sort of "suppression" effect upon entering the fray, the Elves spectating burst into excitement, "I told you he''s no match for Storm!" "Once he''s up against Storm, his true colors are revealed, aren''t they?" "Zoro was just careless, not expecting humans to have such strange tricks up their sleeve, otherwise he wouldn''t have lost." Unfortunately, the smiles on their faces didn''t last more than three seconds, as the sound of a physical collision instantly resonated throughout the arena. "Bang!" The fist landed solidly on Storm''s abdomen, and even his light-as-a-feather body was blasted away by the punch. With a "duang," he crashed against the edge of the Spiritual Barrier around the field, then plummeted down. "Bang!" The sound of his body crashing onto the ground rang out like a warning bell in every Elf''s heart. ... "How could this be?" ''It''s still come to this...'' Xunying''s face, already pale, turned even frostier upon hearing the exclamations of his fellow kin, with only a bitter smile hanging on his lips. How could that human general be strong just because of that strange ability? In his initial encounter with the beastman, he relied solely on his pure physical strength, suppressing the beastman without giving him a chance to fight back! Did they really think getting close would lead to victory? Having observed the entire battle between the human general and the beastman, she was well aware that the human general''s initial fight with the beastman was purely a display of brute force without much technical advantage. It was just that the beastman was a blockhead, lacking any method to turn the tables when overpowered by strength. If it had been that human general from that time, perhaps Storm, or even Zoro, might have found a way based on skill to maybe pull off a lucky win. But it seemed as though, in the battle with the beastman, looking for a way to save energy, the human general had honed his combat skills to the point of seamless integration. Facing him now, at the pinnacle of his abilities, Xunying didn''t think anyone she knew, aside from Yue Ying, stood even a half-chance at defeating him. She just hoped¡­ that Storm wouldn''t lose too badly. ... Storm, having risen from the edge of the Spiritual Barrier, shook his head, feeling dazed. Despite their Elves'' seemingly fragile bodies, they didn''t flinch when it came to taking a beating. Although the punch had disoriented him greatly, the few seconds of shock hadn''t caused any fatal damage. The punch had caused more damage to the head¡­ At this moment, his mind was in a blank white haze. There was a kind of pristine beauty, untouched by corruption. What happened? Was I punched? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This punch¡­ did it really throw me from there, to here? The lightning-fast moment just now was already a blur to him, but the lingering feeling of that punch in his body was still there to be savored. This¡­ how am I supposed to fight this? I thought it was just a bit of strange ability that sneakily took down my own kin, Zoro, when suddenly the opponent pulled out a new advantage and told me that this was actually my trump card. How do you fight this? Storm''s mind was a maze of confusion, but the opponent wasn''t going to give him much time to think. Bai E didn''t actually mind giving this somewhat dazed opponent a bit more time to think of tactics. It''s always better to discover one''s own weaknesses during the sweat of battle to make early amends than to be fatally struck at a critical moment by an enemy. But unfortunately, the audience wouldn''t allow it, nor did Bai E believe he had that ability. Landing from afar like a cannonball, Storm instinctively dodged with the lightness of a feather. But this time... he keenly felt that the pulling force on his body was far stronger than at the beginning. Storm, who controlled similar abilities, immediately became vigilant, realizing the true nature of this human warrior''s ability¡ª It drew on the residual power from the battle, whether his own or his opponent''s, turning it all to his own use. As the fight progressed, this restraining force would only get stronger. His protection from the Wind King was fixed, but the opponent''s strength increased with the fight. And it wasn''t born from Spiritual Energy, nor did it have any issues of endurance... You can''t withstand it up close, and fighting at mid-range is just a slow death. The conclusion was clear at a glance, and reason returned to Storm''s mind. Instead of losing all dignity to a beating by the opponent, it was better to admit defeat! At least one could then ensure a healthy body and a clear mind for the subsequent battles and strategic rivalry with the humans. With this thought, Storm shouted, "I concede!" "Whoosh!" The fist, with the force of the wind, stopped less than twenty centimeters from Storm''s face. Bai E raised an eyebrow slightly and withdrew his fist. Since the opponent had already surrendered, it wasn''t appropriate to pursue and attack relentlessly. Only he felt a bit regretful internally, ''Such a crafty creature.'' Not having been able to give a sound thrashing to this blabbermouth annoyed Bai E. However, from the humans'' perspective, achieving victory without a fight was seen as a higher level of skill. "General Bai E!" "Awesome!" Cheers thundered through the air! Even if some of the less combat-savvy spectators felt the victory was too easy, there was also a sense of guilty pleasure, as if their own people had secretly cheated. But the opponent had formally conceded, so could they report their own side? The frustration of having lost all previous contests against the Elf Race was finally exhaled fiercely, making General Bai E, in the eyes of all the human spectators, instantly the strongest warrior in the city! Without peer! Watching Storm return, still somewhat disheveled, the old human said with a beaming smile, "I''m sorry, but it seems we''ve won this contest." Storm tried to keep a stern face, merely snorting coldly, "A win or loss in one or two contests doesn''t mean anything! I admit, occasionally there are a few exceptional individuals among your human warriors. We may have lost this contest, but in the next..." "What do you mean ''may''?" the old man chuckled coldly, pressing the point. "That''s right!" Storm, choked by the retort, glared fiercely at the other, but the occasional pain in his chest made it hard for him to maintain his composure, and he quickly changed the subject, "But in the next contest, you won''t be so lucky! Our contestant remains the same. What about yours?" "Ours?" The old man''s lips curled into a cold smirk, firmly and fiercely uttering a name, "General Bai E!" The old man had initially refused General Bai E''s request to participate in all the contests. But after the first contest''s decisive victory by General Bai E, one couldn''t help but feel an unrealistic hope for him. For politicians like them, such illusory hope was the last emotion they should harbor. But what could be done, when he was Bai E? And with the endorsement of Helen of the Scientific Research Institute, since they had already won one contest, why not let General Bai E try again? Once again hearing the name that instinctively made one''s heart tremble, Storm stiffened, "Still Bai E?" Chapter 674 - 674: 506 Fortunately, they are allies Realizing that his behavior might reflect poorly on the Elf Race, Storm''s expression tightened, and he quickly resumed his usual aloof and proud demeanor, "Hmph, the next contest is about understanding technology, what can a mere martial artist achieve?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There can never be an all-around talent in this world. Even the elves, who have lifespans far longer than humans, rarely possess expertise in every area. Using one''s hands and one''s brain are naturally two opposing domains. Even their mighty Prophet, after deeply studying the path of fate, had seen her talents in combat gradually wane. If their Prophet couldn''t be proficient in everything, Storm certainly didn''t believe that an ordinary human... Even if his strength as a martial artist was indeed a bit formidable, could he also be a renowned scientist with profound research in technology? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Storm''s mouth curled into a proud and icy smile, "I''m just reminding you that if you humans insist on this decision, we certainly won''t refuse." Although the old man also harbored some doubts about General Bai E''s ability in scientific research, he wouldn''t show any sign of weakness, replying without conceding an inch, "We''ll see!" "Then we''ll see." Both sides huffed coldly and turned to leave. The competition in technology was straightforward: if the previous round was about reverse engineering each other''s racial technological products, this round would be about reverse engineering a "public good." On this planet, aside from humans and elves who possess remarkable levels of technology, there was only one other option: artificial intelligence. "So, the second contest is about who can quickly transform these creations from artificial intelligence into types that their own race can easily use!" the judge declared, looking at the elf and human contestants with an expressionless face, "Do you both understand?" "Understood." "Understood." Bai E and the scientist from the Elf Race both nodded calmly. The products of artificial intelligence technology were unfamiliar to both sides. Although artificial intelligence''s origins were closely tied to humans, ever since they became a brand-new form of life, their technology, inherited from the Golden Age, had been optimized to adapt to this new life form. This optimization for mechanical adaptation was the core barrier in their technology, so even humans, who nominally share a technological lineage, had no particular advantage in this respect. At least on the surface, it seemed fair to both sides. Humans had seized a variety of artifacts from artificial intelligence¡ªtransport vehicles, armored cars, motorcycles, gun carriages, and so forth. As creations of artificial intelligence, these objects naturally held research value. But adapting them for human use came at too great a cost; it was far more efficient to dismantle and recycle the materials, even building a new one from scratch would be cheaper than attempting to modify them. Moreover, the number of samples wasn''t large enough to be significant. So they were neither recycled nor studied with much interest, and were left to gather dust in storage. Only today, under these special circumstances, did they finally find a modest use. Looking at the array of artificial intelligence creations before him, Bai E murmured internally, ''Add points!'' [Payment: 600 points of scientific research experience, 300 points of universal experience.] [Current artificial intelligence artifact mastery experience 500/500, you have successfully mastered "Level 3 Artificial Intelligence Artifact Mastery," and you synchronously receive 3 technology points.] [Artificial Intelligence Artifact Mastery (3/3 level): You are thoroughly familiar with the conversion of all artificial intelligence artifacts, except for "Giant Constructs" and "First Generation Artificial Intelligence," into human-compatible artifacts and maximizing their effectiveness. You also possess skilled manual abilities, and from now on, given the necessary auxiliary equipment, you can transform artificial intelligence artifacts into human-compatible types with "extremely high" efficiency.] This was a proficiency in transforming artificial intelligence artifacts that had dropped from a First Generation Artificial Intelligence he had previously encountered, which was likely akin to a mechanic among artificial intelligence, as it had created most low-level artificial intelligence, thus being entirely familiar with their core barriers. Having inherited human technology from the Golden Age, it was also well-aware of human characteristics. This mastery made the transformation between human and artificial intelligence technological products crystal clear. With this special knowledge applicable to the current contest, this was exactly his field of expertise. The moment he possessed the knowledge, looking again at the artifacts before him, what once seemed like mere constructs suddenly became clear and understandable. While still gazing at those seamlessly integrated mechanical artifacts, their interior structures appeared crystal clear to Bai E''s eyes; his mind instinctively came up with several modification plans, each with more than one approach. The difference between manned and unmanned designs is unimaginably vast. Whether human observation is required, including post-transformation designs, must comply with detailed technical specifications such as fluid dynamics. Although looking like "vehicles" created by artificial intelligence, to fully harness their true functions is an entirely different challenge compared to simple modifications for compatibility. After brusquely moving a vehicle into the modification bay, Bai E, familiar with the process, set to work effortlessly. Images from both modification bays were simultaneously displayed to all the spectators; however, many in the audience had shown a lack of interest even before the contest began. Chapter 675 - 675: 506 Fortunately, they are allies_2 The last scholar contest was quite dull, with two so-called scholars tinkering away for ages, only to end up with extremely calm and icy operations. It was completely silent throughout, without even a hint of excitement to be seen. However, the moment this contest began, those audience members who had been dozing off suddenly opened their eyes wide. "Holy shit!" "Is this dude starting again?" Familiar faces, familiar inexplicable maneuvers. In contrast to the other side''s cautious scanning and research, this side was bustling with vigorous and bold actions. The sound of mechanical cutting echoed clearly in the ears of every spectator through the broadcast screen, creating a lively atmosphere as if composing a rousing orchestral piece. "..." Storm turned his head askance, full of suspicion in his gaze towards the elder, ''Are you playing dirty?'' Had the humans already deciphered the technological barriers created by the mechanical beings and kept it a secret all along, unwilling to use it to supplement their forces, preferring to spring it on them in today''s contest against the Elf Race? It didn''t make sense! Would they really not utilize their technology just for today''s illusory contest? Did the humans also have a Prophet of their own?! "He must be messing around!" "Just posturing, don''t panic!" There was some restlessness among the other elves sitting beside Storm. "What''s the use of being fast? A rushed modification is a waste of effort." The speed of modification was one aspect of the contest''s scoring, but the functionality of the modified product was another important component of the score. Without too much guessing, the outcome soon became apparent. Looking at the completely transformed technological creation on stage, everyone''s eyes sparkled with eagerness to try it out. It looked quite professional, but could it actually be used? "How about getting someone to take it for a test drive?" The elder glanced at the Elf Storm beside him, somewhat nervously ordering his subordinates. The modification was so quick, even faster than the Scientific Research Institute''s people, but was it any good? What if it was all show and no substance, falling apart as soon as it started? They would be the laughingstock of the elves for eternity. "Understood! Sir!" The driver responsible for testing the vehicles drove several different ones around the professional test track for a few laps, and when he got out, his eyes were blank, "Aren''t you testing some new types of vehicles?" Converted from mechanical beings'' vehicles? He felt nothing off? Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It perfectly matched human driving habits, with every detail seamlessly integrated, as if it was designed specifically for humans. How could this have been modified from a mechanical creation? Everyone must be joking with me. The driver was certain of it. Under the "pressure" from Bai E, the Elf Race''s scholars had to speed up their modifications. The product, which looked a bit awkward, appeared before everyone''s eyes, just judging from its appearance. Bai E''s product was of a piece, as if it was custom-made based on a professional designer''s blueprint. The Elf Race scholars'' product... it was hard to describe, one could only say it had a certain Orcish technology''s charm. Sitting inside his scholars'' modified vehicle, an elf wanted to say a few good words after driving around the track a couple of times, but he couldn''t help spitting out a mouthful of foam. Still, he stubbornly gave a thumbs up, shouting loudly, "Good!" The vehicle behind him burst open with a thunderous crack, expressing deep agreement. "..." "..." Storm''s face was as dark as charcoal, "Next match!" "Although we have already won three out of three matches, we humans are still the masters of this world, and we''re willing to give you a chance to challenge us. If you can win one match next, we''re also willing to compete with you from the beginning again," the elder said with a smile. Returning an opponent''s own words without changing a letter is the ultimate delight. "No need!" Storm''s face turned utterly dark. He had never expected that this human martial artist, who seemed a bit slow-witted, would also possess such profound technological expertise. No wonder Yue Ying mentioned him several times in intra-race communications, it seemed that there really was something exceptional about him. And a city capable of nurturing such an all-around talent must indeed have some unique advantages. Was their complete defeat before genuinely just showing weakness? If that were the case... forming an alliance with this city didn''t seem entirely out of the question. Unintentionally, Storm''s mindset had begun to shift. However, his expression hardened in determination the next moment¡ªno matter what, they could not afford to lose the next two matches! If they lost again, they would have to consider whether elves would have significantly lower status and no say in the partnership. After all, if they were inferior in every aspect, what position would they have to negotiate? "Next is the exploration and understanding of high-dimensional space, and we still have Danniro as our representative," having reconciled himself to the prospect of cooperation, Storm instantly changed his arrogant demeanor to one that was serious and meticulous. But the old man''s words instantly made his blood pressure surge again, "Our representative will still be Bai E." "???" ''Do humans have no other talents apart from Bai E?!'' This thought almost showed on his face as Storm looked disapprovingly at the old man before him, suspecting that after winning three matches, he was trying to give elves some semblance of dignity. Humans love to keep up appearances! After all, how could anyone truly excel at everything? ...Excel at everything? ...Excel? ...Excel? "Danniro? Danniro? Wake up?!" As he heard his people calling the participant''s name, Storm just closed his eyes, feeling a throbbing between his eyebrows. Understanding and exploring the high-dimensional world can be done in a very simple way¡ª Both sides would take turns to visit each other''s "spiritual" worlds, experiencing the other''s perception and insights into the high-dimensional world. This was a common communication method among the spiritual energy practitioners of the Elf Race. Such exchanges typically reveal vague content that is unspeakable, indescribable, almost like a psychological suggestion. This reciprocal visit can be a contest, but it often serves as mutual improvement, filling in each other''s gaps. The original intent of the five matches was indeed to foster mutual understanding and bonding between the personnels of the two races... at least that was the pretext everyone maintained. But now... What exactly had Danniro seen in the other''s world that made him faint so quickly? What on earth did you see, hey! Storm approached Bai E, for the first time initiating conversation with this unique human, "What exactly did you show him?" "It was the ''image'' I ''saw'' when I first awakened my spiritual energy," Bai E replied calmly. Bai E had never considered this method of "visiting" before, but following the instructions of the Elf Race''s referees, he controlled his spirit to allow the other party into his mental world. The moment after they entered, they fainted. Looking back, Bai E could vaguely understand from the feedback of spiritual energy that the other party must have seen the gorgeous cosmic ''image'' he perceived at his initial awakening of spiritual energy. And the reason it was this image... Perhaps it was because the initial awakening image is similar to a "home background screen" for each spiritual energy awakener, isn''t it? If not deliberately controlled, the first glimpse during a "visit"... would reveal it. "Initial awakening?" Storm felt a throbbing in his temples and couldn''t help feeling some resentment, ''Yue Ying, what else haven''t you clarified to us!'' If just the image from the initial awakening could make Danniro faint at a glance, what level of an image was it? What kind of monster is this Bai E...? But fortunately, he is now an ally of the Elf Race! "Then let''s proceed to the next match," Storm had already resigned himself to the fact of their defeat. Outmatched in skills, there''s nothing to say. "Next match, the hunt, the demon!" Chapter 676 - 676: 507 High-dimensional Desert? "Okay, our next contestant will still be Bai E!" "Fine then." Storm sighed, feeling as if everyone had become numb. It didn''t matter anymore, it was still possible for there to be those talents who knew a little of everything in this world. This was also normal, their Prophet was actually someone who knew a little of everything... The hunting ground for demons was in high-dimensional space, after all, the probability of encountering demons in the material world was actually not high. Waiting passively guaranteed an encounter with demons, but seeking them out actively was not an easy task. Only in that mysterious high-dimensional space, there were endless demons waiting to be hunted. Humans and the Elf Race rarely ventured into high-dimensional space to find those demons, even when studying high-dimensional spaces, they were conservative and restrained. But when it came time to hunt demons, all that was needed was... to burn one''s Spiritual Energy while releasing the suppression of one''s own spiritual light. When burning Spiritual Energy, the reflection of human or elf Spiritual Bodies in high-dimensional space appeared like a bright lantern in that "dark" space. The more intense the burning, the farther its light could reach, naturally increasing the probability of attracting more demons wandering in that mysterious space. This kind of active behavior was generally tantamount to courting death, but it became necessary when both races communicated and understood each other''s capabilities. "You two can start now." The referee said softly to the human and Elf Race participants seated before him. The one who hunted demons of higher quality and quantity within the allotted time would be the victor. High-dimensional space lacked the concept of time and space, so this time was based on the bodies in the real world. No matter how the Spiritual Body roamed in high-dimensional space, the closely related body still existed in the material world. By relying on this connection, the perception of time passage by the body in the real world could serve as a "time" beacon for the agreed-upon actions in high-dimensional space. Bai E nodded, finally really connecting the knowledge he had read in the books with reality. As he and another contestant from the Elf Race closed their eyes together and transferred their consciousness to their Spiritual Bodies projected in high-dimensional space, the world before Bai E transformed dramatically. This was somewhat different from the learning he had followed behind Yue Ying before. Previously, it was about exploring the "self," with Spiritual Energy turned inward and converging; now, it was for exploring the "world," so the Spiritual Energy was open and active. It was constantly receiving all sorts of "information" from the outside world to complete the observation of the "world." Through the "eyes" there was darkness... Physical attributes had no meaning here, only pure spiritual force was eternal. Moreover, the darkness seemed alive, writhing at the edges of vision like some kind of soft-bodied creature, with "probing" tentacles and stinging sensations intermittently stimulating Bai E''s spiritual senses. Those with higher Divine Power were more likely to ascertain more truths about the "world," naturally making their Spiritual Energy more powerful, but... the closer one was to the truth, the more one risked being assimilated and corrupted by the high-dimensional space. The ignorant are fearless, while the knowledgeable face tribulation. Bai E tentatively began to burn his Spiritual Energy, and the self-imposed restraints on his body and soul quietly lifted their long-standing dual control. The arm before him began to emit a holy white light, and Bai E curiously lifted his arm, observing the specific details of his Spiritual Body in high-dimensional space. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hee hee hee hee hee hee~" The low, strange laughter emerging from the darkness likely indicated that the first emotion Bai E exhibited¡ªcuriosity¡ªwould summon a demon related to the associated authority. Similarly, demons wandering in high-dimensional space, if a hint of "emotion" suddenly appeared rippling through space, a demon with a related authority would be more likely to sense the change from a farther "distance." As for the rank of the demon, it was purely a matter of luck. There was nothing absolute in high-dimensional space, unless one entered hand in hand, blending Spiritual Energy beforehand. Otherwise, even if individuals entered high-dimensional space side by side in the material world, this mysterious space would separate them into completely unrelated areas. What was in the area was pure luck. One might run into a dormant great demon, or there might be nothing at all, with Spiritual Energy burning for a long time without even a single demon noticing. If one wanted to return, one should look at the "feet" or scrutinize the core of oneself. There was a shining light point, the channel through which consciousness returns to the physical body in the material world. Of course, this return might seem like "an instant" in the material world, but in high-dimensional space... one must ensure there are no enemies nearby that can disrupt the return. Otherwise, the Spiritual Body returning would be completely defenseless, and even the most powerful beings would struggle to escape an attack from even the most ordinary low-level demon. "Hee hee hee hee hee hee~" The numerous strange laughs from the darkness were hard to locate and count. Bai E just cautiously enveloped his entire body with Spiritual Energy, ready for anything. One breath... Chapter 677 - 677: 507 High-dimensional Desert?_2 Two breaths... Ten breaths... A hundred breaths... The close connection of his physical body to the material world informed Bai E that in fact, not much time had passed outside, yet his spiritual body in the high-dimensional space felt as though a long period had elapsed. An emotion similar to nervousness could infinitely magnify the spiritual body''s vague sense of "time" in high-dimensional space, gradually expanding what was originally an "instant" to something nearing "eternity." Yet, the will of any creature is hard-pressed to remain focused and concentrated for extended periods, and with "time" passing, the spirit will inevitably relax. The spirit is the source of spiritual energy; spiritual energy is the manifestation of the spirit. Any change in the spirit will be immediately reflected in the spiritual energy. Those cackling laughs from the darkness had this very purpose, to use scare tactics to make Bai E expose a fatal flaw on his own initiative. Born from the first covert conspiracy plotted by the deities of cunning, what is managed is not only mankind''s strong curiosity but also the origin of all conspiracies and tricks in the world. In the darkness, numerous "eyes" watched the ignorant prey, and these low-level demons, able to inherit only a single ability, felt immensely proud and utterly satisfied simply by seeing their targets fall into deep panic at their manipulation. Be afraid... Be terrified... Then expose your fatal flaw, and let me tear apart your entire spiritual body and feast upon it! "Pfft!" The luminous spiritual body, like a bright light bulb, somehow flickered in perception and, upon reappearing, had already punched through its own mist-like true form. In the glowing palm was clutched a "core", emitting even denser black energy, which was none other than its own demon "true name." The demon true name is both a sort of moniker and a kind of "object". "Pfft!" As the glowing palm squeezed gently, this fragile core instantly crumbled to pieces. Annihilation in the high-dimensional space is thorough, and not just common low-level demons but even more formidable primeval demons cannot escape this iron rule. Perhaps in the future, during another massive surge of emotional ripples, a demon of the same origin might be reborn, but it would be a clueless newborn, having forgotten all previous memories and experiences. As the core crumbled, the surrounding space once again fell silent, still as a stagnant pool. And the faint whiff of energy released after the core''s destruction was silently drawn into a clearly visible bracelet on Bai E''s spiritual body. The trials in high-dimensional space are unknown and unheard to others, but the end results can always be recorded by means. The spiritual creations of mankind are diverse, and it''s rather easy to craft spiritual objects that can record how many demons as well as their ranks have been killed. Glancing at the bracelet, Bai E sighed softly, "The lowest level of demons." And even then, only one... The commotion that felt like being surrounded by numerous demons was actually just the handiwork of such a lowly thing skilled in playing some "little tricks." Once its location is confirmed, a light strike is enough to be fatal. Looking around at the darkness, Bai E frowned¡ªcontinuing like this was not going to be acceptable. It seemed he had arrived at a "desert" within the high-dimensional space, where letting out just a little spiritual light was insufficient to attract many demons. If a contender from the Elf Race was lucky enough to plunge right into a horde of demons, and if he were to lose this contest due to luck... Bai E felt somewhat unwilling to accept that. So, he once again relaxed a little control over his spiritual light. No matter how skilled and brave one is, in the face of such an entirely unfamiliar domain, Bai E still did not dare to let loose from the beginning. Now loosening the suppression again, the spiritual light emanating from Bai E''s spiritual body became brighter and reached a bit "farther". It was like bait cast into the center of a lake, quietly awaiting the school of fish to strike. One breath... Two breaths... Ten breaths... A hundred breaths... This time the passage of time was unmistakably real. The tight connection to his physical body informed Bai E that indeed, so much time had passed. But not a trace of movement could be seen in the darkness around him. Oh no, could he have truly entered a desert? A sense of alarm rose in Bai E''s heart, and he felt like exiting and restarting. Logging out and back in is equivalent to refreshing one''s "address" in the high-dimensional space. But this process also requires time, so Bai E decided to wait a little longer... and once again relaxed some control over his own spiritual light. It''s getting brighter¡­ and bigger¡­ The darkness always remained as quiet as a pool of stagnant water, making one can''t help but wonder if they had entered a fake high-dimensional space. Isn''t it said that numerous demons wander in high-dimensional spaces, and spirits with "extremely good" or rather "extremely bad" luck might even encounter the true "native creatures" of these high-dimensional spaces, terrifying entities that all demons, including the Great Demons, would avoid at all costs? Moreover, all these entities had one thing in common¡ªthey would pounce upon seeing shining Spiritual Energy. But how come now, even when I am about to unleash my Spiritual Energy to the fullest extent, there is still not the slightest movement from demons around me? Bai E really couldn''t bear it anymore. Fortunately, he used his Spiritual Energy as a loudspeaker, directly turning on the free mike mode for the entire area, "Hello? Is anybody there? Can someone come out? I''ll even take a demon! A Great Demon or a Prince would do too, hello?" ... The same was true for the mysterious observing viewpoint focusing on the human Spiritual Body in the darkness, which was seemingly oblivious to the oddities around it; its core surged with aggravation. ''So frustrating! So frustrating!'' Can''t you detect such a huge anomaly? This is a high-dimensional space, for goodness'' sake! Where would you ever find such a "place" so clean for you to merrily flounce about? Don''t you realize you''ve fallen into a "trap"? Do you know that?! ... As real time in the material world truly elapsed, Bai E''s Spiritual Body roamed freely through the high-dimensional space as if entering an uninhabited domain, getting sick of using the free mike as he gradually adapted to the erosion of his Spiritual Body by the environment. Time was ticking away, and if I don''t find a demon soon, I could forget competing. Wouldn''t it be too sad if I lost due to a stroke of bad luck? Should I relog to refresh my spawn point? As these thoughts churned, Bai E frowned slightly, then realized another possibility¡ª It couldn''t be, the high-dimensional space actually harbors such a "harmonious" spot, right? Previously, when I unleashed my Spiritual Energy to battle in the material world, my Spiritual Body was subjected to attacks by all manner of ghoulish spirits in the high-dimensional space. It can''t be that I have just unluckily or lucky stumbled upon a high-dimensional wasteland devoid of any demons this time, can it? Hence, when I looked at my surroundings again, the Spiritual Energy of the "Heavenly Eye" spread like a tide in every direction. In the high-dimensional space, this marvelous place, Spiritual Energy is not as limited as in the material world. Those who are equally strong willed and possessed of Spiritual Energy can even temporarily reshape the world with their will. Bai E''s "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy was like a spring connected to the vast ocean, constantly gushing forth with Spiritual Energy that carried an "exploratory meaning." ... The sinister observing viewpoint finally felt a smidgen of satisfaction when it saw the target finally realizing the problem. He finally knows something''s wrong! He finally knows something''s wrong! Explore! Research! Uncover the truth! And then¡­ fall into boiling, "fear." I am the master of this world! I will also be the master of your fate! However, watching the gushing Spiritual Energy, the mysterious core began to tremble a little once more. Too¡­ much¡­ How is there still more? Is his Spiritual Energy inexhaustible? The surging Spiritual Energy soon went from a fountain to a pond, a stream, a lake, and... a vast ocean. So much Spiritual Energy pouring out seemed poised to exceed the carrying limit of the "world" I had created in an instant. The smallest unit that made up this Spiritual Energy was like a myriad of small, vibrant eyeballs, with the pupils in the middle of the white part darting around flexibly. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those curious "eyeballs" peering outwards were like cameras infused with will, scrutinizing every detail of the world they had created with great care. At one moment, even the "Lord of Fear" felt as if¡­ those eyeballs were looking at me! Then, in the next moment, the countless "eyeballs" that had been sweeping everywhere suddenly, in unison, turned their gaze towards my location! Chapter 678 - 678: 508 down? The master of fear, who was targeted by countless "eyeballs" fraught with intent, felt his core shaking insanely, plunging into an absolute climax. Any source of fear could resonate with the core, but his own fear was obviously unable to empower him. The lord of fear only felt his demonic true form trembling as the toxin named fear invaded the depths of his soul. As a result, the special domain closely connected to his will shattered instantly amidst quivering, and a similarly gloomy but more active dark space reappeared before Bai E. However, his spiritual body had already swiftly navigated through this oceanic or space-like realm, rapidly approaching the location of the lord of fear. Unlike dealing with demons in the material world, which could only be hurt with Exorcism Essential Oil, everything in the high-dimensional space was both appearance and true form. The "bodies" that appeared there were essentially conjured from Spiritual Energy, so facing this old foe again, Bai E no longer needed to rely on the once crucial Exorcism Essential Oil to inflict enough damage. Of course... the current Bai E was hardly comparable to the Bai E without Spiritual Energy. The surge of Spiritual Energy that burst forth didn''t dissipate right away; upon discovering this phenomenon-causing adversary, Bai E''s diffused Spiritual Energy had already begun to weave "ropes." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou, who could previously exhibit the "capture" effect with his "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy, naturally allowed Bai E to achieve the same level now. A cage of Spiritual Energy engulfed both of them, forming an "octagonal cage" from which only one could emerge victorious. Bai E wouldn''t bother with such elaborate methods for low-level demons, but such a high-grade "Origin Demon" was not often encountered. Under his gaze, clear words floated above the head of the demon now engulfed in fear¡ª "[???£¨Demon£©£¨Chaos£©£¨Elite£©¡ª¡ªUse ''Lucky Strike'' to kill and drop: Certain (Combat Experience 6000 points); High Probability (Trait: Emotion Absorption); Possible (Spiritual Energy (Fear): 100); Extremely Low Probability (High-dimensional Origin Fragment*1)]" Within the high-dimensional space, this being born here no longer possessed immortality. As long as it sustained enough damage, this current "lord of fear," materialized by "fear," could be completely killed. The high-dimensional origin fragment previously obtained from a demon prince of the war faction had appeared again, and collecting three pieces was necessary for it to take effect. The second piece had now emerged, hinting that only demons of a certain rank could produce such high-level resources. Bai E certainly couldn''t let this go. Spiritual Energy condensed in Bai E''s hands, and amidst a misty aura, the familiar shape of a Longsword slowly revealed itself¡ª the Blade of Ruling Hearts. This enchanted weapon, which had ascended during the battle against a great demon of desire, reappeared in Bai E''s hands. Last time it was used to strike at demons of desire, so all the bonuses on this magic sword were aimed at them. Now having encountered another high-rank demon, it was a good time to use it to farm experience for the weapon''s ascension. The enchanted Longsword emitted a cool brilliance, each slash carrying a despairing aura of death. The lord of fear felt his body being savagely sliced under the snow-like sword light, with even his deepest core trembling violently with each strike. Last time, with such an advantage, Bai E found that nearly impossible sliver of hope in a desperate situation and turned the tables, which filled him with dread for this human. And now, at the start of their second encounter, he was outright displaying an almost crushing posture... If he could find a way to defeat me when his power was far less than mine, what can I do when his strength is above mine? Fear completely overwhelmed Its mind, facing Bai E''s attacks, It could only think about fleeing without any intention of resistance. "[The soul-eating demonic blade has absorbed a small portion of the target''s essence; the special attack effect is upgrading 2450/3000.] (Cumulative)" This might be the easiest encounter with a demon that Bai E had ever experienced. The master of the space was also subject to the dominance of fear. When fear devoured the mind, the fearful incarnation known as the "lord of fear" could only be driven by pure emotion, spiraling into absolute loss of control. An opponent who only retained the most basic combat instincts of evasion and blocking was merely a moving target. As its health rapidly depleted, the lord of fear had only a sliver of life left. The high and mighty Demon God, imitating the pleading posture of humans, knelt to beg for mercy like those enslaved refugees in the cave, deeply groveling on the ground, "I submit! I submit! Just do not kill me, and I''ll do anything for you! Here is my true name, you can take it. If you find me the slightest bit disagreeable, a simple squeeze could end my life!" "[Faced with the submission of a high-dimensional Demon God with infinite potential, you decide...]" Bai E''s icy gaze fixed on the fully obedient lord of fear before him, who, mired in boiling fear, lacked any capability to devise plots or schemes. The true name, under the scrutiny of the "Heavenly Eye" Spiritual Energy, was intricately and tightly connected to Its body and was clearly Its true core. Chapter 679 - 679: 508 down?_2 A high-dimensional demon with immense potential and willing to surrender? Bai E extended his hand slowly towards the core that represented the true name of the Lord of Fear... Feeling the gaze that prowled up and down around him like a sharp blade, the Lord of Fear trembled like a quail. With his head bowed low, he retracted all his sensory capabilities towards the outside world, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, displaying an attitude of complete submission as he entrusted his fate to the other party. "Pfft~" A soft shattering sound transmitted directly from the true name that represented the absolute core to the body above, and the Lord of Fear, realizing what had happened, finally dared to raise his head to look at the expressionless human spiritual body before him. "Why...why?" A high-dimensional Demon God completely under control as a loyal subordinate, was an honor inconceivable to any human being. But him...but him... How could he reject it? How could he possibly reject it? A sense of annihilation stemming from the laws welled up; the Lord of Fear, trying futilely to grasp at something with its ghostly claws, eventually became nothing but a calm and harmless ripple in the high-dimensional space amidst an expanse of deep and obscure darkness. The ripples finally trembled twice, returning to absolute calm. [You chose to crush the true name of the surrendering demon, rejecting its contract offer.] [Loot acquired: Battle Experience 6000 points, Trait: Emotional Absorption, Spiritual Energy (Fear): 100, High-dimensional Origin Fragment*1.] The spiritual energy with an attribute of fear was being gradually deprived of its fearfulness, transforming into pure spiritual energy and slowly merging into the sea of Bai E''s own spiritual energy. When this absorption process was complete, Bai E''s spiritual energy was set to surge by another 100 points. In the high-dimensional space where the concept of time and space did not exist, a moment in the real world was sufficient for the spiritual mill to completely eradicate the emotion of fear. [Your Spiritual Energy +100/100, Current Spiritual Energy: 570/570.] The cultivation increases of Spiritual Power Managers always occurred incrementally, point by point. It was rare to encounter such a situation where spiritual energy surged instantaneously. The sudden explosion of spiritual energy that surrounded Bai E instantly tensed the spirits of all the external Observers watching the two contestants. In a way, spiritual energy, which could represent the laws of the high-dimensional space, also had multi-dimensional expressions. When a spiritual body in high-dimensional space bursts with spiritual energy, corresponding fluctuations of spiritual energy also occur around the body of material world that is closely connected to the spiritual body. External Observers who cannot follow the contestants at all times could use this to roughly determine what possible situations the contestants might be encountering. In a dire situation, people from the outside also have the ability to forcibly pull the consciousness back from the spiritual body to the physical one, causing some damage and loss to the soul but better than being eternally toyed with by those demons in that mysterious and unpredictable high-dimensional space. In fact, from the very beginning, they felt something was off about Bai E''s spiritual energy. If the spiritual energy of the competing Elf Race contestant could be likened to a calmly flowing stream, then Bai E''s spiritual energy was like a raging tsunami. At a certain moment, the sudden surge not only startled the fearful Lord who had set up a trap, but also made all the external Observers start to tense up. Such a sudden fluctuation pointed to only one possibility¡ªBai E had encountered a demon. And it was a difficult opponent! Otherwise, a normal outburst wouldn''t be so tumultuous and decisive. Feeling the spiritual energy fluctuations that seemed to envelop everything, Storm, who had never imagined a human could possess such strong spiritual powers, was completely stunned. "Is your General Bai E a rank three or a rank four spiritual power powerhouse?" Otherwise, how could one explain the terrifying magnitude of spiritual energy that felt like the sound of waves echoing in one''s ears, causing palpitations? Aglaya lifted her brows indifferently and replied, "Rank two." "Rank two?" Storm was taken aback, "How could it be rank two?" "Once General Bai E returns, you can ask him yourself," Aglaya replied softly, her gaze turning somewhat worrisome as she watched Bai E''s physical body sitting cross-legged in its original place. One breath... Two breaths... Ten breaths... Bai E''s spiritual energy aura maintained a considerably high level of fluctuation; could it really be that he had encountered some troublesome opponent?! The elderly man, who had always been indifferent towards Bai E, an artificial being and disposable asset, began to worry as well, looking around in the hope of finding some opinion to refer to, "General Bai E won''t have met with any mishap, will he?" "Should we pull him back?" "Yes, we cannot afford to lose General Bai E." "Although General Bai E''s spiritual energy is almost endless, if this eruption continues, I''m afraid he might have encountered some high-tier demon that he can''t beat..." "Even the great demons of the Desire series are no match for General Bai E. Could that place really pose a difficulty for him?" "That''s hard to say..." The so-called "Thousand-Faced" demon from the Desire series might already be considered an absolute high-level demon in the eyes of most humans, perhaps even the strongest demon to descend into the material world. However, this "strongest demon" is nothing much in the demons'' home dimension¡ªhigh-dimensional space. A slight miscalculation and one would run headlong into one of the Four Gods or the true native creatures of the high-dimensional space; then, the feast would really begin. Although the probability of such an event is so small it''s practically negligible, a small probability is still a probability. If it truly occurred, there would be no help for it. "So, General Bai E... he won''t be so unlucky, will he?" As General Bai E''s formidable spiritual energy fluctuations persisted, the elderly man became increasingly tense, "Why not... take a simple vote? Aglaya, what do you think?" Dealing with demons may be the Arbitration Place''s domain, but making judgments about situations like this one is a specialty of the Spiritual Power Managers Center. Faced with the elderly man''s question, Aglaya, her brows lightly furrowed, dared not make a rash decision. After hesitating for a moment, she still bit her lip and said, "I think... we should trust General Bai E." "You all should trust him too," a gentle voice suddenly rang out from afar. The calm and soothing voice reached everyone''s hearts, causing an instinctive surge of endless goodwill toward the owner of the voice. All eyes turned towards the direction of the sound, and they saw two slender figures moving toward them with an unhurried yet swift grace. "Prophet!" "Prophet!" The elves, led by the Storm, instantly bowed in greeting. The human leaders, who had long heard of the Elf Race Prophet''s name, all nodded with smiles and greeted softly, "Prophet." A slight smile on her lips, the Wind Elf''s gaze lingered on the figure with closed eyes sitting cross-legged, and her ruddy lips parted slightly, "General Bai E is not in danger; you can rest assured." Her prophetic abilities certainly couldn''t show her a future too detailed; however, amongst the fragmented and blurry visions, this human warrior would undoubtedly lead everyone through the barriers... there was no doubt about that. Therefore, nothing could stand in his way before that moment. Calm eyes quietly observed the expressionless human face, and ripples stirred in the heart of the Wind Elf. Only when she truly confronted him, observing from up close the "battler" engaged in combat, could she from the depths of her soul feel that shocking spiritual illusion spoken of by Yue Ying... An eternally burning, cold sun. This human body was certainly not his true form! Where did he truly come from? And what future was he bringing to this world? "Shush!" The sudden surge of spiritual energy made everyone tense, but upon sensing that Bai E''s spiritual energy aura had become even more profound after the fluctuation, everyone on the scene looked at each other in disbelief. "General Bai E''s level of spiritual energy... has improved again?" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 680 - 680: 509 He can! And the improvement wasn''t just a little bit. The connection between the Spiritual Body and the physical body is indeed precise, but it isn''t so detailed that it can reflect everything without exception. The dramatic fluctuations that are happening now can only mean that General Bai E''s level of Spiritual Energy has risen again during his trials in high-dimensional space, and not just risen, but skyrocketed! Dozens? Hundreds? Otherwise, such a degree of aura change would not have occurred! No one knows exactly what situation General Bai E encountered in high-dimensional space, but to be able to achieve such breakthroughs in combat is still an incredible advancement. For a moment, all spiritual energy practitioners felt a tinge of envy. They didn''t know how long they would have to endure hardship to accumulate dozens or hundreds of points of Spiritual Energy, and yet, General Bai E had managed such growth instantly with just one high-dimensional training session. No wonder General Bai E rose above those who came before him, easily accomplishing feats that others could not achieve in a lifetime. Just as everyone was still marvelling at General Bai E, a similar intense fluctuation of Spiritual Energy appeared on the Elf Race contestant seated cross-legged beside Bai E. The moment she sensed it, Yue Ying, who was quick to glance over, was startled. A form of scrutiny from higher-dimensional space traced back to her the moment she observed her clansman''s condition through her "sight". That look carried the thoughts of its owner, and someone like Yue Ying, a powerful wielder of Spiritual Energy, would instinctively keep every sense enriched and strengthened by Spiritual Energy. Even a mere gaze connected to Yue Ying''s own "spirit", and observation was always mutual; while she observed others, they were also observing her... It was like a fierce beast from the darkness suddenly lunging at her, and the quick-reacting Yue Ying immediately severed all control over that line of sight, including the slightest bit of spirituality contained within it. Although this action might mean she would forever lose some of her capacity for Spiritual Energy, it was still better than being pounced upon by that unseen beast. Yue Ying stepped back half a step with a slight stagger, her complexion somewhat pale. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clan member... Sensing the abrupt strangeness of her older sister, Yue Ying immediately supported her sister''s soft hand and softly asked, "What''s wrong?" Yue Ying replied with a hint of a bitter smile, "Garuda... I fear he won''t be able to return." "How can that be?" Yue Ying''s first reaction was one of disbelief. However, the other Elf Race members present didn''t question the Prophet''s authority in the least. They had already accepted the hard-to-accept reality the moment they heard Yue Ying''s words. "What should we do?" Fengbao looked at the Prophet with a solemn expression, seeking guidance. Yue Ying frowned slightly, remaining silent. Seeing such a wary expression on her sister made Yue Ying realize almost immediately what kind of existence they might be dealing with. "Could it be... Him?" "Mhm..." Yue Ying nodded slightly, her expression bitter. Even a so-called Prophet, of course, wasn''t omniscient. Furthermore, the more powerful the being, the greater the turbulence they could cause, let alone in a place like high-dimensional space, where the concept of precognition is meaningless. Beings who voluntarily enter such chaos naturally cannot foresee their own fates or disasters. Apart from some rough knowledge about an individual''s destiny to predict personal fortunes and misfortunes to an extent, she couldn''t do much more. And such precognition wasn''t something that could be done casually; except for those marked by fate as "core" individuals, all other beings were mere backdrops. The fact that a clan member encountered "that one" during this competition was an unforeseeable event for her as well. Even if this so-called "that one" was actually just a "false god" within a seal, its authority was still not something she could contend with. The "disaster" nurtured by the Elf Race was an absolute nemesis for all of its members. "We''ll have to give up on him..." Realizing this, Fengbao''s face fell as he voiced the unbearable decision. Getting lost in high-dimensional space and dying in the material world are two completely different fates. In the material world, even death, aside from causing regret amongst Elf Race kin, didn''t really lead to much emotional upheaval. But to get lost in high-dimensional space, they, the Elf Race, would almost certainly fall under the control of "that one." That meant enduring torment that could last tens of thousands of years, virtually endless. Every member of the Elf Race could empathize, only hoping that if one day they too fell into such a plight, their companions would grant them eternal peaceful slumber. "Not... Prophet of the Elf Race, what exactly has happened to your people?" The human elder asked in confusion from the side. The cryptic discussion among the Elf Race left the human listeners completely bewildered. All they knew was that the Elf Race''s contestant had probably encountered some unimaginably formidable opponent. As for how they, while in the material world, could "see" what was happening in high-dimensional space, that must be attributed to their tribe''s magical "Prophet", right? "If it''s some kind of formidable enemy, we could totally pull him back, right?" Chapter 681 - 681: 509 He can!_2 Their General Bai E had already slaughtered his opponent and even made considerable progress during the battle. However, the Elf Race''s contestant had to be actively pulled back by an external force, tantamount to forfeiting mid-game. At that moment, the victor was clear! Nothing was more thrilling than the settled dust of victory. Win! Big win! Win till dizzy! In a show of human grace, the elder waved his hand grandly, "If you find it difficult, our Spiritual Energy users can take over the task." "We can''t pull him back." Storm waved his hand, rejecting the old man''s kindness. If it really was as the Prophet had said, the one who intervened, then bringing back their tribesman would only bring total scrutiny, plunging all the present Elves into an abysmal predicament! But... how could He have discovered Garuda! Storm clenched his teeth tightly, fear and sadness intermingling, causing his body to tremble slightly unconsciously, but he knew that a certain bone-chilling command had to be issued by him, "Sever the connection between his Spiritual Body and his flesh... then, bury him." If one''s body and soul must find true peace, and if the soul is doomed to fall, one can only try to give his body a natural destiny of returning to nature. "No!" Yueying suddenly spoke out, her gaze stubbornly fixed on her sister, "I want to give it a try." "Yueying..." Wind Spirit stared at her younger sister, feeling somewhat incredulous. She should know what she was suggesting, why was the current Yueying willing to confront even the ultimate bane of their Elf Race? "We cannot possibly be His match." The more a Prophet knew, the more they understood the powerlessness of fate. When facing that legendary "deity," the only thing the Elves could do was to run and hide. "No!" Yueying shook her head, her cool eyes serious and resolute, "This is my responsibility, I want to give it a try." When she had exerted herself against the Bug Race on the battlefield, the burst of her sword had been too great, and she had sensed a terrifying voice from a higher dimension. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It couldn''t be such sheer misfortune for their tribespeople to occasionally explore the higher dimensions, it must have been her own exposure that attracted "His" special attention. Under His command, there were myriad demonic factions, and He surely wouldn''t personally keep watch. Just sending a couple of significant high-ranking demons would doom her tribespeople. As long as it wasn''t Him in person, Yueying felt there was a glimmer of hope. And that hope... was him! Yueying had never been disappointed in her own cultivation, but if facing a demonic emissary from their destined nemesis, her confidence would dissipate completely. "He once defeated ''A Thousand Faces''." Yueying recalled Bai E''s own words, at this moment, her sole hope, "If it''s him, he will definitely be able to rescue Garuda!" "Wait a minute! Wait a minute!" The elder protested more anxiously as he listened, "Did your tribesman touch something forbidden? What does that have to do with us? Why should General Bai E risk his life with you? I disagree!" How easy was it for us humans to finally produce such a War God? Bai E''s comprehensive strength shown in the competition had completely shattered his prejudice towards artificial beings; setting aside other artificial beings, this War God... had transcended his origins. "I agree." A calm and steady voice rose amidst the quiet, Bai E opened his eyes gently, a light smile on his lips as he looked towards Yueying, who was the first to look his way. "Miss Yueying, let''s go." All that he had obtained along the way was indelibly linked to the unrequited, one-sided efforts of this Elf Race miss; why should he refuse to lend a hand when she faced a troublesome issue? Witnessing Bai E''s calm smile, a surge of emotion suddenly welled up from the deepest part of her heart, and Yueying''s face broke into a wide smile, a mix of relief and gratitude, with a hint of unspeakable affection, "Thank you." "General Bai E!" The elder exclaimed in frustration from the side. These Elves were no slouches either. The thing they were all so afraid of to the point of directly forsaking a tribesman, could it be anything good? If it was just some simple favor, I would''ve helped without a second thought, considering the collaboration needed between our two races. But that type of thing that might even leave the War God stranded there, let''s not touch it if we can avoid it, huh? Bai E looked at the speaking elder with a smile playing on his lips, a cold smile hanging at the corners of his mouth, "I have made up my mind." The unfamiliar smile startled the elder, not knowing whether it stemmed from reverence, respect¡­ or fear? He chose to remain silent in a somewhat dazed state. Yueying made her way to the position between Bai E and her own clan members, a pair of delicate and slender hands gently grasping Bai E''s palm, just like the first time she guided him through the mysteries of high-dimensional space, their fingers interlocked, their breaths mingling. Only by doing so could they ensure that the two of them could follow in the footsteps of Garuda, a member of their clan who had already entered the high-dimensional space, and appear at the same high-dimensional "landing point." Looking at the two, their eyes closed and their breaths seemingly one, a Spiritual Energy wielder observing them expressed curious doubt, "Wait¡­ how did General Bai E come back?" After consciousness enters the Spiritual Body mapped to the high-dimensional space, it still maintains a close connection with its physical body in the material world. However, this connection merely allows one to return at will, not implying that one can also receive information about everything happening around their physical body in the material world. Without receiving information, why would he choose to return on his own? This question wasn''t just his own concern, after it was raised, it also instantly became the concern of many others. Standing in place, the wind spirit''s eyes were somewhat fixed on the figure interlocking fingers intimately with her sister. Deep in her pupils, darkness loomed¡­ ''I can''t see¡­'' I can''t see anything anymore¡­ The fractured snippets of the "future" that could once be seen were completely gone the moment Yueying and Bai E resolved to save Garuda together. Of course, this didn''t necessarily signify an absolute bad omen. After all, once it involves ties with the gods of the high-dimensional space, the future always becomes chaotic. The existence of the four gods is eternal, a physical embodiment surpassing temporal and spatial rules. The moment "the future" is intertwined with them, blurring the "prophetic" vision is an obvious fact. But the unknown¡­ always triggers unease. The future isn''t always constant, and who knows whether Yueying''s actions will bring some unbearable change to the potential future that could have been¡­ Two Spiritual Bodies, hand in hand, pass through the void''s "ascension" process closely connected, their thoughts just arising on one side are directly received by the other. Yueying was also curious about Bai E''s return, "Why did you come back on your own?" If Bai E hadn''t voluntarily returned, she had already planned to seek Bai E first, just like tracing Garuda''s "landing point" now. "What could I do if I couldn''t find anyone?" Bai E responded helplessly. The vast high-dimensional space is indeed like a barren desert. With or without a dominator of fear creating a "mirage" the result remains the same, after defeating the dominator of fear, he loitered around his surroundings for a long while, blasting the "horn" across all areas, yet not a single demon stretched forth an evil claw toward him. Did he just fall into the "desert" of high-dimensional space? Bad luck! Bai E could do nothing but return first, planning to switch to another "landing point." Unexpectedly, upon his return, he heard that Yueying''s clan had encountered some terrible matter. "What exactly did your people encounter? Why can''t even your Prophet face it directly?" "¡­" Yueying bit her lip, hesitated for a long time before softly responding with a faint voice, "Desire..." "Desire?" Bai E instantly recalled the "Thousand Faces" he encountered during the battle at the castle, deeply moved. "Demons indeed aren''t easy to kill¡­" Chapter 682 - 682: 510 Moths to the Flame In a profound darkness, Garuda felt as if his body were floating in the clouds and, at the same time, as if he were in the fiery depths of hell. Gentle touches on his body made him feel as though he was ensnared in a tingling sensation, as if vibrations from the depths of his soul were constantly striking his senses, threatening to take him to a paradisiacal ecstasy. Uncontrollable moans slipped unconsciously from his lips as his entire being, from physical flesh to spiritual body, and even soul, fell into an inescapable depth of intense pleasure. They, the Elf Race, were sensitive from body to soul and easily corrupted. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Any slight external stimulus could bring them the most direct sensations to their hearts. Yet a clear spirit at the very core of his soul always kept him marginally aware of his situation. He vividly remembered where he came from... he and his kin had come to Blackwater City, where humans dwell, and before finalizing a cooperation, several simple contests were to be held, and he was participating in the last competition¡ª Entering high-dimensional space to hunt demons! Yes, he was hunting demons! And this was certainly not the time for such pleasures. Not to mention the current debaucheries, which were clearly traps woven by those cunning demons. The beginning of decadence always started with indulgence. This was the most preferred trick of that bastard, the lifelong enemy of all the Elf Race. And it was this awareness that made him feel as though he was plummeting into an abyss! Dangers surrounded him everywhere. However, the more critical the moment, the more sensitive his entire being became, down to the depths of his soul. ''I must leave!'' ''I must escape this situation!'' ''No! I can''t leave! If I return to the material world, I will bring this calamity upon my people.'' Whether from a mind weakened by pleasure or a logical decision, Garuda felt he shouldn''t return with his current state of degradation. If his soul were truly and completely corrupted, then his flesh in the real world would become a channel for high-dimensional demons to invade the material realm. The others outside were still unaware of what had happened! Or perhaps they were unwilling to give up on him? So at the very least... I should do something! ¡­ Yue Ying, carrying Bai E''s spiritual body, ascended from the material world with that spark of his kin''s spiritual body to the high-dimensional space. The clan''s air mechanism, which he had actively connected with, was already slowly transmitting the sensations he felt directly to himself. A hazy confusion was causing Yue Ying''s consciousness to momentarily slacken. Her gaze grew slightly hazy, feeling as if everything before her eyes was veiled in a thin, gossamer mist, becoming ambiguous and blurred. All sounds, shadows, dialogues, and the figures close at hand seemed to quietly drift away from her perception, maintaining an elusive sense of presence. Yue Ying began to feel some restless stirring within her body... She tried to say something to dispel the strange sensations she was experiencing at the moment. So she softly asked, "Why did you come back on your own?" However, the reply in her ears had already become both a distant echo from the horizon and a whisper murmuring close by. The strong masculine scent mixed within the warmth struck her especially sensitive pointed ears, and the intense urge she had once felt almost immediately surged from the deepest part of her heart, instantly overpowering all her senses. Wave after wave of sensitive stimuli swept over her entire being, and her will, in its last moments of consciousness, traced back to her kinsmen''s spiritual light and "like a moth to the flame" toward that firelight. ''I still overestimated my resistance to "desire"...'' This was the last lucid thought that flickered through Yue Ying''s mind. And then... the world plunged into a rosy veil. ... The expression on Bai E''s face, as his spiritual body appeared in the high-dimensional space, was slightly odd. The originally elegant mermaid-like spiritual body that was holding hands with him had, at some point, clung to his body tightly like an octopus. The perception of a spiritual body wasn''t much different from that of a physical one; otherwise, self-awareness would diverge greatly during the "ascension." And now, the icy cool yet inwardly warm body, akin to a piece of jade just removed from one''s chest, clung tightly to his own. The sensations of every curve and contour transmitted clearly from every sensory part of the body. The other entity''s caressing, up and down his body, provided an intimacy between spiritual bodies that was even more direct to the soul than physical contact in the material world. The small hand that had been interlaced with his fingers still maintained the same closeness, yet, in an unconscious state, it gently rubbed against his palm like a pitiful little beast pleading for a favor. When Bai E looked down, he could only see Yue Ying''s exceptionally beautiful face looking up at him, her spiritual visage almost identical to her physical one yet with an added ethereal delicacy. And at this moment, that lovely face was clouded with desire; her eyes watery, her soft lips slightly parted, seemingly inviting a more intimate next step... Under such absolute stimulation, even Bai E couldn''t help but be moved; the battle spirit he held was instantaneously extinguished under this soul-piercing thrill. Perhaps sensing Bai E''s gaze, Yue Ying exerted a bit of strength and pushed her body upward, her tender lips instantly pressing against Bai E''s, which were only inches away... The union of spiritual bodies is far more soul-reaching than physical contact, producing a thrill and pleasure far exceeding that of ordinary touch. Caught off guard by this sudden encounter, Bai E''s brain exploded with a "bang," and he felt nothing but an empty whiteness. Not only was the close encounter stimulating, but the surrounding atmosphere also became incredibly intimate in an instant. However, a cursory glance revealed a warning: the spiritual body, already tightly bound by several bloody thorn tendrils reaching out from the darkness of the void, reminded everyone that they were still in absolute peril. Under the constriction of those tendrils from the void, the spiritual body symbolizing the Elf Race contestant was visibly dimming at a pace discernible to the naked eye, soon to be fully assimilated as a being of the high-dimensional space. If no changes were made, this spiritual body of the Elf Race contestant would become the plaything of a desire-based demon, and the physical body in the material world, tightly connected to it, would also become a high-dimensional conduit for the swarming desire-based demon. Chapter 683 - 683: 511 Sword light like snow At that time, those waiting in the material world found it extremely difficult to sever the connection between the contestant''s physical body and spiritual body. Bai E mustered the greatest willpower he had ever summoned and suddenly lifted his head, while his right hand reached out and slowly, as if emerging from water, a longsword''s hilt came into his grasp. The sticky threads of spiritual energy, crystalline at the edges, snapped from the corners of their lips. Across the beautifully pale and tender visage of the spiritual body, a look of forlorn pity filled the stunning face with eyes tightly shut. Even those unaffected by spiritual energy would only feel compassion, yearning to satisfy her every desire upon witnessing this scene. However, Bai E, with longsword in hand, could no longer afford to pay attention to Yue Ying''s condition. In the high-dimensional space, every influence of spiritual energy would manifest as a "reality," just as the Elf Race contestant they were supposed to rescue was currently entangled by numerous fleshly tendrils, her spiritual body increasingly deformed. And although Yue Ying, who hung upon him, was visibly affected by the same laws, the genuine corruption had not yet made a direct impact on her. Bai E could not afford to fall into bliss with her, nor could he simply cast her aside; he had no choice but to let her cling to him, coiling tightly around him like an octopus, demanding and grasping. Such a delectable Elf soul was bound to drive the resident "desire demon"¡ªor rather, that group of "desire demons"¡ªto madness. The dark void stirred restlessly, the penetrating desire almost ready to solidify into substance. Bai E swung his longsword, and the dazzling blade light instantly severed a bloody tendril that lashed out at Yue Ying from the darkness. "Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!" In a mere instant, more tendrils attacked from the darkness, and as Bai E''s sword light danced, anything it touched was shattered. [LawHeart Blade (Enchanted Blade): As a blade blessed with radiance, this ornamental noble''s longsword has completed a transformation of its mission. From now on, it permanently carries the attribute of eternal radiance¡ªexorcism, soul flow, +40% attack power against "desire demons," +20% attack power against "non-Four Gods demons," all members under leadership will ignore the influence of "desire laws," unless they actively "touch" or its wielder falls first. Only those who chant the true name of ''LawHeart Blade'' may be permitted to wield it and unleash its full power.] [Your skill¡ªEnhanced *Enchanted Blade has successfully recorded the upgraded racial specific attack attribute (LawHeart Blade) (Stage 2): +40% attack power against "desire demons"¡­ From now on, when you wield any enchanted weapon, you can endow it with such specific attack attributes. However, if you wish to further enhance the effects of the specific attack attributes, you must use that very first "First Blade" that accomplished the leap. Current Stage 3 specific attack effect progress: 25/5000.] Right after slaying the Lord of Fear, the original tier of the LawHeart Blade was once again elevated. The original Enchanted Blade could continue to strengthen through battle after battle. With it now in hand, Bai E easily shattered all enemies that came at him. Becoming somewhat familiar with the strength of the opponent, Bai E prepared to rescue the Elf tied up by the tendrils of desire. However, just as he was about to act, a brilliant light suddenly burst forth from the gradually dimming spiritual body. The warrior, summoning his last bit of will, opted for the most fervent blaze, whether to alert his kin "who may still be unaware" or to urge any hesitating kin to act. The intense soul flames exploded from his spiritual body, shattering many of the tendrils that encased it while also briefly illuminating a small area of the surrounding darkness. But the light was quick to fade, immediately counterattacked by the animate, oppressive darkness. In the face of the world''s might, an individual, even when burning life, will, and everything, can only be like a duck feather floating on water; after a slight ripple, there is no more aftermath. [Your skill¡ªEmotional Absorption has absorbed a tiny amount of emotion, transforming it into a small addition to your spiritual energy, Spiritual Energy +5/5.] The last burst of fervor burned the tendrils that enveloped him, as well as his soul. The spiritual body, now just an empty shell like a crystal casing without its core, floated alone in the vast darkness. The elf contestant, whose soul had completely perished in flames, naturally couldn''t reconnect with his physical body in the material world anymore. Even the demon that had taken possession of his spiritual body couldn''t use this connection to make his physical body, so closely linked to his spiritual body, a channel to invade the material world. In such a resolute manner, the elf named Garuda decided to die. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He didn''t know that rescue had already arrived. Nor did he know that the incoming rescue might have been able to pull him out of his dire straits. All he knew was that as a child of the material world, he couldn''t possibly bring this danger to his people... even if the price were the complete annihilation of his soul. ... In the instant perceived by heightened spiritual senses, an intense brilliance couldn''t escape the notice of everyone present endowed with spiritual energy talent. With her eyes slightly glossed over, Storm Eye murmured softly, "Garuda is dead..." Tears glistened in the eyes of the female elf as she said, "He willingly burned his own soul, not wanting to let the demon possess his body and corrupt us..." "Wasn''t it said that General Bai E could rescue him?" "Perhaps this was his last lucid act of will... He didn''t have time to wait for the rescue." After all, General Bai E and Yue Ying had only just set out on their mission to trace and save... "The person is already dead... Can we ask General Bai E to come back?" whispered a human concerned for the safety of their War God. However, in the next moment, the lithe, not particularly burly body once again erupted with spiritual energy fluctuations even more intense than before... "Has General Bai E been entangled too?!" ... Even the now-useless spiritual body, which was merely an empty shell, still retained a last vestige of consciousness that had not yet fully dissipated. Once again, fleshly tendrils that had momentarily been burnt to nothing shot out from the dark, oppressive void, like ravenous hounds trying to drag the unconsciously floating spiritual body completely to their side. "Swish!" A longsword, cleaving yin and yang. Pure white sword light, like a streamer, swept majestically across the void, melting away all the aberrant flesh it touched, as quickly as snow under the warm sun, dissolving into nothingness. In the flash of the sword light, even those breathing-like flesh pits in the dark were illuminated. Spiritual energy surged like a tsunami, and Bai E''s gaze was colder than it had ever been. Chapter 684 - 684: 512 Permission Granted Spiritual Energy flashed brilliantly, as the blinding light radiated unrestrained from Bai E''s Spiritual Body. Bai E had already felt some irritation that his earlier frolics around the world hadn''t attracted a single demon, and now seeing these many demons committing evils, his bursting intent to kill surged forth. Bai E didn''t mind lighting the flame of light here, to become the sole illumination in this dark high-dimensional space. With a shiver of his Longsword, Bai E''s Spiritual Body shot like an arrow toward the writhing flesh pits hidden in the darkness when the light had flashed by moments before. Those pinkish chunks of flesh resembled a cave of blood and meat, with walls full of disgusting, mutated flesh covered in synapses. And as Bai E charged straight ahead, countless sharp claws and teeth surged from the deeper parts of those flesh pits. The creatures that swarmed toward him had bodies similar to scorpions from the waist up, resembling humans, with two hands that were like the large pincers of a crab. They were the second-order demon elites Bai E had encountered before in the battle at the castle. The so-called elites were not a rarity among the demons of the high-dimensional space; in fact, the lowest-level "Slaves of Desire" from the castle battle didn''t even qualify to appear in this high-dimensional space. Only these elites constituted the basic unit of the vast army of desire-based demons in high-dimensional space. Bai E, carrying his Longsword, with a dainty body hanging in front of his chest, charged fearlessly into the deepest part of the swarming army. With a sweep of his sword, endless severed limbs were scattered. Bai E immersed himself in his stream of consciousness, directly ignoring any external influence. Facing the endless and all-encompassing mental assaults, the retaliation that had been building up in his soul was also itching to strike. In an instant, the many demons attacking from all around that radiant Spiritual Body felt a dazzling light emanating from their core... Stream of Consciousness Burst: When your wrath accumulates to a certain level, any target facing your inner self will suffer the violent backlash of your inner wrath. Infinite rage, like a gigantic wave, will sweep everything away, and the Longsword will become its sole bearer! Within a certain range, you can instantly land a fatal blow on every enemy that peeks into your heart! A dazzlingly bright point of light burst forth from the center of where Bai E''s Spiritual Body was, radiating outward with tremendous force. Within the light, countless demons strained their eyes, desperately attempting to escape the expanding sphere of light, but upon contact, their cores were instantly extinguished by an irresistibly immense power. Endless wails shrieked through the air, causing the entire high-dimensional space to mourn the moment. When the number of like demons in a given high-dimensional space reaches a certain threshold, that area essentially becomes the territory of that attribute of demons. However, after the extremely bright light flashed by, everything ceased to exist. The claws resembling scorpions and crabs were gone, the flesh walls throbbing with blood and meat were gone, and the ceaseless invasion of the writhing space on the Spiritual Body was also gone. The darkness by the corner of the eye no longer surged as if it had its own life, and everything returned to a state of utmost calm. The entire space was serene. Bai E shone with his Spiritual Body, challenging everything within the reach of his light in the space, yet the darkness remained deadly still. Not a single creature dared to accept such a challenge, even though this shining soul was precisely the delicacy they all desperately craved. Bai E came beside the soulless Spiritual Body floating in the void, every part of the Spiritual Body at its final moment was vividly life-like, like a masterpiece created by the greatest master. And as Bai E''s palm gently touched it, the soulless Spiritual Body also reached the end of its "life." Just like shattered glass losing its luster, the transparent Spiritual Body quietly cracked apart, dispersing into tiny glittering points of light, quietly and silently blending into the dark space. Completely disappearing from sight... Bai E cast one last glance at the boundless dark space, where the expected desire-ridden Greater Demon had never shown itself from start to finish. The mere presence of those elite demons, along with what seemed more like "environmental" fleshly cavities, had rendered the elves, Yue Ying included, incapable of even the slightest resistance. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking down at Yue Ying, who was still clinging to him and rubbing her small face against his chest, Bai E sighed softly and gently pried open the fingers that had been tightly clutching his left hand. He then placed the hilt of the Rule Heart Blade into her small palm. [Rule Heart Blade hilt transfer: Yue Ying.] In a daze, Yue Ying subconsciously clutched at anything she could hold, and the rule-infused longsword released a burst of Spiritual Energy that washed over her the moment she took it in hand. The mighty power from the rules slowly redeemed Yue Ying, who was deeply mired in "desire," and still embracing Bai E''s Spiritual Body tightly, she gently opened her eyes, which had regained clarity. Yet her face still retained traces of "erotic" allure. "You''re awake..." Bai E said with a smile. Looking up with still moist eyes at Bai E''s face, which was close at hand, Yue Ying, who had regained her senses, once again pressed Bai E''s neck with her left hand hooked behind his neck, and her small lips once more bit down on Bai E''s own. The pervasive stimulation from all over her body was even more wildly arousing with a clear consciousness. Although she had been lost in the onslaught of desire just before, everything that happened around her seemed dreamlike and illusory, as if it were far away in the distance. But that didn''t mean she hadn''t noticed a thing. Yue Ying had seen everything Bai E had done, for they were closely connected. This warrior from humanity, disregarding the natural rift between their races, had struck fervently against those demons to avenge a fellow tribeswoman past the point of no return, which also struck her heart more genuinely than ever. Desire is a reward for love. But it shouldn''t have occurred at this moment. The lips met and parted swiftly. With a forceful grip on Bai E''s neck, Yue Ying again pulled away, holding his jaw with both hands, "After we get back, I will look for you..." With that, she once more employed the technique of consciousness retracing. Two shimmering Spiritual Bodies fell from the high-dimensional space. Not until the dazzling "sun" disappeared into the darkness of space did a low murmur arise within the quiet high-dimensional realm, "What was that..." "He is not a prisoner of the storm..." "Heeheeheeheeheeheehee~" ... In a burst of white light, the long-eared elf looked around curiously at this strange new world before her. Everything was an expanse of white, yet what was underfoot seemed not as empty and void-like as the high-dimensional space had been... It felt more as if one were standing on solid ground. "Where is this?" A dark figure gradually emerged from the white light in the distance. The white-haired girl approached the newcomer with a beaming smile, "Hello, I am Feier Ade. Nice to meet you for the first time. Please take good care of me." Chapter 685 - 685: 513 Returns Yue Ying returned to the material world and subconsciously glanced at her right hand, the longsword that Bai E had thrust into her grip had already disappeared without a trace... Perhaps the moment its authority took effect, it had become some sort of intrinsic item of her own. With a mere thought in her mind, the longsword she had been granted authority over would reappear in her hand, assisting her in battling all demons. Acquired... Mental Flow. Remarkable resistance against demons of desire... Was this Bai E''s gift to her? The moment the authority was granted, she had already become intimately familiar with all the powers she could wield while holding the longsword. Such a level of power, given so freely, it was hard to imagine just how strong he had become. The initial artificial being, who had required her to go easy just to last five seconds against her, had in the blink of an eye grown to this extent¡ªit merely underscored the unimaginable potential for development in humans, a race with such a brief lifespan. Yue Ying averted her gaze, showing no outward signs of anomaly; such a treasure was surely not disclosed to the human leaders of this city by Bai E. Otherwise, given the selfish and cunning nature of these human leaders, they would never allow Bai E to keep it to himself; after all, Yue Ying had long since learned how selfish humans could be as a species. She naturally wouldn''t reveal any signs of change now, so as not to bring the slightest trouble to Bai E. "You''re back?" Seeing Yue Ying and Bai E open their eyes clearly, all the waiters around them, both Elf Race and humans, let out a sigh of relief. Yue Ying and Bai E were losses the humans and elves could ill-afford. After the soul of the elf Garuda was the first to be extinguished, there was a continuous outbreak of unimaginable Spiritual Energy fluctuations from Bai E, which inevitably gave rise to concern for the fates of these two rescuers in the high-dimensional space. If it were anyone of a lesser stature, both sides might have immediately issued an isolation order. In high-dimensional space, let the Spiritual Body die, but never let the connection between the Spiritual Body and its physical counterpart become a conduit for the demons to invade the material world. It was precisely because of the special status of these two that those waiting outside did not dare make any movements or show the slightest laxness. They were always prepared for the worst, with every Spiritual Energy user ready to take action, and the military had even begun to move massive armaments in secret, ready to suppress any anomalies at the first sign of trouble. Fortunately... both returned safely. Seeing his sister slowly open her eyes, the Elf Race expressed a comforting smile. "Yes," Yue Ying nodded, instinctively turning her head to glance at Bai E beside her, who still maintained their interlocked fingers, nonchalantly releasing their tight grip as if nothing had happened, and then turned with a serious expression to report to her kin, "Garuda is no more." Wind Spirit stepped forward and gently touched his sister''s ponytail, "We know, it''s not your fault..." "General Bai E..." Aglaya was extremely curious about Bai E''s experiences in the high-dimensional space, the tall and elegant woman took long strides to Bai E''s side and quietly asked, "What did you encounter in there?" Bai E replied with an expressionless face, "When we arrived, we only saw some fleshy tentacles wrapped around the body of that elf warrior, and our presence also attracted a horde of demons. It was that warrior who, at his life''s final moment, burned his soul to temporarily drive away the attacking demons, allowing us a chance to catch our breath and escape their siege. He was a warrior worthy of respect..." The listeners all nodded convincingly, "Indeed, a warrior worthy of respect." Some humans secretly glanced at the elves with a slightly altered view, ''I didn''t expect not all elves to be so stuck up.'' Annihilating one''s own spiritual energy is a decision against one''s will and instincts, not an easy thing to resolutely commit to. Placed in such desperate circumstances, they themselves might not have been able to make such a harsh decision, it seems there were also determined individuals among the elves. But even those with resolute wills were unable to withstand the erosion of the desire demons on the elves, perhaps these desire demons really were the absolute bane of the Elf Race? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "General Bai E! This time you acted rashly on your own, fortunately without any adverse effects! Let it pass this time, but do not repeat it!" An elderly human stepped forward, frowning sternly at Bai E, who was a head taller. The rise of this artificial fighter was unstoppable, but necessary admonitions were still in order¡ªthe rules that humans must understand, he, as an artificial fighter, must also abide by. If not disciplined now, who knows what he might do in the future? "Yes, sir." After reprimanding Bai E, the elder turned to the delegation of the Elf Race. The outcome of the battle was clear, and according to the pre-competition agreement, the Elf Race had to fulfill three demands of the humans. And since both sides were about to truly engage in deep cooperation discussions, these demands had to be made with some measure of tact. But now, just after losing a clansman, being greedy and making demands at such a time would only be something crude nouveau riche could manage to do. With victory already in hand, humans did not mind showing the magnanimity befitting the masters of the world. The elder smiled nobly, "The bravery shown by your noble warrior in the face of the common enemy of both our humans and your elves is indeed respectable. If there is anything we can help with the burial, please do not hesitate to ask. If necessary, our entire city can cooperate, please... accept our condolences." Storm, acting as the spokesperson for the delegation, nodded with a calm expression, "Thank you for your kindness, but Garuda did not like noise, we will go to the outskirts of the city to bury him ourselves, and in a few days... we will return to discuss the cooperation matters." The elder was waiting for just these words and immediately smiled even more sincerely, "Then we will await your delegation''s return. But I was wondering if your delegation needs to all depart? If someone will be staying, we can make arrangements... " It was clear they were afraid of them running away. Storm gave a wry smile, but then heard their Prophet speak first, "I haven''t fully recovered from casting group teleportation last time; I won''t go for the burial this time. Yue Ying, you stay with me." Facing her sister''s gaze, Yue Ying''s eyes flickered slightly as she nodded, "Mhm." Chapter 686 - 686: 514 Military Parade Yue Ying returned with me to the Elves'' temporary residence in the human city, and Feng Ling took Yue Ying''s small hand and sat down together. A pair of calm and wise eyes quietly stared at her younger sister and asked in an even tone, "What did you encounter in the high-dimension space?" It was clear from General Bai E''s expression that he had indeed engaged in fierce combat. But throughout the whole process, Yue Ying''s aura remained calm, with a touch of expected confusion. Feng Ling was curious as to whether Yue Ying had withstood the temptation of the demons of desire... or for how long she had resisted. Even Feng Ling herself didn''t dare to face the demons of the desire series in person. Perhaps only from her younger sister could she get a hint of firsthand information on how to resist that could be used for future reference. Even Prophets are not all-knowing. Yue Ying bit her lower lip lightly, hesitating for a moment. The Longsword named the Blade of Ruling Heart was given to her by Bai E, but that didn''t mean it belonged to her people. She could wield it and, in critical moments, use its authority to protect her kin within a certain limit, but she couldn''t treat it as her property to dispose of at will... including the right to knowledge. As for her unseemly behavior in front of the demons of desire, that was rather mundane. Seeing the hesitation on Yue Ying''s face, Feng Ling smiled understandingly, "It''s alright, if there is anything inconvenient to say, you don''t have to force yourself. Any secrets about General Bai E you can keep to yourself." "Actually... I didn''t really see anything," Yue Ying said softly, "In the process of tracing the Garuda''s Spiritual Body to the high-dimension space, I had already lost subjective consciousness. I only vaguely saw General Bai E carrying me and obliterating an entire army of the demons of desire, other than that... I don''t know much." "I see..." Feng Ling''s eyes drifted as she pondered briefly and decided not to inquire further. There were many more details she could have asked about. But as she had told Yue Ying if it involved secrets about General Bai E, she did not want to delve deeper. Some things come naturally when left to take their course. "Get some rest then," Feng Ling said with a smile, patting Yue Ying''s hand, "Facing those demons of desire must have greatly drained your willpower." Willpower is a resource that can be depleted, which is why demonic corruption is fatal to all beings. ... The Elves who buried their kin were gone for no more than two days, as the burying itself did not take much time. The trials they had undergone had allowed them to truly recognize the potential of humans. Whether or not General Bai E''s emergence was an exception, as long as he was here, Blackwater City had proven its value as an ally. The business of cooperation between the two races did not require Bai E to partake in discussions; exchanges of interests among the upper echelons were known only to a few. What Bai E could see was that messengers sent by the Elder Council to meet with him had visibly become extremely respectful in their demeanor. And, with great humility, they presented a seal, indicating it to be the credential of an Elder Council member. From that moment, in the city''s highest governing body, the Elder Council, there was now a place for Bai E! This was far beyond the qualifications an ordinary military general could attain. It was only at this moment that Bai E truly reached the heart of the city''s core. After dismissing the messenger, Bai E carelessly tossed the seal onto the table in his private residence and strode out the door. Whether it was the contest with the Elf Race or the discussions about the specific details of cooperation between the two races, the production of artificial human soldiers had never ceased. In the past half-month, the highly efficient production line had already manufactured the first batch of artificial human soldiers with the "Thought Dulling" limitation removed. And today... was the moment for the inspection of all soldiers "emerging from the pods." In the place once occupied by Weslin, now stood Bai E. By the time he arrived, the scene was already full of onlookers. Military officers, curious delegates from the Elf Race, and even members of various factions from within the city who harbored friendly intentions towards Bai E, all greeted him with earnest smiles. To this rising figure who had demonstrated endless potential and currently unsurpassed strength, no one was unmindful of making investments to secure a ticket to the future. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai E''s indifferent gaze swept over those figures, his face not even deigning to show an expression. The one benefit of being born an artificial human was that he didn''t have to pretend to understand worldly affairs, and everyone even believed it to be natural, all convinced that they could teach him the so-called "humanity." They tried their utmost to ingratiate themselves with him. Standing in Weslin''s place, Bai E looked at the silent and waiting phalanx before him. 2,000 new soldiers, this was the number of the first batch of artificial human soldiers. These two thousand pods that produced artificial humans were constantly in operation. It was possible to increase production, but tuning those additional machines would take time; the next batch of artificial human soldiers would be more than two thousand. Bai E''s gaze passed over those faces as blank as a clean slate, the feeling of being mixed among them and lost in this new world still vivid in his memory. Chapter 687 - 687: 514 Military Parade_2 His gaze steadily fixed on a certain spot, where he once stood himself. Just like him back then, the soldier now standing there was full of confusion. After the prohibition of "Nostalgic Dulling" had been lifted, these newly created soldiers had a clearer and deeper understanding of "self," which only made the scene before them more bewildering. At such a moment, the first figure who came to speak before them would undoubtedly leave the most profound impression¡­ just as a duckling fresh from the shell thinks the first moving thing it sees is its mother. This was also why Weslin initially stepped forward to speak. Bai E blinked, his thoughts returning to himself. In a final glance, he caught the number on the breastplate of the soldier now standing in his former position¡ª95B28. Line 95, Type B production chamber, the 28th batch of manufactured soldiers. He wondered what the future would look like for him. Bai E stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his voice, carried by Spiritual Energy, equally resounded across the parade ground, "Welcome to this brave new era, recruits!" "You are here for this new era, bearing the mission to support it for future generations." "Our time is filled with endless threats, and sacrifice will be the first word you must learn!" "The empire is founded upon sacrifice, this is an absolute truth, the blood of martyrs is the seed of the empire, when loyal slaves learn to love the lash, only death becomes the end of duty." The words he used to make up on the spot for players in the past had finally become a bullet that struck the present him. It was unclear whether the words he had fabricated had become the oaths that now bound him or if those subconscious utterances were truly the reflection of his inner thoughts. Only at this moment, as his status had risen, these words had for the first time announced themselves to the world¡ª "For centuries we suffered in silence, sometimes sprouting briefly under the sunlight, and more often than not, we gasped for survival in the deadly shadows. For countless centuries we fought, we died, we sprinkled the enemy''s blood together with our own across innumerable battlefields. Humanity constantly sacrifices itself, it''s our sacrifice that allows the continuity of human blood from generation to generation, not for some great ideal, because sacrifice itself is greater than any ideal. But perhaps, deep in everyone''s heart lies a hope: maybe one day, perhaps ten thousand years later, there will be an era that no longer requires sacrifice, an era in which humanity survives in peace¡­" "..." The more pure the words, the deeper the contemplation they invoked, and the power of the Spiritual Energy Proclamation imprinted these words as pure emotion into the hearts of every listener. Soldiers unaffected by "Nostalgic Dulling" looked at the commanding officer with the upright stature before them, as if recognizing from the depths of their souls the profound significance behind the intrinsic images in their minds. "Sacrifice!" "Our sacrifice is for the future generations to no longer need to sacrifice!" "The world will be reborn in our hands, we are called upon for this great responsibility to come into the world!" ... In the end, all thoughts were condensed into the most determined response, "Yes, Sir!" The unified cry of 2000 people shook the heavens, their resolute intentions even briefly dumbfounding the veteran military officers accustomed to such scenes. "How come these new recruits seem a bit different?" City officials who seldom visited and the delegations of the Elf Race may not understand, but these were veterans of more than a few military parades. Since when did these newly created beings of mixed consciousness become so lucid? Being able to properly respond to orders was already a feat beyond imagination, let alone responding in such unison? "However, it truly is exhilarating¡­" Some officers admired the speaker with reverent eyes. This soldier who rose from the ranks of the manufactured might naturally be a leader; even a few casual lines from him could inspire belief, something that Weslin, the young one, couldn''t achieve. Perhaps¡­ it''d be a fine choice if Weslin just went into a permanent slumber, letting General Bai E stay as the eternal acting marshal of their military district. "..." The officer skilled in Spiritual Energy stood in silence among the crowd, the fluctuation of the Spiritual Energy Proclamation was quite apparent, and perhaps it was this soul-penetrating capacity that made the new recruits respond with such extraordinary clarity. But for a powerful psychic, the ability for every offhand remark to bear psychic maxims was nothing out of the ordinary; it could only be said that General Bai E was their military district''s destined leader. ... "This human general certainly has an extraordinary vision, it would have been great if he was born among our Elf Race!" "With an existence like General Bai E, this city is indeed embarking on a brand new journey." "Our decision to fully cooperate with them may really be the right choice." The Elves had been very selective about the human city they would deal with. But the cities they were interested in did not reciprocate, and there was no need to say more about the cities they had no interest in. "But, my friends, we need to be clear about one thing..." The brain of the storm was always clear-headed, and the Prophet seldom offered opinions. For internal affairs, there must be an actual person in charge, "Are we cooperating with ''Blackwater City,'' or with ''Blackwater City,'' with which General Bai E is associated?" In the calm network of Spiritual Energy, the Elves fell silent, their eyes faintly flickering. Indeed... humans are never a unified bloc. ... ["Lucky Strike" Energy Charge +50.] Having already left a sufficient first impression on these new recruits, Bai E nodded in satisfaction. Having achieved his objective, he had no need to continue boosting his profile. Too much of it, and it would be easy for observing city officials to suspect him of having pretensions of using the troops for his own power. After all, in the open, these soldiers were always "the city''s," not "the military district''s" or some "individual''s." Of course, if that "individual" was the lordsor his son, then there would be no problem. "Now, led by your squad leader, you will register your unique talents to determine the specific responsibilities you will need to assume in future battles!" Following in Weslin''s previous footsteps, Bai E completed the parade ceremony and turned to leave. The new recruits, now with a slightly clearer goal and direction for their own future paths, left in an even more orderly fashion, led by their respective officers, heading to different places to test their aptitudes. The city''s various factions'' observers, satisfied with Bai E''s succinct speech and quick departure¡ª S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In front of other races, he upheld human dignity in his speech, while showing no hint of ambition to curry favor. The only curiosity was... who taught him that speech? The pre-prepared speech was completely unused, wasn''t it? ... The crowd waited in silence before stepping forward one by one. After brief question-and-answer exchanges, they headed off in two different directions to queue at another location. The newly created artificial human soldiers, curious, watched as one by one, their peers ahead were taken to unfamiliar directions until it was also their turn at the front. "What special expertise?" asked the officer behind the shiny alloy desk, his tone cold. "What... expertise?" the new artificial human soldier subconsciously repeated. The questioning officer was getting impatient. Did every new artificial soldier need to be explained individually? His eyes shifted and landed on the chest badge of the new soldier before him ¡ª 95B28. "Wow!" With an exclamation, the questioning officer jumped from his seat, showing eight yellow teeth in the most amiable smile of his life, his gaze becoming somewhat obsequious as he asked, "May I inquire about your inclination in expertise?" Chapter 688 - 688: 515 meeting The artificial human who emerged from Production Module B of the 95 series had become an eminent figure within the military zone. In the absence of Marshal Weslin, who lay in a coma, one could say that they held absolute authority over the entire zone. This artificial human soldier, now a general in the military zone, had been trained in this very facility. The scenes of that time were still vividly etched in the memory, especially since Yueying from the Elf Race had been there to explain alongside. It left a significant impression on him regarding this soldier. If he could remember them, then certainly they would remember him as well. The rise to power had not brought troubles his way, but that was no excuse for complacency. If he were to encounter another soldier from the same production module, he''d better not show any signs of displeasure. Faced with such special treatment, artificial human soldier 95B28 visibly froze, his understanding of the world still forming; he possessed certain awareness but not much. This treatment¡ªso different from his peers¡ªleft him at a loss for what to do next. However, in his mind, the areas of his own expertise were crystal clear. "I feel my body is very... hot." "Hot?" That would indicate a natural talent related to his physique. Great strength? Rapid recovery? High cellular activity? These were the likely aspects. But this was the production module that had created the myth of the artificial humans; nothing could be taken lightly. It was then that a young man in a white lab coat rapidly approached the initial screening area for distributing artificial humans, locking his gaze on the officer who had been inquiring, "You''re in charge here, aren''t you?" "Ah... yes," the officer responded hesitantly. He could guess the identity of the newcomer¡ªwhite lab coats were worn only by members of the Scientific Research Institute, and they were present in this military zone. He had no idea what they were here for. "I''m a student of Helen from the Scientific Research Institute." The newcomer presented his ID, flashing it briefly in front of the officer before glancing over at the long queue, "Have the soldiers from Production Module B of the 95 series been assigned yet?" "Not yet," the officer promptly shook his head and gestured towards the artificial human in front of him, "This is him... Does the Scholar have any orders?" Even though the Scientific Research Institute towered above in status, the student of Helen asked gently, with a serene smile on his face. "The Scholar would like to perform a detailed medical examination on him, would that be possible?" "Of course, it''s possible!" the officer replied immediately. "Then I couldn''t be more grateful," the student sighed in relief internally. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was a task that Helen had stressed must be accomplished, and her demeanor was quite stern. He feared botching it. In a crowded corner at a distance, someone watched the unfolding scene with a playful gleam in their eyes before heading straight out of the barracks. ... Foot traffic on Black Street began to thicken; an orderly gathering place outside the city was, in fact, a public space needed by many. Most did not wish to abide by the rules, but everyone wanted the rules to be observed by others. To regularly inhabit such a place would surely discomfort those of a naturally savage disposition, yet when needed, this place served as an ideal intermediary. Trades, negotiations, exchange of information... Black Street, capable of ensuring absolute Order within its territory, became a mediator for numerous neighboring powers. As for Black Street itself, by collecting just a small service fee, the Order could be maintained in a long-term, stable state, while also stimulating other industries like alcohol and lodging, reaping multiple benefits. Consequently, the growth of the area led to the appearance of one or two unfamiliar faces among the locals, making it difficult to control completely. Xu Ruoguang received a message from an old soldier under his command¡ªsomeone from the barracks had sought them out again. It was not out of the ordinary for retired soldiers to maintain contact with the barracks. But this former contact happened to be Ge Lan, who previously leaked information to the old soldier named Song. Because of his leak, Song had even coordinated with outsiders, partaking in threatening actions detrimental to Black Street. Now that incident had passed, and all the soldiers had completely submitted to the leadership of Black Street. Yet, the informant had not faced any punishment. After all, the individual was merely a leaker, not a mastermind; moreover, he belonged to the military zone, and it wasn''t Black Street''s place to determine his fate. But now, this troublemaker was knocking on their door again¡ªwhat for? Moreover, didn''t he realize that these old soldiers were now firmly in Black Street''s grasp? Xu Ruoguang squinted his eyes and waved a hand, "You go meet him, and I''ll monitor discreetly. Whatever request he makes, just say we need to discuss it further. Understand?" The messenger soldier nodded, "Understood!" The lively Black Street Tavern, after a period of quiet, reopened for service, with nearly everyone present being an unfamiliar new face. The old soldier and an unmasked Ge Lan sat down at a small table tucked away in a corner of the tavern. Ge Lan''s face was as pale and aged as always. Under the dim lighting of the tavern, he almost looked like a ghoul. "Last time it was because of your instigation that Song took such a foolish action. Now, what brings you here again?" The old soldier''s face showed no sign of amiability. Chapter 689 - 689: 515 meeting_2 Since there was no longer a need to smuggle supplies out of the military camp to sell and take a small commission, their interest in maintaining contacts with the higher-ups in the military district had waned, so their stance could naturally become tougher. Of course, the main reason was that they had now latched onto a much stronger support and no longer needed to please on all fronts. However, the camp commander''s face was solemn as he quietly said to the veteran, "I am very sorry about what happened to Song, but I want you to believe that I had no intention of setting you up. The message indeed came from me, but what you did with that information had nothing to do with me. I am here now because I know that all of you have always wanted to secure a fair status. And now... the opportunity has arrived." The words of the other party made the veteran''s heart skip a beat, and his eyes instinctively glanced in a certain direction before he quietly asked back, "Opportunity?" Serving on Black Street was a way of life, but the perpetually unachieved aspiration in their dreams was the ideal. Seeing the subtle expression on the veteran''s face, Ge Lan hooked up a light smile at the corner of his mouth and glanced in the direction the veteran had looked, continuing, "Let me be clear, this is just some insider information I''m giving you out of respect for our past relationship, not an order for you to do anything. Don''t end up causing trouble and then blame me like last time." "Of course," the veteran said, staring intently at the other party, somewhat anxiously waiting for the forthcoming "news." What sort of news could be connected to their deepest dreams? "Your boss on Black Street, he''s just another soldier in the military district, isn''t he? You all know that, right?" "We do." Song had caused trouble last time precisely because he couldn''t contain his anger at the idea that the boss of Black Street was just a simple soldier in the camp. "But in fact, not long ago, your boss became one of the most important figures in the military district, second only to the Marshal. During the time when the Marshal was unconscious due to an accident, he was the highest-ranking officer in the military district. And today, with the latest batch of artificially created soldiers being deployed, this officer now commands an additional two thousand actual troops. Most importantly... he himself is an artificial human!" "What?!" exclaimed the veteran, his eyes widening in shock. The fact that the boss was an artificial human was known from last time. And it was precisely because of this reason that even though the boss had formidable strength, it was perfectly reasonable for him to still be a low-ranking soldier in the camp. The incident last time had been forcibly suppressed, and at the end of the day, it was about overwhelming strength. The boss''s strength might be top-tier for them on Black Street, but for the entire city, it was probably not enough. The status of artificial humans meant he could never bring any substantial rights to other artificial humans. But now, with the boss ascending to such a high position in the military district as an artificial human, such an achievement... Could it be possible for him to now do something concrete for the status of artificial humans? Looking at the boss''s actions on Black Street, it was clear that he was someone with pure and idealistic ambitions. With this thought, the veteran''s heart thumped wildly. "Since I brought you this news, you''re buying the drinks," Ge Lan chuckled, lifting his glass to the veteran as a gesture, "As I said, although we no longer ''do business,'' I''ll still provide you with some information about what happens in the camp for free, out of our old friendship." "Then, thank you very much, Mr. Ge Lan," said the veteran, eyes reflecting contemplation but his face showing a sincere smile, "Today''s expenses here are on me; I''ll speak to the owner. If you''re not tied up at the moment, I have some odds and ends to take care of, so I''ll be off." "Thanks, you go ahead..." Ge Lan leisurely picked up a few peanuts from the dish in front of him and tossed them into his mouth, smiling as he said, "I just came out for a walk and thought I''d share some news with you. You''re busy, so go ahead; don''t mind me." "Alright, I''ll be off then," said the veteran, managing to contain his emotions but still with his heart pounding, as he got to his feet. Behind the scenes at the tavern, the veteran saw Xu Ruoguang, who had been keeping a close watch nearby. "What did he tell you?" Xu Ruoguang asked calmly. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The tavern was noisy and too far away for him to clearly hear what the two had been discussing. Moreover, the two people hidden in the corner couldn''t see each other''s mouth shapes, rendering the newly learned "lip-reading" skills useless. "Nothing useful, just that the military camp unsheathed a new batch of artificial human recruits today, with a quota of 2,000, just like us. It seems the last offensive the camp launched against the Bug Race cost them a lot of men. But there have been no recruitment announcements from the camp lately, so it looks like the new troop reinforcements will mainly consist of artificial soldiers." Military camps... or perhaps, the actions of many institutions in the city had been confidential at the time, but as time passed, traces in the wilderness were gradually discovered, and details about the results and specifics of that attack on the Bug Race nests were slowly pieced together and analyzed. Knowing this kind of news hardly counts as a bombshell. Xu Ruoguang furrowed his brow in confusion, "That''s it?" The veteran said with a serious face, "That''s it." ¡­ "But I feel that he has concealed something," Xu Ruoguang said proactively to the superior who had come to inspect Black Street. "But ever since the last incident, these veterans shouldn''t dare to have any more hidden intentions." "What''s the identity of that officer Ge Lan?" Bai E asked softly. "It''s said that he''s a quartermaster in the barracks, having control over some expiring military supplies, so he''s had cooperative relations in the past with these veterans from Black Street." "Hmm..." Bai E nodded to indicate he understood, "No matter what their plans are, just keep an eye on that group of veterans. As long as they want to act, there will always be traces to follow. I will speak to Gilder about this and have the Wanderers take care of it." The moniker ''Son of the Demon'' was too ominous, and sometimes the behaviors of the players were indeed starkly different from the natives. Therefore, over time and through regular interaction, the natives may not know what a "player" is, but the term "Wanderer" had already spread far and wide. As they spent more time immersed in this game, when it came to executing actual missions, the players were sometimes far more reliable than the natives. "Additionally, I need to go out tomorrow. I came to see if there''s anything here that needs attention. Over the few days I''m gone, I will have someone watching over this place; if any serious trouble arises, she will intervene." Xu Ruoguang''s eyes lit up, "Is it the same superior from last time?" "¡­Yes." Bai E''s gaze flickered slightly, thinking of tonight''s "appointment." Ever since returning from that high-dimensional space, Yue Ying had said she would find him privately. The previous days, due to dealing with their people''s losses, there had been no contact. Yet after today''s military ritual, Yue Ying had secretly sought him out... and her often pale and snowy face was now unusually tinged with a shy blush, leaving him curious as to what she specifically wanted to do tonight? ¡­ As the sun gradually set, Bai E, who was seated cross-legged in his room practicing his Spiritual Energy, suddenly opened his eyes at a certain moment. An outsider''s presence clearly appeared before his eyes. The person had not intended to conceal their presence. Upon opening his eyes, right before him was indeed the slim, graceful figure draped in a cloak, having only removed the hood. "Yue Ying..." "Shh~" The slender elf put a finger to her lips. With a slight extension of her arms, the cloak she was wearing smoothly slipped off her body, quietly falling to the floor and piling up. "Gulp~" Bai E''s Adam''s apple involuntarily moved. Without the concealment of the cloak, the Elf Race''s exquisite form was now perfectly displayed before him, outlined by the tight clothing. Yue Ying, barefoot, stepped on the ground and slowly approached. Her usually aloof face, now had an added mix of innocence and desire... Chapter 690 - 690: 516, try again Yueying parted her legs in front of Bai E. Her petite figure directly straddled Bai E''s embrace, with eyes that held a hint of shyness and active passion, gazing upward like a kitten into Bai E''s eyes. With arms as white as jade caressing from the chest upward, gently brushing over her body, the touch left tingling sensations in its wake. Desire is of course not indulged in among the Elf Race, but the sparsely populated elves still need to focus on the continuation of their lineage. Due to their unique and powerful physiological makeup, the birth of their offspring is particularly challenging. Not only is conceiving difficult, but before the actual birth of their young, both parents need to periodically replenish genetic material. Yet, with the elves'' incredibly sensitive constitution, even the simplest touch can evoke far more stimulation than humans could feel, let alone the full-bodied pleasure of love. Even if the couple strictly reined in their pursuit of pleasure, they would still have to procreate entirely for the sake of lineage, following the rigid protocols to the letter. But in the brief moments lost in a high-dimensional space, Yueying, who had never experienced this before, thought that a slight taste might not be a problem... right? Moreover, since there''s reproductive isolation between elves and humans, she wouldn''t have to worry about prolonged and periodic supplements with this human warrior in the future. Perhaps after once or twice satisfying her curiosity... she would no longer consider such matters, right? Merely through slight bodily contact, the friction caused Yueying''s body to tremble repeatedly. Under the control of instinct, alabaster arms wrapped around Bai E''s neck. Her small hands applied a slight force, pressing down the man''s head. Their hot breaths mingled, lips touching, sweet and soft. As their bodies pressed together, a sense of urgent alarm spread through Yueying''s nerves all over her body, causing her muscles to spasm and completely lose themselves. The shadow beneath the light was forcefully subdued, and Yueying, sitting astride Bai E, shed her form-fitting top. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her fair skin glowed with a faint soft light, her abdominal muscles clearly defined yet supple. With movements that were somewhat wild, she tore open Bai E''s uniform shirt and leaned down... (10,000 words omitted) When the milky dawn light filtered through the louvered window, Bai E slightly groggily opened his eyes. The dream from last night was so absurd that even upon waking, he wasn''t fully clear-headed. However, feeling the softness in his arms and looking down, Bai E saw only a swath of ink-black hair spread over his chest. Warm breath rhythmically pulsed against his chest with his heartbeat, with nothing but whiteness in sight... ''It wasn''t a dream.'' ''Miss Yueying is truly wild...'' With a sigh in his heart, Bai E pulled up the thin blanket to cover her. But the simple movement instantly awoke the little one in his embrace. Ink-colored pupils looked up at Bai E from within his arms, and Yueying''s typically cool voice was lazy like a kitten''s, "Are you up?" "Yeah... I need to go out for a bit, to arrange some things." Yueying''s gaze hooked, adding a mature flavor of savoring the marrow to her previous pure allure, her small tongue licked over her cherry lips, her expression even more enchanting, "Why not, one more time?" "..." Without giving Bai E a chance to refuse, Yueying flipped back the blanket, covering both their bodies completely. Even as he grew considerably, Bai E''s skills in pure physical combat were still no match for Yueying, a true master of combat. Under her swift entangling moves, Bai E could hardly even dream of taking the "initiative." ... "I really need to go now," Bai E said as he dressed in a hurry and climbed out of bed. The taste of an elf was indeed delightful, but that didn''t mean he could neglect his duties. Since his last "arrest" back at the barracks, he hadn''t had the chance to see how Li Ming Town had developed. The last counter-offensive by the intelligences had destroyed much of the town''s infrastructure, including those that were not yet completed. Resources were already tight in the town, and even with Black Street''s long-distance support, they were still separated by the perilous wilderness of this era, and could only hope to give back to themselves through their own development. As for the batch of newly born artificial soldiers, they couldn''t be rushed. These new soldiers had not yet undergone even the most basic training and certainly couldn''t be sent out on the pretext of missions to receive special training in the town. It was for this reason that the development of Li Ming Town had to keep up, ensuring that this first batch of artificial soldiers could be put to use immediately upon completing their basic training. Guidance and molding of their concepts also had to be conducted simultaneously. "I''ll take good care of your territory for you," Yueying said with a warm smile on her lips as she sat in an M shape on the white sheets, watching Bai E''s departing figure. "Then I''ll leave it to you." "No... it''s ''thank you for your hard work.''" ... Bai E''s departure from the camp on his own didn''t cause any stir. After having reached his current position, no one could point fingers at his actions anymore. Riding his motorbike across the wilderness, the occasional beasts that came to block his way smartly kept their distance at the sound of bullets. Chapter 691 - 691: 516, try again When Bai E arrived, the town was shrouded in gloom. "When is the leader coming?" "If he doesn''t come soon, we''ll all starve to death..." It was not a lack of trees or rocks in the wilderness, but creating a city from scratch was still an insurmountable task for them. The most important things¡ªwater and food¡ªwere difficult to ensure. "Stop complaining, hasn''t the leader taken care of us?" "But even with the supplies from those who claim to be from Black Street, it''s still not enough..." "What about the mushrooms we planted in the back? They''re enormous, you won''t starve." "Yue~ Don''t mention those mushrooms! I''ve been dreaming of them for days, I feel like I''m growing mushrooms on my own head." "Didn''t the leader bring us some game meat last time? We''re far from starving." "How many good days have we had? Are you starting to pick and choose? Isn''t being human here better than being a dog in that hellhole we came from?" "Heh~ That''s true, but our leader is awesome, isn''t he? It''s been a while since we''ve seen Sheng Yan and the rest... I wonder what big things they''re busy with, following the leader." "Someone''s coming!" The watchful guards on the outermost periphery of the city ruins immediately spotted a fast-moving line of dust in the distance. It was like a shark in the desert, its dorsal fin breaking through the sea of sand. "Is it the people from Black Street again?" "They left just yesterday, they couldn''t possibly be back already, could they?" The leader, holding binoculars in his hand and standing on a high place, looked far into the distance, "Not a large group, at most one or two people." "Let''s initiate a level-one alert and see what happens." "Yes!" As the dust line approached, the guard leader with the binoculars could finally see clearly who was stirring up the dust. The newcomer hadn''t thought of hiding. His military uniform was starkly conspicuous. The leader leaped up excitedly in an instant, "It''s the leader!" "The leader has come!" "The leader has arrived!" The news instantly spread among the entire population of the small town of over a thousand residents. "Leader, we''ve been waiting for you, longing as we watched the stars and the moon!" Yafei, in charge of the town''s logistics, looked at Bai E with a moved face, "During your absence, we were nearly driven to ruin." "Yes, leader. We only have the supplies we had before. The last time those smart machines attacked and smashed everything, even though we tried our best to recover, there''s barely anything left that can be used. Recently, we''ve come to a complete standstill. Not to mention the steel you wanted us to produce..." The words of the players were as lively as ever, and Bai E looked at them with a chuckle, "I know... you''ve all worked hard during this time." With that, he waved his hand grandly, "I''ve come this time to solve these problems." To resolve the food issue, there was a porridge maker. By strictly mixing various inedible raw materials together, they transformed into a food that could barely satisfy hunger over a long period and provided enough nutrition. In any era, food is always fundamental to survival. Then there was energy... They dared not tamper with the nuclear reactor technology by themselves, waiting until Bai E returned to restart it. The town also possessed many creations from the smart machines. Aside from forcefully disassembling them for parts, the townspeople had almost no way to make use of them. Now with Bai E''s arrival, those creations could be modified into models suitable for human use. "It looks like I''ll need to figure out how to make another trip to the Smart Machinery Factory," Bai E mumbled to himself as he busied himself with work. ``` Previously, there wasn''t the time or the ability to haul all those smart machine creations back, but now that there''s mature technology to modify smart machine creations for human use, there''s the opportunity to source more stock from the smart machines. After all, there''s no better target for a heist than these smart machines. The gadgets are not only practical but also don''t belong to the human faction. Gathering the key personnel of the town before him, Bai E spoke with a grave tone, "Build these basic things as quickly as possible; moreover, I will entrust you with even more critical matters later on." From the Energy Gathering Rifle to the Dynamic Source Sword and including the artificial human production line and biochemical modifications for the human body, I can begin to try and develop them myself. If you want to have the power to overturn the city''s structure, first you must possess the power to confront the city itself. "¡­So before that, you must have a force capable enough to protect yourselves. Choose the personnel yourselves; those responsible for training them will be Gong Yan and his team, whom I''ve already asked to be on their way here." "Understood, my lord," the key personnel all watched Bai E with eyes full of curiosity and admiration. "If there''s nothing else to say, you can all go back to your duties. Yafei and the Wang brothers, stay back for a moment." Teaching NPCs about various production and transformation technologies and science is too troublesome; NPCs definitely need talent and time to excel in a certain field. But players don''t need it. With experience, they can become experts in any trade at any time. Moreover, during the process of teaching them, I can also gain quite a bit of experience feedback, truly killing two birds with one stone, a win-win! ["Teaching" finished, you have acquired a total of 8,000 universal experience points through the "teaching" feedback.] The few players staying in the town didn''t have much opportunity to fight; their experience mostly came from daily interactions with NPCs. A game that was compatible with numerous development paths was played by them as a construction-type "My World," addicted to building and unable to extricate themselves. These life and construction skills turned out to be their favorite; otherwise, they wouldn''t be the ones to stay. The other players, who were less patient with solitude, had already followed Kuang Xin to the city, using Black Street as a springboard to gradually infiltrate every corner of Blackwater City. After setting the future development tone for Li Ming Town, Bai E mounted his motorbike and swiftly headed back. ... Under the cover of night, conspiracy permeated the shadows. In the dim light, a secret meeting in the battle gang avoided most of its members. Wen Jie was dragged into the corner by Langxie who whispered a warning, "You are in charge of the technical side; don''t meddle in the matters of the big shots, understand?" Pressed against the wall corner, Wen Jie glanced at the towering figure before him and nodded blankly in response, "I understand." "Also, warn your companions; I know they are very curious. But... don''t pry into things you shouldn''t," Langxie''s face showed a rare glimpse of genuine ferocity, "I don''t want to end up having to take out your companions." Ever since the last time their "doctor" made contact with "Black Street," a group of odd characters from Black Street had joined their organization. Although their organization always had strict criteria for recruiting, those guys would agree to any demand; they would sign their lives away without hesitation. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And though these people hadn''t shown any warmth towards Wen Jie, Langxie still instinctively knew they were essentially the same. They surely had some strange, hidden connections. Wen Jie''s face showed a touch of difficulty, "That... I can''t guarantee." Everyone is a player; forbidding other players from exploring game content would be too overbearing. He couldn''t do it, and besides, others wouldn''t listen to him either... "Don''t you care about their wellbeing?" "It''s not that I don''t care... it''s that they don''t care about themselves." ... ... Ch¨¬ ch¨². "I''m done with you all!" Langxie turned and left angrily. Before Langxie had exchanged these words with Wen Jie, one of her own had already captured someone eavesdropping in the corner. Langxie, rushing straight to the dungeon, receives an inquiry from her subordinates, "Langxie, he eavesdropped on the boss''s conversation with... that person. What should we do?" ``` Chapter 692 - 692: 517 What should we do? Their battle gang had always been reluctant to kill, but in times like these, when faced with such a fundamental issue of right and wrong, they had to kill even if they did not want to. But... these guys were acquaintances of Wen Jie, after all. If they really killed them, Wen Jie might appear indifferent on the surface, but would he actually be heartbroken? "Ah!" With a light sigh of resignation, Wolf Scorpion waved her hand weakly, "Just keep them locked up." Lock them up until their operation succeeded... or failed. Then, the information these people possessed would no longer have any use. By that time, whether they leaked secrets or not would be irrelevant. "Understood, my lord!" As soon as she had issued the orders, a subordinate approached, "My lord, the leader has sent for you." "Hmm." Wolf Scorpion''s eyes narrowed slightly, knowing that things had come to the final step. After all... it wasn''t the first time that person had come to look for them. The first two times, they could use the excuse that the "final weapon" wasn''t ready yet to ask for more time. But when the other side''s attitude became really tough, they no longer had any possibility to refuse. Meeting an elderly man in the secret room, who wore an eyepatch and was clad in tight-fitting clothes that outlined his muscular frame with white hair, Wolf Scorpion nodded in greeting, "Leader..." "Hmm..." The voice of the elderly man with a full head of white hair was full of vigor, as he merely stated the core issue, "They have come to us for the third time, their patience has reached its limit." "But isn''t the ''final weapon'' still not ready?" Wolf Scorpion could not help but ask. This was not only an excuse for stalling but also a fact. The old man shook his head somewhat disheartenedly, "They don''t care whether our ''final weapon'' is ready or not, they just want us to make some trouble." Their sponsor had funded their development, naturally expecting them to do certain shady tasks that they couldn''t do openly at critical times. To ensure this control, of course, they had something in their possession that could destroy their entire battle gang at any moment. Beyond obedience, they had no room at all to resist. And this time, the other side made their intentions very clear; they didn''t care how significant the battle gang''s achievements could be. They wanted only "a little noise". In other words, the battle gang might very well be annihilated in this operation. Only those who could survive the "noise" and then evade the subsequent pursuit by the hounds could gain true freedom afterward. This was a trial by fire; to pass through it was to be reborn. The leader had a complete understanding of all this, but when he initially accepted the other side''s support, he naturally had his own plans. The other side wanted just "a little noise," but he wanted to use the chicken to lay eggs, aiming to create his own "bigger noise." The "final weapon" was what he hoped to use to fulfill his ambition. But now... it still wasn''t completed before the predestined moment arrived. "I''m not willing to see years of development buried at this moment¡­" the leader''s aged eyes were somewhat distracted, "In the last few days, I still want to try." "Try what?" Wolf Scorpion asked immediately. She was an orphan girl raised by the leader, and to her, the leader was like her father. The scar over her eye was left from a fight with a group of bullying older kids before the leader took her in. A 6-year-old girl was no match for six fourteen or fifteen-year-old boys; it was only by fighting desperately with biting and scratching that... Back then, the leader''s hair was not so white, and he was using the crudest prosthetics, saving her from those boys while simply smiling and saying to the disheveled child, "You''re like a little wolf cub. How about following me from now on?" In the Undercity, it was already quite difficult to survive. She had heard that many girls only a few years older than she had to learn to put on heavy makeup and cater to clients to make a living. She didn''t want that, so she followed the leader. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And followed him... for over twenty years. Whatever the leader wanted to do, she would do her utmost to help him accomplish it. "I need Zhou Wenjie." The old man spoke calmly; his wise and elderly eyes quietly gazing at Wolf Scorpion, "I know he''s someone very special to you... But we''ve cultivated him for so long, perhaps only he can complete the final technical breakthrough." He knew Wolf Scorpion didn''t want that kid called "Zhou Wenjie" to get involved with anything related to the "final weapon;" that way, even if their battle gang was broken up in the end, those hounds wouldn''t bother to chase such unimportant peripheral personnel. But once he touched that stuff, even if he didn''t die in the "noise," he wouldn''t escape the pursuit that followed. Did she really think "technology is innocent"? Many things, once known, become a threat. If there had been any other way, he wouldn''t have wanted to resort to this final step. But over the years, they had tried everything possible. His researchers, who had been studying the same thing with him from their youth to their current age, always spoke of new progress, always saying that they were close to conducting practical tests. However... the "final weapon" never really started operating. Even if these old friends had recently been working themselves to death trying to overcome the final hurdle, it all ended without result. Chapter 693 - 693: 517 ``` Perhaps only that little guy, who is said to be an absolute genius in these technological fields, could complete the final piece of the puzzle. He would never have been so naive as to pin his hopes on one person before, but in the current situation... if he didn''t believe in miracles, what else could he believe in? "..." The Scorpion bit her lower lip, not uttering a word. After about three to five minutes of silence, The Scorpion finally let out a wry smile, raising her head, "I''ll go call him over..." "..." The old man sighed softly, "You''ve had it tough these years." "Not tough..." The Scorpion gazed at the wrinkles on the old man''s face, each one... she remembered when they had appeared, "This is the life I want!" As she walked Wen Jie down the path toward the secret chamber, The Scorpion''s palm gently stroked the back of Wen Jie''s head. She, walking beside him, looked at his soft hair with a shimmering tenderness in her eyes, ''Without me, you wouldn''t survive in this city. After all, it''s a dog-eat-dog world. If there''s a next life, don''t come back. Now, let me take you... to die together.'' Zhou Wenjie saw the real boss of the combat gang for the first time. He was a formidable-looking old man with a rather kindly face. "I''ve heard about your deeds..." The old man said to Zhou Wenjie with a chuckle, "Now, there''s one last technical challenge left in the organization that needs to be overcome, and we need a genius like you to try to unravel it. Time is short, the task is heavy, but I won''t force you." The speaking old man glanced at The Scorpion standing beside Zhou Wenjie. When it came to the crunch, it was he who seemed a bit weak. On one hand were his promises to his old brothers; on the other, his "daughter''s" future happiness. If those old brothers could still speak, he really wanted to have a chat with them... about what he should do. But now no one could give him advice, and he could only look at the little fellow his "daughter" had taken a liking to... What kind of person was he, really? "I''ll be honest with you, this technology isn''t anything good. Once you touch it, you will be hunted by the city in the future. I''m not sure how it''ll end up. And even though we''ve been researching this technology for decades without complete success, even if you join us... there still might not be any results. You have to understand all this." Listening to these words on the side, The Scorpion''s lips moved as she wanted to speak up, but she was stopped by the old man''s wave of his hand. His gaze remained quietly fixed on Zhou Wenjie''s face, "So I want to ask you, are you willing to join? If not... I will have The Scorpion take you away. Leave, to the outskirts of the city. And never come back!" The resources outside the city might be limited compared to inside, and life could be a little dull, but as long as one is cautious, there''s no need to fear losing one''s life. With the skills The Scorpion had developed over the years, the two of them should be able to live well on the outside. And it was said that the old brothers outside the city were doing rather well recently. If things really got tough, they could seek refuge with them as a last resort. The Scorpion couldn''t bear to listen any longer and was about to retort, but then she heard another voice precede her, "Of course I''ll join!" Wen Jie raised his hand, full of eagerness. There was new technology to learn! He had almost completed the task issued by the adult, and had yet to fulfill the last piece of knowledge/technology. Now that he finally had the opportunity to encounter something new, how could he miss it? Feeling the silence after he spoke, Wen Jie cautiously glanced at The Scorpion''s expression. Did he say something wrong? Why aren''t you two talking? ''Are you really that happy?'' The boss wondered, feeling bewildered, ''Did I not make myself clear? This could get someone killed...'' People can''t be fearless of death, can they? Even if they''re living lives that hardly seem human, everyone in the lower city is still trying their hardest to survive. But, upon seeing the little guy glance at his "daughter," the boss understood. This must be love! ``` The daughter took a liking to him, and he liked the daughter as well. For his daughter, he was willing to do anything. Even if it meant going to their deaths together. "Alright, alright, alright!" The leader laughed heartily, an unusual occurrence, "Then it''s settled. Wolf-Scorpion, you take him to find Old Seven and the others. I''m giving you three days. After three days, before the ''action'' starts, take him and leave the city, never to return! And don''t bother finding out what eventually happened to us. After three days, we have no relation to each other!" Whether it would work out or not was up to fate. As for whether the daughter and this young man would manage to evade the hunting dogs'' pursuit... it was up to their own destiny. Wolf-Scorpion frowned and glanced at Zhou Wenjie, her eyes filled with both joy and concern. If "Father" hadn''t brought up anything and directly asked her to join, perhaps her thoughts wouldn''t have wavered. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And if Wen Jie firmly refused, maybe she wouldn''t have insisted. But now... Wolf-Scorpion extended her right hand and grasped Wen Jie''s nape in a half-affectionate, half-annoyed grip, pushing him outside, "Let''s go! Time to see your research!" Wolf-Scorpion''s hand was cold, and Wen Jie just shrank his neck, protesting quietly, "If we''re going, then let''s go, why do you have to clutch my neck..." "Disagree?!" "Agree, agree~" Wen Jie looked up and smiled apologetically, "Sis, I''ll do as you say, your word is law." ... The feedback information that had been silent for a long while was transmitted back, and Bai E received an alert from the panel with some delight. In fact, after issuing some missions to the players recently, he had received quite a few feedback alerts, and he was now summarizing them all together. [From the commission''s feedback, your Insight +0.7, Stamina +0.9, Reflex +1.1, Mystery +0.3, Light Weapon Mastery Experience +350, Light Firearms Mastery Experience +105, Ranged Weapons Mastery Experience +437, Combat Mastery Experience +115, Knowledge - Bio-brain Theory Experience +50.] This time, however, there was an additional experience related to "Bio-brain Theory," which surprised Bai E. This was knowledge essential to his Mecha modification plan 2.0 blueprint, something he hadn''t even managed to find out from Helen, so how come it suddenly appeared in the mission feedback? "..." The attributes in the mission feedback, of course, came from the players who carried out the missions, and among those players, only one was associated with technology¡ª Wen Jie! Awesome! "What''s up?" Seeing the change in Bai E''s expression, Helen asked with some curiosity. "It''s nothing..." Bai E shook his head, directly stating his purpose, "I''ve come to ask you when I can get the second injection of the Gene Optimization Solution?" "The second Gene Optimization Solution?" Helen''s eyes slightly arched as she looked at Bai E, with a somewhat strange look, "If I remember correctly, it hasn''t been more than half a year since you injected the first dose, right?" "Yes..." Bai E nodded, "I just wanted to ask what conditions I need to meet to get the second injection of the Gene Optimization Solution?" "To inject the second dose of the Gene Optimization Solution, it''s generally necessary for the effects of the first dose to be completely absorbed and processed, and for the gene enhancement and modification to be fully stabilized. This process does not take less than six months. In fact, in past operations, only those whose time since the last injection of the optimization fluid surpassed one year were we concerned with monitoring their optimized physical indicators. Not to mention that even elevating one''s actual physical attributes to the upper limit of the optimized body is not a simple matter, as it signifies that one''s familiarity with their body has reached an extreme level. Although this is not a stringent criterion, it is also an important reference in our clinical practice." As Helen spoke, her gaze glanced at Bai E''s body, taking in the vigorous vitality emanating from his frame, her eyes also held a hint of curiosity, "However... if it''s you, I too am curious to see just what level you''ve reached now." This artificial human named Bai E had already created so many miracles, so perhaps breaking the usual conventions regarding the use of Gene Optimization Solution wasn''t such an unacceptable thing, was it? Chapter 694 - 694: 518 training The scan results for the body were quickly presented: [Physical Strength]: 19.2/24 [Insight]: 16.3/24 Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Reflex]: 17.6/24 While still a good distance from the full attribute limit of 24 points after optimization, such an increase was remarkably rapid, even explosive, one might say. Since Bai E had mentioned the intention to inject the Gene Optimization Solution a second time, Helen''s medical indicators were certainly not limited to these. Beyond the basic physical attributes, there were various indicators of gene stability to consider. Attributes were not everything; gene stability was the most critical aspect to consider during gene optimization. Of course, cities that were not as advanced in this area often strove for perfection in every aspect before attempting the next step. And now¡­ Helen stared at the medical report in front of her, a bit entranced behind her gold-rimmed glasses, murmuring to herself, "How is that possible?" His genes had stabilized within less than half a year after injection. Every target who had received the Gene Optimization Solution injection had their pre and post-injection bodily indicators strictly recorded for comparison purposes for the next injection. The data Helen now held showed that this individual''s body had fully stabilized, all genetic indicators had returned to calm, displaying a completely natural state of stability. This meant¡­ he really did qualify for the next gene optimization injection. As for the allocation of Optimization fluid resources¡­ For Bai E, who had become the actual controller of the military region and a member of the Elder Council, this was not a matter of concern. "Based on your current body''s indicators, you indeed meet the basic requirements for the second Gene Optimization Solution injection, but¡­" Helen looked at Bai E, a hint of inquisitiveness in her seductive pupils, "You''re still quite far from maxing out all attributes, and in our practical operations, we don''t recommend injecting when there''s still a significant gap from the limit. Although this situation may not affect the success rate of the Optimization fluid injection or increase your rate of genetic breakdown, it''s highly likely that it will result in a suboptimal second injection, where the increase in gene optimization isn''t significant." Simply put, assuming gene stability is achieved, a second injection after reaching the attribute limits could add maybe three points of optimization, but an injection before reaching the limits might only add one or two points. Every injection of the Gene Optimization Solution is a gamble, and the smaller the growth, the more injections of Gene Optimization Solution are needed, and the more risks are taken. Who always gambles and always wins? Not to mention, the higher the degree of Gene Optimization Solution, the rarer it is. Therefore, maximizing the efficacy of each Gene Optimization Solution is the mainstream practice in cities nowadays. "However... if you insist on trying, it''s not impossible." "Then... let''s give it a try." Bai E said solemnly. "Alright," Helen agreed readily. She would not refuse any of Bai E''s requests; a firm belief in one''s physical abilities and confidence were also crucial elements during the injection process. In reality, Bai E just wanted an opportunity to get closer to the Gene Optimization Solution again. The last time the Optimization fluid was injected entirely by someone else; he didn''t have the slightest opportunity to touch it. Now, as his status had risen, he should have no problem observing the substance for a bit before the injection process, right? Accidentally damaging it under the pretense of research would seem quite reasonable, wouldn''t it? Destroying one vial of Gene Optimization Solution in exchange for thousands upon thousands, what a perfect choice? Having decided on the injection, Helen went off to prepare. The Gene Optimization Solution was incredibly precious; it was difficult to produce and even harder to store. Very rarely did cities have a large amount of the solution ready-made. It was generally produced a few days in advance, according to the need to ensure the stability of the ingredients. Now that Bai E required it, she would prepare the most suitable Optimization fluid specification for him. After saying goodbye to Helen, Bai E returned to the barracks. Three days of basic training had passed, and the various understandings of the battlefield, ingrained in the instincts of all the artificial beings, were sufficient for them to master the most basic combat knowledge. The remaining time was to gradually hone the skills of every soldier through endless practice in the future so that they could all become elite troops capable of standing on their own. And after three days of basic training, it meant... they were ready to receive various commands from the military district and carry out missions in the wilderness. This first mission... Bai E wanted to lead them himself. The news quickly spread throughout the barracks. Even the high-ranking officers, who no longer had any objections to Bai E''s current status, were once again puzzled by his sudden decision. "What? He wants to lead the troops himself for the drilling exercise?" "He doesn''t want a single mid-level officer, just relying on himself to lead 2,000 soldiers?" "No matter how capable he is, can he really act as a babysitter for 2,000 people at the same time?" Military operations and small team commands, or even individual combat, are completely different concepts. If there are few people and you are highly capable, putting in more effort would mean that the mission gets done. But when the numbers increase, if commands are not delivered completely or promptly, without the detail-oriented direction of mid-level officers, just relying on these green artificial recruits who''ve just been out of the oven for three days... believe it or not, they''d probably get lost just walking? Chapter 695 - 695: 518 training_2 "I want to see what kind of spectacle he''ll come up with this time?" Bai E''s position was as stable as Mount Tai, and even the generals who harbored continual resentment towards his origins as a man-made person no longer hoped to use such matters to pull him down from power. At most, they could only hope that after encountering difficulties, he would recognize the role of the original generals, so as to grant them a bit of actual authority. In the military district, generals needed to have control over troops in order to have a say. "Or how about we give him a suggestion? We say, let the soldiers who have completed his training exercise face off against our previous soldiers in a mock military exercise, and we won''t bully him¡ªwe''ll have one thousand of our men against his two thousand. If he can still bring those two thousand recruits back in one piece... how about that?" "Good!" "That''s settled then!" "We must make him realize that we are useful too!" A general suddenly remembered a key point and added, "But the commander isn''t allowed to take part personally when the time comes." "Right, right, right! The commander can only be in charge of commanding." ... More than two thousand troops marched out of the military base with great momentum, heading straight for the wilderness. Bai E told everyone that it was just a training exercise to experience the wilderness of the age, and if they encountered beastmen or creatures like alien species, they could consider clearing them out as well. It was essentially an extermination force, sweeping a certain range around the city completely. And that''s exactly what he did. Not long after leaving the base, Bai E allowed these man-made new recruits to elect some junior non-commissioned officers amongst themselves. Even if he didn''t plan to conceal his moves by sending the new recruits to Li Ming Town for training, he didn''t want to bring along the original non-commissioned officers from the military base. A troop completely his own, of course, had every detail belonging to himself from top to bottom. The original non-commissioned officers carried a background that could not change the base''s original colors. However, this newly formed army had to be entirely obedient to him. Therefore, the non-commissioned officers responsible for grassroots coordination also had to be selected from their own ranks. Only in this way could he ensure that at the necessary moment in the future, they could execute his orders without hesitation. And these new recruits did not disappoint Bai E. They were different from the previous new recruits. Now that the gene ban had been lifted, their minds were far more flexible than those of the past man-made soldiers. In fact, the instructors training them had already noticed this unprecedented trait. But "a bit smarter" isn''t something that can be quantified, and since no one as extreme as Bai E emerged from their ranks, no one spoke up. It was only in such situations, requiring them to make decisions on their own, that this bit of "wisdom" and the changes it brought became apparent. The junior non-commissioned officers needed by Bai E were soon elected by the recruits themselves, with the overall structure maintaining the style of the original military base. Calling those elected junior non-commissioned officers before him, Bai E stood with his hands behind his back, calmly looking over them all, "I believe you all still remember me." The newly elected non-commissioned officers stared at Bai E with a hint of excitement. They vividly remembered this commander who had made a profound impression on them at their birth, serving the same purpose as Weslin had initially, "Yes, Commander!" "Over the next few days, I will lead you in a sweep around the city. Everyone but our kind is the enemy. I have only one demand of you¡ªwhen I walk the paths you''ve cleared behind you, I must not see any moving creature! Can it be done?!" "No problem, Commander!" Bai E waved his hand coolly, "Then let''s move out!" The two thousand man-made new soldiers didn''t carry any heavy weapons or drive any vehicles. Apart from the weapons, ammunition, and food supplies they carried on themselves, Bai E didn''t ask them to prepare anything else. According to this plan, resources would undoubtedly run out by the week''s end... but that didn''t matter. Resources were scarce in this era, but not that scarce. With appropriate execution standards, many things in the wild... could be eaten and used. As for running out of bullets? Didn''t they still have knives? Bai E didn''t plan on having them fight from beginning to end. And he was only preparing to lead them to Li Ming Town for advanced training when the damage reached an opportune moment. Only when faced with challenges that indeed exceeded their abilities did opportunities for growth become more precious to people. This common problem applied not just to natural humans, but to artificial humans as well. They were loyal, but they also had an inclination toward laziness. Bai E emptied his mind and happily followed behind the large army. From time to time, he would teach some clever rookies who came to him for advice a few useful skills¡ª Such as long-neglected "firearm maintenance," "bandaging," "dissection," "cooking," and so on. Picking any one of these skills would amaze these na?ve young men who had seen little of the world, leading them to exclaim in admiration, "Sir, you are so skilled!" "Sir, how do you know everything?" The exclamations from these pure-hearted children were far more pleasant to hear than those from the distracted, and of course, the most important thing was the accompanying increase in their charge values. ["Lucky Strike" charge +112.](Cumulative) After several days of intense training, having encountered a herd of mutated wild buffalo and a small band of roaming orc assailants, most of the soldiers in the two-thousand-strong army showed signs of exhaustion on their faces. But beneath that surface fatigue, there was an even brighter excitement in the depths of their pupils. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They could feel the significant progress their bodies had made during this process. The first three days of basic training were indeed the period of most rapid enhancement for these artificial humans, but this continuous pushing of limits during the intense training also had an excellent effect on their development. However, real combat training was not without accidents, and a single-digit number of casualties still occurred within the two-thousand-strong force. "Take their dog tags!" Bai E stood in the center of the crowd, listening to the non-commissioned officers who had been elected discussing their experiences after yet another encounter. These artificial human recruits were newly manufactured and had not yet established rigid rules among themselves. They had no concept of command hierarchy such as "non-commissioned officers," feeling instead that everyone should give their full effort. The capable advance, the weak retreat. All for the sake of accomplishing their goals. The ranks of the non-commissioned officers were also adjusted many times after their internal discussions. And at every rest, it was their own habit to hold a small meeting among the non-commissioned officers for a debrief. Bai E just listened quietly, until the final moment when after several seconds of silence with no one speaking, he softly said, "Take their dog tags, death is not the end. It is this ever-growing list of the fallen that has forever changed the future of us humans!" "Yes, Sir!" ["Lucky Strike" charge +50.] Bai E looked up at the gradually sinking twilight in the sky. Under his deliberate guidance, the army''s route had reached the closest tangent to Li Ming Town. The days of combat and fresh experiences had left all the soldiers utterly exhausted; perhaps a brief rest would allow them to have a better attitude for the next phase of intense training. After all, circling the city was no small feat. "After resting tonight, we will set out toward that direction in the morning." Bai E took command of the entire army for the first time, setting their direction for when they awoke the next day. The loyal artificial human soldiers never asked why, simply responding in unison, "Received, Sir!" ... With a smile on his lips after leaving the circle of artificial human non-commissioned officers, Bai E took out his communicator used to contact Kuang Xin and the other players, "The army is almost here, are you guys ready on your end?" Chapter 696 - 696: May 19th, Storm is Coming "I''m ready, my lord!" Kuang Xin''s reply came quickly, along with another sentence, "I also have important matters to report to you!" ¡­ "This is intolerable!" The trapped player sat in the pitch-dark dungeon, growing angrier the more he thought, and the more he thought, the angrier he got. Being caught for misconduct meant he was outplayed and had no complaints. Failure is normal, even if it means death, he wouldn''t frown! But now that you''ve caught me, can''t you just kill me quickly with a single stab? Are you still part of the ruthless Underground Fighting Gang? Players aren''t afraid of dying; they''re afraid of boredom. Trapped in a tiny dark cell less than three square meters, logging in just meant staring blankly¡ªit was pure and hard-core imprisonment without a glimpse of hope. "Alright, alright, alright!" If you won''t grant me a swift end, then don''t blame me for discarding the codes of the rivers and lakes. Normally, it''s a tacit understanding that things happening in the game are not to be discussed in the real world. But since you started by keeping me captive without killing me and disregarded the code of conduct, don''t blame me for taking offline measures! Shake things up! I can''t beat you, but I have many more brothers who can. I''m going to release all the intelligence I''ve heard! Let every player in Blackwater City know your conspiracy, reveal your schemes, and then have the city authorities arrest you all! By then, whether I am treated as an accomplice or a victim... However I''m dealt with is better than being locked up here without a shred of hope for the future. Thus, it was the players expelled from Grey Iron City who first learned of this unfortunate fellow''s plight, and people like Kuang Xin, who maintained close contact with those players, naturally came to know of this news as well. The organization known as "Doctor," they were all too familiar with it. And a Fighting Gang aiming to "rebel"? That must be big news in Blackwater City, right? Of course, they didn''t have a clear understanding of the power balance between the Fighting Gang and the city and didn''t know the extent of damage such a Gang could cause to the city if it decided to rebel. All they knew was that with their own strength, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock, and neither party involved was within their current capacity to challenge. If they wanted to successfully interfere... or perhaps aid their actions, they could only rely on the lord. The lord would first determine the course of action, then give them a hint of a task, a win-win! "...My lord, that''s the basic situation," Kuang Xin said eagerly with a gleam in his eyes, seeking guidance from Bai E, "What should we do?" Whether it''s aiding or battling, the decision must be made by the lord. If the lord says they''re bad, then wipe them out! ...Following behind the lord. If the lord says they''re good, then help them! Overturn this rotten city! They are the dawn! They should have come to this world long ago! With a slight frown, Bai E asked, "Are you sure this piece of intelligence is reliable?" "Of course! Our brother''s staked his life for it!" boasted Kuang Xin proudly, thumb pointing over his shoulder. "Fine." Bai E knew the strength of the players'' intelligence networks and had no reason to doubt his followers, who had been with him for so long. "Your brother, is he certain that the action is set to take place in ten days?" "Of course!" The plan was moving much faster than anticipated. His great army had not yet completed its training, and he only had two thousand men from the first draft. He hadn''t expected the nobles to be so impetuous, initiating disturbances so soon after signing the agreement that followed the castle incident. Of course... it might just be an appetizer they had planned. This Fighting Gang named "Doctor" might only be the pawn to kick off the proceedings. In that case... "Return to the city in advance to get ready for cooperation when the time comes. I will give instructions at the crucial moment. You must be careful," Bai E instructed, then handed each of them a mission. [Mission description generating automatically...] [Side mission¡ªThe Storm Approaches (combat commission): Blackwater City is a metropolis built from countless ambitions interwoven into a desire haven, where big figures use living beings as pawns in their plans for their own interests. Those targets that surface first are often but disposable soldiers. Bite into them! To discover the true forces behind the scenes! Mission requirements: Arrive in the inner city of Blackwater City before the designated time and approach the vicinity of "Doctor" Fighting Gang, and gather more relevant information, completion of preparations 0/1. Mission rewards: Generic experience points 50~450 (adjustable), item rewards (TBD).] S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. (Note: "Autocomplete" is allowed; upon confirmation of commission release, "permissions" and "expenses" will be deducted and locked.) [Do you wish to release this commission?] After a quick glance and seeing no issues, Bai E confirmed the release. ¡­ Upon hearing the alert, Kuang Xin, Dai Lian, and others were visibly taken aback¡ªthey had heard momentous news. [Triggered a large-scale faction war precursor mission¡ªThe Storm Approaches.] [This mission will be crucial to all players'' subsequent experiences within "Blackwater City." Your choices are pivotal!] As expected, whether it''s support or opposition, both lead to a path of development. At first glance of the mission, Dai Lian, Gong Yan, and others realized the true value behind the intelligence they had stumbled upon. An event with the potential to alter the entire structure of Blackwater City was bound to involve many parties. Their clue was probably just an entry point into the incident. Elsewhere, there might be other similar clues. What else was there to say? Accept, accept! ¡­ As soon as Bai E received the notification that the mission had been accepted, he gestured for the players to go about their own activities. With only ten days left, that might just be enough time for the artificial soldiers to undergo special training and continue the unfinished task of clearing around the city. He was responsible for the people he led, so naturally, he had to bring them back. As for the mission he had issued, it should not be abandoned halfway. When they arrived at this small town, he told the two thousand artificial soldiers that there was a field camp for refugees known to exist here. He knew the men were short on supplies and feeling weary, so he had them come here for rest and rearmament before setting out again. As to what might happen during the time of rest and rearmament, that wasn''t his concern. Considering that he and his warriors were officially part of Blackwater City''s armed forces and that these warriors had not yet fully pledged their loyalty to him over others in Blackwater City, Bai E naturally could not be too overt about his intentions. He had to leave it to the new soldiers to "understand" for themselves. If you encounter someone formidable, someone you can''t beat, but who is still willing to teach you... How can you not learn? Chapter 697 - 697: 520 provocation Crouched in the corner, watching the regular army who had entered the town and become restless, swiftly throwing themselves into work, even actively helping with the construction, a few players huddled together, whispering, "The lord told us to find a way to get their attention so they would take the initiative to come and learn skills... What method should we use?" "They''re so enthusiastic... They all seem like good people. Are all the soldiers in the Blackwater City barracks so easygoing?" "But actually, they seem to have a sense of pride toward the people in the town, right? Even when they encounter something they don''t understand, they just study it on their own." "After all, they are regular soldiers from the city, feeling naturally superior to the ''displaced persons'' living in the wilderness couldn''t be more normal, could it?" "But how are we supposed to get their attention this way? We don''t have much time given by the lord..." "Pah!" Kuang Xin spat out the grass root he had been chewing and stood up, brushing off his buttocks as he strode forward, "Watch me!" "Hey! Xin, don''t do anything stupid!" Gu Lan called after him, chuckling, somewhat curious about what this guy could possibly do. ... "Captain, this town is weird... They''re not afraid of us at all, are they? Didn''t those elders say that the displaced people in the wilderness are most afraid of us, the regular army from the city?" "Nonsense, this is a town of displaced people who''ve dealt with our superior; of course, they''re not showing resistance to our arrival out of respect for our superior''s face." "That''s true... The boss is really awesome, heh heh~" ["Lucky Strike" charge +1.] "However, the boss didn''t say how long we can rest here... And didn''t issue us any combat orders either, so boring, what should I do?" "If you have nothing to do, go help carry cement. These displaced folks say they''re going to build a town of their own. Their eighth company has already gone, working on it like there''s no tomorrow." "Or go help with farming, I think their farming looks pretty fun." "Farming is fun +1." "I want to farm, too." "But I want to fight..." Xiaoqi hugged his battle saber, murmuring discontentedly to his companion. During the previous encounters with wild beasts and wandering orcs'' attacks, he was always the first one to charge with his battle saber. Only in battle did he feel a kind of instinctive pleasure. It was as if he was born for fighting. Especially when the wandering orcs charged with roars like "waaaaagh," he too felt his blood boil in the fervent noise. Life should be like this! If not fighting, then on the way to a fight! His companion glanced at him, "Want to fight? That''s perfect, someone from their second company accidentally stepped on and killed someone''s pet just now, and they''ve been apologizing nonstop. But the other side still won''t let it go. I think we shouldn''t be too nice to them either." Xiaoqi hesitated, looking at his companion, "But didn''t the chief say we should be polite to these displaced people?" "And the result of being polite is letting them walk all over us? I think we need to teach them a little lesson. The people from their second company are a bunch of softies, getting yelled at like that and still apologizing, it makes my blood boil. You want to fight so much, why not stand up for them? Just don''t go too hard on them, a bit of a lesson to teach them some respect is enough, so they don''t think we''re pushovers." "I think that''s a good idea!" "Yeah Xiaoqi, go for it! We support you!" "Their second company still has that bomb girl, right? You''re always making eyes at her, what a perfect time for a dramatic hero to the rescue, aren''t you going to seize the opportunity? If you don''t go, I will!" Xiaoqi, alarmed, hugged his battle saber and ran in the direction his companion had indicated, "I''m going, I''m going! No one is allowed to steal this from me!" They hadn''t been running for long when a deep, throaty "greeting" reached their ears from afar. "Apologies? If apologies actually worked, what would we need the security team for? You stepped on my little Xiaoqiang, so either someone comes out and lets me beat them up to vent, or give me a pet to step on! Quit apologizing over and over; it''s annoying!" The gentle female voice stood at the forefront, facing the saliva flying from Kuang Xin''s mouth, "I''m truly sorry, sir, but we have orders not to engage in any conflict with you. If there''s anything you need help with, we''re more than willing to assist." "Help with what? I don''t need any help! I just want to beat you up and vent; if you''re a man, step forward!" Watching his beloved Bomb Girl apologizing humbly in front of others, Xiaoqi, who was observing from a distance, couldn''t help but feel his emotions surging, "I''ll do it!" Kuang Xin instantly glanced over, a hint of a smile on his face, "Good! Finally, a man shows up!" "Xiaoqi!" Bomb Girl looked over immediately, her eyes filled with joy and yet a bit of reproach, "The officer ordered us not to fight with them." Kuang Xin, rubbing his hands together as if itching to fight, glanced at her sideways, "What fight? Can''t it just be a friendly sparring session?" "Right, right, right!" Xiaoqi''s eyes lit up, "It''s just friendly sparring! We''re just exchanging feelings; no matter who wins or loses, nobody will get mad or cause even bigger conflicts! Right?" "Right!" Kuang Xin grinned, "Exactly my point!" With that, he clenched his fist and beckoned Xiaoqi with a finger, "Come on! Either you beat me up or I beat you up, and we''ll call it even! We''ll still be brothers." "Fine!" Just the sight of the other guy''s handsome face was infuriating. Xiaoqi felt himself harden! His fists... hardened! Having only undergone basic training and boasting roughly a level 1 proficiency in combat, he charged at Kuang Xin with his bare fists aimed at his face. "Bang, bang!" Seeing stars. Two punches to the eye sockets sent Xiaoqi reeling. So strong... The opponent was... so strong... Lying flat on his back, Xiaoqi could think of nothing else. No wonder he could survive in this wilderness as a displaced person. Such great strength, and so fast too. Xiaoqi hadn''t even seen how he had made his move. He was so skilled... However, virtually the moment Xiaoqi had lain on the cold ground for half a second, a fierce flame rapidly ignited in his heart, ''I still want to fight!'' The stronger the enemy, the more he wanted to overcome them. Xiaoqi flipped over with an agile somersault, standing up with eyes as dark as a panda''s glaring at Kuang Xin, "Again!" "That''s perfect." Kuang Xin smirked, clenching his fist, "I was worried you wouldn''t last long enough for me to vent..." [The target has actively requested interaction, side mission¡ªDawn! Is in progress...] S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 698 - 698: I Love You "Xiao Qi got blasted away." "Xiao Qi got blasted away again." "Xiao Qi got blasted away yet again." "Xiao Qi..." "I saw it!" Bomb Girl snapped at the chitchatting voices around her, irritated by the constant muttering in her ears. Watching Xiao Qi get punched and sent flying with a swollen face and bruised nose once more, Bomb Girl quickly sprang into action. She pressed down on Xiao Qi, who was trying to rise and fight back, and asked with concern in her eyes, "Are you okay? Don''t fight if you can''t win. He''s thrown so many punches at you, he must have vented his anger by now." "I''m fine." Xiao Qi wiped the blood from his nose, his face filled with excitement and his eyes blazing with fanatical light, "He''s teaching me! He''s actually teaching me! I can feel myself improving a lot, I can''t miss this opportunity!" Saying this, Xiao Qi performed an energetic kip-up from Bomb Girl''s embrace and charged at Kuang Xin once more. "Smack smack smack!" The sound of flesh colliding was unceasing. The sparring between the two made the onlookers'' heads spin, a stark contrast to the straightforward strikes of their initial bouts. This obvious change was clear for all to see, and the newbie humanoid soldiers grasped their chins in curiosity, speculating, "How come Xiao Qi seems much more formidable?" "Rather than him being formidable, isn''t this drifter the impressive one..." "But in their duel, Xiao Qi has obviously changed from before." "Hey! Bomb Girl, what did that kid just say to you? I don''t think he''s just fighting continuously because he''s outraged, right?" "..." Bomb Girl was momentarily spellbound, her eyes fixed on every move of the combatants, trying to discern something. She slowly replied, "Xiao Qi said, the opponent is teaching him." "Teaching him?" "This drifter is actually teaching him?" "Bang!" The noise of Xiao Qi being punched and sent flying again jolted the momentarily dazed new humanoid soldiers. Lying spreadeagled on the ground, Xiao Qi lifted his arm but ultimately let it fall weakly. Having been sent flying so many times, even if his spirit was still vigorous, his body could no longer support him in battle. However, it was precisely this behavior that verified the fact that the opponent was indeed not being harsh. Claiming it was "just a beating to vent anger", in reality, after so many blows, there was no substantial harm. If he really wanted to vent, Xiao Qi would have been unable to get up after just a couple of hits, let alone persist for so many rounds? Yet, seeing the battered and bruised Xiao Qi struggling to move, Bomb Girl looked down to check his injuries, a flame of unspeakable ire brewing in her eyes. She didn''t know where this emotion came from, nor what to call it, but she did know... she felt a bit angry. Even though her main role in the squad was to take aim with various cannons and she was learning to make makeshift bombs, at this moment, she too wanted to communicate with her fists. "Haven''t gotten it out of your system yet?" Bomb Girl stood up, her expression as calm as an ancient well, showing no emotion. As she spoke, she wrapped a protective bandage around her hands, "I''ll have a round with you, too." Kuang Xin''s face broke into a clear smile, "Delighted!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sounds of fists meeting flesh carried far, as several players squatting behind to watch the action chuckled with delight, "Xin''s pretty clever, huh?" "But he''s still too gentle with girls." Although the female soldier''s melee skills were obviously inferior to the male soldier''s from before, she lasted longer against Kuang Xin. Clearly, Kuang Xin was pulling his punches, not daring to beat her up as badly as he did the boy. Even so, the training effect for the new soldiers was visibly improved. At the same time, rumors flared up. "I heard that our Second Company got into a conflict with some drifters, and now they''re fighting like cats and dogs!" "I heard it''s more like Second Company built a deep friendship with the drifters, civilian and military as one, and now they are having a friendly exchange of skills." "No way... I heard Second Company went straight for their weapons and now it''s an all-out brawl over there!" "Second Company can expect discipline now!" "But I heard our guys took a beating, with a drifter pinning everyone to the ground." "Hey! You guys have it all wrong. What pinning? Actually, it''s one of the skilled drifters who, honoring our leader''s face, is giving us tips on close combat techniques. Second Company did get pinned down, but they''ve also gained a lot." "But I heard they''ve already started using weapons?" "Because that expert happens to be a master of heavy weaponry, as well. No matter how they fight, they don''t hurt each other. If you don''t believe it, go check for yourself. If any of you doubt it, you can try your luck against the expert, and I bet you won''t make a peep." "Then why don''t you go?" "Me?" The tall, thin soldier scoffed with disdain, "I play with guns." Could he relate to those who played with knives and were just brute muscleheads? Listening in, a few players envied the soldiers. "Xin has made it." "Just hope Xin doesn''t get drained too quickly..." "He''s about to advance to taking on ten at a time. We should worry about ourselves." "Us... it''s actually simple." Thinking of what the tall soldier had said, Dai Lian had already devised his own way to attract (show off) attention (act tough). Chapter 699 - 699: I Love You ¡­ "Look! What''s that refugee doing?!" "Seems like he''s shooting a coconut¡­" "But that coconut has never fallen down, huh~" "This marksmanship¡­ It''s incredible." "Average, doesn''t feel as good as¡­" "Pap pap pap pap pap!" The watched refugee, dual pistols in hand, spun gracefully in a coconut grove brimming with fruit. Amidst the dense gunshots, coconuts nearly drowned out the spectators as they rained down, chaotically blocking the sightline of the onlookers and making the male refugee amongst them appear faint to the soldiers'' eyes. Dai Lian glanced at the soldiers who were watching from afar and laughed, speaking to the Logistics Department head who seemed to be ready to catch anything, "¡­" "So cool¡­" "Can guns even be used like that?" "I always heard that our General Bai E had this move. I saw him use it in the insect swarm before, didn''t expect this refugee could do it too!" "General Bai E is so busy, why don''t you go ask him how he does it?" Although these artificial human recruits had been indoctrinated by the accounts of other veterans that refugees were bad and despicable and to never show them mercy upon encounter, Such convictions were not deeply ingrained; after getting over their initial prejudices, all it took was a little display of something that impressed them, and they would immediately drop all preconceptions and humbly seek guidance. ¡­ Gu Lan''s smile was sweet, yet she mercilessly manipulated the soldiers'' psyches with her Spiritual Energy over and over. Gong Yan led a group of refugees, cheerfully addressing the noncommissioned officer they had inadvertently ensnared, "Honorable soldier, we don''t have luxuries like alcohol here. If you''d like a drink, you might have to wait until we hit today''s task targets before we can spare the time to brew a few cups for you." "What''s your task target for today? Go ahead, tell us." The officer mesmerized by the charming woman before him just patted his chest, "We might not have much else, but we do have strength." He was young and only knew that he wanted to approach what he liked, trying to please with the crude language taught by the older soldiers. However, this was exactly what Gong Yan wanted. She turned her head toward the distant cliff, "Our meat reserves are almost depleted, and I''ve heard that you need to replenish your own rations as well. Our town''s mayor said, considering the grace of your superior officers, we''d like to supplement your supplies a bit. So he asked us to hunt more wild animals in the next few days to boost our inventory. There''s a large group of wild goats living in that mountainous area, and we can hardly catch a few every time we go. With you guys, I bet you could catch lots more, right?" The officer looked toward the distance, where tiny black dots were flickering against the dusky rock walls at the edge of view. Though he couldn''t see the targets clearly and had never participated in such an activity, if these refugees, who seemed as disorganized as a mob, could catch some, couldn''t they, a formal military force, do even better? Not to mention, the other side was hunting wild game to help them with food supplies for the upcoming clearing task as a favor to their commanding officer. How could they let down such thoughtfulness? Especially since the girl''s admiring gaze made him feel as if he were on cloud nine, floating in the air. Hence, he overpromised, slapping his chest, "That''s easy, we''ll help you catch them! We guarantee to clean out all the movable creatures in that mountainous area for you!" "Better if they''re alive, huh~ We were thinking of raising them to ensure a steady supply of meat," Gong Yan added with a sly smile, "These animals are very vigilant and quick on the mountains. Without some special strategy, it''s tough to catch even a few alive~" "If you can catch them, then we can definitely do better!" the young artificial human recruit boasted naively, "Our company commander said, all the creatures on the mountain that can move, he guarantees to tie them all up in front of you!" The talking soldier glanced at his own company commander and gave a smug look. Brothers in arms! In the heart! The company commander patted the soldier''s shoulder with an expression of deep satisfaction. It really takes someone else''s praise to pump you up. "We''re going!" "Let''s go with you," Gong Yan caught up with a light jog, "We have some experience at least. If you encounter any problems, you can ask me~ Plus, catching them together will be more efficient~" "Okay~okay~" The company commander''s face bloomed into a wide grin, anything Gong Yan said was fine by him. But as soon as he turned his head and they were a little apart, another subordinate sidled up to the company commander, glancing at the "bad woman" with disdain, "Commander, I think that woman looks down on us! Are we really going to learn from them? How many of those mutated creatures and Orcs have we killed on this trip? Can''t we take down these little goats?!" "Exactly, exactly! Commander, we''ll definitely show that woman the might of the regular army!" "I''ve heard that these refugees left the city because they wouldn''t submit to its rules. We need to perform well in front of them and show them the glory of the city. If we could persuade them to defect, wouldn''t that reflect well on General Bai E who led us out here?" The company commander and the regular soldiers hadn''t yet established a clear boundary within this troop of artificial new recruits, speaking to each other as if they were on equal footing, like buddies. A group of men clustered together, chuckling and joking, united in their disregard for the refugees. However, it didn''t take long before none of them could muster a laugh anymore. Looking at that band of raggedy-looking refugees who, under the command of that girl speaking softly with a smile like water, tied one goat after another, all of them lively and full of vigor; while they ran all over the mountains, falling over themselves in such an undignified way that the final result was just a wild goat¡ªone they managed to capture only after a soldier, in desperation, shot it in the leg. Were they supposed to shoot them all in the legs? That would then require a whole lot of effort for treatment afterward, and how would they raise and breed the next generation if the goats weren''t well-nurtured? Let alone the fact that they wouldn''t always be lucky enough to hit the leg¡ªif it hit somewhere else and killed it... wouldn''t that be a huge embarrassment?! They had promised to capture all the lively goats and present them, but in the end, all they could offer was a bloody mess. The soldiers were accustomed to bloodshed, but what about these refugee girls who were unaccustomed to such scenes? Looking at the girl who had captured a goat and was gently stroking and calming it within her arms¡ªeven the toughest man felt his heart soften. "No shooting allowed!" the company commander ordered through gritted teeth, his feet involuntarily moving towards the refugee''s capturing team. "Um... my brothers asked me to come over and ask how you catch them?" Gong Yan smiled, gently touching the goat''s head in her arms, her tone mild as she spoke, "It''s indeed not easy to catch these little fellows for the first time. We need a bit of cooperation..." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The girl''s gentle tone made one feel not the slightest hint of condescension. Instead, one could only feel pride in their own sharp understanding, even impressing the girl to the point where she might exclaim in surprise, "Ah? Why didn''t I think of that... I''m so dumb! If I had realized sooner, our town wouldn''t have gone so long without meat..." "No problem, no problem! Leave the rest to us! We are here to help you!" The company commander patted his chest and left satisfied. [You have completed a perfect tactical instruction, Management Skills +2.] [Management Skills +2: You can now take on more commissions, increasing your commission acceptance qualifications by +2; also, you gain unique advantages in force management and certain technological research.] "..." So that''s how it was. "..." So that''s how it was. "..." So that''s how it was. Chapter 700 - 700: 522 military exercise ``` [Feedback from the task you delegated, your Technology - Management Studies +1.] [Management Studies +1: Now you can govern a larger population, and you have gained one additional delegation qualification.] The special feedback amidst the substantial amount of feedback information immediately caught Bai E''s attention. This was the second time he had encountered such an improvement since the previous one. How he obtained it was irrelevant. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What was important was that with this improvement, he could have one additional permanent qualification to delegate tasks, meaning he could nurture one more capable player. The target had actually been decided long ago: Xu Ruoguang. Aside from this most special feedback, the rest of the feedback was actually too numerous to count¡ª [Feedback from the task you delegated, your Insight +0.5, Physique +0.2, Reflex +0.4, Mystique +0.1, Mastery Experience in Light Weapons +750, Mastery Experience in Light Firearms +1005, Mastery Experience in Heavy Weapons +995, Mastery Experience in Combat Arts +850, Knowledge - Bio-brain Theory Experience +400.] The improvements to basic attributes didn''t seem significant, but considering the short time, the enhancements were particularly noticeable. Then, the various mastery abilities... the growth from feedback far exceeded previous occasions. It was clear that allowing players to teach the native residents resulted in the most growth for the players themselves. And the improvement of the players would feed back to oneself... it was a win-win indeed! Muttering this to himself, he saw several familiar faces approaching. "My lord!" "My lord!" Excitement shone in the eyes of Kuang Xin, Dai Lian, and others. With a corps of two thousand artificial soldiers, even if not every one of them came looking, their capabilities were pushed to the limit. Even though their spirits didn''t tire, their bodies in the "game" were still subject to various physical limitations. When their energy and action reserves were completely drained, replenishment from food required time to take effect. In short, after the vigorous exercise of teaching new soldiers various techniques, they needed a bit of time to rest and recover. And wasting time waiting was not an option during this rest period. In the process of teaching these new soldiers, Dai Lian and the others found some areas where they were lacking. For instance, Dai Lian only knew the Gun Fighting Skill under the light firearms skill tree, while the other skills, Fire Suppression and Precision Shooting, corresponded to the roles of a heavy fire support gunner and a sniper, respectively. Warriors inclined towards these aspects found it hard to learn relevant techniques from him, and so naturally, they were disinclined to come to them to learn these skills. However, these few players had already tasted the sweet benefits. While teaching those soldier NPCs, they discovered that their experience in the corresponding mastery abilities increased rapidly, which was much more efficient than practicing on their own or directly using experience points to level up. After all, for them, the experience required for each level increase in these mastery abilities was the same at higher levels, and the experience needed to level up was a significant cost they could not ignore. They didn''t have the luxury of experimenting at will, so their main mastery abilities often lingered around levels four or five. Therefore, having a task that could quickly improve their mastery was a rare opportunity for them. So, investing a relatively small amount of experience to learn more all-around skills from the lord and, in turn, teaching the soldiers to gain more mastery experience in return was the method they had figured out. As for faction contribution¡ª "Dawn!" This task doesn''t provide much else, but it does give a lot of faction contribution points, and it''s settled in phases. For every artificial soldier they taught to achieve a certain level of growth, they would receive a certain amount of faction contribution reward; they would then use the freshly earned points to learn skills from the lord. It formed a closed loop! ... ["Teaching" concluded, through the feedback from "teaching", you have obtained a total of 16,000 combat experience points and 5,000 universal experience points.] Watching the players leave high-spiritedly, Bai E silently nodded his head... It was a win-win-win. It''s just a pity that the days when the military and civilians were as close as family were always brief; if not for the ticking time bomb that was sure to cause chaos in the city called "doctor" battle help, Bai E wouldn''t mind giving these soldiers more time to learn. But considering the clean-up operations in the second half, there wasn''t much time left for their training. Fortunately, Bai E hadn''t really expected to train everyone perfectly in one go. Training soldiers was a matter that needed perseverance. With no pressing matters later on, letting the new soldiers come and go as they pleased would naturally lead to their training. Now, by making an initial contact and leaving a good first impression, he considered his intention of personally leading the troops this time fulfilled. "It''s time to go." Bai E looked at the dim morning light and ordered the non-commissioned officers he had summoned: "We have rested for four days; everyone should be in good spirits. So, let''s continue with the clean-up operation as originally planned!" "Roger that!" Kuang Xin ... Time flew by, and after spending more than ten days in the wilderness without basic amenities, a group of soldiers emerged looking as if dug out of a mud pit, utterly disheveled. The extreme training drained almost every ounce of strength from their bodies; the moment they returned to the military camp, the last bit of reserve that sustained their forced march finally dissipated. However, at Bai E''s command of "Attention," these soldiers still mustered their last bit of energy to maintain formation and stood at attention. ``` Chapter 701 - 701: 522 military exercise_2 The twin burdens of physical and mental exhaustion made it difficult for these soldiers to maintain their most upright postures. Veteran officers from the barracks, who had come to watch, stood in groups at a distance, pointing and chuckling at the group of new recruits who had just returned. "Look at them, each and every one looking so pathetic¡­ I''ve said it before, what''s the use of this kind of training? General Bai, still too young." "He even leads the team himself; I wonder how many died on the way for these people to return in such a miserable state." Bai E''s gaze swept indifferently around. Those whispers and rumors were clearly audible to his ears, yet they seemed as distant as mosquito hums¡ª the difference was but a thought away for him. On the surface, they indeed looked pitiable. But the past ten or so days had polished these warriors in an extraordinary way. Their true transformation was hidden deep within those pairs of bright eyes¡­ "Sound off!" "One!" "Two!" "Three!" "¡­" The tally was quickly concluded, and an astute, efficient NCO came to Bai E, saluted vigorously, and reported loudly, "Reporting to the commander, 2000 were scheduled, 1982 have returned! Awaiting instructions!" Bai E nodded and ordered in a low voice, "Dismissed at will!" Eighteen were lost¡ªa regrettable inevitability. This era was full of uncertainties, let alone in the wilderness not controlled by humans. With such a large team, no matter how careful Bai E was, he could never look out for every single person. Having said this, he turned and left. Watching the new recruits disperse like mud, the gawking officers were now murmuring in confusion, "What? Only 18 dead?" "Could they be falsifying numbers?" To them, used to counting casualties of synthetic soldiers by the hundreds, this number seemed magically small. These synthetic recruits were slow; they had only undergone three days of basic training before being taken out for more than ten days of grueling exercises without logistical support. Let''s remember the wilds are no friendly place¡ªwithout clean water, sufficient calories in their food, or adequate medical facilities. A minor sickness or infection could easily claim a life. Not to mention the chaos that could ensue in a force of two thousand if command was not strong enough, with any small incident potentially spiraling out of control. And yet... had General Bai actually taken a battalion of synthetic soldiers, fresh out of the factory for just three days, on an operation, and brought them all back intact? "There''s no exaggeration." An even more seasoned officer shook his head. The military formations made it easy to count, and these recruits who had been taken out for training and brought back managed to maintain their formation despite extreme fatigue. With one glance, one could roughly tally the number. "Geez~" "So it''s true¡­ he really brought all these people back intact?" An officer''s expression turned uncertain, "Then the suggestions we made earlier..." Should we withdraw them? It seemed, upon reflection, that our General Bai might indeed have his own insights on command and strategy? Considering that General Bai had previously shown dominating talent as soon as he rose to prominence in many fields, the speaking officer was already envisioning a future where he''d be embarrassed for making suggestions. "Make them! Just make the suggestions!" The officer who had first made that suggestion insisted stubbornly, though a serious expression appeared in his eyes, "But we can change some of the details¡­ maybe like not allowing micro-management by the commander?" In sand table offensives and defense exercises, apart from setting an overall strategic directive at the beginning to provide a context for the soldiers, any and all contingencies that arose during the process were not to be micromanaged by the commander. He, Bai E, is awesome... well, let''s just admit he''s awesome! So what? Can one person''s awesomeness make a group of newly born artificial human rookies just as awesome as he is? Even if you are extremely clever and arrange everything in great detail beforehand, the moment something unexpected happens, these rookies, who can only follow the book, will definitely be dumbfounded on the spot. When the results of this opposing military exercise come out, won''t General Bai have to start valuing us, who can actually get things done, and the system and exemplary role we can establish in the military? "Let''s go! Let''s propose it now!" ... Facing the officers who had proposed the "military exercise confrontation," Bai E''s palm rested on top of the paper dossier they had presented, and he asked with an inquisitive look, "Two thousand against one thousand? Is this not a bit unfair for both sides?" "You still think it''s unfair?" An officer bent slightly at the waist, replying respectfully in a tone that sounded neither servile nor overbearing, "That''s true... After all, they have only been manufactured for such a short time. Even after going through a training session led by you, sir, their experience is still too little. Well then, eight hundred. Two thousand against eight hundred. A fair fight against the veterans will let them grow faster~" "Indeed... I also believe that a fair fight has a more effective training outcome," Bai E nodded, casually tossing the proposal on his office desk, "Let''s make it two thousand against two thousand, and see how these new soldiers manage to push the veterans to their limits." "Ah?" "Ah?" "Ah?" Looking at the incredulous faces, Bai E watched them with a faint curiosity on his face, "What''s the matter? Is there a problem?" One officer swallowed his saliva before explaining with difficulty, "The same number of people, veterans would surely win, right?" Their goal wasn''t the military exercise itself but to make General Bai E see the absolute role that these mid and senior-level officers could play within the whole system. Now it''s two thousand against two thousand, veterans against rookies. Without a doubt, winning would be expected, and how would that highlight their capabilities? "Isn''t it just to urge the new soldiers to progress quickly?" Bai E smiled faintly, concluding with a slap on the table, "A bit of pressure is needed for motivation to improve. I think they will put on a spectacular performance. If there are no other issues, then let''s settle it this way." Even after walking out of General Bai E''s office, the officers who had proposed the idea were still in a fog, "He... He agreed?" "Did he even look at the detailed terms we wrote?" "Two thousand against two thousand? I think he''s gone mad." "No! It''s confidence!" An officer''s eyes gradually lit up, "Our General Bai, he really has a lot of confidence." "But we all agreed not to allow micromanaging, right?" "So, this confidence isn''t limited to himself; even the soldiers he churns out, he believes they can do what he expects them to do." ... Confidence? I don''t know. Bai E doesn''t even seem too concerned about this matter. Every challenge is an opportunity for progress, and these officers who''ve always been cooped up in the barracks don''t seem to just be loafing around all day. The idea of this opposing military exercise is quite good, but as for how to do it, it doesn''t much concern him. He read every word of the proposal submitted by the officers, the name of the commander of the Red force clearly listed as his own, but Bai E can''t even be bothered to act as that commander. Eating a little loss and learning some skills at the hands of their own people is always better than losing blood or even life at the hands of strangers later. Being the commander meant not commanding at all, leaving it all to the low-ranking non-commissioned officers elected by those artificial human soldiers to discuss and decide how to act, whether capturing flags, occupying positions, or whatever else there was, was all up to them to perform. During the three days in the small town, Bai E had seen Gong Yan teach these artificial human soldiers some tactics and strategies. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for her skill level and whether these soldiers could perform to expectation, that was another story. What Bai E was more concerned about at the moment was something else¡ª The ten-day period had arrived. Chapter 702 - 702: 523 Turmoil According to the clues provided by the players, the operation of Wen Jie''s "Doctor" battle guild was also tonight. The night is naturally the perfect camouflage for all operations in the dark, even though The Lower City never sees daylight. Yet the city, still preserving this human habit, always dims the lights everywhere at a set time. This habit, ingrained in human biological clocks, undoubtedly serves as the best opportunity for those underground forces that prefer to operate in darkness. Meanwhile, according to feedback from experiences, Wen Jie had already mastered at least Level 3 knowledge ¡ª Biological Main Brain Theory. It was unknown what kind of surprise this battle guild had meticulously prepared for the city, so much so that even technology not yet operational at the Scientific Research Institute had been adopted by them first. Changing into an unremarkable outfit, Bai E left the camp. Having a legitimate identity from the Elder Council, coming and going through the city gates at any time was no longer an issue for Bai E. He wanted to see up close what kind of disturbance this battle guild, appointed by the nobles, could cause and what kind of response it would trigger in the city. After all, this might be the experience he could use himself before long. The underground of the city was often shrouded in a thin mist, with gigantic mechanical structures ensuring the operation of this massive urban body. The city was somewhat restless at night. Wrapped in a trench coat, Bai E walked down the steel avenue filled with the smell of engine oil, with seemingly only the echo of his own heels clicking against the ground. Sporadic figures were occasionally seen on the road, but in the bleak atmosphere, their steps were particularly brisk. The place Bai E arrived at was a necessary passageway from The Lower City to the Middle-Upper City District. Of course, the city was large and there were many such passageways, but in the intelligence reports, they talked about initiating an attack from this C13 entrance. Having arrived nearby, Bai E''s increasingly acute senses easily made him aware of several figures who were different from the usual passersby. No... or rather, it was not just the senses, but a kind of intuition linked to Spiritual Energy. Because of this intuition, Bai E easily identified those players among the passersby, who stood out from others. After mingling in this game world for so long, they had already learned the ability to blend themselves perfectly into their environment. If it was just a regular routine inspection, it was unlikely that these disguised and infiltrated players would be noticed. Realizing this, Bai E nodded in satisfaction. They had indeed arrived first. The players were reliable when it came to tasks. As the time drew near, Bai E quietly approached a figure huddled in a corner. "When did you guys get here?" The sudden voice by his ear startled Dai Lian, but his solid composure prevented him from showing any hint of surprise. With just a shiver in his heart and realizing it was the voice of the superior, he respectfully responded, "We just got here not long ago. Prowling around nearby could attract the attention of the vigilant, so we''ve tried once before." "Hmm," Bai E nodded, "Being cautious is good. Having approached early, did you find any more relevant clues?" "We... we''ve lost contact with our insider recently, so we only have some peripheral intelligence at the moment," Dai Lian carefully chose his words, feeling somewhat relieved that Bai E had approached him first. This large-scale battle campaign''s precursor mission definitely had a lot of variables, and depending on the information supplied by him, it could lead to different development paths. Of course, the overall trend might remain the same, but the differences in the stories that individual players could participate in and the benefits they could gain were substantial. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If possible, he naturally wanted to watch the entire event unfold and easily reap the rewards. Sure enough, the superior showed a hint of interest, "What information?" "We''ve investigated. The city''s entrances that separate The Lower City from the Middle-Upper City District are closed every night at about 10 o''clock. Once sealed, brute force or external strength can''t open them. Besides waiting for the opening command from the central control at eight o''clock the next morning, there''s no way to open it, and if it''s tampered with, it will immediately cut off the circuit, including the mechanical equipment, and fall down. It''s an insurmountable barrier. If that battle guild really intends to act, they must choose a time before 10 o''clock. The closer it gets to 10 o''clock, the lower the vigilance of the guards." Thinking about the end of their shift, although people are still on duty, their minds have long flown away. "Hmm," Bai E and Dai Lian waited quietly in the corner. "Tick-tock~" "Tick-tock~" The patrolling guards had already passed by their corner several times, but under Bai E''s increasingly proficient Spiritual Energy techniques, ordinary patrolling guards could not possibly detect the two concealed figures. "It''s time, it''s time!" "Time to knock off, time to knock off!" "Finally knocking off... Dealing with those security patrols all day has exhausted me to death!" As the guard leader in the control room, amid a myriad of tedious procedures, unlocked a red switch and, placing his hand on the lever, prepared to forcefully pull it down... An unexpected turn of events occurred! Several rockets with orange tails suddenly blasted on the guard booth by the road from The Lower City''s direction. Chapter 703 - 703: 523 turmoil_2 The city infrastructure built to ensure public safety and order was, of course, worthy of trust; while the main structure of the building remained undamaged, it was difficult for doors and windows to withstand an attack of this magnitude. At the same time, several electromagnetic pulse grenades were thrown into the guard post through the shattered windows, one after another. "Boom, boom, boom!" The grenades, which had virtually no effect on the human body, were aiming purely at the various tech devices. The equipment used for issuing commands was instantly paralyzed, and whether it was calling for reinforcements or continuing to close the gates, these became things one could hardly dare to hope for. They came prepared! This was a long-planned sneak attack! The guard post commander, stunned by the successive blasts, finally came to his senses and yelled hoarsely, "We''re under attack! We''re under attack!" As his voice rang out, so did the suddenly blaring alarm bell. Caught unawares, unable to contact the security team, they could only make as much noise as possible. The guards, tumbling and even seeking shelter under the din of explosions, got dressed once again in the equipment they had taken off minutes earlier, under the deputy commander''s orders. Even simple gear like the half-body bulletproof vests, Blast Shields, and gas masks were technically challenging to prepare thoroughly in the midst of panic. Clearly, the guards, not having faced real combat for a long time, were too unfamiliar with this kind of attack. Another dozen tear gas canisters were thrown in, emitting white smoke, and the not-too-large guard post instantly filled with a white haze. While those guards were still trying to help each other don their gear amidst tears and snot, the tall and seductive Gu Lan had already entered the threshold of the guard post with a group of burly strongmen. These strongmen from the Caesar gang had no mercy for these city dogs; each received a heavy blow to the back of their neck and were quickly tied up. Even amidst the chaos, they hadn''t thought about killing anyone. After seizing the only checkpoint near the entrance, Gu Lan signaled to her companions in the shadows behind her that they could now come over. And then, cargo trucks loaded with unknown goods drove through the narrow pass, one after another. Looking at the heavy machine guns and cannons modified onto those trucks, Dai Lian''s eyes were filled with astonishment, "Wow, a gang in the city is this rich..." But Bai E''s gaze passed over the obstacles, seemingly seeing the guards who were knocked out and tied up, and he sighed softly, "Such a response... too complacent." The city wasn''t without threats, as today''s "unrest" was initiated with prior intelligence and for a certain purpose. But what if it were a real rebellion the day after tomorrow? Or, what if more gangs were corrupted by those demons, initiating a war of destruction? These guards, who were supposed to take responsibility, were so negligent; how could the security of the city be assured? "Maybe it''s been too long since they faced an attack," Dai Lian explained softly, "The information we gathered rarely mentions any gangs bold enough to directly assault such a city-affiliated facility." "..." Bai E pursed his lips, remaining silent. Even if slightly slow on the uptake, at the very least the procedure had to be followed precisely. Everything was uncertain before the gates were completely lowered, and these guards had prematurely removed their gear minutes before the gate was set to close, leaving them completely defenseless when attacked, and unable to delay the intruders even slightly. This showed that the city, from top to bottom, was rotten to the core! S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Let''s go, follow them and see," Bai E said. Let''s see how chaotic the so-called unrest they initiated really was. ... In the silent night, the headquarters of the city security team was in turmoil. "Report to the captain, checkpoint C11 has lost contact." "Checkpoint C10 has lost contact." "Checkpoint C07 has lost contact." "All C-level checkpoints... complete loss of contact." The city doesn''t usually refer to The Lower City directly as "The Lower City," but simply uses "C-level District" as a euphemism. The various checkpoints that separate The Lower City from the Middle-Upper City District are known as C-level checkpoints. ``` Usually, after the gates at the checkpoints came down, the checkpoints would also manually send a "command completed" message to the central control center. And now that they had received no information, with no responses to the inquiries they had sent out, it meant that these checkpoints had either fallen¡­ or had temporarily lost the ability to communicate electronically. "All units, deploy and prepare to intercept!" Caesar ordered through gritted teeth. The affairs of The Lower City were to be settled within The Lower City, an unwritten rule within the city. Even as lawless as those war gangs were, their conflicts could only break out in the barbaric areas of The Lower City. Of course, if civilians in the Central City District happened to get caught in the crossfire from time to time, as long as the situation was resolved quickly, with no severe consequences left behind, and the affected civilians were pacified, aside from a scolding upon return, the problem wasn''t considered major. But if the disturbance reached the Upper City District... The true nobility could not bear any risk. If even a single bullet struck any corner of the Upper City District, then their security forces, from top to bottom, would be combed through by people. It was just unclear whether the current upheaval was just an appetizer or if those insane individuals had gone straight to flipping the table. Since they were already prepared to face the backlash of those nobles interested only in their own benefits, their security forces wouldn''t be completely devoid of their own informants. They had also received some intelligence in advance that the unrest was expected to happen in these few days, and had even been arranging for personnel to scout the checkpoints swiftly, just to enforce heightened vigilance. But still, they hadn''t expected... a total blackout of communication. Caesar''s fingers ran over the communicator in his pocket, but in the end, he put aside the thought for the moment. The situation was unclear, and that final measure could not be used for now. Mobilizing the military stationed outside the city to enter was a significant move, not to be taken lightly until the last moment. Thinking this, Caesar turned to put on his hat and took bold steps out the door. With the communication lost, all they could hope for was that the guards at the checkpoints could delay the upheaval of the war gangs just enough to give them ample time to position their forces for the interception... Civilians in the Central City District woke from their slumber, puzzled, as the sounds of engines and gunfire led them to believe they were in the hellscape of The Lower City. The city harbored many contradictions, and those war gangs were used to settling things among themselves with fists. So, hearing such noises in The Lower City wouldn''t surprise them, and on the occasional visits there, they could even encounter stray bullets whizzing past their scalps as they walked down the streets. But what time was it? It was night! The gates were closed; the conflicts of The Lower City were to be settled within The Lower City. However loud, the noise shouldn''t reach here, right? In a half-awake, half-asleep state, civilians pulled back the curtains and peered through the small windows with uncertainty. "Whoosh~" A rocket, trailing flames, zipped past the glass and smashed into the wall of a house at the end of the street. "Boom!" The ground trembled, and rubble flew. "Shit!" ''What the hell are those security officers doing all day!?'' the waking resident cursed inwardly and immediately turned to find the emergency shelter in the room - a sturdy and heat-resistant large metal box stocked with some resources. In these chaotic times, who didn''t have some preparations at home? "Looks quite lively..." Dai Lian''s companions returned from all directions, meeting up with him. But they didn''t expect to see a familiar figure beside Dai Lian, "My lord." "My lord!" "Hmm," Bai E nodded calmly, "Anything you have to report, just say it." "Yes, my lord!" Gu Lan responded resolutely, "Our investigation found that it''s not only the ''Doctor'' organization that started the unrest. They acted alongside at least several dozen other war gangs..." ``` Chapter 704 - 704: Camp Strife 524 "It seems like all these warring factions had an agreement, launching their attacks simultaneously around the same time tonight, catching the guards at the checkpoints completely off guard. Some are still putting up a fight, but they won''t hold out much longer," Gong Yan quietly reported the information they had gathered, her eyes seeking Bai E for instructions, "My lord, what do you need us to do?" "No need for now," Bai E shook his head, "The city''s security forces haven''t made a move yet. Acting rashly would likely result in us being targeted by both sides." His plan was to wait and see. Considering only the "Doctor" faction they were currently following, it appeared their objective was to move forward... or more precisely, to advance to the upper levels of the city. They showed no interest in anything on either side of the road. The troop of over a hundred vehicles and people rumbled forward openly and covertly, so much so that civilians peeking out of their windows to watch the commotion were barely harassed. It was as if tonight''s chaos had nothing to do with them... Unfortunately, it was only here that they were not involved. Gong Yan gripped a communicator in her hand, clearly in constant contact with other players, the ones who had been pushed out of Grey Iron City with her were now their best targets. Right now, collecting information on the entire city was needed, and those players were helping everywhere. "These warring factions started wreaking havoc as soon as they got to the Central City District!" "Murdering, looting, committing all sorts of atrocities, these bastards are truly beasts!" "These people seem insane, their every action filled with a venting rage... it''s like... like there''s no tomorrow." [You have entered the territory of factional strife. From this moment on, you must choose to join one of the factions: The City Security Force or the Chaotic War Clans.] [Will you be a law-abiding citizen upholding order, or a self-indulgent thug embracing chaos? The choice is yours.] The sound that played out loud, along with the prompt from the information panel, rang directly in everyone''s ears. Bai E knitted his brow slightly, making his decision, "Stop them!" This was a task for the players as well as a choice for them. [You have chosen... Order!] [You have joined the City Security Force faction. From now on, you must do your best to reduce the chaos value that this unrest brings to the city. The wider the affected range, the more people involved, the worse the impact, the higher the chaos value. Current chaos value: 1539. Note: Be careful! If the chaos value reaches 10000, your factional strife will be deemed a "failure"!] [The "losers" will be permanently hunted by Blackwater City. Please proceed with caution!] While the punishment for failure was severe, the rewards for success were even more tantalizing. "Permanent whitelist for Blackwater City," "Universal experience +20000," "Blackwater currency +1000." It''s worth noting that most players who mixed into the city didn''t use the most honorable means of infiltration. It''s just that the city''s census wasn''t rigorous enough, otherwise, a fair number of people would be sifted out every day. Seeing the slightly dazed expressions on the faces of a few players, Bai E knew they were assessing the newly sprung up factional strife panel prompt. Being half a player himself, with his own panel, Bai E wasn''t surprised by the players'' reactions. And without a doubt, under Bai E''s command, all the players associated with Kuang Xin and others naturally joined the embrace of the Order Faction. But there are always some players in this world who crave chaos. Ren Fengxing, leading a force large enough to rival a warring faction, eyed the new factional strife task with eager anticipation. They had mingled in the Lower District of Blackwater City for a considerable time to realize that mere manpower and weapons weren''t enough in this locale. The number of battle clans in the underworld was beyond counting, with schemes and conflicts among them, but at the same time, none wanted to see the rise of a new power that could replace their own. So unless one was a dominant dragon who could subdue the local snakes, it was background and connections that were the key to establishing one''s own battle clan here. Now, if they could make a name for themselves in this large-scale mission and gain the recognition of the game''s NPCs, who really didn''t seem like fake characters, and thus establish their own battle clan, it would lay a solid foundation for their guild in this game. At this thought, Ren Fengxing ordered with trembling excitement in his teeth, "All units, join the turmoil, let the revelry begin!" [You have chosen... Chaos!] [You have joined the Chaotic War Clans faction. From now on, you must do your best to increase the chaos value that this unrest brings to the city. The wider the affected range, the more people involved, the worse the impact, the higher the chaos value. Current chaos value: 1539. Note: Please be aware! If the chaos value is cleared to zero, it will mean your factional strife is deemed a "failure"!] sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [The "losers" will be permanently hunted by Blackwater City. Please proceed with caution!] If successful... "Official Blackwater City battle clan accreditation," "Universal experience +20000," "Blackwater currency +1000." Killing, setting fires, negotiating, and recruiting. Doesn''t that sound pleasing to the ear? ¡­ "Shall we start taking action then?" Dai Lian asked for the last time. After all, the current situation was a bit strange. While other districts were in complete upheaval, the "Doctor" faction that they were primarily following seemed to have no interest in the Central City District. Their procession was headed straight in one direction, inevitably raising suspicions about their true intentions. Intuition told Dai Lian that following the "Doctor" faction might lead to more interesting events to witness. But that was all it was. This game never made the difficulty of any task explicitly clear; one wouldn''t know if something was a pitfall until they stepped into it. The game''s storyline wasn''t created for the players but merely coincided with them. What roles different players with varying strengths could play in these coincidental events, would depend on individual on-the-spot decisions. For now... continued following might lead to parts already out of their league. "Then we''re off!" "Go," said Bai E, his eyes narrowing slightly. The voices coming from the players'' communicators and the screams and roars beside them during the conversations were enough for him to roughly envision the chaos the other war factions were unleashing elsewhere. Those people had indeed gone mad. Cast aside as pawns, they had almost no chance of survival. As the first batch of battle clans to cause trouble, no matter who won in the end, they were sure to meet a dire fate. Having been doomed to die, they might as well indulge in one last bout of madness! Chaos? It''s what ran in their very bones! Chapter 705 - 705: 525 When it came time to decide who would go to which district, several players gathered again, and within a few sentences, they had determined their respective operational areas. Now, each of them was strong enough to stand on their own and no longer needed to stick closely together in order to be effective in such chaotic conditions. The players'' participation instantly made the already chaotic situation even more disorderly and incomprehensible. "Report! An abnormal situation has occurred in BA03 district, a small group of unidentified forces are engaging in a firefight with those disruptive gangs before our guards could arrive. It is because of their firefight that the range of the incident has expanded, with more casualties¡­ We request instructions on how to handle both parties on the scene." "Report! An abnormal situation has occurred in BF07 district, a bunch of unknown assailants suddenly ambushed our support guards, but they scattered and fled just as we began to counterattack. We ask for instructions on whether to pursue the new target or continue with the original plan to provide support?" "Report! ¡­" Listening to the intelligence reports from his subordinates, Caesar pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling his head buzzing. At such a critical juncture, where on earth were these assorted troublemakers coming from? The gangs in The Lower City were not fools. The news that the noble-backed gangs were planning to stir up trouble was no absolute secret; the gangs that could get wind of this did not dare to take action rashly. Even if they wanted to sneakily reap benefits from others'' chaos, they wouldn''t dare to jump out at the very beginning, before the situation was clear. Those gangs were more cunning than ghosts. As for those who wanted to help quell the disturbances¡­ emmmmm Could such gangs even survive in this city? Not adding to the chaos was already Caesar''s greatest expectation of the other unrelated gangs; he did not count on those guys to be of any help. So, who exactly were these anomalous people mentioned in the intelligence reports? Ordinary residents of the Central City District with an overflowing sense of justice? Independent Rangers acting out of personal grudges? Only such existences could possibly create the increasingly chaotic situation at hand. What to do? "Arrest them all! There''s no need to chase the ones who got away for now; our primary objective is to suppress the turmoil." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It would not be difficult to investigate those who had acted tonight afterward. Rather, the immediate priority was to put down this uprising and prevent even bigger problems. Caesar, who had personally rushed to the scene of action, had already roughly discerned that this riot was merely an appetizer from the opposition. The riot itself wasn''t the goal but a signal released¡ªif you don''t compromise, next time things will get serious. Force wasn''t the means by which the opposition would achieve their ends, but just a tactic in the process. The real victory, they would secure at the negotiating table. But that would be a matter for later. Right now, the only thing to do was to press down on these gang members who had become dispensable and utterly deranged. "Also, tell the front line forces that those who surrender may be spared and conscripted." "Yes, Commander in Chief!" "Report! An abnormal situation has occurred in BC district; our nearby detachments moved out immediately after the incident, but instead of finding large-scale disturbances in their assigned areas, they only saw a convoy of a hundred people heading towards the Upper City. We ask for instructions on whether to make arrests or to dissuade them on the spot." The opposing force is large and powerful; attempting arrests at this juncture would merely be a waste of manpower. If turning back the intruders on the spot was possible, it would be the most appropriate choice under such circumstances. Caesar instantly judged the merit of the choices and could only wave his hand in resignation, "Regardless of their intent, try to turn them back first." He could invite people for a chat over tea on another day, but at this moment, he really didn''t have the time to get entangled with targets harboring various odd intentions. ¡­ "Sorry, we... have no road to turn back on," the old man leading the way and in charge of negotiations gently raised his head, his aged but firm square face flickering in the dim light of the players. As he spoke, the sturdy men behind him surged forward. By now, most of them no longer concealed the traces of their cybernetic augmentations. Forearms, palms, thighs, calves, eyes, bodies... nearly every one of them bore clear signs of external cybernetic modifications. What is a "doctor"? A group of people who had been saved gathered together, collectively recalling the entity that initially redeemed each one of them. That was the former "doctor" who had once saved them... The old companions at his side surged forward, brandishing their Blast Shields. They confronted the roaring firepower unleashed by the guards, forcefully advancing forward. Bullets whistled past their ears, and personal weapons unleashed their fiercest roars at such moments. Yet the veteran leading the gang seemed as if he was in a realm of tranquility, approaching the woman who, dressed in a qipao, had been following him all along. "Wolf-Scorpion, now... you can still take him and leave," he said. The old man''s gaze flicked to the fleet of vehicles behind him, where that young man was still fiddling with something. He was merely clinging on to a final hope by letting this "miracle boy" give it a try, never expecting that the "ultimate weapon," which had shown no progress before, would seem reborn in this boy''s hands. With such a powerful tool at their disposal, they sought to enter the Upper City, to penetrate the most central area of the city, to let those people see... to let them all see! To see these retired artificial veteran soldiers, forced out of service, still harbored what kind of loyal heart for the city... for humanity. Did they really think the money from those old soldiers on Black Street was coveted by many? The manufacture and linking technology that allowed fully-integrated cybernetic limbs to be controlled by will was considered a high-end technique in the city. The ones providing services to those old soldiers did so out of respect for a shared identity as retired vets. Batch after batch of artificial soldiers, 2000 at a time, over twenty to thirty rounds¡ªthough the majority perished on the battlefield, not a few survived and retired due to injuries. Where did those people go? There weren''t that many old veterans in Black Street. Many more veterans, under the guise of seeking opportunities in the city or elsewhere, were absorbed by the "doctor" gang within the city. He was the earliest of them. A rare tender smile spread across Wolf-Scorpion''s face, "Father, this is the first time I have addressed you this way. I won''t leave, and he... doesn''t want to leave either." For that young man, the allure of seeing his creation dazzle under everyone''s gaze was too tempting to refuse. A... little madman. "..." The old man pursed his lips, then after a moment shook his head and chuckled, "Fine! Then let''s go to the Upper City together! Let those old geezers in the Upper City see! See what we have brought them!" Chapter 706 - 706: 526 Start! "Report! Report!" The right hand that could still move clenched tightly around the communicator in his palm, shouting hoarsely into it, "The target won''t turn back, forcibly breaking through! Central City District has fallen! Central City District has fallen!" "Snap!" A metallic alloy boot kicked away the communicator held tightly in the man''s palm. The cuboid communicator instantly flew apart, hitting the wall and shattering into pieces. The tall figure squatted down and, with a swift hand chop, struck down the last member of the security team before rising up and catching up with the convoy that was always moving ahead. Bai E withdrew his gaze, which was fixed on the "Doctor" Battle Gang''s convoy at the center. Intuition told him the reason for the "Doctor" Battle Gang''s actions, so distinctly different from the other gangs'', was right there. Yet, he had no idea when they planned to reveal their true intentions. The city security squad sent to stop them was no match for these soldiers, all of whom had undergone cyborg modifications. However, with the advantage of overwhelming strength, the "Doctor" Battle Gang had no intention of harming lives. Their methods were so much gentler than those of other riotous gangs elsewhere that it was incomparable. Watching the convoy become distant, Bai E started to follow from afar. The actions of the Doctor Battle Gang were anything but a bluff, and this abnormal behavior did not lack for other folks who had come up from The Lower City to follow, keen to see what exactly this bunch was up to. They indeed had no intention of intervening in this upheaval, but they were always in the mood to watch the excitement. And the people of the Doctor Battle Gang were clearly aware of the watchers and spies trailing them but had not turned back to drive them away. Presumably, whatever they intended to do was bound to be exposed to everyone, so there was no point in hiding it. Bai E was happy to blend in and see where this gang was ultimately headed. If it was based on information from the players, then their mission was already complete. Arrive in Central City District, and then start their revelry. This was the information gleaned by that one player. But now, the Central City District seemed insufficient for them, and they were not content to stop their rampage there. In the darkness, questioning eyes began to glimmer, "Where exactly do they intend to go?" "Looking at that direction, it can only be headed toward the upper city area." "Who let them go to the upper city area? Wasn''t it agreed that this operation was just a preliminary pressure? Stirring up trouble in Central City District would have been enough, but if they really make it to the upper city area, who knows how things will develop!" "Do we need to stop them now?" "No!" A gaunt hand suddenly extended from the darkness, "Let them continue onward... We can use this opportunity to probe the old man''s tolerance." ... The interrupted signal caused Caesar to rise in fury, grabbing his gloves and heading straight for the vehicle parked outside. "Emergency combat team, follow me to Central City District to stop the target''s advance!" The force scattered across different departments in the city was just the regular permanent presence, only the emergency combat team based at headquarters constituted the real core of the security team. The motorbikes'' engines roared in unison, and Caesar''s eyes blazed with raging fury under the glaring lights. What on earth do these gangs want to do! What! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Based on the trajectory inferred from the intelligence reports, the final target of this band of unusual folks was apparently gate B13, the barrier between Central City District and the upper city area. Just as there is a barrier between Central City District and The Lower City, naturally there is also one between the upper city area and Central City District. Although the floodgate had already fallen, external forces within experience were all hardly able to open it. But this group of people was heading straight in this direction¡ªsurely they couldn''t just be going to the gate to write "Been here" in urine, could they? They wanted to make a scene in the Upper City! Who gave them such audacity! Based on the increasingly subdued reports of battles coming from all directions, it seemed that tonight''s unrest was just a bit of pressure thrown by the opponents. It was like an appetizer, with the main show still to come, and they naturally wouldn''t flip the table right from the start. But now it seemed... could it be that the disturbances elsewhere were just a blind by those old things, and their true aim had actually been this troop heading straight for the Upper City from the beginning? What... exactly did they want to do?! ... In the convoy that was being speculated by various forces, Lang Xie came to the slightly shaky carriage and found Zhou Wenjie crouching in the middle of a circle of metal islands. Touching Wenjie''s soft hair with a hand, Lang Xie smiled gently and said, "It''s almost time for you to take the stage. We just dealt with a group of regular security teams blocking the road, and soon it might be the real elite of the security team coming. You must deliver your father''s and his comrades'' work to the highest stage yourself, letting all the people in the Upper City see what my father and his partners have achieved!" Wenjie rubbed his face actively against Lang Xie''s slightly callused palm, responding gently, "Mhm." "Buzz buzz buzz~" The piercing sound of motorcycle engines came from afar, the convoy slowed its pace slightly, and in the blink of an eye, a glaring white light blocked the spacious eight-lane steel highway ahead. Leading the way, Caesar dismounted from his motorcycle and stood in front of the convoy, spreading his palms. Spiritual Energy fluctuations condensed between his hands, and in the blink of an eye, a huge "Notice Board" appeared in the center of the highway. "This road is closed!" "As the name of the chief of the security forces, this is the final ultimatum to you all, anyone who dares cross this line will be sent into the Soul Furnace, never to rise again!" ... "Wenjie... it''s up to you now," Lang Xie said affectionately, leaving a wet kiss on Zhou Wenjie''s forehead before she turned and stepped out of the carriage to the very front of the convoy. Ignoring the "Notice Board" formed by Spiritual Energy, Lang Xie stepped over the boundary with one foot. And at the moment she crossed over, some sort of invisible Spiritual Energy marking attached itself to her body, to her soul. No matter how skilled the cosmetic surgeons were, they couldn''t help her disguise herself before the security forces. "I''m sorry." Lang Xie lifted her skirt and pulled a pair of daggers from the strap on the side of her thigh, "I don''t want to be your enemy, but this is my father''s last wish!" "Shua!" The shadowy figure leaped forward, and behind her, all the brothers who had followed the leader of the Doctor Battle Gang, an old man, also collectively ignored the prohibition that would brand their souls, crossing together the area demarcated by the illusory "Notice Board". All of them... including the drivers of the vehicles. And in the most central carriage, pale blue pipeline patterns were lighting up one by one. Wenjie rapidly entered commands, confirming the final activation program. Looking at the countdown numbers on the monitor, Wenjie also felt a bit anxious. "3..." "2..." "1..." "Demon God armament, activate!" Chapter 707 - 707: 527 I refuse Under everyone''s watchful eyes, the previously still trucks suddenly began to emit faint sounds of twisting metal. At first, it was just a trickle, then a stream, and then¡­ visible deformation occurred. In the grating, teeth-clenching noise, the dozen heavy trucks brought by the Doctor Battle Gang seemed to have developed their own will. With chilling changes, they twisted into bizarre entities, amalgams of contorted steel and tangled wires. They resembled weapons, yet also resembled human arms¡­ The drivers of these trucks had long since left their cabs, yet these twisted heavy trucks moved as if each one possessed its own consciousness, beginning to act on their own. Under the control of some invisible will, these seemingly actionless twisted entities started to converge in the same direction. "Click!" "Click!" "Click Click Click Click!" The more these abnormal entities merged, the more intense the interlocking sounds became. When the last sound of connection went silent, a giant steel figure that had been lying on the ground now stood up like a colossal giant. As the "giant" revealed its true form, red and blue lights in the pattern of wires coursing throughout its body began to dart around, as if¡­ neural signals were being transmitted through a neural network. The giant began to truly control its body. Its height of several dozen meters even gave the impression that the giant could touch the top of the rock walls that isolated the Upper Middle City District with a mere stretch of its hand. Its size, at least two to three times larger than the largest mechas of mankind, meant that even a casual movement could whip up a violent windstorm. Witnessing this monstrous "creature" that had emerged in just tens of seconds, security team members standing close at its feet could not even discern its true form. Although they had encountered countless strange events, they had never anticipated witnessing the scene before them, but still, they tried to keep their minds clear. "Is this the work of those demons? It must be the work of those demons!" Look at that twisted abomination and the red and blue lights coursing through it; it must be the devilish trickery of a demon''s shriek! S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No!" Caesar''s gaze hardened as he looked up along the twisted yet aesthetically imposing colossus, only to find that he could not penetrate the fog in the high darkness above. As a graduate of the Spiritual Power Managers Center, although he wasn''t as professional as those enforcers from the Demon Arbitration Court, he did have his own understanding of detecting the presence of demons. "It has nothing to do with demons¡­ it''s just¡­" ¡­ "¡­ just an ocean of pure sincerity." Unlike mechas, the giant moved without a hint of awkwardness. But it still cautiously crouched down, its steel arms bristling with weapons, and swiped towards the security team engaged in a fight with the Doctor Battle Gang. As the pressure of its motion caused their garments to billow, the fearsome steel hand, covered in barrels and gun muzzles, suddenly stopped just above their heads. "Creak~" The machine gun''s cylinder rotated without firing, but the menacing intent was clear. "Move aside." The elderly leader of the gang watched through tears as he gazed up at the end of the enormous giant that seemed endless. Though he could not see his old comrades, he knew that they must be able to see him. They were watching themselves. Everything done to this date was in the name of a promise made long ago. ... "I heard that tomorrow they''re planning to have the new batch of artificial human soldiers go up against the old vets in a military exercise, two thousand against two thousand. Who knows how it will turn out..." Under the warm glow of the barracks'' lights, Carlos leaned close to the elderly man lying in bed, his hands firmly clasping the man''s carelessly draped left hand, speaking in a clear and quiet voice, "Which side do you favor more?" The old man smiled and shook his head, "Either side is fine, after all, they are both soldiers of the barracks. But if the numbers are equal, the new soldiers couldn''t possibly beat the veterans, could they?" "But I feel that these two thousand new soldiers, after Bai E''s special training, must be somewhat different." "General Bai E..." The elderly man murmured the name softly, his eyes looking somewhat unfocused. "He was the first one you discovered. Forgive me, but when I first met him, I even failed to notice what made him different..." "In truth, I didn''t really understand either..." the old man said with a smile tinged with helplessness, shaking his head, "I still don''t know why I made such a decision back then. Perhaps, it was just a feeling." "Your feeling wasn''t wrong, today he is indeed the first one who might truly change the status of artificial humans," Carlos said with an intense gaze, looking at the old man, "You have given so much for these newly born children..." ''Given so much?'' The elderly man muttered inwardly, laying back against the pillow and closing his eyes. In a daze, it was as though he had returned to that afternoon years ago¡ª "Report! The results of the first batch of artificial human combat tests are in! These artificial human soldiers adapt to the battlefield incredibly well. They showed no fear of life and death on their first foray to the front lines, each one courageous and commendable!" "What about the severely wounded individuals, how should we handle them?" "Severely wounded?" The elderly man, a marshal at the time, casually answered, "As per usual, give them a sum of money and send them home." But on second thought, what home did these artificial humans have? With a sigh, he instructed, "Let them stay in the military hospital to recover." At that time, the barracks were not yet influenced by any old notions about these fresh artificial humans, and everyone was genuinely curious about these new comrades joining them. No one had any objections to his order. But eventually... the natural humans in the barracks realized something¡ª They did not possess the boldness and bravery of the artificial humans. Even though the artificial humans suffered heavy casualties, there were always some lucky enough to survive. Those artificial humans who fought bravely and survived nearly monopolized all of their promotion opportunities. Even though their fighting was for defending their homes and country, they too needed to have some hope for their own future while defending their country. Now, all those hopes were monopolized by those artificial humans. So, murmurs started to arise in the barracks concerning the group of artificial humans, until... the day came when the beds in the military hospital were almost fully occupied by artificial humans. "There was a mutiny in the hospital this afternoon, forcing us to start paying serious attention to the handling of these disabled artificial human soldiers." "I propose that we simply recycle these incapacitated artificial human soldiers. After all, the production lines only need biomass, and we can make good use of the remaining heat from these disabled artificial humans." "I second the motion!" "I second the motion!" "I refuse." Chapter 708 - 708: 528 Old Fellas Promise Marshal, standing firm against opposing opinions, straightened his body with a stern face, "They too are human; if they didn''t die on the battlefield, we can''t let them die by our own hands." He was curious about the first batch of artificial humans as well. For this reason, he deliberately spent over a month interacting personally with these artificial human recruits, and during that training period, he trained with the artificial humans and endured hardship together. They chatted together after meals, and did their favorite things during their free time. They all had their own different preferences. Some liked sweet and sour food, some preferred strong and stimulating alcohol, some liked to make handcrafted flower arrangements, and some preferred to just bask in the sun¡­ He could sense, clearer than anything, that these artificial human soldiers also had their preferences, their thoughts, their souls, their lives. They too are human... When the city was in its toughest times, no one ever mentioned abandoning all the old, weak, sick, and disabled in the city. Now that it came to artificial humans, how could one easily talk about "destruction"? But he knew that forbidding their destruction was probably the limit of what these people could accept; to ask them to expend even a little more resources on these ''obsolete'' artificial humans would be like cutting their own flesh. "Just exile them..." the Marshal''s eyes drooped, "Those who have lost the ability to serve will be expelled from the camp, left to... survive or perish on their own." "..." The atmosphere was silent; most of the officers were reluctant to accept the decision made by their long-standing superior, but none was willing to contradict him to his face. However, after the silence, a voice gently asked, "The Scientific Research Institute did mention that these artificial humans actually all have certain hidden defects. We can manage and control them while they serve in the military camp, but if we just let them go and they cause some terrible consequences... whose responsibility would that be?" "Mine," the Marshal replied calmly. Since then, regardless of discovering that these artificial humans had exceptionally strong adaptability, requiring only a minimum of three days to be combat-ready, thus shortening training time for new recruits; or with the increased pressure of casualties, gradually shortening the production cycle for artificial humans year by year, that regulation remained unchanged. Any artificial human soldier who could no longer serve due to injury or illness was directly discharged. And this first batch of discharged artificial human soldiers were fortunate to learn the truth about being "left behind" before leaving the camp¡ª "Remember, it''s only because of our Marshal''s personal protection that you are able to live in this world like a real person, rather than being pulled into a meat grinder to be churned into a mess of flesh! Once you''re out there, live well! Present yourself as a person, don''t make the Marshal regret his decision! And remember, never do anything that harms humanity and this world! The world gave birth to you all, and the world also loves you deeply!" The young officer named Carlos shouted out to the group with all his might and then turned to vanish into the shadows. It was clear that his actions were unsanctioned, without permission. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But this first batch of exiled artificial human soldiers would forever remember this moment of parting. They all kneeled together, bowing three times to the slowly closing gates of the military camp, and collectively made a vow they dared not forget for the rest of their lives¡ª "We won''t disappoint the Marshal!" However, genetic defects do not shift with willpower. The shot fired many years ago finally crossed time and space to strike the future selves many years later. Controlled by the awakening beast genes within them, the soldiers lost their own wills, and, driven by instinct, attacked and killed a noble heir within the city. That promise once made by Lawrence was finally manipulated by those with ulterior motives. The elderly Lawrence became the biggest prey of those factions that held conservative views on artificial humans and thus became the first Marshal to be dismissed. The one to succeed him was Weslin... But in truth, insiders know their own affairs. With his increasing age, it was evident that the rapid decline in his capabilities and thinking meant stepping down was inevitable. Moreover, since he was not one to engage in party politics for personal interest, his removal would not implicate others, naturally resulting in no one willing to stand up for him. The promise of that year was just the catalyst that triggered it all, not the core reason. Shades of gray memory fragments passed through Lawrence''s mind like silhouettes on film, and Lawrence slowly opened his eyes. "These grown-up past events... let them be past." He didn''t want to bring it up again, nor did he want the old soldiers to keep dwelling on it. ... But the old soldiers would not forget. Through various channels, they learned that the old Marshal, who had given them a real life and allowed them to live "like a person," had been implicated and removed from office because of their "fall." A deep sense of guilt lingered in the heart of each of them, and they resolved to show everyone in the city that they, the artificial humans, were not an unstable factor for the city or for humanity. They were reliable, trustworthy. Marshal Lawrence should not have been implicated by them! This is the last word we, old soldiers who should have turned into a pile of rotten flesh, want to say to the world! At the top of a colossal mechanical giant, where one couldn''t see the end, a mechanical sphere reminiscent of a human head contained a full circle of green fluorescent lights forming a ring. Chapter 709 - 709: 528 Old Fellas Promise_2 The perimeter of the circle was connected to countless bundles of cables that pulsed like flesh and blood. All the systems of this giant''s body, including power, weapons, and movement, were connected to this "center", subject to unified control and management by this "central" hub. Within those green fluorescent lights, resembling green light bulbs, and through the pale mist, one could vaguely make out one after another... human heads. The numerous feedback signals from the "giant" Mecha''s body inputted continuously into this processing center, just like various sensory stimuli. All the "human heads" existing in the center were unique processors, each handling different signals. At the same time¡­ their wills were, to some extent, interconnected, which ensured that the computing power of each "human brain" could be stacked together. And it wasn''t just a simple addition. The mysteries of the human brain remain unsolved by humanity to this day. When these brains are fully connected through some peculiar technology, the computational power they can generate is no less impressive than that of those large computer centers. Before the city had opened up its electronic networks, using a large number of human brains as core processors was the only way humans had conceived of as an exit on the path to "intelligence". But this required the owners of these brains to be without defenses against each other and possess pure, unified, and harmonious wills. Finding even one such person in this city was difficult enough, let alone a group whose combined mental prowess could rival that of computer mainframes. Moreover, human nature is complex, thoughts jumping wildly and without boundaries. Could there really be some technology capable of binding the flightful thoughts of humans, making them process every received "data information" as accurately as a computer? But those old fellows who had been driven out of the military¡­ wanted to give it a try. This was the only and genuine possibility for their broken bodies to be of great help to the city, to humanity. "Step aside!" the leader of the fighting faction waved his scepter and shouted loudly at those blocking the way, "I don''t intend to cause slaughter, I just want them to know¡­ the marshal, he didn''t make a mistake!" The cold light on the machine gun barrels reflected a chilling glare, and every member of the security team could feel the sharpness as if a blade was resting on their necks. The giant''s body was armed with a multitude of different models and types of guns and cannons in an eerie setup, with no apparent user for each one. Yet the security team members could feel that each of the primed weapons could fire a deadly bullet at any moment. What kind of heavy weaponry could the city''s fighting factions possibly acquire? These small arms were all they had accumulated over the years. But in today''s world, no one dared let such a relentless barrage of firepower hit them squarely. Even the strongest metals have a fatigue limit, and even the strongest people have their own limits. To ensure the accomplishment of their goal, even without the intent to harm, they needed to retain the capability to do so. "I feel like I''m being targeted by at least a dozen guns." "Same here." "Same here." "There''s no way to dodge them all..." A drop of cold sweat quietly slid down the forehead of a security team member. The true elites who could enter the security team were the city''s top fighters. These battle-hardened elites were extremely sensitive to danger, and those undisguised gun barrels were pointed straight at them, impossible to ignore. What was most important was¡­ that the guns were evenly locking onto each of them, without duplication or omission. Before individual strength was enough to destroy a star with a single punch, numbers were always at the heart of a fight; after all, one more person meant one more weapon. As for the reserve of weapons¡­ as many houses can''t be occupied at once, as many weapons can''t be used all at the same time. The intelligence reports had said that this fighting faction had only about a hundred people. The full deployment of their elite squad meant a sure victory. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However¡­ no one expected this faction to possess such lethal weaponry! The squad leader glanced sideways at Caesar, the overall team leader next to him, and suggested softly, "Caesar, why don''t we just back down for now¡­ It looks like these guys don''t have any bad intentions. Maybe they just want to show something through this opportunity." "No!" Caesar refused flatly, his cheeks firm, eyes fixed straight ahead, "We are the benchmark of the city''s security force; we can be broken, we can be benched, but we cannot be twisted. If we allow them in today, does that mean we let in bugs and beastmen tomorrow?" "Pass my command, fight to the death! No retreat!" Caesar''s voice, accompanied by a ripple of Spiritual Energy, spread out as the members of the security team shouted in unison, "Yes!" "Good." The leader of the War Group cast a downward gaze, yet a hint of joy flickered within. He also wanted to see if, in the city to which he and his old comrades were so loyal, there were truly any trustworthy people. Fortunately, there seemed to be some. "Just step over them!" The towering giant did not need to bother with these insignificant ants. When the difference in size reaches a certain extreme, ordinary people''s attacks are irrelevant to a giant who can freely control its entire body to repair and mend the damage. At the same time, the other members of the War Group were not just loafing around! The giant took a large step forward, each step causing the steel to tremble. The War Group members lunged at the security team elite squad once again, using their bodies to delay these minions of the security team who wanted to thwart their leader''s intentions. And the giant who had easily crossed over the security team''s area was only a few steps away from the closest point to the gate that had already fallen. As the last barrier of the upper city district, this gate and the hardest breastplate on the Mecha were made of the same material, which to date was very difficult to breach quickly with any human weaponry. However, there was no need to break through. The giant bent down, and its hand full of firearms reached for the theoretically thicker wall beside the gate. As its palm embedded within, an endless stream of information flashed rapidly through the glowing green ring. Sitting at the very core within the giant''s body, Wen Jie frantically tapped on the keyboard. The system controlling the city gates was an early creation, from a time when the city had not yet rebooted its electronic network and the performance and computational power of the mainframe used within the city were limited. Although this technology had been rebooted by now, updates to the system and even the hardware involving the entire city required a long time. The thought of breaching an unbreached system was very low on their list of priorities for updates. Right now... facing a biological master brain center that was a notch higher in computational capacity, it was like an average person caught in an avalanche, shattered in an instant. The loss of control over the gate system also rendered this indestructible barrier meaningless. Yet, the giant seemed interested in the gate as well, casually fastening it onto its chest. The mechanics surged like a living entity, and the foreign gate panel, in an instant, harmoniously became the toughest chest plate on the giant''s chest. "Boom!" "Boom!" The giant approached the entrance. A tunnel entrance barely ten meters high was not adequate for a creature tens of meters tall, yet before everyone''s eyes, this enormous behemoth swiftly split into the original dozen heavy-duty trucks that drove in, morphing back into its other form as it passed through the gate, the whole process so smooth and flawless that it was nearly indefensible. When the giant expanded its limbs within the domain of the upper city district, a glaring red alert instantly lit up on the panels of all players who had received the task. [Warning! Warning! Current chaos value: 9999! Please stop the situation from worsening immediately!] ... The same message flashed three times. "Huh?" Kuang Xin and the others expressed their puzzled confusion. The battle they were participating in was going very well, and other areas were gradually clearing up the remnants via voice communication. How did the chaos value that had just been suppressed to no more than two hundred points suddenly spike to the max? Chapter 710 - 710: 529 Incident No more watching from the sidelines! Bai E''s heart grew tense as he received the same prompt on his panel. He hadn''t expected the contraption devised by the combat group to be so capable that it could actually make a beeline into the upper city district. The city''s security forces were generally equipped to deal with regular humans, at most carrying individual firearms. Once it involved a mechanical giant of this caliber, it wasn''t something the security team could handle; it would have to be an organization like the Mechanical Court, which specialized in high-end enemies. And if the Mechanical Court got involved, refusing to negotiate and starting a fight with this mechanical giant in the upper district, the unrest could spiral out of control. If the mission failed, all players who had chosen the side of Order would be expelled from the city due to their failure. And even if one didn''t consider the mission, they would have to think of the many residents in the city. A fight between mechas and giants in the city, who knew how many areas would be affected. Thinking this, Bai E shot forward, leaping into action. With a flash, he plunged directly towards the small-scale battlefield where the combat group was entangling with the security team, and Bai E slammed his fist onto the steel road beneath him. Under the mighty blow, the steel dented, and shockwaves rippled outward. "Stop!" The stern voice, propelled by Spiritual Energy, reached the ears of everyone present. Even the elite members of the security team who had been close to wrapping things up stopped in confusion and looked at this unfamiliar figure, halting their actions temporarily. Caesar recognized the newcomer at first glance, and his eyes lit up with a hint of surprise as he called out, "General Bai!" "Mhm," Bai E nodded at him, then turned to look at the old man from the combat group, "Are you the leader of this combat group?" The old man, unsure of the newcomer''s identity and motive, asked with a face full of confusion, "You are...?" "He is General Bai E, a major general of the military district, currently in charge of military power, and also holds a position in the City Senate," Caesar quickly explained, "He has unobstructed access to the Hive and the high-dimensional space, and now that he has arrived, I advise you to surrender without resistance. Perhaps I can even request a reduction in your sentences." There was no need for violence if persuasion could suffice¡ªthe longer the chaos lasted, the more the city was at risk. Quick resolution was the priority. "A major general?" the old man murmured, gazing at Bai E with eyes full of doubt. To be wielding current military power? Weren''t such generals typically the oldest and most capable among the military, those with long-standing credentials? This man... shouldn''t be someone who had just emerged on the scene, right? It had been many years since he had left the barracks, but he remembered the faces from his time ¨C if not by meeting them, then at least by name. Bai E... why didn''t this name ring any bells? Still, coming from a military background, he couldn''t afford to neglect someone possibly related to Marshal Lawrence. After all, everything they had planned up to this point was for two reasons: one was to vindicate their existence as artificial beings, and the second... was to seek justice for Marshal Lawrence. Both were equally important, without primary or secondary distinction. "What is your relationship with Marshal Lawrence?" Bai E''s gaze flickered slightly. These people hadn''t caused wanton destruction along their path; he had stepped in wanting to see if there was a peaceful solution. Now that he had a topic that might open discourse with them, he wouldn''t let it slip away. "It was him who oversaw our batch of recruits'' shooting proficiency test and selected me out of protocol to join the special forces squadron to begin my service. So, what''s your connection to him?" Batch of recruits? Shooting proficiency test? Such familiar terms? In the ranks of naturalborn humans... there were no such regulations, right? Only their kind, the artificial beings, required ability testing. The recruitment of natural human soldiers was almost always via voluntary enlistment, except for those criminals who were conscripted as a form of punishment. But these criminals also had their own talents; the military wouldn''t suppress their strengths and had no need to test them. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old man''s eyes flashed with a moment of surprise, "You''re an artificial being, too?!" "Yes," Bai E nodded. Even though everyone looked down on artificial beings as inferior, and all those who had promoted him thought that giving him the identity of a natural person was the greatest cover-up, he himself never avoided mentioning the fact that he originated as an artificial being in front of others. "You''re an artificial being?" the same question was asked again, but if the disbelief in the voice just now was mixed with astonishment, now it was pure shock. If what the captain of the security team hadn''t lied, then an artificial being had become the highest commander of the current military district and also secured membership in the City Senate¡ªwhat an achievement! Having been away from the barracks for so long, who would have expected the military to have become so enlightened? If an artificial being could become the top commander, then the status of the common artificial being should at least be on par with that of an actual person, shouldn''t it? For a moment, the old man was overwhelmed with emotion. He hadn''t expected that, after so many years, the will of the old Marshal was completely carried through. But if that was the case... what did their years of effort amount to? The world had already reconciled with them. The old man''s eyes moved rapidly, his gaze fixated on Bai E as if trying to etch his image into his soul, "Is what he said just now all true?" Chapter 711 - 711: 529 Incident 2 "Of course it''s true," Bai E nodded calmly, turning to gesture toward the giant figure on the other side of the distant gate, "But right now, I don''t have time to discuss this with you. Maintaining the stability of the city is also our duty as soldiers. I just want to ask you, can you make that big fellow stop?" "A soldier''s duty..." The old man was taken aback, a look of agreement smiling across his face. Yes! A soldier''s duty. It was their duty as artificial humans as well. Maintaining the stability of the city had once been a deep-seated commitment for every artificial human. But... he had never intended to disrupt the city''s stability either. "We, we just want to let this city see..." See our determination. See our faith. See whether we artificial humans truly deserve trust. The old man stared at Bai E, whose indifferent face somehow gave him a complete sense of relief and familiarity, filling him with absolute trust. Artificial humans had no kin, but every artificial human was a brother! "We have no intention of disrupting the city''s stability, ''he'' will not take any harmful actions, you can be completely assured. We only wish to present this item, with no other intentions." "..." Bai E squinted his eyes, "But your actions are too extreme." The old man gave a wry smile, "I''m sorry, but... we have no other options left." They had considered expressing their current thoughts more peacefully. They had repeatedly approached the city''s research institutions, offering to donate their artificial brains for study, but each time they were flatly rejected, told that artificial humans posed deadly risks and were wholly unsuitable as the foundational units for such core technology. If no one would accept them even when they willingly offered themselves, what power did these exiled soldiers have to change everyone''s fixed perceptions of artificial humans? How could they clear the name of the old Field Marshal who had been implicated by the artificial humans? Only by establishing indisputable facts could they challenge everyone''s prejudices. The "ultimate weapon" of tonight was the final statement of their efforts to vindicate artificial humans. "We... just want to let everyone see." "But you could have chosen a milder way to proactively submit new technology to the city, I believe the Scientific Research Institute would never refuse to gain a completely new technology directly..." "We''ve tried that... but we couldn''t even get through their doors." The old man''s rationale was somewhat frustrating. Even Caesar, who was overhearing, couldn''t help but curse those institutions under his breath as "idiots." The anger and frustration of these old soldiers, expelled from the barracks, had been pushed to such an extent that they triggered tonight''s major crisis ¨C a ludicrous misunderstanding. So he quickly reminded them, "Then quickly get it under control and bring it back. We''ve seen your creation, and the city has seen it too. As soon as it''s reported up, it will definitely attract attention, and scholars from the Scientific Research Institute will come personally. As long as your technology has no issues, it will be a great contribution to the city!" Having a "brother" from their own ranks of artificial humans and even a de facto ruler of the city in attendance, the old man seemed to finally be at ease, "Alright, I''ll speak to the other brothers right away." However, after the old man picked up the communicator prepared by Zhou Wenjie and spoke a few words into it, his expression slowly turned to one of confusion. "What''s wrong?" Seeing this, Caesar''s heart skipped a beat, and he proactively asked. The old man didn''t make a sound, only turning his head to look into the darkness behind him, "Wolfscorpion, bring Wenjie over." In the midst of the battle with the security forces, Wolfscorpion, in order to protect Wenjie, did not engage directly in the fight. Now called by the old man, the two emerged from the darkness not far off. The old man handed over the communicator designed to communicate with the "giant" directly to Wenjie, "Is this thing broken? Why isn''t there any response to the communication commands I''m sending?" Although the wills of the old brothers had been altered to become more mechanical in nature, the basic response function was built into the system by Wenjie from the start. It shouldn''t be malfunctioning, should it? Wen Jie casually fiddled with the communicator before handing it back to the old man, his words full of conviction, "The communicator is not the problem." "Then why has there been no response to my calls?" "The signal''s transmission and reception are both fine, but it hasn''t been carried out correctly." Wen Jie''s gaze drifted into the distance, through the light and shadow streaming from the gate, to the giant seemingly about to lift its foot, "The issue must be on their side!" In the world of technology, it''s either one or the other. Wen Jie was quite sure of this answer. "But I didn''t instruct them to take the next step," the old man said, his expression slightly stunned. His intention from the beginning had been only to make the city "see," not to let it suffer any harm. Entering the Upper City was their final step; he certainly had not issued the next set of instructions to his old comrades. "Wen Jie, those android brains made into biological main brains, do they still possess a will of their own?" Bai E, smelling a hint of ominous air, turned to Zhou Wenjie and asked, bypassing protocol. "Responding to the master... theoretically, they shouldn''t have any. Apart from a slim chance to ''recognize a person'' and grant control permissions, they no longer have the subjectivity to act on their own," Zhou Wenjie respectfully replied. Bai E had not hidden his identity at all. Upon Bai E''s arrival, Zhou recognized the one who had first welcomed him into the organization and assigned him his missions. Zhou was unfamiliar with "loyalty," but he was equally unfamiliar with "betrayal." He only knew that if he agreed to something, he had to carry it through¡ªnot because he was dull, nor because he was dumb. It was simply about being straightforward, saying what he meant¡ªit was just less worrisome... He belonged to the master, so naturally, he laid everything out when questioned. "So, it''s ''that'' which has malfunctioned," Bai E turned to look at the mechanical foot raised in the distance. With a flash, he shot out towards it. Conspiracies and deceptions swirled, an evil presence surged. [Warning! Warning! Current turmoil level: 9999! Please prevent the situation from worsening as soon as possible!] The warnings on the panel turned a blood red, the alarm sounding more piercing than ever. "Boom!" The mechanical foot, crashing down, was suddenly countered by a small "steel needle," prompting the "giant" to look down curiously at what had stopped its step. But looking down was merely a human habit; its countless sensors had already mapped out everything beneath its foot, laying it all out within its processing center without fail. A creature as insignificant as an ant had its hands raised high against the sky, pressing against the sole of the foot that was meant to move forward. Within those glowing green skulls, the hollow eye sockets emitted a sinister purple light, flickering eerily amidst the dim, misty air. The giant, unwilling to yield, lifted its foot high again and brought it down once more. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The giant''s frame, several times larger than the standard mecha in the military camp, made it seem like a pillar holding up the sky. With a forceful stomp, it pressed the resisting "steel needle" into the ground beneath its foot. Only after feeling that the ground underfoot was finally level did the giant, satisfied, once again raise its trailing foot, ready to stride forward. The dazzling lights of the human city were in the distance, beckoning it to take a closer look... Caesar turned his head towards his subordinates as he watched the one viewed as the "savior," General Bai E, effortlessly crushed underfoot by the giant, realising that they were unaware of the full extent of the giant''s capabilities, his fur bristling instantaneously, "Have the Mechanical Court''s people arrived yet?" Upon seeing the giant for the first time, Caesar knew the situation couldn''t be resolved by their law enforcement team alone, so he immediately had his men contact the city''s highest authority¡ªthe Mechanical Court. Though it hasn''t been long since the incident occurred, given the Mechanical Court''s superior equipment, they should have arrived by now... "They''re here, they''re here!" his subordinate received a response from the Mechanical Court at the same time¡ª "Our mech pilots have arrived on the scene and are assisting you in subduing the target." A streak of light rushed towards them from afar, crossing the city''s skies in the blink of an eye... Chapter 712 - 712: Will both the jade and the common stone be burnt together? The mech pilot from the Mechanical Court has arrived! Seeing that streak of light, piercing through the gate and gazing up at the giant, every member of the security team felt a surge of exhilaration. This was, after all, the strongest combat force in the city. With their timely arrival, surely the situation wouldn''t deteriorate any further, right? sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although General Bai E had also arrived on the scene and was indeed formidable, he hadn''t brought his exclusive vehicle, had he? Without his mecha, General Bai E was just not as reliable as the top-notch mechas. "Whoosh~" The streak of light rapidly closed in, and several trails with tail flames shot forward even faster than the mecha''s flying speed, aiming directly at the giant''s face. However, no matter how fast these were, they couldn''t surpass the giant''s reaction speed. As the small missiles approached within a certain distance, the giant manipulated its numerous individual weapons to fire instantly. Even though the missiles followed nonlinear trajectories as they raced towards their target, they couldn''t evade the barrage of fire that filled the sky. In fact, very little of that intercepting fire went astray. Countless individual thermal weapons intercepted the stray shots in advance, causing a series of explosions to erupt at a certain distance from the giant. The flames illuminated half of the sky. The targeting capabilities of these numerous weapons, controlled by a biologic central processing unit, were no worse than the current military''s anti-missile systems¡ªperhaps even surpassing them. If it weren''t for the limited output level of these individual thermal weapons, the giant wouldn''t have needed to let the missiles get so close, nor would it need to control so many weapons to fire simultaneously. Seeing the missiles intercepted, the mechs from the Mechanical Court didn''t insist on continuing the long-range bombardment. The amount of ammunition, including its yield, that a flying-type mecha could carry was limited; long-range bombardment wasn''t its strength. Agile close combat and versatile tactics were its true advantages. A dark purple blade flickered in and out of visibility in the night; the mecha, holding the blade, sped towards the giant. But the giant, which wasn''t actually slow in its movements, easily avoided the mecha''s slashing strike, and one of its arms even swept past the edge of the mecha''s body. Predicting the mecha''s movement path was much simpler than predicting the trajectories of those stray shots and intercepting them accurately. If the mech pilot controlling the mecha hadn''t reacted in time, they would likely have been hit by the giant''s palm. But even though they dodged the strike, the threat to the mecha was far from over. "Da da da da da!" The giant''s arm, which could be described as an amalgamation of numerous individual thermal weapons, didn''t stop it from opening fire the next moment just because it missed a strike. Facing fast-moving, irregular missiles that could be precisely intercepted, locking onto the larger, slower-moving mecha was even easier for the giant. "Ding ding ding ding ding!" A series of bullets colliding with alloy resonated continuously, with every shot from the individual thermal weapons striking against the mecha''s surface. The mech pilot controlling the mecha had an icy look in their eyes. It didn''t matter. This big thing was using merely individual-level firearms. The surface barrage seemed dense and intense, but in reality, it was more bark than bite. The attack wasn''t powerful enough; no matter how many, they were just scratching the mecha. Even the toughest octium alloy had a concept of metal fatigue, but individual-level weapons couldn''t achieve that standard in a short time, no matter how many there were. Water can carve stone, but it requires sufficient time. ''It''s just an intimidating appearance.'' The mech pilot''s eyes were frosty, becoming even calmer after withstanding the attack. After all, it was impossible not to have any doubts at the first sight of something so huge. But now they were letting their guard down. But the next moment... A muffled "puff" sound, as if it came directly from the machine, made the mech pilot slightly startle. The mech''s internal systems didn''t raise an alarm immediately, and the pilot, fully trusting in the mecha''s self-diagnostic system, didn''t take the strange noise too seriously. Some noise caused by movement and aging within any mechanical structure is normal; it doesn''t necessarily mean that the mecha''s defenses were penetrated. There was no need to scare oneself. But the very next moment, the firearms on the giant''s arms erupted once more, unleashing a fierce barrage, and countless bullets swarmed towards the mecha like ants shaking a tree. "Thump thump thump thump thump!" Unlike before, the sounds were now continuously shaking the moving mech. In an instant, the scarlet emergency alarms blared within the cockpit, bathing the mech pilot in ominous red light. "Damn it!" "How did its bullets penetrate the octium alloy defense?!" However, by the next moment, the thought was engulfed by flames that burst forth. The searing heat exploded right at the damaged spot, and a violent blast tore through the middle section of the mecha. The emergency ejection system shot the entire cockpit out, as the life of a well-trained elite mech pilot was far more valuable than that of a mecha. Watching the burning mech, split in two by the explosion and plummeting from the sky, fell along with the plummeting hearts of all the security team members. "How could this happen..." Caesar''s deputy watched in shock as the mech, now a ball of fire, fell before his eyes, his gaze filled with disbelief. How could the highly anticipated mech pilot from the Mechanical Court be so easily defeated? Chapter 713 - 713: Will both the jade and the common stone be burnt together?_2 "What kind of monster have you unleashed?!" Caesar turned his head and glared angrily at the old warrior by his side. "I don''t know¡­" The old man looked just as confused, turning to ask Wen Jie beside him, "Does our ''Ultimate Weapon'' have this kind of ability?" Zhou Wenjie shook his head, his expression grave, "I don''t know either¡­" The main body of the Ultimate Weapon was actually a system with fifty-seven human brains composing its biomechanical brain system. There were no extraordinary elements factored into its design, and they did not possess the capability to do so. As for the structures that made up the entire body of the "giant," they used whatever their war party could get their hands on. But even the best things their war party could procure were quite common and ordinary in this city; if their party could get them, so could the other parties. The individual-level weapons they had were just that¡ªsuitable for fighting against humans, perhaps, but lacking confidence against their own world''s heavy armored vehicles or tanks. Although Wen Jie had never been in contact with the truly core technological creations of this world, he knew that the humanoid mecha that had come flying from the sky was extraordinary, surely a trump card of this city''s combat power. Whether in terms of technology or materials, this "Ultimate Weapon" wasn''t really much to speak of. The only thing worth noting was the computational power provided by its "biomechanical brain system." But in combat, this only allowed it potent predictive abilities and targeting capabilities; as for attack power¡­ it could never exceed the limits of the individual-level weapons that constituted it. But now¡­ "There''s the scent of Spiritual Energy." Bai E stood at the giant''s feet. The mechanical structure of the giant wasn''t formidable. The two feet that seemed to trample him into the ground actually twisted and deformed due to his resistance, but they reformed almost instantly under the giant''s control. He himself was like a nail, with a vertical space squeezed out between the ground and the giant''s foot. As for him, he was of course unharmed. Having escaped earlier, he had watched the entire process of the Mech Pilot from the Mechanical Court battling with the giant. He hadn''t expected the mecha of the Mechanical Court to fall so swiftly either. Top-tier mecha defenses were not easily breached, even by him, in such a short time. Yet, unexpectedly, the giant had managed to do so using those individual-level guns and cannons. Because of¡­ Spiritual Energy? He had perceived a faint fluctuation of Spiritual Energy earlier, but not much. After all, the biomechanical brain system was made up of many human brains. Humans could potentially possess Spiritual Energy, so a brain system composed through special methods could have the ability to manipulate Spiritual Energy. It was within reason, similar to the terrifying Spiritual Energy of that hive queen. But more than that¡­ the bullets from those guns and cannons all hit the same exact spot on the Mechanical Court''s mecha. This was his most crucial observation from watching at the sidelines¡ª Even as the Mechanical Court''s mecha was engaged in rapid, erratic, and changing movements, the giant could still maneuver its many guns to precisely hit the same spot with every bullet in a short span of time. Standing far away, Bai E even suspected that the precision of this "same spot" was on the scale of centimeters. A structure so immense could lock its point of attack within such a precise area¡ªthe capabilities of this biomechanical brain system might be beyond everyone''s imagination. And that brief flash of Spiritual Energy? It was likely just playing a "supportive role." As this thought flickered through Bai E''s mind, he didn''t have time to delay any further. The giant, having quickly defeated the mecha sent by the Mechanical Court, continued unhesitatingly towards the core of the upper city district without looking back. Fortunately, a large area connecting the two districts was an uninhabited structural zone, so the giant''s steps had not yet affected any residents'' lives in the upper city district. But if it were allowed to continue, encountering any resident would cause the mission''s chaos value to skyrocket well over 10000 in an instant. It mustn''t be allowed to advance any further! Bai E''s form darted like lightning, climbing along the giant''s body. Sensing that the ant trampled earlier had not perished and was still wreaking havoc on its own body, the giant did not show any particular reaction. Its feet didn''t stop moving, but the structures all over its body began to shift and change, trying to fling Bai E off through this transformation. As for firing¡­ Humans are not mecha. No matter how precise the aiming, it would inevitably end up hitting itself. The mech''s structural integrity was actually not very high; it certainly wouldn''t perform an operation that would damage itself. However, merely changing the mech''s structure couldn''t shake off the troublesome Bai E. But Bai E couldn''t just watch his target continue to advance. As Bai E ascended around the giant''s body like lightning, in the blink of an eye, he reached the height in front of the giant''s chest, stomped with his foot, and leaped forward. Bai E somersaulted out in front of the giant''s chest while a silver rod in his hand grew longer and thicker... With both hands, Bai E swung the rod, which grew significantly larger as it smashed down towards the giant''s head. "Grow!" "Grow!" "Grow!" With the wind, the rod extended instantly, becoming a towering pillar that reached the sky. With infinite might, the strike landed solidly on the top of the giant''s head. "Boom!" The devastating strike, called "Instant Kill Hundred Heads," came crashing down with over a dozen shadows of the rod, almost cleaving the giant''s body into countless pieces from top to bottom. But a moment before being solidly cleaved by Bai E, Zhou, who had finally detached from the giant''s body, was simultaneously locked onto by the countless individual firearms mounted on the giant. "Ratatatata!" The calibers of the countless firearms flashed with flames in succession, and although the firing rates and muzzle velocities varied, they almost simultaneously shot lethal bullets towards Bai E''s chest... his heart. "Puff puff puff puff!" In almost an instant, Bai E, who was in the midst of his swing, felt a tearing pain in his chest. Countless bullets pierced through Bai E''s golden body¡ªa product of "Absolute Defense"¡ªin the blink of an eye, and even the spiritual energy defense skill, which was hard to breach by high-dimension demons in a short time, collapsed under the simultaneous fire from the giant''s arsenal. Without the protection of Absolute Defense, Bai E''s flesh faced the same attack and was even more easily shattered. Bullets tore through the skin, and the soft inner organs were even less resistant. The explosion from the gunpowder burst open inside the body, yet a strange substance rippled out with an odd wave of light. The authority that cheated death locked onto the scraps of Bai E''s blown-apart flesh. The pieces that were blown into the air began to converge towards the same spot almost at the same time... "Dead... dead?" "All... dead?" All onlookers were stunned. Everyone, dead. Whether it was General Bai E or that giant. The battle had unfolded at lightning speed. Whether it was the Mechanical Court''s mecha''s instantaneous defeat or the mutual annihilation of General Bai E and the giant... They all witnessed the entire process with their own eyes. Especially the sight of General Bai E''s scattered remains, and the mechanical debris from the giant shattered by a single strike that is still falling before their eyes. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Is... is this real?" The events unfolded so quickly and were shockingly intense. For a moment, almost everyone found it difficult to accept the reality. No one anticipated that a mere battle group could come up with a weapon capable of destroying Mechanical Court''s mecha instantly. No one thought that General Bai E could actually smash this mighty weapon with a single strike... and also perish in the process. Caesar was completely dumbfounded, unable to accept the reality before him for a moment. He preferred to believe it was an absurd dream... But no one expected that the giant was not entirely destroyed, General Bai E... wasn''t dead either. Chapter 714 - 714: Master of Conspiracy and Wisdom 531 The mechanical wreckage scattered all over the ground began to converge towards the center under some marvelous force, and the fragmented bodies reformed into a new whole under the central control system of the bio-core brain. Seeing that the existence was about to become that terrifying giant again, Caesar grabbed the leader of the Doctor Battle Gang by the collar, "This is what you call harmless?!" "We¡­ we¡­" The old man also had a bewildered look in his eyes, "We really didn''t set up any programs for it to attack on its own¡­" "Then tell me what this is!" Caesar pointed to the huge figure that was about to rise again amidst the city, "He killed the only artificially created person of yours who climbed to a high position!" General Bai E was dead! They didn''t have another General Bai E. Even without considering the future, what could they do about this giant right now? Without General Bai E, what could they use to contend with the giant? "Captain! The Mechanical Court has been informed of the destruction of their Mecha, and reinforcements are on their way! Let''s try to delay this giant''s advance as much as possible!" "Delay? With what are we supposed to delay?!" Caesar''s temples throbbed with bulging veins. Even General Bai E was instantly focused down and killed by the giant, what could they possibly do? "Wait! Look over there!" One of Caesar''s subordinates suddenly pointed towards the distance. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without anyone noticing, a figure, stark naked, appeared in the direction he was pointing to. "There shouldn''t be anyone there¡­" In their recollection, that direction was empty. When did this naked individual come over? "It''s General Bai E!" Caesar enhanced his sight with Spiritual Energy, and his vision became even clearer. The moment he recognized the target, Caesar instinctively felt elated, "General Bai E isn''t dead!" Then he thought about the "fragments" that had just scattered, ''What were those things that just flew apart?'' Torn to pieces by countless bullets, General Bai E exploded into chunks of debris, which they instinctively thought were the remains of his body being blown apart. The entire person was torn to bits; how could he still be alive? But now¡­ General Bai E was standing there intact. Could it mean that what they saw earlier were just... General Bai E''s clothes? Or perhaps some parts of flesh, but with General Bai E''s extraordinary ability for bodily regeneration, it was repaired in the blink of an eye? This was the only explanation, otherwise, how to explain General Bai E''s resurrection? The answer was one ¨C he never died in the first place! The cheers of his team echoed in Caesar''s ears, "Thank goodness General Bai E is not dead!" General Bai E, with heavy gravity in his eyes, looked towards the likewise reassembling body of the giant. Battle information belatedly appeared in his view on the panel¡ª [Your "Absolute Defense" has been hit by a "Supercharged Overclocking Strike," defense shattered.] [You have sustained 279 points of piercing damage, "Defy Death" has been activated! You will retain a minimum of 1 hit point.] ["Rapid Recovery" is rapidly repairing your body, and you have regained the ability to move.] [Hit points +1¡­] [Hit points +1¡­] Watching that giant in the midst of reassembly, Bai E knew he couldn''t just wait for it to complete its body''s reconstruction. A fully-formed giant possessed the ability to annihilate him with a volley of bullets in an instant, and his second life was not a match for that terrifying strike either. The only good news was... the opponent was a glass cannon. Possessing terrifying offensive power, the opponent''s defensive capabilities were also weak. The body he had smashed with a single blow was now reassembling at a visibly slower pace, indicating that the core system had also sustained significant damage. And the time it took for the opponent to reassemble was the best opportunity for him to turn defeat into victory! Just in the moment of their recent engagement, Bai E had already confirmed. The reason for this giant''s "madness" was not due to the control of that battle gang. Having dealt with high-dimensional demons enough times, Bai E couldn''t be more certain that this giant''s errant behavior was actually due to the erosion by high-dimensional demons! From the tomes in the city library, Bai E had long understood that any piece of technology developed by humanity could be influenced by that master of "conspiracy". The god controlling conspiracies was also the transcendent being in charge of curiosity, wisdom, knowledge, and other domains of power. Every single piece of technology developed by humans had to go through repetitive and meticulous scrutiny over a long period to ensure that the final product wouldn''t be exploited by the master of conspiracy. That is why, following the Golden Age, the speed of human technological development had drastically slowed down, so much so that after so many years, the technology at their disposal was far from reaching the peak of the Golden Age. Every process in the Scientific Research Institute''s development had to undergo rigorous scrutiny, but these battle gangs did not have the means for such luxury in their private tech development. Ordinary, matured technology was one thing, hardly considered "development" and less likely to attract the attention of that deity of wisdom. But the "bio-core brain system," a piece of fresh cutting-edge technology, was undoubtedly targeted and exploited by that master of wisdom. Now, the will controlling this giant''s body did not originate from the control of that battle gang''s handlers, but from... the highest Demon God in the high-dimensional space! To drive It away... was actually quite simple. Chapter 715 - 715: Master of Conspiracy and Wisdom 531 Bai E reached out and the space next to him rippled. The Sword of Judgment that had slain demons materialized in his palm, and his entire body shot forth instantly. "Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh!" The sword light flickered in the air, and under the infusion of Spiritual Energy, the air through which the Longsword passed still retained the sparkling Spiritual Energy characters. Exorcism Magic Circle! This was Bai E''s sole method of breaking the situation at the moment. By driving out the demonic forces affecting the "bio-brain system" back into the high-dimensional space, the uncontrolled giant would naturally cease its aggressive behavior, and the crisis would resolve itself. Spiritual Energy surged like a violent tide, quickly activating the characters surrounding the luminescent green iron ring, dazzling with blinding light under the stimulation of Spiritual Energy. As the Exorcism Magic Circle began to operate, the supreme law drove the forces from the high-dimensional space to be compressed and expelled by the rules of the material world once again. The deep purple aura was forced strand by strand out of the spherical containers holding heads by the spiritual sense, and the mech''s reassembly process finally came to a halt. "Boom!" A metal ring studded with green beads fell powerlessly to the ground, the "bio-brain system," no longer under the command or influence of demonic power, finally became harmless. "Whew~" Energy sapped, Bai E casually grabbed a set of clothes from his storage space and draped them over himself, then collapsed to the ground. The energy consumption required for rapid physical reconstitution was, to put it mildly, terrifying. Although the battle was short, it was the most perilous one he had ever faced! The security teams and fighters from the combat support group, having seen the giant finally fall silent, cautiously approached. "General Bai E..." Caesar walked at the forefront, calling out with respectful intonation. Gazing at the scattered wounds, Caesar asked cautiously, "This creature..." "It''s over..." Bai E, leaning against a mech, casually waved his hand, "It''s not their fault. This thing has been corrupted by demons." "It was the demons'' doing?" Caesar blinked, then his eyes lit up, "Was the combat power it demonstrated also because of the demons?" "Not sure." Bai E equally uncertainly shook his head, "Hard to say, only further investigation by the Scientific Research Institute can determine the true limits of this thing''s abilities." The main value of the bio-brain system was in computing power, but whether the demonstrated combat capability came entirely from its computational abilities and its inherent small amount of Spiritual Energy, or was solely a result of the influence of the ultimate demon of wisdom and trickery, was still a matter of debate. "I''ll notify the Scientific Research Institute right away!" Caesar said, excited. Even though the actions of this combat group had caused an unnecessary scare in the city, if the creature they had provided truly possessed the abilities it had exhibited, it would undoubtedly be of great help for the development of Blackwater City! "I''ve already informed Helen ..." Bai E waved his hand. Ever since he confronted Helen, Bai E had realized that there was competition within the Institute as well. Such cutting-edge technology, of course, had to be studied by "one''s own people" to be reassuring. Directly notifying the Institute, you never knew who might show up. But directly informing Helen, this technology would most likely end up in Helen''s hands. Caesar looked deeply at Bai E and nodded in agreement, "Okay." ''It seems that General Bai has a good relationship with Helen as well.'' Thinking this, several streaks of light approached from a distance. "Where''s the target?" came the buzzing voice from the communicator in the hand of Caesar''s deputy. That was a Mech Pilot from the Mechanical Court asking for instructions. "Bai E has subdued them, and the scene is now under control. We are handling the aftermath," Caesar took over the communicator and calmly replied. "Received." The Central City District, which had been in turmoil all night, finally fell into silence. The unrest that had kept many on edge was finally quelled, thanks to the cooperation of the city''s security forces, including those "unsung heroes." But the turmoil at another level was just beginning. Within an hour of the unrest''s end, the city council urgently convened all attending council members. Large-scale unrest often indicated a significant opposition between the city''s policies and the people''s lives. If the situation was serious, it could even threaten the city''s foundations and had to be taken seriously. "At 10 o''clock last night, a total of 34 battle groups from The Lower City launched an uprising against the Central City District. With the fastest response from our security forces, fortunately, the unrest did not cause too much trouble for the city. However, we must pay attention to the motives behind the unrest and the factors that triggered it! Only by doing so can we avoid repeating the same mistakes next time¡­" "I heard that these battle groups had no animosity; they just wanted to vent their frustrations in the Central City District. In the end, it''s because the city doesn''t provide a legitimate channel for them to vent." "If the city doesn''t provide toilets, everywhere becomes a toilet. In my opinion, we need to establish a ''toilet'' for these folks that we can control," someone said. The nobles who initiated the unrest began to exert their influence. No one cared about the real losses caused by the unrest or the real victims. Similarly, no one was paying attention to the special battle group that reached the upper city district. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their purpose in starting the unrest was for the post-uprising council meeting. Any military action is an extension of political maneuvers. This upheaval was deliberately instigated by them for some political demands. "Nonsense! This is not the way to vent, they are seeking death! The actions of these battle groups clearly have a unified planning behind them, they are the dirty means used by some people to achieve their goals!" Hearing the forces within the city start quarreling again in the meeting, Bai E''s thoughts drifted away. He was not interested in bickering. In fact, he was only interested in the "biological brain system" research that Helen had already embarked on. He wondered whether the giant showed such combat capability due to the "biological brain system" itself or because of the demon... The arguing continued for a long time, until it was interrupted by an impatient voice¡ª "Enough already! I think everyone has an idea about the cause behind this unrest. Instead of arguing here pointlessly, it''s more practical to hold another vote after everyone calms down. Gentlemen, rather than spending a lot of time on this endless debate, we should focus on the most unique aspect of this incident¡ª" "The battle group called ''Doctor'', and the future policy on artificial humans..." After the incident, all participants in the council received information on the development and reasons behind the event. While Bai E''s role was certainly crucial, for those in the city, such performance from him was simply routine. If Bai E ever faced a setback, that would probably surprise them more. What intrigued them more¡­ was the will displayed by the group of veteran artificial humans, and their creations. "As artificial humans are taking on an increasingly important role in our city, we must start considering policies for this special group. Gentlemen, do you think... we should grant artificial humans the same rights as natural humans?" The Mechanical Court mecha''s record of being instantly killed by the giant undoubtedly shocked many, but the role of artificial humans in this remained unclear to many. "It''s just technology stumbled upon by a battle group by mistake. I think it still needs validation." "Even if artificial humans mainly developed this technology, I don''t believe this inherently flawed group deserves more rights." "Whatever artificial humans can do, if it were us natural humans, we would definitely do it better!" "I think it''s premature to discuss this matter now. Perhaps, we should wait until the Scientific Research Institute completes the fundamental research on this technology before we can decide the role artificial humans can play." The next moment, someone shouted, "Helen has arrived." Chapter 716 - 716: 532 Wisdom creatures spirituality Helen was decisive and efficient as she stood on the central podium, casually activating a projection screen that faced everyone, "This is our research result on the creation recently named the ''Biological Brain System''..." "The results of the research suggest that the performance of this system witnessed by the security team at the scene does not fully originate from the system itself." Her eyes briefly flicked towards Bai E, who was sitting in the center circle, "The information provided by General Bai E... We are carrying out step-by-step investigations to determine how much comes from those existing blessings." "Furthermore, regarding the valuation of this system... it has computing and coordination capabilities comparable to our current top computer technology. In situations where internet computer technology is inappropriate, this system can perfectly substitute. However, based on our preliminary simple simulations, replicating this system would be quite difficult at the moment. The success of this battle gang contains an element of chance; even given another opportunity, they might not be able to succeed." "Above is the technical appraisal report on the seized goods." The council is a place that values interests the most. If new technology possesses enough benefits to excite interest, then naturally, its developers would receive a certain reward. But if the benefits offered by this new technology are insufficient, then the "crimes" committed by its developers must be settled in full. Helen''s summary was actually quite straightforward¡ª The capabilities of this system do not exceed existing internet computer technology, and its technological route is not interoperable with our current technology, making it highly difficult for mass production and widespread application. In other words... for the city, the value of this system is insufficient. And that is the only aspect the Scientific Research Institute needs to be involved in this matter. Helen, as a researcher, was unaware of the causes and consequences of the event; what she had at hand was just the technological product. After delivering her speech to everyone, she turned to leave. Although the new technology might be of little consequence to present-day Blackwater City, it did have its intriguing points for Helen. After Helen left, the council continued. Those battle gangs involved in mere chaos were directly subjected to severe punishment, but there was a certain controversy surrounding the Doctor Battle Gang. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet now, this point of contention was completely discarded due to the lack of value. "No matter what this battle gang verbally claims, the reality is that their people invaded the upper city district and even confronted the security team and the Mechanical Court''s dissuasion, still breaking through and causing tremendous losses. According to the city''s laws, they should be executed! I propose, like the other instigators, they be thrown into the Soul Furnace to offer their last bit of warmth." Ordinary crimes could permit the criminals to be reformed through military service in the barracks, but rebellion was a crime the city could least tolerate, punishable by death upon conviction. That''s also why the leader of the Doctor Battle Gang was resigned to death from the very beginning. "Request to reconsider!" "Request to reconsider!" A battle gang without any backing naturally had no one to care for their fate. Bai E''s gaze slightly knitted; he wanted to speak. His status and identity were different now, and he had the right to speak. However, before him, another aged voice spoke first, "I disagree!" The elderly former marshal rose from his seat in the corner, having hurried to the city center upon receiving the message; he was no longer willing to see those stubborn artificial veteran soldiers hurt again due to past events. "They only acted today because they were not supposed to be seen. With hearts full of sincere devotion, they''ve ended up with this result. These soldiers who came out of our barracks, even after leaving the barracks, will always be a part of it. They did nothing wrong, and shouldn''t be subjected to any form of punishment..." Before he could finish, an impatient voice interrupted, "Lawrence, have you forgotten something... You''re no longer the marshal of the military region. We all know you''re hoping to make a comeback using these artificial people, but old is old, and you should rest now." "Truth does not age with time..." Yet, a harsh elderly voice asserted, "Sorry, Lawrence, what I mean to say is, in reality, you should not have the right to be here." "I too agree with the words of the old marshal," said Bai E, who sat in the central circle of the chamber, suddenly speaking out. He stood up and looked around, "These men are soldiers from our barracks, and if they have erred, it is the responsibility of our barracks. But if they have not erred, there should be no form of punishment. To say they are guilty is to say that our entire barracks is guilty." Upon hearing Bai E speak out, the entire place fell into silence. Facing this rising star who was now highly influential within the city, no force or individual in the city dared to readily oppose his opinion. Those solid achievements were still heavily weighing on everyone''s minds, even in the recently concluded event... A creation that could easily destroy a Mechanical Court mecha stood no chance against General Bai E. General Bai E even fought with his bare body, without manning his mecha. Not to mention, according to the live accounts from the security team, they all felt they had witnessed something extraordinary¡ªtheir General Bai E being resurrected after being reduced to minced meat... Chapter 717 - 717: 532 Wisdom creatures spirituality_2 Of course, it might also be a case of everyone being dazzled at once. But regardless, beneath each incident that erupted, it only served to prove that General Bai E''s value was still increasing. In such circumstances, General Bai E''s opinion had become an undeniable will. Amid the ensuing silence, someone clapped and cheered, "I think General Bai E is right, these old soldiers, even after leaving the barracks, still long for the city. It''s precisely to demonstrate their own value that they took such a bold move. If they hadn''t shown us first-hand, how could we have realized the true power of the technology they''ve provided? I support General Bai E''s words!" "I support it!" "I support it too!" With Bai E''s speech, the atmosphere in the room instantly shifted. The same words, coming from Bai E''s mouth, had an entirely different effect than when spoken by others. "General Bai E, I know you too are an artificial human, but please be aware of the many drawbacks of artificial humans in your heart. Marshal Lawrence once got involved with the artificial human controversy. You have a great future ahead, and we actually hope that you won''t get too entangled in such matters." "I know," Bai E responded expressionlessly, "but I believe every artificial human will not betray... the city. They''ve done nothing wrong, they should be released outright." And so the decision was made, "Alright! Then let''s do as General Bai E suggests and release them immediately!" Following this unexpected turn of events and the conclusion of the meeting, Bai E headed straight for Helen''s research institute. Inside the institute, figures in white lab coats bustled back and forth, everything spotlessly clean against the backdrop of white and green. When Bai E saw Helen, she was standing beside a ring of transparent glass containers. Contained within were the "biocomputer brain-based systems" made up of human heads. To Helen and all the researchers in the city, the value of this new system was likely equivalent to that of a substitute for internet computing technology. However, Bai E saw a unique value in this system. It was needed for the mecha enhancement plan 2.0. Even though the existing mechas performed well under Bai E''s control, they were still far from reaching the original intent of mecha design. Only by completely innovating the current mechas could potentially reveal the strength envisioned by the original designers of the mechas. Yet Bai E didn''t currently have the complete ability to design and manufacture an entire mecha by himself within the scope of the mecha enhancement plan 2.0. If there was no other way, of course, one would have to figure it out by themselves, but given that Helen was deemed trustworthy, collaboration would naturally make it easier to achieve the goal. This was the reason he had come to find Helen. Upon receiving notification from Bai E, Helen, without lifting her eyes from the control panel she was working on, casually asked, "Has the meeting concluded?" "Yes," Bai E replied as he approached, "Does this new system truly have no practical value?" "For now... the value is not high," Helen said with a slight frown, "The technological barriers are too high, and considering we already possess internet computing technology, the cost of transitioning is too great. However, if there''s one area where this system might potentially surpass internet compute technology, it would probably be in the field of Spiritual Energy..." The human brain is a quantum system far more complex than electronic computing systems, and its inherent "spirit" as a sentient being adds an infinite number of variables to this quantum system, including the transcendent Spiritual Energy. Theoretically, the brain''s potential is boundless. When individual brains are networked together as a single entity, this effect is exponentially magnified. The more individual brains there are in the system, the higher the capabilities of the system. Correspondingly, to create a system, the requirements for each individual within the system are exacting. "In fact, during the time of electronic silence, we have conducted research into similar technology, but all have ended in failure. Individuals who could be part of the system must have sufficient cognition and insight to cultivate their spiritual essence and intelligence. Yet, they must also have a stable and detached character, free from strong competitive or utilitarian instincts and have complete trust in each other as parts of the system." Where there are human hearts, there is always chaos that is unpredictable and difficult to completely control. Furthermore, while researching technology, one must also be constantly vigilant against demon corruption. Thus, the already slow research process was always set back by various issues that arose during the experimentation. Even in two identical processes, with every measure exactly the same, a sudden idea from one of the participants could lead to the collapse of the entire experiment. Over time, Blackwater City abandoned the technology, considering it a feasible theory but too difficult to pursue in practice. Nowadays, funding is hardly approved, and only research groups with nothing else to do and sufficient funds on hand might occasionally explore it. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So the veterans'' volunteering was bound to be ill-fated. "However, no matter what, the development team that completed this finished product, they are really impressive," Helen said after learning about the ins and outs of the situation and knowing that the veterans and Bai E had the same origins. "They are really impressive." When her gaze fell on the green cans before her, Helen''s eyes were filled with reverence, "The will of these veterans... is also tough enough. They, in fact, are still alive." Living mechanically like this seemed like eternal torture. Yet they consented willingly. After waiting for two or three seconds, seeing Helen pause in her speech, Bai E spoke softly, "You just said... they also possess the potential for Spiritual Energy?" Bai E also wanted to know where the lethal power that outmatched the Mechanical Court Mecha and himself came from. Was it the demon? Or spirituality? Or perhaps... simply the power of computation itself? If mere computational power could achieve that extent, would the increasingly sophisticated city-controlled internet computer systems also be able to produce the same results in battle? This weapon, assembled by the Small War gang from limited materials on hand, almost cost him his life. Could the city, once it fully mastered this power... make his own voice gradually irrelevant? Another question remained¡ªif computational power could achieve all this, what about the weapons controlled by the Smart Machinery inherited from the Golden Age? When he single-handedly attacked the Smart Machinery Factory, why wasn''t he easily torn to shreds by them? Helen sighed softly and shook her head, "This is exactly what I''m trying to figure out." She was certain that the firepower networks formed by the current human-controlled computer systems could not instantly shred the top-tier Mecha of the Mechanical Court. She found it hard to believe, and even harder to accept, that the computational power of this organic brain system could surpass the existing internet computer systems. In the experiments they conducted after obtaining this organic brain system, it could no longer perform the same operation. That leaves only two possibilities¡ª Either a gift from the demons or innate spirituality... But both of these carry variables, as the manifestation of spirituality requires a catalyst, not to mention demonic influence. To determine which possibility it might be, a certain opportunity is needed. "If it comes from spirituality, is there any way to harness it?" "Oh?" Helen glanced over with her beautiful eyes, "Do you have any ideas?" Bai E''s words would not be without foundation; as someone who had fought it personally, his opinions were extremely valuable. "I was thinking... could this ability to directly connect with machinery be used in piloting Mecha?" Bai E and Helen looked at each other quietly, "The current way of operating Mecha is too antiquated..." Helen''s eyes lit up, "That''s actually a very good idea!" Chapter 718 - 718: 533 you can call me Tiger Bai E''s proposal was merely a vision for the future; actualization was certainly not an overnight effort. The application of the Dynamic Source Sword and Miniaturized Kinetic Theory, as well as Mecha modification plan 2.0, involved numerous technologies that needed time to be refined and synced with each other. The pressing matter at hand was to expedite the production of each batch of bioengineered humanoids and to complete their training. The nobles'' demands following the first rebellion were not met, being vetoed in the final vote of the parliament; they were even warned by the higher-ups of the Elder Council. They would certainly lay low for a short while, but this silence would not last long. The next outbreak would be even more intense; he must complete the construction of the military before that time in order to seize the opportunity and see if he could fulfill his ultimate ambition. ... The "Doctor" gang members who were released could hardly believe this turn of events. "We''re released?" "We''re fine? We''re fine?! Hahaha! We''re fine!" "I thought we were goners this time! Turns out, those noble masters aren''t that bad, eh? Looks like I had them all wrong, hahaha!" "You really think there''re good people among those noble masters? If it wasn''t for our leader''s relationship with the big shots in the barracks, we would''ve been dead for sure. Didn''t you see how those who arrested us were looking down their noses at us?" "Right, boss?" "..." The old man shook his head, not responding. He knew he had no actual connection with the other party; indeed, the event they had just gone through was the first time they had met. However, the other party too originated from bioengineered humanoids ¨C bioengineered humanoids understand each other, and perhaps that was enough. Their origins sharing the same roots, the other wasn''t tainted by the city''s rules. The only surprise was... that someone of a bioengineered humanoid origin could obtain such a level of influence in the city. He didn''t know what had happened in the barracks during the time after he left. Perhaps... he could contact the brothers from Black Street. They seemed to maintain some communication with the people in the barracks, and they might have a better understanding of the current situation there. Thinking this, the old man casually asked those around him, "What is everyone thinking of doing next?" Not all members of the gang were old soldiers retired from the barracks. In fact, apart from the leader, most of their backgrounds were not much different from riffraff. They were rescued by the leader in their most desperate times and even provided with free prosthetics, which led them to follow the leader out of gratitude and to help him. And now... the old man no longer wanted to maintain this gang. The sole reason for establishing the gang was to garner funds under its name to support technological research and development. But now that his goal had been achieved and the old soldiers'' will had been carried out, he wanted to live for himself in the days to come... His words instantly startled the brothers in the gang, "Boss?" "Boss?!" "It''s nothing, it''s nothing..." The old man waved his hands with a grin, "I''m just getting old. If you guys want to keep this gang going, it''s up to you. But I have one request for you, do not engage in illicit activities." The battle gang actually had plenty of ways to make money and could survive without relying on oppression or strife, but life might not have been as comfortable or as free as it otherwise could be. However, the "Doctor" battle gang always survived on mission commissions and prosthetic surgery earnings, and there was no change in style for the individuals in the gang. And since everyone was safe and sound, Wolf-Scorpion and Wen Jie naturally had no issues either. Wolf-Scorpion held considerable prestige within the gang, and Wen Jie now had full mastery of the gang''s core technologies. If they were willing to take over, the Leader had no objections. Seeing all those old brothers teary-eyed, the Leader couldn''t stand the over-sentimentality and, with a wave of his hand, said his dashing farewell, "Alright, alright, I''m off. Whether you have your own lives to live or want to continue maintaining this battle gang, that''s all your own choice. Don''t bother me unless there''s something important. I''m out!" Under the morning light, the old man walked towards the outskirts of the city. After he shed his former identity, the first thing he wanted to do was to return to that original spot outside the city. After leaving the barracks, they started a brief life in the closest settlement outside the city, which over time became known to people as the old soldiers'' camp. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The initial group that had started with him ventured into the city, and to prevent any future troubles from deeply implicating those old soldiers left behind, they had completely disconnected, only later providing some assistance within their means without revealing their identities, once they had become somewhat capable. But now... as he was alone without attachments, he could naturally come back to see what that initial camp had turned into. Once out of the city, following his memory, the old man headed straight for that past settlement. In his memory, the settlement was shabby, full of dark corners, damp moss, and rotting mud. The environment wasn''t good, but under the soft light of memory, it seemed somewhat warm. But now... The old man turned around, looking up at everything before him. He felt dizzy as the bright and angular buildings seemed to spin into his view. Wen Jie had mentioned that the place had changed a lot... but this change was simply too drastic, wasn''t it? Putting a bit of force into his step, he could only feel the hard concrete ground beneath him. The roads were wide and crisscrossed in a grid pattern, without the twisty turns of the past. If one disregarded the minor risks outside the city limits, this new settlement was much, much better than the city''s interior, polluted by oily air. Perhaps the retirement place of his dreams could only look like this now? Seemingly noticing the old man''s bewildered stance, a bald man with prosthetic limbs called out with a smile from the corner, "Old man, is this your first time here?" Ever since Black Street opened up trade with other places, new faces were often seen here. But those people usually traveled in groups and all had clear intentions. Even if they were surprised by the buildings they had helped construct, they wouldn''t show this complete confusion. Only those who had run out of options elsewhere or were returning from the wilderness would look like this. These people could be absorbed into Black Street and become part of it. Strengthening Black Street''s power meant strengthening the power of that former "teammate." "Yes..." the old man nodded, "And how may I address you?" "Tiger, you can call me Tiger." Chapter 719 - 719: 534 Alberts Discovery "Tiger?" The old man paused slightly, "That name..." "I''m an artificial person who retired from the military." Tiger explained with a smile. "Artificial person?!" The old man''s gaze fastened on Tiger, with a hint of pleasure in his eyes. He hadn''t expected to run into a natural brother as soon as he arrived. The other''s appearance was still very young, indicating a short period of service. "My name is Albert." The old man didn''t want to reveal his identity as an artificial person right away, aiming for more comprehensive information, "The development here seems very special." Albert looked around, his face filled with surprise, as if he had never seen such a scene before. "Of course." Tiger said proudly, "Our Black Street didn''t used to be like this. Since it was taken over by our current... leader after a certain incident, it has gradually become what it is today. Now it''s well-known far and wide. May I ask where you''re from?" "Me? ...I come from within the city," Albert replied ambiguously. "It''s tough to mix in the city..." Tiger said with sentiment, finding an "origin" for the other man. Albert looked down slightly, his honest poverty evident in his embarrassed demeanor, "The incident you just mentioned... what was it?" "It was an invasion of those unspeakable beings..." Tiger began slowly, "Although the invaders were killed by the leader, because all the residents of Black Street had witnessed the incursion of unspeakable beings, there was a considerable potential risk. According to the Arbitration Place that handled the incident at the time, there were only two choices before everyone¡ªeither submit to the leader''s governance or... collective execution. Of course, the leader was also faced with two choices¡ªaccept or reject. Obviously, no one here wanted to die, and our leader was compassionate. As a result... over time, it developed into its current form." Tiger''s gaze swept over the surroundings, each brick and tile bearing the efforts of all the people of Black Street. "Of course, after development, we also faced envy from other surrounding forces. For those harboring ill intentions, we naturally show no mercy. But for those sincerely seeking to scrape out a living, we are quite welcoming. After all, being able to have a warm meal these days is already rare. Wouldn''t you agree?" "Yes..." Albert nodded in agreement, "So, may I live here? I can''t stay in my original place any longer..." "Of course, you can," Tiger said brightly. All this talk was to encourage the newcomer to stay and become part of Black Street. "I''ll show you around." Tiger led the way, gesturing ahead, "This is our public bathhouse. The leader says we all need to clean ourselves regularly." "...This is our cafeteria; although the dishes are the same every day, the taste is actually quite good." "This is..." Tiger was showing Albert around Black Street when they suddenly encountered a group of people in uniform, marching with precision. The leader, scrutinizing with a sweeping gaze, shifted his focus from Albert and moved briskly in another direction. Albert looked at Tiger, who had pulled to one side, in confusion and asked, "Who are they?" Each person had prosthetics and carried a military demeanor. That gave Albert a whiff of a familiar scent. "Black Street''s security squad," Tiger watched their retreating figures, "They are also my former comrades-in-arms. We''re all artificial people who retired from the military. Luckily, our leader saw potential in us, and we became the law enforcement squad of Black Street." Laughing heartily, he glanced at Albert''s aged profile and said, "You still don''t know our boss''s identity, do you? Our boss... is also an artificial human. It''s just that he''s currently serving in the military, so he doesn''t appear on Black Street very often." "..." Albert''s gaze froze, and instantly, a figure popped into his mind. So, with anticipation, he carefully asked, "Our boss, what should we call him?" "He named himself Bai E..." ''As I thought!'' The title "General Bai E" was something Albert had heard from the members of the Law Enforcement Squad. Unexpectedly, the Black Street outside the city was now under his control too! "General Bai E must have been fighting hard in the military camp for a long time..." "No," Hu shook his head, his thoughts seemingly drifting back to the first day he met the other person, which was also the day the other emerged from the incubation chamber, "It''s only been a few months... Our boss has already become the de facto supreme controller of the military district!" Even witnessing it all firsthand, Hu still found the magical career trajectory unbelievable. "However..." Hu smiled and patted Albert''s shoulder, "No matter what achievements the boss has, life is always our own. Come on, I''ll take you to meet the registrar of Black Street. Once you''re registered, you''ll receive two sets of clean and tidy new clothes, as well as a small house of your own, which is a treat you can''t find anywhere in Blackwater City." "Okay!" Albert hesitated slightly before looking earnestly at Hu and revealing his own identity, "Actually, I am also an artificial human, from a very, very old batch." "..." Hu smiled knowingly and slapped his shoulder vigorously again, "No problem! Welcome home! Here, artificial humans aren''t subject to any discrimination. You must have suffered in other places!" "Thank... thank you." Albert joined this new family. The most frequent thing he heard was the legend about that "boss." Everyone was filled with absolute reverence for that boss. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Except for some... guys whose behavior was a bit odd. It''s not to say they didn''t respect the "boss," but these people''s actions and speech... were all a bit strange. Strange... like the few "spies" that were caught by the Law Enforcement Squad a while ago. "I''ve been seeing some... people with rather odd behaviors around Black Street lately?" One day, Albert approached Hu, expressing his curiosity about what he had noticed. "You mean those people? Everyone generally calls them Wanderers..." Hu shook his head, "I don''t know where they come from, but I heard the boss is quite fond of them. They might act weird, but they are all good people." "I also saw a lady dressed up like a member of the nobility." "You''re probably talking about Franca... She indeed is a noble lady, and also an experienced Arbitration Officer. After all, this place is where unspeakable beings once descended, so the Arbitration Place always needs to be extra vigilant." "I saw them talking secretly about something?" "Don''t worry, those Wanderers like to help the community, and it''s quite normal for Franca to ask for their assistance." Chapter 720 - 720: 535 Mixed in "Does that mean they are trustworthy individuals?" Then, the things he had heard didn''t seem impossible to secretly assist with. Albert thought to himself and nodded to show his understanding, "I never expected that within the lord''s domain, there would be hidden dragons and crouching tigers, to the extent that even people from the Arbitration Place would actively seek cooperation." He hadn''t been here for long, but had already fallen in love with this small garden in a chaotic world. If there was anything within his power that could help, he was willing to lend a hand. After all, he had heard that those people were strangers in the city and even the enforcer from the Arbitration Place appeared to lack subordinates or informants in the city. With such rash actions, they would most likely face setbacks here. While their battle group was not the top in the city, years of establishment had given them some understanding of the "rules" that should be followed in the Lower City. They might not be like fish in water, but at least they wouldn''t step into traps. He decided to go and greet some old brothers¡­ ¡­ Within the Lower City, the terrain was complex and Kuang Xin and his group found the slightly choking smell of machine oil in the air to be rather uncomfortable to breathe. Compared to the strange sulfur-laden scent outside the city, the air quality here wasn''t much better either. "The smell we noticed when we came into the city last time isn''t quite the same as now..." "Nonsense, last time we took the main roads under the guidance of that jackal, and we didn''t duck into these narrow alleys." "Speaking of which, this mission is our first proper encounter with the minions of demons, so we have to be careful." This mission was issued to them by the enforcer from the Arbitration Place. The target was a group of Believers worshiping deities. Players who had come to understand some of the background stories of this world had long known that there were no real gods in this world. The so-called gods were merely demons from the high-dimensional spaces who wield various powers. But ordinary people didn''t know this. While Blackwater City did not heavily suppress all information about demons, the understanding of common people, with their limited cognitive abilities, about demons¡ªand indeed the truth about this world¡ªwas very limited. For those who live day to day in dire straits, even among the ordinary populace, the poor can only hope for the existence of omnipotent, kind-hearted gods in this world to save them from their misery. Without a concrete entity to place their faith in, their aimless "prayers" can only "communicate" with the demons in the high-dimensional space in the end. However, the power of demons is not infinite; they choose their "Believers" based on their preferences and viewpoints, so not every prayer to them receives an answer. In most cases, not receiving a response is the norm, or even if one does receive a response, it may just be the most rudimentary, hard-to-say whether it''s a "curse" or a "blessing." Those "Believers" who do not receive a response, or who have very limited demon power, are difficult even for the enforcers carrying out missions for the Arbitration Place to track down accurately through the investigation of demonic energy. Now, Miss Franca from the Arbitration Place had tasked them to investigate a large, but extremely loosely organized group of Believers in the Lower City. "To investigate such an organization, do we first have to disguise ourselves as poor people of similar circumstances?" "And then what?" "Then it''s just trying our luck... The intelligence says their recruitment is quite random, it''s all about who has better luck." "That''s not a bad idea," Gu Lan stroked his chin and thought Dai Lian''s suggestion made sense. "Let''s spread out and try individually then. Sticking together will only raise their suspicions." ¡­ Kuang Xin lay in a dark corner of the Lower City, his ragged clothes stained with blood, and his exposed skin showing many scabbed-over wounds as he groaned weakly. Before him, a pair of slender legs wrapped in black silk stockings suddenly appeared. The skirt, adorned with thick ink blue flowers, fluttered in the wind around the legs. Kuang Xin''s gaze traveled up the legs until he saw a striking face with a scar. It was very familiar... A viper. Standing beside her, with a smile on his face, was Zhou Wenjie. "You... you guys?" Kuang Xin''s face showed some confusion, "What are you doing?" Wen Jie had his own path, and they had theirs; when their paths didn''t intersect, they didn''t keep in touch all the time. After receiving the mission, they hadn''t contacted Wen Jie or the battle gang he was with. But now... "Those guys are not as naive as you think," Viper said with an emotionless face. Although she had received a message from her "adoptive father," the former gang leader, that she should help this group of rootless folks in the city, Viper still felt a headache when actually facing them. "Coming onto someone else''s turf without any preparation and trying to blend in, you''re really not taking your opponents seriously." In The Lower City, the most important thing is to be cautious. Any detail can become a deadly specter. Those who underestimate others have long been ground into dust by the gears of this steel mechanical city. "So you know about our mission... what we''re supposed to do?" Kuang Xin looked at them with some surprise but didn''t dwell on the question, focusing solely on the mission at hand. "What should we do then?" Viper''s expression turned colder, as all the justifications for their source of information she had prepared were unnecessary, "What to do? Follow me! Have them all join up, don''t embarrass yourselves here!" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The bedraggled gamers, in a deserted corner, gathered around Viper and Wen Jie. Viper coldly spoke to herself, "Regarding what you''re about to do, I''ve been entrusted by a certain party to offer you some assistance..." ''A certain party?'' The gamers thought in tandem and an image flashed simultaneously in their minds. ''My Lord!'' Apart from their own lord, who else would care about the life and death of these gamers? The lord is awesome! If it''s the handiwork of the lord, then there''s no need for doubts. Furthermore, Viper and Wen Jie were no strangers; they probably wouldn''t harm them. The few gamers looked eagerly at Viper, their faces earnestly waiting for her next words. "Please speak." Seeing these people so amenable and not requiring much explanation, Viper internally breathed a sigh of relief, but her face remained serious. "You who are new to the area, thinking you can infiltrate that organization is an impossible task! In fact, regarding your target organization, we have had word of them for some time. But the individuals they recruit are all thoroughly and slowly scrutinized before they are approached. Your new faces will never gain their trust." At these words, Kuang Xin''s face fell in disappointment, "Then is the mission a bust?" Viper glanced at him and remained silent. If she had sought them out, it obviously wasn''t without reason. "Indeed, it''s extremely difficult to infiltrate them actively, but it''s not entirely impossible. Newcomers may not have a chance, but those old faces lurking in The Lower City still have a good opportunity. Next, I will fabricate identities for you and temporarily kidnap the original owners..." Chapter 721 - 721: Role-playing The preparation Wolf Scorpion had done for them was quite thorough. They even made all the players memorize a set of fake identity information related to their disguises. [You are undergoing a small quiz, and successful completion of this test will grant you access to part of the "relevant information". Current data collection progress: 0%] The players, who were isolated individually, never expected that they couldn''t escape "exams" even within the game?! Of course, memorizing game data was actually quite fun for them, like playing little brain-teaser games within the game itself. In the end, only Kuang Xin stepped out from behind the iron door of "no leaving without finishing the material" with a pained expression, marking the completion of the preliminary prep work for the mission. Looking at the few players before her, Wolf Scorpion finally admonished, "Remember, The Lower City is not like the areas outside the city, everyone is very cunning, and you must strictly imitate the lifestyle and personal habits detailed in the information, otherwise failing your mission is a minor issue, your lives being in danger is the serious matter. I don''t want to collect your corpses from some ditch! You can set off now, we have already captured the targets you are replacing¡ªtake your positions as soon as possible. However, I still have to remind you one last time, the target organization is extremely stringent and irregular in recruiting members, being from a poor and hard background is only the most basic filtering condition. Whether you can successfully infiltrate ultimately depends on your personal luck¡­ Take care." "Thank you, Miss Wolf Scorpion!" Dai Lian, already made up and disguised, gave a cupped fist salute and left with a hunched back. Each person was playing a different role, and from now on... they had to start "getting into character." Following the "pop quiz," the "role-playing" part of the game was truly fantastic! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ "You Mier, off to earn money in Central City District again? You must have saved quite a bit, huh?" Emerging on the pale-blue holographic screen before him was the target''s information, with key terms like "wary" and "pretend to be poor" even highlighted and colored as key points; Kuang Xin, who was now disguised, wore an exhausted smile, "Not much, barely enough for the medicine, life''s getting harder..." After all, it was only a game, they were not truly expected to remember all the details of a mission, for an extended period and down to the minutest of aspects. After the initial "pop quiz," when the data collection progress reached 100%, encountering related items thereafter would prompt their personal panels to directly display the required interaction details. "If you ask me, forget about your sick mother, the surgery costs these days are so steep, she won''t last until the day you''ve earned enough. You''ve worked so hard to save money, and if you don''t spend it on yourself, wouldn''t it be a waste? How about a drink at Red Rose tonight? My treat! I''ll tell you, there''s a new girl there with an amazing figure, you haven''t even touched a woman''s hand in years, have you? So fragrant and soft, the feeling... it''s just amazing!" The man speaking closed his eyes, a lecherous fantasy expression on his face. "No need, I''m not interested," Kuang Xin replied, his face showing an indifferent, aloof demeanor as he walked away briskly. "Think about it, man! Today''s technology isn''t for us ordinary folk; you could work your whole life and still not have enough for one operation!" "Whatever," came You Mier''s distant reply as he drifted further away. Watching "You Mier" walk away, the man''s face returned to a somber expression, ice-cold contemplation creeping over his features. After a long silence, he motioned to the shadows with a wave of his hand, whispering a light command, "Have a contact take a look." The organization wasn''t interested in those who flip sides at the blow of a wind; it was these people with unyielding wills that they were watching. Only those with an unwavering determination could become "True God''s" most loyal servants after embracing the "True God." And only the "True God" was the sole savior for this wretched world! With this thought in his mind, the man''s expression grew fervent. However, after scanning the surroundings with caution, the man composed his expression and walked toward the dim corner of the rusty mechanical pathway... Returning to the place called "home" in the information, Kuang Xin''s expression faltered slightly. Despite having been briefed about everything regarding the target, the stark environment still left him stunned. The so-called "home" was nothing more than a small triangular area at the junction of two mechanical corridors. A fence of tin sheets turned it into a "private territory." Within the territory, a mess of items, even those that could be considered "trash," were strewn about, and amidst the chaos, there was a small bed, upon which a frail woman was curled up. She couldn''t have been very old, but her appearance and aura were as aged as a septuagenarian or octogenarian. "Mom~" Kuang Xin called out gently, fully immersing himself in the role. "Hmm." As if murmuring in her sleep, the woman on the bed gently turned over, her face dotted with shocking purple blotches. "I''ve bought the vitamin medicine back... Do you feel any better today?" "Much better... Doctor Nuowei just came by before you returned." ''Being able to speak a full sentence, does it look like she''s improved somewhat?'' The information that flashed across his mind made Kuang Xin acutely aware of the change, and he couldn''t help but ask curiously, "Doctor Nuowei came by?" The "intelligence information" naturally contained records about Doctor Nuowei, but it was almost just a name and a simple description. The upper-class citizens have their professional hospitals, and of course, these impoverished people have their own incompetent doctors. Doctor Nuowei''s medical skills were not particularly outstanding, but he could solve some common and simple problems, which for many in The Lower City, was already the greatest help. You Mier had initially sought his help too, but since You Mier''s mother''s condition was not something that a quack doctor could resolve, they had lost touch after one or two contacts. Yet, for some reason, he had taken the initiative to come today? "He brought me some ''Holy Water.'' After drinking it, my body indeed didn''t hurt as much," the mother said softly. The purple blotches on her face shimmered slightly under the light, appearing even more lustrous. "Holy Water?" Neither from You Mier''s "intelligence information" nor from his own gaming career had Kuang Xin heard of such a thing, "What''s that?" "Doctor Nuowei said if you want to know more, then go see him. He thinks you''re a very good young man..." With someone else praising her son, even the mother''s frail face showed a touch of healthy rosiness with pleasure. ''Holy Water?'' It sounded mysterious and could be related to his mission. A thought struck Kuang Xin, and he nodded woodenly, "I understand, Mom. I''ll go check it out right now..." Chapter 722 - 722: Calling on 537 "Doctor Nuowei..." Standing in front of a somewhat decent storefront, Kuang Xin knocked on the iron door and called out softly. A steady voice came from inside, "Come in." Pushing the door open, he entered a small, simple consulting room that was empty except for a pale-skinned, middle-aged man sitting behind a workbench. The man''s face bore a smile as he looked at the entering "You Mier," "You''ve arrived." The scarce information about Doctor Nuowei unfolded before his eyes. Due to limited contact, there were no key reminders. Kuang Xin could only respond according to "You Mier"''s own character, so he nodded and replied, "Yes... I heard that you just gave my mother some kind of medicine, and she''s feeling much better now. I came to personally thank you for taking care of my mother. By the way... how much does this medicine cost?" Hearing this, Doctor Nuowei simply smiled, "Medicine? This is not medicine. I just thought you were a great young man, and your mother is a good person. This little help is nothing." Kuang Xin looked at him intently, his face full of sincerity, "It doesn''t matter whether it''s medicine or not, as long as it can make my mother''s health improve. The vita-medicines bought from the Central City District can only keep my mother alive, but her condition is getting worse, none as effective as your medicine. I want to buy some more, do you still have any?" "Money can''t buy it," said Doctor Nuowei, shaking his head and staring into "You Mier"''s eyes, pointing to his heart with his left hand, "It requires heart." Kuang Xin''s expression visibly stuttered, unsure why after taking on the role, he felt his thoughts were clear, and every action could mimic the original character perfectly¡ªperhaps he was born a natural for this... Why hadn''t he realized it before? Ay-heh! His face then turned to a solemnly cautious look, "Do you need me to do something... for you?" "Not for me." Doctor Nuowei shook his head leisurely, leaning forward and speaking softly, "It''s for your mother." "Okay!" Kuang Xin bit his lip and nodded fiercely, "It''s for my mother! What do you want me to do?" "Pray." "Pray?" "Right. All you need to do is pray." "To whom should I pray?" "It doesn''t matter." Doctor Nuowei''s face bore a smile, "You just need to pray. As long as your heart is sincere enough, the omnipotent ''True God'' will naturally feel your sincerity, and naturally, ''Holy Water'' will descend." "..." Kuang Xin bit his lip, his face somewhat bewildered, but after a moment he looked into Doctor Nuowei''s eyes and nodded, "I... I believe you." Doctor Nuowei began to tidy up his tabletop, his eyes not on "You Mier," and his mouth uttered a dismissing phrase, "Alright, go back if there''s nothing else, I have things to do." Kuang Xin bowed deeply, "Thank you again for your help, please be busy, I won''t disturb you further." He walked backward out the door and then closed it behind him. Watching the closed door, a door in a small room inside the consulting room suddenly opened, and a man walked out¡ªit was the man that Kuang Xin had encountered on his way home, "How did it go?" "The kid''s cautious by nature. If he had said ''I''ll try going back,'' then he would have believed us by a large margin; but saying ''I believe you'' right away reveals more doubt. No matter though, facts will teach him what to do." Having observed You Mier for a long time, perhaps You Mier was unfamiliar with Nuowei, but Nuowei had long understood this lad. Once back at home, Kuang Xin also didn''t know how to continue with this task. Praying sincerely? Do they, the players, really have hearts? Ah, forget it, let''s just make a show and see~ So... After kneeling outside his own small tin door for half an hour, in the empty bowl placed before him, there indeed appeared a puddle of orange-yellow unknown liquid. Semi-transparent, a little sticky, and the scent... seemed a bit strange. If it were medicine... that would be normal. But if it were so-called "Holy Water"... who''s Holy Water looks like this? S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the person secretly following him was stunned to see this suddenly appearing "Holy Water". "Damn!" Everyone thought it would take some time, that they would apply continuous pressure through the changes in You Mier''s mother''s condition, but who expected you to actually play for real?! The moment of shock was quickly followed by a reminder to report, and so another "Damn!" echoed from the communicator. "Damn! He actually prayed sincerely! Quick, quick, quick! The Saint Heir has come! The Saint Heir has come!" ... After hearing the story of how Kuang Xin joined the organization, the other three players looked at each other, and Dai Lian couldn''t help asking, "So this is how you freaking became the ''Saint Heir''?" "Ah~" Kuang Xin''s face was full of pride, "Pretty awesome, huh?" The four new members of the organization hadn''t had much time to chat when they heard a call not far away, "Saint Heir, please come this way, today is a big day for our ''True God Sect.'' With the joint prayers of you and the ''Saint Lady,'' I believe the ''True God'' will surely hear our call. As long as the ''True God'' descends, He will surely grant new life to this world!" Kuang Xin, upon hearing this, smugly raised his eyebrows at his three companions, "Off I go, watch my performance!" "Hey! Don''t just stand there dumbfounded. Even though you''ve joined our sect not long ago, on this day, every bit of faith is a call to the True God. Come and witness the glory of the ''True God''!" Chapter 723 - 723: Calling on 537 "Yes!" The circular steel cavern was filled with a sea of heads, each one surrounding the central stage, scattered in the shadows, their faces almost indiscernible. Yet, at that moment, every person had their hands clasped together, eyes closed, heads bowed, earnestly praying. Atop the stage stood the silhouettes of a young man and woman. Kuang Xin looked with some curiosity at the so-called "Holy Maiden" opposite him, only to discover that this girl, who had wrapped her entire body in clothing with only her face exposed, exuded a faint, strange odor. It was somewhat like the scent of sweat after it has evaporated, but not intense. The girl''s eyes were lively, and she too seemed to be curiously sizing up Kuang Xin in front of her. But the atmosphere was so silent and oppressive that neither dared to make a sound. All that could be heard was the chanting of the presider standing between them, whose modulating tones seemed to bring an invisible pressure down upon everyone present. It was as if a pair of scrutinizing eyes existed in the darkness, coldly sweeping over each person from within. Suddenly, the presider''s voice rose as he guided them, "Pray..." Kuang Xin was taken aback, his thoughts running wild, ''Pray? Pray for what? How do I pray?'' ''Words! Words! Damn, no one gave me a script! What am I supposed to recite?'' ''Hmm~ it seems like no one is speaking up, and that girl opposite me isn''t either, so it looks like it''s enough to pray in one''s heart... then it doesn''t matter what I think! The legs of the demon of desire are really not bad ah...'' [You are undergoing the baptism of a mysterious event, willpower judgment in progress...] [Willpower judgment passed, Mystery +0.1.] [Willpower judgment passed, Spiritual Energy +1/1.] ''Eh? There''s such a good deal?!'' Kuang Xin thought to himself, feeling quite delighted. As the silent and chaotic prayer proceeded, a sort of mystical mist light silently shrouded many figures present. Gong Yan, who was especially sensitive to Spiritual Energy, was the first to notice this obvious change through her spiritual vision. Most people there were enveloped by this dusky mist light, especially so around Kuang Xin, and the girl opposite him was not far behind either. Only she, Dai, Gu Lan, and a few other unrecognizable individuals from different organizations, lacked this mist light around them. "Remove these shallow believers!" the authoritative presider''s voice rang out again, prompting armed personnel who had been waiting in the corners to stride into the center of the circular mechanized plaza. Clearly, it wasn''t just Gong Yan who had this ability; the religious faction that organized the event also possessed a certain discernment ability. "No, my lord!" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I am a believer of the True God too! I believe in the True God!" "Don''t drive me away! Don''t drive me away!" The scene turned slightly chaotic. "Silence!" the presider''s voice boomed once again. Under an imperious decree, a sort of binding magic took effect over the circular plaza, and those believers who struggled and did not wish to leave were suddenly stripped of their ability to speak, their capacity to move also significantly weakened. Armed personnel resolutely used force to escort out those "shallow believers" who were reluctant to leave. As for Gong Yan and the other two, they merely took one last look at the stage and followed the armed personnel without resistance. Once they left the central area, that sensation of being watched by an unseen gaze also vanished. It was only then that a gentle comforting voice from the armed personnel beside them arose, "Don''t be disheartened, you''ve only recently joined us and naturally have some doubts about the True God. That''s normal. After witnessing the True God''s radiance with your own eyes this time, you will understand that the True God is indeed the only real deity in this world!" The so-called armed personnel were also believers convinced of the True God''s existence. But not everyone within a sect can be a servant of the True God; a force to resist external enemies is always necessary. These people may not bear the significant responsibility of communicating with the True God, yet they can shine and contribute in another sense. The speaking armed personnel stared intently at the empty space above the central circle of the stage, their expression fervent, even though it was empty... The hushed whispers around her made Gong Yan and the others realize that speaking outside was not completely forbidden. "Did we do something wrong?" Gu Lan asked, his face full of confusion. Dai Lian bit his teeth in frustration, mumbling to himself, "I''ve been so sincere already..." Without the so-called "True God" descending, where would they go to fight the boss? Isn''t this entirely a pre-quest for a dungeon? As the True God descends, the boss battle begins. How smooth that would have been. But now, they weren''t even allowed to do the pre-quest! Damn it! "How does that guy manage to get involved in everything?!" Watching Kuang Xin''s figure on the high platform, Dai Lian gritted his teeth, feeling somewhat unconvinced. That guy is always so muddle-headed; how does he never miss out on any good fortune? Could this be the legendary dumb luck? Damn it! No matter what they were thinking after leaving the core area, the developments on the field never stopped. It seemed the "Lower Realm" Believers'' call was indeed felt, and thus that omnipotent True God spread a sliver of radiant light¡ª A dim, elliptical hole of light suddenly appeared above the central high platform. The light within the hole diffusely expanded, coming into the perception of every watcher and non-watcher alike. Based on the stimulation to the spiritual senses, this aggressive intrusion didn''t even require the observers to have much innate talent in Spiritual Energy. Everyone saw some bizarre scenes, and even more so, a sense of warmth and security spontaneously emerged; the armed personnel standing next to Gong Yan loosened the grip on their firearms slightly, their bodies sinking, with a blissful stupor on their faces. And the host standing at the very center was feverishly exclaiming, "Glatis, it''s time for your offering!" Glatis was the name of the "holy girl." Hearing it was her turn, the girl gently lifted the fabric covering her body, revealing the somewhat pitiful sight of her torso beneath. Her not so well-developed body was now covered with bruises and marks. But curiously, these marks didn''t seem to be caused by external forces but... rather as if they had "grown" out of the body itself. At the moment, the girl staggered to the area beneath the circle of light, tipped her head back towards the circle, and spread her arms in an embrace. The wave of Spiritual Energy erupted wildly from her as the center, and the murky glow expanded in an instant like a breath! In that instant, Gong Yan''s eyes widened in shock! Spiritual Energy! Such powerful Spiritual Energy! Or rather, talent for Spiritual Energy! This girl''s talent for Spiritual Energy was unimaginably strong beyond anything Gong Yan had ever seen! So strong, yet so wild. This... was perhaps also the reason she was chosen. Just then, a clear call came through the passage leading to this mechanical cavern, "Stop! Glatis!" The voice of the noble young lady, always filled with heat and passion, was unmistakable; the players instantly realized who the newcomer was¡ªFranca, the enforcer from the Heretical Arbitration House! The enforcer who had contracted them naturally wouldn''t just wait in the background, hoping everything would naturally progress towards a good conclusion. At this decisive moment, when everything could be wrapped up, and the target could be netted in one fell swoop, the enforcer arrived just in time. "Stop, this isn''t the True God you hoped could save everything! That is a demon that invades our world! They must borrow your body to come to this world!" While entrusting the players with the investigation, she had not stopped her own exploration of this organization. Glatis was the starting point of all the "ambitions" of this organization. But in itself, she was just a simple and kind child who had been deceived! Unfortunately, the sudden interjection from an outsider could not immediately gain her trust. Though her eyes showed a hint of doubt, the link that had already started was hard to break under such feeble willpower. "Stop her!" came the cold voice of the host... or rather, the cult''s Pope, gently ringing out, "Glatis, focus on the voice of the True God..."